Scan barcode
tbjork's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emckeon1002's review against another edition
4.0
Hooked right now on Winslow, who seems to write two kinds of books. One, like this one, is deeply researched and full of details about arson investigations, and another, like savages, that are compelling in their lack of detail - kind of like reading a movie script. This is a great book for anyone wondering how clues are pulled from a conflagration. Jack Wade is a familiar Winslow character - flawed, rogue ex-cop turned insurance investigator who fins peace riding the waves in SoCal.
rocketiza's review against another edition
3.0
The ending was really unsatisfying, with what was meant to be redemption just making the lead character look more like an asshole. There's a lot of technical arson stuff which was done as good as it could possibly be and told in a way I was interested and engage, but it slowed down Winslow's typical breakneck speed in novels.
gregcagle's review against another edition
3.0
Three stars. Characterization: pretty good. Plot: twisty and interesting. Writing: here's where I drop half a star. Too much detail that's not critical to the storytelling, and the writing is stylistically "casual" (as is much of Winslow) and it grates on me. Example: "See, what Jack was thinking was that he would..." And lots of sentence fragments and other attempts to sound cool. I get what Winslow was trying to do, but it doesn't work.
3hundtony's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mettguns84's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
_oneo_'s review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
firerosearien's review against another edition
4.0
I love Winslow's most recent work - The Cartel, The Force, The Border. This is one isn't bad, but it's very clear that it's an earlier work, before Winslow really found his voice and his ability to write a tight, engaging, and wholly believable plot.
eternan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
kidcolorado's review against another edition
4.0
Amazing. Don Winslow wrote a compelling, fun, beautifully-written book about a goddamn insurance adjuster. And I loved it.