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A Jack Taggart Mystery #1
Loose Ends: A Castle Street Mystery
Jack Taggart, an undercover Mountie, lives in a world where the good guys and the bad guys change places in a heartbeat. Taggart is very good at what he does. Too good to be playing by the rules. The brass decide to assign a new partner to spy on him. Taggart's new partner discovers a society dependent upon unwritten rules. To break these rules ...
460 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
13 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 9, 2012
I met Don Easton at the bookstore at Tillicum Mall and ended up buying the first four books in the Jack Taggart Mystery series. We spoke about my concern that details need not be explicit in describing the potential violence that was part of the series about an undercover RCMP officer and Don assured me by showing me the most graphic part in the first book. I purchased the first four books in the series.
I found the writing to be engaging with good character development. The plot was believable and introduces the reader to a fictional crime family operating in Vancouver. While fiction, this work certainly incorporates the real-life experiences from Don's previous career as an undercover officer.
I was looking for realistic fiction without the explicit graphic description that so many books and movies engage in today and was rewarded with an entertaining read. I've since purchased the fifth book in the series and plan to buy his upcoming book.
I found the writing to be engaging with good character development. The plot was believable and introduces the reader to a fictional crime family operating in Vancouver. While fiction, this work certainly incorporates the real-life experiences from Don's previous career as an undercover officer.
I was looking for realistic fiction without the explicit graphic description that so many books and movies engage in today and was rewarded with an entertaining read. I've since purchased the fifth book in the series and plan to buy his upcoming book.
July 23, 2014
This was a great book. Danny a police officer with the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) is transferred to Vancouver and partnered with Jack Taggart. Taggart is a bit of a rogue and Danny is asked to spy on him. The more he gets to know Taggart the less he wants to do this. Taggarts niece and nephew are brutally murdered and this story is how he gets everyone involved.
November 27, 2018
Very gritty novel.
August 11, 2024
i liked this book! easy to read and interesting story line. will definitley pick up more of don eastons books
September 20, 2012
Just finished Loose Ends last night! The first chapter was mind blowing however it was realistic & horrifying. The second chapter was 'Here we Go' make sure you have at least a 5-point harness on as you are going to need it!!! During the entire time reading Loose Ends I was on edge & could not stop thinking about what was going to happened next.
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December 13, 2012
Another outstanding book from Don. Each one is riveting, gritty, and difficult to put down.
February 11, 2019
My first Jack Taggart book, in fact, the first Jack Taggart book in the series.
RCMP officer, Jack Taggart seldom works by the book, he has an innate feeling about crime and a dislike of the machinations of authority. That is not to say he's not a good cop, he's excellent but the death toll around him rises exponentially. Jack's new partner is more by the book, he got himself into trouble in a series of unrelated events, when acting as an honour guard to the Prime Minister. Ever one to take advantage of a photo opportunity, the PM lifted Danny's baby into his arms and was subsequently thrown up on. Hey, it happens with babies but this was a career limiting move for Danny, ergo, the assignment with renegade Jack Taggart.
When Jack's niece and nephew were brutally murdered on his sister Liz's farm, Jack promises to get to ensure the murderers see some kind of justice. Jack's justice may not be the dull confines of a courtroom.
The investigation descends into a biker gang who run the drugs in British Columbia. Beyond a word of a lie, none of the gang members deserve to live. It becomes obvious to Jack and Danny early on that the gang has information from within the RCMP.
Thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, descriptions of the character of the bikers were disquieting, to say the least.
The wealth of knowledge the author brings to the story provides an incredible backdrop to the investigation.
RCMP officer, Jack Taggart seldom works by the book, he has an innate feeling about crime and a dislike of the machinations of authority. That is not to say he's not a good cop, he's excellent but the death toll around him rises exponentially. Jack's new partner is more by the book, he got himself into trouble in a series of unrelated events, when acting as an honour guard to the Prime Minister. Ever one to take advantage of a photo opportunity, the PM lifted Danny's baby into his arms and was subsequently thrown up on. Hey, it happens with babies but this was a career limiting move for Danny, ergo, the assignment with renegade Jack Taggart.
When Jack's niece and nephew were brutally murdered on his sister Liz's farm, Jack promises to get to ensure the murderers see some kind of justice. Jack's justice may not be the dull confines of a courtroom.
The investigation descends into a biker gang who run the drugs in British Columbia. Beyond a word of a lie, none of the gang members deserve to live. It becomes obvious to Jack and Danny early on that the gang has information from within the RCMP.
Thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, descriptions of the character of the bikers were disquieting, to say the least.
The wealth of knowledge the author brings to the story provides an incredible backdrop to the investigation.
January 6, 2020
Great police procedural adventure bringing to life the gritty underbelly of Vancouver. Don's characters felt so real, no doubt due to his 20 years of experience with the force. I've just discovered Don, and I look forward to settling down with some of this other work.
June 1, 2020
Well written and fast paced. The fact it’s written by former RCMP adds that much more realism to the novel. Plus the fact it all takes place in Vancouver is more enjoyable than trying to imagine a distant and vast Los Angeles or large city
January 5, 2021
Couldn't finish the audiobook, narrator ruined it for me by reading it like a kids book.
September 13, 2022
I thought he trusted his partner very quickly and his partner adapted to his ways very quickly too.
January 15, 2012
When he retired from a career as a hard-nosed undercover cop, Don Easton took up a career writing crime fiction and invented the character of Jack Taggart, a hard-nosed undercover cop. Loose Ends was published in 2005, after several years of gestation; since then, nearly one new title has arrived annually, supported by the fine Canadian mystery publisher, Dundurn Press; the latest -- Birds of a Feather -- is slated for release in Sep 2012.
Jack Taggart is something of a bad-ass rogue undercover cop whose anger at the system -- which too often allows the guilty to roam free -- leads him to cut corners. His superiors hand him a new partner, Danny O'Reilly, whose job is also to "keep an eye" on Jack and report any unseemly activities. But before he can play stooge, Danny is wrapped up in Jack's latest vendetta -- tracking down the biker killers of his niece and nephew. In too deep, there is no place to go but unravel the puzzle and try to stay alive while through the roller-coaster of drug deals, murder and abuse.
Easton may have refined his writing skills in later books but this one is decidedly clunky in places, with rather crudely drawn secondary characters and dialogue that does not always ring true. (There's more gritty, real life violence than I care for as well.) Part of the challenge is telescoping what, in real life, might have been months of investigation into a few days in the story telling. Lastly, the resolution of several threads are rather too predictable and pat to leave this reader feeling satisfied. If you are seeking a cold shower dose of reality into the seamier side of Vancouver's drug scene, you won't be disappointed.
Jack Taggart is something of a bad-ass rogue undercover cop whose anger at the system -- which too often allows the guilty to roam free -- leads him to cut corners. His superiors hand him a new partner, Danny O'Reilly, whose job is also to "keep an eye" on Jack and report any unseemly activities. But before he can play stooge, Danny is wrapped up in Jack's latest vendetta -- tracking down the biker killers of his niece and nephew. In too deep, there is no place to go but unravel the puzzle and try to stay alive while through the roller-coaster of drug deals, murder and abuse.
Easton may have refined his writing skills in later books but this one is decidedly clunky in places, with rather crudely drawn secondary characters and dialogue that does not always ring true. (There's more gritty, real life violence than I care for as well.) Part of the challenge is telescoping what, in real life, might have been months of investigation into a few days in the story telling. Lastly, the resolution of several threads are rather too predictable and pat to leave this reader feeling satisfied. If you are seeking a cold shower dose of reality into the seamier side of Vancouver's drug scene, you won't be disappointed.
August 18, 2013
After reading the author's last book in the Jack Taggart series, called Birds of a Feather, I wanted to go back and start from the beginning with this, his first book. Jack Taggart is an undercover RCMP officer who battles some seriously bad guys, and solves some truly horrifying crimes. The author is a former RCMP undercover agent, and one can't help wondering how much of the stories are fact versus fiction. I found this novel just as engaging as his last one, and will now work my way through the rest of the series.
September 14, 2011
This book was amazing. I went to the mall one day and i saw this man ( Don Easton) signing books so I start talking to him about his novels so I purchase the book He sign it and I got home and start to read it I loved it. At a later date Don Easton was there again and I purchase 3 more books. Having a actor sign my books made me so happy, I never had that before in my life..Don you are amazing..Conny from Victoria
January 22, 2016
Wow, I found it extremely unsettling and gritty at first but I persevered and am glad I finished it. I thought it was well written and had lots of suspense. Reminds me a bit of the Dragon Tattoo series. The story deals with biker gangs in Canada-the story takes place in Vancouver. The protagonist is an undercover Mountie who has learned how to survive when dealing with the extremely bad characters he encounters. His sense of justice is what reminds me of Lisbeth in the Laarson series.
January 30, 2014
I could not put this book down once I started reading it. I couldn't get to the next page fast enough.
I am so thankful a friend told me about Don Easton becoming an author. Loose Ends had me on the
the edge of my seat. I was very thankful there were more books out when I first learned of this author
because Loose Ends had me wanting to read more.
I am so thankful a friend told me about Don Easton becoming an author. Loose Ends had me on the
the edge of my seat. I was very thankful there were more books out when I first learned of this author
because Loose Ends had me wanting to read more.
November 17, 2014
Outstanding.
Absolutely fantastic. One of the best books I've read. Full of great characters, thrill packed, action galore and tons of surprises. Don't wait, read it now. This book deserves ten stars.
Absolutely fantastic. One of the best books I've read. Full of great characters, thrill packed, action galore and tons of surprises. Don't wait, read it now. This book deserves ten stars.
April 27, 2015
At first I had trouble recommending this novel because of the dark and gritty start but as the novel progressed I fell in love with the writing style and the story. The local aspect made it that much better! I own most of the books by Don Easton and recommend them to most of my freinds!
March 10, 2016
Pretty standard fare. Abundant cliches; the hooker with a heart of gold, the rogue cop who does things his own way etc. etc. Kept thinking it would be referred to as a "dime store novel" if this was fifty years ago!
OK
OK
June 12, 2013
A most pleasant read. Story holds together well, characters were well formed, and it's set in Canada.
Nicely done! Reminded me of Ian Rankin's writings which is a good thing.
I'll read more by him.
Nicely done! Reminded me of Ian Rankin's writings which is a good thing.
I'll read more by him.
February 15, 2014
Don has a certain something
December 20, 2014
Simply written and easy to read. The plot line was a little see-through at times, but still enjoyable. Would recommend as a good weekend read - not too complex
March 13, 2015
amazing read.. kept me on edge.
February 22, 2014
Impeccable !! Hooked me in the first few pages
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews