A disgraced cop, turned insurance investigator, is drawn into a sordid series of deaths, circling around some Russian mobsters. He is played like a fiddle, but eventually turns the tables on the conspiracy. Fast paced. ( )

Jack Wade investigates fires for California Fire and Life. When Nick Vale's beautiful wife and all his antiques go up in smoke and the fire department declares it accidental and his own insurance company wants to pay the $5million claim, Jack can't just let it ride. Something's not kosher. That something involves the Russian mafia and a lot of shady characters. I don't know who Don Winslow spends his spare time with but he's just about the best there is at creating shady characters. And he's not to shabby with a plot line either. ( )

Winslow, when he's at his best, gives us a great thriller fleshed out with tons of background and history. Here, he takes s story of a claims adjuster determined not to pay a dirty claim and infuses it with ex- KGB Russian gangsters, fabulous South County life, courtroom shenanigans, and dirty double dealing. The book really soars when it paints a portrait of Nicky, including his time in a Russian prison, joining the brotherhood of the two crosses, and finding his own path to the American Dream. No less fascinating is Jack Wade's background as a former sheriffs deputy who wanted to nail the bad guys too much. The stories of growing up surging and going to arson school are terrific. And, you feel his frustration as he is stymied at every turn in his investigation into the arson and Pam's death.
A great thriller and if you have a chance to hear the narrated version, don't hesitate. ( )

Ok, I liked, and disliked this book. I liked the story, the action, the main character and plot! I liked the way the first 4 "chapters" and chapters 137 & 138 end! And I liked the ending in general!
I disliked all of the technical mumbo jumbo about arson investigation and insurance companies and policies, claims and the like. To be honest, I started skimming those parts, much like I did with the science parts of "The Martian". I liked the book much more after I did that!

In a strange sort of "coincidence", Chapter 23 actually happened TO me when I was in college- in Southern California, Orange County, if memory serves! I guess it was/is a common insurance scam! ( )

I've always liked Don Winslow since his earliest mysteries.

This one delved into the world of fire insurance and since it's a topic I know nothing about, it held my interest. The author educates the reader on certain topics as much as spins a good tale but does it in a manner that's not in-your-face annoying. I loved the link to Russian mafia as well. The main characters are pretty well drawn, not flimsy caricatures like with some writers (but I have to say I love his Neal Carey mysteries from his early writing career the best. There are some fleshed-out, interesting main characters to be found in that series). The other thing Mr. Winslow is very good at is capturing the sense of place, in this case, California and the American dream of fortune and endless opportunities. A good couple of hours recently spent. ( )