The Monkey's Raincoat
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''The Monkey's Raincoat'' is a 1987
detective novel Detective fiction is a subgenre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator or a detective—whether professional, amateur or retired—investigates a crime, often murder. The detective genre began around the same time as specu ...
by
Robert Crais Robert Crais (pronounced ; born June 20, 1953) is an American author of detective fiction and former screenwriter. Crais began his career writing scripts for television shows such as '' Hill Street Blues'', '' Cagney & Lacey'', '' Quincy'', '' M ...
. It is the first in a series of linked novels centering on the
private investigator A private investigator (often abbreviated to PI; also known as a private detective, an inquiry agent or informally a wikt:private eye, private eye) is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. ...
Elvis Cole and his partner Joe Pike. Cole is a tough, wisecracking ex- Ranger with an irresistible urge to do what is morally right. The novel won the
1988 Anthony Award Bouchercon is an annual convention of creators and devotees of mystery and detective fiction. It is named in honour of writer, reviewer, and editor Anthony Boucher; also the inspiration for the Anthony Awards, which have been issued at the conv ...
for "Best Paperback Original" at Bouchercon XIX and the 1988
Mystery Readers International Mystery Readers International is a fan/reader organization open to all readers, fans, critics, editors, publishers, and writers of Mystery fiction. It was founded by Janet A. Rudolph in Berkeley, California. It publishes the ''Mystery Readers Jo ...
Macavity Award The Macavity Awards, established in 1987, are a group of literary awards presented annually to mystery writers. Nominated and voted upon annually by the members of the Mystery Readers International, the award is named for the "Macavity, mystery cat ...
for "Best First Novel"; and has since been named one of the 100 Favorite Mysteries of the Century by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association.


Explanation of the novel's title

The title of the novel derives from a poem by the
Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...
poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...
Matsuo Bashō ; born , later known as was the most famous Japanese poet of the Edo period. During his lifetime, Bashō was recognized for his works in the collaborative '' haikai no renga'' form; today, after centuries of commentary, he is recognized as th ...
which is quoted at the start of the novel:


Plot

Ellen and her friend hire Elvis Cole to find her missing husband, Mort, and young son, Perry, who disappeared after Mort was supposed to pick Perry up from school. Ellen is aware of Mort's girlfriend, Kimberly Marsh, who Elvis learns has seemingly disappeared from town. Mort's business associate, Garrett Rice, hasn't seen Mort since a recent Hollywood party. Garrett is rumored to be using cocaine. Ellen's house was burglarized, but she's avoiding police involvement to protect Mort into trouble. At Ellen's house, Elvis discovers that Mort, a talent agent with a new but failing agency, is likely in financial trouble and that his registered gun is missing. Elvis's investigation is interrupted by a call from the police. Mort was murdered by gunshot in his car. Elvis goes to meet Ellen to tell her something, but she doesn't appear. A woman has been kidnapped from a grocery store parking lot. Elvis is obsessively watching Kimberly's apartment and stalking a man who collects her mail. He discovers Kimberly in hiding with her boyfriend, Larry, at a house nearby. Kimberly informed Elvis that she and Mort attended a Hollywood party at the lavish home of Dom, a wealthy former bullfighter who could potentially finance a film project. She slept with Dom, causing a major fight among the men at the party. She's in hiding because Mort warned her of danger. Domingo "Dom" Duran, a former bullfighter with mob ties, orchestrates the kidnapping of Elvis. Dom accuses Mort of stealing his cocaine and is holding Ellen and Perry hostage, demanding Elvis return the drugs to get them back. Elvis tailing a member of Dom's crew, saves Ellen and eliminates two assailants. Dom is still holding the boy. Meanwhile, Garrett Rice is found dead, and Elvis is investigating if he was dealing cocaine. The discovers that drugs from Kimberly's boyfriend, Larry, is also involved in something they are connected to danger. Elvis forcibly takes drugs from Kimberly at the house where she is staying. The person arranges a meeting to trade cocaine for Perry. Dom sends a squad to kill Elvis and Ellen. Elvis and his partner, and Ellen crash a drug deal at Dom's estate after Elvis escapes a trap, leading to a bloody shootout where they rescue Perry and kill Dom and ten others. The police investigation reveals Mort did not pick up Perry from school as expected. A father was killed while trying to rescue his kidnapped son, armed with his missing gun. Ellen's experiences have made her independent, and she's now ready to face the challenge of raising three children alone.


Characters

* Elvis Cole – Private Detective, protagonist * Janet Simon – Ellen Lang's friend; worked with Eric Filer at Universal * Ellen Lang – Hires Elvis Cole to find missing husband and son, Perry * Mort Lang – Ellen's husband * Perry, Cindy, and Carrie Lang – The Langs' children * Kimberly Marsh – Mort Lang's girlfriend * George Feider – Private Investigator with 40+ years of experience, worked with Elvis * Eric Filer – Worked with Janet at Universal * Garrett Rice – Mort Lang's best friend and co-producer on a project with Mort * Joe Pike – Detective and Elvis' partner * Cleon Tyner – Garrett Rice's hired "security" * Simms and Eddie – Cops on the scene after Ellen's house was tossed * Patricia Kyle – Former Cole client, works at General Entertainment Studios * Clarence Wu – Owner of Wu's Engraving * Lou Poitras – Cole's police contact, a detective out of North Hollywood


Alternative ending

Robert Crais' original outline for the novel had Joe Pike getting killed at the end, so that he would have a moment of tragedy that would push
Elvis Cole Robert Crais (pronounced ; born June 20, 1953) is an American author of detective fiction and former screenwriter. Crais began his career writing scripts for television shows such as ''Hill Street Blues'', ''Cagney & Lacey'', '' Quincy'', ''Miami ...
on to the rescue of the boy.


Awards and nominations

*
1988 Anthony Award Bouchercon is an annual convention of creators and devotees of mystery and detective fiction. It is named in honour of writer, reviewer, and editor Anthony Boucher; also the inspiration for the Anthony Awards, which have been issued at the conv ...
for "Best Paperback Original" * 1988
Mystery Readers International Mystery Readers International is a fan/reader organization open to all readers, fans, critics, editors, publishers, and writers of Mystery fiction. It was founded by Janet A. Rudolph in Berkeley, California. It publishes the ''Mystery Readers Jo ...
Macavity Award The Macavity Awards, established in 1987, are a group of literary awards presented annually to mystery writers. Nominated and voted upon annually by the members of the Mystery Readers International, the award is named for the "Macavity, mystery cat ...
for "Best First Novel" * 1988
Edgar Award The Edgar Allan Poe Awards, popularly called the Edgars, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America which is based in New York City. Named after American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849), a pioneer in the genre, the awards hon ...
nominee for "Best Paperback Original" * 1988
Shamus Award The Shamus Award is awarded by the Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) for the best detective fiction ( P. I. = Private investigator) genre novels and short stories A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a sing ...
nominee for "Best Original P.I. Paperback"


Footnotes

1987 American novels Novels by Robert Crais Anthony Award–winning works Macavity Award–winning works {{1980s-mystery-novel-stub