The Sentry (Joe Pike Novel) [Hardcover]

I've finished "The Sentry" the 3rd book in his Joe Pike series by Robert Crais.

Product Description

The extraordinary new crime novel from the New York Times bestselling author.

Dru Rayne and her uncle fled to L.A. after Hurricane Katrina; but now, five years later, they face a different danger. When Joe Pike witnesses Dru's uncle beaten by a protection gang, he offers his help, but neither of them want it - and neither do the federal agents mysteriously watching them.

As the level of violence escalates, and Pike himself becomes a target, he and Elvis Cole learn that Dru and her uncle are not who they seem - and that everything he thought he knew about them has been a lie. A vengeful and murderous force from their past is now catching up to them . . . and only Pike and Cole stand in the way.

About the Author

Robert Crais is the 2006 recipient of the Ross Macdonald Literary Award. He is the author of many New York Times bestsellers, most recently The First Rule.

Product Details
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Putnam Adult; 1 edition (January 11, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399157077
ISBN-13: 978-0399157073

My Review:

Storyline:  The Sentry opens with a prologue featuring a truly creepy and scary killer in New Orleans in 2005.

Then in the present day, Joe is at a gas station when he sees two men swaggering into a sandwich shop. Their body language tells Joe that the men are up to no good.

He enters the shop to see what's happening. He finds the the two men are beating the shop owner and showing no sign of letting up. Joe takes out one of the attackers and the other runs away.

The police arrest the attacker who Joe took down but later that night someone throws a can of paint through the shop window.

The owner's niece, Dru Rayne, asks Joe to help. Joe learns that the gang is trying to shake down the store owner for protection money. Joe approaches that gang leader and obtains the man's assurance that the hostilities toward the store owner will desist.

Joe believes that he has removed the threat and he and Dru enjoy a coffee break and visit. Dru tells him about her past and shows him a photo of her daughter. This hints that it could be the start of a romantic affair.

The next night, violence escalates. Some enters the store and creates havoc and a sign is painted on the wall, "I am here."

Joe recruits Elvis Cole to help him out who in turn recruits Lucy Chenier and her private investigator in the case.

Characters: Joe Pike is a noble ex-mercenary, ex-Los Angeles Police Officer and a man who cares for the less fortunate or abused. He's very popular with readers for his His courageousness and nobility.  He never worries about himself and will be in the middle of a fray to protective people he cares about.

Elvis is in a dark place at the moment with the events that has transpired in recent times (ex:  he lost the Lucy Chenier the women he loves and her little boy - though they are still friends).  I really love the way he treasures Joe as a long time friend and confidant and doesn't really like killing people which makes him cry.  

Romance:  It really looked like it was start of a romance between Joe and Dru but she's not who he thinks she is and that killed the romance between them.  He was really attracted to her and I know it hurt him when he found out who she was and what she was.

Killer(s):  Daniel is a hit man who is the creepiest and scariest killer Robert Crais has ever created.  Man is he very disturbing and I'm sure gave most people nightmares (he likes to play and torture his victims and make them suffer and then go for the final kill)!

4/5