THE FORGOTTEN MAN
by Robert Crais
Doubleday
ISBN 0-385-50428-4
Hardback, 342 pages, $24.95
Genre: Mystery

At the scene of a crime, a gunshot victim tells an officer that he is looking for his son, Elvis Cole. By the time Elvis is notified and reaches the man, he has passed away. Elvis isn't sure whether he is related to the dead man or not. While growing up, his mother never divulged the identity of his real father, and Elvis has been searching all his life for this mysterious person.

Elvis and his partner, Joe Pike, along with LAPD detective Carol Starkey, begin an intense search to identify the dead man. What they unearth reveals a man with a secret past linked to murder. Unknown to Elvis, he has been targeted by a killer who is intent on keeping the secret intact.

The plot was easy to follow and the mystery fairly easy to resolve. This is a well-written novel, especially pertaining to Elvis's feelings about his childhood and his unknown father. The Elvis Cole series continues to strengthen with each outing and reveal, layer by layer, what makes Elvis Cole tick.