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Rafferty #1
Rafferty's Rules
Rafferty’s Rule 23: You show me a man who always fights fair and I’ll show you a man who loses too often.
Fifteen years ago, Rafferty saved Vivian Mollison from a crazed junkie who tried to blow her head off.
A lot has changed since then. Rafferty’s no longer a cop, and Vivian’s now twenty-five, studying sociology at SMU, with a father who made a fortune in computers.
So when Rafferty gets summoned to the Mollison estate and told to chase down the five outlaw bikers who kidnapped Vivian and put her into a drug-induced twilight zone, it’s mixed emotions.
The payday will be big, but he’ll have to earn every penny of it. The bikers aren’t likely to come quietly and who knows how many people could get hurt in the crossfire.
But behind all that fun and excitement, there’s still a girl who needs his help.
Rafferty saved Vivian once. Can he do it again?
If you’re a fan of Spenser, Mike Hammer or Matt Scudder, then this hardboiled pulp thriller, from Shamus Award Winner W. Glenn Duncan, will keep you reading late into the dark night.
Fifteen years ago, Rafferty saved Vivian Mollison from a crazed junkie who tried to blow her head off.
A lot has changed since then. Rafferty’s no longer a cop, and Vivian’s now twenty-five, studying sociology at SMU, with a father who made a fortune in computers.
So when Rafferty gets summoned to the Mollison estate and told to chase down the five outlaw bikers who kidnapped Vivian and put her into a drug-induced twilight zone, it’s mixed emotions.
The payday will be big, but he’ll have to earn every penny of it. The bikers aren’t likely to come quietly and who knows how many people could get hurt in the crossfire.
But behind all that fun and excitement, there’s still a girl who needs his help.
Rafferty saved Vivian once. Can he do it again?
If you’re a fan of Spenser, Mike Hammer or Matt Scudder, then this hardboiled pulp thriller, from Shamus Award Winner W. Glenn Duncan, will keep you reading late into the dark night.
RAFFERTY'S RULES is a hardboiled P.I. mystery in the tradition of the best pulp thrillers.
Rafferty’s a Dallas P.I. and an ex-cop who spent enough time on the streets to understand how things work. And when they don’t, Rafferty’s the guy you’ll want on your side. He may quote Latin occasionally, smoke too much and be a cynical sonofabitch, but when it all hits the fan and you need someone you can trust, you’ll be glad you called Rafferty.
Originally published by Ballantine, this 30th Anniversary release of RAFFERTY'S RULES marks the first time that W. Glenn Duncan’s work has been available in digital format. We doubt that Rafferty would quietly accept the ongoing march of technology that provides this opportunity, but even a grizzled P.I. has to grow up sometime.
This hardboiled PI series will continue with the first new Rafferty story in nearly three decades. FALSE GODS, written by W. Glenn Duncan Jr. (son of the original author) sees Rafferty looking for a missing girl, up to his ass in religious fundamentalists and needing all the help he can get from his old pals Cowboy and Mimi—and a few new ones—to make sure he gets out alive.
226 pages, Paperback
First published June 12, 1987
About the author
W. Glenn Duncan
8 books19 followersW. Glenn Duncan was a former journalist and pilot who lived in Iowa, Ohio, Florida, Texas and California, before settling in Australia with his wife and three children.
See also Bill Duncan
See also Bill Duncan
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
April 27, 2021
When Rafferty was a cop, he was in the right place to save a young girl caught between a junkie and what he wanted – now a private investigator, he needed to save her once again. She’d disappeared – been kidnapped – by bikies who had done unspeakable things to her, then ten months later dumped her on the side of the road. Rafferty had been hired by Vivien Mollison’s wealthy parents to find the bikie gang who did so much damage to their daughter. It was one man against a bikie gang – could Rafferty do it? But when he brought out the big guns, his friends to assist, they were more evenly matched. What would be the outcome?
Rafferty’s Rules is set in Texas and is the 1st in the Rafferty series by Aussie author W. Glenn Duncan, originally written in 1987. The first six in the series are written by Senior with #7 onward written by his son, W. Glenn Duncan Jnr. This one starts the series with a bang! Rafferty is a cocky smart guy, full of confidence and sarcasm – but when he’s serious, look out! Rafferty’s Rules is fast paced, filled with action and quite a few bodies! I quite enjoyed it and look forward to reading the 2nd sometime soon. Recommended.
Rafferty’s Rules is set in Texas and is the 1st in the Rafferty series by Aussie author W. Glenn Duncan, originally written in 1987. The first six in the series are written by Senior with #7 onward written by his son, W. Glenn Duncan Jnr. This one starts the series with a bang! Rafferty is a cocky smart guy, full of confidence and sarcasm – but when he’s serious, look out! Rafferty’s Rules is fast paced, filled with action and quite a few bodies! I quite enjoyed it and look forward to reading the 2nd sometime soon. Recommended.
June 20, 2020
My first encounter with this author was surprisingly enjoyable. If I wasn’t already a fan of Spencer and Elvis Cole, I might have thought this character to be uniquely entertaining. Unfortunately, Rafferty is essentially a copy of Spencer, even down to the annoying girlfriend.
The storyline is decent, but the characters are a bit two-dimensional, and the writing lacks the ingenuity of Parker or Atkins. Nevertheless, I found the book to be enjoyable and, having just finished a Spencer novel, was in a pretty good place for comparison. In fact, the author does about as good a job as possible in emulating the flavor of the wisecracking private detective so beloved by fans of Parker and later, Atkins.
The parallels are unavoidable: for back-up, Rafferty calls on a character named “Cowboy,” who is tough as old boot leather and favors a Ruger Blackhawk large caliber revolver. In the domestic department, he enjoys a saccharine-laced relationship with a woman who is beautiful, sexy, and possessed of unending patience. Sound too familiar? It is if you read any of the Spencer novels but, as is the case with those, this book is all about irreverent fun in the midst of a rather serious crime-solving story. Rafferty manages to be smarter than the cops, tougher than the bad guys, and never without a witty remark.
So 3.5 stars rounded down for an overall decent read.
The storyline is decent, but the characters are a bit two-dimensional, and the writing lacks the ingenuity of Parker or Atkins. Nevertheless, I found the book to be enjoyable and, having just finished a Spencer novel, was in a pretty good place for comparison. In fact, the author does about as good a job as possible in emulating the flavor of the wisecracking private detective so beloved by fans of Parker and later, Atkins.
The parallels are unavoidable: for back-up, Rafferty calls on a character named “Cowboy,” who is tough as old boot leather and favors a Ruger Blackhawk large caliber revolver. In the domestic department, he enjoys a saccharine-laced relationship with a woman who is beautiful, sexy, and possessed of unending patience. Sound too familiar? It is if you read any of the Spencer novels but, as is the case with those, this book is all about irreverent fun in the midst of a rather serious crime-solving story. Rafferty manages to be smarter than the cops, tougher than the bad guys, and never without a witty remark.
So 3.5 stars rounded down for an overall decent read.
October 2, 2017
Anything but by the rules!
A wisecracking shamus who just might make you laugh out loud as he runs amuck killing the bad guys and saving the damsels. A lot of fun but still serious stuff.
A wisecracking shamus who just might make you laugh out loud as he runs amuck killing the bad guys and saving the damsels. A lot of fun but still serious stuff.
September 20, 2019
This was originally written in the late ‘80’s and recently updated. It is great, fun reading. Rafferty is an old fashioned politically incorrect PI in Dallas. His friends are all equally incorrect. In this novel he is hired to find the motorcycle gang to whom a millionaire’s daughter was sold and who kept her for approximately ten months while they (and the drugs the forced into her) turned her zombielike. It is filled with action and comedy and is just enjoyable reading. Everyone who likes hard boiled PI’s should take the time to spend some with Rafferty. Thanks to the author and publisher for an E-Galley for an honest review.
July 6, 2018
"Breaking the Rules"
This had to have been written at least twenty years ago. It's a throwback. When men were men etcetera. It was so redolent of the great private eyes stories of the Fifties. I loved the Rafferty character and with his supporting cast of males, females and bikes it produced a sure-fire hit for me.
This had to have been written at least twenty years ago. It's a throwback. When men were men etcetera. It was so redolent of the great private eyes stories of the Fifties. I loved the Rafferty character and with his supporting cast of males, females and bikes it produced a sure-fire hit for me.
January 14, 2010
I soooo wanted to love this book, but I didn't. It's a series, which after reading this first one, kinda surprises me a bit. The story itself isn't bad. There are several quite interesting characters. But the writing, oh it's not real great. Primarily the dialogue between characters is pretty rough. It seems forced, campy at times, predictable, and just not real imaginative. Which is a detachment from the parts of the story that describe places and things. That writing is okay, if not good. So, I've been meaning to read this book for a long time. I liked the first 30-40 pages because its just the sorta book I go for, then things got forced, campy, predictable, etc. If you're looking for a good private-eye/detective book, there are many others out there better than this one. I say skip it.
September 25, 2017
Excellent
This is an excellent quick read. It has action, humor and a little romance. The characters interact well and the story flows smoothly. Loved the humor and quirkiness of the characters, all of whom remind you of someone else. Loved it.. highly recommended.
This is an excellent quick read. It has action, humor and a little romance. The characters interact well and the story flows smoothly. Loved the humor and quirkiness of the characters, all of whom remind you of someone else. Loved it.. highly recommended.
June 18, 2018
Loved it! I am a die-hard Mike Hammer fan and Rafferty reminds me a lot of him. Hardnosed, stubborn, determined to do what's right, and not afraid to get into trouble doing it. This story has everything I love and look for in my mysteries-plenty of action, a great central character with his woman by his side (yeah, I know; a little backwards thinking, but I can't help it), and the bad guys getting their's in spades. I highly recommend this first in series and I can't wait to sink my teeth into the others.
June 21, 2022
Rating – 7 out of 10
Dates Read – 10 – 13 June 2022
How Acquired – from an EBay seller in Fort Mohave, Arizona. My set of the six Rafferty books arrived on 31 May 2022
Between 1987 and 1990, W. Glenn Duncan (1940-2019) published six hard boiled novels featuring a Dallas private eye named Rafferty. I’d read one of the books (Poor Dead Cricket) back in 2018. Since then, I’d been looking for a chance to buy a full set of the original Rafferty novels. Back in May, I found a set of six on Ebay for just $15 and I took the plunge.
Rafferty’s Rules sets the stage for the entire series. We meet our protagonist and learn that he was once a hero cop, but that he could not come to terms with life on the police force. At the start of the novel, he’s taking somewhat-shady work around the Dallas area.
Enter the Mollison family. It turns out that 15 years before, Rafferty saved the life of ten-year-old Vivian Mollison during a hold up. Since then, Vivian has grown up and gone to college. While researching outlaw motorcycle gangs, Vivian is brutalized and left a shell of her former self. Vivian’s wealthy parents hire Rafferty to hunt down the outlaws and exact revenge.
The best thing about the Rafferty books is that they “hold” the reader’s attention well. You always want to know what’s going to happen. And Duncan could write some snappy prose. Perhaps the most-original part of the novels would be Rafferty’s rules. (For those who don’t know, “Rafferty’s rules” is English / Australian slang for playing by no rules). Well, in the novels, Rafferty comes up with his own sets of rules to live by. The rules include – #23 Your show me a man who always fights fair, and I’ll show you a man who loses too often and #45: Always expect the unexpected.
While I like the Rafferty books, they have some drawbacks. For one, they are ultraviolent – and I don’t think that Duncan was particularly adept at writing action scenes. The descriptions are explicit, but clinical. Even worse, they don’t engage the reader. (In this sense, Duncan shared a weakness with Elmore Leonard).
Likewise, too many elements of the Rafferty books are cliche. This can be seen in Rafferty’s Rules, which contains the wicked police officer, the evil businessman, and cretin outlaw bikers. At times, I wished for characters with more depth. Even Rafferty can seem shallowly drawn at times.
The best thing that I can say about the two Rafferty books that I’ve read so far is that they make me want to read the other four. (In 2018, Duncan’s son – Glenn, Jr. – resumed the series. Thus far, he has published three more Rafferty novels). The Rafferty novels aren’t perfect, but they are fun, light reading that is perfect for a mental getaway
Dates Read – 10 – 13 June 2022
How Acquired – from an EBay seller in Fort Mohave, Arizona. My set of the six Rafferty books arrived on 31 May 2022
Between 1987 and 1990, W. Glenn Duncan (1940-2019) published six hard boiled novels featuring a Dallas private eye named Rafferty. I’d read one of the books (Poor Dead Cricket) back in 2018. Since then, I’d been looking for a chance to buy a full set of the original Rafferty novels. Back in May, I found a set of six on Ebay for just $15 and I took the plunge.
Rafferty’s Rules sets the stage for the entire series. We meet our protagonist and learn that he was once a hero cop, but that he could not come to terms with life on the police force. At the start of the novel, he’s taking somewhat-shady work around the Dallas area.
Enter the Mollison family. It turns out that 15 years before, Rafferty saved the life of ten-year-old Vivian Mollison during a hold up. Since then, Vivian has grown up and gone to college. While researching outlaw motorcycle gangs, Vivian is brutalized and left a shell of her former self. Vivian’s wealthy parents hire Rafferty to hunt down the outlaws and exact revenge.
The best thing about the Rafferty books is that they “hold” the reader’s attention well. You always want to know what’s going to happen. And Duncan could write some snappy prose. Perhaps the most-original part of the novels would be Rafferty’s rules. (For those who don’t know, “Rafferty’s rules” is English / Australian slang for playing by no rules). Well, in the novels, Rafferty comes up with his own sets of rules to live by. The rules include – #23 Your show me a man who always fights fair, and I’ll show you a man who loses too often and #45: Always expect the unexpected.
While I like the Rafferty books, they have some drawbacks. For one, they are ultraviolent – and I don’t think that Duncan was particularly adept at writing action scenes. The descriptions are explicit, but clinical. Even worse, they don’t engage the reader. (In this sense, Duncan shared a weakness with Elmore Leonard).
Likewise, too many elements of the Rafferty books are cliche. This can be seen in Rafferty’s Rules, which contains the wicked police officer, the evil businessman, and cretin outlaw bikers. At times, I wished for characters with more depth. Even Rafferty can seem shallowly drawn at times.
The best thing that I can say about the two Rafferty books that I’ve read so far is that they make me want to read the other four. (In 2018, Duncan’s son – Glenn, Jr. – resumed the series. Thus far, he has published three more Rafferty novels). The Rafferty novels aren’t perfect, but they are fun, light reading that is perfect for a mental getaway
March 31, 2020
#1 in the Rafferty series. This 1987 series debut by author W. Glenn Duncan is a promising start. Ex-cop Rafferty, who has left the Dallas PD by mutual agreement, has his own rules for everything. He is a hard-boiled, pulp era detective who owes a debt to Mike Hammer and Spenser (even as regards their single but committed romantic relationships). His sidekicks, Cowboy and Mimi, form a most distinctive pair of backups.
Rafferty's a Dallas P.I. and an ex-cop who spent enough time on the streets to understand how things work. Fifteen years ago, Rafferty saved Vivian Mollison from a crazed junkie who tried to blow her head off. A lot has changed since then. Rafferty’s no longer a cop, and Vivian’s now twenty-five, studying sociology at SMU, with a father who made a fortune in computers. So when Rafferty gets summoned to the Mollison estate and told to chase down the five outlaw bikers who kidnapped Vivian and put her into a drug-induced twilight zone, it’s mixed emotions. The payday will be big, but he’ll have to earn every penny of it. The bikers aren’t likely to come quietly and who knows how many people could get hurt in the crossfire. But behind all that fun and excitement, there’s still a girl who needs his help.
Rafferty's a Dallas P.I. and an ex-cop who spent enough time on the streets to understand how things work. Fifteen years ago, Rafferty saved Vivian Mollison from a crazed junkie who tried to blow her head off. A lot has changed since then. Rafferty’s no longer a cop, and Vivian’s now twenty-five, studying sociology at SMU, with a father who made a fortune in computers. So when Rafferty gets summoned to the Mollison estate and told to chase down the five outlaw bikers who kidnapped Vivian and put her into a drug-induced twilight zone, it’s mixed emotions. The payday will be big, but he’ll have to earn every penny of it. The bikers aren’t likely to come quietly and who knows how many people could get hurt in the crossfire. But behind all that fun and excitement, there’s still a girl who needs his help.
May 6, 2021
A lot of fun reading this PI Thriller!
A fun to read story about PI Rafferty and it is told through Rafferty who is a don’t give a damn type of guy but isn’t really that way and always has asset of rules to every situation and most seem made up on the spur of the moment.
It starts with Rafferty saving a young girl called Vivian life and once again Rafferty is called upon to save her.
Trouble is her mother Vivian Mollison is willing to pay anything not just for to get justice she wants them to pay, “she wants them dead!”
Rafferty needs to find these bad arse bikers starting with the ones who sold Vivian to a band of bikers in turn then sold her onto some really bad biker group of five one who is particularly evil who drugged and continually raped her leaving her like a vegetable before dumping her like she was nothing.
It is not your usual standard PI thriller and is a mix of humour, bloodthirsty killings and all the usual detective work and close calls.
Extremely enjoyable thriller despite the plot heading but behind all of this it is well thought out and written in a different way than most PI stories and Rafferty is not your normal PI either. Give it ago I’m sure you will enjoy!
A fun to read story about PI Rafferty and it is told through Rafferty who is a don’t give a damn type of guy but isn’t really that way and always has asset of rules to every situation and most seem made up on the spur of the moment.
It starts with Rafferty saving a young girl called Vivian life and once again Rafferty is called upon to save her.
Trouble is her mother Vivian Mollison is willing to pay anything not just for to get justice she wants them to pay, “she wants them dead!”
Rafferty needs to find these bad arse bikers starting with the ones who sold Vivian to a band of bikers in turn then sold her onto some really bad biker group of five one who is particularly evil who drugged and continually raped her leaving her like a vegetable before dumping her like she was nothing.
It is not your usual standard PI thriller and is a mix of humour, bloodthirsty killings and all the usual detective work and close calls.
Extremely enjoyable thriller despite the plot heading but behind all of this it is well thought out and written in a different way than most PI stories and Rafferty is not your normal PI either. Give it ago I’m sure you will enjoy!
March 18, 2020
😊
Rafferty lives by his own rules, once a cop who saved a little girl called Vivian from a crazed junkie ready to blow her head off for some cash gets a call to save her again. But how little Vivian is now 25 and a sociology student. Vivian gets herself into a situation which she believes she can handle just so she can do a sociology appear on biker gangs. So, when Rafferty learns that Vivian was previously missing for 10 months at the hands of biker gangs he learns she was sold from one gang to another. Permanently kept in a drug induced stupor and had God only knows what done to her. She was found abandoned and returned to her parents and her parents want revenge. Vivian isn't the one bright girl before her ordeal. Rafferty doesn't do revenge though but at what price will be change his mind? A few grand per head of each biker he kills? Rafferty begins the hunt.......
Well written exciting book. Although based around kidnap of a young girl there is no gruesome describing sex or otherwise scenes. It is however mentioned upon such things did happen. The author did a good job telling how things went down without having going into great detail.
Rafferty lives by his own rules, once a cop who saved a little girl called Vivian from a crazed junkie ready to blow her head off for some cash gets a call to save her again. But how little Vivian is now 25 and a sociology student. Vivian gets herself into a situation which she believes she can handle just so she can do a sociology appear on biker gangs. So, when Rafferty learns that Vivian was previously missing for 10 months at the hands of biker gangs he learns she was sold from one gang to another. Permanently kept in a drug induced stupor and had God only knows what done to her. She was found abandoned and returned to her parents and her parents want revenge. Vivian isn't the one bright girl before her ordeal. Rafferty doesn't do revenge though but at what price will be change his mind? A few grand per head of each biker he kills? Rafferty begins the hunt.......
Well written exciting book. Although based around kidnap of a young girl there is no gruesome describing sex or otherwise scenes. It is however mentioned upon such things did happen. The author did a good job telling how things went down without having going into great detail.
July 25, 2020
I don't consider myself politically correct - I come from an age when good manners mattered, I open doors for women - men, too. I try to treat people well, and sometimes I tie myself up in knots trying to be nice to everyone. That doesn't mean I treat all people equally - some people are not worthy of respect and I mostly just ignore them.
I'm a fan of Chandler and Hammett - and Rafferty deserves his place among their creations. He's tough, he's got a sense of humour, and he strides down those mean streets without hesitation.
The story is linear, and all the better for it - he seeks justice for a young woman who was taken and abused by bikers (she has returned to her family but is barely functional) - he tells her parents that he will find those men who abused her ... but he won't agree to kill them.
I didn't take any bets on their survival :)
It's a very familiar story and it takes a skilled writer to make it just that little bit different - I liked the main characters and I enjoyed the story.
If you like hard-boiled crime fiction - this is a damned good example.
I'm a fan of Chandler and Hammett - and Rafferty deserves his place among their creations. He's tough, he's got a sense of humour, and he strides down those mean streets without hesitation.
The story is linear, and all the better for it - he seeks justice for a young woman who was taken and abused by bikers (she has returned to her family but is barely functional) - he tells her parents that he will find those men who abused her ... but he won't agree to kill them.
I didn't take any bets on their survival :)
It's a very familiar story and it takes a skilled writer to make it just that little bit different - I liked the main characters and I enjoyed the story.
If you like hard-boiled crime fiction - this is a damned good example.
October 31, 2020
This was an enjoyable read about a private detective in Dallas, Texas named Rafferty. His first name is seldom if ever revealed in this story. People just call him Rafferty. He is a wise-cracking private eye, who sometimes gets on peoples nerves because he has a very direct manner. And, he often quotes his rules, but they are primarily sayings he gins up on the spur of the moment and not really any rules too live by. His direct manner also applies to his investigative technique. That is, suspects and witness are confronted. There is little subtlety in his style. This often leads to dead suspects with just enough self-defense probability to discourage official police charges against him. Plus, these are really bad men who end up dead. So, no one sheds any tears when they’ve been killed. There is plenty of action and enough character development to keep private eye fans interested.
October 25, 2023
OMG! I Was Gobsmacked!
I love reading Rafferty's books. You get suspense, humor, thrills, and intrigue. It's so hard to put down the book because you're so engrossed in the story. Rafferty first meets 10-year old Vivian when she was nearly killed at a birthday party. Fifteen years later he again meets Vivian after she had been kidnapped and severely traumatized. And Rafferty has been hired to find those responsible for her kidnapping and trauma. Our intrepid sleuth succeeds in his quest while having covered a large area of the state of Texas and is also able to return something much more precious to her parents in the end.
I love reading Rafferty's books. You get suspense, humor, thrills, and intrigue. It's so hard to put down the book because you're so engrossed in the story. Rafferty first meets 10-year old Vivian when she was nearly killed at a birthday party. Fifteen years later he again meets Vivian after she had been kidnapped and severely traumatized. And Rafferty has been hired to find those responsible for her kidnapping and trauma. Our intrepid sleuth succeeds in his quest while having covered a large area of the state of Texas and is also able to return something much more precious to her parents in the end.
June 8, 2018
Rule Number 45: Always Expect the Unexpected
Rafferty has many rules that he makes up as he goes. They are flexible to meet his needs. Rafferty irritates some characters in this book. He has a smart mouth and there isn't a joke he hasn't worked into conversation. He has a girlfriend he is crazy about and a mixture of friends to help him in his private investigator duties. He is lots of fun to read about. I wish I got just a little more at the end, but that doesn't spoil the fun. I recommend you read this book and enjoy!
Rafferty has many rules that he makes up as he goes. They are flexible to meet his needs. Rafferty irritates some characters in this book. He has a smart mouth and there isn't a joke he hasn't worked into conversation. He has a girlfriend he is crazy about and a mixture of friends to help him in his private investigator duties. He is lots of fun to read about. I wish I got just a little more at the end, but that doesn't spoil the fun. I recommend you read this book and enjoy!
May 23, 2022
This was like The Rockford Files on steroids. Rafferty is a no holds barred PI who was hired by a couple to track down the biker group who had bought their daughter and both physically and mentally destroyed her. He dived into the case and used whatever means he needed to track down the bikers responsible. His set of rules, which apparently dictated his daily activities, were about as loose as the methods he used to do his job. But he was a softy at heart when it came to Hilda, his antique store owning girlfriend.
Not a literary masterpiece but a fun read between book club books.
Not a literary masterpiece but a fun read between book club books.
October 30, 2022
If you like Spenser, you'll like this
Robert Parker's Spenser series must be the inspiration for the main character with Cowboy serving as the replica of Hawk and Hilda for Susan. Nonetheless, it's a good story with just enough wry humor to make some passages worth reading aloud to others for the laughs. This story contains a good measure of violence, which is to be expected. If you can ignore the capitalization errors and the sprinkling of other copy errors, then have a go at this well-told detective story.
Robert Parker's Spenser series must be the inspiration for the main character with Cowboy serving as the replica of Hawk and Hilda for Susan. Nonetheless, it's a good story with just enough wry humor to make some passages worth reading aloud to others for the laughs. This story contains a good measure of violence, which is to be expected. If you can ignore the capitalization errors and the sprinkling of other copy errors, then have a go at this well-told detective story.
November 17, 2019
I didn't realize it until I started reading that this book was actually written in the 80's. So the prose is a bit dated. And though it supposed to take place in Dallas, if the city hadn't been mentioned, I'd have thought it took place in California or New York.
That being said, it's a good tough P.I. mystery, was a wise talking former cop P.I. If you like that and don't mind some misogynistic phrasing, then you'll probably enjoy it.
That being said, it's a good tough P.I. mystery, was a wise talking former cop P.I. If you like that and don't mind some misogynistic phrasing, then you'll probably enjoy it.
February 25, 2020
Great read
Rafferty is a PI, he roots for the underdog. He gets a job to find some bikers that kidnapped a rich family's daughter, kept her for 20 months, then dropped her off at the side of the road. She'd been drugged and passed around, now she's just not the same. Rafferty won't take extra money to kill them ( like the Mom offered), but he will kill them if he has to. Really rich characters supporting cast .
Rafferty is a PI, he roots for the underdog. He gets a job to find some bikers that kidnapped a rich family's daughter, kept her for 20 months, then dropped her off at the side of the road. She'd been drugged and passed around, now she's just not the same. Rafferty won't take extra money to kill them ( like the Mom offered), but he will kill them if he has to. Really rich characters supporting cast .
February 27, 2020
(3). This book is just big fun. Rafferty is a winner. Retired cop, tough guy, as implied in the title, full of rules, all over the top and sardonic as hell. A small supporting cast, a weird little story but action galore. Rafferty does have a pair of sidekicks to help him out with the heavy lifting and a terrific lady friend that keeps him just the slightest bit grounded. This was a hoot. Good stuff.
December 24, 2020
Rafferty does not play nice and i loved it too many people expect you to play nice then they take advantage of the P. I. Not Rafferty , he will kick your ass four ways to Sunday and then get the answers he needs to crack the case. Rafferty is called in to solve the case of who ruined a once promising young ladies life the father is not on board but he will pay to find out the info and the wife wants pure and simple revenge and she has come to the right P.I. for the job.
June 1, 2021
He feels very strongly about obligations and honour: wanting to right every wrong. Rafferty’s Rule 34: “Sometimes good luck accomplishes more than hard work” is often true, but only goes so far! ...The first book, in the mystery series, about Rafferty P.I. quickly drew me in, with its dramatic start, followed by lots of twists to a convoluted investigation. In addition, I enjoyed observing Rafferty’s growing relationship with Hilda.
August 18, 2021
Tough on the Outside
Rafferty is an old-fashioned private eye -- like a jaw breaker with a marshmallow center. He's sarcastic, jaded, and world weary, but he likes to play the knight in shining armor. This book is less than two hundred pages, but has well-developed characters and a fully realized plot. I read until 3:00 in the morning just to see how it ended. I thought the ending was too abrupt, but this is his first book and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Rafferty is an old-fashioned private eye -- like a jaw breaker with a marshmallow center. He's sarcastic, jaded, and world weary, but he likes to play the knight in shining armor. This book is less than two hundred pages, but has well-developed characters and a fully realized plot. I read until 3:00 in the morning just to see how it ended. I thought the ending was too abrupt, but this is his first book and I'm looking forward to the next one.
February 5, 2022
A hard to put down read. It was raunchy, downright vulgar at times but that's not why it was hard to put down. Rafferty - the main character is just that - quite a character. The author has made him personable, likeable, honest and dedicated. He is unflappable and mouthy. It's his kindness and belief in others and their redemption that kept me going, as well as his desire for justice, even if it isn't 'neat and tidy.' Fun, fun read. Highly recommend it.
June 20, 2022
Good storyline
This is a good storyline. Rafferty, a Dallas PI, is hired to find the bikers who had enslaved a woman who Rafferty had rescued as a child. Her parents hired him after the police weren’t able to do much. The characters in this story are interesting and realistic. Rafferty is determined to find the bikers and takes risky actions to accomplish that. I like the local connection to Dallas—it’s always neat to recognize streets and landmarks.
This is a good storyline. Rafferty, a Dallas PI, is hired to find the bikers who had enslaved a woman who Rafferty had rescued as a child. Her parents hired him after the police weren’t able to do much. The characters in this story are interesting and realistic. Rafferty is determined to find the bikers and takes risky actions to accomplish that. I like the local connection to Dallas—it’s always neat to recognize streets and landmarks.
March 6, 2026
New author for me. Facebook ads do work. Hardboiled is a good term with a decent amount of irreverent humor. Gotta like that in a P.I. In this one he goes after a motorcycle gang that took a rich teenager girl and pretty much used her up. By the time the parents got her back she was a zombie. They want to find out who the bikers are, with a bonus if they end up dead. Rafferty doesn't work like that, of course but things happen. He also has a soft spot for people in need.
July 28, 2018
This is 250 pages of pure enjoyment. The quips are as rapid-fire as the violence; it's like DEATH WISH meets THE BIG SLEEP.
The story is simple, and despite having a private investigator as the main character, it's more thriller than mystery. The writing is excellent, and Rafferty's complicated moral code lands him in the gray area between hero and anti-hero. The book was eventually turned into the Lorenzo Lamas movie SNAKEEATER III: HIS LAW, at which point author W. Glenn Duncan threw up his hands and retired from writing altogether.
The story is simple, and despite having a private investigator as the main character, it's more thriller than mystery. The writing is excellent, and Rafferty's complicated moral code lands him in the gray area between hero and anti-hero. The book was eventually turned into the Lorenzo Lamas movie SNAKEEATER III: HIS LAW, at which point author W. Glenn Duncan threw up his hands and retired from writing altogether.
August 13, 2018
Fifteen years have passed since policeman Rafferty saved Vivian Mollison life from a crazed junkie. Now he is being employed as a private investigator by her parents to trace the bikers who had recently 'kidnapped' her and left her stranded.
An enjoyable quick and easy read, with some likeable wise-cracking characters.
An enjoyable quick and easy read, with some likeable wise-cracking characters.
September 16, 2018
great book for the hairy-knuckled crew but enough arcane references to satisfy the snob in you.
i enjoy seeing bad people terminated instead of rehabilitated enough so that they can go out and wreak havoc again - so sue me
good plot, moves fairly rapidly, well done, will read next installment.
i enjoy seeing bad people terminated instead of rehabilitated enough so that they can go out and wreak havoc again - so sue me
good plot, moves fairly rapidly, well done, will read next installment.
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