The Monkey's Raincoat (1987) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters edit see section history

• Elvis Cole: Wise cracking detective, a little boy at heart, engaging, age 35, 5'-11 tall, 176 lbs.,
• Mrs. Morton K. Lang: Long suffering wife of Morton Lang, age 39, low self-esteem, mousey,
• Domingo Garcia Duran: aka Dom. Retired Matador. 5'-10" tall, slim and strong looking. Well connected. Wealthy. Connected to organized crime via Rudy Gambino - a New York crime boss. Involved with money laundering and dope peddling. A "clean associate" who provides capital to Gambino and other criminal bosses.
• Janet Simon: Dominating and patronising 'friend' of Ellen Lang, looks like a dancer - lean and strong,
• Joe Pike: enigmatic friend of Elvis, former partner of Elvis at their Elvis Cole Detective Agency, never smiles, never laughs, seldom removes government issues pilot sun glasses, 6'-1" tall, 185 lbs.,
• Mr. Garrett Rice: Movie Producer. Colleague of Morton Lang and Mort's best friend. You've got to be desperate to want to work with him.
• Lou Poitras: Sergeant with LAPD out of North Hollywood Division, face like a frying pan and back as wide as a Coupe de Ville,
• Perry Lang: Son of Ellen and Morton Lang, age 9, 4'-8" tall, 64 lbs.,
• Arturo Sanchez: Owner of blue Nova, projects false Bronson toughness attitude,
• Simms: Add a description of this character.
• Kimberly Marsh: Mistress of Morton Lang. Actress. 5'-6" tall 120 lbs. Age 26. Size 8. Blonde hair and green eyes.
• Griggs
• O'Bannon: Member of LA Attorney General's office, aligned to Special Operations,
• Cleon Tyner: Very large black body guardto Garrett Rice. Old acquaintance of Elvis.
• Larson Fisk: aka Larry. Boyfriend of Kimberley Marsh. Sometime actor.
• Jonathan: Muscle for Fein.
• Charles Bronson: Muscle for Fein. 5'-8" tall
• Pinocchio: Elvis' office wall clock
• Mr. Barry Fein: Dope dealer.
• Rudy Gambino: Mobster. Boss of New York crime family. Drug dealer.
• Dan Wesson: Elvis' weapon of choice. Its a gun, not a character.
• Lt. Baishe: A disagreeable prick in the LAPD and working with Lou Poitras. "Tight, puckered face that made me think of Raid Ant & Roach Killer" (Elvis description)
• Carrie Lang: Daughter of Ellen and Mort. Age 11
• John Cassavetes: Real actor. Elvis' potential doppleganger.
• Cindy Lang: Daughter of Ellen and Mort Lang. Age 14.
• Ralph
• Luka - aka The Eskimo: Huge muscleman of Dom. 6"-8" tall, 240 lbs.
• Lenny
• George Feider
• Clarence Wu
• Norton
• Evans
• Kato
• Ken Tobey
• Morton Keith Lang
• Patricia Kyle
• Eskimo 's
• Eddie Ditko
• McGill
• Betty Tyner
• Manolo
• Stan
• Levis
• Luca
• Louis Foley
• Eric Filer
• Mr. Teeth
• Andy Summers
• Carlos

Quotes edit see section history

• “You take an IQ reducer <this morning>?”

  Elvis Cole

• “She suggested an anotomical impossibility.”

• Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers

• “When you marry someone, and put your trust in them, you have a right to expect that they will be there for you. The marriage doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be perfect. By virtue of the commitment, your partner is supposed to be there. Without having to look around, you have to know they’re there.

  Highlighted by 25 Kindle customers

• “ ‘Prove yourself brave, truthful, and unselfish, and someday you will be a real boy.’ The Blue Fairy said that. In Pinocchio.”

  Highlighted by 13 Kindle customers

• “Joe’s got a little credo he lives by. Never back up. That’s what the arrows on his shoulders are for. They point forward. They keep him from backing up.”

  Highlighted by 9 Kindle customers

• books by Elmore Leonard, Hombre and Valdez Is Coming.

  Highlighted by 8 Kindle customers

• “No. He gave nothing. He lost himself. The distinction is important.”

  Highlighted by 7 Kindle customers

• “It’s not age. Childhood, maybe. All the good things are in childhood. Innocence. Loyalty. Truth. You’re eighteen years old. You’re sitting in a rice paddy. Most guys give it up. I decided eighteen was too young to be old. I work at maintaining myself.”

  Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers

• You can’t beat Glenlivet for the smooth mellow glow it gives you, especially after you kill some people.

  Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers

• Pike asked no questions, made no comment. “Button up,” he said. “I’m coming in.” Pike thinks Clint Eastwood talks too much.

  Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers

• “Yoga led to tai chi, tai chi led to tae kwan do, which is Korean karate, and wing chun, which is an offshoot of Chinese kung fu. All very centering, stabilizing activities.” I spread my hands. “I am a bastion of calm in a chaotic world.”

  Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers

• Pike moving like something from another age, like part of a medieval mist, slewing down over the ground and between the trees with no apparent effort and without apparent effect. The jabberwock.

  Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• North Hollywood
• Kansas
• Nova
• Encino
• Vietnam
• Westwood
• Elverton
• Beachwood
• Los Angeles
• Ventura

First Sentence edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• social debris: Low-life and scumbags of society
• rack ass: Kick butt
• matador: Literally - Bringer of Death
• the vig: Interest on loan from a shylock or loan shark

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Elvis Cole's car - '66 Corvette - Jamaica Yellow: Describe this theme.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by Stalking the Angel.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Robert Crais (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Anthony (1988: Best 1st Novel, winner)
• Shamus Award (Finalist, 1988: Best Original P.I. Paperback)
• Macavity Awards (1988: Best First Novel)

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
• Dewey: 813

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Add a note to help parents select a book for a child.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Authors, A-Z › ( C ) › Crais, Robert
• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Mystery › Hard-Boiled
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary

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