Savages - Don Winslow
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd ISBN-10: 0434020826 ISBN-13: 978-0434020829
September 2nd, 2010.
Don Winslow’s thirteenth and latest novel, Savages, is to understate the case, a brilliant work of fiction that takes the reader out of their chair and puts them slap bang in the middle of the action. Let’s be fair here, when was the last time you empathised with a pair of drug dealers?
Part-time environmentalist and philanthropist Ben and his ex-mercenary buddy Chon run a Laguna Beach-based marijuana operation, reaping significant profits from their loyal clientele. In the past when their turf was challenged, Chon took care of eliminating the threat. But now they may have come up against something that they can't handle: the Mexican Baja Cartel wants in, sending them the message that a 'no' is unacceptable. When they refuse to back down, the cartel escalates its threat, kidnapping Ophelia, the boys' playmate and confidante. O's abduction sets off a dizzying array of ingenious negotiations and gripping plot twists that will captivate readers eager to learn the costs of freedom and the price of one amazing high.
There’s something thrilling the moment a Winslow novel hits the doormat. Not only is it likely that a great story is about to be told, but also that it will be related with such vivid detail the gun smoke can be waded through and in such a unique style it is impossible to compare the author with anybody else.
Added to this is the near-perfect roundness of Winslow’s characters, who all interact seamlessly with each other so that, at once, they endear and repulse the reader in equal measure, without ever coming across as two-dimensional or tired.
Savages is quite simply a masterpiece of Crime Fiction. Buy it, read it then tell your friends about it because if they don’t already, they’ll love you forever by the time they’ve finished it.
http://www.donwinslow.com/books.html
Chris High.
break the rules as I see fit.” - Chris High 2003.