Don’t miss Don Winslows’ Rhode Island triology

My absolute favourite author, Don Winslow was born in New York City, but grew up in Rhode Island, mostly in Perryville, near Matunuck. He now divides his time between California and his restored family home in Perryville.

His most famous books took place in California, particularly the “Cartel” trilogy, set amid the brutal drug wars along the California/Mexican border. Fantastic books. If you haven’t read them – start tomorrow. The Cartel series with ‘The Power of the Dog’ (2005), The Cartel (2015) and The Border (2019) are among the best I have ever read.

Since last year Winslow is back with a new trilogy and the initial book, “City on Fire,” is about organized crime in Rhode Island in the 1980s.

The new series includes ’City on Fire’ (2022) and we are now waiting for ’City of Dreams’ (2023) and ’City of Ashes’ (2024)

Winslow says, ’These books can be read purely as crime fiction, with no reference to the classics, but I think when we look at the crime genre — which I love — we see the roots in too shallow a way. Sure, there is Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler, but you can go back way further than that.. … “The Godfather” is a retelling of Shakespeare’s Henry IV”.

There is plenty of interest in using Winslow’s books, including 2017’s police novel “The Force” (2017), the “Cartel” trilogy and the “City on Fire” trilogy as material for either movies or TV series.

“I have more influence over what gets made than control. I do have a seat at the table,” Winslow said. “I want as much input as I can, but in film or TV, no one really has control except the director, or maybe the editor.”