The Janitor (by Don Winslow)

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Written By Natalie

A quick, cynical crime caper — with a curveball or two

I was excited to stumble on a new, standalone novella by Don Winslow while browsing Audible. The Janitor is a short crime story released as an Audible Original, narrated by Titus Welliver.

It's an entertaining, quick listen centered on Kelly Henderson, a morally challenged lawyer-turned-fixer whose job is making other people's messes disappear. Classic Winslow — sharp, cynical, and populated with the kind of characters who never quite have clean hands.

One section in particular gave me serious City of Dreams vibes — there's a storyline where Kelly dates a Hollywood actress that felt like it was pulled right out of the world of Danny Ryan, that book's protagonist. If you loved that thread in City of Dreams, you'll feel right at home here.

I'll be honest, though — the novella lost me a couple of times. Once the story shifted into political thriller territory with the presidential candidate storyline, my attention started to wander. Rich politicians scheming just aren't my jam, and those stretches didn't hold me the way the rest of the book did.

That said, there was an unexpected bonus for me: as a newly minted Dodgers fan, I got a kick out of the baseball references sprinkled throughout, including nods to Kershaw and Buehler. Little details like that go a long way.

Overall, The Janitor isn't going to land at the top of my list of favorite Winslow novellas, but it's a solid, entertaining listen — a good pick if you're already a Winslow fan or just want a quick, cynical crime fix for your next drive or workout.

Linked below are my reviews for other Don Winslow books and short stories.

 
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Natalie
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