The pleasure of reading a new Elvis Cole and Joe Pike novel from Robert Crais is the equivalent of a child approaching numerous presents under the tree on Christmas morning. THE BIG EMPTY does not disappoint, and there are so many thrills to unwrap within its pages.

Private investigator Elvis Cole takes on a new case involving Traci Beller, an online influencer with a massive following whose fans love to watch her bake. She is seeking information on her father, who has been missing for 10 years. Tommy Beller was having a typical day of calls to various customers who needed his heating and air conditioning service expertise. He worked with Traci’s Uncle Phil, and at the time of his disappearance, the police could not find any evidence of foul play.

"Crais delivers surprise after surprise before finally revealing the truth, making for quite a ride. THE BIG EMPTY is a complex tale filled with secrets and family connections that will haunt readers long after they have turned the last page."

In order for Elvis to retrace the efforts in the original case, he must get a hold of the paperwork from the authorities. He also needs to meet with the customers Tommy saw that day, along with interviewing his widow, Georgina, and her partner, Phil. Georgina is bitter, angry and not very forthcoming. She feels that Traci is wasting her money hiring someone like Elvis to take on this wild goose chase. Neither Georgina nor Phil believe that Tommy was involved in anything shady, and they remain in the dark about why he vanished without a trace.

Anyone who reads crime fiction understands that nothing is as it appears to be on the surface. That is very much at play in THE BIG EMPTY. Even though Elvis feels like he is spinning his wheels and taking money from a client who never should have hired him, some of the pieces start to fit together like a puzzle. This makes Elvis realize that there may have been more to Tommy and his reason for stepping away. His questions ruffle some feathers, and he is hospitalized after a run-in with a group of unnamed men.

The revelations come fast and furious, and Elvis is left with a case that started out as a dud and now might be one that opens up a series of cold cases that could involve a serial killer the police never caught. He also must do a balancing act with Traci, who thought the world of her father.

Crais delivers surprise after surprise before finally revealing the truth, making for quite a ride. THE BIG EMPTY is a complex tale filled with secrets and family connections that will haunt readers long after they have turned the last page.