The Monkey's Raincoat is a 1987

1987 in literature

The year 1987 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*Tom Wolfe was paid $5 million for the film rights to his novel, The Bonfire of the Vanities, the most ever earned by an author, at the time.-Fiction:...

 detective novel

Detective fiction

Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...

 by Robert Crais

Robert Crais

Robert Crais is an American author of detective fiction. Crais began his career writing scripts for television shows such as Hill Street Blues, Cagney & Lacey, Quincy, Miami Vice and L.A. Law. He lists amongst his literary influences the authors Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, Ernest...

. It is the first in a series of linked novels centering on the private investigator

Private investigator

A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...

 Elvis Cole and his partner Joe Pike. Cole is a tough, wisecracking ex-Ranger

United States Army Rangers

United States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...

 with an irresistible urge to do what is morally right. The novel won the 1988 Anthony Award

Anthony Award

The Anthony Awards are literary awards for mystery writers presented at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention since 1986. The awards are named for Anthony Boucher , one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of America....

 for "Best First Novel" and the 1988 Mystery Readers International

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...

 Macavity Award

Macavity Awards

The Macavity Awards are a literary award for mystery writers. Nominated and voted upon annually by the members of the Mystery Readers International, the award is named for the "mystery cat" of T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The award is given in four categories -- best novel,...

 for "Best Paperback Original" at Bouchercon

Bouchercon

Bouchercon, the Anthony Boucher Memorial World Mystery Convention, 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....

 XVIV 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 haiku

Haiku

' , plural haiku, is a very short form of Japanese poetry typically characterised by three qualities:* The essence of haiku is "cutting"...

 by the Japanese

Japanese people

The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...

 poet

Poet

A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...

 Matsuo Basho

Matsuo Basho

, born , then , was the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan. 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 a master of brief and clear haiku...

 which is quoted at the start of the novel:

Plot summary

Cole is hired by Ellen Lang to find her missing husband and son and in the end, with Cole and Pike's help, she kills former matador

Matador

A torero or toureiro is a bullfighter and the main performer in bullfighting, practised in Spain, Colombia, Portugal, Mexico, France and various other countries influenced by Spanish culture. In Spanish, the word torero describes any of the performers who actively participate in the bullfight...

 and crime boss Domingo Garcia Duran, the man responsible for her husband's death and her son's kidnapping. The facts behind the events leading to Ellen's husband's involvement with Duran and his death are revealed and her son Perry is restored to her.

Trivia

• 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 on to the rescue of the boy.

Awards and nominations

• 1988 Anthony Award
  Anthony Award
  The Anthony Awards are literary awards for mystery writers presented at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention since 1986. The awards are named for Anthony Boucher , one of the founders of the Mystery Writers of America....
  
   for "Best First Novel"
• 1988 Mystery Readers International
  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...
  
  Macavity Award for "Best Paperback Original"

Release details

• 1987, United States of America, Bantam Books ISBN 0553275852, Pub Date 1987, Paperback
• 1989, United Kingdom, Piatkus Books ISBN 0-86188-817-0/978-0-86188-817-7, Pub Date February 1989, Hardback

Main character histories

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 - Detective 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/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