Don Winslow brings his writing career to a close with the final novel in his Danny Ryan trilogy, and as final acts go, it's bravura stuff. CITY IN RUINS is appropriately bleak given its position as the final piece in a crime saga patterned after the Trojan War and the much longer aftermath of that (semi apocryphal) conflict chronicled by the plays of the Greek tragedians (Aiskhylos, Sophokles, Euripides etc).

Danny Ryan has become a casino mogul and Las Vegas power broker after a life mostly lived as an everyman (albeit an Irish mob everyman) and it ultimately brings nothing but misery to most of those he loves most. Given the trajectory of the trilogy's first two novels, this is inevitable. The past isnt even past, to quote Faulkner. As such, blood debts must be paid.

Despite largely lacking the elaborate cinematic set pieces of the trilogy's first two installments, CITY IN RUINS is a light speed read, in part because Winslow resurrects the razor-sharp pacing of novels like SAVAGES and THE DAWN PATROL for this final act. (This means he forgoes the more experimental touches of the first two books; do not expect any Joyce-on-DMT freakouts like what we got in the climax to CITY OF DREAMS.) In fact, this is somehow one of the most AND least conventional books of Winslow's long career. But it works. Characters who seemed at best two dimensional, like Chris Palumbo and Pasco Ferri, show unexpected nuance, as complex as new people to this world like the psychotherapist/sex worker Eden Landau and Danny's casino rival Vern Winegard.

Personally I think Winslow wrote his true masterpiece with the CARTEL trilogy, and a rip-roaring trio of more straightforward crime novels to finish his career is just icing on the cake. But the Ryan trilogy, despite lacking the massive detail and brutal realism of the CARTEL novels, has layers that will unfurl with rereading. And you will not expect where it goes.

Absolutely phenomenal! The Danny Ryan Trilogy is a fitting end to a distinguished career, and City in Ruins was the absolute perfect final bow for Mr. Winslow. City in Ruins evokes Casino vibes, with the classic Don Winslow treatment to boot. Old school Vegas, the mob, a classic love story; what more could a reader want. I read this one in two sittings, something that rarely happens for me due to my schedule and family life. I could not recommend City in Ruins, and the entire Danny Ryan Trilogy, any more fervently! Congrats to Winslow on an incredible career; I thank you for the endless hours of entertainment you have provided me over the years.

A special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced digital version.

Cracking the third book in a trilogy is always nerve-racking. Surely even an author with as impressive a back catalog as Winslow has the potential to miss a landing.
The first two entries in the city series mixed New England mob lit with a resonant form of wanderlust inspired by Greek myth. Danny Ryan trying to figure out where, if anywhere, he belongs. The books are filled with ruthlessness, always imbued with enough humanity to allow the reader to emotionally invest with ease, and City in Ruins is no exception. Winslow knows how to slice the reader with each word, each phrase, and it's subtle. We don't even know we're bleeding right away.
In fact, sublety may be the strongest aspect of this book. The fact that Winslow knows exactly when to step back and allow the story to be quiet. It makes for an ending, specifically an epilogue, that could otherwise lack impact and fizzle out. Rather, we're left thinking about every choice, every misfire, and every opportunity that carried us to this point.
And dammit, did we ever enjoy the ride.

Don Winslow is one of my favorite authors, and I was so excited (and grateful) to receive access to this book, the final in the Danny Ryan trilogy. Winslow skillfully straddles the border between a book that you could discuss at book club and a book you could purchase at an airport and savor on a long plane ride. The writing is sharp and the story is well paced but I love the overall structure of the series and similarity to a Greek epic. Books 1 and 3 are definitely my favorites in the series.

"City in Ruins" is another great book by Don Winslow. That this appears to be the last book he'll write, as he announced his retirement last year and ends this with a thank you that seems quite final, makes me sad. He's a great author. Even in some of his books, where the brutality was cringe-inducing (but also quite realistic for its subject), I enjoyed his writing and how he kept me on the edge of my seat. I waited with great expectation for each new book, and I found myself well rewarded over the years.

"City in Ruins" finishes the Danny Ryan trilogy. Danny has moved on to life as a respectable businessman, but can he avoid his old life pulling him back in? For that matter, will he even survive all of this? I won't answer that, as it might give away too much, but, yet again, Don Winslow produced a book that had me tearing through it in no time. He creates a compelling story, at turns satisfying and shocking. If you haven't read the first two books of the trilogy, I think you'll enjoy this one better if you start with those. With that said, this probably can stand on its own. Either way, a great book! Very entertaining.

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this advance copy of the book. (By the way, to HarperCollins: I realize this is an advance copy, but there are plenty of typos in there, so I hope you clean it up before releasing the book. Also, in the acknowledgements, David Corbett is mentioned twice within a line or two. Unless there are two David Corbetts who Don Winslow needed to acknowledge, you may want to fix that, too.)

I have conflicted feelings about this book and the series as a whole. The feelings boil down to--this is is?

Now, you might think that's a negative. It isn't. This book, as well as the series, was wonderful. I thought book two sagged a bit, but it was a mirror to book one.

I like that Danny can be threatening in the Legit world just by a look, which I found to be a sweet sweet call back to another novel by another name--long time readers should be able to figure it out. If you can't, chill out.

This book rocks. It is so much more focused then his previous novels, the whole series has remained laser focused on the main characters and story. I didn't feel like Winslow's authorial voice broke through as much as in this one as I have felt it has in his others.

Supposedly, this is the last--he's retired.

I find that hard to believe. Not when he's this good for this long.

I hate to say but Netgalley gave me the best Christmas present I could've asked for this year(sorry loved ones). I've been a fan of Don Winslow ever since I picked up The Power of the Dog and now he's retiring. Well, if you're going to go out, go out with a bang.
The final chapter of Danny Ryan is everything I love about Mr. Winslow, drama, action and twists. Danny Ryan has gone from small time criminal to CEO of a major casino group. Unfortunately the past won't stay buried. Plus a whole cast of characters from the other books and some new ones.
I don't do spoilers so I won't go into any more details but for me the ending didn't disappoint. I'm sad to see that Don Winslow is retiring but this book is a hell of way to go out.

Over the years, I have read just about every novel published by Don Winslow. It's no exaggeration to say that he is one of my favorite novelists. So I was grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me the ARC of City n Ruins, the apparent final novel by the author. How bittersweet. He continues to mesmerize me here all the while I realize the word count is decreasing as I finish the novel. In his acknowledgments he thanks a lot of people, and here I thank Don Winslow. Best of luck in whatever is next.

City in Ruins (Expected publication date March 19, 2024) is the epic conclusion to Winslow’s City on Fire-Danny Ryan crime fiction trilogy, charting the tragic fall of the warring Murphy and Moretti organized crime families in Providence, Rhode Island. These Irish and Italian mob families were always at war, but the troubles really started when Liam Murphy saw Helen of Troy (Pam Moretti) at the clambake on the beach. Like Paris of the Trojan War, Liam absconded with the goddess and the war began because Paulie Moretti had been disrespected and, by blood, Peter Moretti, too. The spectacular first novel in the series (City on Fire) is not to be missed and contains enough fireworks for a lot of Fourth of Julys. 

Book Two, City of Dreams, picks up with the aftermath of everything that happened in City on Fire. The survivors are barely able to hold it together. The Irish mob is decimated and Danny Murphy took what was left of his crew and headed to Hollywood with his well-connected mother’s help. A movie is being made about the fireworks in Providence with the Altar Boys being the named consultants. Murphy, after helping out the CIA with a raid on a drughouse and running off with proceeds, resurfaces in Hollywood, becomes the producer for the film, and has a hot romance with the star of the movies, falling for the star playing Pam’s role in the movie, and ending up on the cover of every newspaper and magazine in the country. All hell breaks loose. Meanwhile, back in Providence, the Morettis are at each other’s throats – literally, with essentially taking out each other in an intra-family feud of epic proportions. In the end, there is nowhere for any of these guys to turn because the old life is gone and the walls are all closing in on them. Now on to volume three- City in Ruins- as if there was any tragedy left to happen to these two families.

City in Ruins primarily focuses on Danny Ryan with a few short glances at the Morettis with Peter Moretti, Jr., on trial for murdering the mob boss Vinnie and Peter’s own mother. Meanwhile, Chris Palumbo is living in North Dakota with a woman he met by accident, squirreling the money he has left in the attic and rafters and letting this woman support him. His wife Cathy is back in Providence, left holding the bag. The other Italian toughs think Chris walked away with millions in the drug money and they are going to take it out of Cathy’s businesses brick by brick dollar by dollar until she has nothing left to sell but herself. Chris can’t stay in hiding forever or can he? It is another tragedy bubbling up. Chris is like Odyseuss returning from twenty years away to find Penelope fighting off dozens of suitors and his young son not up to the task yet.

Danny Ryan has resurrected himself like a phoenix rising from the ashes and is the hot new star of the Las Vegas Strip casinos, locked in an eternal competition with Vern Winegard for control of the strip. The dirty money from the mob and the drug house has been washed and diluted and Danny can control a casino fortune and date a legitimate woman. Nevertheless, the theme keeps coming up that Danny Ryan is not quite a legitimate businessman and no matter what deals he makes, his mob connections from the past keep coming up. There is no way to ever have fully clean hands for this generation.

City in Ruins is a blockbuster finale to an epic crime trilogy charting the tragedy that are these two Providence crime families, trying to claw their way out of bloody hell.

Don Winslow firing on all cylinders in his final novel. Sucks to say that as he is incredible and I've loved every book he's written. This one is no different. Whip-crack prose that no one else can match. The series ends and it was fantastic to say the least. If you like the previous two novels or anything else by Don Winslow I highly recommend.

City in Ruins by Don Winslow
Rating: Starred Review

Summary: Danny Ryan has reached the pinnacle of his career when he runs a group of casinos in Vegas. It’s so good a life, what could go wrong?

Comments: The final novel in a suburb Danny Ryan trilogy and possible Winslows last novels (let’s hope not) Winslow pours on the Stefan from page one and doesn’t stop. Incredible novel. The novel/trilogy wraps up nicely and satisfies the reader. I think it will be up us fans to insist Winslow does not permanently retire. Read the trilogy in order.

It’s my understanding that this is Winslow’s last book. If so, he goes out with a bang. This the final book in his city trilogy and in my opinion it is the best. The final chapter of Danny Ryan’s saga finds him in Vegas as a hotel owner. His past, as is list want, catches up with him and great exciting suspenseful stuff ensues. Winslow is always a must read for me. I’m sad to see him go but he leaves behind a great body of work of which this is the capstone.

A fine culmination to not only a terrific trilogy, but a terrific career. Don Winslow has evolved from a talented crime writer to an effortless storyteller, with lean prose that moves your from event to event without ever losing sight of character, There are flawed heroes and despicable villains, and nary a dull page.

City In Ruins juggles three storylines -- the Danny Ryan saga front and foremost, but resolving two other dangling narratives with an eminently readable trial and a much more interesting revenge/redemption story. The twists and turns don't really offer any real surprises, but more than make up for it in thrills and momentum and some creature pleasures.

It may not be the Greek Epic it aspires to be, but it's a highly literate airplane novel. You're generally in good hands with Don Winslow, and here more than ever. If his declaration of retirement is sincere, he'll be sorely missed.

Reading a Don Winslow book is like coming home for me. I know that I'm going to get a brilliantly paced novel, with intelligent twists and turns, that I won't be able to put down, and which will help re-trigger my love and interest in reading. The bittersweet thing this time is that this is apparently going to be a final homecoming. Don Winslow has indicated this will be his final novel. The ending of the acknowledgements seems to confirm this. That was, itself, enough to bring tears to my eyes. I have loved Don's books since I picked up The Power of the Dog (still my favorite of his novels, which I re-read and re-listen to on audiobook at least once a year). He has had an incredible career and his talents will absolutely be missed.

I read this novel within 24 hours. It is the continuation of the Danny Ryan trilogy. I'm personally not of a big fan of reviews that spend time recapping the plot - there are enough blurbs and other reviews out there for that - so I'll just provide my view of this novel as part of the trilogy and the Don Wilson catalog. While you theoretically could read this as a stand alone (and the stand alone story is excellent), you'd be doing yourself a disservice not to read it where it is intended, as the final installment of a brilliant trilogy. It definitely finishes the Danny Ryan story, completes a variety of story threads that flow through all three books, and finishes the modern retelling of the Aeneid, as intended. Personally, this was probably my favorite of the three, but it's largely my favorite because of the way it finishes the story, which is most impactful because I've followed the story from start to finish. While no trilogy will ever surpass the "Cartel" trilogy (and especially The Power of the Dog, my favorite Don book), this is a worthy successor.

Thank you to Don Winslow, William Morrow, and Netgalley for this advance copy of Mr. Winslow's final novel. It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to be among the first to read this novel. All opinions are my own.

A tale of ambition, vengeance, love and loss, City in Ruins is the dramatic finale to this grand trilogy that demonstrates while you might be able to change your destiny, you can never outrun your past. Don Winslow delivers another beautifully constructed story and rides off into retirement with a bang.

In the glittering world of Las Vegas, former Irish mobster turned legitimate tycoon Danny Ryan seemingly has it all—wealth, a loving family, loyal friends, and a special woman in his life. However, driven by innovative vision and unquenchable ambition, he maneuvers to acquire the last coveted piece of prime real estate on the iconic strip, sparking a war that dredges up his dark past. Now, facing imminent danger and threats to his business and loved ones, Danny must resurrect his ruthless mobster persona to safeguard both his business empire and the people he holds dear. In this high-stakes gamble, he confronts ghosts he thought were buried to secure a future he could only have dreamed of as a kid.

City in Ruins is steeped in emotion, building intensity steadily until it erupts in violence. It twists and turns, splendidly tying the trilogy together and delivering action and events that seem preordained yet avoidable. Even when you might predict what is about to happen, you are still unprepared for the consequences and subsequent empty feeling following the power punch to your gut. You’ll discover yourself empathizing with the rich, the powerful and the criminal with whom you likely can’t relate, and whose nefarious dealings shouldn’t garner that kind of connection. It’s a final wonderful example of Winslow’s storytelling genius.

Thank you, Don Winslow, for delivering hours upon hours of literary entertainment that provided an escape from our real-world challenges to immerse us in the vivid universes you created to ooh and ahh over the trials and tribulations of your amazingly complex characters. You will be missed, but we won’t cry now that your run is over. Rather we’ll smile because it happened.

“City in Ruins” by Don Winslow was awesome! This is the final book of the “City” trilogy. It is based on the Irish/Italian mob wars that took place in Providence RI. It has everything you could ask for in a great crime novel spanning from Las Vegas, Wall Street to DC and Hollywood. It is the final book of this trilogy and the final book of Mr. Winslow’s phenomenal career. All I can add is Thank you for all the great years of wonderful reading we will miss you! I highly recommend to all who love a great thriller!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Don Winslow has been my go-to author for a very long time. The City Trilogy has stayed strong through the final book and you know that is not always the case. Danny Ryan is one of the best characters he has given us.


Maybe it was because this is his final book, I slow walked reading this and savored every word.


Danny is still in Vegas. Rich beyond his wildest dreams. Respected as well. A somewhat silent partner in the group owning two of the best hotels and casinos. Focusing on the guest.


Still living with his mother and his son, Danny just needs to fall in love. But Danny’s past comes calling when he buys a prime piece of real estate that the other boss thinks he should have.


Now an FBI agent is making it her business to ruin his business, with the help of the mob. Sometimes you need to do the things you hate in order to have the things you truly want.


There are so many things going on in this final book. The action doesn’t stop and you know we are building to a great ending. Was it the ending I wanted? No. Was it the ending I needed? Yes.


This is such a bittersweet book. We waited so long for it and now it’s over. And to Mr. Winslow, we say, Thank you. It’s been a marvelous ride with a superb storyteller!


Netgalley/ William Morrow April 02, 2024

This was another great book by Don Winslow, and a great ending to The Danny Ryan trilogy. I read this faster than usual because it was hard to put down with the different characters all facing something and the short chapters. Enjoyed this book a lot. Thanks to Netgalley, Don Winslow and William Morrow for letting me read this early copy in exchange for my review.

Dan Ryan is back in a different location. He and his son, Ian, are living with his mother in Las Vegas. Some of his old crew is with him. Casinos are what he is investing in very successfully. His third bid is for the Lavinia and it proves to be lethal. Another nail biter.

I have reviewed this book for Shelf-Awareness.com. Below is a link to the full review

https://www.shelf-awareness.com/max-issue.html?issue=537#m1116