The Final Score by Don Winslow

 

I first discovered Don Winslow when I read his Danny Ryan trilogy (City on Fire, City of Dreams, City in Ruins). They made me want to read more. I had read he had retired from writing, so I was delighted to see this story collection come out. Focusing mostly on crime, every story is a gem with great characters and plots.

I liked all of the stories, but my favorite was "True Story," a conversation in a diner between two gangsters. The back-and-forth dialogue is both funny and fast-paced. I didn't see the twist at the end coming. 

The other stories are good character studies involving illegal activity, thus the crime genre. 

If you haven't read Winslow, this is a good sampling of what he can do. The writing is excellent, the characters realistic, and the setting believable. I highly recommend this book and the above-mentioned trilogy. 

4/5 stars.

For more information: 

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