I thought that I reviewed this final book by Don Winslow - the third in the Danny Ryan trilogy. While he has retired from writing to focus on other things, I hope he writes another book but respect his career of solid books if this is it. I listened to this trilogy and felt that brought even a greater level of excellence to a great story with a superb narrator. Creative, suspenseful, and characters that I really got to know makes this another great trilogy by one of the best writers in my library. His Power of the Dog trilogy on audio does remain my favorite of his books and ranks up there as one of the best for me of all-time.

A vast landscape of time and place and the parallel to Greek mythology shows the special talent of Don Winslow!

I listened but did read several sections of this book so thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

Don Winslow finishes this series in a very suitable way. Easy to read and very enjoyable.
Danny Ryan and his crew are in and around Las Vegas. All of them are pretty well to do. Danny wants to expand on his casino empire but is rebuffed by a rival.
This makes Danny even more determined. He employs the help of a very powerful man. Unfortunately this only makes keeping the peace that much more difficult.
It all escalates and soon the crew is all back together. People die. Things change but stay the same….
His son, Ian brings it all around to the close, I won’t say how, read the books.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me this ARC, I do recommend.

City in Ruins is a culminating effort. It is the last of a trilogy of novels centered upon the Providence-born mobster Danny Ryan, and—according to the author—it serves as the final novel for Don Winslow, who has announced his retirement from the book business after several decades penning bestsellers.

The Danny Ryan trilogy—which began with City on Fire (2022) and continued with City of Dreams (2023)—is essentially a thousand-page retelling of the Trojan War, recast as a battle between Irish and Italian crime families for control of the streets of Providence, Rhode Island, in the 1980s. Winslow takes Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, Aeschylus’s Oresteia, and—especially—Virgil’s Aeneid and translates them into the modern American crime genre for which he has been known. The Irish are the Trojans here, and Danny Ryan is a late-twentieth-century Aeneas, exiled from his home but destined to build a new empire in the West. (Winslow, it seems, will get to enjoy his retirement, unlike Virgil, who died before putting the final touches on the Aeneid.)

Part of the fun here is simply in seeing how Winslow adapts classical mythology to our contemporary milieu. The warrior Achilles, for example, becomes an imposing (and closeted) hitman named Sal Antonucci, while the crafty Odysseus becomes a banished consigliere called Chris Palumbo. The gods are here exceptionally powerful humans; Apollo is a semi-retired mob boss who moves to Florida, and Venus is a wealthy socialite with Washington connections.

Aeneas is an interesting choice for a leading role. The wrathful Achilles and the cunning Odysseus have tended to be more attractive for modern remakes; the dutiful Aeneas, meanwhile, typically comes across as less compelling and exciting. For Virgil, Aeneas chiefly embodied pietas, a kind of piety or devotedness. He was a good son, a good father, and a good countryman, earnest and steadfast. For the protagonist of a crime novel, he turns out to be an excellent choice. Danny is a simple man who wants to protect his family, but he is surrounded by chaotic and deadly forces. He wants to escape the dangerous culture into which he was born, but—like another fictional mobster—just when he thinks he gets out, they pull him back in. Part Michael Corleone and part Jay Gatsby, he is a tragic American hero who wants “to live decently in an indecent world.” And perhaps Hollywood will catch onto this appeal: the actor Austin Butler has reportedly agreed to portray Danny Ryan in a screen adaption of City on Fire.

In one of the trilogy’s highlights, echoing the arrival of Aeneas’s Trojan men upon the shores of Carthage, Danny Ryan and his gang flee to California after losing the turf war in Rhode Island. After lying low for a few years, they discover that a film script based on their Providence exploits is now in production in a studio in Los Angeles. Just as Aeneas’s men found scenes of their actions in the recent Trojan War painted on the walls of Dido’s temple in Carthage, Danny’s men see themselves being portrayed by actors in a Hollywood movie—and they arrange to get themselves hired as consultants!

As one might expect, things don’t end well for the Dido character in City of Dreams (in this case, a beautiful starlet with substance abuse issues). In City in Ruins, set a few years later, Danny is running casinos and building a new empire in Las Vegas. It’s the 1990s, and he’s leading the way to replace cheap, hokey hotels with world-class resorts, catering to a more sophisticated clientele. His investment group represents “the better-heeled, the high rollers, who came for the luxurious rooms and gourmet meals and the table games.” He must compete against Vern Winegard, a casino owner with a more populist outlook, for control of the Strip.

Vegas readers might appreciate nods to local life—Danny, for example, dates a UNLV psychology professor and sends his son to school at The Meadows (“where all the major players send their kids”). And, in addition to the Greek mythology, Winslow also clearly draws on the actual history of Rhode Island, especially with the issues surrounding the Patriarca crime family in the 1980s and 1990s. (This trilogy, as a whole, may especially appeal to fans of Season One of the Crimetown podcast, which traces the history of organized crime and mafia activity in Providence.) One real-life person who clearly became a character in City in Ruins is Arlene Violet, the former Sister of Mercy who became a formidable Rhode Island prosecutor (and the first woman to serve as a state attorney general in the United States); her nickname, which Winslow borrows, was “Attila the Nun.” In City in Ruins, she is a furious legal opponent bent on punishing a young murderer, modeled on Orestes.

The drive to create modern correspondences for all the events in the Greek mythology of Troy sometimes pushes Winslow to add more than is really necessary to his story. Here in City in Ruins, for example, the subplot following The Eumenides feels extraneous, essentially unrelated to the other chapters. But the adaptation is mostly a lot of fun and works surprisingly well. Perhaps the history of organized crime is the most authentic American epic.

And for a thousand-page epic, Winslow’s trilogy turns out to be a quick read—a page-turner that holds your attention. His well-honed crime-writing style is both breezy and blunt. Instead of the stately grandeur of the Aeneid’s Latin, we get wise-guy wisecracks: “Native New Englanders tend to like their food neatly separated. Into meat and potatoes.” The language suits the aging Irish toughs propelling the plot, and Virgil likely would have appreciated the tension Winslow preserves between recalling former glory days and forecasting more prosperous times ahead. As Danny Ryan dismantles the old Vegas of the Rat Pack to replace it with a more profitable corporate structure, he nevertheless clearly understands the charm of a bygone era. Looking down upon the dilapidated Lavinia Hotel he has snatched away from Winegard (and plans to demolish), he imagines the building’s storied past. “If those walls could talk, Danny thinks, they’d take the Fifth.”

Book Review – City in Ruins – Don Winslow
Bestselling and award-winning author Don Winslow’s “City in Ruins,” is the conclusion to the main character Danny Ryan Trilogy and the last book of Winslow’s illustrious career. The exhilarating crime thriller series debuted with “City on Fire,” - Providence, Rhode Island - the first book in the trilogy, continued with the second book, “City of Dreams,” - Hollywood, California - and concludes with book three, City in Ruins - Las Vegas. I was completely absorbed with this finale novel, the characters, their stories, and the world in which Winslow portrayed them. Although it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading or listening to the previous two stories for some clarity’s sake. Don Winslow is undoubtedly one of the best crime thriller writers in the genre. I’ve enjoyed many of his books, including “The Force” and “The Border” to name just a few. This trilogy portrays the brutal and bloody war between the Irish and Italian mafia in the ’80s and ’90s. It is very well-written, captivating, gripping, and instinctual. The three books remind me of various stories and subplots from The Sopranos and The Godfather films. Winslow’s quality and flawless writing, the lifelike characters, and the way he vividly describes every location, action scene, and series of events, ensures that the reader is treated to another remarkable story. City in Ruins is unputdownable, distinctive, dramatic, intense, immersive, and extremely entertaining. Don Winslow writes forceful crime stories in a simple yet elegant way. He gets details right which creates authenticity in fiction novels. I also love his ability to zoom in and out when necessary. He’s a master at digging into the intimacy of a scene or describing months of occurrences taking place in one paragraph without pontificating. This is an excellent read to an excellent trilogy to an excellent end of career to an excellent author. Thank you, Don Winslow and all the best with your future endeavors.

I love all of Don Winslow's books. Knowing this is the last gave me the plan to read one chapter a day to stretch it out. Till I opened the book and couldn't put it down. I love Danny Ryan. He's like your favorite ex-husband that you know isn't right for you. But he does make a better friend and occasional one night stand than a husband anyway. You never really want to permanently lose him, but lose him we must. But do we have to?

Another awesome. Now that this series is complete I’m getting started on his back list.
Thank to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC

An incredible end to the trilogy. Wrapped many plot points in a satisfying conclusion. I was left feeling even more attached to the characters and their final story arc. 4.3 rounded down to 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.

The book started strong but just felt rushed by the end. Too many characters I just didn't care about.

This is an exceptional close to a magnificent crime series, and a magnificent novel-writing career for Don Winslow. The entire sweep of the Danny Ryan saga, from his days as a legbreaker and foot soldier in Rhode Island to his nights as a casino magnate in Las Vegas, mirrors the. sweep, and tragedy, of Aeneas, and all the figures in Danny's orbit meet ends fitting their mythic counterparts. You don't need to know the tales of the Trojan War, Odysseus, Agamemnon and others to understand how this story plays out, but if you have a bit of classical background, you'll nod in appreciation. Loved this book, loved this series.

Bravo! I could not put this down! The final book in the Danny Ryan Trilogy as well as Don Winslow’s last book ever and what an epic way to end! Danny Ryan has come a long way from the Rhode Island mob life and overcoming the losses in his life. He’s reinvented himself and is a successful and respected businessman and casino developer. But although you can run, you can’t always escape.
City in Ruins is set among the casinos in Las Vegas in the 1990s when Vegas was trying to repair its reputation and commit to being legit. Danny Ryan envisions a different kind of hotel focusing on high end concierge services. He dreams big and in doing so goes too far. And the past that he tried to escape comes back with a vengeance.
“Sometimes you have to become what you hate to protect what you love”.
Definitely a page turner, and when the stakes are this high everyone is putting everything on the line. To save those most important to him, Danny is willing to sacrifice it all.
Very fast paced with intriguing characters and page turning action! I was on the edge of my seat and unable to put this one down!

CITY IN RUINS – Book Three Of The Danny Ryan Trilogy – by Don Winslow

I would say that CITY IN RUINS can be easily read as a standalone, except for the back story regarding Peter Moretti Jr., which may be a little confusing to new readers regarding present-day scenes throughout the book.

As a whole, I LOVE this Trilogy and look forward to reading more works by Winslow—

That Ending—My Heart!

Highly Recommend!

‘How I fought, he thinks, what I gave for this . . .
Nothing.
This dust.
He turns away and limps through his city.
His city in ruins.’

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow (HarperCollins Publishers), for providing me with an eBook of CITY IN RUINS at the request of an honest review.

3.5 stars

Netgalley ARC

I have really enjoyed this series. While you do not have to be familiar with the mythological basis of the series (The Iliad, the Odyssey, the Aeneid) it certainly gives the books more dimension.

The third volume finds Danny Ryan at a high point. In the last 10 years he and the Tara Group have opened several successful hotels, his son is thriving and it seems he has escaped his violent past. A vengeful FBI agent and the purchase of an old hotel starts a chain of events that threaten Danny's livelihood and the lives of his friends and family.

I listened to the first two books, and I think I would have rated the audiobook higher. While I very much enjoyed the Providence section of the book, Danny is honestly a bit boring. He doesn't have much going on besides his work. I like that Danny isn't portrayed as a genius mastermind who never errs. His inability to read people deepens a rift that threatens to destroy him. He flies to close to the sun and is punished for it.

"City in Ruins" by Don Winslow is a gripping tale that explores the depths one man will go to protect all that he holds dear. Danny Ryan, once a dock worker and Irish mob soldier, now finds himself a billionaire casino mogul with a seemingly perfect life. However, when he tries to expand his empire by purchasing an old hotel, he sets off a chain of events that threatens everything he has built.

Winslow's storytelling prowess shines in this novel, taking readers on a journey from the gritty streets of Providence to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. The character of Danny is complex and compelling, a man torn between his past and his present, forced to confront his demons in order to protect his loved ones.

The novel is filled with twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Winslow's prose is sharp and evocative, painting vivid pictures of a world where power and ambition collide. "City in Ruins" is a must-read for fans of crime fiction, delivering a powerful story of love, hate, and the lengths one will go to for redemption.

I've been dreading writing this review because City in Ruins is Don Winslow's final novel. Winslow has decided to retire in order to focus on his political writing. I commend Mr. Winslow for making such a bold career choice especially after he achieved that rare combination of critical acclaim and bestselling status. On the other hand, the selfish Winslow fan that I am cried out, "Please don't go.", after I finished the final book in his excellent Danny Ryan trilogy. "Ruins" has everything that I love about Winslow's books with its colorful characters, energetic storytelling, and hillarous dialouge. I kept thinking as I was reading, "How can a writer this good walk away from being one of the rare standouts in crime fiction?" The only answer I could come up with was, "timing." How many writers have we all stopped reading because their last couple of books failed to live up to our expectations? I have no doubts that Mr. Winslow could've written more top-notch crime thrillers after his latest, but he also could've written average novels in hopes of keeping his name relevant. I have Winslow's backlist to get my fix, but I'm going to miss anticipating his upcoming release. I only extend Mr. Winslow my best wishes in his future writing endenvors. After all, I may be a selfish reader, but not a heartless one.

The finished up the series, and it was an enjoyable conclusion. I have really enjoyed these characters through this series. They were well developed, and believable. The final story was definitely great, and the pacing again was great. Will be reading more from Don Winslow. #CityinRuins #NetGalley

City in Ruins is the third installment of Don Winslow's Danny Ryan trilogy. I read the first two books in the series in order, and I am glad I did. Book three is an excellent story and perfect ending to this epic work. Danny, now a wealthy hotel owner in Las Vegas is living the life with his son and mother. Without a rehash of the plot, it involves mobsters, lovers, violence, the love and loyalty to family and so much more. I cannot recommend this series enough. I could not stop reading and thinking about the story snd it's characters. Winslow's writing made Danny so real, that despite his flaws and his criminal behavior, I routed for him through all three books. That takes great writing. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of City in Ruins in exchange for my honest review.

Bravo to Don Winslow on an incredible career. I was enamored by Danny Ryan from book one and City in Ruins did not disappoint. Don's staccato/street style of writing makes you feel as if you are in the main character's body and thinking their thoughts. This one stuck with me. It's been a while since I have had a 'book hangover' but I found myself missing the character and trying to fill in the blanks in my mind. Everything about this trilogy was masterful.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"City in Ruins" by Don Winslow: A Riveting Finale to an Epic Crime Saga

Don Winslow's "City in Ruins" is not just a book; it's an experience that encapsulates the raw essence of crime fiction. As the final installment of the Danny Ryan trilogy, this novel stands as a testament to Winslow's mastery over the genre, weaving a narrative so compelling that it grips you from the first page and refuses to let go until the very end.

The story picks up with Danny Ryan, now a wealthy casino mogul, whose past as an Irish mob soldier is never far behind. The novel takes us on a whirlwind journey from the gritty streets of Providence to the glitzy casinos of Las Vegas, painting a vivid picture of a man who must confront the demons of his past to protect his future.

Winslow's prose is sharp and evocative, with a rhythm that mimics the heartbeat of his protagonist. The characters are intricately crafted, each with their own set of motivations and moral compasses, which collide in a symphony of human complexity. The narrative is a masterclass in tension and release, with moments of heart-pounding action followed by quiet introspection.

"City in Ruins" is more than just a crime novel; it's a reflection on ambition, love, and redemption. It's about the choices we make and the prices we pay. Winslow doesn't just tell a story; he holds up a mirror to society, showing us the beauty and brutality of the human condition.

As the final curtain call for both the trilogy and Winslow's illustrious career, "City in Ruins" delivers a satisfying conclusion that resonates with the finality of a well-played symphony. It's a fitting farewell from an author who has consistently delivered stories that entertain, challenge, and linger in the mind long after the last page.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback. An excellent conclusion to the trilogy

That's it, then. The great Don Winslow's last book. What a note on which to go out!

In this, the third book of the Danny Ryan trilogy, we finally get to learn how everything wraps up, and NONE of it went the way I thought it would. Danny Ryan fled with his son, away from his Irish Catholic home, family and Family. He makes his way to Hollywood first, (which might have been even more of a cesspool than his mob life back home), and finally makes his way to Vegas. He reunited with his mother in the last book, and she now watches Danny's son as Dan goes about running his casino. Then, casinoS. Now he's looking to build yet another. But Danny is not completely free of his past, reminding me of Al Pacino saying "Just when I thought I was out...they pull me back in." Will Danny ever be free of his mafia chains? Will he even survive? You'll have to read this to find out!

I devoured this in 2 days flat. I know Danny is a mob man, but I can't help it, I love the guy. And to be fair, he's not really a mob man anymore. He's just a guy trying to making a living and raise his son. In this book, as in a lot of Winslow's novels, there is a lot of murder and mayhem. (Really, what's a mafia story without them?) CITY IN RUINS, unlike THE POWER OF THE DOG trilogy, focuses more on the humanity than the inhumanity. Everyone here, even the bad guys, are human, with all the foibles that go along with that. I didn't agree with the actions of many of the characters here, but I understood why they acted the way the did.

I only discovered Don Winslow's work within the last 5 years or so, and since then I've read everything of his I could get my hands on. It saddens me that there'll never be another Winslow book. I sure am hoping that he changes his mind.

As I said above, if this is indeed, his last book, what a novel with which to go out. All the stars!

I give my highest recommendation to the trilogy as a whole and to this final book. It's especially recommended to fans of gritty crime novels and stories about the mob.

*ARC from publisher.*