The Winter of Frankie Machine

By: Don Winslow

Narrated by: Dennis Boutsikaris

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

Frank Machianno is a late-middle-aged ex-surf bum who runs a bait shack on the San Diego waterfront. An affable Italian with a love of people and life, he's a stand-up businessman, devoted father, and a beloved fixture in the community.

He's also a hit man - specifically, a retired hit man. Back in the day, when he was one of the most feared members of the West Coast Mafia, he was known as Frankie Machine. Frank consigned his Mob ties to the past years ago, which is where he wants them to stay. But a favor being called in now by the local boss is one Frank can't refuse, and soon he's sucked back into the treacherous currents of his former life. Someone from the past wants him dead. He has to figure out who and why, and he has to do it fast.

©2006 Don Winslow (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Elmore Leonard fans who have not yet discovered Winslow will be delighted by his fourth thriller....Winslow has created plausible characters and taut scenes of suspense that will keep readers turning pages." (Publishers Weekly)

Frankie Machine Rocks — The Consummate Winslow

Don Winslow is a master story teller. I started reading Don Winslow’s novels after I read a Stephen King review. King wasn’t wrong. Don Winslow is the king of his genre. Read The Power of the Dog Trilogy, The Force, Savages, or anything else by Don Winslow, and you’ll want more—much more. And that ain’t hyperbole, because like Frankie Machine, Don Winslow is old school!

Nice Easy Listen

I enjoyed listening to this book. Light but engaging story, and a good main character. Narration was also very good.

Always a great story

Don Winslow always writes a great story. You actually get lost in his characters. Dennis narrative of the book only adds to the enjoyment.

Excellent

can not say enough good things about this book.. well written, characters excellently defined, narration excellent, ending excellent, a pure joy for 8+ hours..

Best Story, Characters, Writing, Narration on Audible

I’ve listened to this novel at least a dozen times in 10 years and it never gets old. Beautifully written, masterfully narrated.

I think it’s the by far the best novel Don Winslow has ever written. It may be the best thriller on Audible. My wife, who’s a romance reader agrees. Regardless, don’t miss out on this one!

stand up guy

well writen and read realisticaly by narator,the main charactor is strong and streat smart, smiles crossed my face many times and actually made me laugh out loud, a retired hitman who loves the sea air and is pulled back to his prior life--------temporerily

The Winter of Frankie Machine

Had a great time with this book. I am a D Winslow fan,

Quick, easy listen

This book was entertaining enough if you like mafia stories. I am sure the author did his homework but something about the degrading and depersonalizing way women were referred to put me off big time. I felt that if I heard one more reference to an "amazing rack" I would scream. The narration was well-done and added to the enjoyability factor. I would rate the story as 3 1/2 stars overall.

Confusing and thin

I love the title, "the winter" being both the season during which the story takes place, and Frank's retirement years, or the winter of his life.

There is some of the introspection and surfer philosophy we see in Dawn Patrol, but here it is not as developed.The history and capabilities of the characters are not well-developed either--without the publisher's summary, you would be caught off guard when Frankie the Bait Man turns out to be who he is.

There are also a lot of flashbacks that are confusing. It's hard to follow who, when and where things are going on. The ending to the final tense stand-off is also confusing--how did those punks know to be there? The ending to the book is better, and again references the title.

The narration is okay, not as exciting as Ray Porter's, but satisfactory. This book ends up falling far behind The Dawn Patrol in enjoyability, but was entertaining for the while.

Winslow hurt by terrible narration

Enjoyable story but painful to listen to. Unprofessional narration made keeping track of characters difficult and climaxes boring.