Robert Crais is one of the most popular American writers of recent years, a career as a Hollywood-cum-TV screenwriter was followed by a strong private eye series with an unlikely hero in committed detective Elvis Cole. Then followed the stand alone thrillers Demolition Angel (2000) and this excellent thriller Hostage (2001) – as referred to in Barry Forshaw’s Rough Guide to Crime Fiction (2007).

Surprises and tension at every turn in this thriller : one of the robbers turns out to be a serial killer, the homeowner has mob ties, Talley’s wife and child are kidnapped, and no person or thing seems stable. Given the novel’s mounting tension, memorable characters, and skillfully drawn plot, it is no surprise that MGM and Bruce Willis have made a Hollywood blockbuster.

Hostage was published in 2001 in a handsome maroon leather binding with a marbled paper design with maroon spots on a gold background and maroon top edge.  Good empathetic appreciation by top mystery writer Michael Connelly.  Michael notes that after ten books Robert Crais makes it look easy.  That is exactly right. This is the numbered and signed edition of 110 copies, pictured on the left.