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Rick Cantelli, P.I. #1

Rick Cantelli, P.I.

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Ex Seal Rick Cantelli and CIA Counterintelligence Agent Lois Madigan form Madigan & Cantelli Security and Investigations. After twenty successful years, Rick's old high school girlfriend shows up to turn their world upside down. Suddenly, they're back killing bad guys, facing down mobsters, and escorting movie stars. They were a deadly team in their CIA years, and they prove they’re just as deadly now.

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 27, 2013

393 people are currently reading
125 people want to read

About the author

Bernard Lee DeLeo

111 books92 followers
Born and raised in Warren, Ohio, Mr. DeLeo writes Pulp Fiction in many genres. Seventy of his novels are available on the Amazon marketplace and are free for Kindle Unlimited members. He served aboard the USS Ranger (CVA61) from 1969 until November of 1972. After the Navy, he earned an AA degree in Auto Technology from Chabot College in Hayward, CA, and a BA degree in English from Cal State Hayward.

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5 stars
254 (46%)
4 stars
195 (35%)
3 stars
60 (11%)
2 stars
24 (4%)
1 star
12 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for Cindy B. .
3,899 reviews220 followers
October 18, 2015
I like the guy, plot and believable cast. The first and I will continue the series. Recommend for the hard boiled sub-genre.
Profile Image for Logan.
1,679 reviews58 followers
August 5, 2019
I'm a bit surprised at all the exuberant reviews. It was extremely cliched and not written the best but obviously it struck a chord with some people. Perhaps it's just not my genre.

The book doesn't have a major plot, it is just the day-to-day happenings (turbulent happenings) of a PI: ex-Navy Seal Rick Cantelli who is pushing 60, shoots a bad-guy nearly every day of the week, has a very rocky relationship with his female business partner, and is irresistibly attractive to every female who sees him. Seriously, they all want to be in his bed, and he's happy to oblige unless he thinks he's too old for them, in which case he suddenly has moral values he refuses to break.

The jokes about being old wore thin, but they came constantly. So did the minor wise-cracks that for whatever reason had various characters constantly cackling, chortling, gasping for breath, and literally on the floor. No one was immune to it either, from teenage to middle-age women. I found it shallow. Not for me.
6 reviews
March 12, 2018
Fun fast paced & entertaining!

This is my fourth helping of the author's work, and I'm thouroughly enjoying it. Plenty of action, interesting characters and plotlines, and lots of wise-acre one-liners and tough guy wit. I really like the first person narrative. Getting a tour of Rick Cantelli's innermost thoughts is like a combination ride on a roller coaster and a trip through Fun Land. I will be back for more!
11 reviews
May 15, 2018
Ok

Way to many really dumb jokes that were not even funny so the author had to add that people were rolling on the floor laughing . Also, the situations the main character got involved in was over the top.
I am afraid I have removed this author from my reading list. Sorry about that. If he could stop trying to be a comedian with his silly juvenile jokes, l think I may have kept reading his books!
2 reviews
August 24, 2017
American genre leader in tough private ege adventures

Swift full of action believable and completely original I will before following all his writings now
Best for picture of American modern gangster life
271 reviews
December 10, 2017
PI

It was tame compared to Nick and John but I enjoyed it just the same. I like Rick and I don't think he's to old, especially since I'm older myself. It was exciting and humorous. Not to give away anything but I'm not sure I like his partner! We'll see in the next one.
999 reviews23 followers
December 12, 2017
Rick cantelli, pi

Definitely a different thriller if that is the category in which you would place it. If all nearly 60 years old had a life like that, California would have definitely changed their gun laws. A writer's version of the movie"reds".
Profile Image for Darren Purcell.
11 reviews
January 29, 2018
Great fast paced read

Rick Cantelli is one for the ages! Fast paced, great dialogue. Characters are great. Reminiscent of the great Raymond Chandler. Can't wait to read the next Cantelli adventure
Profile Image for Michele Feliu.
56 reviews1 follower
March 28, 2018
Action packed with great characters. Rick Cantelli Book 1

I loved the book from start to finish. The book had action and humor and everything in between. I can hardly wait to read the next Rick Cantelli, P.I. Detective Book 2.
4 reviews
July 3, 2018
Good story 👍

Entertaining well written kept me entertained for a week, made up of short stories that were easy to find a place to break, but could look forward reading the next chapter to keep me in suppencs
Profile Image for Natasha Isaacs.
194 reviews3 followers
February 3, 2019
Refreshing read

This book is so refreshing and a great intro to an amazing series. The characters are easy to get behind and easy to adopt into a fantasy family. Retired CIA agents turned security company owners who are not only deadly but will have you laughing until you cry.
18 reviews
January 27, 2024
In memory of Bernard…

Rereading all of his novels for the third or forth time. He is still my favorite author of all time. I miss his humor and sometime silliness in his writings. 😉💪🤠
3 reviews
February 9, 2017
Play it again Bernard

I Loved the action and the attitude! Keep on truckin' Rick and Lois! Good luck with T Bone and Karen
75 reviews
October 17, 2017
Excellent

A fun and exciting book. All of the characters were fun, a good mix of humor and action. I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good fun read.
1,796 reviews7 followers
November 8, 2017
Author has another very entertaining book with great characters and action. Recommend your consideration.
623 reviews4 followers
December 4, 2017
Another great book.

These books by Bernard DeLeo never disappoint, plenty of humor, action and thrills. Can't wait to read the next book.
Profile Image for Jody Patanjo.
294 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2018
Funny writing couldn't save it

Enjoyed the writing, disliked the different stories. I really wanted to like it. It just seemed to drag on and on.
Profile Image for Chaplain Stanley Chapin.
1,978 reviews22 followers
March 4, 2018
Light reading

When you read a quarter of the book, you have it all. The rest is pretty much the same with variations.
439 reviews5 followers
June 7, 2018
Enjoyable. I didn’t want it to end

You will laugh and smile and wish the book to go on and on.....Must read. Easy to understand and keep characters straight.
Profile Image for Lucille Prestie.
5 reviews
August 8, 2018
Rick Cantelli, P.I.

This is the First book I've read by this author. It was good and I will be checking out some of his other books.
133 reviews3 followers
November 4, 2018
Cantelli & Crew plus a few



Rick continues his daring deeds adding a few
New characters along the way. All excitement and good times in Cantelli Land!
5 reviews
November 5, 2018
I like all your books. Tim

Liked the book and decided to leave a message. I also have read the other books that have been written. Tim
637 reviews5 followers
December 28, 2018
Engertaining and well written. Over the top kind of romp. Fun.
Profile Image for Matthew Murray.
1,002 reviews
August 17, 2019
Okay

This is my first time reading one of your books I though I would be reading p.i. story but it turned to a comical fantasy.
Profile Image for Bettye McKee.
2,190 reviews159 followers
December 2, 2015
Super duper

Rick Cantelli is a great character and gets into some new trouble almost every day. This is good private eye fiction with more action than I expected.

Rick and his partner Lois run an investigation and security business with a nice variety of clientele. The trouble starts when Rick gets a call from his high school sweetheart Stacy and doesn't slow down until the last page.

I'll be reading more of this series along with Bernard Lee DeLeo's other books. I'm glad to have discovered this author.

Profile Image for Charles.
Author 41 books289 followers
December 8, 2013
Another action packed tale from Bernard Lee DeLeo. This is the first in a new series by DeLeo, but it contains his usual blend of action and humor. Rick Cantelli is an ex Navy Seal who has transitioned to the life of a private investigator. Unlike most PIs in fiction, Cantelli doesn't work alone but is a member of a team. Much of the humor in the story arises through his interactions with others on his team, but there is also a rich cast of extras and secondary characters.
486 reviews2 followers
September 29, 2015
Cantrell Land

Thanks is the adventures and misadventures of Rick Cantelli along with his partner, Lois Madigan. They own a private security firm they started years ago after working with the CIA. After running into an old girlfriend from high school, they start getting into some interesting, dangerous situations. This book started out iffy but got better with each chapter. I give it 2 1/2 stars.
Profile Image for Susan Moore.
509 reviews7 followers
November 13, 2015
Unique and funny mystery.

Two PIs are hired by different clients to deal with different problems. The man is ex Navy Seal, and the woman was his handler when they worked for the CIA. OH yeah, they're brother and sister-in-law. They have a large staff and delegate duties according to abilities. The duo personally handle the dangerous jobs and aren't shy about crossing boundaries. Interesting and fun read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews

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