Rule 1: The client’s always right. Rule 2: When the client’s wrong, see Rule 1. When the client wants someone killed? There’s no rule for that. In the middle of a burger-store holdup, the only thing standing between ten-year-old Vivian Mollison and certain death is a police officer named Rafferty. She lives. He gets fired. For the fifteen years since Rafferty’s hustled the streets of Dallas as a … Rafferty.
She lives.
He gets fired.
For the fifteen years since Rafferty’s hustled the streets of Dallas as a private investigator. Sometimes it’s good work.
Most times, not so much.
So, when he gets a call from Vivian’s now-wealthy parents, Rafferty’s thinking dollar signs.
But will he do what it takes for a long-awaited payday?
If you like Robert B. Parker’s Spenser or Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole, you’ll love Rafferty: P.I.
Buy RAFFERTY’S RULES today.
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Praise for Rafferty: P.I.
“If you like Parker’s Spenser, or Robert Crais’ Elvis Cole you should love the Rafferty series.” – Mark A. Johnson.
“Rafferty is the best hardboiled PI of this era.” – Wendy Green.
“Any fan of Micky Spillane, the Jack Reacher novels, or Mark Yost’s Rick Crane novels should absolutely venture into the world of Rafferty P.I.” – Michael Raabe.
“Duncan truly captured the pure essence of the definitive smart-ass private eye in his character Rafferty. Take part Sam Spade with a little Mike Hammer, mix in some Spenser and you have an awesome character.” – Cliff Fausset.
“This author goes on my list of great private eye writers along with Kinky Friedman, Elmore Leonard, and Lawrence Sanders.” – Tricia Schiro.
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A private investigator with a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and wisecracking his way out of trouble, shows that deep down he’s a big softy.
Okay, so that doesn’t explain the plot terribly well, but the plot is secondary in this new series I’m reading. It’s all about character, and Rafferty has plenty of it. This is an action-packed, hard-boiled thriller, and once I got past a little sexism (it was written in the eighties, after all) and realised Rafferty really was one of the nice guys, I loved it. I’ve already read books two and three in the series as well.
Interesting side note about the series: the first six books were written by W. Glenn Duncan Senior, and have been re-released by his son, Bill Duncan. Bill is now continuing Rafferty’s story, with his first (book seven in the series) due out in July. What a great story!
Rafferty doesn’t like to play by the rules, unless they are his own, which he is fond of quoting, he does, however have a code, which required him to protect those need from the bad guys. Irreverent, smart-alecky, but good at getting the job done.
This whole series is good: Texas hard boiled!
RAFFERTY’S RULES (RAFFERTY: Hardboiled P.I. Series #1) was a fun, interesting read. P.I. Rafferty used to be a member of the police force…until he realized he did not work and play well with others. Rafferty prefers to color outside the lines. Modern contraptions like computers and conveniences like cell phones are not available to Rafferty, which dates the novel (1990’s). The humor and dialogue hold up through the years. And so does the action. Our protagonist’s girlfriend and colorful friends have also held up well. This is a quick fun read. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.
Rafferty is a great character, someone who would be good to be friends with. An easy reading story
Fun read, thoroughly enjoyed.
Great read. Loved the characters. Good plot. Would love to read more npbooks like this.
A suspenseful crime mystery with twists and turns that keep the reader’s attention. Action packed at times. A good plot. I recommend it.
Excellent book. I’m looking forward to reading more books on this character!
Enjoyed the book liked the characters .
Story line was fast moving .
Will buy future books.
Really enjoyed the characters and the plot
Highly recommend
Unique and entertaining and very enjoyable. Strong positive recommendation. Plan to read more by the author.
The “rules” were entertaining.
Light Read
Good characters and an entertainig story.
Engaging book. Didn’t want to put it down. Rafferty is an engaging character, unconventional but very likable. Good book.
Enjoyable….in the midst of a serious investigation, Rafferty refers to his off-the-cuff rules of investigating.
Rafferty is an anti-hero, he’s brutal, vindictive and generally an unpleasant person pretending to be a private investigator.
He murders multiple people in this book, never is called out on the killings and just continues on his way committing murder and mayhem. I guess he saves the widows and children – but if he does it seems it happens by sheer chance – it’s not done by brainpower or any real planning.
If you Google “Rafferty’s Rules” – you’ll find a dictionary entry at: https://www.macmillandictionary.com/us/dictionary/british/rafferty-s-rules
that defines it as “There are no rules…”
That about sums it up. It got a “good” from me (3 stars) because I finished it. Awful books just get deleted from my Kindle when I can’t take them anymore. I guess if you’re looking for a shoot ’em’up then count the bodies, amoral hero who is happy putting innocent people at risk in the gunsights of his targets, you’ve found your guy. I’ll pass on any more Rafferty tales.
Good book to read in bed at night. It kept my attention.
Good easy read