The big empty / Robert Crais.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Winner of the 2026 Edgar Award for Best Novel

Elvis Cole and his enigmatic partner, Joe Pike, race to find a terrifying, unidentified killer in this twisting, unpredictable thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Robert Crais.

Traci Beller was thirteen when her father disappeared in the sleepy town of Rancha, not far from Los Angeles. The evidence says Tommy Beller abandoned his family, but Traci never believed it. Now, ten years later, Traci is a high-profile influencer with millions of followers and the money to hire the best detective she can find: Elvis Cole.

Elvis heads to Rancha where an ex-con named Sadie Givens and her daughter, Anya, might have a line on the missing man. But when Elvis finds himself shadowed by a gang of vicious criminals, the missing persons cold case becomes far more sinister.

Elvis calls his ex-Marine friend, Joe Pike, for help, and they follow Tommy Beller's trail into the depths of a monstrous, hidden evil. The case flips on its head, victims become predators, predators become prey, and the question becomes: Can Elvis Cole save them all from this nightmare?

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Brutality and secrets animate MWA Grandmaster Crais's solid latest case for L.A. private eye Elvis Cole and ex-Marine Joe Pike (after Racing the Light). Traci Beller, a 23-year-old influencer with 8.2 million followers, remains unwilling to accept that her father, Thomas Jacob Beller, abandoned his family 10 years earlier, so she hires Elvis to look into it. Thomas owned a heating and air-conditioning company with Traci's uncle and disappeared while making service calls near Calabasas, Calif. Respected PI Jessica Byers--a former investigator for the L.A. County DA's Office--has already tried and failed to find Thomas, but Traci has faith in Elvis's methods. True to form, the strong-willed investigator examines overlooked witness statements and visits the hamburger stand where Thomas was last spotted, setting him on a trail that leads to Sadie Given, an ex-con with an emotionally disturbed daughter. Elvis taps Joe for help, and the more they uncover, the deeper they're drawn into a complicated conspiracy that, on top of possibly explaining Thomas's disappearance, poses an immediate threat to everyone they love. While the pace occasionally flags, unexpected twists and a high-voltage finale save the day. This will leave series fans eager for more. Agent: Aaron Priest, Aaron M. Priest Literary. (Jan.)

Booklist Review

What could happen to make Elvis Cole say he feels as though he has fallen into "a Southern Noir action movie"? Lots. He has been investigating the disappearance ten years earlier of Thomas Beller, the father of 23-year-old social media sensation, Traci Beller, a.k.a., The Baker Next Door. Five years ago there had been an exhaustive but unsuccessful investigation by a reputable private detective. No DNA or fingerprints of the missing man exist. But Traci is fast and easy with her cash, and Cole can never turn down a damsel or child in distress. Bring on a host of thugs who are protecting a young woman and her mother but who seem to somehow be involved, and off we go in the yellow Corvette. When things get really out of control, a red Jeep carrying Joe Pike roars in. What he uncovers are some truly dark deeds. The investigation takes a distressing emotional and physical toll on Cole, but the compelling tale is enriched by its true heart and humor. Crais' protagonist has often been compared to Robert B. Parker's Spenser, who is also known to grapple with the moral ambiguities of his work.

Kirkus Book Review

Hired to find the father of celebrity "muffin girl" Traci Beller 10 years after his disappearance, PI Elvis Cole uncovers a nefarious plot that puts his life and those he contacts at risk. The sweetly likable Traci, now 23, has amassed a huge following with her website, The Baker Next Door, and on social media. Against the advice and self-interest of the people who over-manage her career, she decides to find out what happened to her father. Cole quickly determines that he was last seen at the SurfMutt hamburger stand, where he gave a ride to Anya Given, a troubled 15-year-old whose mother, Sadie, was late in picking her up from the skate park across the street. With the reluctant help of a scattered young woman who used to work at the burger joint, Cole tracks down Anya and Sadie, who is eventually revealed to have a criminal past. For his efforts, he's jumped by a small gang of men who send him to the hospital with the worst beating of his life. (Asked by a nurse what his name is, the best he can guess is "Los Angeles.") Still in recovery, Cole and Joe Pike, his ex-Marine partner, trace his attackers to Sadie, with unexpected results. As ever, Crais draws the reader in via his protagonist's casual, dryly humorous manner and the book's relaxed ties to classic noir. Slowly but surely, the plot gains intensity and deadly purpose. Just when you think the missing persons case is solved, Crais ratchets things up with a devastating follow-through. This is the L.A. novelist's 20th Cole mystery, following such efforts asThe Watchman (2007) andRacing the Light (2022). It may be his most powerful. A potent and surprising novel by the ever-reliable Crais. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.