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The Final Score
“The best crime fiction I've read in twenty years.” — Stephen King
#1 internationally bestselling author Don Winslow—America’s King of Crime Fiction—is back and he’s better than ever in this intense, deeply felt, gripping collection of six all-new, never-before-published short novels.
In six all-new short novels written with the trademark literary style, trenchant wit, and incisive characterization that have made Don Winslow “America’s greatest living crime writer” (Providence Journal), this repeat New York Times bestselling author serves up a collection of tales sure to delight Winslow’s most devoted fans and first-time readers.
The multi-million-dollar casino heist is impossible—it can’t be done. That’s what makes it irresistible to a legendary robber facing the rest of his life in prison for his “Final Score.” An ambitious, hard-working college-bound teenager has a side job delivering illegal booze to “The Sunday List” until a crooked cop, a seductive customer, and a fake guru threaten to end his dreams. Two wise guys tell each other a “True Story” over breakfast at a diner. It’s all bullshit and laughs until someone else has to pick up the check. An otherwise honest patrolman has to make an excruciating choice between his loyalty to the job and his love for a ne’er-do-well cousin in “The North Wing.” The entitled, substance-addicted movie star that surfer/PI Boone Daniels and his crew are hired to babysit in “The Lunch Break” is a problem. She also has a problem—someone wants her dead. Finally, the one terrible, momentary mistake that a devoted family man makes sends him to prison and on a “Collision” course between the man he wants to be and the killer he’s forced to become to survive.
With a foreword written by award-winning crime author Reed Farrel Coleman, The Final Score is a propulsive, perceptive, and deeply immersive collection of crime writing — the ultimate testament to Don Winslow's prowess as a living legend of the genre.
#1 internationally bestselling author Don Winslow—America’s King of Crime Fiction—is back and he’s better than ever in this intense, deeply felt, gripping collection of six all-new, never-before-published short novels.
In six all-new short novels written with the trademark literary style, trenchant wit, and incisive characterization that have made Don Winslow “America’s greatest living crime writer” (Providence Journal), this repeat New York Times bestselling author serves up a collection of tales sure to delight Winslow’s most devoted fans and first-time readers.
The multi-million-dollar casino heist is impossible—it can’t be done. That’s what makes it irresistible to a legendary robber facing the rest of his life in prison for his “Final Score.” An ambitious, hard-working college-bound teenager has a side job delivering illegal booze to “The Sunday List” until a crooked cop, a seductive customer, and a fake guru threaten to end his dreams. Two wise guys tell each other a “True Story” over breakfast at a diner. It’s all bullshit and laughs until someone else has to pick up the check. An otherwise honest patrolman has to make an excruciating choice between his loyalty to the job and his love for a ne’er-do-well cousin in “The North Wing.” The entitled, substance-addicted movie star that surfer/PI Boone Daniels and his crew are hired to babysit in “The Lunch Break” is a problem. She also has a problem—someone wants her dead. Finally, the one terrible, momentary mistake that a devoted family man makes sends him to prison and on a “Collision” course between the man he wants to be and the killer he’s forced to become to survive.
With a foreword written by award-winning crime author Reed Farrel Coleman, The Final Score is a propulsive, perceptive, and deeply immersive collection of crime writing — the ultimate testament to Don Winslow's prowess as a living legend of the genre.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published January 27, 2026
453 people are currently reading
1731 people want to read
About the author
Don Winslow
114 books7,524 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 43 reviews
February 3, 2026
In a Nutshell: A collection of six short novels, each a character-oriented story of moral conflicts and misdemeanours. Excellent in variety, plot development, writing, pacing, and endings. Much recommended! Don’t read the GR blurb.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The blurb calls author Don Winslow "America's King of Crime Fiction" and “America’s greatest living crime writer”. But I had never even heard of him! 🤭 (Put this down to my relative abstinence from the thriller genre in recent years.) Those two labels were impossible to resist, so with the assurance of this having ‘six short novels’ instead of one full-length novel, I decided to give this collection a go. Now that I read it, I am wondering why I haven’t ever read him before!
It’s important to remember that the book promises six short novels, not short stories. With the total page count being about 300 pages, each entry gets more than enough place to develop properly, with a steady progression, intricate plots, outstanding character development, and a well-developed ending.
The characters make the collection shine even better because of how real they feel and because how much they make us root for them even when they are doing unsavoury things. Almost all the main characters have nuanced personalities instead of the usual 2D portrayal we see in short fiction. Every protagonist displays plenty of emotions and vulnerability, even if they happen to be tough guys.
The writing is literary in nature, so the focus of each story is more on the characters than on the action. Despite this, the stories have enough action to help us feel an adrenaline rush. The stories contain some solid twists that take us by surprise without feeling out of the blue or over the top. Some of the stories contain a dash of wit, but on the whole, the dominant mood is more dramatic.
In the foreword, three-time Edgar-award nominee Reed Farrel Coleman calls the author “a chameleon in the best possible sense for not being tied to a genre or style”. After reading the collection, I can only agree with this assessment. None of the stories feels like an action replay of the earlier entry. Each has a clear distinctness in terms of plot, setting and characters. As the stories are not interconnected and contain (in most cases) a proper start-middle-end, the ‘short novel’ label is justified.
The only aspect in which the stories might have created an even bigger impact is by not having such smooth endings. I don’t mind this that much because I am looking for happier reads these days, which isn't easy to find outside of the romance/uplit genres. Even if I get my shot of joy from stories of crime, I shall take it gladly. But readers more attuned to hardcore crime stories might find the endings in some of these tales too neat.
As always, I rated the ‘stories’ individually. Since there are only six entries, I shall include my brief feedback on each of them. You can see for yourself how high-performing this set was in general.
Overall, I had high expectations from this collection because of the praise showered on the author in the GR blurb, and my actual experience turned out to be even better. I am not a regular reader of the mystery thriller genre because it goes too OTT for my taste and because it focusses more on the plot than on anything else, including prose and character development. Don Winslow’s collection proved that all of this can be built convincingly without losing the impact or momentum of the narrative.
This is my first time reading this author, and I can assure you, it won't be the last.
I stopped reading the GR blurb after the two introductory paras; thank heavens for that! It reveals a bit too much about each of the six stories, which actually would be best discovered by going in blind. So don’t read the blurb. Just go for the book.
Definitely recommended to crime-mystery fans. As these are short novels, they are developed mostly in a traditional way, and hence they ought to work even for readers who don’t enjoy short stories.
4.33 stars. (If you are familiar with my ratings, you know that an average that goes to 4 stars and beyond is outstanding for an anthology.)
My thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, and Hemlock Press for providing the DRC of “The Final Score” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The blurb calls author Don Winslow "America's King of Crime Fiction" and “America’s greatest living crime writer”. But I had never even heard of him! 🤭 (Put this down to my relative abstinence from the thriller genre in recent years.) Those two labels were impossible to resist, so with the assurance of this having ‘six short novels’ instead of one full-length novel, I decided to give this collection a go. Now that I read it, I am wondering why I haven’t ever read him before!
It’s important to remember that the book promises six short novels, not short stories. With the total page count being about 300 pages, each entry gets more than enough place to develop properly, with a steady progression, intricate plots, outstanding character development, and a well-developed ending.
The characters make the collection shine even better because of how real they feel and because how much they make us root for them even when they are doing unsavoury things. Almost all the main characters have nuanced personalities instead of the usual 2D portrayal we see in short fiction. Every protagonist displays plenty of emotions and vulnerability, even if they happen to be tough guys.
The writing is literary in nature, so the focus of each story is more on the characters than on the action. Despite this, the stories have enough action to help us feel an adrenaline rush. The stories contain some solid twists that take us by surprise without feeling out of the blue or over the top. Some of the stories contain a dash of wit, but on the whole, the dominant mood is more dramatic.
In the foreword, three-time Edgar-award nominee Reed Farrel Coleman calls the author “a chameleon in the best possible sense for not being tied to a genre or style”. After reading the collection, I can only agree with this assessment. None of the stories feels like an action replay of the earlier entry. Each has a clear distinctness in terms of plot, setting and characters. As the stories are not interconnected and contain (in most cases) a proper start-middle-end, the ‘short novel’ label is justified.
The only aspect in which the stories might have created an even bigger impact is by not having such smooth endings. I don’t mind this that much because I am looking for happier reads these days, which isn't easy to find outside of the romance/uplit genres. Even if I get my shot of joy from stories of crime, I shall take it gladly. But readers more attuned to hardcore crime stories might find the endings in some of these tales too neat.
As always, I rated the ‘stories’ individually. Since there are only six entries, I shall include my brief feedback on each of them. You can see for yourself how high-performing this set was in general.
💰 The Final Score: I love heist movies but am wary of reading heist stories as the action somehow doesn't translate to visuals that effectively through mere words. This story proved me so wrong! I absolutely loved it from start to end. It was everything a heist tale should be. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🍾 The Sunday List: An impressive character-oriented experience. Went somewhat all over the place at first, but every little bit of info made sense at the end. The last line made me smile, which earned it an extra half-star. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🚓 The North Wing: Not my kind of characters, but definitely my kind of writing. Gripping plot from start to end. It's a story that's sad and realistic, which hits harder. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
💬 True Story: This entire novella is nothing but one wild conversation between a duo. Their names aren't mentioned except when they refer to each other in their dialogues. The start was really interesting, but after a point, I kept losing track of who was speaking until some cue brought me back. This might work for some readers, but I don't do too well with extended conversations. Plus, with the slight overdose of repartee, I felt like I was reading a comedy routine. It was a decent work, but it might have worked better for me if it were written in regular prose or in play script format. - ⭐⭐✨
🏄🏻♂️ The Lunch Break: A good story. I might not remember this in the long run, but while it was on, it was quite entertaining. Loved the characters more than the plot. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
💥 Collision: I simply couldn’t predict where this story would go. Its characters and plotline kept me captivated throughout. This would have been outstanding as a novel, but even as a short novel, it packs quite the punch. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
Overall, I had high expectations from this collection because of the praise showered on the author in the GR blurb, and my actual experience turned out to be even better. I am not a regular reader of the mystery thriller genre because it goes too OTT for my taste and because it focusses more on the plot than on anything else, including prose and character development. Don Winslow’s collection proved that all of this can be built convincingly without losing the impact or momentum of the narrative.
This is my first time reading this author, and I can assure you, it won't be the last.
I stopped reading the GR blurb after the two introductory paras; thank heavens for that! It reveals a bit too much about each of the six stories, which actually would be best discovered by going in blind. So don’t read the blurb. Just go for the book.
Definitely recommended to crime-mystery fans. As these are short novels, they are developed mostly in a traditional way, and hence they ought to work even for readers who don’t enjoy short stories.
4.33 stars. (If you are familiar with my ratings, you know that an average that goes to 4 stars and beyond is outstanding for an anthology.)
My thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, and Hemlock Press for providing the DRC of “The Final Score” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
December 7, 2025
I’m thrilled to share my thoughts on The Final Score, a dynamic and insightful collection of crime writing that showcases the incredible talent of Don Winslow, a true luminary in the literary world. With an engaging foreword by the award-winning crime author Reed Farrel Coleman, this book promises to be nothing short of spectacular.
Winslow’s mastery shines brightly in this collection of six enthralling short stories. He hooks you from the very first page, immersing you in rich narratives and unforgettable characters that feel strikingly real. For those who loved his previous work, Broken , you’re in for a treat! One of my favourites from that collection, “Crime 101,” is set to be adapted into a film in February 2026, and I can’t contain my excitement!
This new collection is a testament to Winslow’s remarkable versatility and profound depth of knowledge across various themes in the crime genre. Each story is a gem, demonstrating his keen understanding of the intricacies of criminal life and the captivating dialogue that flows through the narratives. Despite the violence that often accompanies these stories, Winslow has a unique ability to weave humour into even the most intense moments, making you chuckle while holding your breath.
If this indeed marks the end of Winslow’s literary journey—as hinted at—it’s a grand finale that solidifies his legacy at the peak of his powers. His backlist is a treasure trove that I eagerly look forward to revisiting.
In the title story, we follow a career criminal determined to pull off one last audacious casino heist to secure his beloved wife’s future before his surrender. “The Sunday List” offers a delightful glimpse into Rhode Island’s Sunday alcohol ban, showcasing a clever teenager who navigates the secret world of supply and demand. “True Story” is a brilliant, dialogue-driven narrative that crackles with wit as wiseguys share their outrageous tales over diner coffee. Meanwhile, “The Lunch Break” features a seasoned PI trying to manage a diva-esque actress, blending humour with tension in an entertaining way. Finally, “Collision” delivers an emotional punch as a celebratory night spirals into tragedy, ultimately leading a high-flying family man to a life-altering moment in prison.
I found myself wishing that these stories would never end—a delightful indulgence for any crime fiction enthusiast. I highly recommend grabbing a copy and adding it to the top of your TBR list. Expected publication date in the UK: January 29, 2026. Expected publication date in Canada and the US
A special thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Hemlock Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Winslow’s mastery shines brightly in this collection of six enthralling short stories. He hooks you from the very first page, immersing you in rich narratives and unforgettable characters that feel strikingly real. For those who loved his previous work, Broken , you’re in for a treat! One of my favourites from that collection, “Crime 101,” is set to be adapted into a film in February 2026, and I can’t contain my excitement!
This new collection is a testament to Winslow’s remarkable versatility and profound depth of knowledge across various themes in the crime genre. Each story is a gem, demonstrating his keen understanding of the intricacies of criminal life and the captivating dialogue that flows through the narratives. Despite the violence that often accompanies these stories, Winslow has a unique ability to weave humour into even the most intense moments, making you chuckle while holding your breath.
If this indeed marks the end of Winslow’s literary journey—as hinted at—it’s a grand finale that solidifies his legacy at the peak of his powers. His backlist is a treasure trove that I eagerly look forward to revisiting.
In the title story, we follow a career criminal determined to pull off one last audacious casino heist to secure his beloved wife’s future before his surrender. “The Sunday List” offers a delightful glimpse into Rhode Island’s Sunday alcohol ban, showcasing a clever teenager who navigates the secret world of supply and demand. “True Story” is a brilliant, dialogue-driven narrative that crackles with wit as wiseguys share their outrageous tales over diner coffee. Meanwhile, “The Lunch Break” features a seasoned PI trying to manage a diva-esque actress, blending humour with tension in an entertaining way. Finally, “Collision” delivers an emotional punch as a celebratory night spirals into tragedy, ultimately leading a high-flying family man to a life-altering moment in prison.
I found myself wishing that these stories would never end—a delightful indulgence for any crime fiction enthusiast. I highly recommend grabbing a copy and adding it to the top of your TBR list. Expected publication date in the UK: January 29, 2026. Expected publication date in Canada and the US
A special thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Hemlock Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 31, 2026
‘The Final Score” is actually billed as six short novels, not one full length novel, consisting of The Final Score, The Sunday List, the North Wing, True Story, the Lunch Break and Collision. None are connected and only one has a connection to Winslow’s novels. They are often dark and bleak, but ultimately are tales of survival and fortitude.
The first story, the Final Score, is a classic caper tale of John Highland, out on bail, awaiting sentencing, but wanting one last big score to take care of his wife, Jewel, while he’s behind bars. The target is a tribal casino where the cartels launder millions upon millions of dollars brought in through the kitchen and passed on to “lucky” gamblers. Winslow takes us through the planning right through execution.
The second story is “The Sunday List.” It offers a glimpse into the past of Nick McKenna, who in the heady summer between high school and college, was the Sunday driver for Tillman’s Liquor in a state with Sunday liquor laws. It is a time when a kid has a choice between Vietnam, college, and something else, an age when Mrs. Robinson is on the big screen. Nick has to be the Sunday driver, kind of the unofficial town bootlegger one day a week, when he canput away college money his hippie parents couldn’t give a rat’s ass about.
The third story, the North Wing, is the story of two New England cousins, one a patrolman and the other a drunk who ends 20-year-old Sarah Gaines’ young life on a dark sad night that changed everyone’s lives forever. It’s a lesson on how far the web reaches of cause and effect when you do things you shouldn’t and how many souls get compromised along the way.
The fourth story, True Story, is just a conversation about the jokers in the neighborhood like Bobby Bats and Lenny No Socks. It’s almost a stand-up routine the way these humorous stories are told.
The fifth story, “The Lunch Break” returns to some old favorites from the Dawn Patrol with Boone, Dave, and Tide taking turns playing bodyguards to mega-star Brittany McVeigh to keep her away from Boone and drugs and a possible stalker at least until she finishes filming.
The final selection is Collision, which is a story about how quickly life can change in an instant and all the plans you thought you had go up in smoke. It’s about what it takes to survive such collisions and where it takes you morally, metaphorically, and personally.
The first story, the Final Score, is a classic caper tale of John Highland, out on bail, awaiting sentencing, but wanting one last big score to take care of his wife, Jewel, while he’s behind bars. The target is a tribal casino where the cartels launder millions upon millions of dollars brought in through the kitchen and passed on to “lucky” gamblers. Winslow takes us through the planning right through execution.
The second story is “The Sunday List.” It offers a glimpse into the past of Nick McKenna, who in the heady summer between high school and college, was the Sunday driver for Tillman’s Liquor in a state with Sunday liquor laws. It is a time when a kid has a choice between Vietnam, college, and something else, an age when Mrs. Robinson is on the big screen. Nick has to be the Sunday driver, kind of the unofficial town bootlegger one day a week, when he canput away college money his hippie parents couldn’t give a rat’s ass about.
The third story, the North Wing, is the story of two New England cousins, one a patrolman and the other a drunk who ends 20-year-old Sarah Gaines’ young life on a dark sad night that changed everyone’s lives forever. It’s a lesson on how far the web reaches of cause and effect when you do things you shouldn’t and how many souls get compromised along the way.
The fourth story, True Story, is just a conversation about the jokers in the neighborhood like Bobby Bats and Lenny No Socks. It’s almost a stand-up routine the way these humorous stories are told.
The fifth story, “The Lunch Break” returns to some old favorites from the Dawn Patrol with Boone, Dave, and Tide taking turns playing bodyguards to mega-star Brittany McVeigh to keep her away from Boone and drugs and a possible stalker at least until she finishes filming.
The final selection is Collision, which is a story about how quickly life can change in an instant and all the plans you thought you had go up in smoke. It’s about what it takes to survive such collisions and where it takes you morally, metaphorically, and personally.
November 17, 2025
Six short stories described in one word, Solid!
First time reading a Winslow book and I'm impressed. Not being a huge fan of short stories I didn't expect to enjoy this collection as much as I did. One of the stories is completely dialogue based and that was a 5 star read. Full of smart humor, and playing with Mafia stereotypes, it was a joy to read.
All the stories were enjoyable with great characters and despite their short length they delivered an emotional impact.
If I had to complain about something, I would comment on the fact that the stories felt a bit predictable and that some of them could use a not so happy ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins UK for providing me with an eArc
8,1/10
First time reading a Winslow book and I'm impressed. Not being a huge fan of short stories I didn't expect to enjoy this collection as much as I did. One of the stories is completely dialogue based and that was a 5 star read. Full of smart humor, and playing with Mafia stereotypes, it was a joy to read.
All the stories were enjoyable with great characters and despite their short length they delivered an emotional impact.
If I had to complain about something, I would comment on the fact that the stories felt a bit predictable and that some of them could use a not so happy ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins UK for providing me with an eArc
8,1/10
January 31, 2026
Thank you William Morrow for an ARC
Actually such a solid short story collection!
Full review to come
Actually such a solid short story collection!
Full review to come
July 12, 2025
Winslow you sly dog you done done it again. Absolutely brilliant.
July 29, 2025
I was pretty thrilled when the announcement of Winslow's latest came across the ole newsfeed (like many, his retirement announcement a few years back left me literary depressed). Happy to say, with The Final Score, Winslow is at his best. All 6 of the stories within The Final Score showcase his better than all writing skills, which, for me, has always been his characterization. How he gets us to care so deeply, so quickly (and in SHORT stories) for people is astounding. It likely has something to do with the situations in which he places his characters, but their dialogue (True Story & The Lunch Break) is so sharp, so witty, so hilarious, so ... real, is the real gift. And fans of Winslow's other works will be happy they get to hang with Boone Daniels again. Perhaps it says something that I can't say I had a favorite of the 6 stories; all are equally weighted in character, but ... his use of "-uh," following most of Brittany McVeigh's sentences in "The Lunch Break" is a simple highlight. And if you don't find yourself rooting for Brad McAlister's plight in "Collision" then you might not get one of the overarching themes of his book - choices determine our fate.
Although I received a galley copy, I have still ordered myself a copy off of Barnes and Noble. Winslow deserves the support.
Thank you, Christopher Connolly and Harper, for the galley copy of the book.
Although I received a galley copy, I have still ordered myself a copy off of Barnes and Noble. Winslow deserves the support.
Thank you, Christopher Connolly and Harper, for the galley copy of the book.
August 24, 2025
I was very happy to see another release by Don Winslow as I had thought he’d retired from writing. This book was comprised of six short stories with interesting titles, characters, and storylines. I usually don’t feel super engaged in a short story but these progressively became more interesting as I read the next one. I haven’t really ever been disappointed in a Don Winslow book so another solid rating was in order for me!
Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2025
I really liked these!
This was my first time reading Don Winslow and won’t be my last! This collection of short stories was a great introduction to the types of books he writes, which I think I’ll thoroughly enjoy! There are six stories total, each around 40 pages except for the last which was 90+. I liked every single story! The first story, which is about a heist, was so entertaining, I was wishing for more. The second story started off a little slow but had a fantastic ending, and has since stuck with me. Another story is purely dialogue between two men, and I absolutely loved the dark humor. The second to last has a beautiful character arc, but the final story (Collision) was my favorite. Collision is about a guy who makes one stupid, heat-of-the-moment mistake, and whose whole life, and his family’s, is irrevocably changed from it. I absolutely devoured that one.
Two of the stories touch on the horrors of prison. Most have a theme of redemption. And all had characters who had to deal with the consequences their choices led them to.
𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Anyone that likes short story collections or crime fiction.
4.5/5 rounded up
This was my first time reading Don Winslow and won’t be my last! This collection of short stories was a great introduction to the types of books he writes, which I think I’ll thoroughly enjoy! There are six stories total, each around 40 pages except for the last which was 90+. I liked every single story! The first story, which is about a heist, was so entertaining, I was wishing for more. The second story started off a little slow but had a fantastic ending, and has since stuck with me. Another story is purely dialogue between two men, and I absolutely loved the dark humor. The second to last has a beautiful character arc, but the final story (Collision) was my favorite. Collision is about a guy who makes one stupid, heat-of-the-moment mistake, and whose whole life, and his family’s, is irrevocably changed from it. I absolutely devoured that one.
Two of the stories touch on the horrors of prison. Most have a theme of redemption. And all had characters who had to deal with the consequences their choices led them to.
𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Anyone that likes short story collections or crime fiction.
4.5/5 rounded up
January 31, 2026
One of the best crime writers ever at the peak of his talents. Every story here is worth multiple looks, and at least one - a lengthy conversation between two goombahs - would make a hell of a play. If this is how Winslow wants to spend his retirement from writing, I look forward to more great work in the years to come... just as Stephen King and Steven Soderbergh emerged from their retirements.
August 28, 2025
As the forward mentions, no one does dialogue like this author. The dialogue sparkles like polished tin in the far east throughout each of these immaculate short stories, bringing each and every story to mesmerising life.
Never the world’s biggest short story fan, I was fortunate and grateful for the publisher to allow me to read this collection before publication. Each story is very vivid and interesting, compelling throughout without a dud in sight.
Never the world’s biggest short story fan, I was fortunate and grateful for the publisher to allow me to read this collection before publication. Each story is very vivid and interesting, compelling throughout without a dud in sight.
January 31, 2026
4 1/2 Stars
Author Don Winslow has written some of the grittiest literary crime fiction of the past couple decades but with his latest release, THE FINAL SCORE, he gets to show how he can also create magic in the form of short story fiction.
This collection opens with a Foreword from another respected crime writer, Reed Farrel Coleman. He writes that Winslow ‘is a chameleon in the best possible sense’, alluding to his ability to create successful stories in multiple genres. Coleman also refers to the song by Bruce Springsteen “For You” which features the lyric: ‘You could laugh and cry in a single sound.’ He then compares this to Winslow’s writing, which he feels is capable of containing so much with each sentence.
This short story collection indeed lives up to the words that Reed Farrel Coleman so eloquently used to describe Winslow’s work, with stories that range from high octane crime to literary fiction that leave you feeling good. Here is a brief description of some of the highlights in this collection:
• The Final Score – John Highland was found guilty of armed robbery and understands that he is going to die in prison. Before he is put inside, he needs to ensure that his family is taken care of. He and a small group of colleagues plan a final score involving a local Casino that will require intricate planning to succeed. Highland does not know who he can trust and not everything goes to plan, making for an intense read.
• The Sunday List – In 1970 Rhode Island, High Schooler Nick McKenna works for a local liquor store and is responsible for delivering the Sunday List. With a state that is legally dry on Sundays, it is his job to deliver the liquor to private clients that pay in cash for the service of having their booze on Sunday. However, his personal life is a mess as his mother runs away with her guru after wiping out his College fund and his dreams of escaping to a different life seem to have disappeared with it. A complex and ultimately uplifting tale.
• The North Wing – Rhode Island Police Officer Doug Pritchett was the first on the scene the night his young cousin, Chrissy Pritchett, killed Sarah Gaines in a drunk driving accident. Chrissy gets the maximum sentence, and Doug knows his fragile cousin will not survive on the inside. Doug has heard of a special part of the prison where inmates can live out their sentence fully protected, the area known as The North Wing. However, the price to pay for admission may be too much for Doug to make.
• Collision – Winslow switches to the West Coast for a tragic tale involving a man named Brad McCallister who has it all and loses it in a moment of violence. He is an executive for a local Hotel chain and happily married with a young son. When he gets into a verbal road rage altercation with a driver that nearly struck his vehicle with his family inside things escalate to physical confrontation. Brad throws the first punch and the other driver falls, striking his head on the curb and dying from his injuries a few days later. Convicted of the maximum for manslaughter, Brad must find ways to survive as a privileged white man within the hell that is prison life if he ever wants to see his family again. He will learn that certain collisions in life have high price tags attached to them which will follow him for the rest of his life.
I have enjoyed everything that Don Winslow has written and have no problem including his reputation alongside the three crime writers I most suggest to readers --- Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, and George Pelecanos. THE FINAL SCORE is a collection equal to the finest writing I have seen from Winslow, who is currently enjoying seeing the film adaptation of his short novel “Crime 101” on the big screen starring Chris Hemsworth. I feel he will be equally celebrating the reception he receives for THE FINAL SCORE.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
Author Don Winslow has written some of the grittiest literary crime fiction of the past couple decades but with his latest release, THE FINAL SCORE, he gets to show how he can also create magic in the form of short story fiction.
This collection opens with a Foreword from another respected crime writer, Reed Farrel Coleman. He writes that Winslow ‘is a chameleon in the best possible sense’, alluding to his ability to create successful stories in multiple genres. Coleman also refers to the song by Bruce Springsteen “For You” which features the lyric: ‘You could laugh and cry in a single sound.’ He then compares this to Winslow’s writing, which he feels is capable of containing so much with each sentence.
This short story collection indeed lives up to the words that Reed Farrel Coleman so eloquently used to describe Winslow’s work, with stories that range from high octane crime to literary fiction that leave you feeling good. Here is a brief description of some of the highlights in this collection:
• The Final Score – John Highland was found guilty of armed robbery and understands that he is going to die in prison. Before he is put inside, he needs to ensure that his family is taken care of. He and a small group of colleagues plan a final score involving a local Casino that will require intricate planning to succeed. Highland does not know who he can trust and not everything goes to plan, making for an intense read.
• The Sunday List – In 1970 Rhode Island, High Schooler Nick McKenna works for a local liquor store and is responsible for delivering the Sunday List. With a state that is legally dry on Sundays, it is his job to deliver the liquor to private clients that pay in cash for the service of having their booze on Sunday. However, his personal life is a mess as his mother runs away with her guru after wiping out his College fund and his dreams of escaping to a different life seem to have disappeared with it. A complex and ultimately uplifting tale.
• The North Wing – Rhode Island Police Officer Doug Pritchett was the first on the scene the night his young cousin, Chrissy Pritchett, killed Sarah Gaines in a drunk driving accident. Chrissy gets the maximum sentence, and Doug knows his fragile cousin will not survive on the inside. Doug has heard of a special part of the prison where inmates can live out their sentence fully protected, the area known as The North Wing. However, the price to pay for admission may be too much for Doug to make.
• Collision – Winslow switches to the West Coast for a tragic tale involving a man named Brad McCallister who has it all and loses it in a moment of violence. He is an executive for a local Hotel chain and happily married with a young son. When he gets into a verbal road rage altercation with a driver that nearly struck his vehicle with his family inside things escalate to physical confrontation. Brad throws the first punch and the other driver falls, striking his head on the curb and dying from his injuries a few days later. Convicted of the maximum for manslaughter, Brad must find ways to survive as a privileged white man within the hell that is prison life if he ever wants to see his family again. He will learn that certain collisions in life have high price tags attached to them which will follow him for the rest of his life.
I have enjoyed everything that Don Winslow has written and have no problem including his reputation alongside the three crime writers I most suggest to readers --- Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, and George Pelecanos. THE FINAL SCORE is a collection equal to the finest writing I have seen from Winslow, who is currently enjoying seeing the film adaptation of his short novel “Crime 101” on the big screen starring Chris Hemsworth. I feel he will be equally celebrating the reception he receives for THE FINAL SCORE.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
February 2, 2026
Don Winslow has produced some of the grittiest literary crime fiction of the past two decades. With his latest release, THE FINAL SCORE, he shows that he also can create magic in the form of short fiction.
The collection opens with a foreword from another respected crime writer, Reed Farrel Coleman. He writes that Winslow is “a chameleon in the best possible sense,” alluding to his ability to pen successful stories in multiple genres. Coleman also refers to the Bruce Springsteen song “For You,” which features this lyric: “You could laugh and cry in a single sound.” He compares this to Winslow’s writing, which he feels is capable of containing so much with each sentence.
THE FINAL SCORE indeed lives up to the words that Coleman so eloquently used to describe Winslow’s work, with six stories ranging from high-octane crime to literary fiction that leaves you feeling good. Here I will highlight four that especially stood out for me.
“The Final Score”: John Highland has been found guilty of armed robbery and understands that he is going to die in prison. Before he is put away, he needs to ensure that his family is taken care of. He and a small group of colleagues plan a final score involving a casino that will require intricate planning to succeed. Highland does not know who he can trust, and not everything goes according to plan, which makes for an intense read.
“The Sunday List”: In 1970 Rhode Island, high schooler Nick McKenna works for a liquor store. With a state that is legally dry on Sundays, it is his job to deliver the liquor to private clients who pay in cash for the service of having their booze on that forbidden day. However, Nick’s personal life is a mess as his mother runs away with her guru after wiping out his college fund, and his dreams of escaping to a different life seem to have disappeared with it. This is a complex and ultimately uplifting tale.
“The North Wing”: Rhode Island police officer Doug Pritchett was the first on the scene the night that his young cousin, Chrissy, killed Sarah Gaines in a drunk-driving accident. Chrissy gets the maximum sentence, and Doug knows she will not survive on the inside. He has heard of a special part of the prison where inmates can live out their term fully protected, which is known as The North Wing. However, the price of admission may be too high for Doug.
“Collision”: Winslow switches to the West Coast for a tragic tale involving Brad McAllister, who has it all and loses it in a moment of violence. He is an executive for a local hotel chain and is happily married with a young son. When he gets into a verbal road-rage altercation with a driver who nearly struck his vehicle with his family inside, it escalates to a physical confrontation. Brad throws the first punch, and the man falls, striking his head on the curb and dying from his injuries a few days later.
Convicted of manslaughter and receiving the maximum sentence, Brad must find ways to survive as a privileged white man within the hell that is prison life if he ever wants to see his family again. He will learn that certain collisions in life have high price tags attached to them that will follow him for the rest of his life.
I have enjoyed everything that Don Winslow has written and consider him to be on equal footing with the three crime writers I recommend to readers the most: Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane and George Pelecanos. Winslow is at the top of his game here as he looks forward to the upcoming film adaptation of his novella, CRIME 101. At the same time, I know he will be celebrating the reception he gets for THE FINAL SCORE.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
The collection opens with a foreword from another respected crime writer, Reed Farrel Coleman. He writes that Winslow is “a chameleon in the best possible sense,” alluding to his ability to pen successful stories in multiple genres. Coleman also refers to the Bruce Springsteen song “For You,” which features this lyric: “You could laugh and cry in a single sound.” He compares this to Winslow’s writing, which he feels is capable of containing so much with each sentence.
THE FINAL SCORE indeed lives up to the words that Coleman so eloquently used to describe Winslow’s work, with six stories ranging from high-octane crime to literary fiction that leaves you feeling good. Here I will highlight four that especially stood out for me.
“The Final Score”: John Highland has been found guilty of armed robbery and understands that he is going to die in prison. Before he is put away, he needs to ensure that his family is taken care of. He and a small group of colleagues plan a final score involving a casino that will require intricate planning to succeed. Highland does not know who he can trust, and not everything goes according to plan, which makes for an intense read.
“The Sunday List”: In 1970 Rhode Island, high schooler Nick McKenna works for a liquor store. With a state that is legally dry on Sundays, it is his job to deliver the liquor to private clients who pay in cash for the service of having their booze on that forbidden day. However, Nick’s personal life is a mess as his mother runs away with her guru after wiping out his college fund, and his dreams of escaping to a different life seem to have disappeared with it. This is a complex and ultimately uplifting tale.
“The North Wing”: Rhode Island police officer Doug Pritchett was the first on the scene the night that his young cousin, Chrissy, killed Sarah Gaines in a drunk-driving accident. Chrissy gets the maximum sentence, and Doug knows she will not survive on the inside. He has heard of a special part of the prison where inmates can live out their term fully protected, which is known as The North Wing. However, the price of admission may be too high for Doug.
“Collision”: Winslow switches to the West Coast for a tragic tale involving Brad McAllister, who has it all and loses it in a moment of violence. He is an executive for a local hotel chain and is happily married with a young son. When he gets into a verbal road-rage altercation with a driver who nearly struck his vehicle with his family inside, it escalates to a physical confrontation. Brad throws the first punch, and the man falls, striking his head on the curb and dying from his injuries a few days later.
Convicted of manslaughter and receiving the maximum sentence, Brad must find ways to survive as a privileged white man within the hell that is prison life if he ever wants to see his family again. He will learn that certain collisions in life have high price tags attached to them that will follow him for the rest of his life.
I have enjoyed everything that Don Winslow has written and consider him to be on equal footing with the three crime writers I recommend to readers the most: Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane and George Pelecanos. Winslow is at the top of his game here as he looks forward to the upcoming film adaptation of his novella, CRIME 101. At the same time, I know he will be celebrating the reception he gets for THE FINAL SCORE.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
December 8, 2025
https://www.netgalley.co.uk/book/6747... - is where my NetGalley review of The Final Score is...
Don Winslow’s unretirement work, The Final Score, is a collection of six novellas, all rooted in crime. Having earned his place among the finest authors of crime fiction, Winslow now sets out to prove that his short-story craft is equally accomplished. A grand heist by a legendary robber before his final bow; a teenager delivering liquor on dry days and learning life lessons; a pair of wise guys swapping stories; a cop turning to the mob to help his cousin; a surfer PI guarding a volatile, drug-addled actress under a death threat; and the total transformation of a man triggered by a moment of madness – the settings differ, but the desperations, fears, and motivations driving the characters remain the same.
Winslow’s prose, sharp in his longer works, is even keener here, with each of these compact stories packing the punch of full-length tales. The shorter length does not hinder character development, nor does it limit the intricacy of the plots. The moral complexity at the heart of these stories lends them both power and weight. While Final Score and Collision unfold with screenplay-like plotting, True Story is told entirely through dialogue between two men. Both The Sunday List – set in Providence, Rhode Island, the setting of Winslow’s magnum opus, City on Fire – and The Lunch Break strive to showcase the goodness hidden beneath layers of ugliness. The North Wing, along with a couple of others, explores how far one will go for family. Winslow’s dark humour runs throughout the collection, most notably in True Story, while the inventive invectives of The Lunch Break are hugely amusing. The endings of a few stories do seem somewhat rushed and a bit too neat, but that does not take away the fun they deliver.
While I would not call this the greatest crime fiction ever written, it is certainly among the best. The reasons behind Winslow’s retirement and subsequent unretirement lie beyond my understanding, though I hope they are not merely aimed at boosting sales, for his craft alone is more than sufficient. I enjoyed this little anthology immensely and look forward to what Winslow comes up with next.
I am immensely grateful to HarperCollins UK for the digital review copy of The Final Score through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Don Winslow’s unretirement work, The Final Score, is a collection of six novellas, all rooted in crime. Having earned his place among the finest authors of crime fiction, Winslow now sets out to prove that his short-story craft is equally accomplished. A grand heist by a legendary robber before his final bow; a teenager delivering liquor on dry days and learning life lessons; a pair of wise guys swapping stories; a cop turning to the mob to help his cousin; a surfer PI guarding a volatile, drug-addled actress under a death threat; and the total transformation of a man triggered by a moment of madness – the settings differ, but the desperations, fears, and motivations driving the characters remain the same.
Winslow’s prose, sharp in his longer works, is even keener here, with each of these compact stories packing the punch of full-length tales. The shorter length does not hinder character development, nor does it limit the intricacy of the plots. The moral complexity at the heart of these stories lends them both power and weight. While Final Score and Collision unfold with screenplay-like plotting, True Story is told entirely through dialogue between two men. Both The Sunday List – set in Providence, Rhode Island, the setting of Winslow’s magnum opus, City on Fire – and The Lunch Break strive to showcase the goodness hidden beneath layers of ugliness. The North Wing, along with a couple of others, explores how far one will go for family. Winslow’s dark humour runs throughout the collection, most notably in True Story, while the inventive invectives of The Lunch Break are hugely amusing. The endings of a few stories do seem somewhat rushed and a bit too neat, but that does not take away the fun they deliver.
While I would not call this the greatest crime fiction ever written, it is certainly among the best. The reasons behind Winslow’s retirement and subsequent unretirement lie beyond my understanding, though I hope they are not merely aimed at boosting sales, for his craft alone is more than sufficient. I enjoyed this little anthology immensely and look forward to what Winslow comes up with next.
I am immensely grateful to HarperCollins UK for the digital review copy of The Final Score through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
February 2, 2026
Book Review: The Final Score by Don Winslow
Don Winslow doesn’t just write crime fiction—he writes pressure. The Final Score is another reminder of how masterfully he compresses violence, loyalty, and moral compromise into a story that feels less like a novel and more like a ticking clock.
From the opening pages, Winslow establishes a world where every decision carries weight and every favor comes due. The prose is lean, sharp, and unsentimental, yet it hums with emotion just beneath the surface. This is classic Winslow territory: professionals operating by their own codes, systems that grind people down, and characters who know the rules are rigged but play anyway because they don’t know how to stop..
What makes The Final Score stand out is its momentum. The pacing is relentless—short chapters, clipped dialogue, and scenes that end just a beat earlier than you expect. Winslow trusts the reader to keep up, and the result is a propulsive read that’s nearly impossible to put down. There’s no wasted motion here; every scene advances the tension or deepens the stakes..
Thematically, the book grapples with consequences—personal, institutional, and generational. Winslow has always been fascinated by how systems corrupt even well-intentioned people, and that theme resonates strongly here. No one escapes clean, and victories, when they come, feel costly and earned rather than triumphant.
Fans of Winslow will recognize his trademarks: muscular realism, dark humor, and an unflinching look at power and violence. Newcomers will find The Final Score an excellent entry point—tight, gripping, and emotionally grounded without being indulgent.
In the end, The Final Score delivers exactly what Don Winslow does best: a hard, fast, intelligent crime story that entertains while quietly asking uncomfortable questions. It’s tough, smart, and lingers long after the last page—proof that Winslow remains one of the genre’s most commanding voices.
Don Winslow doesn’t just write crime fiction—he writes pressure. The Final Score is another reminder of how masterfully he compresses violence, loyalty, and moral compromise into a story that feels less like a novel and more like a ticking clock.
From the opening pages, Winslow establishes a world where every decision carries weight and every favor comes due. The prose is lean, sharp, and unsentimental, yet it hums with emotion just beneath the surface. This is classic Winslow territory: professionals operating by their own codes, systems that grind people down, and characters who know the rules are rigged but play anyway because they don’t know how to stop..
What makes The Final Score stand out is its momentum. The pacing is relentless—short chapters, clipped dialogue, and scenes that end just a beat earlier than you expect. Winslow trusts the reader to keep up, and the result is a propulsive read that’s nearly impossible to put down. There’s no wasted motion here; every scene advances the tension or deepens the stakes..
Thematically, the book grapples with consequences—personal, institutional, and generational. Winslow has always been fascinated by how systems corrupt even well-intentioned people, and that theme resonates strongly here. No one escapes clean, and victories, when they come, feel costly and earned rather than triumphant.
Fans of Winslow will recognize his trademarks: muscular realism, dark humor, and an unflinching look at power and violence. Newcomers will find The Final Score an excellent entry point—tight, gripping, and emotionally grounded without being indulgent.
In the end, The Final Score delivers exactly what Don Winslow does best: a hard, fast, intelligent crime story that entertains while quietly asking uncomfortable questions. It’s tough, smart, and lingers long after the last page—proof that Winslow remains one of the genre’s most commanding voices.
November 23, 2025
Masterful storyteller Don Winslow has shown in The Border and The Cartel that he can write epic literary crime novels that tilt the scales around 700 pages, maintaining multi-layered, crisp and compelling storytelling throughout (unlike some bloated tomes from other bestsellers). Now, in The Final Score he underlines that he’s also a dab hand at pitch-perfect short stories; intense tales, memorable characters, high-pressure situations.
In the titular tale, a legendary thief on the cusp of a life sentence plans an audacious casino heist to secure the financial future of those he loves. Elsewhere, we meet an ambitious teen looking to raise college funds by delivering illegal liquor to his town’s residents (“The Sunday List”), two gangsters before a hit sharing breakfast and reminisces (“True Story”); a promising cop facing a life-changing dilemma for love of family (“The North Wing”); and surfer-private eye Boone Daniels and his crew - who feature in earlier Winslow novels like The Dawn Patrol - battling with the high-maintenance, drug-addicted film star they’re hired to protect (“The Lunch Break”). All building to the lengthiest story, “Collision”, where a moment of madness unfurls a whole new life for a high-achieving hotelier and family man.
Short story collections can be tricky to review, as often quality can vary, and different readers may prefer different tales, but in Winslow’s case he knocks it out of the park each and every time. Sharp dialogue, unforgettable characters, tight storytelling. The Final Score is a delightful buffet of humanity caught up in dark deeds where every morsel is moreish. A treat for longtime Winslow fans, and great entrée for those new to his talents.
[This review was first written for the Feb 2026 issue of Good Reading magazine in Australia]
In the titular tale, a legendary thief on the cusp of a life sentence plans an audacious casino heist to secure the financial future of those he loves. Elsewhere, we meet an ambitious teen looking to raise college funds by delivering illegal liquor to his town’s residents (“The Sunday List”), two gangsters before a hit sharing breakfast and reminisces (“True Story”); a promising cop facing a life-changing dilemma for love of family (“The North Wing”); and surfer-private eye Boone Daniels and his crew - who feature in earlier Winslow novels like The Dawn Patrol - battling with the high-maintenance, drug-addicted film star they’re hired to protect (“The Lunch Break”). All building to the lengthiest story, “Collision”, where a moment of madness unfurls a whole new life for a high-achieving hotelier and family man.
Short story collections can be tricky to review, as often quality can vary, and different readers may prefer different tales, but in Winslow’s case he knocks it out of the park each and every time. Sharp dialogue, unforgettable characters, tight storytelling. The Final Score is a delightful buffet of humanity caught up in dark deeds where every morsel is moreish. A treat for longtime Winslow fans, and great entrée for those new to his talents.
[This review was first written for the Feb 2026 issue of Good Reading magazine in Australia]
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Final Score by Don Winslow is an outstanding collection that shows a master storyteller operating at the absolute top of his game.
This book brings together six crime stories that are all sharply written, tightly plotted, and completely absorbing. Each one feels fully formed despite the shorter length, with vivid characters, crackling dialogue, and twists that land with real impact. From audacious heists and crooked cops to desperate choices made under pressure, Winslow explores greed, loyalty, survival, and consequence with precision and confidence.
What really stands out is how much depth he packs into each story. There is not a wasted word. Even in a few pages, Winslow creates characters you understand and care about, then drops them into situations that feel raw, tense, and painfully human. The dialogue in particular is exceptional and drives the stories forward with pace and authenticity.
Whether you are a longtime fan or new to his work, The Final Score is a superb read. It is gripping, polished, and immensely satisfying, and easily one of the strongest short story collections in the crime genre. Highly recommended.
This book brings together six crime stories that are all sharply written, tightly plotted, and completely absorbing. Each one feels fully formed despite the shorter length, with vivid characters, crackling dialogue, and twists that land with real impact. From audacious heists and crooked cops to desperate choices made under pressure, Winslow explores greed, loyalty, survival, and consequence with precision and confidence.
What really stands out is how much depth he packs into each story. There is not a wasted word. Even in a few pages, Winslow creates characters you understand and care about, then drops them into situations that feel raw, tense, and painfully human. The dialogue in particular is exceptional and drives the stories forward with pace and authenticity.
Whether you are a longtime fan or new to his work, The Final Score is a superb read. It is gripping, polished, and immensely satisfying, and easily one of the strongest short story collections in the crime genre. Highly recommended.
July 20, 2025
Don Winslow is a master of his craft and this collection of short stories, similar to those in Broken published a few years back just highlights his brilliance in terms of hooking and immersing the reader from the get go due to the quality of the writing and storytelling and most of all the characters who are so wonderfully depicted.
He is the master of the crime novel and the six stories in this wide ranging collection simply emphasise his versatility, range and knowledge in terms of his subject matter. He brings wise guys to life, he knows how they speak, think and act and for all the brutality in these stories they are still so damn funny too.
His back catalogue is truly brilliant and if this truly is his last book as intimated then Don Winslow is going out at the top of his game.
He is the master of the crime novel and the six stories in this wide ranging collection simply emphasise his versatility, range and knowledge in terms of his subject matter. He brings wise guys to life, he knows how they speak, think and act and for all the brutality in these stories they are still so damn funny too.
His back catalogue is truly brilliant and if this truly is his last book as intimated then Don Winslow is going out at the top of his game.
February 1, 2026
The Final Score is a sharp, highly entertaining collection of six long short stories that shows exactly why Don Winslow is so good at this. The writing is lean, confident, and tightly paced, with strong character work and none of the bloat or stylistic gimmicks that sink lesser crime fiction. Some stories are merely very good, a couple are excellent, but all of them feel purposeful and complete.
I especially enjoyed the Southern California settings—Winslow clearly knows the terrain. Two stories set in San Diego County (including an East County Indian casino heist and a bratty movie star tale in La Jolla and Pacific Beach) add a fun, grounded sense of place. Gritty, smart, and well executed. 4.25 stars.
I especially enjoyed the Southern California settings—Winslow clearly knows the terrain. Two stories set in San Diego County (including an East County Indian casino heist and a bratty movie star tale in La Jolla and Pacific Beach) add a fun, grounded sense of place. Gritty, smart, and well executed. 4.25 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Don Winslow brings us six short stories. All very different and all of the highest quality. From the ultimate casino heist to stories about crooked cops, and a family man who’s sent to prison and soon realises he might have to do anything to survive, even become a killer. With three other stories the reader will be immersed tales of greed, loyalty and survival.
These six stories really show what an extraordinary writer Don Winslow is. When it comes to writing in this genre he really is as good as it gets. This is definitely one of the best short story collections I’ve ever read and I highly recommend it.
These six stories really show what an extraordinary writer Don Winslow is. When it comes to writing in this genre he really is as good as it gets. This is definitely one of the best short story collections I’ve ever read and I highly recommend it.
January 31, 2026
The Final Score by Don Winslow was my first read by this author. I give it a solid five-star rating. The short stories were excellent, engaging, and well-written, and it was difficult to put the book down. I cannot believe how talented Don Winslow is, and I will purchase more of his books. I have now purchased Broken and am looking forward to reading it.
I loved all the stories from The Final Score, but appreciated the last story about Brad McAlister's life in "Collision". I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a solid author who writes mysteries with humour and style.
I loved all the stories from The Final Score, but appreciated the last story about Brad McAlister's life in "Collision". I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a solid author who writes mysteries with humour and style.
February 2, 2026
I started reading The Final Score some days ago and I'm glad I did.
I saw Don Wislow on the cover and he does not miss
The short stories in it were pretty cool.
"True Story" is the most interesting short story I've read in a while. I loved how it kept switching up. You won't understand until you read it.
Brittany and Dave's story was cool in "The Lunch Break"
I also loved "Collision". The suspense in it was a lot. I really wanted Brad to have a happy ending.
I dreaded that he was going to lose his life or his family and I'm glad that didn't happen.
I saw Don Wislow on the cover and he does not miss
The short stories in it were pretty cool.
"True Story" is the most interesting short story I've read in a while. I loved how it kept switching up. You won't understand until you read it.
Brittany and Dave's story was cool in "The Lunch Break"
I also loved "Collision". The suspense in it was a lot. I really wanted Brad to have a happy ending.
I dreaded that he was going to lose his life or his family and I'm glad that didn't happen.
August 11, 2025
I yelped with glee when I saw this, and I was not disappointed (even though I would have gladly read anything Don Winslow wrote, especially since he announced his retirement last year.) These stories packed so much punch, I did not feel cheated at their length. They all told the whole story, I knew these characters and could imagine their surroundings. I can't even pick a favorite story (ok maybe The Sunday List. Or Collision.)
So, so good.
So, so good.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow! Just wow. Having thoroughly enjoyed the Danny Ryan series, I was happy to pick up Winslow's latest. Admittedly, I jumped in not realizing that these were short stories. Wonderful, brilliant short stories. Some made me laugh out loud. Some brought me to tears. But all kept me turning the pages. And feeling sorry that there were only six, although all six were immensely satisfying. So glad that Winslow chose to share these.
January 30, 2026
Any Winslow book is going to be an automatic 5 star read. I hope he stays out of retirement for more books.
Ranking of stories:
Collision
The Lunch Break
The Final Score
The North Wing
The Sunday List
True Story
Even True Story, ranked lowest, is an excellent story, told strictly through a conversation. But the highs of Collision and the Lunch Break and the Final Score… Winslow has done it again.
Ranking of stories:
Collision
The Lunch Break
The Final Score
The North Wing
The Sunday List
True Story
Even True Story, ranked lowest, is an excellent story, told strictly through a conversation. But the highs of Collision and the Lunch Break and the Final Score… Winslow has done it again.
January 31, 2026
I’ve always found it interesting that in Spanish we call it novela policíaca, while in English they say crime novel. It’s like the Anglo-Saxons took a side — at least regarding what the genre is really about. The Final Score is deeply about crime, and even more so, about criminals. In each of these six wonderful short novels, the author takes a side — and you, the reader, will too. 300 pages that, to me, felt like 40.
July 30, 2025
The Final Score by Don Winslow is a collection of "six short novels ... that have been running around in my head for years.". They are variously dramatic and funny but always completely gripping and a great read. I've really enjoyed every book I've ever read by Don and this has been no exception.
Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced reading copy.
Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced reading copy.
February 1, 2026
Holy cow! I’ve been a fan of Winslow, and this is one of my favorites. A collection of short stories that are well written with great characters development. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was perfect. Especially The Lunch Break. The narrator (Peter Giles) got the cadence and humor of that story; I laughed out loud at several points.
February 2, 2026
I missed the info that this was a "collection of short stories". Had I noticed, I would have skipped it. Short stories are not my favorite and this was no exception.
Only the first of the collection about a heist at a casino was partially interesting (kind of like "The Sting") where the robbers outwit the casino and some of their own. The rest just not for me.
Only the first of the collection about a heist at a casino was partially interesting (kind of like "The Sting") where the robbers outwit the casino and some of their own. The rest just not for me.
July 13, 2025
This book is due to be the last from Don Winslow and comprises of six short novels.
Each story is individual and each a great read.
Thanks to Netgalley UK, Harper Collins and Don Winslow for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Each story is individual and each a great read.
Thanks to Netgalley UK, Harper Collins and Don Winslow for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
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