California Fire and Life

By: Don Winslow

Narrated by: Jon Lindstrom

Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

Jack Wade, a claims adjuster for California Fire and Life Mutual Insurance Company, is one of the best arson investigators around. He's a man who knows fire, who can read the traces it leaves behind like a roadmap. When he's called in to examine an unusual claim, the tracks of the fire tell him that something's wrong. So wrong that he violates his own cardinal rule - "You don't get personal, you don't get emotional. Whatever you do, you don't get involved" - and plunges into the case.

Real estate mogul Nicky Vale's house is one of the most valuable properties on this stretch of the Southern California gold coast - large, luxurious, crammed with antiques, set on a nice piece of land with a perfect ocean view. After a disastrous blaze tears through a wing of the house, it's only normal that Vale would file an insurance claim. But a $3 million claim is rarely normal, especially not when it's filed within hours of the horrific death of the owner's young and beautiful wife. The County Sheriff's Department investigator, Brian "Accidentally" Bentley, has declared the fire, well, accidental - caused by Mrs. Vale's passing out in bed with a bottle of vodka and a lit cigarette - although a careful look at the evidence points to something more sinister.

When Jack begins his investigation, he draws on his skill, experience and sheer stubbornness to uncover the truth of what's going on, but each step leads him further into a situation that's becoming increasingly dangerous. Soon arson is the least of Jack's worries, as the case grows to involve the Russian mob, Vietnamese gangs, real estate scams, counterfeiting and corporate corruption. In addition, Jack's forced to confront his own ghosts, including a fatal professional error, and to cope with the sudden reentry into his life of the best thing that ever happened to him: Letitia del Rio, a Sheriff's deputy whose bombshell looks are exceeded only by her smarts and guts.

©2012 Don Winslow (P)2015 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"Intriguing and suspenseful." ( The San Diego Union-Tribune)

"[A] jazzy California thriller... Think Philip Marlowe if he were still sleuthing - and had taken up surfing." ( Entertainment Weekly (Editor's Choice))

A book about an insurance adjuster, oh yea.

If you read the synopsis of this book you might want to say, that looks uninteresting. Actually it is one of my favorite books in the last few months. Both the narration and writing are superb. The author has an "ear" for dialogue. so you will find yourself laughing at some times. The plot twists and turns so it is often suspenseful. . But the major good point of the book is that main character is just a regular guy who will not compromise his morals. No Jack Reacher kind of character bent on killing about every third person he meets, but someone just dedicated to his job as a fire claims adjuster who will not tolerate fraud and an underlying murder.

So good I think I listened to entire 13 hours straight.

27 of 29 people found this review helpful

Who Knew? Insurance Investigations are Fascinating

I knew that Don Winslow was an excellent author, but it took me a long time to convince myself that insurance investigations, particularly arson, could be so interesting. What finally pushed me were two listeners I follow. I trusted their good reviews and was rewarded.

Winslow can make the study of fire so interesting that I actually enjoyed the details required to understand the story. To be honest, I don't recall a time during the listen where my interest started to lag. I found the ending to be dramatic and satisfying. To Mr. Winslow -- well done and thank you for a great experience.

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

Motive: Insanity, Revenge, Money

"You don't get personal, you don't get emotional. Whatever you do, you don't get involved. You do the job and the rest of the time you surf."
- Don Winslow, California Fire and Life

The book moved and sometimes it even burned. This isn't top-shelf Winslow, but if you are looking for a quick summer read while the grass dries up and the Santa Ana winds are blowing hard and you are wondering if your home is fully covered for fire, perhaps this is the book for you. Or not. This book had a couple strengths and a couple weaknesses.

Strengths:
1. Winslow can write. He understand storytelling and knows how to develop characters and push the narrative quickly along. After page one, the gas is poured and the match is essentially lit.
2. Winslow can research. He loves the details. He enjoys the technical aspects of the books he is writing. More often than not he seems to get it right, or at least close enough that the average reader isn't going to catch onto areas he is guessing at. My guess? Fire science is not quite as air tight as he makes it seem, but still Winslow sets it up well enough for the book to engage.
3. Winslow respects the reader. He isn't condescending, but he still understands what he is writing is fiction and essentially entertainment. So, he entertains.

Weaknesses:
1. Sometimes he takes short-cuts that seem don't quite hold up. In this book it is probably the back foot of the plot. He is focused on the fire, corruption, and the Russians and less focused on the law, Insurance, and bureaucracy, so he tends to compress and make some pretty wild jumps. But...OK. Fine. It is a minor point.
2. Sex. While he is unapologetic, unabashed, and unashamed about his sex scenes, his boldness would almost work better in smaller doses. Two or three scenes make it more gratuitous and less bold. He doesn't write poorly about sex (writing about sex is HARD) but he doesn't quite know when to turn it off (or at least down).

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

Fire, life.... Living in So Cal

What is honor, what drive your soul, where and why do you draw the lines separating life and the fire. Don takes us on another journey. If you're already a fan here's another great work. Looking for adventure, start here.

15 of 17 people found this review helpful

Hot!

This guy Winslow is a fiery writer. The plot's wonderfully yet accessibly involved. Within the limits of the plot, the characters are deep enough... but the research creates an enormous sense legitimacy. Wilson makes you believe that each of these people know what they know... and Wilson gives you enough to feel expert yourself.

Five stars and I'm looking forward to my next Winslow, hopefully read by a talent as engaging as Jon Lindstrom.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Don Goddamned Winslow

I stumbled upon Don Winslow's "Winter of Franke Machine" a little over a year ago & took a chance. My question at the end of that book was, "How in the hell had I not known about Don Winslow?"

Turns out I had read/listened to one other book, "Savages", which was also excellent, but hadn't yet put them together mentally. Winslow is to Southern California what Dennis Lehane is to the Northeastern Seaboard. Which is to say, flawless. Rich character development and take no prisoners style, matched with exquisite storytelling.

California Fire & Life is no exception- it's a fantastic listen!

11 of 13 people found this review helpful

Fire 101 with some good plot twists

Is a fire in which the soon-to-be ex-wife of Russian emigre and business tycoon dies an accident or is it murder by arson? Jack Wade, a "claims dog" fire investigator for California Fire and Life, investigates and in the process the listener learns a lot about fire and Winslow presents it in a very engaging manner.

Winslow is a really good story-teller and I found this book to be a compelling listen with some great twists and turns in the plot. I've also listened to "Savages" and "Kings of Cool" by Winslow and enjoyed them as well. In each case the narrator has been a terrific complement to the story.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

great writer

Don Winslow has become one of my favorite authors. This story and the characters were very well developed and interesting. As with most of his books, I could listen for much longer and am almost disappointed when it's over.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Typical Winslow - very entertaining

Would you consider the audio edition of California Fire and Life to be better than the print version?

I don't know. I don't have the print version.

What did you like best about this story?

Winslow's protaganist can get nasty when he has to, but deep down, he's a really nice guy. I liked him.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

I really learned "stuff" with this one

Its Don Winslow so the reader must deal with his usual "SoCal surfer crap" but you know that going in. Beyond the surfer stuff.... a very fine story with a very likable character and a surprise ending. .... I could enjoy more stories about "Jack" but that seems unlikely. .... Lots of interesting facts about fire, arson, etc.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

Great listen

Really enjoyed this one. A mix of hard boiled private dick and noir with a touch of the mob and everything you ever wanted to know about combustion. Very well narrated. Recommended.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

impeccable story and performance

Fantastic story that shows off Don Winslow's easy going but acid sharp writing style brilliantly. Believable characters that you can "like, dig man...". The narration is top drawer. You won't be disappointed.

phenomenal

Don Winslow is a phenomenal writer and storyteller. And the narrator was flawless. Hated to finish..