"The Monkey's Raincoat"

"The Monkey's Raincoat" was the first book in Robert Crais' Elvis Cole (L.A. Private Eye) series and I can understand why this has been a popular series.  In this first book he's been approached by Ellen Lang whose husband and son have disappeared and she needs his help to find them.  She and her husband moved to California from a small town in Kansas when they were young marrieds and she's always relied on him to pay the bills, provide support, etc. so she doesn't even know how to write a check.  When Cole begins the search for her husband and son, he stirs up a hornet's nest and Ellen's home is searched and trashed by someone unknown so she sends her two daughters off to stay with a friend.  Then Ellen herself is missing!  Will Cole be able to find out who is behind this family's disappearance -- with or without his somewhat silent business partner or the local police?  It was a book that kept me guessing throughout and was one of those that was hard to put down.  Great mystery!  pazt