The Final Score

by Don Winslow

'One of America’s greatest storytellers' – Stephen King#1 internationally bestselling author Don Winslow – America’s King of Crime Fiction – is back and he’s better than ever in this intense, deeply felt, gripping collection of six all-new, never-before-published short novels.

In six all-new short novels written with the trademark literary style, trenchant wit, and incisive characterization that have made Don Winslow “America’s greatest living crime writer” (Providence Journal), this repeat New York Times bestselling author serves up a collection of tales sure to delight Winslow’s most devoted fans and first-time readers.

The multi-million-dollar casino heist is impossible—it can’t be done. That’s what makes it irresistible to a legendary robber facing the rest of his life in prison for his “Final Score.” An ambitious, hard-working college-bound teenager has a side job delivering illegal booze to “The Sunday List” until a crooked cop, a seductive customer, and a fake guru threaten to end his dreams. Two wise guys tell each other a “True Story” over breakfast at a diner. It’s all bullshit and laughs until someone else has to pick up the check. An otherwise honest patrolman has to make an excruciating choice between his loyalty to the job and his love for a ne’er-do-well cousin in “The North Wing.” The entitled, substance-addicted movie star that surfer/PI Boone Daniels and his crew are hired to babysit in “The Lunch Break” is a problem. She also has a problem—someone wants her dead. Finally, the one terrible, momentary mistake that a devoted family man makes sends him to prison and on a “Collision” course between the man he wants to be and the killer he’s forced to become to survive.

With a foreword written by award-winning crime author Reed Farrel Coleman, The Final Score is a propulsive, perceptive, and deeply immersive collection of crime writing — the ultimate testament to Don Winslow's prowess as a living legend of the genre.

Genres: Crime, Short Stories, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 29, 2026

About the author

Don Winslow is the author of twenty-one acclaimed, award-winning international bestsellers, including the New York Times bestsellers The Force and The Border, the #1 international bestseller The Cartel, The Power of the Dog, Savages, and The Winter of Frankie Machine. Savages was made into a feature film by three-time Oscar-winning writer-director Oliver Stone. The Power of the Dog, The Cartel and The Border sold to FX in a major multimillion-dollar deal to air as a weekly television series beginning in 2020.

A former investigator, antiterrorist trainer and trial consultant, Winslow lives in California and Rhode Island.


Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Rosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A collection of six short novels, each a character-oriented story of moral conflicts and misdemeanours. Excellent in variety, plot development, writing, pacing, and endings. Much recommended! Don’t read the GR blurb.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The blurb calls author Don Winslow "America's King of Crime Fiction" and “America’s greatest living crime writer”. But I had never even heard of him! 🤭 (Put this down to my relative abstinence from the thriller genre in recent years.) Those two labels were impossible to resist, so with the assurance of this having ‘six short novels’ instead of one full-length novel, I decided to give this collection a go. Now that I read it, I am wondering why I haven’t ever read him before!

It’s important to remember that the book promises six short novels, not short stories. With the total page count being about 300 pages, each entry gets more than enough place to develop properly, with a steady progression, intricate plots, outstanding character development, and a well-developed ending.

The characters make the collection shine even better because of how real they feel and because how much they make us root for them even when they are doing unsavoury things. Almost all the main characters have nuanced personalities instead of the usual 2D portrayal we see in short fiction. Every protagonist displays plenty of emotions and vulnerability, even if they happen to be tough guys.

The writing is literary in nature, so the focus of each story is more on the characters than on the action. Despite this, the stories have enough action to help us feel an adrenaline rush. The stories contain some solid twists that take us by surprise without feeling out of the blue or over the top. Some of the stories contain a dash of wit, but on the whole, the dominant mood is more dramatic.

In the foreword, three-time Edgar-award nominee Reed Farrel Coleman calls the author “a chameleon in the best possible sense for not being tied to a genre or style”. After reading the collection, I can only agree with this assessment. None of the stories feels like an action replay of the earlier entry. Each has a clear distinctness in terms of plot, setting and characters. As the stories are not interconnected and contain (in most cases) a proper start-middle-end, the ‘short novel’ label is justified.

The only aspect in which the stories might have created an even bigger impact is by not having such smooth endings. I don’t mind this that much because I am looking for happier reads these days, which isn't easy to find outside of the romance/uplit genres. Even if I get my shot of joy from stories of crime, I shall take it gladly. But readers more attuned to hardcore crime stories might find the endings in some of these tales too neat.

As always, I rated the ‘stories’ individually. Since there are only six entries, I shall include my brief feedback on each of them. You can see for yourself how high-performing this set was in general.

💰 The Final Score: I love heist movies but am wary of reading heist stories as the action somehow doesn't translate to visuals that effectively through mere words. This story proved me so wrong! I absolutely loved it from start to end. It was everything a heist tale should be. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🍾 The Sunday List: An impressive character-oriented experience. Went somewhat all over the place at first, but every little bit of info made sense at the end. The last line made me smile, which earned it an extra half-star. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🚓 The North Wing: Not my kind of characters, but definitely my kind of writing. Gripping plot from start to end. It's a story that's sad and realistic, which hits harder. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

💬 True Story: This entire novella is nothing but one wild conversation between a duo. Their names aren't mentioned except when they refer to each other in their dialogues. The start was really interesting, but after a point, I kept losing track of who was speaking until some cue brought me back. This might work for some readers, but I don't do too well with extended conversations. Plus, with the slight overdose of repartee, I felt like I was reading a comedy routine. It was a decent work, but it might have worked better for me if it were written in regular prose or in play script format. - ⭐⭐✨

🏄🏻‍♂️ The Lunch Break: A good story. I might not remember this in the long run, but while it was on, it was quite entertaining. Loved the characters more than the plot. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

💥 Collision: I simply couldn’t predict where this story would go. Its characters and plotline kept me captivated throughout. This would have been outstanding as a novel, but even as a short novel, it packs quite the punch. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨

Overall, I had high expectations from this collection because of the praise showered on the author in the GR blurb, and my actual experience turned out to be even better. I am not a regular reader of the mystery thriller genre because it goes too OTT for my taste and because it focusses more on the plot than on anything else, including prose and character development. Don Winslow’s collection proved that all of this can be built convincingly without losing the impact or momentum of the narrative.

This is my first time reading this author, and I can assure you, it won't be the last.

I stopped reading the GR blurb after the two introductory paras; thank heavens for that! It reveals a bit too much about each of the six stories, which actually would be best discovered by going in blind. So don’t read the blurb. Just go for the book.

Definitely recommended to crime-mystery fans. As these are short novels, they are developed mostly in a traditional way, and hence they ought to work even for readers who don’t enjoy short stories.

4.33 stars. (If you are familiar with my ratings, you know that an average that goes to 4 stars and beyond is outstanding for an anthology.)


My thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, and Hemlock Press for providing the DRC of “The Final Score” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.

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Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||

[Tara — on semi-hiatus for health reasons; will check in when possible. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m thrilled to share my thoughts on The Final Score, a dynamic and insightful collection of crime writing that showcases the incredible talent of Don Winslow, a true luminary in the literary world. With an engaging foreword by the award-winning crime author Reed Farrel Coleman, this book promises to be nothing short of spectacular.

Winslow’s mastery shines brightly in this collection of six enthralling short stories. He hooks you from the very first page, immersing you in rich narratives and unforgettable characters that feel strikingly real. For those who loved his previous work, Broken , you’re in for a treat! One of my favourites from that collection, “Crime 101,” is set to be adapted into a film in February 2026, and I can’t contain my excitement!

This new collection is a testament to Winslow’s remarkable versatility and profound depth of knowledge across various themes in the crime genre. Each story is a gem, demonstrating his keen understanding of the intricacies of criminal life and the captivating dialogue that flows through the narratives. Despite the violence that often accompanies these stories, Winslow has a unique ability to weave humour into even the most intense moments, making you chuckle while holding your breath.

If this indeed marks the end of Winslow’s literary journey—as hinted at—it’s a grand finale that solidifies his legacy at the peak of his powers. His backlist is a treasure trove that I eagerly look forward to revisiting.

In the title story, we follow a career criminal determined to pull off one last audacious casino heist to secure his beloved wife’s future before his surrender. “The Sunday List” offers a delightful glimpse into Rhode Island’s Sunday alcohol ban, showcasing a clever teenager who navigates the secret world of supply and demand. “True Story” is a brilliant, dialogue-driven narrative that crackles with wit as wiseguys share their outrageous tales over diner coffee. Meanwhile, “The Lunch Break” features a seasoned PI trying to manage a diva-esque actress, blending humour with tension in an entertaining way. Finally, “Collision” delivers an emotional punch as a celebratory night spirals into tragedy, ultimately leading a high-flying family man to a life-altering moment in prison.

I found myself wishing that these stories would never end—a delightful indulgence for any crime fiction enthusiast. I highly recommend grabbing a copy and adding it to the top of your TBR list. Expected publication date in the UK: January 29, 2026. Expected publication date in Canada and the US

A special thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | Hemlock Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Final Score” is actually billed as six short novels, not one full length novel, consisting of The Final Score, The Sunday List, the North Wing, True Story, the Lunch Break and Collision. None are connected and only one has a connection to Winslow’s novels. They are often dark and bleak, but ultimately are tales of survival and fortitude.

The first story, the Final Score, is a classic caper tale of John Highland, out on bail, awaiting sentencing, but wanting one last big score to take care of his wife, Jewel, while he’s behind bars. The target is a tribal casino where the cartels launder millions upon millions of dollars brought in through the kitchen and passed on to “lucky” gamblers. Winslow takes us through the planning right through execution.

The second story is “The Sunday List.” It offers a glimpse into the past of Nick McKenna, who in the heady summer between high school and college, was the Sunday driver for Tillman’s Liquor in a state with Sunday liquor laws. It is a time when a kid has a choice between Vietnam, college, and something else, an age when Mrs. Robinson is on the big screen. Nick has to be the Sunday driver, kind of the unofficial town bootlegger one day a week, when he canput away college money his hippie parents couldn’t give a rat’s ass about.

The third story, the North Wing, is the story of two New England cousins, one a patrolman and the other a drunk who ends 20-year-old Sarah Gaines’ young life on a dark sad night that changed everyone’s lives forever. It’s a lesson on how far the web reaches of cause and effect when you do things you shouldn’t and how many souls get compromised along the way.

The fourth story, True Story, is just a conversation about the jokers in the neighborhood like Bobby Bats and Lenny No Socks. It’s almost a stand-up routine the way these humorous stories are told.

The fifth story, “The Lunch Break” returns to some old favorites from the Dawn Patrol with Boone, Dave, and Tide taking turns playing bodyguards to mega-star Brittany McVeigh to keep her away from Boone and drugs and a possible stalker at least until she finishes filming.

The final selection is Collision, which is a story about how quickly life can change in an instant and all the plans you thought you had go up in smoke. It’s about what it takes to survive such collisions and where it takes you morally, metaphorically, and personally.

[Dave Medicus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winslow you sly dog you done done it again. Absolutely brilliant.

[Dimitris Kopsidas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six short stories described in one word, Solid!
First time reading a Winslow book and I'm impressed. Not being a huge fan of short stories I didn't expect to enjoy this collection as much as I did. One of the stories is completely dialogue based and that was a 5 star read. Full of smart humor, and playing with Mafia stereotypes, it was a joy to read.
All the stories were enjoyable with great characters and despite their short length they delivered an emotional impact.
If I had to complain about something, I would comment on the fact that the stories felt a bit predictable and that some of them could use a not so happy ending.
Thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins UK for providing me with an eArc

8,1/10

[Anna Mikulec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you William Morrow for an ARC

Actually such a solid short story collection!

Full review to come

[Brett Hiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pretty thrilled when the announcement of Winslow's latest came across the ole newsfeed (like many, his retirement announcement a few years back left me literary depressed). Happy to say, with The Final Score, Winslow is at his best. All 6 of the stories within The Final Score showcase his better than all writing skills, which, for me, has always been his characterization. How he gets us to care so deeply, so quickly (and in SHORT stories) for people is astounding. It likely has something to do with the situations in which he places his characters, but their dialogue (True Story & The Lunch Break) is so sharp, so witty, so hilarious, so ... real, is the real gift. And fans of Winslow's other works will be happy they get to hang with Boone Daniels again. Perhaps it says something that I can't say I had a favorite of the 6 stories; all are equally weighted in character, but ... his use of "-uh," following most of Brittany McVeigh's sentences in "The Lunch Break" is a simple highlight. And if you don't find yourself rooting for Brad McAlister's plight in "Collision" then you might not get one of the overarching themes of his book - choices determine our fate.

Although I received a galley copy, I have still ordered myself a copy off of Barnes and Noble. Winslow deserves the support.

Thank you, Christopher Connolly and Harper, for the galley copy of the book.

[TheMysteryMO (Mike O) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very happy to see another release by Don Winslow as I had thought he’d retired from writing. This book was comprised of six short stories with interesting titles, characters, and storylines. I usually don’t feel super engaged in a short story but these progressively became more interesting as I read the next one. I haven’t really ever been disappointed in a Don Winslow book so another solid rating was in order for me!

Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Elene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escribir relatos siempre me ha parecido especialmente complicado. Conseguir calar en el lector en pocas páginas, hacerlo varias veces seguidas y con historias distintas no es nada fácil. Nunca he conectado del todo con este formato: suelo quedarme con la sensación de que no me da tiempo a entrar en las historias o a implicarme de verdad. Por eso me “sorprendió” tanto que Resultado final haya sido el libro que me reconciliara definitivamente con los relatos.

He puesto entre comillas “sorprendió” porque admito que Don Winslow tiene una habilidad especial: consigue que me guste todo lo que escribe, incluso aquí, cuando el formato no suele ir conmigo. No esperaba que un libro de relatos me atrapara de esta manera, me ha parecido un auténtico librazo.

Si no conocéis al autor, suele escribir thrillers sobre criminales, de bandas organizadas, atracos, corrupción, dr0ga, el cartel… En Resultado final encontramos pequeñas dosis de todo eso repartidas en seis relatos independientes entre sí y absolutamente brillantes.

No son muy largos, pero lo suficiente para engancharnos y darnos esa especie de adrenalina que hace que queramos leer la siguiente historia para ver con qué nos sorprende y dejarnos con pena al cerrar el libro.

Sin entrar en detalle de cada relato, sí que os diré que me han gustado todos. Son dinámicos, tensos y algunos incluso tienen ese toque de humor que es como la marca de la casa. También aparecen esos clichés del cine estadounidense que tanto le caracterizan, pero que aquí juegan a su favor y suman personalidad a cada historia.

Resultado final es un libro impecable. Don Winslow demuestra que no necesita cientos de páginas para construir historias potentes y memorables. Para mí, este libro es la prueba de que, cuando un autor sabe lo que hace, incluso un formato que no es el que nos guste puede convertirse en uno de nuestros mejores descubrimientos.

Poco más tengo que añadir… es un libro redondo y no le encuentro ninguna pega.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Final Score is a sharp, highly entertaining collection of six long short stories that shows exactly why Don Winslow is so good at this. The writing is lean, confident, and tightly paced, with strong character work and none of the bloat or stylistic gimmicks that sink lesser crime fiction. Some stories are merely very good, a couple are excellent, but all of them feel purposeful and complete.

I especially enjoyed the Southern California settings—Winslow clearly knows the terrain. Two stories set in San Diego County (including an East County Indian casino heist and a bratty movie star tale in La Jolla and Pacific Beach) add a fun, grounded sense of place. Gritty, smart, and well executed. 4.25 stars.

[AC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never read Don Winslow before. I knew him on social media — his tweets were fine, not spectacular — , and so I didn’t think he could be a very good writer. Oh, man…

It seems that he had announced his retirement. And then, after a while, he began writing… for no special reason… and he couldn’t stop. He wrote without deadlines. Without pressure. It just happened. So he says. He says that two of these little novellas are the best things he ever wrote. The Final Score and Collision. And some of the reviews I looked at seemed to agree. The first one, which is a caper, is very good. Reminds a little bit of Westlake. The second is just a noir knockout. Like David Hume, I like to say that often I don’t read books, I read *in* them. And with a collection like this, there is no compulsion to complete. So with this, I will stop.

[Paige- TheBookandtheBoston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked these!

This was my first time reading Don Winslow and won’t be my last! This collection of short stories was a great introduction to the types of books he writes, which I think I’ll thoroughly enjoy! There are six stories total, each around 40 pages except for the last which was 90+. I liked every single story! The first story, which is about a heist, was so entertaining, I was wishing for more. The second story started off a little slow but had a fantastic ending, and has since stuck with me. Another story is purely dialogue between two men, and I absolutely loved the dark humor. The second to last has a beautiful character arc, but the final story (Collision) was my favorite. Collision is about a guy who makes one stupid, heat-of-the-moment mistake, and whose whole life, and his family’s, is irrevocably changed from it. I absolutely devoured that one.

Two of the stories touch on the horrors of prison. Most have a theme of redemption. And all had characters who had to deal with the consequences their choices led them to.

𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
Anyone that likes short story collections or crime fiction.

4.5/5 rounded up

[Luca Masera · Rating 4 out of 5]

L’ultimo colpo di Don Winslow è una raccolta audace di sei racconti che mescolano suspense, ironia e umanità, offrendo come sempre uno sguardo variegato e appassionante sul mondo del crimine.

Le storie (che spaziano dal rapinatore leggendario a un adolescente ai margini, dal poliziotto in crisi di coscienza a i ben "noti" surfisti) sono tutte ben costruite e mantengono alta la tensione fino all’ultima pagina.

Winslow ha dimostrato ancora una volta la sua maestria nel creare personaggi moralmente complessi e situazioni imprevedibili, pur con qualche episodio che risulta meno memorabile di altri.

[Adah Udechukwu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading The Final Score some days ago and I'm glad I did.

I saw Don Wislow on the cover and he does not miss

The short stories in it were pretty cool.

"True Story" is the most interesting short story I've read in a while. I loved how it kept switching up. You won't understand until you read it.

Brittany and Dave's story was cool in "The Lunch Break"

I also loved "Collision". The suspense in it was a lot. I really wanted Brad to have a happy ending.

I dreaded that he was going to lose his life or his family and I'm glad that didn't happen.

[John Schorg · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best crime writers ever at the peak of his talents. Every story here is worth multiple looks, and at least one - a lengthy conversation between two goombahs - would make a hell of a play. If this is how Winslow wants to spend his retirement from writing, I look forward to more great work in the years to come... just as Stephen King and Steven Soderbergh emerged from their retirements.

[RICK "SHAQ" GOLDSTEIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “THIRTY-FOUR-TWENTY-EIGHT---
I’M STILL NOT FOLLOWING…
SUPER BOWL FIFTY-ONE… SEVENTEEN MINUTES LEFT IN THE GAME…
THE PATRIOTS WERE DOWN TWENTY-EIGHT TO THREE…
OKAY…
FINAL SCORE… THIRTY-FOUR-TWENTY-EIGHT… PATRIOTS…
I’M DOWN BY A LOT…
****BUT ALL THAT MATTERS IS THE FINAL SCORE!!!****
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The author, Don Winslow… is widely considered by many… as one of the greatest living fictional crime writers. I am part of the crowd… that puts him in that rarefied area. It has been widely stated that this is going to be his last book. History has proven… over and over… that ninety-per-cent of boxing champions… and the “tomato-cans”… of boxing… who announce… over and over and over… again… that they were retiring…all come back to fight again… and again… and again. And most of them… do it at a way less than successful rate. I guess… us members… of the impassioned… voluminous… reading…public…will have to wait and see… if non-fiction crime writing imitates… the not so artistic history… of fraudulent boxing retirement!?

Winslow’… self-claimed “last” book… is actually a collection of... six short stories or novellas. The titles are: “FINAL SCORE”… “THE SUNDAY LIST”… “THE NORTH WING”… “TRUE STORY”… “THE LUNCH BREAK”… “COLLISION”.

Simply put… the writing is enchanting… inspired… whimsical… and almost magical… in the way it… poetically jumps over pre-conceived… and historically observed… lengths that the over populated world of boring nickel and dime (supposed) authors… observe (or lack of a “WINSLOW-TALENT)… attempt to create… compelling character studies… or the hundreds of pages the reader is weighted down with to try to understand what… at times… is supposed to be considered a plot! And L-rd have mercy how many bloated pages are normally needed by the average literary hack… to build a back story… with “flashbacks”!

The first five stories (the sixth…”COLLISION” is longer) are all forty pages or less… and yet every meaningful character… and backstory that creates the current scenario… or character trait… is fleshed out more concisely… historically and emotionally… than other authors best efforts in a complete multi-hundred page book.

It’s astounding… how all levels of emotions can be so surgically stimulated in such short order.

FINAL SCORE: a renowned high end senior crook… is out on bail… awaiting his final sentencing for his last job… and he worries about leaving his wife… the love of his entire life and world… with no money. He knows he will be put away for life or close to it at his age. Though going to prison… he’s as proud of his career accomplishments…as Babe Ruth would be of his home-runs when he retired. So can he really rob a highly secure Indian Casino while he’s waiting for his sentencing?

“I CAME TO FIND OUT IF YOU’RE A SERIOUS PERSON OR IF YOU’RE JUST PLAYING JOHNNY JACKOFF.”

THE SUNDAY LIST: A hard working teenager from a poor family who dreams of starting college… delivers liquor when its illegal Sunday’s in Rhode Island… to a specific group of prestigious customers. As in all stories… Winslow has great quick classic quips.

“I’M NOT RICH, NICK SAID.”
HE KNEW HIS CHOICES”
“THE FISH FACTORY”
“VIET NAM”
"COLLEGE"...
“I’LL TAKE DOOR NUMBER THREE, NICK THOUGHT”

THE NORTH WING”: The cousin of a respected cop… kills a local girl… as he adds to his personal list of DUI’s. The cop tries to get him some protection in the prison he’s sure to be sentenced to.

“TEN YEARS, SIX YEARS, ONE YEAR, DOESN’T MATTER.
CHRISSY WON’T MAKE IT IN THE ACI.
FIVE-SIX, A BUCK-THIRTY, NO STREET SMARTS AT ALL, HE’LL BE A PASS-AROUND PACK. HELL, HE EVEN HAS A GIRL’S NAME. THEY’LL RAPE HIM IN HIS CELL, IN THE SHOWER, IN THE HALLWAYS, ON THE YARD. HE’LL BE A DROOLING, MUMBLING HEAD CASE INSIDE A MONTH.
SIX YEARS, THERE WON’T BE ANYTHING LEFT OF HIM TO WALK OUT!”

TRUE STORY: I’m sure literally every generation… knows of the ABBOTT AND COSTELLO… WHO’S ON FIRST ROUTINE!! That routine is passed down from one generation to the next… to the next… without any adult supervision needed. Simply put A CLAAAASSSSSSHHHHIIIIICCCC!

“True Story” is not only freaking hilarious… it’s ingenious! Instead of Abbot and Costello bantering about…

Think of TONY SOPRANO AND THE GREAT ***PAULIE-WALNUTS*** trying to have an intelligent story telling session of their mob experiences. NON-STOP FOR THIRTY-SIX PAGES! Some of the names that come up in the mob-chat:

LENNY THE BARBER… LENNY NO SOCKS… LOUIE CACCIATORE… LOUIE DOUGHNUTS… CARPENTER JOE… PAINTER JOE…IRISH JERRY… POLISH JERRY O’BRIEN…FAT TOMMY… FAT VINNY… FAT LEO…SKINNY JIMMY…FAT PAT…GEORGIE PASS THE BALL… GEORGIE BIG BALLS… DRYWALL PETER DiPRETE…BALL PEEN PETER DiPRETE… TIMMY SHOES… ROSE SCHOLAR… OLD JOHN… DANNY MAC… SAYS EVERYTHING TWICE PETRILLO… Leclerc’s A “FINOCCHIO”…

And most important… don’t ever forget…

***WWJJD****

****WHAT-WOULD-JUDGE-JUDY-DO?****

THE LUNCH BREAK: a high risk… alcoholic… drug addict… slut… trash mouth… despicable… human being… actress… who can only make a new movie… if an insurance company guarantees she’ll make it through…so the insurance company hires a team of surfer body guard/disciplinarians.

“NO WONDER SHE’S CRAZIER THAN A SQUIRREL ON CRACK… SHE’S STARVING”

COLLISION: A young loving successful family… invited to a pretentious dinner… to announce a major promotion… in the international hotel industry. An accidental death… declared murder… and the next thing you know the young man who had everything is in Folsom Prison… trying to survive… and be claimed by white gangs… black gangs… Mexican gangs… guards… and everything in between.

“THERE’S AN INVESTIGATION INTO MULLIGAN’S DEATH.
CALL IT CURSORY.
AN INMATE TAPPING OUT IN THE INFIRMARY? HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. THE THINKING GOES THAT THESE DIRT-BAGS HAVE SO MANY STREET DRUGS RUNNING THROUGH THEIR VEINS IT’S MORE SURPRISING WHEN THEY DON’T DIE.
SO THIS IS STRICTLY “NHI”.
NO HUMANS INVOLVED.”

If you truly love the use of words in storytelling… the way they were meant to be used… along with no beating around the bush regarding buildup and development… and climax… then this is the book for you…

WHO KNOWS… IT COULD BE HIS LAST!

FUUUUUHHHHHGETABOUT IT!!!!

[Justin Sarginson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the forward mentions, no one does dialogue like this author. The dialogue sparkles like polished tin in the far east throughout each of these immaculate short stories, bringing each and every story to mesmerising life.

Never the world’s biggest short story fan, I was fortunate and grateful for the publisher to allow me to read this collection before publication. Each story is very vivid and interesting, compelling throughout without a dud in sight.

[Mark Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audacious, as Reed Farrel Coleman says in the introduction, for sure. Don Winslow’s prose is also muscular and meaty. He draws you in like slick carnival barker. After a few paragraphs, you need to know what’s going to happen and where the heck the story is going. While other writers are fumbling for the cars key in their pockets, Winslow is rounding the first curve at full throttle. There’s not a whiff of literary pretension (good!).

The Final Score is six stories. Regular folks in big predicaments. Regular folks, mostly, until. Some good, some not.

Take John Highland, in the title story. He’s about to be sent away to prison for a long time. He was part of a crew that pulled an armed robbery. He’s nearly sixty years old and facing a twenty-year sentence. But he’s had problems before with the judicial system and it’s possible the three strikes rule will mean he spends the rest of his life behind bars.

While he’s out on bond, there’s talk about finding the guy who drove the getaway car but who “got away by himself” and then turned government witness.

Folks, we’re still on page one. Is it worth going after the rat, LeBlanc? And here’s where Winslow hooks you hard, letting us in on Highland’s world. He has standards. He lives by the motto, “dress tight, work tight.” And he dreamed of taking his wife to Paris for their fortieth. She remained faithful through one previous hitch in prison. And, aw shucks, we think, Paris. The guy is relatable, romantic. Forty years of marriage—the guy’s got a soft spot.

But for John Highland, the situation isn’t fair.

“All his life it’s been him against the world, and for the most he’s won, maybe the most successful high-level heist guy ever to play the game. Sure, he lost a couple, did his bits like a man, but for the most part he scored the big money and walked away with it.”

But Highland feels beaten. And if he’s going down, why not pull off one last job? Why not see if can score enough dough to set up his wife so she’s comfortable for the rest of his life? There’s this one possible heist. Well, maybe possible and also maybe impossible for many reasons. The risks are many. Winslow squeezes the action down to its essence in a few taut pages.

In “The Sunday List” we pick up Nick McKenna in Rhode Island in 1970 in a story that involves Sunday liquor laws, a store with a way to keep its customers happy seven days a week, and dreams of a better future, of breaking away. Bad luck and good luck live side by side. Pompous tourists may have a soft side, underneath all that bluster. Some dreams take time to reveal themselves.

“The North Wing” starts out with a knockout first line: “The night Chrissy Pritchett kills Sara Gaines isn’t that much different from a lot of other nights.” This is a sprawling, beefy story. It’s about the drunk driving car accident that leads to Sara’s death. It’s about a cop, Doug Pritchett, and the choices he will confront to protect his family. Doug’s sibling is Chrissy and Chrissy, by the way, is a dude. That name is key. Doug was the one who always seemed to look out for Chrissy because “the kid just couldn’t seem to catch a break.” Doug goes to extreme length to make sure Chrissy will be protected in prison, in a place the mob controls called The North Wing. Because the other choices are that Chrissy kills himself or flees to Canada. Doug does everything he can and it’s all going pretty well, until, oops. Winslow twists the knife. Wham-o.

For sheer entertainment, “True Story” might be my favorite among the six. Its 100 percent dialogue among a couple of mob guys sitting around a diner telling stories over breakfast. Nicknames, banter, one story impacted in the next like a series of Russian dolls. You can practically feel the spittle flying. (Shoutout to audiobook narrator Peter Giles, who shows quite a range moving these stories.) Genius idea, very funny. This would make a great short play.

“The Lunch Break” didn’t quite pack a punch like the others, but it’s a solid story and all good tales are love stories in the end. Right?

But the closing entry, “Collision,” is epic. It’s a rollercoaster ride for Brad McAllister and his wife, Rachel. A hotel executive on his way up the corporate ladder, the promised land of wealth and prestige are literally waiting for him the very next day, and there’s this one moment where Brad’s buttons are pushed and everything, in a flash, goes upside down. More than once for Brad, all hope is lost. Bleak piles on bleak. Just when you think you might be in the clear, well, favors aren’t necessarily confined by prison walls.

Winslow makes it look easy. The stories in “The Final Score” are catchy, irresistible, and a whole lot of fun.

[Leftbanker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read about the release of this book reading a GR review of Winslow's last story collection, Broken (Rotos in Spanish). In a total panic, I just had to get my mitts on this new collection and start reading. That was late last night.

I decided to write this review as I go along. I have to take time out between stories to try to reset my circuits so I can start the next story on level ground from the high of the one I just read. I need to begin with a fresh set of eyes. All I can say so far is so far, so good, really good.

The Final Score

A double meaning that starts off strong: “JOHN HIGHLAND IS GOING TO die in prison.” Doesn’t get much stronger or more hard-boiled than that opening move. I’m not a big fan of heist stories unless they are truly remarkable or really clever, and this one wasn’t, but it had so much else for a reader. Characters and great dialogue as few writers can pull off like Don Winslow.

The Sunday List

I loved this one, my favorite of the bunch and there's not even crime to be found, not much of one, maybe a misdemeanor? Filled with great characters with so much depth within a story as mundane as can be, at least one found in the collection of a writer known as the "king of crime" or whatever. I loved how it wrapped around at the end. I loved it so much that I actually squealed with sheer delight at the last line, like a little kid who just opened a birthday gift that surprises his greatest expectations.

The North Wing

“What’s the problem? I’m passing all my classes.”
“Just.”
“If the minimum wasn’t enough,” Chrissy said, “it wouldn’t be the minimum.”

The minimum life is what Chrissy was living until it went below that, and then he drags someone down with him. No good deed ever goes unpunished. Brilliant story that I wish were a lot longer.

True Story

A real tour de force for this author at the top of his game. Winslow’s confidence as a writer really shines through in this conversation. It would be easy to make an argument that this is the best crime story ever written, and it’s lots of stories in one, but that doesn’t mean anything by itself. What matters is that there are a ton of stories and they’re all entertaining as hell to read. Why do so many writers, especially those of the literary bent, seem to forget to be entertaining?

The Lunch Break

I could just tell by the title that this one was out to be humous, like “The San Diego Zoo” in his earlier collection which was a total scream, funny as in laugh-out-loud (I like to write shit out as I’m never in a hurry). We meet up with the old surfing crew from his earlier novels which was fine with me as I’d missed them. Their mission, if they choose to accept, is to babysit a drug and booze-loving movie star.

He turned to the dog walker. “I don’t see a dog.”
The walker looked at him as if he were talking about frozen yogurt on Mars. “Brittany doesn’t have a dog.”
“Then why does she have a dog walker?”
“She’s thinking about getting one,” the guy said. “You wouldn’t want her to turn her little loved one over to a complete stranger, would you?”

Enough to explain the insane nature of the young actress. This one tied up a little too nicely, and there were a few things in the plot that made me scratch my head in confusion, but it was still fun. It’s also a story I could see adapted into a movie, very easily.

Collision

He pours it on way too thick in describing the perfect man, the crime is way too cut and dry as was the protagonist’s time in prison, and the whole tale is a little too facile for my tastes, yet it was entertaining to read, like the rest of the book.

Whatever criticism I have for these stories, The Final Score outshines all of the sill mysteries that every on GR seems to adore. I defy any read to take any of the winners of the Thriller/Mystery category in the past five year and find a single passage with good writing or humor.

[Ray Palen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 Stars

Author Don Winslow has written some of the grittiest literary crime fiction of the past couple decades but with his latest release, THE FINAL SCORE, he gets to show how he can also create magic in the form of short story fiction.

This collection opens with a Foreword from another respected crime writer, Reed Farrel Coleman. He writes that Winslow ‘is a chameleon in the best possible sense’, alluding to his ability to create successful stories in multiple genres. Coleman also refers to the song by Bruce Springsteen “For You” which features the lyric: ‘You could laugh and cry in a single sound.’ He then compares this to Winslow’s writing, which he feels is capable of containing so much with each sentence.

This short story collection indeed lives up to the words that Reed Farrel Coleman so eloquently used to describe Winslow’s work, with stories that range from high octane crime to literary fiction that leave you feeling good. Here is a brief description of some of the highlights in this collection:

• The Final Score – John Highland was found guilty of armed robbery and understands that he is going to die in prison. Before he is put inside, he needs to ensure that his family is taken care of. He and a small group of colleagues plan a final score involving a local Casino that will require intricate planning to succeed. Highland does not know who he can trust and not everything goes to plan, making for an intense read.
• The Sunday List – In 1970 Rhode Island, High Schooler Nick McKenna works for a local liquor store and is responsible for delivering the Sunday List. With a state that is legally dry on Sundays, it is his job to deliver the liquor to private clients that pay in cash for the service of having their booze on Sunday. However, his personal life is a mess as his mother runs away with her guru after wiping out his College fund and his dreams of escaping to a different life seem to have disappeared with it. A complex and ultimately uplifting tale.
• The North Wing – Rhode Island Police Officer Doug Pritchett was the first on the scene the night his young cousin, Chrissy Pritchett, killed Sarah Gaines in a drunk driving accident. Chrissy gets the maximum sentence, and Doug knows his fragile cousin will not survive on the inside. Doug has heard of a special part of the prison where inmates can live out their sentence fully protected, the area known as The North Wing. However, the price to pay for admission may be too much for Doug to make.
• Collision – Winslow switches to the West Coast for a tragic tale involving a man named Brad McCallister who has it all and loses it in a moment of violence. He is an executive for a local Hotel chain and happily married with a young son. When he gets into a verbal road rage altercation with a driver that nearly struck his vehicle with his family inside things escalate to physical confrontation. Brad throws the first punch and the other driver falls, striking his head on the curb and dying from his injuries a few days later. Convicted of the maximum for manslaughter, Brad must find ways to survive as a privileged white man within the hell that is prison life if he ever wants to see his family again. He will learn that certain collisions in life have high price tags attached to them which will follow him for the rest of his life.
I have enjoyed everything that Don Winslow has written and have no problem including his reputation alongside the three crime writers I most suggest to readers --- Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, and George Pelecanos. THE FINAL SCORE is a collection equal to the finest writing I have seen from Winslow, who is currently enjoying seeing the film adaptation of his short novel “Crime 101” on the big screen starring Chris Hemsworth. I feel he will be equally celebrating the reception he receives for THE FINAL SCORE.

Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Winslow has produced some of the grittiest literary crime fiction of the past two decades. With his latest release, THE FINAL SCORE, he shows that he also can create magic in the form of short fiction.

The collection opens with a foreword from another respected crime writer, Reed Farrel Coleman. He writes that Winslow is “a chameleon in the best possible sense,” alluding to his ability to pen successful stories in multiple genres. Coleman also refers to the Bruce Springsteen song “For You,” which features this lyric: “You could laugh and cry in a single sound.” He compares this to Winslow’s writing, which he feels is capable of containing so much with each sentence.

THE FINAL SCORE indeed lives up to the words that Coleman so eloquently used to describe Winslow’s work, with six stories ranging from high-octane crime to literary fiction that leaves you feeling good. Here I will highlight four that especially stood out for me.

“The Final Score”: John Highland has been found guilty of armed robbery and understands that he is going to die in prison. Before he is put away, he needs to ensure that his family is taken care of. He and a small group of colleagues plan a final score involving a casino that will require intricate planning to succeed. Highland does not know who he can trust, and not everything goes according to plan, which makes for an intense read.

“The Sunday List”: In 1970 Rhode Island, high schooler Nick McKenna works for a liquor store. With a state that is legally dry on Sundays, it is his job to deliver the liquor to private clients who pay in cash for the service of having their booze on that forbidden day. However, Nick’s personal life is a mess as his mother runs away with her guru after wiping out his college fund, and his dreams of escaping to a different life seem to have disappeared with it. This is a complex and ultimately uplifting tale.

“The North Wing”: Rhode Island police officer Doug Pritchett was the first on the scene the night that his young cousin, Chrissy, killed Sarah Gaines in a drunk-driving accident. Chrissy gets the maximum sentence, and Doug knows she will not survive on the inside. He has heard of a special part of the prison where inmates can live out their term fully protected, which is known as The North Wing. However, the price of admission may be too high for Doug.

“Collision”: Winslow switches to the West Coast for a tragic tale involving Brad McAllister, who has it all and loses it in a moment of violence. He is an executive for a local hotel chain and is happily married with a young son. When he gets into a verbal road-rage altercation with a driver who nearly struck his vehicle with his family inside, it escalates to a physical confrontation. Brad throws the first punch, and the man falls, striking his head on the curb and dying from his injuries a few days later.

Convicted of manslaughter and receiving the maximum sentence, Brad must find ways to survive as a privileged white man within the hell that is prison life if he ever wants to see his family again. He will learn that certain collisions in life have high price tags attached to them that will follow him for the rest of his life.

I have enjoyed everything that Don Winslow has written and consider him to be on equal footing with the three crime writers I recommend to readers the most: Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane and George Pelecanos. Winslow is at the top of his game here as he looks forward to the upcoming film adaptation of his novella, CRIME 101. At the same time, I know he will be celebrating the reception he gets for THE FINAL SCORE.

Reviewed by Ray Palen

[Timothy Patrick Boyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

He doesn't want to go out a loser.

My issue with Don Winslow's The Final Score is that most of these 'short novels' feel like little more than outtakes from other projects, and the stakes throughout are too often either minimal, nonexistent or third-party, taking any semblance of urgency or tension away from the reading experience.

The title story, The Final Score, isn't necessarily bad, but it's too damn light, and probably the main offender when it comes down to nonexistent stakes. Plus, the generic way he goes about the assembling of the crew kept me thinking of Rick and Morty. I would’ve lost my shit if their pilot just looked at them wearily when they showed up, waited a beat, then broke out with a “You son of a bitch… I’m in.” I hate and love Rick and Morty for “ruining” that whole trope for me. Again, though, it’s just too damn light. There’s no real consequences aside from those already in place going in, and the whole thing is executed in a way that—despite admittedly being feather-light fun—never feels as 'impossible' as they kept saying.

The Sunday List is a coming-of-age story about a kid saving up for college by illegally delivering booze on Sundays in 1970 Rhode Island. It’s about the people we meet in life and the lessons they teach us, knowingly or not. This one hit me more than expected, and has some really good small-town vibes and plenty of effective moments between Nick (our protagonist) and the people he delivers to each Sunday. It's probably my second favorite of the bunch. The North Wing is a story about a townie cop whose cousin kills a beloved local girl in a drunk driving accident. After his cousin gets 10 years—which he definitely won’t make, as he’s a weak little shit—the cop makes a deal with the devil to get his cousin put in the mafia's wing of the prison. But now they own him. I rated this one higher than I probably should have because it's well written and I liked the ending, but overall it's mostly forgettable.

The next two, True Story & The Lunch Break are the main offenders when it comes down to these stories feeling like outtakes, but they mostly get a pass because they're both so thoroughly entertaining. True Story is a dialogue between two wise guys tell stories over breakfast on their way to whack a guy. This wholly feels like a chapter introducing two heavies in a larger piece, but I did get a kick out of their 'true stories'. And The Lunch Break feels like a side quest of sorts; the type mid-novel departure that would find its main characters in situations that would become relevant later in the story or some shit like that. But the characters and scenario likable and set in the world of filmmaking, so I still enjoyed it quite a bit.

Finally, there's Collision, which is the longest—and easily the best—of the bunch. It's part prison story, part survival/revenge story about a loving family man who accidentally kills someone and gets a serious bid in a serious prison. He gets through his time by doing what needs to be done, and when he's released and the inside comes knocking on the outside, he does what needs to be done once again. Nobody’s just one thing. This one probably could've been expanded on to make one hell of a full-length novel, but even where it's at, it's propulsive and unpredictable and one hell of a final act.

We think we live in one world, but we live in many.
Those worlds can collide.

7/10
[3.5 Stars, Rounded Down]

[Aravind · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.netgalley.co.uk/book/6747... - is where my NetGalley review of The Final Score is...

Don Winslow’s unretirement work, The Final Score, is a collection of six novellas, all rooted in crime. Having earned his place among the finest authors of crime fiction, Winslow now sets out to prove that his short-story craft is equally accomplished. A grand heist by a legendary robber before his final bow; a teenager delivering liquor on dry days and learning life lessons; a pair of wise guys swapping stories; a cop turning to the mob to help his cousin; a surfer PI guarding a volatile, drug-addled actress under a death threat; and the total transformation of a man triggered by a moment of madness – the settings differ, but the desperations, fears, and motivations driving the characters remain the same.

Winslow’s prose, sharp in his longer works, is even keener here, with each of these compact stories packing the punch of full-length tales. The shorter length does not hinder character development, nor does it limit the intricacy of the plots. The moral complexity at the heart of these stories lends them both power and weight. While Final Score and Collision unfold with screenplay-like plotting, True Story is told entirely through dialogue between two men. Both The Sunday List – set in Providence, Rhode Island, the setting of Winslow’s magnum opus, City on Fire – and The Lunch Break strive to showcase the goodness hidden beneath layers of ugliness. The North Wing, along with a couple of others, explores how far one will go for family. Winslow’s dark humour runs throughout the collection, most notably in True Story, while the inventive invectives of The Lunch Break are hugely amusing. The endings of a few stories do seem somewhat rushed and a bit too neat, but that does not take away the fun they deliver.

While I would not call this the greatest crime fiction ever written, it is certainly among the best. The reasons behind Winslow’s retirement and subsequent unretirement lie beyond my understanding, though I hope they are not merely aimed at boosting sales, for his craft alone is more than sufficient. I enjoyed this little anthology immensely and look forward to what Winslow comes up with next.

I am immensely grateful to HarperCollins UK for the digital review copy of The Final Score through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Daniel Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six short novels.

The Final Score - Career stickup-man John Highland plans one final job before he is sent away to prison for life. He wants to hit an Indian casino in Southern California to leave his wife with enough money to live comfortably during his incarceration. The brevity is this story's strength. At only forty pages, the overused "putting a crew" together for one "final job" story breezes by. All of the characters are stock, but the story itself is entertaining.

The Sunday List - Set in 1970, in order to pay for his college tuition, Rhode Island teenager Nick McKenna makes illegal alcohol deliveries. Entertaining sub-40 page story. The coastal New England characters are authentically written. The main character was easy to root for.

The North Wing - Rhode Island police officer Doug Pritchett is forced to make a terrible decision when his cousin kills a young woman while driving drunk. His decision will have far reaching consequences for both men. A compelling story. The moral quandaries that the main character faces are harrowing. The ending lands perfectly.

True Story - Two made men tell each other stories over breakfast in a diner. Mildly amusing. Impressive the way that Winslow linked all of the tales with one another.

The Lunch Break - An ex-cop turned private eye is hired to babysit an actress on the set of her latest movie. She has a history of addiction and bad behavior and also may have a stalker. The weakest effort in the book. The characters are trite archetypes and the story itself resolves with little to no suspense.

Collision - Brad McAlister, a successful family man, must face the consequences when a rash decision sends him to prison. The best story in the book. At just under 100 pages, Winslow creates an authentic cast of characters and makes his protagonist face a series of choices that kept me riveted. I couldn't help but compare this to Wally Lamb's recent "The River is Waiting." That book also sees a family man sent to prison for a terrible decision. Unlike that overwrought and cliched story, Collision is lean and well paced. Winslow also deserves credit for toning down his insertion of his personal politics throughout the entirety of the novel. A refreshing change.

[Penny A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not many authors can make you laugh as well as fear what’s coming next, but Winslow can and does in this collection of six short novels.

In Final Score, an aging criminal knows that this stint in prison will be his last, that he’ll die there. Which is okay with him if he can commit one more armed robbery that will benefit his beloved wife. So he gathers a crew to help him pull off this final heist, which has an unexpected ending. THE SUNDAY LIST tells the story of a young man about to enter college. He gets no help from his hippie, stoned parents, and must raise tuition costs himself. Which he does by delivering booze to people in Rhode Island in 1970 on Sundays, which is illegal. A corrupt cop, an arrogant customer and his seductive wife make this particular delivery day rather difficult for the lad. The third selection is called TRUE STORY. It’s fascinating because there is no narrative, just dialogue between two mob guys at a diner before they pull off yet another job.

THE NORTH WING finds an honest police officer having to make a decision between loyalty to the job and helping his ne’er-do-well nephew who is facing prison time for a DUI that resulted in the death of a teenage girl. THE LUNCH BREAK features some California surfers who are hired to keep a rising starlet from ruining her career through alcohol, drugs and hissy fits. Oh, and there is a stalker around too. The final story is COLLISION where the perfect world of a man and his family is destroyed by one inebriated moment. Time in Folsom Prison is described in brutal detail, and readers find out what a good man must do to survive.

The writing in these stories is graphic, colorful and wonderful. Winslow paints such vivid pictures that you expect to find these characters in your kitchen when you put the book down. The format lends itself to cozy evenings by a fire, taking in one story each time. A great read.

[Inma · Rating 3 out of 5]

📣Soy una temeraria. Lo reconozco. Pedí este libro sin leer la sinopsis. Solo sabía una cosa: llevaba tiempo queriendo leer a este autor y me lancé a lo loco.
¿Cuál fue mi sorpresa? Leí la primera parte, empecé la siguiente y pensé: “¿Pero esto qué es? ¿Dónde está la conexión?”. Así que fui a mirar la sinopsis y sorpresa: eran relatos. Sí. Relatos. ¡Así soy!
📌Pero bueno, vamos a ello. En realidad no son relatos cortos, sino como seis pequeñas novelas, bastante más extensas de lo que es un relato. Aun así, el autor no se pierde en florituras: va directo al grano y te mete de lleno en cada historia desde la primera página.
💵En todas ellas conocemos a personajes muy distintos, pero con un punto en común: se mueven en un mundo donde el dinero, las dr0gas y las ilegal¡dades están siempre presentes. Y otro punto clave: te hacen reflexionar. Te preguntas constantemente qué habrías hecho tú en su lugar, hasta qué punto el “malo” es realmente malo y qué circunstancias lo han llevado hasta ahí.
➡️Nos encontramos con:
🔹 John, un ladrón veterano que quiere dar su último golpe antes de entrar en prisión.
🔹 Nick Mackenna, un chico que sobrevive como puede pero sueña y lucha por algo más.
🔹 Chrissy Pritchett, atropella accidentalmente a una chica, y su primo Doug, dispuesto a todo por salvarlo.
🔹 Dos mafiosos que desayunan tranquilamente mientras hablan de negocios turbios.
🔹 Brittany McVeigh, una actriz rodeada de guardaespaldas que intentan salvarla de su autodestrucción.
🔹 Brad McAlister, un padre de familia que comete un error que le cambia la vida para siempre.
🚨Todas son historias rápidas, intensas y llenas de acción, protagonizadas por personajes con zonas muy oscuras pero también con una pequeña luz que intentan recuperar.
✅Encontraréis venganza, dilemas morales, errores que te llevan a prisión, rupturas familiares, alc0hol, dr0gas, malas decisiones pero también redención, segundas oportunidades y personas a las que aferrarte para no caer.
🔘¿Mi “pero”? No soy muy fan de los relatos. Me habría encantado que cada historia tuviera 150 páginas más para poder profundizar más en las historias y disfrutarlas todavía mejor. La narrativa del autor sí me ha gustado mucho, así que creo que este no ha sido el libro ideal para estrenarme con él.
💬Aun así, si sois fans suyos o si no, tenéis que leerlo porque estoy segura de que os va a encantar.

[Ben M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: The Final Score by Don Winslow

Don Winslow doesn’t just write crime fiction—he writes pressure. The Final Score is another reminder of how masterfully he compresses violence, loyalty, and moral compromise into a story that feels less like a novel and more like a ticking clock.

From the opening pages, Winslow establishes a world where every decision carries weight and every favor comes due. The prose is lean, sharp, and unsentimental, yet it hums with emotion just beneath the surface. This is classic Winslow territory: professionals operating by their own codes, systems that grind people down, and characters who know the rules are rigged but play anyway because they don’t know how to stop..
What makes The Final Score stand out is its momentum. The pacing is relentless—short chapters, clipped dialogue, and scenes that end just a beat earlier than you expect. Winslow trusts the reader to keep up, and the result is a propulsive read that’s nearly impossible to put down. There’s no wasted motion here; every scene advances the tension or deepens the stakes..
Thematically, the book grapples with consequences—personal, institutional, and generational. Winslow has always been fascinated by how systems corrupt even well-intentioned people, and that theme resonates strongly here. No one escapes clean, and victories, when they come, feel costly and earned rather than triumphant.
Fans of Winslow will recognize his trademarks: muscular realism, dark humor, and an unflinching look at power and violence. Newcomers will find The Final Score an excellent entry point—tight, gripping, and emotionally grounded without being indulgent.
In the end, The Final Score delivers exactly what Don Winslow does best: a hard, fast, intelligent crime story that entertains while quietly asking uncomfortable questions. It’s tough, smart, and lingers long after the last page—proof that Winslow remains one of the genre’s most commanding voices.

[Andy Wormald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Final Score proves why Don Winslow is one of the best crime writers, an author at the top of their game, with a book that stays with you.

What you have is six short stories, however, it’s the quality and depth to the storytelling that goes into each, the emotioanl rollercoaster you are taken on and that the ability to make the reader care for the characters that shine, the writing is sublime.

Each story is unique and different, with The Final Score you have an ambitious casino heist, The Sunday Lists takes you behind Rhode Islands Sunday alcohol ban, The North Wing how far will you go to protect your familiy, True Story is just two guys chewing the fat, The Lunch Break features a PI and a diva actress and Collision which shows the impact of one simple mistake. I’m not going into each plot as you really need to read each without too many preconceived thoughts.

What binds all these stories together though is the crisp sharp dialogue, characters that you can instantlty believe in and the thundering impact that each story has,

Whilst the stories have a hard hitting core to them, there is also a subtle warmth to each, whichever side of the law you are on there is human emotion to the characters. As short stories you are in awe as to how much impact can be written into each, with each one you have to savour every sentence, there isn’t a single wasted word

As a read this is one I found hard to put down, there was an urgency to know how each story was going to end. If I had to choose, my favourites were True Story which is a masterpiece of dialogue and Collision which goes to show how fragile life can be.

It reads like looking through the lens of a slice of American crime, with each story there is a sense of morality being played out on the page.

This is a book which I can’t recommend highly enough

[Craig Sisterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful storyteller Don Winslow has shown in The Border and The Cartel that he can write epic literary crime novels that tilt the scales around 700 pages, maintaining multi-layered, crisp and compelling storytelling throughout (unlike some bloated tomes from other bestsellers). Now, in The Final Score he underlines that he’s also a dab hand at pitch-perfect short stories; intense tales, memorable characters, high-pressure situations.

In the titular tale, a legendary thief on the cusp of a life sentence plans an audacious casino heist to secure the financial future of those he loves. Elsewhere, we meet an ambitious teen looking to raise college funds by delivering illegal liquor to his town’s residents (“The Sunday List”), two gangsters before a hit sharing breakfast and reminisces (“True Story”); a promising cop facing a life-changing dilemma for love of family (“The North Wing”); and surfer-private eye Boone Daniels and his crew - who feature in earlier Winslow novels like The Dawn Patrol - battling with the high-maintenance, drug-addicted film star they’re hired to protect (“The Lunch Break”). All building to the lengthiest story, “Collision”, where a moment of madness unfurls a whole new life for a high-achieving hotelier and family man.

Short story collections can be tricky to review, as often quality can vary, and different readers may prefer different tales, but in Winslow’s case he knocks it out of the park each and every time. Sharp dialogue, unforgettable characters, tight storytelling. The Final Score is a delightful buffet of humanity caught up in dark deeds where every morsel is moreish. A treat for longtime Winslow fans, and great entrée for those new to his talents.

[This review was first written for the Feb 2026 issue of Good Reading magazine in Australia]

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Final Score by Don Winslow is an outstanding collection that shows a master storyteller operating at the absolute top of his game.

This book brings together six crime stories that are all sharply written, tightly plotted, and completely absorbing. Each one feels fully formed despite the shorter length, with vivid characters, crackling dialogue, and twists that land with real impact. From audacious heists and crooked cops to desperate choices made under pressure, Winslow explores greed, loyalty, survival, and consequence with precision and confidence.

What really stands out is how much depth he packs into each story. There is not a wasted word. Even in a few pages, Winslow creates characters you understand and care about, then drops them into situations that feel raw, tense, and painfully human. The dialogue in particular is exceptional and drives the stories forward with pace and authenticity.

Whether you are a longtime fan or new to his work, The Final Score is a superb read. It is gripping, polished, and immensely satisfying, and easily one of the strongest short story collections in the crime genre. Highly recommended.