Crais has the power to make me rip through pages that matches Michael Connelly. I wish I knew exactly what makes their books so addictive. Good characters and intriguing stories sure but it's like on every page you want to keep going. One theory I have is that there is always some conflict going on with the characters or some challenge they have to face-not the plot's main conflict but interactions between the characters or minor obstacles they run into. Pike is charged with protecting Larkin and that they are mismatched a pair as possible which generates much of the conflict in the story. Right before it gets overdone, Crais reveals something that eases the tension. All of the conflict works because it fits in the flow of the story without seeming too easy or unbelievable. Besides that, the central mystery slowly builds until it's pretty great though I am still lost on a couple details. I just did not like the resolution too much but that's just a personal issue more than the writer. 
 (view spoiler)[Not a fan of the vigilante murders at this point. In 2017, I am living in a time when power is being used outside the rule of law as much as possible and it ain't from someone like Pike stopping bullies, a bully has the power somehow-and it's disgusting. Of course that baddie was so bad and Pike is so pure, it's palatable for most but still that kind of stuff is starting to leave a bad taste. (hide spoiler)] 
 I think Pike needs to get a series on Netflix at this point.