What do you think?
Rate this book
Rafferty #4
Wrong Place, Wrong Time
It should have been the easiest cash he’d ever make. But Rafferty forgot the golden rule. If it looks too good to be true… When bounty hunter Toby Wells offered Rafferty two hundred bucks for fifteen minutes work the answer was obvious. There was no way he could know Wells would murder an innocent man and use Rafferty as cover for his getaway. Payback will taste sweet. And would be a whole lot easier to come by if Rafferty wasn’t already spending his days protecting Thorney—the octogenarian uncle of a good friend. But a deal is a deal. He’s not about to cut the old guy loose just because things got complicated. Then Wells is back in town. Still trigger-happy and showing no signs of slowing his murderous rampage. Rafferty has to stop Wells. And he has to do it now. Because Uncle Thorney is walking right into the crossfire… WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME is the fourth book in the Shamus Award-winning Rafferty P.I. series by author Bill Duncan. Fans of Spenser, Reacher, and Elvis Cole have declared this series a must-read with over 3,700 5 star reviews. Don’t miss another moment of hardboiled, wisecracking action with Rafferty P.I.
Buy WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME today! ................................................................. 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 P.I. 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.
Buy WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME today! ................................................................. 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 P.I. 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.
258 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
305 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
W. Glenn Duncan
8 books18 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 24, 2022
Rafferty is suckered into aiding and abetting in a murder and it all goes downhill from there. Brilliant characters and writing and a piece of literature to cherish. Not enough superlatives to describe him and his girlfriend Hilda, Mimi and Cowboy. Sad ending for Thorney but he had a good life and Rafferty got a sextant out of the deal.
March 31, 2020
#4 in the Rafferty series. This 1989 series entry by author W. Glenn Duncan fits right in with the series. After reading the series debut, Rafferty’s Rules (1987), and getting hooked, this volume was the first that came to hand. Rafferty is not as violent as he was in the series debut, so where I said he was influenced by Mike Hammer and Spenser, perhaps in this entry Mike Hammer is replaced by Travis McGee. A complex plot but all becomes clear and justice (Rafferty style) prevails.
Toby Wells said he was a legit bounty hunter, Rafferty saw no reason not to believe him. Now Luis Ortega is dead and Rafferty’s carrying the gun. It hurts to admit it, but Toby Wells played Rafferty like a bar-room fiddle. While the cops know Rafferty didn’t kill Luis Ortega, that cold comfort won’t be enough to prevent him from looking for the sonofabitch who pulled the trigger. Only problem is, he’s a little occupied right now trying to get the teenage vandals to lay off Thorney, Honeybutt’s recalcitrant great-uncle. Plus, Ortega’s past offers no clues as to why someone wanted to cancel his breathing licence and, besides, Wells has disappeared. Just when Rafferty thinks he’s getting somewhere, the paint bombs on Thorney’s porch escalate to rifle shots. It’d make more sense if Rafferty could just work out who’s behind the gun and who they’re shooting at. Now he’s got to keep Thorney alive, and find the shooter, too.
Toby Wells said he was a legit bounty hunter, Rafferty saw no reason not to believe him. Now Luis Ortega is dead and Rafferty’s carrying the gun. It hurts to admit it, but Toby Wells played Rafferty like a bar-room fiddle. While the cops know Rafferty didn’t kill Luis Ortega, that cold comfort won’t be enough to prevent him from looking for the sonofabitch who pulled the trigger. Only problem is, he’s a little occupied right now trying to get the teenage vandals to lay off Thorney, Honeybutt’s recalcitrant great-uncle. Plus, Ortega’s past offers no clues as to why someone wanted to cancel his breathing licence and, besides, Wells has disappeared. Just when Rafferty thinks he’s getting somewhere, the paint bombs on Thorney’s porch escalate to rifle shots. It’d make more sense if Rafferty could just work out who’s behind the gun and who they’re shooting at. Now he’s got to keep Thorney alive, and find the shooter, too.
November 1, 2022
Enjoyable & Easy Going Thriller.
Just loved the characters, and this is such an enjoyable, humorous and easy going read that you can just sit down and get into easily and have a laugh and yet there is a sad ending to it but has some gritty bits too!
The story obviously revolves around Rafferty a P.I who is hired by a dubious Bondsman to assist with a pool cleaner called Luis Ortega. Things don’t go to plan and isn’t as straight forward as it first seemed and things for Rafferty go from bad to worse when he is suckered into aiding and abetting. As well as this Rafferty is hired to help an old grizzly man called “Thorney” as a favour. What at first seemed a straight forward enough case as it was just kids pestering and harassing the old man? “Not!” It certainly isn’t so and soon Rafferty life becomes double difficult.
Thorney turns out to be a very colourful and wonderful character albeit a bit grizzly at times but the whole writing is just wonderful.
Chucked in is also Hilda who is his live in partner come girlfriend; Mimi and Cowboy colleagues of Rafferty brought in to help, plus lots of twits as you’d expect and a rather sad ending. All in all a mostly fun and sometimes tongue in cheek thriller that races along. As I already said a very enjoyable, humorous and easy reading story.
Just loved the characters, and this is such an enjoyable, humorous and easy going read that you can just sit down and get into easily and have a laugh and yet there is a sad ending to it but has some gritty bits too!
The story obviously revolves around Rafferty a P.I who is hired by a dubious Bondsman to assist with a pool cleaner called Luis Ortega. Things don’t go to plan and isn’t as straight forward as it first seemed and things for Rafferty go from bad to worse when he is suckered into aiding and abetting. As well as this Rafferty is hired to help an old grizzly man called “Thorney” as a favour. What at first seemed a straight forward enough case as it was just kids pestering and harassing the old man? “Not!” It certainly isn’t so and soon Rafferty life becomes double difficult.
Thorney turns out to be a very colourful and wonderful character albeit a bit grizzly at times but the whole writing is just wonderful.
Chucked in is also Hilda who is his live in partner come girlfriend; Mimi and Cowboy colleagues of Rafferty brought in to help, plus lots of twits as you’d expect and a rather sad ending. All in all a mostly fun and sometimes tongue in cheek thriller that races along. As I already said a very enjoyable, humorous and easy reading story.
November 18, 2023
Wonderful Story Telling And Thrilling Suspense
Rafferty seems to catch the strangest cases, even the ones he doesn't get paid for. As Rafferty and his main squeeze, Gilda, navigate their separate lives together, Rafferty shares a secretary with an insurance agency in the same building, whom he has affectionately named Honeybutt. Honeybutt approaches Rafferty one day for help concerning harassment that her Great Uncle Thorney is enduring at the hands of local school kids. This harassment has been escalating and has gotten to the point that personal harm as well as property damage is occurring. Rafferty to the rescue.?! Or is he? Oh, and let's not forget the "bounty hunter" who has asked Rafferty for help apprehending a bail jumper. Only that's not entirely true. The "bounty hunter" is really a jealous husband who thinks his wife and the pool boy are getting it on with each other, which is not true. So much deception! Rafferty is trying to keep Honeybutt calm and assured that Thorney is safe while also keeping grouchy, grumpy old Thorney settled all while trying to find out who is trying to kill someone in Rafferty's small group. The answer is actually revealed in the opening chapter but isn't fleshed out until the last few pages. Such skilled writing and such a compelling read.
Rafferty seems to catch the strangest cases, even the ones he doesn't get paid for. As Rafferty and his main squeeze, Gilda, navigate their separate lives together, Rafferty shares a secretary with an insurance agency in the same building, whom he has affectionately named Honeybutt. Honeybutt approaches Rafferty one day for help concerning harassment that her Great Uncle Thorney is enduring at the hands of local school kids. This harassment has been escalating and has gotten to the point that personal harm as well as property damage is occurring. Rafferty to the rescue.?! Or is he? Oh, and let's not forget the "bounty hunter" who has asked Rafferty for help apprehending a bail jumper. Only that's not entirely true. The "bounty hunter" is really a jealous husband who thinks his wife and the pool boy are getting it on with each other, which is not true. So much deception! Rafferty is trying to keep Honeybutt calm and assured that Thorney is safe while also keeping grouchy, grumpy old Thorney settled all while trying to find out who is trying to kill someone in Rafferty's small group. The answer is actually revealed in the opening chapter but isn't fleshed out until the last few pages. Such skilled writing and such a compelling read.
September 17, 2022
This is the second Rafferty book of Duncan’s that I have read. It makes a great stand-alone read so do not worry if you are not into reading a series. I am not going to give the story away or reveal the ending so let me simply write about what I enjoyed about the book. Duncan’s characters are a hoot. Rafferty is a rough tough guy with a big heart who likes to think that he is a noir detective. His friends are sometimes a little wild but they have mad skills. His girlfriend has his number.
When the secretary from the office next door, you know the one he has nicknamed “Honeybutt”, asks for a meeting Rafferty is not sure how he is going to tell her that he is taken. Shocked that what Honeybutt wants is to hire him to protect her grandfather, Rafferty has got to humble himself and get along with the old curmudgeon. Grandfather Thorney is being vandalized by neighborhood kids. Unfortunately when the kids' pranks get out of hand so does Grandfather Thorney who grabs his shotgun and starts shooting. None of the kids are hurt, but things just got a lot more serious.
Duncan did a terrific job weaving this tale. There are plenty of twists and turns with a surprise ending. You are going to enjoy this read, go ahead and treat yourself!
When the secretary from the office next door, you know the one he has nicknamed “Honeybutt”, asks for a meeting Rafferty is not sure how he is going to tell her that he is taken. Shocked that what Honeybutt wants is to hire him to protect her grandfather, Rafferty has got to humble himself and get along with the old curmudgeon. Grandfather Thorney is being vandalized by neighborhood kids. Unfortunately when the kids' pranks get out of hand so does Grandfather Thorney who grabs his shotgun and starts shooting. None of the kids are hurt, but things just got a lot more serious.
Duncan did a terrific job weaving this tale. There are plenty of twists and turns with a surprise ending. You are going to enjoy this read, go ahead and treat yourself!
September 27, 2022
Great fun read
Terrific P.I. yarn. This was the first Rafferty novel I had read, but it surely will not be the last. Great supporting characters and a protagonist you just have to love. I especially enjoyed the wit and wry humor of Rafferty and his cohorts. A bit too much foul language, but other than that, I would be hard pressed to find a better way to spend a few hours than reading a Rafferty story.
Terrific P.I. yarn. This was the first Rafferty novel I had read, but it surely will not be the last. Great supporting characters and a protagonist you just have to love. I especially enjoyed the wit and wry humor of Rafferty and his cohorts. A bit too much foul language, but other than that, I would be hard pressed to find a better way to spend a few hours than reading a Rafferty story.
October 30, 2017
Rafferty manages to make the same mistaken assumptions the rest of us do, but his charming self-deprecating humor keeps the story alive and moving. The way Mr. Duncan fleshes out his characters with a minimum of description keeps the pace and plot interesting. Enjoyed old Thorny and the sextant lessons as an added bonus. Anxious to get t0 the next in the series.
April 25, 2022
A good story line, BUT????
The story lines were ok and interesting, but a score of 4 may be to high. Half the book was 7th grade romance lines from Rafferty and Hilda. There are to many comments in the book about there sad romance. The earlier books were a lot better. Then to knock off Thorney on the last page was just to much.
The story lines were ok and interesting, but a score of 4 may be to high. Half the book was 7th grade romance lines from Rafferty and Hilda. There are to many comments in the book about there sad romance. The earlier books were a lot better. Then to knock off Thorney on the last page was just to much.
April 25, 2022
Great. Read it
Really really really enjoyed this book ,
quirky ,humourous and we'll written .
Good characters, Thorney was wonderful.
Would recommend that you buy and read !
On to the next one now .
Really really really enjoyed this book ,
quirky ,humourous and we'll written .
Good characters, Thorney was wonderful.
Would recommend that you buy and read !
On to the next one now .
August 31, 2022
Another great book in the series about Rafferty. He managed to get himself in serious trouble by not checking out a bounty hunter. He also met Thorney, who he is trying to protect from juvenile vandals. I look forward to reading more of his cases.
March 13, 2018
Very Good Hard boiled PI novel with Rafferty first beng duped and finally closing the case.
April 25, 2022
Another excellent Rafferty yarn. Always well worth reading
April 28, 2022
I always enjoy books from this series. Rafferty is one of my favorite characters. These books are always hard to put down and I'm always glad I read them. I rate this one 5 stars.
May 3, 2022
Good mystery
Tense, lighthearted, and some times relaxing mystery. Didn’t expect the old man to die in the end. Enjoyed the story.
Tense, lighthearted, and some times relaxing mystery. Didn’t expect the old man to die in the end. Enjoyed the story.
May 30, 2022
excellent
Really enjoyed this book. The main character and his cast of friends and enemies were interesting and believable. Lots of action and humor. We’ll written!
Really enjoyed this book. The main character and his cast of friends and enemies were interesting and believable. Lots of action and humor. We’ll written!
February 14, 2024
Great Series
An old fashioned hard boiled detective with a heart and a girlfriend. His often side kicks cover his back. This is the likes of Robert Parker.
An old fashioned hard boiled detective with a heart and a girlfriend. His often side kicks cover his back. This is the likes of Robert Parker.
April 11, 2014
Rafferty finds himself in deep trouble when a bounty hunter hires him to help nab a perp. It all turns out to be a hit. Rafferty wants to hunt down the bounty hunter, only to find that hunting can work both ways.
Meanwhile, he is also hired to stop kids from harassing an old man, which turns out to be a lot tougher than he thinks.
Kept me interested the whole time.
Meanwhile, he is also hired to stop kids from harassing an old man, which turns out to be a lot tougher than he thinks.
Kept me interested the whole time.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews