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Danny Ryan #1
City on Fire
From the #1 internationally bestselling author of the Cartel Trilogy (The Power of the Dog, The Cartel, and The Border), The Force, and Broken comes the first novel in an epic crime saga about the Irish and Italian crime syndicates in America during the 1980s and 1990s.
“One of America’s greatest storytellers.” – Stephen King
Providence, RI, 1986. Twenty-nine-year-old Danny Ryan is a hard-working longshoreman, loving husband, loyal friend, and occasional “muscle” for the Irish crime syndicate that oversees much of the city. He yearns for something more and dreams of starting over fresh, someplace far away. But when a modern-day Helen of Troy triggers a war between rival mob factions, Danny is embroiled in a conflict he can’t escape. Now it is up to him to step into the breach to protect his family, the friends who are closer to him than brothers, and the only home he’s ever known.
Exploring classic themes of loyalty, betrayal, honor, and corruption on both sides of the law, City on Fire is a contemporary Iliad from Don Winslow, “America’s greatest living crime writer” (Jon Land, Providence Journal).
“One of America’s greatest storytellers.” – Stephen King
Providence, RI, 1986. Twenty-nine-year-old Danny Ryan is a hard-working longshoreman, loving husband, loyal friend, and occasional “muscle” for the Irish crime syndicate that oversees much of the city. He yearns for something more and dreams of starting over fresh, someplace far away. But when a modern-day Helen of Troy triggers a war between rival mob factions, Danny is embroiled in a conflict he can’t escape. Now it is up to him to step into the breach to protect his family, the friends who are closer to him than brothers, and the only home he’s ever known.
Exploring classic themes of loyalty, betrayal, honor, and corruption on both sides of the law, City on Fire is a contemporary Iliad from Don Winslow, “America’s greatest living crime writer” (Jon Land, Providence Journal).
372 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 2021
3348 people are currently reading
27479 people want to read
About the author
Don Winslow
113 books7,474 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 2,518 reviews
March 29, 2022
This is the first of a trilogy by Don Winslow, an explicit contemporary literary take on The Illiad, Helen of Troy and the Trojan War, exploring the timeless themes of family, love, honour, loyalty and betrayal amongst the Irish and Italian mobsters who have until now co-existed peacefully in Providence, Rhode Island. Focusing on Danny Ryan, it is set in the late 1980s, it begins at Pasco Ferri's clambake, where Danny observes an extraordinarily beautiful woman, Pam, emerging from the sea, thinking that a woman this beautiful is going to be trouble, he is not wrong, he just has no idea just how much death, trouble and strife will follow. Danny is the son of the previous of Irish boss, Martin, whose bitter descent into drink led to John Murphy taking over. Danny's best friend is Pat, John's son, and he is married to Terrie, the daughter.
It is Pat's brother, Liam's fateful breaking of the rules over Pam, the girlfriend of the Italian made man, Paulie, at the clambake that will trigger a vicious war that will bring the Italian side under Peter Moretti and the Irish, led by Pat, to their knees. Whilst Danny serves as a enforcer and debt collector, he is not part of Murphy's inner circle but this is all set to change as he finds himself having to take charge amidst the rising tide of the dead, including sniper killings and car bombs. He crafts strategies, having to be ruthless as a leader, in a fight where if he makes the wrong decision, death is certain. He knows they are outnumbered and outgunned, and not left untouched himself as he fights to live, and on a hard road to recovery funded by the unwanted return of his mother, Madeleine, who abandoned him to a difficult childhood with his father. The pressures on him increase as he tries to take care of a pregnant Terrie who finds herself facing life threatening health issues, and a metaphorical Trojan Horse looks destined to wipe out the Irish for good.
Winslow writes an utterly riveting and compulsive novel related from the various wide ranging perspectives of the characters that inhabit the book. The storytelling is gripping from start to finish, the blood soaked war between the Irish and Italian mafia depicted with intricate details, capturing the grief and sorrow at the harrowing deaths, with insights into the emotional impact and heartbreak experienced by families and friends. For Danny, he has to handle the horrors of what life can naturally throw at a person with Terrie's health issues, as he dreams of leaving, getting away from it all with his family, which is to seem little more than a pipe dream. This is a superb read that has me really anticipating the next book in the trilogy. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
It is Pat's brother, Liam's fateful breaking of the rules over Pam, the girlfriend of the Italian made man, Paulie, at the clambake that will trigger a vicious war that will bring the Italian side under Peter Moretti and the Irish, led by Pat, to their knees. Whilst Danny serves as a enforcer and debt collector, he is not part of Murphy's inner circle but this is all set to change as he finds himself having to take charge amidst the rising tide of the dead, including sniper killings and car bombs. He crafts strategies, having to be ruthless as a leader, in a fight where if he makes the wrong decision, death is certain. He knows they are outnumbered and outgunned, and not left untouched himself as he fights to live, and on a hard road to recovery funded by the unwanted return of his mother, Madeleine, who abandoned him to a difficult childhood with his father. The pressures on him increase as he tries to take care of a pregnant Terrie who finds herself facing life threatening health issues, and a metaphorical Trojan Horse looks destined to wipe out the Irish for good.
Winslow writes an utterly riveting and compulsive novel related from the various wide ranging perspectives of the characters that inhabit the book. The storytelling is gripping from start to finish, the blood soaked war between the Irish and Italian mafia depicted with intricate details, capturing the grief and sorrow at the harrowing deaths, with insights into the emotional impact and heartbreak experienced by families and friends. For Danny, he has to handle the horrors of what life can naturally throw at a person with Terrie's health issues, as he dreams of leaving, getting away from it all with his family, which is to seem little more than a pipe dream. This is a superb read that has me really anticipating the next book in the trilogy. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
November 22, 2022
Don Winslow’s “City On Fire” is akin to the movie “Goodfellas” only in Rhode Island, Providence to be exact. You get all the vernacular, some words quite offensive in this PC world, but it makes it more authentic.
This takes place in the 1980’s, when there was a truce between the Italian and Irish mobs, or gangs to be more PC. After an Irish gangster makes an offensive move towards a girlfriend (a girl named Pam) of an Italian gang member, it all goes to hell. Now we have a gang war over which mob controls Rhode Island. New York and Boston want it all. The Irish want to maintain or add to their control.
The Mob aka Mafia has more members than the Irish gang which makes for a high body count on the Irish. When the IRA is mentioned to garner ammunition, tensions mount. The two bosses need to make amends. Control over organized crime between New York and Boston brings about a war.
Classic organized crime themes, such as loyalty, betrayal, honor, racism, and misogyny run throughout the story. Author Don Winslow employees the third person narration for the events of the story. Truly, it has the “feel” of watching “The Irishman” or “Goodfellas”.
I listened to the audio version, narrated by Ari Fliakos who did an outstanding job. Again, through his voice I “saw” the story. Fliakos is the perfect narrator for this story.
This is the first installment on a trilogy. Will the Irish forge a dynasty, or will the body count end the dream?
My husband and I listened to the story on a cross-country driving trip. It amused and satisfied both of our entertainment needs.
This takes place in the 1980’s, when there was a truce between the Italian and Irish mobs, or gangs to be more PC. After an Irish gangster makes an offensive move towards a girlfriend (a girl named Pam) of an Italian gang member, it all goes to hell. Now we have a gang war over which mob controls Rhode Island. New York and Boston want it all. The Irish want to maintain or add to their control.
The Mob aka Mafia has more members than the Irish gang which makes for a high body count on the Irish. When the IRA is mentioned to garner ammunition, tensions mount. The two bosses need to make amends. Control over organized crime between New York and Boston brings about a war.
Classic organized crime themes, such as loyalty, betrayal, honor, racism, and misogyny run throughout the story. Author Don Winslow employees the third person narration for the events of the story. Truly, it has the “feel” of watching “The Irishman” or “Goodfellas”.
I listened to the audio version, narrated by Ari Fliakos who did an outstanding job. Again, through his voice I “saw” the story. Fliakos is the perfect narrator for this story.
This is the first installment on a trilogy. Will the Irish forge a dynasty, or will the body count end the dream?
My husband and I listened to the story on a cross-country driving trip. It amused and satisfied both of our entertainment needs.
October 30, 2025
FRONTE DEL PORTO
Providence, Rhode Island, New England.
Costa est degli Stati Uniti, oceano Atlantico: un buco di provincia chiamato Dogtown (nomen omen) non lontano da Providence, che certo non è Boston, men che meno New York.
Mafia irlandese e mafia italiana: si spartiscono lavori al porto, sindacati, usura, contrabbando, gioco d’azzaqrdo e qualcos’altro. Cercano di stare lontani dalla droga: forse son troppo cattolici, la droga è un “peccato” grave.
È un piccolo racket che le grosse cosche delle grandi città lasciano in pace perché non vale la pena la guerra che servirebbe per farli fuori.
Siamo a metà degli anni Ottanta.
Il casino in riva all’Atlantico a Narragansett. Un po’ come se fosse Troia da espugnare e conquistare.
M’è servito tempo per capire chi è chi, chi sta con chi: perché Winslow li chiama tutti Pam e Pat e Danny e Billy e Jimmy e Dick avanti così, con i miei classici diminutivi a stelle-e-strisce. Chissà, magari un altro modo per sottolineare l’ordinarietà di questa mala di piccolo cabotaggio.
Don Winslow ha svolto molti lavori diversi prima di dedicarsi alla scrittura a tempo pieno: chissà se è da quelle esperienze professionali che gli deriva questa precisione nel descrivere ambienti e personaggi, milieu sociali e urbanistici, dinamiche.
Parlando di questo primo romanzo di un’altra sua trilogia, Winslow ha detto d’essersi ispirato a Iliade e Odissea. Non esagera: dietro Pam è facile riconosce Elena, Paride in Liam, Cassandra in Cassie, e Danny oscilla tra Ettore ed Enea, mentre suo padre Marty è chiaramente Anchise.
E onore, coraggio, codardia, lealtà, tradimento, tragedia. E più di tutto, epica.
Austin Butler dovrebbe essere Danny Ryan nell’adattamento cinematografico.
Providence, Rhode Island, New England.
Costa est degli Stati Uniti, oceano Atlantico: un buco di provincia chiamato Dogtown (nomen omen) non lontano da Providence, che certo non è Boston, men che meno New York.
Mafia irlandese e mafia italiana: si spartiscono lavori al porto, sindacati, usura, contrabbando, gioco d’azzaqrdo e qualcos’altro. Cercano di stare lontani dalla droga: forse son troppo cattolici, la droga è un “peccato” grave.
È un piccolo racket che le grosse cosche delle grandi città lasciano in pace perché non vale la pena la guerra che servirebbe per farli fuori.
Siamo a metà degli anni Ottanta.
Il casino in riva all’Atlantico a Narragansett. Un po’ come se fosse Troia da espugnare e conquistare.
M’è servito tempo per capire chi è chi, chi sta con chi: perché Winslow li chiama tutti Pam e Pat e Danny e Billy e Jimmy e Dick avanti così, con i miei classici diminutivi a stelle-e-strisce. Chissà, magari un altro modo per sottolineare l’ordinarietà di questa mala di piccolo cabotaggio.
Don Winslow ha svolto molti lavori diversi prima di dedicarsi alla scrittura a tempo pieno: chissà se è da quelle esperienze professionali che gli deriva questa precisione nel descrivere ambienti e personaggi, milieu sociali e urbanistici, dinamiche.
Parlando di questo primo romanzo di un’altra sua trilogia, Winslow ha detto d’essersi ispirato a Iliade e Odissea. Non esagera: dietro Pam è facile riconosce Elena, Paride in Liam, Cassandra in Cassie, e Danny oscilla tra Ettore ed Enea, mentre suo padre Marty è chiaramente Anchise.
E onore, coraggio, codardia, lealtà, tradimento, tragedia. E più di tutto, epica.
Austin Butler dovrebbe essere Danny Ryan nell’adattamento cinematografico.
April 26, 2022
Give me a cold winter weekend with The Godfather, Goodfellas and Casino and I'm a happy woman. When I discovered that Don Winslow was writing a trilogy involving the Irish and the Italian mob, set in 1980's Providence, R.I., I couldn't get to NetGalley fast enough. Now, I've read it and I can conclusively say, Don Winslow can write about crime, the mafia, drug lords and cartels better than nearly anyone out there today.
Throughout history beautiful women have sown discord and spawned wars, and here one tears apart a family, and The Family as well. Before they even knew what hit them, (see what I did there?), questions of family loyalty, seething resentments, obligations and responsibilities vie for your attention, along with car bombs, ambushes, and violence at the drop of a hat. With a protagonist you can root for, in spite of what he is forced to do, CITY ON FIRE is exactly the gritty crime story I expected from Don Winslow.
For me, characters are just about everything. I love when they grow and change. I love when they're conflicted or angry or crying-whether I love the character themselves or not, I love being privy to their trains of thought. I think that's one of Stephen King's greatest talents, and I think Winslow has that magic too.
A modern day Helen of Troy can be just as disruptive as the original, and I can't wait to see what happens next in this trilogy.
Highly recommended!
*Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow Co., for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
Throughout history beautiful women have sown discord and spawned wars, and here one tears apart a family, and The Family as well. Before they even knew what hit them, (see what I did there?), questions of family loyalty, seething resentments, obligations and responsibilities vie for your attention, along with car bombs, ambushes, and violence at the drop of a hat. With a protagonist you can root for, in spite of what he is forced to do, CITY ON FIRE is exactly the gritty crime story I expected from Don Winslow.
For me, characters are just about everything. I love when they grow and change. I love when they're conflicted or angry or crying-whether I love the character themselves or not, I love being privy to their trains of thought. I think that's one of Stephen King's greatest talents, and I think Winslow has that magic too.
A modern day Helen of Troy can be just as disruptive as the original, and I can't wait to see what happens next in this trilogy.
Highly recommended!
*Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow Co., for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
May 9, 2022
It starts with a woman. In Dogtown for years the two alternating faction. Irish and Italian have divided their terror tried in a way that was mutually beneficial for both. Until....? Now all bets are off revenge must be add and a mob war ensues.
I don't read many books that cover mobs. Usually not my thing but I'd heard many good things about this book and despite the violence it was a good story. A modern telling of Helen of Troy, quite cleverly done. Not many likable characters but there are a few that I found in a situation that they didn't seek, and how they reacted, intriguing.
I don't read many books that cover mobs. Usually not my thing but I'd heard many good things about this book and despite the violence it was a good story. A modern telling of Helen of Troy, quite cleverly done. Not many likable characters but there are a few that I found in a situation that they didn't seek, and how they reacted, intriguing.
June 28, 2022
Si os gusta el suspense, el crimen, la acción y la adrenalina, definitivamente deberías leer este libro. Vamos que ya tardáis.
Dan Winslow vuelve a la carga. Y no falla. Épico, ambicioso, corrupto y cruel.
Tenía ciertas expectativas considerando mi anterior lectura de este autor. Con un lenguaje explícito y violento, tocando varios temas delicados. Y esto es sólo una pequeña porción de lo que hace de esta lectura tan adictiva como interesante.
1986, Providence, Rhode Island y los sindicatos del crimen irlandés Murphy e italiano Moretti tienen un acuerdo para compartir el botín del crimen organizado de la ciudad. Los italianos tienen juegos de azar, drogas y chanchullos de protección, mientras que los irlandeses tienen los muelles, los sindicatos y los usureros.
Parte del alcohol y cigarrillos que los Murphy liberan de los muelles incluso terminan en los clubes protegidos de Moretti para que todos obtengan una parte. El arreglo fue negociado por los cabezas de familia, Jacky Moretti y John Murphy, pero ahora la próxima generación, los hijos Pat y Liam Murphy y Peter y Paul Moretti, están mostrando sus músculos y queriendo más. Todo lo que se necesita es una chispa para iniciar una guerra de pandillas que romperá la paz y quemará todo a su paso.
La chispa de la guerra es una mujer, a quien Winslow compara con la de Helena de Troya y su papel en la guerra de Troya. En el momento en que la vio, Danny Ryan, un miembro del clan Murphy, supo que iba a causar problemas.
Y vaya, vaya, la que se les vino encima.. 👀
Winslow es un narrador magistral y cuenta una adictiva historia a través de un ritmo apasionante con un gran elenco de personajes interesantes, todos y cada uno de ellos, hasta los secundarios.
La premisa de la Ilíada moderna, en mi opinión, ha sido satisfactoria y muy bien ejecutada. En el curso de la trama, de hecho, veremos ciertas referencias. Pero olvídate de las comparaciones literarias con la Ilíada. Porque Winslow nos ofrece la mejor puñetera guerra de mafias que habrás leído en mucho tiempo.
El autor logra hacernos vivir y sentir parte de sus vidas, incluso con el historial de algunos de ellos es inevitable, eso dice mucho del trabajo que hay detras y la experiencia del autor.
A partir de la segunda parte, cada capítulo es una sorpresa constante y habrá muuucha más acción, tensión e intriga. El estilo de escritura es perfecto para esta historia porque es muy directo y crudo, sin rodeos, te escupe en la cara sin previas palabras.
Como único "pero" es que habiendo leído otro suyo hace poco, aunque esta sea otra historia con otros personajes, no deja de ser más de lo "mismo".
Con muchas ganas de los siguientes, aunque en mi humilde opinión se puede leer bien pues es algo "cerrado". Nada de relleno en un libro de 400 páginas que devoras con avidez. Personajes e historia con carga emocional de 10. Narrado de delicia. Resultado, un enganche básicamente inevitable.
Y no sé que hacéis todavía aquí.. ✍️
Dan Winslow vuelve a la carga. Y no falla. Épico, ambicioso, corrupto y cruel.
Tenía ciertas expectativas considerando mi anterior lectura de este autor. Con un lenguaje explícito y violento, tocando varios temas delicados. Y esto es sólo una pequeña porción de lo que hace de esta lectura tan adictiva como interesante.
1986, Providence, Rhode Island y los sindicatos del crimen irlandés Murphy e italiano Moretti tienen un acuerdo para compartir el botín del crimen organizado de la ciudad. Los italianos tienen juegos de azar, drogas y chanchullos de protección, mientras que los irlandeses tienen los muelles, los sindicatos y los usureros.
Parte del alcohol y cigarrillos que los Murphy liberan de los muelles incluso terminan en los clubes protegidos de Moretti para que todos obtengan una parte. El arreglo fue negociado por los cabezas de familia, Jacky Moretti y John Murphy, pero ahora la próxima generación, los hijos Pat y Liam Murphy y Peter y Paul Moretti, están mostrando sus músculos y queriendo más. Todo lo que se necesita es una chispa para iniciar una guerra de pandillas que romperá la paz y quemará todo a su paso.
La chispa de la guerra es una mujer, a quien Winslow compara con la de Helena de Troya y su papel en la guerra de Troya. En el momento en que la vio, Danny Ryan, un miembro del clan Murphy, supo que iba a causar problemas.
Y vaya, vaya, la que se les vino encima.. 👀
Winslow es un narrador magistral y cuenta una adictiva historia a través de un ritmo apasionante con un gran elenco de personajes interesantes, todos y cada uno de ellos, hasta los secundarios.
La premisa de la Ilíada moderna, en mi opinión, ha sido satisfactoria y muy bien ejecutada. En el curso de la trama, de hecho, veremos ciertas referencias. Pero olvídate de las comparaciones literarias con la Ilíada. Porque Winslow nos ofrece la mejor puñetera guerra de mafias que habrás leído en mucho tiempo.
El autor logra hacernos vivir y sentir parte de sus vidas, incluso con el historial de algunos de ellos es inevitable, eso dice mucho del trabajo que hay detras y la experiencia del autor.
A partir de la segunda parte, cada capítulo es una sorpresa constante y habrá muuucha más acción, tensión e intriga. El estilo de escritura es perfecto para esta historia porque es muy directo y crudo, sin rodeos, te escupe en la cara sin previas palabras.
Como único "pero" es que habiendo leído otro suyo hace poco, aunque esta sea otra historia con otros personajes, no deja de ser más de lo "mismo".
Con muchas ganas de los siguientes, aunque en mi humilde opinión se puede leer bien pues es algo "cerrado". Nada de relleno en un libro de 400 páginas que devoras con avidez. Personajes e historia con carga emocional de 10. Narrado de delicia. Resultado, un enganche básicamente inevitable.
Y no sé que hacéis todavía aquí.. ✍️
April 23, 2022
No hay nada en esta primera parte de la trilogía que no haya leído antes, o visto en películas o series, pero es Don Winslow, un imprescindible, y todo lo que escribe es oro puro, un rato muy bueno.
Estoy segura que me va a sorprender en los dos libros que quedan porque esto solo puedo ser la guinda, tiene que haber traca gorda.
Estoy segura que me va a sorprender en los dos libros que quedan porque esto solo puedo ser la guinda, tiene que haber traca gorda.
September 25, 2023
Winslow begins his epic tale of mafia war with quotations from Homer’s Iliad. And you might think that was rather bold in terms of comparison, but all of a sudden it’ll hit you like an earthquake when you are reading that it is the full Trojan War revisited starting with Helen of Troy and her getting stolen away by a prince who lets his brothers and brothers in law fight his battles while he plays in The boudoir with Helen. It’s not too difficult to figure out who is the untouchable warrior Achilles even before someone starts talking about his Achille’s heel. You probably think you’ve got Odysseus figured out too, but then again maybe, maybe not. Depends what you think the Trojan horse is.
But forget the literary comparisons to the Iliad. Cause Winslow delivers the best damn mafia war we’ve seen in decades. Even Mario Puzo would be proud of this. It’s set, not in New York, Chicago, or Boston, but the small time city of Providence, Rhode Island where the Italians and the Irish have forged an uneasy truce and split the graft and the take and the unions and the protection rackets. But the old kings are all but retired, and the young princes aren’t necessarily adhering to the old rules.
The star of the epic novel is Danny Ryan, whose old man once ran the Irish side till drink got the better of him. Danny still married into royalty as his wife Terri is the daughter of the new boss John Ryan whose son Pat is the Danny’s best friend. Pat is the leader of the crew, but Liam is the single guy too pretty to settle down.
On the other side are the Moretti’s and their tough crew, run by Peter and Paulie.
The difficulties- the troubles some might call them- all start at a summer clambake and it’s Liam who charms the wrong girl and it all leads as it has to – to an endless bloody war that’ll bleed everyone dry till they’ve got nothing left to give.
What makes this epic work so well is that Winslow creates full characters – at least with the principals- and we get to see their vulnerabilities even as the bloodlust rises to a crescendo.
City on Fire is a masterpiece of crime fiction, an epic tragedy that no reader can put down.
But forget the literary comparisons to the Iliad. Cause Winslow delivers the best damn mafia war we’ve seen in decades. Even Mario Puzo would be proud of this. It’s set, not in New York, Chicago, or Boston, but the small time city of Providence, Rhode Island where the Italians and the Irish have forged an uneasy truce and split the graft and the take and the unions and the protection rackets. But the old kings are all but retired, and the young princes aren’t necessarily adhering to the old rules.
The star of the epic novel is Danny Ryan, whose old man once ran the Irish side till drink got the better of him. Danny still married into royalty as his wife Terri is the daughter of the new boss John Ryan whose son Pat is the Danny’s best friend. Pat is the leader of the crew, but Liam is the single guy too pretty to settle down.
On the other side are the Moretti’s and their tough crew, run by Peter and Paulie.
The difficulties- the troubles some might call them- all start at a summer clambake and it’s Liam who charms the wrong girl and it all leads as it has to – to an endless bloody war that’ll bleed everyone dry till they’ve got nothing left to give.
What makes this epic work so well is that Winslow creates full characters – at least with the principals- and we get to see their vulnerabilities even as the bloodlust rises to a crescendo.
City on Fire is a masterpiece of crime fiction, an epic tragedy that no reader can put down.
May 31, 2022
This is another sprawling epic novel from Don Winslow, author of some of my favorite books including The Winter of Frankie Machine, The Power of the Dog, and The Force. To say that this book is not quite on a par with those does it no disservice; it's a really great read, the first in Winslow's new and final trilogy.
The book opens at a beach in Rhode Island in the summer of 1986. For many years the city of Providence has been controlled by an alliance of Irish and Italian mobsters who have divided between their two gangs the spoils of the city's criminal enterprises. The original arrangement between the two gangs was forged by an older generation, but now the sons of those men are coming into their own and taking increasing responsibilities upon themselves.
The bonds between the two groups, the Morettis and the Murphys, are strong enough that they hold an annual summer clambake at the beach, and that's where the trouble begins when an extraordinarily beautiful woman walks out of the sea, attracting the attention of every man--and woman--at the party.
The woman, Pam, turns out to be the girlfriend of Paulie Moretti, the son of the leader of the Italian gang, and when a drunken Liam Murphy, son of the leader of the Irish gang, makes a crude pass at her, all hell breaks loose. Before long the carefully-brokered agreement between the two gangs is in tatters and a major gang war has erupted.
At the center of the story is Danny Ryan. Ryan's father was the original leader of the Irish group but he long ago retreated into the bottle and his personal miseries, leaving John Murphy to lead the group. Danny is married to John Murphy's daughter, Terri. He logically would have followed his father's footsteps into the leadership of the gang, but now he functions in a minor role while Murphy's sons assume increasingly important positions.
Truth to tell, Danny Ryan never relished the idea of being in the gang to begin with. In his heart of hearts, he would have preferred a much simpler life unencumbered by all the responsibilities of a life in organized crime. But the war that now breaks out between the Irish and the Italians takes a very heavy toll on both sides, both in money and in blood, and before it's over, it will put young Danny Ryan to a very stern test.
This is a great novel about organized crime, not in one of the nation's larger cities, but in a small backwater like Providence. The cast of characters is sprawling, but most of them are deftly drawn and the inner workings of the gangs' operations, not to mention the rapidly escalating feud between them, had me turning the pages about as fast as I could. Don Winslow has announced his retirement and said in an appearance a couple of weeks ago that the next two volumes in this trilogy are already complete. As much as I've loved his work, I really hate to see him go. But if he must, this is an excellent first step on the way out the door.
The book opens at a beach in Rhode Island in the summer of 1986. For many years the city of Providence has been controlled by an alliance of Irish and Italian mobsters who have divided between their two gangs the spoils of the city's criminal enterprises. The original arrangement between the two gangs was forged by an older generation, but now the sons of those men are coming into their own and taking increasing responsibilities upon themselves.
The bonds between the two groups, the Morettis and the Murphys, are strong enough that they hold an annual summer clambake at the beach, and that's where the trouble begins when an extraordinarily beautiful woman walks out of the sea, attracting the attention of every man--and woman--at the party.
The woman, Pam, turns out to be the girlfriend of Paulie Moretti, the son of the leader of the Italian gang, and when a drunken Liam Murphy, son of the leader of the Irish gang, makes a crude pass at her, all hell breaks loose. Before long the carefully-brokered agreement between the two gangs is in tatters and a major gang war has erupted.
At the center of the story is Danny Ryan. Ryan's father was the original leader of the Irish group but he long ago retreated into the bottle and his personal miseries, leaving John Murphy to lead the group. Danny is married to John Murphy's daughter, Terri. He logically would have followed his father's footsteps into the leadership of the gang, but now he functions in a minor role while Murphy's sons assume increasingly important positions.
Truth to tell, Danny Ryan never relished the idea of being in the gang to begin with. In his heart of hearts, he would have preferred a much simpler life unencumbered by all the responsibilities of a life in organized crime. But the war that now breaks out between the Irish and the Italians takes a very heavy toll on both sides, both in money and in blood, and before it's over, it will put young Danny Ryan to a very stern test.
This is a great novel about organized crime, not in one of the nation's larger cities, but in a small backwater like Providence. The cast of characters is sprawling, but most of them are deftly drawn and the inner workings of the gangs' operations, not to mention the rapidly escalating feud between them, had me turning the pages about as fast as I could. Don Winslow has announced his retirement and said in an appearance a couple of weeks ago that the next two volumes in this trilogy are already complete. As much as I've loved his work, I really hate to see him go. But if he must, this is an excellent first step on the way out the door.
March 30, 2022
1986, Providence, Rhode Island and the Irish Murphy and Italian Moretti crime syndicates have an arrangement to share the organised crime spoils of the city. The Italians have gambling, drugs and protection rackets while Irish have the docks, the unions and the loan sharks. Some of the alcohol and cigarettes the Murphys liberate from the docks even ends up in the Moretti protected clubs so that everyone gets a cut. The arrangement was brokered by the heads of the families, Jacky Moretti and John Murphy but now the next generation, sons Pat and Liam Murphy and Peter and Paul Moretti, are flexing their muscles and wanting more. All it takes is one spark to start a gang war that will shatter the peace and burn everything in its path.
The spark that ignites the war is a beautiful woman, who Winslow compares to that of Helen of Troy and her role in the Trojan war. The minute he saw her Danny Ryan, a member of the Murphy clan, knows she’s going to be trouble. She arrives at the annual clambake attended by both gangs, in the company of Paul Moretti and immediately Liam Murphy sets his sights on her. Somehow, he steals her away and the payback and bloodshed that results from this threatens to destroy both families.
Danny Ryan, married to Pat and Liam’s sister finds himself elevated from a minor member of the Murphy clan to being very much in the centre devising strategies for a fight he feels they are going to lose. He loathes all the fighting and killing and dreams of being able to walk away and take his seriously ill wife and baby somewhere safe.
Winslow is a master story teller and spins a superb tale with a gripping pace and a large cast of interesting characters. The focus is mostly on the men, with the women staying very much in the background, even as their sons and husbands are being killed. As this is the first novel of a trilogy, it may be that some of the stronger female characters will step up in the future. Recommended for those who enjoy a riveting tale.
With thanks to Harper Collins via Netgalley for a copy to read.
The spark that ignites the war is a beautiful woman, who Winslow compares to that of Helen of Troy and her role in the Trojan war. The minute he saw her Danny Ryan, a member of the Murphy clan, knows she’s going to be trouble. She arrives at the annual clambake attended by both gangs, in the company of Paul Moretti and immediately Liam Murphy sets his sights on her. Somehow, he steals her away and the payback and bloodshed that results from this threatens to destroy both families.
Danny Ryan, married to Pat and Liam’s sister finds himself elevated from a minor member of the Murphy clan to being very much in the centre devising strategies for a fight he feels they are going to lose. He loathes all the fighting and killing and dreams of being able to walk away and take his seriously ill wife and baby somewhere safe.
Winslow is a master story teller and spins a superb tale with a gripping pace and a large cast of interesting characters. The focus is mostly on the men, with the women staying very much in the background, even as their sons and husbands are being killed. As this is the first novel of a trilogy, it may be that some of the stronger female characters will step up in the future. Recommended for those who enjoy a riveting tale.
With thanks to Harper Collins via Netgalley for a copy to read.
February 25, 2023
I had this at three stars, but Don Winslow should just do better.
Right off the bat, I don’t see how the story has enough gas to be a trilogy, barely enough for a single novel.
I hated all of the faux gangster talk, The Sopranos Italianate vocabulary, the “It’s his what-do-you-call-it… moron-speak, and , the “he don’t”s which at times hit the ear like a fart in church and you have to go back and reread it because you forgot that this is the author “being authentic” or whatever and not a typo they missed in the edit.
“Capisce.”
“The talk on the street is . . .”
Ugh, please stop writing this crap. Here’s the thing about all of the lingo they put in cop and gangster novels: even if cops and hoods really talk like this, it’s still a total cliché to write it this way. And maybe cops and gangsters only talk this way because they are mostly fucking stupid and just parrot clichés they hear in movies?
Although he has epigraphs from the ancient Greeks, the story is not very interesting or original. Two-bit mafiosos killing each other over a woman, to start things out. Liam (dumber than Fredo and more hot-headed than Sonny) gets the living shit kicked out of him for copping a feel from some Italian shit-ball’s girlfriend. He’s out of the hospital in record time and then the shit really hits the fan. The noble and intelligent Danny tries to stop the violence, but evidently, he’s not bright enough to turn off the fans blowing the shit everywhere. It’s the Micks versus the Wops in a range war.
The Irish bring in the Blacks and finally we get a sort of cool character in Marvin, but only for a few pages. Marvin’s death was extremely anticlimactic and stupid. He’s going to play basketball carrying a pistol? If you think this is a good scene, you and I have some major differences of opinion.
Marvin feels him.
Then hangs on the rim and sees him.
Demetrius yells, “Gun!”
Marvin lets go of the rim, as he drops pulls his pistol taped inside the kangaroo pouch on the sweaty and fires.
Then something punches him in the chest.
He’s dead before he hits the ground.
Sal drives three blocks before he realizes he’s been shot.
The fuckin’ monkey hit him in the arm
That’s some real Annie Oakley shit from both of them. Quick draw Marvin slam dunks a ball, grabs the rim, let’s himself go, pulls out his piece taped to his hoodie pouch, and hits Sal in the arm. Sal hits Marv in the heart. We got a better play-by-play of his wife’s breast cancer. Yawn, is this a crime novel or an after-school special? If you want to write a book about cancer, knock yourself out, but I thought this was supposed to be about crime.
The ending is a true Chinese Downhill ( https://leftbankview.blogspot.com/201... ). A six-million-dollar heroin deal that the Italians sacrifice to ensnare the Irish and put them behind bars. It’s really stupid and makes almost no sense. It’s so complicated and all over the damn place that I could barely finish reading the last twenty pages.
I love Don Winslow, but it’s conditional love. This novel just didn’t cut it. I hope he takes his sweet time on the next volume in the trilogy. Or better yet, abandon the trilogy idea and move on to a better story,
Right off the bat, I don’t see how the story has enough gas to be a trilogy, barely enough for a single novel.
I hated all of the faux gangster talk, The Sopranos Italianate vocabulary, the “It’s his what-do-you-call-it… moron-speak, and , the “he don’t”s which at times hit the ear like a fart in church and you have to go back and reread it because you forgot that this is the author “being authentic” or whatever and not a typo they missed in the edit.
“Capisce.”
“The talk on the street is . . .”
Ugh, please stop writing this crap. Here’s the thing about all of the lingo they put in cop and gangster novels: even if cops and hoods really talk like this, it’s still a total cliché to write it this way. And maybe cops and gangsters only talk this way because they are mostly fucking stupid and just parrot clichés they hear in movies?
Although he has epigraphs from the ancient Greeks, the story is not very interesting or original. Two-bit mafiosos killing each other over a woman, to start things out. Liam (dumber than Fredo and more hot-headed than Sonny) gets the living shit kicked out of him for copping a feel from some Italian shit-ball’s girlfriend. He’s out of the hospital in record time and then the shit really hits the fan. The noble and intelligent Danny tries to stop the violence, but evidently, he’s not bright enough to turn off the fans blowing the shit everywhere. It’s the Micks versus the Wops in a range war.
The Irish bring in the Blacks and finally we get a sort of cool character in Marvin, but only for a few pages. Marvin’s death was extremely anticlimactic and stupid. He’s going to play basketball carrying a pistol? If you think this is a good scene, you and I have some major differences of opinion.
Marvin feels him.
Then hangs on the rim and sees him.
Demetrius yells, “Gun!”
Marvin lets go of the rim, as he drops pulls his pistol taped inside the kangaroo pouch on the sweaty and fires.
Then something punches him in the chest.
He’s dead before he hits the ground.
Sal drives three blocks before he realizes he’s been shot.
The fuckin’ monkey hit him in the arm
That’s some real Annie Oakley shit from both of them. Quick draw Marvin slam dunks a ball, grabs the rim, let’s himself go, pulls out his piece taped to his hoodie pouch, and hits Sal in the arm. Sal hits Marv in the heart. We got a better play-by-play of his wife’s breast cancer. Yawn, is this a crime novel or an after-school special? If you want to write a book about cancer, knock yourself out, but I thought this was supposed to be about crime.
The ending is a true Chinese Downhill ( https://leftbankview.blogspot.com/201... ). A six-million-dollar heroin deal that the Italians sacrifice to ensnare the Irish and put them behind bars. It’s really stupid and makes almost no sense. It’s so complicated and all over the damn place that I could barely finish reading the last twenty pages.
I love Don Winslow, but it’s conditional love. This novel just didn’t cut it. I hope he takes his sweet time on the next volume in the trilogy. Or better yet, abandon the trilogy idea and move on to a better story,
March 4, 2025
No sé ya qué decir sobre Winslow, en cada novela suya es repetirme en halagos. Esta como ya intuía me ha encantado, no hay libro suyo que haya bajado de las cinco estrellas.
La trilogía de la Droga me pareció sublime, The Force otra joyita, y Ciudad en Llamas sin ser perfecta tiene los ingredientes suficientes para engancharme, un inicio de trilogía para frotarme las manos.
"Ahora, comed. Hemos de prepararnos para la batalla".
Homero. Iliada. Capitulo II.
Con esta cita Winslow nos sumerge en el mundo de la mafias de los años 80 en Rhode Island, mas en concreto con la familia italiana de los Moretti y los irlandeses Murphy. No voy a comentar nada sobre el argumento, pero uno ya se puede hacer una idea de lo que se va encontrar cuando hay mafias de por medio. Una temática que siempre me ha gustado mucho.
Y cuando mezclas una temática que te gusta con un autor al que admiras, lo único que puede salir es una barbaridad de novela.
Lo cierto es que no inventa nada y si las desgranas es una trama simple de luchas de poder, alianzas, enemistades, traiciones, cuantas veces hemos visto/leído esto ya, pero está tan bien escrita, tan bien contada, que desde la primera página cuando sale esa chica del agua ya estás metido totalmente en la historia.
El estilo de Winslow es el de siempre, directo, sin adornos, sin una coma de más.
Los personajes también están a la altura, creíbles y realistas. Desde el protagonista, Danny Ryan, a cualquiera de los secundarios. Ninguno de ellos está elaborado como si estuvieran en una super producción cinematográfica.
En cuanto vaya a la Biblioteca a devolver este, me traigo bajo el brazo Ciudad de los Sueños, me voy a leer la trilogía del tirón.
June 20, 2022
What we’ve got here is a good ole fashioned mob war.
It’s 1986 in Rhode Island, and Danny Ryan is essentially a middle manager for the Murphy crime family despite being married to the boss’s daughter. Danny’s father also once ran his own outfit and was a key figure in establishing a peace that’s held for years between the Italian and Irish mob in the area. When the spoiled son of the Irish leader hits on the wrong woman, it’s seen as a grave insult that the kid manages to make worse and soon it’s all out war between the fwo factions.
Danny becomes a key figure in the whole mess as he first tries to make peace and when that doesn’t work, takes an increasing role in the leadership of Murphys. Along the way we also find out the history of the mother who abandoned him who returns in an effort to try and make things right, and he continues to try and earn his rightful seat at the table.
Like most Don Winslow books, this is a helluva page turner with a conversational style that makes you feel like some old Mafia guy is telling you the tale at a bar one night. Since it’s the first part of a new trilogy, you don’t get a lot of resolution although some things are settled. It’s sort of like watching the first season of a TV show that is setting up a lot of character and plots to circle back to later.
Good stuff for any Winslow and/or crime fans, and I can’t wait to read the next part.
It’s 1986 in Rhode Island, and Danny Ryan is essentially a middle manager for the Murphy crime family despite being married to the boss’s daughter. Danny’s father also once ran his own outfit and was a key figure in establishing a peace that’s held for years between the Italian and Irish mob in the area. When the spoiled son of the Irish leader hits on the wrong woman, it’s seen as a grave insult that the kid manages to make worse and soon it’s all out war between the fwo factions.
Danny becomes a key figure in the whole mess as he first tries to make peace and when that doesn’t work, takes an increasing role in the leadership of Murphys. Along the way we also find out the history of the mother who abandoned him who returns in an effort to try and make things right, and he continues to try and earn his rightful seat at the table.
Like most Don Winslow books, this is a helluva page turner with a conversational style that makes you feel like some old Mafia guy is telling you the tale at a bar one night. Since it’s the first part of a new trilogy, you don’t get a lot of resolution although some things are settled. It’s sort of like watching the first season of a TV show that is setting up a lot of character and plots to circle back to later.
Good stuff for any Winslow and/or crime fans, and I can’t wait to read the next part.
March 12, 2022
It's time to go to the mattresses.
"City of Fire" stays true to its crime family roots and delivers what it advertises. With a nod to the Illiad's Helen of Troy, a gang war is sparked when a beautiful "goddess" walks out of the sea and all hell breaks loose between the Irish and Italians controlling Providence, Rhode Island… Dogtown. Danny Ryan first appears as a forgotten member of the Irish mob, an afterthought pretty much in place because his old man used to run things. As things get hotter and the casualties mount, he reluctantly finds himself asserting more control and leadership. While the outline seems like pretty standard gangster fare, the story never stops taking interesting twists and turns. Just when you think one side has quashed the other, everything flips. Don Winslow is a master and knows how to keep the action going.
While an exciting ride, this is not for everyone. There is some racist and homophobic content-- this is the criminal underworld, after all. Also, once Pam walks out of the sea there is not much more any female really contributes, other than playing spouses or victims. "City of Fire '' is apparently the first part of a trilogy and hopefully we will see the women play more integral roles.
Overall, this is great storytelling and I will be looking forward to where things go from here. I mean, you had to see Godfather II as well, right? Thank you to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for an offer I could not refuse; providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"City of Fire" stays true to its crime family roots and delivers what it advertises. With a nod to the Illiad's Helen of Troy, a gang war is sparked when a beautiful "goddess" walks out of the sea and all hell breaks loose between the Irish and Italians controlling Providence, Rhode Island… Dogtown. Danny Ryan first appears as a forgotten member of the Irish mob, an afterthought pretty much in place because his old man used to run things. As things get hotter and the casualties mount, he reluctantly finds himself asserting more control and leadership. While the outline seems like pretty standard gangster fare, the story never stops taking interesting twists and turns. Just when you think one side has quashed the other, everything flips. Don Winslow is a master and knows how to keep the action going.
While an exciting ride, this is not for everyone. There is some racist and homophobic content-- this is the criminal underworld, after all. Also, once Pam walks out of the sea there is not much more any female really contributes, other than playing spouses or victims. "City of Fire '' is apparently the first part of a trilogy and hopefully we will see the women play more integral roles.
Overall, this is great storytelling and I will be looking forward to where things go from here. I mean, you had to see Godfather II as well, right? Thank you to Harper Collins and Edelweiss for an offer I could not refuse; providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2025
Primer libro de la trilogía.
Estamos en los años 80 en Providence, Rhode Island. Es el territorio de dos mafias locales: los italianos Moretti y los irlandeses Murphy. Llevan toda una generación sin enfrentarse, habiendo conseguido repartirse el negocio de la extorsión, el juego, el soborno a políticos y policías, la prostitución, los sindicatos, las drogas, etc. Pero llegado el momento de la sucesión de los capos, los hijos no están a la altura y se desata la guerra.
En el medio de todo esto está Danny Ryan, hijo del antiguo capo de los irlandeses, pero la familia Murphy lo tiene apartado de la toma de decisiones.
Danny es el protagonista de esta novela. Su lealtad hacia la familia es asombrosa. Está casado con una Murphy y su mejor amigo es su cuñado Pat, sucesor del capo, pero quien no está tomando decisiones correctas y que son demasiado precipitadas.
La guerra es encarnizada y hay muchas bajas en las dos familias. Danny debe tomar decisiones.
La novela es brutal de buena. La ambientación es magnífica y no digamos los personajes, que son de diez. Los tejemanejes entre las dos bandas están genial reflejados, todo está estructurado de maravilla, de menos a más.
Iba a poner cuatro estrellas, pues a veces me ha fallado el ritmo, pero sería injusto, pues puede resultar necesario para captar bien todos los matices.
Sr. Winslow, es usted un maestro. Continúo con el siguiente!
👌👌
Estamos en los años 80 en Providence, Rhode Island. Es el territorio de dos mafias locales: los italianos Moretti y los irlandeses Murphy. Llevan toda una generación sin enfrentarse, habiendo conseguido repartirse el negocio de la extorsión, el juego, el soborno a políticos y policías, la prostitución, los sindicatos, las drogas, etc. Pero llegado el momento de la sucesión de los capos, los hijos no están a la altura y se desata la guerra.
En el medio de todo esto está Danny Ryan, hijo del antiguo capo de los irlandeses, pero la familia Murphy lo tiene apartado de la toma de decisiones.
Danny es el protagonista de esta novela. Su lealtad hacia la familia es asombrosa. Está casado con una Murphy y su mejor amigo es su cuñado Pat, sucesor del capo, pero quien no está tomando decisiones correctas y que son demasiado precipitadas.
La guerra es encarnizada y hay muchas bajas en las dos familias. Danny debe tomar decisiones.
La novela es brutal de buena. La ambientación es magnífica y no digamos los personajes, que son de diez. Los tejemanejes entre las dos bandas están genial reflejados, todo está estructurado de maravilla, de menos a más.
Iba a poner cuatro estrellas, pues a veces me ha fallado el ritmo, pero sería injusto, pues puede resultar necesario para captar bien todos los matices.
Sr. Winslow, es usted un maestro. Continúo con el siguiente!
👌👌
December 27, 2021
City on Fire is Don Winslow's new foray into the Irish/Italian mob scene in Providence, Rhode Island and holy cow is it good. Danny Ryan is the son of the one-time leader of Irish mob and is married to the daughter of the current head of the mob. The Irish and Italians have had a mutual agreement on turf in Providence and have more or less gotten along. That is until egos were hurt and the truce evolves into a gang war were no one is untouchable.
This is the first time I've read Winslow and I could not be more impressed. The topic isn't one I normally gravitate towards but it didn't take long to hook me. The storytelling is tight and not one word is wasted. The book starts out slow while Winslow sets the scene and gives the history of Ryan and the two mobs. It might not be the flashiest beginning but is essential. It doesn't take long for things to go haywire and go to places I wasn't expecting. You can actually feel certain characters evolving while others are devolving into monsters.
City on Fire is an epic tale and thriller fans do not want to miss it. It could easily be next years best of the best.
My sincere thanks to Don Winslow, William Morrow and Custom House, and Edelweiss for the privilege of reading an advance copy of City on Fire.
This is the first time I've read Winslow and I could not be more impressed. The topic isn't one I normally gravitate towards but it didn't take long to hook me. The storytelling is tight and not one word is wasted. The book starts out slow while Winslow sets the scene and gives the history of Ryan and the two mobs. It might not be the flashiest beginning but is essential. It doesn't take long for things to go haywire and go to places I wasn't expecting. You can actually feel certain characters evolving while others are devolving into monsters.
City on Fire is an epic tale and thriller fans do not want to miss it. It could easily be next years best of the best.
My sincere thanks to Don Winslow, William Morrow and Custom House, and Edelweiss for the privilege of reading an advance copy of City on Fire.
Read
May 23, 2024This was a DNF for me Don Winslow has been in my face for so long that I thought I would give him a go , BUT this was supposed to be about two opposing rival countries the Irish & Italian mob wars but after hearing 7 chapters all I hear is how it’s great to see a man coming then another putting hands in women’s pants & rope to cop a feel Really Mr Winslow I am not a prude but where is the story about two rivals running the drug cartels very disappointed. Not rating.
May 15, 2022
7,75/10
Descubrí a Don Winslow hace ya muchos años y mis primeras incursiones me dejaron un gran sabor de boca. Sabía crear buenos personajes, tramas notables y a la hora de plasmar el worldbuilding de sus novelas se movía dentro del mundo del hampa como si fuera un gánster/narco más. Pero mi última lectura la cosa cambió, a pesar de que tenía los mismos ingredientes, el libro se me hizo cuesta arriba por la falta de ritmo y eso pesó en mi opinión sobre Winslow de forma negativa.
Pues bueno, tras este Ciudad en llamas, vuelvo a creer en él. Lo curioso es que es más de lo mismo que ya nos ha mostrado en sus otras novelas, aunque en este caso se traslada a la costa este de USA y se centra en la mafia irlandesa, pero el cambio de escenario no afecta a su estilo. Mismo tipo de personajes, historia similar y trama repleta de acción. Pero a pesar de ser algo poco novedoso, la historia me ha entretenido mucho y me ha dejado con ganas de más. Creo que el reducir el número de páginas con respecto a otras novelas anteriores le ha venido genial. No hay nada de paja y eso se agradece. Son 350-400 páginas en las que siempre pasa algo y que te engancha casi desde el inicio, una vez empiezas solo quieres saber como continúa.
No le veo ningún gran pero a esta lectura, si me hubiera aportado algo nuevo o la trama o los personajes hubieran estado excelentes quizás le hubiera puesto una 5 estrella, pero en ambos casos se quedan en notable alto y por se ha quedado sin quinta estrella.
Obvia decir que seguiré con esta saga y espero que Winslow siga escribiendo libros de menos de 500 páginas.
Descubrí a Don Winslow hace ya muchos años y mis primeras incursiones me dejaron un gran sabor de boca. Sabía crear buenos personajes, tramas notables y a la hora de plasmar el worldbuilding de sus novelas se movía dentro del mundo del hampa como si fuera un gánster/narco más. Pero mi última lectura la cosa cambió, a pesar de que tenía los mismos ingredientes, el libro se me hizo cuesta arriba por la falta de ritmo y eso pesó en mi opinión sobre Winslow de forma negativa.
Pues bueno, tras este Ciudad en llamas, vuelvo a creer en él. Lo curioso es que es más de lo mismo que ya nos ha mostrado en sus otras novelas, aunque en este caso se traslada a la costa este de USA y se centra en la mafia irlandesa, pero el cambio de escenario no afecta a su estilo. Mismo tipo de personajes, historia similar y trama repleta de acción. Pero a pesar de ser algo poco novedoso, la historia me ha entretenido mucho y me ha dejado con ganas de más. Creo que el reducir el número de páginas con respecto a otras novelas anteriores le ha venido genial. No hay nada de paja y eso se agradece. Son 350-400 páginas en las que siempre pasa algo y que te engancha casi desde el inicio, una vez empiezas solo quieres saber como continúa.
No le veo ningún gran pero a esta lectura, si me hubiera aportado algo nuevo o la trama o los personajes hubieran estado excelentes quizás le hubiera puesto una 5 estrella, pero en ambos casos se quedan en notable alto y por se ha quedado sin quinta estrella.
Obvia decir que seguiré con esta saga y espero que Winslow siga escribiendo libros de menos de 500 páginas.
May 30, 2022
I love/hate Don Wilson's books. Love because he is the best at this kind of stuff. Fast pacing, great characters, immersive story lines, he's got no competition. Hate because for some reason I read his books ten times faster than I read anything else and I hate having to wait until he releases another book.
City on Fire is as good as anything he's done and Winslow's written some winners. After a pretty light hearted start with the characters vacationing and shit, things go downhill rapidly. Lots of morally ambiguous people stuck in dead end situations makes for exciting reading. Lots of stuff happens in this book as it spans a couple of years and it's hard to believe this is the first in a proposed trilogy because it has a very satisfying conclusion and seemed like a complete story. Waaaaay looking forward to book two and finding out what goes down.
City on Fire is as good as anything he's done and Winslow's written some winners. After a pretty light hearted start with the characters vacationing and shit, things go downhill rapidly. Lots of morally ambiguous people stuck in dead end situations makes for exciting reading. Lots of stuff happens in this book as it spans a couple of years and it's hard to believe this is the first in a proposed trilogy because it has a very satisfying conclusion and seemed like a complete story. Waaaaay looking forward to book two and finding out what goes down.
December 1, 2025
Leer ciudad en llamas es como verse los 86 capítulos de los Soprano, 5 ó 6 películas de Scorsese, y dos de Guy Ritchie, condensadas en poco más de 400 páginas, y a velocidad x32.
No hay página en el libro donde no se produzca un atraco, se repartan mamporros o se liquide a alguien.
No falta ninguno de los tópicos más topiquísimos del mundo del crimen organizado. Todo a un ritmo que como pestañees no te vas a enterar quién la tiene finalmente más larga. Y vaya si está igualada la cosa.
“Ciudad en llamas” es lo que es: entretenimiento puro y duro a ritmo de disparos, robos, peleas y traiciones. Si no lo pasas bien leyendo esto, es porque no te gusta la mafia.
No hay página en el libro donde no se produzca un atraco, se repartan mamporros o se liquide a alguien.
No falta ninguno de los tópicos más topiquísimos del mundo del crimen organizado. Todo a un ritmo que como pestañees no te vas a enterar quién la tiene finalmente más larga. Y vaya si está igualada la cosa.
“Ciudad en llamas” es lo que es: entretenimiento puro y duro a ritmo de disparos, robos, peleas y traiciones. Si no lo pasas bien leyendo esto, es porque no te gusta la mafia.
March 12, 2023
The first book in a trilogy, City On Fire follows the one-time alliance between the Irish and Italian crime families who control Providence, Rhode Island. For a full generation the working friendship between the Murphy and the Moretti families had divided up the town so that both could work together to maximize profits and keep peace. From the docks to the local businesses, everyone was happy, if not completely comfortable, with the arrangement.
But it’s the new, younger generation where the trouble starts and, predictably, things kick off over a woman. When Paulie Moretti brings the beautiful Pam to the annual summer clambake attended by both families, Liam Murphy drunkenly makes a crude pass late in the evening offending the Italian side of the alliance. In a form of quick retribution, Paulie and his brother Peter take a baseball bat to Liam which ultimately leaves him in hospital.
This marks the end of the alliance and the start of a vicious war between the Irish and the Italians on Providence’s streets.
Central to the story is Danny Ryan, son of Marty Ryan who once ran the Irish crime organisation until the drink helped to undermine his authority and he was ousted. Nowadays, Danny is married to John Murphy’s daughter Terri and, although he’d rather be making a buck as a fisherman, finds himself as a minor player in the Murphy mob.
Although he’s low on the totem pole, he’s an important voice of reason and has a level of respect from both sides. While things crumble around him, there is an inevitable rise and changing of power taking place which holds its own fascination.
The power of this story comes from the depth of the characters involved. On both sides of the war we are given a complete backstory of even the smallest members of both families. We get a sense of what makes them tick, why they’re invested in the cause and their twisted allegiances that result in further escalations of violence.
This will be loved by those who really get into classic organised crime novels with a heaping helping of gangster lingo backed up by the in your face violence that has a tendency to turn the stomach. This becomes an out and out war on the streets and no holds are barred nor is anyone safe to walk drunkenly out of a bar.
City on Fire is a page turner with an easy-going, conversational style that seemed to compel me to wade in further and faster. While there is a sense of inevitability about it, there’s still a need to know exactly how we are going to arrive at the terrible destination. This is a strong crime fiction novel and an inspiring start to what promises to be an epic trilogy.
But it’s the new, younger generation where the trouble starts and, predictably, things kick off over a woman. When Paulie Moretti brings the beautiful Pam to the annual summer clambake attended by both families, Liam Murphy drunkenly makes a crude pass late in the evening offending the Italian side of the alliance. In a form of quick retribution, Paulie and his brother Peter take a baseball bat to Liam which ultimately leaves him in hospital.
This marks the end of the alliance and the start of a vicious war between the Irish and the Italians on Providence’s streets.
Central to the story is Danny Ryan, son of Marty Ryan who once ran the Irish crime organisation until the drink helped to undermine his authority and he was ousted. Nowadays, Danny is married to John Murphy’s daughter Terri and, although he’d rather be making a buck as a fisherman, finds himself as a minor player in the Murphy mob.
Although he’s low on the totem pole, he’s an important voice of reason and has a level of respect from both sides. While things crumble around him, there is an inevitable rise and changing of power taking place which holds its own fascination.
The power of this story comes from the depth of the characters involved. On both sides of the war we are given a complete backstory of even the smallest members of both families. We get a sense of what makes them tick, why they’re invested in the cause and their twisted allegiances that result in further escalations of violence.
This will be loved by those who really get into classic organised crime novels with a heaping helping of gangster lingo backed up by the in your face violence that has a tendency to turn the stomach. This becomes an out and out war on the streets and no holds are barred nor is anyone safe to walk drunkenly out of a bar.
City on Fire is a page turner with an easy-going, conversational style that seemed to compel me to wade in further and faster. While there is a sense of inevitability about it, there’s still a need to know exactly how we are going to arrive at the terrible destination. This is a strong crime fiction novel and an inspiring start to what promises to be an epic trilogy.
March 17, 2025
Años 80. Providence, estado de Rhode Island. Mafia. Mucha mafia. Irlandeses por un lado, italianos por el otro. Todos en busca de dinero fortuna y sobre todo, poder.
Wisnlow escribe con un estilo descarado, sin filtros, sin ataduras morales en el argumento de la trama. Un estilo crudo como bien merece la mafia. No se negocia, se respetan los acuerdos y si no atente las consecuencias.
Me ha gustado muchísimo la primera entrega de esta trilogía. Tanto que ya empiezo el segundo. El comienzo es lento ya que necesitas empaparte de todos los personajes de sus filias y sus fobias, de sus relaciones personales, de sus anhelos, sus deseos e incluso de sus miedos. Pero una vez pasado este momento, es muy difícil no empatizar con los personajes. Todos tienen una cara amable y a la vez muchas caras ocultas. Y sobre todo todos tienen una familia a la que pertenecen y defenderán pase lo que pase.
Ritmo, mucho ritmo tiene esta novela. Es muy difícil dejar de leer, devoras hojas sin querer y cuando te das cuenta llevas medio libro leído.
Honestamente no esperaba una historia que me atrapara tanto sabiendo la temática de la novela. Pero así son los libros. Cuando menos lo esperas encuentras una historia, unos personajes y un autor del que necesitas saber más.
Dejamos la ciudad en llamas, y pasamos a la ciudad de los sueños.
Wisnlow escribe con un estilo descarado, sin filtros, sin ataduras morales en el argumento de la trama. Un estilo crudo como bien merece la mafia. No se negocia, se respetan los acuerdos y si no atente las consecuencias.
Me ha gustado muchísimo la primera entrega de esta trilogía. Tanto que ya empiezo el segundo. El comienzo es lento ya que necesitas empaparte de todos los personajes de sus filias y sus fobias, de sus relaciones personales, de sus anhelos, sus deseos e incluso de sus miedos. Pero una vez pasado este momento, es muy difícil no empatizar con los personajes. Todos tienen una cara amable y a la vez muchas caras ocultas. Y sobre todo todos tienen una familia a la que pertenecen y defenderán pase lo que pase.
Ritmo, mucho ritmo tiene esta novela. Es muy difícil dejar de leer, devoras hojas sin querer y cuando te das cuenta llevas medio libro leído.
Honestamente no esperaba una historia que me atrapara tanto sabiendo la temática de la novela. Pero así son los libros. Cuando menos lo esperas encuentras una historia, unos personajes y un autor del que necesitas saber más.
Dejamos la ciudad en llamas, y pasamos a la ciudad de los sueños.
May 8, 2024
[ESP/ENG]
Las monjas solían decir que el diablo suele presentarse disfrazado de ángel. Que las peores cosas que haces las haces por un buen motivo. Que las cosas más abominables las haces por tus seres queridos.
Don Winslow es un autor que no se anda con medias tintas. Cuando tiene que narrar hechos truculentos lo hace. La cosa es que escribe tan bien que hasta esto se lo perdonas. Y con este libro sigue en esa tónica. Estamos ante el primero de una trilogía, la de Danny Ryan, irlandés de origen que vive en Providence, Rhode Island. Allí es un currito para la familia Murphy, que tomaron el lugar de su padre Marty a la cabeza de la mafia irlandesa. Cuando empieza a haber fricciones con los italianos, habrá que ver de qué pasta está hecho Danny.
Según los encabezados de cada parte en que está dividido el libro, esto es una especie de nueva versión de La Iliada, pero en los tiempos modernos (o casi, es 1986), y como sucede en las epopeyas clásicas, va a haber tragedias continuas, muy pocos momentos felices habremos de ver. Sumado a que todos los personajes son grises como poco (salvo Terri y Cassie) y que algunos como Liam son despreciables, no esperaba yo engancharme tanto a esta historia, pero así ha sido.
La novela est�� escrita con una prosa sencilla y directa, casi siempre desde la perspectiva de Danny, al que conoceremos bien a fondo. Otros secundarios también tendrán buen desarrollo, y cuando empiecen a caer en ambos bandos (inevitable en este tipo de historias) por algunos lo llegas a sentir. Es muy cruda, eso no se puede negar, pero no puedes dejar de leer para saber cómo sigue la trama.
Hay una cosa más que quería destacar: En los agradecimientos, al estar escrito en plena pandemia, el autor have un agradecimiento especial para sanitarios y personal esencial, lo primero de todo. Un bonito gesto por su parte.
Esta historia no está cerrada, y me pongo con Ciudad de los sueños ya mismo. Pero si por lo que sea alguien no quiere seguir (craso error) puede quedarse aquí bastante bien.
🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️
The nuns used to say that the devil comes disguised as an angel. That the worst things you’ll do, you’ll do for the best reasons. The most hateful things you’ll do, you’ll do for the ones you love most.
Don Winslow is an author who does not take half measures. When he has to narrate gruesome facts he does it. The thing is that he writes so well that you forgive him even this. And with this book he continues in that way. This is the first of a trilogy, that of Danny Ryan, an Irishman who lives in Providence, Rhode Island. There he is a recruit for the Murphy family, who took his father Marty's place at the head of the Irish mob. When there starts to be friction with the Italians, we'll have to see what Danny is made of.
According to the headings of each part into which the book is divided, this is a kind of new version of The Iliad, but in modern times (or almost, it is 1986), and as happens in classical epics, there will be continuous tragedies, we will see very few happy moments. Added to the fact that all the characters are gray at best (except Terri and Cassie) and that some like Liam are despicable, I didn't expect to get so hooked on this story, but I did.
The novel is written with simple and direct prose, almost always from the perspective of Danny, whom we will get to know very well. Other secondary characters will also have good development, and when bodies begin to fall on both sides (inevitable in this type of story) for some you will feel it. It is very raw, that cannot be denied, but you cannot stop reading to find out how the plot continues.
There is one more thing I wanted to highlight: In the acknowledgments, as it was written in the middle of the pandemic, the author has a special thank you for health workers and essential personnel, first of all. A nice gesture on his part.
This story is not closed, and I'm starting with City of dreams right now. But if for whatever reason someone doesn't want to continue (big mistake) they can stop here quite well.
Las monjas solían decir que el diablo suele presentarse disfrazado de ángel. Que las peores cosas que haces las haces por un buen motivo. Que las cosas más abominables las haces por tus seres queridos.
Don Winslow es un autor que no se anda con medias tintas. Cuando tiene que narrar hechos truculentos lo hace. La cosa es que escribe tan bien que hasta esto se lo perdonas. Y con este libro sigue en esa tónica. Estamos ante el primero de una trilogía, la de Danny Ryan, irlandés de origen que vive en Providence, Rhode Island. Allí es un currito para la familia Murphy, que tomaron el lugar de su padre Marty a la cabeza de la mafia irlandesa. Cuando empieza a haber fricciones con los italianos, habrá que ver de qué pasta está hecho Danny.
Según los encabezados de cada parte en que está dividido el libro, esto es una especie de nueva versión de La Iliada, pero en los tiempos modernos (o casi, es 1986), y como sucede en las epopeyas clásicas, va a haber tragedias continuas, muy pocos momentos felices habremos de ver. Sumado a que todos los personajes son grises como poco (salvo Terri y Cassie) y que algunos como Liam son despreciables, no esperaba yo engancharme tanto a esta historia, pero así ha sido.
La novela est�� escrita con una prosa sencilla y directa, casi siempre desde la perspectiva de Danny, al que conoceremos bien a fondo. Otros secundarios también tendrán buen desarrollo, y cuando empiecen a caer en ambos bandos (inevitable en este tipo de historias) por algunos lo llegas a sentir. Es muy cruda, eso no se puede negar, pero no puedes dejar de leer para saber cómo sigue la trama.
Hay una cosa más que quería destacar: En los agradecimientos, al estar escrito en plena pandemia, el autor have un agradecimiento especial para sanitarios y personal esencial, lo primero de todo. Un bonito gesto por su parte.
Esta historia no está cerrada, y me pongo con Ciudad de los sueños ya mismo. Pero si por lo que sea alguien no quiere seguir (craso error) puede quedarse aquí bastante bien.
🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️🤵🏻♂️
The nuns used to say that the devil comes disguised as an angel. That the worst things you’ll do, you’ll do for the best reasons. The most hateful things you’ll do, you’ll do for the ones you love most.
Don Winslow is an author who does not take half measures. When he has to narrate gruesome facts he does it. The thing is that he writes so well that you forgive him even this. And with this book he continues in that way. This is the first of a trilogy, that of Danny Ryan, an Irishman who lives in Providence, Rhode Island. There he is a recruit for the Murphy family, who took his father Marty's place at the head of the Irish mob. When there starts to be friction with the Italians, we'll have to see what Danny is made of.
According to the headings of each part into which the book is divided, this is a kind of new version of The Iliad, but in modern times (or almost, it is 1986), and as happens in classical epics, there will be continuous tragedies, we will see very few happy moments. Added to the fact that all the characters are gray at best (except Terri and Cassie) and that some like Liam are despicable, I didn't expect to get so hooked on this story, but I did.
The novel is written with simple and direct prose, almost always from the perspective of Danny, whom we will get to know very well. Other secondary characters will also have good development, and when bodies begin to fall on both sides (inevitable in this type of story) for some you will feel it. It is very raw, that cannot be denied, but you cannot stop reading to find out how the plot continues.
There is one more thing I wanted to highlight: In the acknowledgments, as it was written in the middle of the pandemic, the author has a special thank you for health workers and essential personnel, first of all. A nice gesture on his part.
This story is not closed, and I'm starting with City of dreams right now. But if for whatever reason someone doesn't want to continue (big mistake) they can stop here quite well.
May 13, 2022
I have always wanted to read a Don Winslow book, so when the Tandem Global Readalong for City on Fire was announced I jumped at the chance. My husband is a big fan of this author and assured me that I would be too. Happy to say that he was right and I am wondering why it took me so long to read him. Thankfully we have his others books on the bookshelves at home and I will be reading them soon.
Now, I am a terrible buddy reader, I make no secret of that. I really did try to keep pace on this one but I ended up finishing it in 3 nights. Once I started I couldn't stop reading. I was drawn into 1980's Rhode Island and the world of Danny Ryan. This is a character that I got emotionally attached to quite early on. He becomes the unofficial leader and the pressure of this as well as his family makes him a really interesting character.
The war began over a woman. Pam came into their lives and the work is turned upside down. The Italian's wage war on the Irish and it is violent! Some scenes won't be for everyone, but as a reader of dark and gritty crime books, I was there for it all.
This is a the start of a new trilogy by Don Winslow and I am already wanting more. It was great to chat about the story with my fellow Aussie read a long members. How we all had different takes on characters and situations.
This is a compelling and dark read, right up my alley. A big thanks to Harper Collins Australia and Tandem Global for having me along. Bring on Book 2
Now, I am a terrible buddy reader, I make no secret of that. I really did try to keep pace on this one but I ended up finishing it in 3 nights. Once I started I couldn't stop reading. I was drawn into 1980's Rhode Island and the world of Danny Ryan. This is a character that I got emotionally attached to quite early on. He becomes the unofficial leader and the pressure of this as well as his family makes him a really interesting character.
The war began over a woman. Pam came into their lives and the work is turned upside down. The Italian's wage war on the Irish and it is violent! Some scenes won't be for everyone, but as a reader of dark and gritty crime books, I was there for it all.
This is a the start of a new trilogy by Don Winslow and I am already wanting more. It was great to chat about the story with my fellow Aussie read a long members. How we all had different takes on characters and situations.
This is a compelling and dark read, right up my alley. A big thanks to Harper Collins Australia and Tandem Global for having me along. Bring on Book 2
July 10, 2022
I don't remember reading another gang related novel that made me feel so bored.
The story was messy and all over the place. So many characters were introduced who had no development at all. The dialogue was poorly written and it often sounded like a total cliché.
This was my first Don Winslow book and it might as well be the last.
The story was messy and all over the place. So many characters were introduced who had no development at all. The dialogue was poorly written and it often sounded like a total cliché.
This was my first Don Winslow book and it might as well be the last.
January 25, 2024
This is a Godfather inspired story in which we root for the Irish going against the usual Italian "heroes." It's nowhere near as slick and well crafted, but it's decent for a testosterone fueled read. Danny Ryan wanted no part in the criminal enterprise around him. As things get heated, it soon becomes obvious that nobody else has the brains to lead the family down the right path. Sure, he's well liked, but if he's the smartest of the bunch that doesn't bode well for this comrades. Hopefully, he learns from his mistakes and does better in the future.
The amount of bloodshed and bodies in this short book put the A Song of Ice and Fire series to shame. I'm curious whether it's just the first book in the series like this or whether the author can maintain this level of brutality across the entire trilogy. As lackluster as this book was, it still sparked my interest in checking out the sequel. This one ended in a semi cliffhanger in that I have no friggin' clue where this story could possibly be headed.
The amount of bloodshed and bodies in this short book put the A Song of Ice and Fire series to shame. I'm curious whether it's just the first book in the series like this or whether the author can maintain this level of brutality across the entire trilogy. As lackluster as this book was, it still sparked my interest in checking out the sequel. This one ended in a semi cliffhanger in that I have no friggin' clue where this story could possibly be headed.
July 26, 2022
At this point, it’s safe to predict that any novel by Don Winslow will be one I enjoy!
This is the start of a new epic crime trilogy by the author and I’m here for it. Inspired by Homer’s classic: The Iliad, Winslow spins a tale of a 1980’s gang war between Irish and Italian families in Providence, Rhode Island and the damage it causes. The book focuses on Danny Ryan, surrogate son of the Murphy family, who’s sense of honor and loyalty keeps him fighting for the Murphy’s even if it’s not in his best interest. The book never hides its influence, featuring a modern Helen of Troy, whose body would launch a thousand beat-downs, a Paris that’s just as useless as one would expect, a Hector that must fight the war his brother started, and even an interesting twist on Achilles.
As usual with books by Winslow, it’s immensely readable, accessible, and engaging, with compelling writing and clear, relatable characters. But it does fall short of being amazing as it feels like it’s missing something to really set it off. It feels more like an earlier draft than some of his better novels and is nowhere near as powerful, affecting, or as timely as The Power of the Dog or The Force. If a lesser author’s name was on the book, it would be a very good standout, but it comes off as Winslow-lite, because I’ve now come to expect him to always bring his full A+ game. But, it is in no way a bad book. I just hold him to a higher standard now. But I still really enjoyed it and it’s worth a read, especially as the start of a new trilogy.
This is the start of a new epic crime trilogy by the author and I’m here for it. Inspired by Homer’s classic: The Iliad, Winslow spins a tale of a 1980’s gang war between Irish and Italian families in Providence, Rhode Island and the damage it causes. The book focuses on Danny Ryan, surrogate son of the Murphy family, who’s sense of honor and loyalty keeps him fighting for the Murphy’s even if it’s not in his best interest. The book never hides its influence, featuring a modern Helen of Troy, whose body would launch a thousand beat-downs, a Paris that’s just as useless as one would expect, a Hector that must fight the war his brother started, and even an interesting twist on Achilles.
As usual with books by Winslow, it’s immensely readable, accessible, and engaging, with compelling writing and clear, relatable characters. But it does fall short of being amazing as it feels like it’s missing something to really set it off. It feels more like an earlier draft than some of his better novels and is nowhere near as powerful, affecting, or as timely as The Power of the Dog or The Force. If a lesser author’s name was on the book, it would be a very good standout, but it comes off as Winslow-lite, because I’ve now come to expect him to always bring his full A+ game. But, it is in no way a bad book. I just hold him to a higher standard now. But I still really enjoyed it and it’s worth a read, especially as the start of a new trilogy.
May 11, 2022
Lately I am handing out 5-star reviews like they are M & Ms. I know it stretches credulity to believe that I am figuratively rolling around in excellence so much of the time, but what can I say, I have been getting lucky on the regular (alas strictly with respect to literary satiation.)
I love Don Winslow, even when he is bad he is good, but there is no bad here. As has been mentioned by many before me this is a modern riff on the Trojan Wars set amongst the crime families of Providence. The Italians and Irish are all enjoying the kumbaya born of long established boundaries. It is a love fest until a beautiful woman rises from the water and sets off the war. When I first started reading this I thought Winslow had fallen prey to the boring old male gaze, but I forgave him because noir sort of requires that. But then Don surprised me. It is clear from the first moment that this is all about the guys who are felled in part by their dehumanization of women as being there for their needs. They are in fact felled by their male gaze not by the femme fatale. Way to go Mr. Winslow!
This book is brutal and funny and sad and angry and very human. Danny is a first rate antihero and all the others around him are complicated and fascinating. It is about a mob war so it is not a spoiler to say not everyone gets out alive and its also not a spoiler to say that there are people left with things to avenge. I am already looking forward to the next in this series.
I listened to this one, and the audio read by Ari Flakios is excellent.
I love Don Winslow, even when he is bad he is good, but there is no bad here. As has been mentioned by many before me this is a modern riff on the Trojan Wars set amongst the crime families of Providence. The Italians and Irish are all enjoying the kumbaya born of long established boundaries. It is a love fest until a beautiful woman rises from the water and sets off the war. When I first started reading this I thought Winslow had fallen prey to the boring old male gaze, but I forgave him because noir sort of requires that. But then Don surprised me. It is clear from the first moment that this is all about the guys who are felled in part by their dehumanization of women as being there for their needs. They are in fact felled by their male gaze not by the femme fatale. Way to go Mr. Winslow!
This book is brutal and funny and sad and angry and very human. Danny is a first rate antihero and all the others around him are complicated and fascinating. It is about a mob war so it is not a spoiler to say not everyone gets out alive and its also not a spoiler to say that there are people left with things to avenge. I am already looking forward to the next in this series.
I listened to this one, and the audio read by Ari Flakios is excellent.
April 29, 2022
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2022/04/28/...
A beautiful woman who comes between two rival empires and ignites a brutal, bloody war. Sound familiar? City on Fire is crime thriller novelist Don Winslow’s modern take on the classic tale of Helen of Troy from the Illiad, using the gangs of 1980s New England as a backdrop.
In Providence, Rhode Island, the Italian and Irish crime syndicates co-existed in relative peace, until one summer, an incident at an annual beach gathering between friends gives way to bitter conflict. Pam, the girlfriend of Paulie Morretti, accuses Liam Murphy of groping her inappropriately. Morretti’s crew, not about to let this disrespect slide, decide to teach Liam a lesson by breaking his head and putting him in the hospital. Of course, things would have ended there had Pam not gone to visit Liam during his convalescence. Before long, they were together, and the insult becomes too much for Paulie to bear, thus setting off the war between their two gangs.
In the middle of this is Danny Ryan, our protagonist. His father used to be the head of the Irish mob, before alcoholism got to him and the Murphy family took over. Now Danny is the husband of Terri Murphy, the beloved daughter of his new boss. He’s also best friends with Pat Murphy, his brother-in-law, putting Danny in a unique spot despite not being a main player. As the youngest Murphy boy, Liam is used to being doted upon, but now his antics will require Danny taking on a bigger role in the family business, as the war with the Morretti rages on. At first, having more responsibility was what Danny thought he wanted, but now he’s not so sure. With a baby on the way, and the violence getting increasingly bloody with the body count on both sides rising, it’s all Danny can do to survive and keep his loved ones safe.
To tell the truth, I know next to nothing about mob fiction. So, take it with a grain of salt when I say that, at least to me, City on Fire felt very much like your stereotypical gangster story complete with the standard tropes. We’re talking lots of violence, gunplay, double crosses, and a host of other brutal activities related to the underworld of organized crime. The characters are pretty archetypal too, from the chest-beating crime lord and the hard stubborn men who surround him, to the femmes fatales who only seem to wield their beauty and sexuality in order to further their own gains. There’s even the “weak link” younger brother who causes all the problems. Keep in mind that this book also takes place in the 80s, and coupled with the mob culture, expect a lot of both casual and blatant racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. which comes with the territory when it comes to the genre.
The main premise behind the novel was certainly interesting though, as was its execution. The inspiration of the Iliad was subtle but undoubtedly there, with allusions to the classic poem cleverly inserted at varying points of the story. Historically, I didn’t even know New England gangs were a thing, but apparently Rhode Island in particular was a hotbed for mafia activity. This being my first time reading Winslow, I was also unused to his writing style, which was very matter-of-fact and not particularly refined. That said, the tone was a perfect match for this type of story. As with any epic saga, everyone who plays a role—no matter how big or how small—also has a backstory. While the timing of these weren’t the best, as they tended to disrupt the flow, I still loved getting to know the characters and having a better idea of what makes them click. And with so many characters to keep track of, having a solid background established for each person really helped.
The overall story was also breath-takingly good and utterly compulsive. Despite a lack of any major surprises (like I said, it’s very tropey), I was nevertheless completely hooked. Even with the frequent detours to explore yet another character backstory, the momentum of the plot never ceased driving forward. City on Fire was seriously hard to put down.
All in all, despite this being something an “outside the box” read for me, I still enjoyed myself immensely, even with some minor speedbumps along the way. Plus, speaking as someone who only has a casual knowledge of this genre, I also loved how perfectly accessible this was, especially once I got the hang of all the characters. My first Don Winslow book and I’m definitely not disappointed.
A beautiful woman who comes between two rival empires and ignites a brutal, bloody war. Sound familiar? City on Fire is crime thriller novelist Don Winslow’s modern take on the classic tale of Helen of Troy from the Illiad, using the gangs of 1980s New England as a backdrop.
In Providence, Rhode Island, the Italian and Irish crime syndicates co-existed in relative peace, until one summer, an incident at an annual beach gathering between friends gives way to bitter conflict. Pam, the girlfriend of Paulie Morretti, accuses Liam Murphy of groping her inappropriately. Morretti’s crew, not about to let this disrespect slide, decide to teach Liam a lesson by breaking his head and putting him in the hospital. Of course, things would have ended there had Pam not gone to visit Liam during his convalescence. Before long, they were together, and the insult becomes too much for Paulie to bear, thus setting off the war between their two gangs.
In the middle of this is Danny Ryan, our protagonist. His father used to be the head of the Irish mob, before alcoholism got to him and the Murphy family took over. Now Danny is the husband of Terri Murphy, the beloved daughter of his new boss. He’s also best friends with Pat Murphy, his brother-in-law, putting Danny in a unique spot despite not being a main player. As the youngest Murphy boy, Liam is used to being doted upon, but now his antics will require Danny taking on a bigger role in the family business, as the war with the Morretti rages on. At first, having more responsibility was what Danny thought he wanted, but now he’s not so sure. With a baby on the way, and the violence getting increasingly bloody with the body count on both sides rising, it’s all Danny can do to survive and keep his loved ones safe.
To tell the truth, I know next to nothing about mob fiction. So, take it with a grain of salt when I say that, at least to me, City on Fire felt very much like your stereotypical gangster story complete with the standard tropes. We’re talking lots of violence, gunplay, double crosses, and a host of other brutal activities related to the underworld of organized crime. The characters are pretty archetypal too, from the chest-beating crime lord and the hard stubborn men who surround him, to the femmes fatales who only seem to wield their beauty and sexuality in order to further their own gains. There’s even the “weak link” younger brother who causes all the problems. Keep in mind that this book also takes place in the 80s, and coupled with the mob culture, expect a lot of both casual and blatant racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. which comes with the territory when it comes to the genre.
The main premise behind the novel was certainly interesting though, as was its execution. The inspiration of the Iliad was subtle but undoubtedly there, with allusions to the classic poem cleverly inserted at varying points of the story. Historically, I didn’t even know New England gangs were a thing, but apparently Rhode Island in particular was a hotbed for mafia activity. This being my first time reading Winslow, I was also unused to his writing style, which was very matter-of-fact and not particularly refined. That said, the tone was a perfect match for this type of story. As with any epic saga, everyone who plays a role—no matter how big or how small—also has a backstory. While the timing of these weren’t the best, as they tended to disrupt the flow, I still loved getting to know the characters and having a better idea of what makes them click. And with so many characters to keep track of, having a solid background established for each person really helped.
The overall story was also breath-takingly good and utterly compulsive. Despite a lack of any major surprises (like I said, it’s very tropey), I was nevertheless completely hooked. Even with the frequent detours to explore yet another character backstory, the momentum of the plot never ceased driving forward. City on Fire was seriously hard to put down.
All in all, despite this being something an “outside the box” read for me, I still enjoyed myself immensely, even with some minor speedbumps along the way. Plus, speaking as someone who only has a casual knowledge of this genre, I also loved how perfectly accessible this was, especially once I got the hang of all the characters. My first Don Winslow book and I’m definitely not disappointed.
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