Book Review Tuesday - City on Fire - #BRT
You know I've been showcasing local authors here Tuesdays. Not every Tuesday, but when I can I do like to give a shout-out to my fellow RI authors. So today I'm bringing you the newest book from a Rhode Island native. Yes, Don Winslow, the New York Times bestselling author of over 20 novels, grew up in Perryville, a village within the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island. When I learned that, I smiled. My grandparents had a house in Perryville when I was a little girl, and it was magical - a converted log cabin within the woods, with trails marked by my outdoors-loving Pop-Pop. Anyway, I felt a kindred warmth toward Mr. Winslow.
City on Fire, the first book in what will be Winslow's final trilogy, is set in Rhode Island, so locals, listen up! According to the author, it's his first time setting one of his books in Rhode Island. This book brings together Italian and Irish crime syndicates (what we here might refer to as the Mafia and the "Murphya"). It's set in the 80s and 90s, with all the trappings of that era. Providence has its Dogtown, and Galilee is Gilead in the book, but Rhode Islanders will recognize enough of the area.
What I found intriguing about this novel is that during the early days of the pandemic, Winslow re-read a lot of the classics of literature, and his efforts at modernizing "The Iliad" with a Helen of Troy character were spot-on successful. (In an interview, Winslow noted that there was an incident in real crime history where a war was touched off between two syndicates and it was an argument over a woman at a beach party.)
City on Fire is a fast-paced page-turner. The sequel to this book will be out next year, and the final book - the last Don Winslow book ever! - will be published in spring of 2024.
Stephen King called it "superb." I'd say that's a pretty good endorsement.
Shop local! If you're looking for a print copy, check out Stillwater Books in Pawtucket, Ink Fish Books in Warren, or Books on the Square in Providence. It should be available everywhere.
