The Watchman delves more deeply into Joe Pike's character than any other ELvis Cole/Joe Pike novel Robert Crais has written. Yet, I want more! I have so many questions. Honestly, doesn't Pike smile more than a twitch EVER? He must. Do his teeth ever show? And how does he see in the dark with the sunglasses? Does he have special lenses that let in more light or something? I like that he wears them all the time, but the reality factor is distracting me a little.
I would like to see Joe Pike in a book with a kid. How would he behave? Would the kid soften him up (relatively speaking)? Or would the kid stir up past memories that Pike could not handle. We know Joe's dad was a monster, but what abou his mom? And does Pike read books? If so, what kind. Maybe he could have a long lost relative, a sister separated at birth (Princess Leia style)....so many questions.
Where did he grow up? What part of the country is he from? Has he ever worn a tie? Why did he pick red for his Jeep Cherokee when red is a bright color, and Pike says he is trying to be invisible. I guess I'll have to wait for the sequel...
2 comments:
Actually, Indigo Slam has Joe around kids to some extent and those interactions are very funny. And some of your other questions are at least addressed, if not resolved, in L.A. Requiem: he reads anything he can get his hands on (novels, history, the Japanese poet BashÅ, philosopher Nietzsche, etc.) / his mother was apparently not very "bright" and would bait his father verbally despite knowing what would happen to both her and Joe / he wore not just a tie but a suit & tie for the funeral in that book / though exact location not given we know he was a country boy who lived at the far edge of a small town with not much but woods, a creek and deer around.
I know I'm responding to a 12-year-old post but I've read all of Robert Crais's novels so I feel like I have some insight. Heavy spoilers for a lot of books.
Do his teeth ever show? Not really. The last time he was known to smile was before he killed his partner on the police force. He shot him to prevent him from killing a criminal or goading the criminal into killing him. This enabled the partner's wife, whom Joe was in love with, to collect his survivor's insurance.
How does he see at night? I can't remember which novel mentioned it but he has excellent vision referred to as "cat eyes". In another scene Elvis asks him how he sees at night and he responds in true Pike fashion "I just do, Elvis."
As the other comment mentioned he was pretty funny with kids in Indigo Slam. In the 2010 book The First Rule he and Elvis take care of a baby for a time. He is shown to know very little about child care but to, nonetheless, be nurturing.
I don't think you get much more about his childhood that isn't in Watchman or L.A. Requiem. It is mentioned in that novel that she gives as much as she got with his father.
He is a prolific reader. He also likes classical music.
The long-lost relative is possible since he left home at 17 and apparently never returned.
It's not stated where he grew up but we know it was rural and wooded. When he was young he got himself in shape to join the Marines by running through the woods.
He wore a tie to a funeral in one of the books though he immediately took it, his jacket and shirt off when he left.
The red Jeep on knobby tires would probably stand out in LA but he has also been known to have access to much less conspicuous cars.
There are at least 3 more Joe Pike novels now not to mention the Elvis Cole ones.
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