Rafferty

Rafferty is the Dallas private investigator in W. Glenn Duncan's nine-book crime series, beginning with Rafferty's Rules.
Character · Crime Fiction · Private Investigator Mystery · Hardboiled Fiction

Rafferty is the Dallas private investigator in W. Glenn Duncan’s hardboiled crime novels. Rafferty’s Rules opens the series in 1987, followed by Last Seen Alive later that year. The character works in the private-eye tradition, with Dallas providing the setting for the cases.

The first six books were published between 1987 and 1990. Duncan returned to Rafferty in 2018 with False Gods, then continued with Wright & Wrong and Down The Barrel. The later novels belong in the same reading sequence, despite the long break in publication.

Start with Rafferty’s Rules and use the linked guide for the complete order.

Reading Order

See the complete Rafferty reading order for all books in the series.

Appears in Series

  • Rafferty - W. Glenn Duncan's Rafferty series follows a hardboiled private investigator through nine Dallas crime novels. Begin with Rafferty's Rules, published in 1987.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Rafferty?

Rafferty is a private investigator based in Dallas, Texas, created by W. Glenn Duncan. He’s a tough, wisecracking P.I. in the hardboiled tradition, working cases that pull him into the dangerous side of the city.

What order should I read the Rafferty books?

Read in publication order starting with Rafferty’s Rules (1987). The original five books came out between 1987 and 1990, followed by three revival novels starting in 2018.

How many Rafferty books are there?

The Rafferty reading order lists nine novels, from Rafferty’s Rules (1987) to Down The Barrel (2022). Six appeared by 1990, followed by three later returns to the character.

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