The First Rule, A Joe Pike Novel by Robert Crais; 2010; 308 pages; G.P. Putnams’ Sons, New York, NY; 978-0-399-15613-7; 1/15-1/15;  A+

There has been a string of home invasion robberies targeting drug dealers and other criminals, who have large amounts of cash and illegal items with them.  The seventh such robbery targets the home of Frank  Meyer, an importer of clothes.  Frank wife, two sons, and nanny are all executed.  The police look to see how Frank was dirty, and can’t find any evidence to tie Frank to the rest of the pattern.  Frank has a set of distinctive tattoos, a red arrow pointing forward on each of his deltoids.  The biggest mistake the crooks made was targeting someone who was important to Joe Pike.  Frank and Pike had worked together in a previous life as mercenaries, Pike was a commander who would do anything for his men and his men would do anything for him.  Pike is like a dog with a bone, he won’t stop until everything that can be done to clear Franks’ name is done and all the loose ends are tied up.  This book moves at about a hundred miles an hour and the biggest problem is that now I have to wait another year for a visit from Robert Crais.