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Description

BOOK ONE of the California Corwin P.I. Mystery Series
Contains the bonus story - Off The Leash a California Corwin Short Story
"This is a real page turner and hard to put down. The characters are like people you know. I could smell the Cheetos, the computer geek Mickey was eating, in the office...an excellent mystery and the beginning of what promises to be a very good series." - Gwen N.
"Loose Ends was a great read, if you're looking for a solid mystery this is a book worth your time. I was hooked by the story from the very beginning and I barely put it down until I finished it." - Melissa V.
"There are some great fully realised characters here, and never a dull moment. Full of action, plenty of twists and turns, as well as as real shocker of an ending, this makes a strong start for what promises to be a gripping new series." - N.A. Stephenson
When a young girl is kidnapped, street-smart but damaged San Francisco ex-cop California "Cal" Corwin is engaged to find and rescue her before murder raises the stakes. As a straightforward case takes unexpected twists, Cal must quell a growing fear that an anguished mother may never see her child again. With a shadowy crime lord lurking behind every unexpected clue, Cal struggles to tie up loose ends before evil claims its next victim.
Loose Ends is the first book in the Cal Corwin P. I. mystery series from D. D. VanDyke, though the books can be read in any order. Set against the rich backdrop of the San Francisco Bay Area, Cal Corwin novels brim with intrigue and fully fleshed characters from cops and criminals to hit men, oddball family and unexpected allies.
 
The California Corwin P. I. Mystery Series:
- Loose Ends
- In A Bind
- Slipknot
- The Girl In The Morgue

Apple Books: Customer Ratings

Average

 4.0 (101 Ratings)

Apple Books: Customer Reviews

Great read

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kiwi-bean
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2019-05-18
Really well written fast paced and exciting

Interesting plot

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fauzanazima12
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2016-12-22
I have read 2 books from Vandyke and i love both of them. The characters, the plots, they do have gripping!

Crime mystery with brilliant characters

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Lorna White
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2016-12-19
This is an engrossing, fast paced and action packed crime mystery that I downloaded free on BookBub.
Set in San Francisco, Cal is an ex cop and a bomb blast survivor who has been left with some facial scars and nerve damage to her right hand. The case of the kidnapped girl has literally been dropped into her mailbox by award winning investigator journalist Cole Sage; or was it? There is something amiss with the latest client, Mira Sorkin who did not meet with Cal until two days after her daughter Talia was kidnapped. Suffice to say this mothers behavior is dubious as is her strange attitude.
With weird flashes of insight, terrific people instincts along with vibes that make her cop senses tingle, these are attributes that make Cal a very capable private investigator. The bomb incident saw the return of Cal's dead father who often joins his daughter in her car, a chatty hallucination in the form of her favorite picture of him. This is a surprising quirk to our heroin that I love as it adds to her uniqueness, as does her love for fast cars, fast driving and the game of poker.
Cal's staff are interesting and competent, from tech guy Mickey, research assistant and hacker extraordinaire to the muscle bound Estridge brothers who are larger than life and periodically added to the payroll when muscle is required.
Finding that the kidnapping ties to the monitoring center and a drug heist at the clients place of work, Bill Clawson retired Chicago PD now security manager joins in the search for the Talia. Memorable, strong and compassionate this man actively helps others despite being shrouded in sad darkness.
One of my favorites characters is Lieutenant Jay Allsop, homocide detective who's relationship with his former partner is in tatters since Cal successfully sued the department and the city following the bomb blast. Partnered with enthusiastic rookie Brodie, a stark contrast to the older soured and disgruntled cop. I am looking forward to discovering more about this duo as I am with Gunther Luger a surprising and interesting drug connection.
Aside from brilliant characters and an ever twisting plot this high octaine, read with a rising body count, a kidnapped girl to save and a mysterious Audi driver to catch California Corwin is on the case!!! I am totally hooked on this series and am looking forward to reading more of Van Dykes work.

Loose Ends

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Forty 's man
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2016-12-05
I enjoyed the author's writing style and enjoyed her description of Marin County. The ending was quite thought provoking and true to the title it left you with a few loose ends!!

Loved it

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LesleyAnn60
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2016-08-21
I enjoyed reading this book made me read more by this author. I have found all of his books the sort you can't put down.

Loose Ends

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J500JMY
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2016-06-23
Enjoyed this book

Disappointing

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Pepsimax 2013
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2015-08-27
Didn't think much of this book
Lacked story - characters were boring
There was no urgency to it

Gripping

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Cptwarden34560
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2015-08-26
An awesome Crime/thriller book. Great detail in what was written and she certainly knows her stuff, and hasn't just thought of it off the top of her head. Great, gripping book