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Bernard Lee DeLeo
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Rick Cantelli, P.I. (Book 1) (Rick Cantelli, P.I. Detectives) Kindle Edition

by Bernard Lee DeLeo (Author), Aeternum Designs (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 1,099 ratings
Ex Navy 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.

"Wow! Take a peek into the world of Rick Cantelli, and you won't be able to wait for more. The book is filled with action, and you will love Cantelli's sense of humor. As you read about his daily life...troubles...and job, you will wonder where he goes from here. A fantastic book, that you will try to read in one sitting. The pages fly by as you enjoy reading every single word....there is not a single sentence in this book that will bore you. Buy it...read it...enjoy it!" - Donna S.

RICK CANTELLI SERIES
AMAZON LINK - http://amzn.to/2ysT1F5
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  1. Book 1 of 17
    Rick Cantelli, P.I. Series
  2. Print length
    294 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 29, 2013
  5. File size
    2.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I just finished Rick Cantelli, P.I. Wow! Take a peek into the world of Rick Cantelli, and you won't be able to wait for more. The book is filled with action, and you will love Cantelli's sense of humor. As you read about his daily life...troubles...and job, you will wonder where he goes from here. A fantastic book, that you will try to read in one sitting. The pages fly by as you enjoy reading every single word....there is not a single sentence in this book that will bore you. Buy it...read it...enjoy it!" Donna E .. - ★★★★★ "This is a fun and action packed read. Rick Cantelli is a man who is old enough to know not to get into all the trouble that is lurking after him but he is having fun when it can be had. When his life is turned upside down with not only women, yes women as in more than one, but his P. I. business becomes a little more famous because of the recent events Rick knows he may be old but not too old to handle what comes his way. The one thing Rick does have is a family that he has built through trust and friendship and no one messes with family. There were times this novel had me laughing so hard that I had to stop reading it to catch my breath and other times where the action had me hanging on every word that I couldn't put it down. Great read!" Jenn T .. - ★★★★★ "The stories are intriguing and funny as hell! Cantelli gets into one deadly scrape after another but has plenty of opportunities with hot women to provide some relief. DeLeo's writing format is similar to Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series - you don't have to remember some character introduced a couple hundred pages back." Martin F .. - ★★★★★

From the Author

Please feel free to join Bernard DeLeo on Facebook for great conversations, interactions, giveaways, contests and more.  **Bernard's Fan Group**facebook.com/groups/BernardLeeDeLeo  

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00E7HVDYY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ RJ Parker Publishing; 1st edition (July 29, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 29, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 294 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 1,099 ratings

About the author

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Bernard Lee DeLeo

Bernard Lee DeLeo

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Born and raised in Warren, Ohio, Mr. DeLeo writes Pulp Fiction in many genres. 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.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
1,099 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book entertaining with plenty of laughs and enjoy the characters, particularly Rick Cantelli. The plot receives mixed reactions - while some praise the action-packed story, others note it lacks a true storyline. The writing quality and pacing also get mixed reviews, with customers appreciating the fast-paced action but finding the prose difficult to read.

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89 customers mention "Readability"85 positive4 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fun ride with plenty of laughs, and one customer particularly appreciates the amusing by-play among the characters.

"...So begins one rollicking great read. This one is full of comedy, action, friends and enemies who make the mistake of taking on Rick and Lo...." Read more

"...The humor is a major plus. The last two pluses lead to the minuses. All these young women are after Rick sexually despite his age...." Read more

"...Love the work, love the topics and certainly appreciate the concept of someone, somewhere actually taking a stand on what is happening in the world..." Read more

"...He's not totally stereotypical and delivers some humorous lines during the course of the book...." Read more

37 customers mention "Character development"33 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book, finding Rick to be an unbelievable character, and one customer notes the supporting cast is also good.

"...The pluses are the following. The basic set-up of the main characters. Rick is the active partner...." Read more

"This entertaining set of P. I. tales features a set of recognizable characters (ex-CIA agent and handler, show biz personalities, shady crooks) in..." Read more

"...If you are looking for a fun read with well developed characters with some rough and tumble action along the way I HIGHLY recommend this book." Read more

"The dialog gets to repetitive but characters are interesting but a little over the top. Over does the banter between the partners." Read more

6 customers mention "Interest"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting, with one mentioning it covers a little bit of everything, while another appreciates its brilliant concept.

"...Love the work, love the topics and certainly appreciate the concept of someone, somewhere actually taking a stand on what is happening in the world..." Read more

"...The first few chapters were somewhat amusing and interesting...." Read more

"What a brilliant concept! Investigator, Rick Cantelli, is drawn into a life of action once again...." Read more

"...Interesting and fun read." Read more

52 customers mention "Plot"36 positive16 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the plot of the book, with some finding it interesting and action-packed, while others mention it lacks a true storyline and is episodic.

"...So begins one rollicking great read. This one is full of comedy, action, friends and enemies who make the mistake of taking on Rick and Lo...." Read more

"...I really was his true partner, he grabbed me by the hook and reeled me into the plot that I am still his partner today!..." Read more

"The book starts out ok, but becomes disjointed and episodic. The protagonist - Rick Cantelli - has potential...." Read more

"...Constant chuckles, very few editing errors, and a story line that moved along throughout the book...." Read more

24 customers mention "Writing quality"9 positive15 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style of the book, with some praising the author's work while others find the prose difficult to read and note that the narrative reads like a series of short stories rather than a cohesive novel.

"...The writing is less than stellar, but it keeps the book moving. There are pluses and minuses. The pluses are the following...." Read more

"...He is still my favorite author of all time. I miss his humor and sometime silliness in his writings. 😉💪🤠..." Read more

"...However, as you get further into it, the book reads like a series of episodes or short stories and lacks an overall coherency one would expect from..." Read more

"...the top, the police portrayed as incredibly inept and unable to write their own report's, and the ending was sort of unsatisfying...." Read more

19 customers mention "Pacing"12 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it a great fast read with fast-paced action, while others note that it starts slow.

"...Early on, I looked forward to each chapter, which were paced like a self-contained episode...." Read more

"...Joking around with each other takes up too much time, and became tiresome. Hoping he does a sequel to Cold Mountain soon." Read more

"...Don't look for logic or reason, just enjoy. The pace is good with high body count for a P.I. There is humor but sometimes it gets repetitive and..." Read more

"I enjoyed the fast pace of this book. I too enjoyed the characters and came to care about them...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • claudette valliere
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just a rocking good read.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Rick Cantelli is fifty nine years old and an ex Navy SEAL. He was a SEAL thirty years ago but has never lost that edge that made him a great SEAL. That edge that has helped him through some very close encounters.

    Rick and his partner Lois Madigan, his old CIA handler, now run a private detective agency.

    Rick and Lois have been partners and best friends for years. Rick and Lois ran ops all over the world for the CIA. Rick would die for Lois and vice versa.

    Lois recruited Rick after he served ten years as a SEAL. She and he were and still are hell on wheels.

    Of course Lois is the biggest PITA who ever lived. She's constantly meddling in Ricks life.

    Rick, even at fifty nine, has loads of ladies who would love to have a relationship with him. Loads of ladies that would love to end up in his bed. Much to Ricks horror they find him irresistable.

    Of course many are younger than he is and Rick just won't go down that road. He feels like he could be their Father or Grandfather. Jeeze. Romantic entanglements are a tough row to hoe for Rick. Especially with Lois on his ass and some very young women trying to get in his bed. Good Grief.

    This one starts off with Stacy. Stacy was a high school sweetheart of Rick about forty years ago. Man. Talk about a blast from the past.

    Stacy is also a conniving thief and manipulator who Lois hates on site.

    So begins one rollicking great read. This one is full of comedy, action, friends and enemies who make the mistake of taking on Rick and Lo. Of course they don't survive but hey, when your not good enough you should stay the hell home.

    Of course anyone gunning for Rick and Lois is looking to become very, very dead. Both Rick and Lois are still hell on wheels in the art of survival and staying alive.

    Just one funny great read. Five Stars and then some.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Rick Mitchell
    4.0 out of 5 stars Just Missed Greatness
    Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is a good solid PI novel. There are lots of different cases involved, so it never got stale. The writing is less than stellar, but it keeps the book moving.

    There are pluses and minuses. The pluses are the following. The basic set-up of the main characters. Rick is the active partner. His partner in the agency is Lois who handled him when he was a Navy Seal. They play off each other well. The supporting cast is also good. There is his high school love interest who continually gets arrested and gets him in trouble. An actress who hires him for publicity, another who hires him for something else and a workout instructor who wants his body. The humor is a major plus.

    The last two pluses lead to the minuses. All these young women are after Rick sexually despite his age. That's ok, but the theme got tired by the end of the book. The humor is very good and the wise-cracking way above par. So the minus? Isn't the worst joke-teller the one who tells you how funny he is? After every quip, pun, joke, barb or wise crack Rick is compelled to tell the reader how the person who heard it chortled, cracked-up, snorted, laughed, guffawed...well you get it. Just tell the joke and get on with it!

    All-in-all this is an entertaining mindless romp. It is good enough that I will check out #2 and hope that Mr. DeLeo enjoyed his own jokes a little less and had a theme less hard-worked.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Donald E. Morrison
    5.0 out of 5 stars Deleo's stories are point on in current affairs and much of what many of We The People are thinking.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    From my experience it hard to find an author who brings the reader into their world and thoughts and holds them in the storyline told and makes the reader desire more of the story.

    I found Deleo by chance; began reading his works and simply fell head over heels in the storylines he presented. Although it is "pulp fiction: According to the author; his stories bring you into the realization of what is happening, why it is happening and gives one a feeling that they are not alone in their thoughts of the world today. What can one say when within the storyline the concept of "recruiting persons to work within a business are found in the gray bar hotel"? Not many. No matter what; Deleo's works make you think, make you confront what you think and actually delve further into that which you have lived with forever..... as they say. I would say that Deleo's works are not for the faint of heart, but then again; I would say those doing what they are doing and thinking what they are thinking should either dive into his works or pass on them. Personally, I am so glad that I dove into the writings and become a great plebe of his works and wait with great expectations of his next sequel to whichever of the series of stories he has begun and continues. Love the work, love the topics and certainly appreciate the concept of someone, somewhere actually taking a stand on what is happening in the world today. Keep on keeping on Bernard, that is what I have to say!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • TBR
    3.0 out of 5 stars So-So Read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The book starts out ok, but becomes disjointed and episodic. The protagonist - Rick Cantelli - has potential. He's not totally stereotypical and delivers some humorous lines during the course of the book. The first few chapters were somewhat amusing and interesting. However, as you get further into it, the book reads like a series of episodes or short stories and lacks an overall coherency one would expect from a novel. Some of the banter between Rick and Lois works, but much of it is not nearly as hilarious as Rick and cast think. Also, having every woman that meets the 60 year old Rick is perhaps a bit excessive?

    Overall, the book was not terrible, but I won't be reading any more in this series.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Bear 322
    5.0 out of 5 stars In memory of Bernard…
    Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    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. 😉💪🤠
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  • MRB
    4.0 out of 5 stars Private investigations with some publicly-accessible humor
    Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This entertaining set of P. I. tales features a set of recognizable characters (ex-CIA agent and handler, show biz personalities, shady crooks) in an urban setting. There is plenty of amusing by-play among the princpals, including romantic interludes by the old/middle-aged title character. Early on, I looked forward to each chapter, which were paced like a self-contained episode. Quite enjoyable, to the point where I am planning to read the next in the series.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Dave1940
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Witty and Engaging Book
    Reviewed in Canada on September 28, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is a laugh out loud funny book about Rick Cantelli, a private eye, and his exploits with his partner, Lou. A hard book to put down as you enjoy the to and fro dialog between those he engages with. This a must read if you like comedy and action intertwined with each other. Actually read the first 3 books in the series, all of which were good but gave up on them when, in book 3, one of the plot lines started a discourse on teenage puppy love. Sorry, Mr. DeLeo, not interested.
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  • Mike Powell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Packed tighter than a can of Sardines.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 21, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    As a first Rick Cantelli book, it contains enough material that a lesser writer would have stretched into 4 or 5 books.
    This is a superb book full of well written characters with easily added back stories woven in. It rolls along so easily, with new characters being slotted in as easy as Lego bricks. Deft touches of humour run through the book making this a pleasurable read. It's a truly gripping read because you just want to keep going and easily earns 5 stars and thus is very highly recommended.
    Now, if I could just get some of that Rick Cantelli mojo....
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  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four and a half stars
    Reviewed in Canada on November 23, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed reading this first book in the series and meeting the characters. I enjoyed the bantering ,the action, as well as the crazy romance situations and I look forward to reading the next book.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in Australia on May 22, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Really good characters, fast paced action, easy to read, a good book.
    Does have some repetition but that was minor
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  • chunky fox
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    great start to a series
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