Robert Crais is best known for his Elvis Cole novels, a series he began when his father died in 1985. Crais views his novels as self-therapy and a way to figure things out. His latest novel is Chasing Darkness opening with a fire that cleans out the old and uncovers things. Chasing Darkness is the eleventh Elvis Cole novel.

Elvis Cole comes from a nowhere background, goes into the military and comes out to make a life for himself as a private investigator. His style is honest and straightforward. He has a soft spot for a damsel in distress. He is well versed in the martial arts and has a tight-lipped partner named Joe Pike.

When asked if the series should be read in order, Crais's reply is no. He rather a reader start with one of his non Elvis Cole novels of which he has three: Demolition Angel, Two Minute Rule and Hostage. He recommends L.A. Requiem if starting with the Elvis novels. Crais believes these books are richer, broader in scope and have a complexity that is more representative of the work he does today.

Crais was formerly a TV writer for the series "Hill Street Blues," "Cagney and Lacey" and "Miami Vice." He left his lucrative position as a contract writer and TV producer in the mid-eighties to pursue his dream of being a novelist. His first Elvis Cole novel, "The Monkey's Raincoat," won the Anthony and Macavity Awards and was nominated for the Edgar Award. Today the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association considers it one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century.

Crais grew up among the blue-collar workers of an oil refinery in Southern Louisiana. Today he resides with his wife and three cats in the Santa Monica Mountains. His literary influences are Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Ernest Hemingway, Robert B. Parker and John Steinbeck.