By: Don Winslow
Synopsis
Frank Machianno is a late-middle-aged ex-surf bum who runs a bait shack on the San Diego waterfront when he’s not juggling any of his other three part-time jobs or trying to get a quick set in on his longboard. He’s a stand-up businessman, a devoted father to his daughter, and a beloved fixture in the community.
Frank’s also a hit man. Specifically: a retired hit man. Back in the day, when he was one of the most feared members of the West Coast Mafia, he was known as Frankie Machine.Years ago Frank consigned his Mob ties to the past, which is where he wants them to stay. But a favor being called in now by the local boss is one Frank can’t refuse, and soon he’s sucked back into the treacherous currents of his former life. Someone from the past wants him dead. He has to figure out who, and why, and he has to do it fast.
The problem is that the list of candidates is about the size of his local phone book and Frank’s rapidly running out of time.
And then things go really bad.
My Thoughts
I have followed Don Winslow on Twitter for quite a while, but this is the first book of his I’ve read. I liked it, and highly recommend it if you enjoy crime thrillers. It was interesting and fast-paced with great dialog and engaging characters. Not sure how I feel about the fact that I was rooting for a mobster, but here we are. Frankie was an interesting and likable guy, and I wanted him to WIN. The first couple of chapters do a very nice job of letting the reader get a feel for Frankie’s current life. Then, the use of flashbacks lets the reader see how Frankie got to this point in his life. It also allows Frankie to ruminate over his past endeavors and the lessons he has learned from them. It was an interesting look at the many layers of corruption, including the biggest of all – government. Then, it had a nice little twist at the end. This might have been the first book of Winslow’s that I’ve read, but it definitely won’t be the last. Looking forward to seeing which other ones my library carries.
Update: I just ordered a signed first printing of his newest, “City on Fire,” from VJ Books (vjbooks.com). Can’t wait to read it!