Crossover Cover: Robert B. Parker's Angel Eyes

 

Spenser briefly runs into Robert Crais’ P.I. Joe Pike. By the time this novel takes place, Spenser would be in his eighties, and likely retired. It stretches credibility that he and his entire supporting cast would have access to an immortality elixir. The novel is also based heavily on Dashiell Hammett’s Continental Op novel The Dain Curse, with some of the characters having the same names and roles. Since the Op is in the CU, this further cements the novel as an AU.

This crossover is one of over a thousand covered in my book Crossovers Expanded: A Secret Chronology of the World Volume 3, coming this summer from Meteor House! All three volumes are AUTHORIZED companions to Win Scott Eckert's Crossovers: A Secret Chronology of the World Volumes 1 and 2!

Crossover Covers: The Watchman/The Two Minute Rule

On the run from a hit squad, Joe Pike and the woman he’s protecting abandon his red Jeep Cherokee in a grocery store parking lot. It is stolen by ex-con Max Holman. It is mentioned Holman used to steal cars for two Hispanic gangsters named the Chihuahua Brothers. The Watchman is the first Joe Pike novel. Joe Pike is the partner of Crais’ P.I. Elvis Cole. Pike appears in all the Elvis Cole books and Cole in all the Joe Pike books. The Two Minute Rule is a standalone novel featuring former bank robber Max Holman. The Jeep Cherokee links the two books. The Chihuahua brothers are mentioned in Crais’ Elvis Cole novel L.A. Requiem.

Crossover Cover: Suspect

L.A. cop Scott James joins the Metro K-9 Unit and is paired with a former bomb-sniffing dog named Maggie, who like himself suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Together, they investigate the death of Scott’s partner. John Chen appears. Chen also appears in Crais’ Elvis Cole novels, as well as the Joe Pike series and the non-series novel Demolition Angel. Scott and Maggie later teamed up with Cole and Pike in The Promise.

Crossover Cover: The Last Detective

Elvis Cole runs into Harry Bosch. It is mentioned Bosch lives in the same area as Cole. Carol Starkey appears. Harry Bosch is not identified by name, but is described in such a way as to leave little doubt it is him. Elvis would also make a cameo in the Harry Bosch novel Lost Light. Bosch is also mentioned in the novel Cons, Scams & Grifts by Joe Gores, one of the Dan Kearny and Associates novels. Carol Starkey is from Crais’ novel Demolition Angel. With this novel, she becomes a recurring character in the series.

Crossover Cover: Demolition Angel

Carol Starkey investigates a bombing. John Chen appears, and Samantha Dolan is mentioned. Serial bomber Mr. Red eats at Big Kahuna Burger. Big Kahuna Burger has appeared in several films, most notably Pulp Fiction; this reference brings the events of this novel into the CU. Carol Starkey would go on to appear in other books by Crais. John Chen and Samantha Dolan are from Crais’ Elvis Cole novel L.A. Requiem.

For the record, I will be attending FarmerCon/Pulpfest from Friday until Sunday, and may or may not post here while I'm in Columbus. However, I will post a convention report on my personal blog, Diary of a Madman, when I return.

Crossover Cover: Lost Light

Harry Bosch sees Elvis Cole driving his yellow 1966 Corvette and salutes the P.I. Robert Crais’ detective Elvis Cole is not referred to by name, but his description is unmistakable. Prior to this book, Harry Bosch had an unnamed cameo in the Elvis Cole novel The Last Detective. Since Bosch is in the CU through Joe Gores' DKA novel Cons, Scams & Grifts, so is Cole.