City on Fire (by Don Winslow)
The advantage of waiting so long to start the Danny Ryan trilogy by Don Winslow is that all three books have been published. I genuinely enjoyed the first book, City on Fire. I found immense pleasure in the fictional world of the Italian and Irish crime families. This is exactly the kind of story I’ve come to expect from Winslow.
City on Fire is a crime saga set in 1980s Providence, Rhode Island. It follows two rival crime families—the Irish and the Italians—who have maintained an uneasy peace while dividing control over New England’s underworld. However, this fragile truce is shattered when a beautiful woman sparks conflict between the two sides, igniting a brutal, all-out war filled with violence, betrayal, and shifting alliances. At the center of this chaos is Danny Ryan, a working-class longshoreman and low-level associate in the Irish mob. As loyalties are tested and the body count rises, Danny gets drawn deeper into the turmoil.
I understand that Winslow drew inspiration from Homer’s Iliad, with echoes of Helen of Troy. Unfortunately, I haven’t read that book, so I can’t fully appreciate the comparison. Regardless, I was hooked on this book from start to finish. Given the story’s focus on different crime families, there are many characters. Initially, I thought I’d be overwhelmed trying to differentiate everyone, but I was able to learn their names and roles quite easily. The story is filled with suspenseful action and brutal mafia violence, making it flow very quickly. Each chapter ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, so it was challenging to take reading breaks. The relationships between Danny and his wife, in-laws, and mother were masterfully handled. This story strikes a nice balance between the power struggle in the criminal world and the meaningful relationships that coexist.
I purchased my signed first edition of City on Fire from The Poisoned Pen, an independent bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona.
I’ve added the next book in the trilogy, City of Dreams, to my reading list so I can immerse myself in Danny Ryan’s world sooner rather than later. I prefer to read other books between serials, rather than reading them consecutively. I suppose it’s because I relish a bit of suspense and am willing to postpone gratification in discovering Danny Ryan’s next move. On the downside, I tend to allow more time than intended to pass before diving back into a series. To address this, I’m keeping a list of books I want to read next. Let’s see how well I stick to this goal.
In case you’re interested, the jigsaw puzzle in the picture depicts Oak Creek and Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona. It’s quite a challenge puzzle for me, considering it has 1000 pieces. I find it enjoyable to put a few pieces in place while listening to audiobooks. You can learn more here.
Linked below are my reviews for other Don Winslow books and short stories.
As a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, I earn from qualifying purchases linked back to Amazon. Every penny earned allows me to blog about books and keeps this site running.
