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Declan “Mac” MacManus, some-time PI turned full-time Southampton cabbie, has had to endure much in his young life: the loss of family and friends, grave bodily injuries at the hands of ruthless enemies, and the knowledge that more than a few lives have been shattered by the decisions fate has forced him to make. But nothing of what Mac has encountered—and nothing of what he now knows about his own mysterious past—can compare to what awaits him in the heart-pounding final installment of The Gin Palace Trilogy. On a cold winter night, a troubled woman enters Mac’s cab and within moments sets into motion a series of devastating events that will test the young MacManus to his very soul. As he chases down leads, and his losses once again begin to mount, Mac finds himself dangerously close to a line he swore he’d never cross. And when one utterly unbearable loss threatens to transform him into an avenging angel, it is an unlikely ally—a stranger stalking him like a shadow—that may very well be the difference between Mac’s final act of self-destruction or his ultimate salvation.

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 17, 2012

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341 people want to read

About the author

Daniel Judson

19 books150 followers
DANIEL JUDSON, a Shamus Award winner and a four-time finalist, is the author of five previous novels, most recently The Violet Hour. He attended Southampton College, and his time in the Hamptons (particularly the parts that don’t make the society pages) was the inspiration for the setting and characters in Voyeur. He now lives in Connecticut.

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5 stars
363 (37%)
4 stars
390 (40%)
3 stars
181 (18%)
2 stars
29 (2%)
1 star
10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
46 reviews2 followers
March 27, 2016
The Gin Palace - an ending?

I read all three of the Gin Palace trilogy books and enjoyed them all. The 2nd book, The Bone Orchard, was my favorite. A couple of things disappointed me about the Gin Palace - too many deaths of important characters and too much suspension of belief that Mac could continually come back from so many severe beatings/injuries. this book wasn't any more violent than the previous two but it wasn't as believable to me. It was however, as the first two, suspenseful, taut and captivating. Daniel Judson is an excellent writer and I will definitely read more of his works. I can see why he killed the characters he did but I really think the story could have turned out the same or close without their deaths. still I highly recommend this book and the entire series. well worth your time.
Profile Image for Julie.
937 reviews8 followers
November 19, 2017
This is an exceptional trilogy about a down on his luck Private Investigator who is just trying to escape the group who are trying to murder him. Each of the books is intense reading! I highly recommend you read each book in the trilogy, in order. Daniel Judson is a great author!
2,963 reviews
March 2, 2014
This was my least favorite of the three books in the series, maybe because of the amount of violence; I don't think anybody at any age could withstand that much damage and still function (or survive). I still couldn't put the book down - one thing Judson is good at is keeping the reader turning the pages as fast as possible. I rated this one 4.4 stars. Jim gave it 4.2 stars.
Profile Image for Linda Moore.
18 reviews10 followers
June 11, 2014
I think my problem with this series is there is no happy...just hardship and grief. I can take this if it seems someone is learning and growing in life...not sure Mac did...spoiler alert, my favorite people ended up dead.
Profile Image for Alan Bennett.
34 reviews
March 10, 2016
Another good read from Daniel Judson but the third and final book lacked something for me.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books and was swept along with the story. Perhaps I was expecting a little to much with the final book and I was a little disappointed.
Still a good read though.
Profile Image for M. J. Monahan.
10 reviews1 follower
June 2, 2017
All Wrapped Up...

...but no pink ribbon. The book is as gritty as the first two, if not grittier. Our antihero, again, gets beaten, mashed, and mangled. If you read the first two installments, you might as well go along for the full ride. There is a great reliance on karma and the author needs to use another phrase besides "...turn the ignition until the engine caught...." . Overall, a good piece of mind rock candy for the noir fan.
Profile Image for Ladory.
329 reviews
March 19, 2017
This third installment of the Gin Palace Trilogy was definitely the best of the three, altho still a bit too action packed for me. I'm a 66-year-old woman. I enjoy a good murder mystery as entertainment in between literary and/or historical novels with a bit more substance. However, this had so many murders that I had a bit of a difficult time keeping the theories straight as to who killed who and why. This could be a difficulty because of my age and declining mental powers, but others will have to decide for themselves.

This is a series that should be read as a series. I don't think one could very easily pick up this third installment and get what's really going on and who is who. I think one has to keep on top of it, too, and not let too much time go by in between readings.

There were still errors in this text which ask for a good proofreader. They were not nearly as rife as in the 2nd book, though. Again, I read this on my kindle.
Profile Image for Erth.
4,698 reviews
October 17, 2018
now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.
351 reviews1 follower
May 30, 2024
The Gin Palace (The Gin Palace Trilogy Book 3)

A fitting ending to this series. After years of wondering why and who, Mac finally gets the answer to the questions that have haunted him since childhood. Realistic characters and events. Not for the faint of heart or easily offended. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Cynthia.
24 reviews
May 23, 2017
Could not put it down

I could not put this book down. I wanted to know the ending. I was disappointed that the author killed off a teenager. I wished he hadn't done that. But I kept reading.
69 reviews1 follower
August 23, 2019
Great Series!

I thoroughly enjoyed this 3 book series. Mac was an amazing character, but the story was even better. The intrigue built throughout the series and culminated perfectly. These are a great read!
81 reviews1 follower
August 9, 2017
Good read

I rate this book a four its a good read I really enjoyed this series or I should say Trilogy.
4 reviews
September 7, 2017
So so

The first book was okay kept me interested second book started to get predictable third book couple twists but predictable
Profile Image for Raymond deal.
35 reviews
October 23, 2017
Ttrilogy

This was an interesting experience with the way things were slowly connected and moving into the net scene. Totally forgot not to read too fast!
Profile Image for Michelle.
1,577 reviews1 follower
November 27, 2017
Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA
26 reviews1 follower
February 15, 2018
Reading the trilogy is my first for this author. I had trouble putting all three down, interesting characters and great storytelling. Already ordered more of his books.
Profile Image for Joan Maten.
342 reviews5 followers
May 23, 2020
Very sad tale to finalize the trilogy. Not sure I could have handled more. Too dark for my taste.
Profile Image for nora m malotte.
294 reviews6 followers
January 28, 2016
The Gin Palace. (Book 3)

The past has finally come forward to meet the present. Mac is finally getting answers to the questions that have driven him his whole life. What really happened to his parents ..who killed them and most important..WHY. He has last everyone he cared about , loved and tried to help. He has been betrayed by people he thought could be trusted , if not friends. He hates them ,but mostly he hates himself, blames himself, and now that he is about to get the answers , is he going to be able to handle hearing it all. This GRIPPING , THRILLING MYSTERY IS ENDING and I want more. Tell me, do you see another one. Hope you ENJOY THIS AS MUCH AS I. I RECOMMEND HIGHLY.
597 reviews
September 18, 2014
The End - Bittersweet

The end of any series is bittersweet. The story is so good you want it to continue but there is finally a period at the end of all this good work is done. The finale of a lot of corruption, dead bodies piling up and one man trying to save the people in this corrupt town never really going down always seeming to come back from the dead never seems to get the answers be has been looking for. Here in book three he does finally. But at what cost? Don't miss the thrilling conclusion of the Gin Palace Trilogy.
23 reviews
February 18, 2016
The Gin Palace Trilogy

You must read the three books back to back, although the author has written each one to be read stand alone, as well....I hope that some day there will be a book 4....Excellent author, never drops the ball for even a second....great story from beginning to end....lots of action, mystery, love, friendship and violence...I'm so glad I found this author...Enjoy!!





911 reviews15 followers
November 16, 2016
Riveting!

I just finished The Gin Palace Trilogy and I loved it. I went from one book to the next. The writing is riveting. The characters are deep. The story takes place mostly in areas on Long Island. I grew up there so. Was able to visualize where the characters were. Everything about this trilogy was wonderful. I love the style of this author and will read more of his work. I highly recommend this to read and enjoy.
53 reviews
June 15, 2015
By the third book old characters are being knocked off and new ones entering but somehow still connected. The big question is how will it all end and will it be believable or just too hokey? I thought it ended really well and the oddly enough it seemed to make sense. Nothing out of the ordinary for the main character of this trilogy. Well done!
Profile Image for Juliana.
235 reviews2 followers
August 19, 2016
Secrets From Long Ago

Dark and violent final book in the series. The town gives up its deepest secrets from years long ago that still echo in the present. Gripping and I read it in one sitting, although I could have done without the graphic descriptions of the violent acts. Worth the read.
3 reviews
January 16, 2017
Interesting

I read the whole trilogy. The whole series had way too much rambling. Describing a walk down a pier step by step is going too far. It seemed that the author was just trying to get enough words to meet a quota. By the third book he improved but still too much rambling.
390 reviews3 followers
October 13, 2014
Humans are Stronger and Weaker than We Think

A very satisfying conclusion to this convoluted tale of intertwining lives of folks from the past and present and their motives and consequences from actions past. Death and enmity are never far away.
Profile Image for Mary Hinkle.
22 reviews2 followers
May 18, 2015
The last pieces of the puzzle

Interesting conclusion to the trilogy by Judson. The thread of the story is unbroken in spite of the tension and mystery with multiple villains and victims. Keeps you reading, for sure. Action plus.
19 reviews
November 22, 2015
Must read all three books!

I was fully engaged in this story from the beginning until the end of the third book. The characters are well defined but as this drama begins twenty plus years before, its history is slowly revealed which creates a suspenseful page-Turner.
Profile Image for Steve.
20 reviews13 followers
November 15, 2016
Excellent series

Great characters, imaginative plot, and action galore. Fans of Hammett, Chandler and MacDonald will eat this up. Judson is the best new author I have found in sometime.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews

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