Don Winslow, regarded as one of the world’s top mystery authors, has published over 25 novels. Sony Pictures has converted his newest series into a film, which will star Austin Butler. This week’s release of “City in Ruins,” the third book of Winslow’s Danny Ryan trilogy, will not only conclude the series but also his writing career.
At 70, Winslow will turn his primary concentration to political activity, seeking to battle the MAGA political movement through advocacy and film production. He’s spent the last five years writing novels and advocating for democracy, including creating popular videos with Bruce Springsteen and Jeff Daniels.
Donald Trump and his supporters, according to Winslow, are “a severe threat to our democracy.” He claims that after finishing the trilogy and considering the current political environment, he decided, “Yeah, now is the time to let it go and focus on activism.”
He also believes the moment was opportune to retire from writing, considering the present political situation, and that this final series took him “thirty years to write, on and off.” Winslow drew inspiration from Greek and Latin classics such as “The Iliad,” “The Aeneid,” and “The Odyssey,” stating that he studied “three or four translations” of each and took “online college courses on each of those works.”
However, this should not deter potential readers because Winslow states, “I tried to write a crime epic that you could read with no knowledge of or reference to the classics at all.”
The Danny Ryan trilogy
In the latest addition to Winslow’s Danny Ryan series, titled “City in Ruins” (HarperCollins, 400 pp., available on Tuesday), the story takes place mainly in Las Vegas and revolves around a fierce battle for dominance among key figures on the famous Las Vegas strip. Interestingly, despite the setting, Winslow confesses that he has no interest in gambling and finds it incredibly dull.
The trilogy takes us on Ryan’s journey, starting from his humble beginnings as a union dock worker and progressing through his life as an Irish mob soldier and eventually becoming a boss. Ryan’s story continues as he ventures into Hollywood, investing stolen drug money and eventually becoming a successful multimillionaire casino owner.
It comes after the second book, “City of Dreams,” and the first book, “City on Fire.”
In “City in Ruins,” Ryan finds himself in a much more relaxed state compared to the previous books. He is no longer embroiled in a violent mob war, on the run from the FBI or dangerous assassins, or attempting to outsmart a ruthless cartel leader. Instead, Ryan has established himself as a successful casino and hotel magnate in Las Vegas. His current challenges revolve around dealing with the extra weight he has gained from his desk-bound lifestyle and organizing his son’s upcoming 10th birthday celebration.
Ryan, a prominent figure in the thriving Vegas casino industry, ranks among the top three most influential individuals in the field. Despite his immense wealth and the luxury of early retirement, Ryan, often referred to as a “chowderhead” by his colleagues, finds the notion of never working again utterly repulsive.
Winslow acknowledges that the culmination of this ultimate battle has played a significant role in the ongoing evolution of the series throughout his entire writing journey. While the initial installment, “City on Fire,” was published in 2022, its inception dates back to the 1990s.
Winslow, the author, acknowledged that he initially thought another romantic conflict would be too repetitive, considering the similarities with the Illiad and his first book. However, he struggled to come up with a suitable final conflict for this novel. It wasn’t until later that he realized the final conflict should revolve around a piece of property, which took him quite a while to realize, much to his embarrassment.
In “City in Ruins,” Chris Palumbo embarks on a cross-country journey after losing money to mobsters. He later returns to Rhode Island with the intention of reclaiming his power, drawing inspiration from Odysseus. Additionally, Peter Morretti Jr. faces trial in Rhode Island for the alleged murder of his mother and her lover, reflecting the themes present in “The Oresteia” by Aeschylus. When questioned about his choice to incorporate elements from the Oresteia cycle, Palumbo explains, “I couldn’t resist; it gives the story a noir film-like atmosphere.”
Looking back on Winslow’s career
Author Winslow took a long journey from his humble beginnings. In 1991, he published his first novel after dedicating 3 ½ years to writing it while traveling for work and studies. Reflecting on his early days, he shared with USA TODAY that his debut book faced rejection from 15 publishers before finding a home with St. Martins Press, who also bought his second book. Although the two novels brought in a total of $15,000, Winslow jokingly admits that when considering the countless hours he invested in them, he would rather not calculate his hourly earnings.
Winslow went on to publish more than 20 novels and receive numerous prizes.
He has written for television and video games, had two novels converted to film, and has four more novels in the works. Despite this, Winslow remains humble, admitting that he can still worry: “I read Richard Russo, and I think, ‘Why do I bother to write?'”
Winslow states that, aside from monetary figures, he will consider his novel a success “if it has authenticity, if the characters and story ring true, and if it makes an emotional connection with the readers.”
Throughout the discussion, Winslow exudes honesty and connection, as evidenced by his painstaking investigation for this last series.
Before we hang up, Winslow begins writing his next chapter. He encourages Americans to vote in local, state, and federal elections, contribute if possible, and, most importantly, “get out and talk to your friends and neighbors.”
