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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Taut and propelling, but I guess gangland crime not my genre.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Illiad, retold as a mob war set in late 1980s New England.
The Italians and Irish have been at peace and uneasy partners for over a generation, lording over their territories of Federal Hill and Dogtown in Providence, Rhode Island. One fine afternoon of August 1986, Pam from Connecticut emerged like Aphrodite from the sea drawing all eyes and desires, and before that night is over the sparks start to fly that will set the city on fire.
This is a mob story as classic as it gets, but told with perfection by a master storyteller (who announced this trilogy would be his literary swan song). While the mythological parallels are limpid and explicit, and the themes are as old as the source of inspiration and the origins of Western literature, this conceptual framework just elevates the work and never gets in the way of Winslow's perfect execution of his riveting crime story.
The tale is told with a talent for character portraits that rivals Stephen King's, with a very interesting young protagonist and a solid secondary cast of which some like Madeleine truly shine. The story, not really a surprise, adopts a typical tragedy structure in three acts that builds at first slowly, picks momentum then comes crashing down in final act that leaves you panting and exhilarated and extremely eager to pick the second novel.
This was my first Don Winslow, but aside obviously from volumes two and three of this trilogy it will definitely not be my last. What a way to end a literary career, can't wait to find out what the rest of his body of works was like.
The Italians and Irish have been at peace and uneasy partners for over a generation, lording over their territories of Federal Hill and Dogtown in Providence, Rhode Island. One fine afternoon of August 1986, Pam from Connecticut emerged like Aphrodite from the sea drawing all eyes and desires, and before that night is over the sparks start to fly that will set the city on fire.
This is a mob story as classic as it gets, but told with perfection by a master storyteller (who announced this trilogy would be his literary swan song). While the mythological parallels are limpid and explicit, and the themes are as old as the source of inspiration and the origins of Western literature, this conceptual framework just elevates the work and never gets in the way of Winslow's perfect execution of his riveting crime story.
The tale is told with a talent for character portraits that rivals Stephen King's, with a very interesting young protagonist and a solid secondary cast of which some like Madeleine truly shine. The story, not really a surprise, adopts a typical tragedy structure in three acts that builds at first slowly, picks momentum then comes crashing down in final act that leaves you panting and exhilarated and extremely eager to pick the second novel.
This was my first Don Winslow, but aside obviously from volumes two and three of this trilogy it will definitely not be my last. What a way to end a literary career, can't wait to find out what the rest of his body of works was like.
I love this author. This book was really great; even better to have the audiobook with all the Rhode Island accents. Would love if this becomes a series.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Holy Goodfellas, Don Winslow! This is epic mafia fiction. (Or is it?) Waiting anxiously for the next installment.
If you loved The Godfather and you are Irish (that’s me), you will love this book. Mario Puzo would be proud of what he spawned (or angry at what was copied - but remember imitation is the highest form of flattery). Great writer, great story and I could not be happier to know that this book is part of a trilogy! (That said, in the age of Netflix bingeing, I am sad to say that the next two books have not yet been written!).
This is so so so stupid and good. Like, Winslow can absolutely write his way out of a wet paper bag and we must stan
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
This is my 5th Don Winslow read, and it's the 5th 5 starred read.
The great news is that it's just the first of a trilogy, the bad news is that the author has announced it will be his last trilogy (3rd book is expected to be published in March 2024).
Compared to other crime novels, this one focuses less on the organization and its politics, and more on the characters. As is.typical for Don Winslow, you'll get introduced in-depth to each character. You'll get to know their motivations, their secrets, their fears... And you'll come to understand them.
The story is relatively simple: two families start a war because of a woman. If it sounds familiar, you won't be surprised by the Homer quotes at the beginning of each chapter. The parallel with the trojan war doesn't end there though: the story quickly moves on to characters plotting their revenge, preparing betrayals and killing each other off.
It's very quick paced and adrenalinic, and the storytelling is great. If it was a tv show, I'd say I'd binge watched it.
And all of that is sprinkled with some wonderful witty dialogues that would fit perfectly in a Tarantino movie.
The great news is that it's just the first of a trilogy, the bad news is that the author has announced it will be his last trilogy (3rd book is expected to be published in March 2024).
Compared to other crime novels, this one focuses less on the organization and its politics, and more on the characters. As is.typical for Don Winslow, you'll get introduced in-depth to each character. You'll get to know their motivations, their secrets, their fears... And you'll come to understand them.
The story is relatively simple: two families start a war because of a woman. If it sounds familiar, you won't be surprised by the Homer quotes at the beginning of each chapter. The parallel with the trojan war doesn't end there though: the story quickly moves on to characters plotting their revenge, preparing betrayals and killing each other off.
It's very quick paced and adrenalinic, and the storytelling is great. If it was a tv show, I'd say I'd binge watched it.
And all of that is sprinkled with some wonderful witty dialogues that would fit perfectly in a Tarantino movie.
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So fast paced you don’t have time to speculate about all the twists and turns and I ended up being surprised! You really come to feel for and root for Danny. Much faster but just as bleak as winslows cartel series.