Elvis Cole is a fictional character created by Robert Crais in 1987 in the novel The Monkey's Raincoat. He has been featured as the main character in 12 detective novels. Cole is a character with a complete life of his own. Elvis Cole is a decorated Vietnam veteran who served in the U.S. Army. He is a very smart private eye and is well versed in several types of martial arts. Even though he is smart, he is often seen in trouble and having to be bailed out by his long time partner, Joe Pike.

Elvis has had a long time girlfriend, but she has left the Los Angeles area, and Elvis does not know if she will return.

Elvis lives alone, except for his cat, who likes his partner better than it does Elvis.

The first novel took place in the Los Angeles area where Cole lives. Not all of his detective work takes place there, he does travel to other places in the United States in order to solve his cases. Cole has worked on a variety of cases, from finding a missing husband and son, to locating the father of three young boys. He was also involved in locating a missing copy of a very valuable book. Some of his investigations have led him into dealings with smugglers of illegal aliens, and with the mafia.

More recently, Cole has been involved in a case in which his partner, Joe Pike, is indicated in a murder, and Elvis works to prove he is innocent. Elvis and Joe are also part of another case, where Cole's long-time love and her son have been kidnapped.