The Monkey's Raincoat (1987) Signed First Edition Reference

The Monkey’s Raincoat was published by Bantam in 1987, introducing Elvis Cole — the literate, wise-cracking Los Angeles private detective who reads poetry, cooks gourmet meals, and solves crimes with a combination of intelligence and martial arts expertise. The novel won the Anthony Award and the Macavity Award for Best First Novel.

The Book

The debut established Crais’s voice: a lighter, more humorous tone than the noir tradition (Cole quotes Jiminy Cricket and collects Disney memorabilia), balanced by genuine menace when violence erupts. Joe Pike — Cole’s enigmatic, silent partner — appears for the first time, establishing the partnership that would become the series’ center of gravity.

First Edition Identification

Publisher: Bantam Books, New York Publication date: 1987 Format: Hardcover in dust jacket (some sources note a simultaneous paperback)

Signed Copy Market Values

• Signed first edition, fine/fine: $200–$600
• Inscribed copies: $300–$800
• Unsigned first edition: $40–$100

The debut commands the strongest values in the Crais bibliography. The pre-fame first printing is modest, and signed copies from the 1987 period are scarce.