City on Fire, by Don Winslow, is a minor league mafia story set in Rhode Island where Irish, Italians, and Blacks compete for control of rackets and drugs. The protagonist is Danny, an Irishman from Dogtown who yearns for a better life that’s legit. However, his family ties, and the actions of family members suck him into a position of responsibility in a war between crime families. If Mystic River and The Godfather had a baby, this book would be it. There’s good action, pace, and character development. I can see this book being made into a movie. Winslow is a great writer and I couldn’t put down this page-turner. Here’s what Kirkus Reviews says:

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/don-winslow/city-on-fire-winslow/

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About Mike Wilson

Mike Wilson’s work has appeared in magazines including Cagibi Literary Journal, Stoneboat, The Aurorean, The Ocotillo Review, London Reader, and in anthologies including for a better world 2020 and Anthology of Appalachian Writers Vol. X. He received Kentucky State Poetry Society’s Chaffin/Kash Prize in 2019. He resides in Lexington, Kentucky, but summers in Ecstasy and winters in Despair.

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