The Recurring Cast
Character · Elvis Cole and Joe Pike · 16 books

Lou Poitras

LAPD detective and Elvis’s friend · Robert Crais

Lou Poitras is an LAPD detective and one of Elvis’s oldest friends.

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
16 (16 minor)
Series
Elvis Cole
Author
Robert Crais
Circle
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike

Where to meet Lou Poitras

Lou Poitras first appears in The Monkey’s Raincoat (1987), in a minor role, book 1 of the Elvis Cole series.

Buy The Monkey’s Raincoat

Every book with Lou Poitras

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

  1. 1987·The Monkey’s Raincoatminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  2. 1989·Stalking the Angelminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  3. 1992·Lullaby Townminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  4. 1993·Free Fallminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  5. 1995·Voodoo Riverminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  6. 1996·Sunset Expressminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  7. 1997·Indigo Slamminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  8. 1999·L.A. Requiemminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  9. 2003·The Last Detectiveminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  10. 2005·The Forgotten Manminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  11. 2008·Chasing Darknessminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  12. 2012·Takenminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  13. 2015·The Promiseminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  14. 2017·The Wantedminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  15. 2022·Racing the Lightminor role · Elvis ColeBuy
  16. 2025·The Big Emptyminor role · Elvis ColeBuy

Appears most often with

CharacterBooks together
Elvis ColeLos Angeles private investigator, “the world’s greatest detective”16
Joe PikeElvis’s silent partner, a former Marine and police officer16
Lucy ChenierLouisiana lawyer and Elvis’s partner7
Ben ChenierLucy’s son3
Carol StarkeyLAPD bomb squad detective, later homicide3