Robert Crais’ books featuring Elvis Cole and Joe Pike have long been some of the best written and most entertaining thrillers in the business. His latest release, RACING THE LIGHT, is no exception.

Josh Schumacher, who is better known to his podcast listeners as Josh Shoe, is an intelligent young man who comes from a wealthy and mysterious family. He focuses all of his energy on the exposé episodes he puts together with his buddy, Ryan.

"The ending is a true race, as the title promises, and the thrills and surprises never let up from the moment Cole takes the cash from Adele to find her son. The finale and wrap-up is full of twists and is sure to please fans of this above-average series."

Josh is at his favorite coffee shop late one night to meet a prospective new informer who could blow the lid off of some top-secret Area 51 information. That person never shows up, and a familiar face appears instead. Skylar Lawless, a sultry woman and porn star, has an offer for Josh that he can’t refuse. Being a rather large and nerdy individual, Josh has never had a physical relationship with Skylar. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t interested, and he will follow her around like a puppy dog.

Regretfully, Josh and Skylar disappear shortly after this encounter, which prompts Josh’s mother, Adele, to reach out to Cole for assistance. She has given up hope that the police will get very far and knows he has a reputation for tracking down missing people outside the scope of law enforcement. Cole takes the case but has no idea what type of conspiracy Josh and his family are mixed up in, which makes for an unexpectedly dangerous investigation.

It isn’t long before Skylar is found murdered. When Cole learns of Josh’s possible connection with DARPA, he acknowledges that Josh may be in much deeper than he initially feared. With the assistance of his old partner, Joe Pike, and some of his special connections, Cole is able to get ahead of this now highly complex case.

The ending is a true race, as the title promises, and the thrills and surprises never let up from the moment Cole takes the cash from Adele to find her son. The finale and wrap-up is full of twists and is sure to please fans of this above-average series. The best part of RACING THE LIGHT is getting to spend quality time with Cole and, in a more limited role, Pike. It’s just like reconnecting with long-lost friends.