The Recurring Cast
Character · Elvis Cole and Joe Pike · 20 books

Joe Pike

Elvis’s silent partner, a former Marine and police officer · Robert Crais

Joe Pike is Elvis’s partner, a silent, deadly former Marine and LAPD officer who wears sunglasses and has red arrows tattooed on his arms.

Spoiler-free profile written for The Recurring Cast.

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Character facts

First appearance
The Monkey’s Raincoat (1987)
Latest appearance
The Big Empty (2025)
Books
20 (5 as lead, 15 major)
Series
Elvis Cole, Joe Pike
Author
Robert Crais
Circle
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike

Where to meet Joe Pike

Joe Pike first appears in The Monkey’s Raincoat (1987), in a major role, book 1 of the Elvis Cole series.

Buy The Monkey’s Raincoat

Every book with Joe Pike

In publication order, with the size of their role in each.

  1. 1987MThe Monkey’s Raincoatmajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  2. 1989MStalking the Angelmajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  3. 1992MLullaby Townmajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  4. 1993MFree Fallmajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  5. 1995MVoodoo Rivermajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  6. 1996MSunset Expressmajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  7. 1997MIndigo Slammajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  8. 1999LL.A. Requiemlead · Elvis ColeHis past with the LAPD comes backBuy
  9. 2003MThe Last Detectivemajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  10. 2005MThe Forgotten Manmajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  11. 2007LThe Watchmanlead · Joe PikeBuy
  12. 2008MChasing Darknessmajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  13. 2010LThe First Rulelead · Joe PikeBuy
  14. 2011LThe Sentrylead · Joe PikeBuy
  15. 2012MTakenmajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  16. 2015MThe Promisemajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  17. 2017MThe Wantedmajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  18. 2019LA Dangerous Manlead · Joe PikeBuy
  19. 2022MRacing the Lightmajor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  20. 2025MThe Big Emptymajor role · Elvis ColeBuy

Appears most often with

CharacterBooks together
Elvis ColeLos Angeles private investigator, “the world’s greatest detective”20
Lou PoitrasLAPD detective and Elvis’s friend16
Lucy ChenierLouisiana lawyer and Elvis’s partner7
Jon StoneMercenary and Pike’s friend5
Ben ChenierLucy’s son3
Carol StarkeyLAPD bomb squad detective, later homicide3