In 1955, aged twenty-three and fresh from a Master's in English Literature, Joe Gores knew he wanted to be a writer. In the meantime, he had to pay the bills.

He became a repo man for L. A. Walker, later going into partnership with Walker's San Francisco manager, Dave Kikkert. The inspiration for Gores's DKA Files series was born.

Gores fictionalises his repo man days in these twelve 'cases'. Some of the stories were published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, and were written throughout a distinguished career. Gores won an Edgar Award in 1969 for A Time for Predators, and wrote TV scripts for Columbo, Kojak and Magnum, PI among others.