When mystery novelist Robert Crais thinks about writing, the word “transmogrify” comes to mind. When he thinks about inspiration, he pictures “Calvin and Hobbes.”

“I loved to read 'Calvin and Hobbes' as a boy, and I've been using transmogrify to create fiction ever since,” Crais said.

Highlights Robert Crais will read from his latest Elvis Cole novel, “Chasing Darkness,” at three locations Sunday and Monday. He also plans to answer questions and sign copies. The venues are: Borders Books & Music 1072 Camino Del Rio N., Mission Valley Sunday at 5 p.m. Mysterious Galaxy 7051 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Kearny Mesa Monday at 1:30 p.m. Warwick's 7812 Girard Ave., La Jolla Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Crais remembers how in a popular “Calvin and Hobbes” vignette, Calvin begs Hobbes to try out the transmogrifier, a cardboard box with the imaginary power to do the impossible, which is to transform a person into something completely different.

“Calvin and Hobbes” might seem a surprising key to Crais' philosophy of writing crime fiction. But character development is at the core of his novels, and what is transmogrification but a dramatic change of character?

Elvis Cole, a central character of earlier Crais novels, is back in “Chasing Darkness,” out this week. The writer is scheduled to sign copies at local bookstores Sunday and Monday.

Crais doesn't just look closely at the characters in his novels. He also sees writing as a means of analyzing himself.

“It helps me sort out my own anxiety. It's kind of a way of getting paid to do self-therapy,” Crais said. “For me to create believable characters, I have to put something of myself into them. I just put whatever I'm going through into that box, press the transmogrifier button, and out comes an enriched character.”

When Crais' dad died 23 years ago, those disorienting feelings of bereavement went into “the box,” and Cole – perhaps his most popular character – emerged.

Cole is the type of guy you'd want around during a natural disaster. He hangs up the phone on death threats without blinking an eye. He does 12 sun salutations to warm up for high-speed car chases through the winding streets of L.A.

The Golden Rule, according to Cole, is he who has the gun rules. He's also a private detective in the classic mystery mold.

Central to “Chasing Darkness” is Cole's circuitous search for the truth. The book begins with the possibility that Cole produced evidence three years ago that helped free a serial murderer.

Cole works his leads in a rambunctious, envelope-pushing style: He interrogates witnesses, breaks into the police station looking for evidence and even visits victims' families. But he also looks inward, questioning the value of his quest.

“Imagine the burden that Elvis (Cole) is confronted with that day,” Crais said, “if in fact he was wrong, he had a hand in freeing someone who went on to kill another person. But Elvis believes he was right three years ago. A lot of it has to do with how much do you believe in yourself.”

Believing in himself came naturally for Crais. He abandoned a lucrative career as a scriptwriter and TV producer because he knew he wanted to give being a novelist a trial run.

“I gave myself a year off. One year to write a book. I knew I had to keep trying,” Crais said.

The risk paid off. Crais is now one of the most highly acclaimed mystery crime writers, with 15 novels to his credit, including the best-seller “L.A. Requiem.”

Though many of the TV shows Crais wrote for were also hits, including “Hill Street Blues,” “Miami Vice,” “L.A. Law” and “Cagney & Lacey,” Crais said he wasn't satisfied. Still, he knew leaving that career behind was a gamble.

“When I quit, I was terrified. It was nuts. All my producer friends thought I was insane,” Crais said. “My career was going great, but it was driving me crazy and I didn't enjoy it anymore.”

Crais grew up with four generations of police officers in his family, and many of his books focus on officers as characters. “Chasing Darkness” differs in that it focuses on the victims of the crimes.

“These ostensibly random victims in this book highlight the horror and the nightmare that could literally be visited on anyone,” Crais said.

The book also perpetuates the darker themes of his previous novels.

“One of the things I try to indicate in my books is our innate primal nature: We're people, we're human beings, and we try to live in a civilized way,” he said. “We also walk a path that is only a footstep away from a primal existence.”

Wendy Fry is a Union-Tribune intern.