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Danny Ryan #3
City in Ruins
Sometimes you have to become what you hate to protect what you love.
Danny Ryan is rich.
Beyond his wildest dreams rich.
The former dock worker, Irish mob soldier and fugitive from the law is now a respected businessman – a Las Vegas casino mogul and billionaire silent partner in a group that owns two lavish hotels. Finally, Danny has it all: a beautiful house, a child he adores, a woman he might even fall in love with.
Life is good.
But then Danny reaches too far.
When he tries to buy an old hotel on a prime piece of real estate with plans to build his dream resort, he triggers a war against Las Vegas power brokers, a powerful FBI agent bent on revenge and a rival casino owner with dark connections of his own.
Danny thought he had buried his past, but now it reaches up to him from the grave to pull him down. Old enemies surface, and when they come for Danny they vow to take everything – not only his empire, not just his life, but all that he holds dear, including his son.
To save his life and everything he loves, Danny must become the ruthless fighter he once was – and never wanted to be again.
Ranging from the gritty back rooms of Providence, RI to the power corridors of Washington, DC and Wall Street to the golden casinos of Las Vegas, City in Ruins is an epic crime novel of love and hate, ambition and desperation, vengeance and compassion.
Danny Ryan is rich.
Beyond his wildest dreams rich.
The former dock worker, Irish mob soldier and fugitive from the law is now a respected businessman – a Las Vegas casino mogul and billionaire silent partner in a group that owns two lavish hotels. Finally, Danny has it all: a beautiful house, a child he adores, a woman he might even fall in love with.
Life is good.
But then Danny reaches too far.
When he tries to buy an old hotel on a prime piece of real estate with plans to build his dream resort, he triggers a war against Las Vegas power brokers, a powerful FBI agent bent on revenge and a rival casino owner with dark connections of his own.
Danny thought he had buried his past, but now it reaches up to him from the grave to pull him down. Old enemies surface, and when they come for Danny they vow to take everything – not only his empire, not just his life, but all that he holds dear, including his son.
To save his life and everything he loves, Danny must become the ruthless fighter he once was – and never wanted to be again.
Ranging from the gritty back rooms of Providence, RI to the power corridors of Washington, DC and Wall Street to the golden casinos of Las Vegas, City in Ruins is an epic crime novel of love and hate, ambition and desperation, vengeance and compassion.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2024
1142 people are currently reading
9341 people want to read
About the author
Don Winslow
114 books7,563 followersDon Winslow is the author of twenty-one acclaimed, award-winning international bestsellers, including the New York Times bestsellers The Force and The Border, the #1 international bestseller The Cartel, The Power of the Dog, Savages, and The Winter of Frankie Machine. Savages was made into a feature film by three-time Oscar-winning writer-director Oliver Stone. The Power of the Dog, The Cartel and The Border sold to FX in a major multimillion-dollar deal to air as a weekly television series beginning in 2020.
A former investigator, antiterrorist trainer and trial consultant, Winslow lives in California and Rhode Island.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
A former investigator, antiterrorist trainer and trial consultant, Winslow lives in California and Rhode Island.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,143 reviews
November 6, 2025
IL LUNGO ADDIO
Danny Ryan non fugge via, ha smesso di spostarsi: come Enea, ha trovato una terra dove fermarsi, dove restare. Las Vegas.
E Winslow ci regala una lunga lezione molto divertente e interessante che spiega come un mafioso, ladro e assassino, criminale, può trasformarsi in uomo d’affari, imprenditore rispettato e di successo. Come si ripulisce il denaro senza infilarlo in lavatrice:
Tra queste cose c’erano le aziende di famiglia. Certo, erano state costruite con i soldi e il potere della mafia, ma alla fine si sarebbero evolute in qualcosa di legale. E se, di tanto in tanto, la famiglia doveva usare un po’ della sua vecchia forza per proteggere i proprio interessi, be’, così era la vita.
Altra cosa che Winslow sa fare molto bene è introdurre un nuovo personaggio, o raccontare un antefatto o un episodio collaterale senza abbassare la tensione, senza rallentare la lettura, senza far perdere interesse. Un esempio su tutti: la storia personale e la carriera di Vern Winegard.
L’ispirazione nei classici dei classici (finora Iliade ed Eneide) si allunga: a questo giro viene da pensare all’Orestea di Euripide, al figlio che uccide la madre per vendicare il padre che lei ha ucciso (in questo caso, lasciato uccidere).
Winslow conclude la sua trilogia in crescendo, questo terzo per me è il migliore del lotto.
E sembra anche voler concludere la sua carriera di scrittore a giudicare da quello che dice nei lunghi ringraziamenti, che suonano proprio come un addio.
Danny Ryan non fugge via, ha smesso di spostarsi: come Enea, ha trovato una terra dove fermarsi, dove restare. Las Vegas.
E Winslow ci regala una lunga lezione molto divertente e interessante che spiega come un mafioso, ladro e assassino, criminale, può trasformarsi in uomo d’affari, imprenditore rispettato e di successo. Come si ripulisce il denaro senza infilarlo in lavatrice:
Tra queste cose c’erano le aziende di famiglia. Certo, erano state costruite con i soldi e il potere della mafia, ma alla fine si sarebbero evolute in qualcosa di legale. E se, di tanto in tanto, la famiglia doveva usare un po’ della sua vecchia forza per proteggere i proprio interessi, be’, così era la vita.
Altra cosa che Winslow sa fare molto bene è introdurre un nuovo personaggio, o raccontare un antefatto o un episodio collaterale senza abbassare la tensione, senza rallentare la lettura, senza far perdere interesse. Un esempio su tutti: la storia personale e la carriera di Vern Winegard.
L’ispirazione nei classici dei classici (finora Iliade ed Eneide) si allunga: a questo giro viene da pensare all’Orestea di Euripide, al figlio che uccide la madre per vendicare il padre che lei ha ucciso (in questo caso, lasciato uccidere).
Winslow conclude la sua trilogia in crescendo, questo terzo per me è il migliore del lotto.
E sembra anche voler concludere la sua carriera di scrittore a giudicare da quello che dice nei lunghi ringraziamenti, che suonano proprio come un addio.
April 2, 2024
City in Ruins is the epic conclusion to Winslow’s City on Fire-Danny Ryan crime fiction trilogy, charting the tragic fall of the warring Murphy and Moretti organized crime families in Providence, Rhode Island. These Irish and Italian mob families were always at war, but the troubles really started when Liam Murphy saw Helen of Troy (Pam Moretti) at the clambake on the beach. Like Paris of the Trojan War, Liam absconded with the goddess and the war began because Paulie Moretti had been disrespected and, by blood, Peter Moretti, too. The spectacular first novel in the series (City on Fire) is not to be missed and contains enough fireworks for a lot of Fourth of Julys.
Book Two, City of Dreams, picks up with the aftermath of everything that happened in City on Fire. The survivors are barely able to hold it together. The Irish mob is decimated and Danny Murphy took what was left of his crew and headed to Hollywood with his well-connected mother’s help. A movie is being made about the fireworks in Providence with the Altar Boys being the named consultants. Murphy, after helping out the CIA with a raid on a drughouse and running off with proceeds, resurfaces in Hollywood, becomes the producer for the film, and has a hot romance with the star of the movies, falling for the star playing Pam’s role in the movie, and ending up on the cover of every newspaper and magazine in the country. All hell breaks loose. Meanwhile, back in Providence, the Morettis are at each other’s throats – literally, with essentially taking out each other in an intra-family feud of epic proportions. In the end, there is nowhere for any of these guys to turn because the old life is gone and the walls are all closing in on them. Now on to volume three- City in Ruins- as if there was any tragedy left to happen to these two families.
City in Ruins primarily focuses on Danny Ryan with a few short glances at the Morettis with Peter Moretti, Jr., on trial for murdering the mob boss Vinnie and Peter’s own mother. Meanwhile, Chris Palumbo is living in North Dakota with a woman he met by accident, squirreling the money he has left in the attic and rafters and letting this woman support him. His wife Cathy is back in Providence, left holding the bag. The other Italian toughs think Chris walked away with millions in the drug money and they are going to take it out of Cathy’s businesses brick by brick dollar by dollar until she has nothing left to sell but herself. Chris can’t stay in hiding forever or can he? It is another tragedy bubbling up. Chris is like Odyseuss returning from twenty years away to find Penelope fighting off dozens of suitors and his young son not up to the task yet.
Danny Ryan has resurrected himself like a phoenix rising from the ashes and is the hot new star of the Las Vegas Strip casinos, locked in an eternal competition with Vern Winegard for control of the strip. The dirty money from the mob and the drug house has been washed and diluted and Danny can control a casino fortune and date a legitimate woman. Nevertheless, the theme keeps coming up that Danny Ryan is not quite a legitimate businessman and no matter what deals he makes, his mob connections from the past keep coming up. There is no way to ever have fully clean hands for this generation.
City in Ruins is a blockbuster finale to an epic crime trilogy charting the tragedy that are these two Providence crime families, trying to claw their way out of bloody hell.
Book Two, City of Dreams, picks up with the aftermath of everything that happened in City on Fire. The survivors are barely able to hold it together. The Irish mob is decimated and Danny Murphy took what was left of his crew and headed to Hollywood with his well-connected mother’s help. A movie is being made about the fireworks in Providence with the Altar Boys being the named consultants. Murphy, after helping out the CIA with a raid on a drughouse and running off with proceeds, resurfaces in Hollywood, becomes the producer for the film, and has a hot romance with the star of the movies, falling for the star playing Pam’s role in the movie, and ending up on the cover of every newspaper and magazine in the country. All hell breaks loose. Meanwhile, back in Providence, the Morettis are at each other’s throats – literally, with essentially taking out each other in an intra-family feud of epic proportions. In the end, there is nowhere for any of these guys to turn because the old life is gone and the walls are all closing in on them. Now on to volume three- City in Ruins- as if there was any tragedy left to happen to these two families.
City in Ruins primarily focuses on Danny Ryan with a few short glances at the Morettis with Peter Moretti, Jr., on trial for murdering the mob boss Vinnie and Peter’s own mother. Meanwhile, Chris Palumbo is living in North Dakota with a woman he met by accident, squirreling the money he has left in the attic and rafters and letting this woman support him. His wife Cathy is back in Providence, left holding the bag. The other Italian toughs think Chris walked away with millions in the drug money and they are going to take it out of Cathy’s businesses brick by brick dollar by dollar until she has nothing left to sell but herself. Chris can’t stay in hiding forever or can he? It is another tragedy bubbling up. Chris is like Odyseuss returning from twenty years away to find Penelope fighting off dozens of suitors and his young son not up to the task yet.
Danny Ryan has resurrected himself like a phoenix rising from the ashes and is the hot new star of the Las Vegas Strip casinos, locked in an eternal competition with Vern Winegard for control of the strip. The dirty money from the mob and the drug house has been washed and diluted and Danny can control a casino fortune and date a legitimate woman. Nevertheless, the theme keeps coming up that Danny Ryan is not quite a legitimate businessman and no matter what deals he makes, his mob connections from the past keep coming up. There is no way to ever have fully clean hands for this generation.
City in Ruins is a blockbuster finale to an epic crime trilogy charting the tragedy that are these two Providence crime families, trying to claw their way out of bloody hell.
November 22, 2024
5 Stars
”The Danny Ryan Trilogy”, comprised of "City on Fire," "City of Dreams," and "City in Ruins," marks the culmination of Don Winslow's celebrated writing career. The trilogy explores the gripping world of crime and mafia wars, portraying the brutal conflict between the Irish and Italian mafia during the '80s and '90s. The final novel, "City in Ruins," set in Las Vegas, is a riveting conclusion to the series. While the book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the previous two books to better understand the characters and their interconnected backstories. Don Winslow's masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions bring the characters and their tumultuous world to life, drawing parallels to the compelling narratives In "City in Ruins," Winslow skillfully blurs the lines between protagonist and antagonist, drawing parallels to Virgil's Aeneid. The main character, Danny, is portrayed as a modern Aeneas, seeking self-discovery and a place to belong. Despite a history of unlawful behavior, including self-defense killings, Danny now prioritizes a lawful lifestyle and the well-being of his family. Similar to Aeneas, Danny's destiny is predetermined, and his violent past continues to resurface, compelling him to confront it in order to progress. The character Vern, typically a legitimate businessman, is manipulated into viewing Danny as a threat, leading to a conflict that challenges traditional concepts of morality. The book is fast-paced and intricately weaves together various subplots, creating a rich tapestry of family feuds, revenge, and power struggles. Overall, "City in Ruins" is an immersive and intense read, offering a realistic and suspenseful portrayal of the character's pursuit of wealth, power, and vengeance. It's a brilliant conclusion to the trilogy and a testament to Don Winslow's unparalleled storytelling prowess.
If you've already enjoyed the first two books in the trilogy, prioritize City In Ruins on your reading list. If you haven't read this series, I highly recommend placing the entire trilogy at the top of your to-be-read list. You won't regret it.
Thank you, Don Winslow, for all the stories, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavours
”The Danny Ryan Trilogy”, comprised of "City on Fire," "City of Dreams," and "City in Ruins," marks the culmination of Don Winslow's celebrated writing career. The trilogy explores the gripping world of crime and mafia wars, portraying the brutal conflict between the Irish and Italian mafia during the '80s and '90s. The final novel, "City in Ruins," set in Las Vegas, is a riveting conclusion to the series. While the book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the previous two books to better understand the characters and their interconnected backstories. Don Winslow's masterful storytelling and vivid descriptions bring the characters and their tumultuous world to life, drawing parallels to the compelling narratives In "City in Ruins," Winslow skillfully blurs the lines between protagonist and antagonist, drawing parallels to Virgil's Aeneid. The main character, Danny, is portrayed as a modern Aeneas, seeking self-discovery and a place to belong. Despite a history of unlawful behavior, including self-defense killings, Danny now prioritizes a lawful lifestyle and the well-being of his family. Similar to Aeneas, Danny's destiny is predetermined, and his violent past continues to resurface, compelling him to confront it in order to progress. The character Vern, typically a legitimate businessman, is manipulated into viewing Danny as a threat, leading to a conflict that challenges traditional concepts of morality. The book is fast-paced and intricately weaves together various subplots, creating a rich tapestry of family feuds, revenge, and power struggles. Overall, "City in Ruins" is an immersive and intense read, offering a realistic and suspenseful portrayal of the character's pursuit of wealth, power, and vengeance. It's a brilliant conclusion to the trilogy and a testament to Don Winslow's unparalleled storytelling prowess.
If you've already enjoyed the first two books in the trilogy, prioritize City In Ruins on your reading list. If you haven't read this series, I highly recommend placing the entire trilogy at the top of your to-be-read list. You won't regret it.
Thank you, Don Winslow, for all the stories, and I wish you all the best in your future endeavours
March 22, 2024
Finishing this was bitter sweet. This will be the last book from this author; wink wink unless we can coax him back for 1 final one... wink wink.
There is nothing like going out on top and I can say that's exactly how Don Winslow is ending this chapter of his life. I just discovered him when I stumbled unto the first book of this trilogy and let's just say I'm glad I did!
We enter the final,chapter in Danny Ryan's life but we know things won't remain peaceful for too long. When he's dreams get so big to the point of him stepping on toes which snowballs into bringing the crew back together; you know its about to be on!!! In a good way of course 😌
While it isn't my favorite of the 3 books, it's still a solid book and I would whole heartedly recommend the whole trilogy!
Solid 4 stars
Thanks to publishers William Morrow for this amazing ARC!!!!
COMING OUT April 2nd !!!!!!!
There is nothing like going out on top and I can say that's exactly how Don Winslow is ending this chapter of his life. I just discovered him when I stumbled unto the first book of this trilogy and let's just say I'm glad I did!
We enter the final,chapter in Danny Ryan's life but we know things won't remain peaceful for too long. When he's dreams get so big to the point of him stepping on toes which snowballs into bringing the crew back together; you know its about to be on!!! In a good way of course 😌
While it isn't my favorite of the 3 books, it's still a solid book and I would whole heartedly recommend the whole trilogy!
Solid 4 stars
Thanks to publishers William Morrow for this amazing ARC!!!!
COMING OUT April 2nd !!!!!!!
March 26, 2025
5 ⭐ para Ciudad en Ruinas y 5 ⭐ para la trilogía completa.
¡Cheapeau! señor Winslow.
Ya no se me ocurren más halagos y como no quiero ser repetitivo, solo diré que lo leáis, es un disfrute.
En esta tercera entrega nos situamos en Las Vegas y esta vez el sector que coge protagonismo es de los Hoteles y los Casinos. Como no podía ser de otro modo, ese sector también tiene sus guerras particulares, no con armas, pero sí con una expansión agresiva y debilitar a los rivales. Danny Ryan por supuesto está metido en ese mundo.
Pero claro, estamos ante unas novelas de mafias y aunque estas fueron expulsadas de Las Vegas hace años el pasado siempre vuelve y no con las mejores intenciones.
La primera parte de la novela es bastante tranquila, muy interesante todo lo que va ocurriendo, pero comparado con el tramo final, es una balsa de aceite. Y es que ese tramo final es un auténtico frenesí, todo empieza a torcerse y el nivel de adrenalina no para de subir.
Cada vez lo capítulos se hacen más cortos, las frase más cortas... Es increíble como Winslow con tan poco es capaz de ofrecer tanto.
Los personajes están a un nivel muy alto y no solo Danny Ryan, hay un muy buen abanico de secundarios que sus historias son unas joyitas.
En fin, una maravilla de trilogía.
Aunque para mí medio peldaño por detrás de la Trilogía de la Droga, no por calidad, pero la de Art Keller y compañía me parece mucho mas ambiciosa y mastodóntica.
Al final de esta novela hay una nota de agradecimientos del autor porque este es su último libro, se retira de la escritura para dedicarse a la política, de sobra es conocida su lucha anti Trump. Una pena. Por mi parte agradecer la horas y horas de disfrute que me ha dado.
March 22, 2025
Para mi gusto, esta tercera parte es la mejor. Buenísima. 👌
Si la primera era todo mafia y la segunda el inicio de Ryan en el mundo legal, aquí hay de todo.
Aquel chico que huyó de Providence hace más de diez años ya no tiene nada que ver con el hombre actual. Ahora Dan Ryan es un gran empresario millonario, en Las Vegas. Aunque su trabajo le costó, pues invirtió pero se dejó el pellejo en sacarlo todo adelante.
El Grupo Tara es su mayor orgullo, propietario de los mega casinos Casablanca y Shores. Su siguiente proyecto es Il Sogno, el sueño de Dan. Pero es de tal envergadura que Tara no dispone de los recursos suficientes, por lo que el grupo sale a Bolsa. Y aquí empiezan los problemas. Pero muchos, muchos problemas. La madeja se lia de tal manera, que es difícil que las cosas vuelvan a la normalidad.
Al mismo tiempo, en Rhode Island hay movimiento. Después de todo lo que pasó, la cosa está muy revuelta.
Ya no cuento más.
Impecable final de la trilogía. Me ha encantado! Me lo he pasado genial.
Tengo que leer más de este autor. 👉
Si la primera era todo mafia y la segunda el inicio de Ryan en el mundo legal, aquí hay de todo.
Aquel chico que huyó de Providence hace más de diez años ya no tiene nada que ver con el hombre actual. Ahora Dan Ryan es un gran empresario millonario, en Las Vegas. Aunque su trabajo le costó, pues invirtió pero se dejó el pellejo en sacarlo todo adelante.
El Grupo Tara es su mayor orgullo, propietario de los mega casinos Casablanca y Shores. Su siguiente proyecto es Il Sogno, el sueño de Dan. Pero es de tal envergadura que Tara no dispone de los recursos suficientes, por lo que el grupo sale a Bolsa. Y aquí empiezan los problemas. Pero muchos, muchos problemas. La madeja se lia de tal manera, que es difícil que las cosas vuelvan a la normalidad.
Al mismo tiempo, en Rhode Island hay movimiento. Después de todo lo que pasó, la cosa está muy revuelta.
Ya no cuento más.
Impecable final de la trilogía. Me ha encantado! Me lo he pasado genial.
Tengo que leer más de este autor. 👉
July 6, 2024
8,5/10
Dudaba entre 4 y 5 estrellas, pero al final le doy 5 estrellas a todo el conjunto, ya que es una trilogía que con sus defectos, que los tiene, ha logrado entretenerme mucho, que al final es algo que creo que todos buscamos al leer.
Esta tercera entrega se nota que la historia ya es más madura, donde todo da un salto de calidad, incluso todo lo relacionado con mafiosos va a otro nivel, algo en teoría más "civilizado", pero en el fondo la cabra tira al monte, y ya sabemos como termina la cosa.
El ritmo y la trama están muy bien construidos y la historia engancha una barbaridad, y eso que buena parte de ella su protagonista solo nos cuenta lo bien que vive en ese momento y como tiene todo dispuesto para que su turbio pasado no le complique su futuro.
Por ponerle alguna pega, me hubiera gustado un poco más de implicación de la mafia italiana en toda la historia, pero oye, no me quejo, es pedir por pedir.
¿Recomendable? Es una trilogía no demasiado extensa, con mucho ritmo, una buena trama y buenos personajes, si te gusta este estilo de novela, la recomiendo sin duda.
Dudaba entre 4 y 5 estrellas, pero al final le doy 5 estrellas a todo el conjunto, ya que es una trilogía que con sus defectos, que los tiene, ha logrado entretenerme mucho, que al final es algo que creo que todos buscamos al leer.
Esta tercera entrega se nota que la historia ya es más madura, donde todo da un salto de calidad, incluso todo lo relacionado con mafiosos va a otro nivel, algo en teoría más "civilizado", pero en el fondo la cabra tira al monte, y ya sabemos como termina la cosa.
El ritmo y la trama están muy bien construidos y la historia engancha una barbaridad, y eso que buena parte de ella su protagonista solo nos cuenta lo bien que vive en ese momento y como tiene todo dispuesto para que su turbio pasado no le complique su futuro.
Por ponerle alguna pega, me hubiera gustado un poco más de implicación de la mafia italiana en toda la historia, pero oye, no me quejo, es pedir por pedir.
¿Recomendable? Es una trilogía no demasiado extensa, con mucho ritmo, una buena trama y buenos personajes, si te gusta este estilo de novela, la recomiendo sin duda.
December 28, 2023
City in Ruins is the third book of Don Winslow's Danny Ryan trilogy and is the swan song of Winslow's storied career. And that swan can sing. Ryan is trying to create a new life for him and his son after the events in City of Dreams. Living in Las Vegas, Ryan is a casino mogul making waves, money and is doing it by the book. As one does occasionally, Ryan gets too big for his britches, steps on some toes and wakes up to his past knocking at his door. He may be a legitimate businessman now but he is not feckless nor meek. Danny Ryan has no problem breaking a few laws and playing in the mud in order to protect everything he holds dear.
City in Ruins is exquisite. What else is there to say? It is a perfect ending to the Danny Ryan saga. And Winslow's career. So au revoir. Arrivederci. Auf wiedersehen. Ve con Dios, Senor Winslow. Enjoy retirement. trolling/dunking on dweebs or whatever floats your boat. And thanks for stories.
My sincere thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of City in Ruins.
City in Ruins is exquisite. What else is there to say? It is a perfect ending to the Danny Ryan saga. And Winslow's career. So au revoir. Arrivederci. Auf wiedersehen. Ve con Dios, Senor Winslow. Enjoy retirement. trolling/dunking on dweebs or whatever floats your boat. And thanks for stories.
My sincere thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of City in Ruins.
April 23, 2024
Loved it!
April 3, 2024
So, this is likely to go down in history as Don Winslow's last book more than his best.
The attempt at something memorable, something epic here was overt: a trilogy reminding The Godfather; the scholarly references to the Iliad and the Aeneid; the announcement that this would be his last work as a writer and the understandable ambition to go out with a bang.. But the attempt in my view did not deliver against the expectations.
Book one was pretty good and made a rather encouraging start of the saga; but, instead of the necessary crescendo, book two was a total downer. And here we come to the last instalment: not as bad as the previous but not as good as it should have been.
The breadth of the story never reaches the heights it aimed at: it's bland, drawn and presents no surprises. The characters don't seem to have developed by one inch from book one, as if they were imprisoned in their original cage.
Yet, Winslow's prose is so good that I found myself in the weird situation of reading compulsively a rather ordinary story.
The attempt at something memorable, something epic here was overt: a trilogy reminding The Godfather; the scholarly references to the Iliad and the Aeneid; the announcement that this would be his last work as a writer and the understandable ambition to go out with a bang.. But the attempt in my view did not deliver against the expectations.
Book one was pretty good and made a rather encouraging start of the saga; but, instead of the necessary crescendo, book two was a total downer. And here we come to the last instalment: not as bad as the previous but not as good as it should have been.
The breadth of the story never reaches the heights it aimed at: it's bland, drawn and presents no surprises. The characters don't seem to have developed by one inch from book one, as if they were imprisoned in their original cage.
Yet, Winslow's prose is so good that I found myself in the weird situation of reading compulsively a rather ordinary story.
June 11, 2024
Not worthy.
April 25, 2024
And with that it is over. The end of the trilogy and the end of Don Winslows writing career. I am sad about both.
City in Ruins is the 3rd and final book in the Danny Ryan series. Danny has come a very long way since the first book, and is living the good life in Las Vegas. But he feels something is missing, and making the decision to go for what he wants starts a chain reaction of events that could bring it all crashing down.
Now Danny has done some bad things, some really bad things in his life. But is is hard not to want him to succeed. He is a character that gets into your heart and your head and I am going to miss him. I loved the Las Vegas setting, the casinos, the bad guys, all of it.
The ending was perfect. If it had to end, I am glad it happened the way it did. I cannot recommend this trilogy of books more to every crime reader out there. It is dark, messy, violent, but there is also heart, family and love there.
A big thanks to Harper Collins Australia and Righteous PR for sending me a copy to read.
City in Ruins is the 3rd and final book in the Danny Ryan series. Danny has come a very long way since the first book, and is living the good life in Las Vegas. But he feels something is missing, and making the decision to go for what he wants starts a chain reaction of events that could bring it all crashing down.
Now Danny has done some bad things, some really bad things in his life. But is is hard not to want him to succeed. He is a character that gets into your heart and your head and I am going to miss him. I loved the Las Vegas setting, the casinos, the bad guys, all of it.
The ending was perfect. If it had to end, I am glad it happened the way it did. I cannot recommend this trilogy of books more to every crime reader out there. It is dark, messy, violent, but there is also heart, family and love there.
A big thanks to Harper Collins Australia and Righteous PR for sending me a copy to read.
May 21, 2024
The best fireworks displays keep your heart in your throat and escalate until you don't think you can take another boom, and then everything goes up at mindboggling speed for the finale. Bang bang bang. That is what we have here.
Winslow has said the Danny Ryan trilogy is his final work. If you see this, Don, I am not holding you to that and would be delighted if the rumors of your retirement were premature. If, however, this really is the last book, you went out with a very satisfying series of bangs of both the firearm and fornication variety.
Each of the Danny Ryan books shows us Danny in a new city, at a new point in his life, trying to escape his circumstances and choices. (The stories tale place in Providence, LA, and now Las Vegas.) And each of these books gives us a new Danny, one who matures, who learns from his losses, who is changed by love for two (or more) women, and who is driven by his bone-deep pure and ever-growing love for his son, Ian, whose birth starts the first book in the series. Yes, this is a crime drama with a Soprano's worthy antihero, but it is so much more of that. It is the story of becoming a man after a rough start. In this era where people scoff at tales of reinvention and healing and are gleeful about tearing down successful people for one misstep, it is hard not to see Danny through that lens. He is a man who works and works to live a clean life, to protect and support his family and friends, but everyone wants to define him by the worst things he has done. Granted, unlike people who get attacked for using racist language, mistreating employees, or hooking up with the wrong person Danny's past acts involve a lot of murder (of bad people), theft (from bad people), and other crimes (that mostly or wholly impacted bad people.) Early on most of Danny's moral missteps came from fear, greed or hubris, but the desire to protect those around him was always there, and as he ages it becomes his raison d'etre. Danny is the most ethical immoral person one can imagine.
It bears mentioning that everyone here, no matter how colorful, feels fleshed out. The circumstances are amped up, I don't think this is how people actually live, but the character's decisions make sense, the obstacles don't seem contrived, and the love and the hate that drive most things feel dead on.
A couple last notes. First, I have railed in my reviews for a couple of books, most notably the execrable The Murder Rule, that authors do not do the necessary research to write legal thrillers, especially courtroom scenes, and I find it inexcusable. Winslow did the research. In this book there is a trial at the center of one of the storylines (for a murder committed in the last book) and it is beautifully written. Hats off. I felt like the rest of the book was just as well researched. Though this is fiction, there is a lot of stuff about gaming rules and historical norms in Vegas, and as far as I can tell Winslow stayed in the lines and the things that impact Danny's and Vern's businesses seem well crafted. Second, I listened to this read by Ari Fliakos, as I did for the last two books. Once again Fliakos is just great. I can't explain why, there are no unique voices or flourishes, but Fliakos' tone and pacing just works so well for this series.
Hats off to Don Winslow. Thank you for your service.
Winslow has said the Danny Ryan trilogy is his final work. If you see this, Don, I am not holding you to that and would be delighted if the rumors of your retirement were premature. If, however, this really is the last book, you went out with a very satisfying series of bangs of both the firearm and fornication variety.
Each of the Danny Ryan books shows us Danny in a new city, at a new point in his life, trying to escape his circumstances and choices. (The stories tale place in Providence, LA, and now Las Vegas.) And each of these books gives us a new Danny, one who matures, who learns from his losses, who is changed by love for two (or more) women, and who is driven by his bone-deep pure and ever-growing love for his son, Ian, whose birth starts the first book in the series. Yes, this is a crime drama with a Soprano's worthy antihero, but it is so much more of that. It is the story of becoming a man after a rough start. In this era where people scoff at tales of reinvention and healing and are gleeful about tearing down successful people for one misstep, it is hard not to see Danny through that lens. He is a man who works and works to live a clean life, to protect and support his family and friends, but everyone wants to define him by the worst things he has done. Granted, unlike people who get attacked for using racist language, mistreating employees, or hooking up with the wrong person Danny's past acts involve a lot of murder (of bad people), theft (from bad people), and other crimes (that mostly or wholly impacted bad people.) Early on most of Danny's moral missteps came from fear, greed or hubris, but the desire to protect those around him was always there, and as he ages it becomes his raison d'etre. Danny is the most ethical immoral person one can imagine.
It bears mentioning that everyone here, no matter how colorful, feels fleshed out. The circumstances are amped up, I don't think this is how people actually live, but the character's decisions make sense, the obstacles don't seem contrived, and the love and the hate that drive most things feel dead on.
A couple last notes. First, I have railed in my reviews for a couple of books, most notably the execrable The Murder Rule, that authors do not do the necessary research to write legal thrillers, especially courtroom scenes, and I find it inexcusable. Winslow did the research. In this book there is a trial at the center of one of the storylines (for a murder committed in the last book) and it is beautifully written. Hats off. I felt like the rest of the book was just as well researched. Though this is fiction, there is a lot of stuff about gaming rules and historical norms in Vegas, and as far as I can tell Winslow stayed in the lines and the things that impact Danny's and Vern's businesses seem well crafted. Second, I listened to this read by Ari Fliakos, as I did for the last two books. Once again Fliakos is just great. I can't explain why, there are no unique voices or flourishes, but Fliakos' tone and pacing just works so well for this series.
Hats off to Don Winslow. Thank you for your service.
July 28, 2024
What I've learned about the mafia from these books is: 1) any besmirchment of honor requires retribution, and 2) ties to the mob can never be cut until everybody else is dead.
It's now the mid-90s, and Danny Ryan is an older, legitimate businessman. To be specific, he's converted his ill-gotten gains into a silent partnership stake in high-end hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. Just like his predecessors Bugsy Siegel and Lucky Luciano, Danny has arrived at the mecca of gambling to make his fortune more reputable. To grow his empire, he moves to buy an aging casino located on a prime corridor - the same property that his business rival wants to buy. But this rival isn't just another gaming mogul; Vern Weingarten has his own ties to the Families...
Danny has tried to break away from organized crime for years, and every time, well-meaning friends from his past undermine him. It's because they think Danny's going soft, or he's been away too long and he's forgotten how things work. This inevitability keeps repeating in all three books.
Decidedly less shoot-'em-up than either City on Fire or City of Dreams, City in Ruins brings the story full circle. I thought the finale ended things as well as it could have, and I liked it, but City on Fire was the strongest novel of the three. Fun stuff overall.
It's now the mid-90s, and Danny Ryan is an older, legitimate businessman. To be specific, he's converted his ill-gotten gains into a silent partnership stake in high-end hotels on the Las Vegas Strip. Just like his predecessors Bugsy Siegel and Lucky Luciano, Danny has arrived at the mecca of gambling to make his fortune more reputable. To grow his empire, he moves to buy an aging casino located on a prime corridor - the same property that his business rival wants to buy. But this rival isn't just another gaming mogul; Vern Weingarten has his own ties to the Families...
Danny has tried to break away from organized crime for years, and every time, well-meaning friends from his past undermine him. It's because they think Danny's going soft, or he's been away too long and he's forgotten how things work. This inevitability keeps repeating in all three books.
Decidedly less shoot-'em-up than either City on Fire or City of Dreams, City in Ruins brings the story full circle. I thought the finale ended things as well as it could have, and I liked it, but City on Fire was the strongest novel of the three. Fun stuff overall.
May 13, 2024
Gran cierre para esta estupenda trilogía. Creo que es uno de los libros más adictivos de Don Winslow, los capítulos finales son trepidantes y hacen que no puedas parar de leer. Me ha encantado.
April 11, 2024
A fitting end (and goodbye) to a wonderful series and author
I love this series because it introduced me to Don Winslow and his amazing books. Seems fitting that CITY IN RUINS is supposed to be Winslow's last book. I am grateful that I still have a lot of his backlist to catch up on.
RUINS is third in the Danny Ryan trilogy. This is one time where you really have to read the first two books for the third to make sense. Everything comes full circle and the sheer amount of names and story continuity will be too confusing without the first two. Plus, they are excellent.
By now, Danny is in Las Vegas, overseeing his growing empire, and facing a Government investigation into the gambling industry. Worried about how this will affect his Vegas legacy, Danny acts on a variety of fronts, including buying a hotel on the Vegas strip right out from a competitor. This sets off a chain of events that darken back to Danny's brutal and violent days in the Irish mob.
This wasn't my favorite of the three books; it seemed to lack some of the depth and emotional complexity of the others, but it's still quite good. Danny's Vegas journey brings him across many of his (former) Irish mob counterparts--meaning we see and hear from many familiar faces from the earlier books. There's a decent side plot involving a missing mobster from an earlier book (which I didn't care too much about).
The best part, as always, is Danny. He's such a rich character with so many sides. Ryan does a strong job of portraying his struggle to stay on the right side, away from his violent past, while wanting to stay on top of the gambling world. It's Danny's personality, his inner thoughts, and the Greek tragedy parallels in this series that keep me coming back. This is a nuanced, detailed, and fitting end to a wonderful series. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and William Morrow in return for an unbiased review.
I love this series because it introduced me to Don Winslow and his amazing books. Seems fitting that CITY IN RUINS is supposed to be Winslow's last book. I am grateful that I still have a lot of his backlist to catch up on.
RUINS is third in the Danny Ryan trilogy. This is one time where you really have to read the first two books for the third to make sense. Everything comes full circle and the sheer amount of names and story continuity will be too confusing without the first two. Plus, they are excellent.
By now, Danny is in Las Vegas, overseeing his growing empire, and facing a Government investigation into the gambling industry. Worried about how this will affect his Vegas legacy, Danny acts on a variety of fronts, including buying a hotel on the Vegas strip right out from a competitor. This sets off a chain of events that darken back to Danny's brutal and violent days in the Irish mob.
This wasn't my favorite of the three books; it seemed to lack some of the depth and emotional complexity of the others, but it's still quite good. Danny's Vegas journey brings him across many of his (former) Irish mob counterparts--meaning we see and hear from many familiar faces from the earlier books. There's a decent side plot involving a missing mobster from an earlier book (which I didn't care too much about).
The best part, as always, is Danny. He's such a rich character with so many sides. Ryan does a strong job of portraying his struggle to stay on the right side, away from his violent past, while wanting to stay on top of the gambling world. It's Danny's personality, his inner thoughts, and the Greek tragedy parallels in this series that keep me coming back. This is a nuanced, detailed, and fitting end to a wonderful series. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and William Morrow in return for an unbiased review.
April 4, 2024
Don Winslow's final book, and the world's greatest living crime writer bows out with an almighty bang.
City in Ruins rounds off his Danny Ryan trilogy in ways both expected and not. Yes, it's explosive, filled with the classical structures, crime and punishment, redemption and retribution. Three novels in which Ryan has lived on the knife-edge of morality, and everything has to be paid for, in the end.
What I was not perhaps anticipating was how moving this book is. The ending shook me, not only with Danny's story coming to a conclusion, but knowing these are the last words of fiction Winslow will ever pen.
There will be a gaping, empty hole in my calendar every year from now on, knowing there won't be a new book from this most special of writers. Thanks for the good times, Don!
City in Ruins rounds off his Danny Ryan trilogy in ways both expected and not. Yes, it's explosive, filled with the classical structures, crime and punishment, redemption and retribution. Three novels in which Ryan has lived on the knife-edge of morality, and everything has to be paid for, in the end.
What I was not perhaps anticipating was how moving this book is. The ending shook me, not only with Danny's story coming to a conclusion, but knowing these are the last words of fiction Winslow will ever pen.
There will be a gaping, empty hole in my calendar every year from now on, knowing there won't be a new book from this most special of writers. Thanks for the good times, Don!
April 29, 2024
2 stars.
Winslow announced two years ago that this would be his last book, allowing him to focus on his political work. If this was all that he had left in the tank as a writer, I think it's for the best that he walks away. I've read ten of his novels. And this is either the worst or the second worst. It was so bad that it may have altered my opinion of the first two books in this series. As a positive, his trademark prose and storytelling were present, which left me reading till the end without getting too bored. But the rest of his skillset disappeared, and this book was a plotting and character mess that frankly should not happen when you have several years to get it right.
The problems in no short order are:
1. The book comprises three major storylines. None of which overlap in this novel. Sure they did in prior books in the series. But here, the Moretti Jr. and Palumbo storylines just operate in their own silos with no affect on Ryan or each other. If that was the case, it probably would've been best to just stop at two books
2. Reggie Moneta and Jim Connolly just disappear from the book after playing such a direct plot function. We have no idea what happened to either of them.
3. What happened to Vernon Winegard. Don't get me started. What an idiotic decision on his character.
4. Several of the plot contrivances were so obvious that I saw them coming 50 pages ahead. Winslow had so many contrivances throughout this novel to keep the plot moving, making me wonder if he had any idea how to make this book work. Perhaps that should've been a sign to him that this book should not have existed.
5. The new love interest for Ryan was a waste of pages. She clearly only serves one function, which is established during the climax of the novel.
6. The allusions to mafia movies and tv shows were TOO obvious here.
7. Finally, and perhaps the most important, a novel about a middle-aged white multi-millionaire engaging in evil rich white guy things is never as interesting as organized crime stories. Too much of this book was about buying casinos and not enough about actual interesting crime. Sure behinds lots of great fortunes are great crimes. But that doesn't need to be the premise for a whole novel.
Winslow announced two years ago that this would be his last book, allowing him to focus on his political work. If this was all that he had left in the tank as a writer, I think it's for the best that he walks away. I've read ten of his novels. And this is either the worst or the second worst. It was so bad that it may have altered my opinion of the first two books in this series. As a positive, his trademark prose and storytelling were present, which left me reading till the end without getting too bored. But the rest of his skillset disappeared, and this book was a plotting and character mess that frankly should not happen when you have several years to get it right.
The problems in no short order are:
1. The book comprises three major storylines. None of which overlap in this novel. Sure they did in prior books in the series. But here, the Moretti Jr. and Palumbo storylines just operate in their own silos with no affect on Ryan or each other. If that was the case, it probably would've been best to just stop at two books
2. Reggie Moneta and Jim Connolly just disappear from the book after playing such a direct plot function. We have no idea what happened to either of them.
3. What happened to Vernon Winegard. Don't get me started. What an idiotic decision on his character.
4. Several of the plot contrivances were so obvious that I saw them coming 50 pages ahead. Winslow had so many contrivances throughout this novel to keep the plot moving, making me wonder if he had any idea how to make this book work. Perhaps that should've been a sign to him that this book should not have existed.
5. The new love interest for Ryan was a waste of pages. She clearly only serves one function, which is established during the climax of the novel.
6. The allusions to mafia movies and tv shows were TOO obvious here.
7. Finally, and perhaps the most important, a novel about a middle-aged white multi-millionaire engaging in evil rich white guy things is never as interesting as organized crime stories. Too much of this book was about buying casinos and not enough about actual interesting crime. Sure behinds lots of great fortunes are great crimes. But that doesn't need to be the premise for a whole novel.
April 2, 2024
*** Happy Publication Day ***
What a way to conclude a successful writing career. In this, Don Winslow's final novel, he satisfyingly ends the Danny Ryan Trilogy and leaves this reader hoping he will decide retirement is too dull and begin writing again.
Danny Ryan thought he had left his Irish mob days behind him. He has become a wildly successful casino partner, has a great relationship with his son, and has a woman he could love. Still, his past resurfaces as an FBI agent out for revenge stirs the pot; he must go on the offensive again to preserve his world. Calling on old friends for help, Danny tries to outwit the government and the Italian mafia while keeping his family safe. His life and business empire are on the line; failure is not an option.
I first became a fan of the character Danny Ryan in "City on Fire" and continued in "City of Dreams." Both left me wanting more, and I'm happy to report that "City in Ruins." is the icing on this trilogy cake: it resolves storylines and characters' lives fittingly. The writing is excellent, the plot is twisty, and the pacing is fast - a Don Winslow signature novel. I wish Mr. Winslow well in whatever he does next, but I will miss the worlds and characters he created. 5/5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of "City in Ruins" in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is April 2, 2024.
What a way to conclude a successful writing career. In this, Don Winslow's final novel, he satisfyingly ends the Danny Ryan Trilogy and leaves this reader hoping he will decide retirement is too dull and begin writing again.
Danny Ryan thought he had left his Irish mob days behind him. He has become a wildly successful casino partner, has a great relationship with his son, and has a woman he could love. Still, his past resurfaces as an FBI agent out for revenge stirs the pot; he must go on the offensive again to preserve his world. Calling on old friends for help, Danny tries to outwit the government and the Italian mafia while keeping his family safe. His life and business empire are on the line; failure is not an option.
I first became a fan of the character Danny Ryan in "City on Fire" and continued in "City of Dreams." Both left me wanting more, and I'm happy to report that "City in Ruins." is the icing on this trilogy cake: it resolves storylines and characters' lives fittingly. The writing is excellent, the plot is twisty, and the pacing is fast - a Don Winslow signature novel. I wish Mr. Winslow well in whatever he does next, but I will miss the worlds and characters he created. 5/5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of "City in Ruins" in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is April 2, 2024.
October 1, 2024
En los agradecimientos, el autor expresa su gratitud a uno de sus antiguos profesores por enseñarle a utilizar oraciones declarativas simples, y yo me uno a estas expresiones de gratitud. Lo que hace que esta serie sea única es el estilo original del autor, basado en la simplicidad, centrado en transmitir claramente la información al lector: "Danny Ryan entra en un bar , sosteniendo una pistola en la mano."* Pronto descubriremos cómo sucedió, pero este fuerte comienzo llama la atención y capata niestra atención. El resultado es una prosa dura con estilo periodístico. Winslow nos cuenta la historia de Ryan sin florituras, maximizando así el poder de esta historia.
Los personajes del libro son un cliché total pero están escritos de forma brillante, como por ejemplo, los mafiosos italianos que parecen sacados directamente de "Los Soprano". El propio Danny Ryan es un héroe que todo hombre inconscientemente querría ser en la vida real: es guapo, decidido, carismático, ama a su familia y amigos, está listo para (literalmente) cualquier cosa para proteger a sus seres queridos. Los agentes del orden, ya sabes, son en su mayoría corruptos¿Y qué pasa si todos están escritos de manera tan brillante? Son únicos, multidimensionales y reaccionan de manera impredecible a los eventos que les suceden, lo que a menudo es motivo de interesantes giros en la trama.
Toda la trilogía es en realidad una gran tragedia griega, porque cualquier cosa que Danny logre, básicamente se desmorona como una casa construida sin supervisión de construcción. Pero aunque sabía que Danny, al salir de un pozo negro, terminaría en otro,me mantuve absorto en el libro porque me encantó el estilo de Don Winslow, me hice amigo de los personajes y me lo pasé muy estupendamente leyendolo. Muy recomendable.
menos
May 27, 2024
[ESP/ENG]
¿Confiar?
Confiar, confían los niños en que venga Papá Noel.
Llega el final de la trilogía de Danny Ryan (aquí Dan Ryan, es mas respetable así el nombre) y con él, el viaje que me he hecho de seguido sobre su vida. Viaje que empieza en Ciudad en llamas y sigue en Ciudad de los sueños, aquí termina, no diré si bien o mal, pero con todos los cabos atados y bien cerrados. Una novela muy buena, a la que dudaba si dar 4 o 5⭐, pero que finalmente se lleva la máxima puntuación por lo bien escrita que está y por el clímax final que es frenético y te mantiene en vilo.
No sé muy bien qué decir, ya que cualquier cosa puede hacer spoiler, así que solo comentar cositas similares a las otras reseñas: Don Winslow hace un gran trabajo con la escritura y los personajes, y que hilvana muy bien la historia que ha venido desarrollando en los 3 libros. Como única pega, una de las subtramas no me ha interesado nada, y es algo que viene arrastrando desde la segunda parte. Pero es cosa mía, y no del autor.
Para terminar, una nota triste. En los agradecimientos se despide de todos los lectores y les da las gracias por esta carrera suya tan larga y exitosa, con lo cual tras esta novela ya no tendremos más novedades suyas. Por suerte (para mí al menos) aún tengo muchas cosas suyas de las que disfrutar.
Un viaje muy interesante, que me ha alegrado haber compartido. Un saludo y hasta siempre, o al menos hasta la próxima lectura suya que haga, que será más pronto que tarde.
Su ciudad en ruinas.
🎰🎱🎲🎰🎱🎲🎰🎱🎲🎰🎱🎲
Trust?
Trust is children waiting for Santa Clause.
The end of the Danny Ryan trilogy arrives (here Dan Ryan, the name is more respectable) and with it, the journey that I have followed about his life. Journey that begins in City on Fire and continues in City of Dreams, here it ends, I won't say if it's good or bad, but with all the ends tied up and tightly closed. A very good novel, which I was hesitant to give 4 or 5⭐, but which finally gets the maximum score for how well written it is and for the final climax that is frenetic and keeps you in your toes.
I don't really know what to say, since anything can be a spoiler, so I'll just comment on things similar to the other reviews: Don Winslow does a great job with the writing and the characters, and he weaves together the story he has been developing very well in all 3 books. The only drawback is that one of the subplots has not interested me at all, and it is something that has been dragging on since the second part. But it's my thing, and not the author's.
To finish, a sad note. In his acknowledgments he says goodbye to all readers and thanks them for this long and successful career of his, because after this novel we will no longer have any more new books from him. Luckily (for me at least) I still have a lot of his stuff to enjoy.
A very interesting trip, which I was glad to have shared. Greetings and farewell, or at least until my next reading of his plays, which will be sooner rather than later.
His city in ruins.
¿Confiar?
Confiar, confían los niños en que venga Papá Noel.
Llega el final de la trilogía de Danny Ryan (aquí Dan Ryan, es mas respetable así el nombre) y con él, el viaje que me he hecho de seguido sobre su vida. Viaje que empieza en Ciudad en llamas y sigue en Ciudad de los sueños, aquí termina, no diré si bien o mal, pero con todos los cabos atados y bien cerrados. Una novela muy buena, a la que dudaba si dar 4 o 5⭐, pero que finalmente se lleva la máxima puntuación por lo bien escrita que está y por el clímax final que es frenético y te mantiene en vilo.
No sé muy bien qué decir, ya que cualquier cosa puede hacer spoiler, así que solo comentar cositas similares a las otras reseñas: Don Winslow hace un gran trabajo con la escritura y los personajes, y que hilvana muy bien la historia que ha venido desarrollando en los 3 libros. Como única pega, una de las subtramas no me ha interesado nada, y es algo que viene arrastrando desde la segunda parte. Pero es cosa mía, y no del autor.
Para terminar, una nota triste. En los agradecimientos se despide de todos los lectores y les da las gracias por esta carrera suya tan larga y exitosa, con lo cual tras esta novela ya no tendremos más novedades suyas. Por suerte (para mí al menos) aún tengo muchas cosas suyas de las que disfrutar.
Un viaje muy interesante, que me ha alegrado haber compartido. Un saludo y hasta siempre, o al menos hasta la próxima lectura suya que haga, que será más pronto que tarde.
Su ciudad en ruinas.
🎰🎱🎲🎰🎱🎲🎰🎱🎲🎰🎱🎲
Trust?
Trust is children waiting for Santa Clause.
The end of the Danny Ryan trilogy arrives (here Dan Ryan, the name is more respectable) and with it, the journey that I have followed about his life. Journey that begins in City on Fire and continues in City of Dreams, here it ends, I won't say if it's good or bad, but with all the ends tied up and tightly closed. A very good novel, which I was hesitant to give 4 or 5⭐, but which finally gets the maximum score for how well written it is and for the final climax that is frenetic and keeps you in your toes.
I don't really know what to say, since anything can be a spoiler, so I'll just comment on things similar to the other reviews: Don Winslow does a great job with the writing and the characters, and he weaves together the story he has been developing very well in all 3 books. The only drawback is that one of the subplots has not interested me at all, and it is something that has been dragging on since the second part. But it's my thing, and not the author's.
To finish, a sad note. In his acknowledgments he says goodbye to all readers and thanks them for this long and successful career of his, because after this novel we will no longer have any more new books from him. Luckily (for me at least) I still have a lot of his stuff to enjoy.
A very interesting trip, which I was glad to have shared. Greetings and farewell, or at least until my next reading of his plays, which will be sooner rather than later.
His city in ruins.
August 23, 2024
Ballada o dobrym gangsterze
W podziękowaniach autor wyraża wdzięczność jednemu ze swoich dawnych nauczycieli za to, że nauczył go posługiwać się prostymi zdaniami oznajmującymi i ja się do tych wyrazów wdzięczności przyłączam. To co buduje tę serię, sprawia że jest wyjątkowa i mimo licznych klisz z gangsterskich filmów i seriali, jest oryginalna i nie można się od niej oderwać, to właśnie ten oryginalny styl autora oparty na prostocie, skupiony na jasnym przekazywaniu informacji czytelnikowi - "Danny Ryan wchodzi do baru, w dłoni trzyma dymiący pistolet."* Zaraz dowiemy jak do tego doszło, ale ten mocny początek przykuwa uwagę, zaciekawia. Moc winslowowego stylu "do brzegu" potęgują również krótkie, nie raz (szczególnie pod koniec książki) jednoakapitowe rozdziały. Wyszła z tego twarda, męska proza z dziennikarskim sznytem. Winslow relacjonuje nam historię Ryana bez udziwnień, bez literackich ozdobników wzmacniając w ten sposób siłę tej historii do maksimum.
Bohaterowie książki to totalna klisza. Są świetnie napisani, ale na przykład włoscy mafiozi są jak żywcem wyjęci z "Rodziny Soprano". Sam Danny Ryan to bohater jakim podświadomie chciałby być każdy facet w prawdziwym życiu - jest przystojny, zdeterminowany, charyzmatyczny, kocha swoją rodzinę i przyjaciół jest gotowy na (dosłownie) wszystko żeby chronić swoich bliskich, ale oczywiście nieprowokowany jest łagodny jak baranek, a fortuna którą zdobywa mimochodem jest dla niego środkiem nie celem - prawdziwy selfmademan man. Stróże prawa - wiadomo - przeważnie skorumpowani karierowicze, a prawnik jeśli mu dobrze zapłacić wybroni każdego. I co z tego skoro oni wszyscy są tak zajebiście napisani - są jacyś, są wielowymiarowi i na spadające na nich (zazwyczaj przykre) wydarzenia reagują w sposób nieprzewidywalny co często jest powodem ciekawych zwrotów akcji (jak na przykład podczas procesu Petera Morettiego Juniora).
Cała trylogia to właściwie jedna wielka grecka tragedia, bo czegokolwiek Danny nie osiągnie, właściwie rozpada się jak domek stawiany bez nadzoru budowlanego. Na Ryana niczym na Hioba, spadają kolejne tragedie, dostaje od życia kolejne ciosy - nie może ustabilizować swojego życia - najpierw musi uciekać z Rhode Island, potem Los Angeles a na koniec, cóż... jak to uciekinier, cały czas musi oglądać się za siebie, całe szczęście, że zawsze znajdzie się ktoś, kto wyciągnie do niego pomocną dłoń. Ale mimo tego, że wiedziałem, że Danny wygrzebując się z jednego szamba na bank trafi do kolejnego, bo bez jaj - niemożliwe żeby wszystko dokumentnie posrało się, dajmy na to w 1/3 powieści, to i tak książka mnie pochłonęła, bo pokochałem styl Dona Winslowa, zaprzyjaźniłem się z bohaterami i bawiłem się jak przy najlepszym serialu - książki, takie jak te, pisarze tacy jak Don Winslow** są ratunkiem dla literatury jako masowej rozrywki.
* To moja wariacja
** Niestety to była ostatnia książka autora - nie, nie umarł, przeszedł na emeryturę ;)
W podziękowaniach autor wyraża wdzięczność jednemu ze swoich dawnych nauczycieli za to, że nauczył go posługiwać się prostymi zdaniami oznajmującymi i ja się do tych wyrazów wdzięczności przyłączam. To co buduje tę serię, sprawia że jest wyjątkowa i mimo licznych klisz z gangsterskich filmów i seriali, jest oryginalna i nie można się od niej oderwać, to właśnie ten oryginalny styl autora oparty na prostocie, skupiony na jasnym przekazywaniu informacji czytelnikowi - "Danny Ryan wchodzi do baru, w dłoni trzyma dymiący pistolet."* Zaraz dowiemy jak do tego doszło, ale ten mocny początek przykuwa uwagę, zaciekawia. Moc winslowowego stylu "do brzegu" potęgują również krótkie, nie raz (szczególnie pod koniec książki) jednoakapitowe rozdziały. Wyszła z tego twarda, męska proza z dziennikarskim sznytem. Winslow relacjonuje nam historię Ryana bez udziwnień, bez literackich ozdobników wzmacniając w ten sposób siłę tej historii do maksimum.
Bohaterowie książki to totalna klisza. Są świetnie napisani, ale na przykład włoscy mafiozi są jak żywcem wyjęci z "Rodziny Soprano". Sam Danny Ryan to bohater jakim podświadomie chciałby być każdy facet w prawdziwym życiu - jest przystojny, zdeterminowany, charyzmatyczny, kocha swoją rodzinę i przyjaciół jest gotowy na (dosłownie) wszystko żeby chronić swoich bliskich, ale oczywiście nieprowokowany jest łagodny jak baranek, a fortuna którą zdobywa mimochodem jest dla niego środkiem nie celem - prawdziwy selfmademan man. Stróże prawa - wiadomo - przeważnie skorumpowani karierowicze, a prawnik jeśli mu dobrze zapłacić wybroni każdego. I co z tego skoro oni wszyscy są tak zajebiście napisani - są jacyś, są wielowymiarowi i na spadające na nich (zazwyczaj przykre) wydarzenia reagują w sposób nieprzewidywalny co często jest powodem ciekawych zwrotów akcji (jak na przykład podczas procesu Petera Morettiego Juniora).
Cała trylogia to właściwie jedna wielka grecka tragedia, bo czegokolwiek Danny nie osiągnie, właściwie rozpada się jak domek stawiany bez nadzoru budowlanego. Na Ryana niczym na Hioba, spadają kolejne tragedie, dostaje od życia kolejne ciosy - nie może ustabilizować swojego życia - najpierw musi uciekać z Rhode Island, potem Los Angeles a na koniec, cóż... jak to uciekinier, cały czas musi oglądać się za siebie, całe szczęście, że zawsze znajdzie się ktoś, kto wyciągnie do niego pomocną dłoń. Ale mimo tego, że wiedziałem, że Danny wygrzebując się z jednego szamba na bank trafi do kolejnego, bo bez jaj - niemożliwe żeby wszystko dokumentnie posrało się, dajmy na to w 1/3 powieści, to i tak książka mnie pochłonęła, bo pokochałem styl Dona Winslowa, zaprzyjaźniłem się z bohaterami i bawiłem się jak przy najlepszym serialu - książki, takie jak te, pisarze tacy jak Don Winslow** są ratunkiem dla literatury jako masowej rozrywki.
* To moja wariacja
** Niestety to była ostatnia książka autora - nie, nie umarł, przeszedł na emeryturę ;)
April 7, 2024
This page-turner (does Winslow write any other kind of book?) wraps up the Danny Ryan trilogy, in which The Iliad is recast as a 1970s conflict between Irish and Italian crime families in Provincetown R.I. and Danny Ryan stands in for Aeneas. It’s now a decade after Irish mob soldier Danny was forced to flee Provincetown with his senile father and infant son, leaving his wife, virtually dead of cancer, behind. After his brief stint as a Hollywood movie producer (and his romance with an A list actress—the Dido of this story—that ended with her suicide), Danny has fetched up in Las Vegas, where he becomes an increasingly major player in the hotel and gaming industries. (Remember, Aeneas made it pretty big himself, founding Rome.) He’s become very respectable, doing his best to leave his criminal past behind, but dang it, events keep conspiring to pull him back in, as dangerous figures from his past re-enter the picture when a Vegas business rival calls them in.
June 6, 2024
4,5/5 ⭐️. Me deja cierto sabor agridulce el esperado cierre de la trilogía de Danny Ryan. Quizá haya sido el hype o que me esperaba más por tratarse de su último libro, pero Ciudad en Ruinas no me ha parecido suficiente para las 5 estrellas.
Es adictivo y no puedes parar de leer, en eso Winslow es un maestro, pero el final de la historia me parece algo precipitado. Bajo mi punto de vista le sobran páginas de la trama hotelera y le faltan bastantes para un desenlace más pausado y un mejor desarrollo del final de varios personajes. ¿Qué fue de las vidas de Reggie Monetta, Conolly, Chris Palumbo, Pam o Paulie Moretti? Es como si Winslow hubiera escrito el tramo final de esta obra con el piloto automático.
No obstante, es una trilogía muy recomendable si eres aficionado a las historias de mafiosos, aunque en mi opinión la mejor parte es la inaugural Ciudad en llamas. Por supuesto, no alcanza la dimensión de El Poder del Perro, El Cártel y La Frontera. Ahora toca esperar a que Don Winslow se canse pronto del mundo de la política y vuelva a escribir ✍️.
Es adictivo y no puedes parar de leer, en eso Winslow es un maestro, pero el final de la historia me parece algo precipitado. Bajo mi punto de vista le sobran páginas de la trama hotelera y le faltan bastantes para un desenlace más pausado y un mejor desarrollo del final de varios personajes. ¿Qué fue de las vidas de Reggie Monetta, Conolly, Chris Palumbo, Pam o Paulie Moretti? Es como si Winslow hubiera escrito el tramo final de esta obra con el piloto automático.
No obstante, es una trilogía muy recomendable si eres aficionado a las historias de mafiosos, aunque en mi opinión la mejor parte es la inaugural Ciudad en llamas. Por supuesto, no alcanza la dimensión de El Poder del Perro, El Cártel y La Frontera. Ahora toca esperar a que Don Winslow se canse pronto del mundo de la política y vuelva a escribir ✍️.
April 6, 2024
While it has many of the features of Winslow’s thrillers (short punchy chapters, short punchy dialogue, fast punchy action), there were flaws. After spending lots of time in City of Dreams recapping the story of City on Fire, there was little to no recapping in City in Ruins which left the stories of Chris and Peter Jr, isolated and completely disconnected from the Danny Ryan thread. For his part Danny Ryan seemed passive here, and without sufficient moves to anticipate or avoid problems. Winslow peaked with the Power of the Dog trilogy and The Force, and he didn’t quite seem to have his heart in the Danny Ryan trilogy. Good luck with your political activism, Don!
May 4, 2024
I've been dreading writing this review because City in Ruins is Don Winslow's final novel. Winslow has decided to retire in order to focus on his political writing. I commend Mr. Winslow for making such a bold career choice especially after he achieved that rare combination of critical acclaim and bestselling status. On the other hand, the selfish Winslow fan that I am cried out, "Please don't go.", after I finished the final book in his excellent Danny Ryan trilogy. "Ruins" has everything that I love about Winslow's books with its colorful characters, energetic storytelling, and hillarous dialouge. I kept thinking as I was reading, "How can a writer this good walk away from being one of the rare standouts in crime fiction?" The only answer I could come up with was, "timing." How many writers have we all stopped reading because their last couple of books failed to live up to our expectations? I have no doubts that Mr. Winslow could've written more top-notch crime thrillers after his latest, but he also could've written average novels in hopes of keeping his name relevant. I have Winslow's backlist to get my fix, but I'm going to miss anticipating his upcoming release. I only extend Mr. Winslow my best wishes in his future writing endenvors. After all, I may be a selfish reader, but not a heartless one.
May 5, 2024
Género, novela negra, 464 páginas, seis horas tiempo de lectura narrada íntegramente en tercera persona, capítulos muy cortos, un protagonista principal y muchos secundarios, un único ámbito temporal y varios espaciales.
Tercera y última entrega de la serie, Ciudad de los sueños o saga Dan Ryan. ¿Como calificar esta trilogía de novela negra, ambientada en distintas ciudades de los Estados Unidos?; pues, en una única palabra: EXTRAORDINARIA.
La primera de la saga ya me pareció magnífica, la segunda, todavía más dura que la primera, también fue increíble, pero esta tercera colofón de la saga, resulta, simplemente, sublime.
El protagonista principal, Dan, Daniel Ryan vuelve a convertirse en el líder indiscutible de la novela mostrando al margen de su pasado gansteril unos valores inquebrantables, una generosidad admirable y un sentido del deber y del honor dignos de destacar.
Don Winslow concluye su vida lieteraria con una obra cumbre en su narrativa y dejándonos a sus fans con una sensación de satisfacción por su trabajo aunque con pena en el corazón por su retirada.
Tercera y última entrega de la serie, Ciudad de los sueños o saga Dan Ryan. ¿Como calificar esta trilogía de novela negra, ambientada en distintas ciudades de los Estados Unidos?; pues, en una única palabra: EXTRAORDINARIA.
La primera de la saga ya me pareció magnífica, la segunda, todavía más dura que la primera, también fue increíble, pero esta tercera colofón de la saga, resulta, simplemente, sublime.
El protagonista principal, Dan, Daniel Ryan vuelve a convertirse en el líder indiscutible de la novela mostrando al margen de su pasado gansteril unos valores inquebrantables, una generosidad admirable y un sentido del deber y del honor dignos de destacar.
Don Winslow concluye su vida lieteraria con una obra cumbre en su narrativa y dejándonos a sus fans con una sensación de satisfacción por su trabajo aunque con pena en el corazón por su retirada.
September 10, 2024
Ultimo libro de la trilogía de la ciudad en llamas de Don Winslow. Es igual de interesante que los dos anteriores, pero este tiene algo más y es que la última parte del libro hay un gran follón liado que te engancha y que no te deja abandonar el libro. Como siempre el autor tiene muy buena prosa pero no todos los libros tienen la misma calidad aunque no le he leído ninguno malo
July 28, 2024
Ich will noch nicht wahrhaben, dass das wirklich sein letztes Buch gewesen sein soll. Und wenn doch: Ein würdiger Abschluss. Nicht nur einer stimmigen, mitreißenden Trilogie.
April 15, 2024
I love a good mafia thriller and the first two books were great. City In Ruins, the third and final book in this Danny Ryan trilogy did not disappoint, I was hooked from the beginning and could not put it down. I thought the ending was absolutely perfect, and I was honestly sad it was over. I definitely recommend this one, especially if you like mafia thrillers.
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