• Free Billy

  • By: Don Winslow
  • Narrated by: Ed Harris
  • Length: 1 hr and 6 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (2,847 ratings)

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Free Billy  By  cover art

Free Billy

By: Don Winslow
Narrated by: Ed Harris
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Publisher's summary

Billy has figured it out.

How to live free.

That’s "free" as in "it costs no money" at hotel buffets, fast-food drink fountains, beachside shower, his old van....

From the master of crime fiction comes an unexpectedly whimsical short story about this San Diego surfer whose life plan is working perfectly until he meets a wealthy woman at an art gallery opening (the hors d’oeuvres), falls in love, and then has to masquerade as an upstanding member of society.  

This O. Henry-style yarn will surprise and delight Don Winslow fans and short-fiction devotees alike.

©2021 Don Winslow (P)2022 Audible Originals, LLC.

About the Creator

Don Winslow is the author of twenty-two acclaimed, award-winning international bestsellers, including The New York Times bestsellers The Force and *The Borderv, the #1 international bestseller The Cartel, The Power of the Dog, Savages, and The Winter of Frankie Machine. His latest novel, City on Fire, is set to publish in April of 2022. 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 to air as a major television series, and The Force is soon to be a major motion picture from 20th Century Studios. A former investigator, antiterrorist trainer, and trial consultant, Winslow lives in California and Rhode Island.

About the Performer

Ed Harris stars as the enigmatic Man in Black in the HBO series sensation, Westworld and will reprise his role in the upcoming fourth season. In season 2 he received an Emmy nomination for his performance. He also stars opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, which Paramount will release in 2022. He can currently be seen in Netflix’s The Lost Daughter, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s award-winning film adaptation of the Elena Ferrante novel, with Olivia Coleman and Dakota Johnson.
Harris made his feature film directing debut on Pollock, receiving an Academy Award nomination as Best Actor for his performance in the title role. His co-star, Marcia Gay Harden, won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar under his direction. Harris also directed, as well as co-wrote Appaloosa, starring opposite Viggo Mortensen. His film credits include A History of Violence (Natl. Society of Film Critics Award); The Hours (Oscar, Golden Globe, SAG and BAFTA nominations); The Truman Show (Oscar nomination, Golden Globe Award); Apollo 13 (Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, SAG Award); Kodachrome opposite Jason Sudeikis and Elizabeth Olson; Darren Aronofsky’s Mother!; In Dubious Battle, Run All Night, Frontera, The Face of Love, The Way Back, Copying Beethoven, The Right Stuff, The Abyss, The Rock, The Human Stain, A Beautiful Mind, Stepmom, The Firm, Places in the Heart, Alamo Bay, Sweet Dreams, Jacknife, State of Grace, The Third Miracle, Touching Home, and Victor Nunez’s A Flash of Green.

What listeners say about Free Billy

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a free gift for a rainy March morning

I like almost all of Don Winslows work. But of all of his books I enjoy the San Diego canon the most.
So a free story, an hour spent hanging with the Dawn Patrol on a rainy March morning in New England was a great gift.
I think Winslow is an terrific short story writer, the Zoo story in his earlier collection read by Ray Porter is among the best writer/narrator piece in all of Audible.
Many thanks

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funny short story

just had 2 more hours in our drive and we were well entertained by this cute and funny story

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A Fun Break..

This is definitely a walk on the lighter side of Winslow’s work. Back is the fun in the sun surfing group of the Dawn Patrol, but less of the dark and grittiness that is a common theme throughout much of his writing.

Free Billy is a refreshing story of that one friend we all have who is content to mooch and hobo-style his way through life. Only now, he has found the love of his life. It’s up to Boone, Sunny Day, and rest of the crew to crash course Billy on what non-surfer, normal women expect in a relationship.

Ed Harris gives a warm, rich resonance to a story that is heartwarming and fun. It’s easy to forget that this is such a prolific actor as he helps paint the story for your ears. Quickly becoming a favorite reader!!

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I can’t! Lmao!!

I have haven’t enjoyed a reading this much in a while. The surprise ending is worthy! I haven’t laughed this hard over a book yet!! Ed Harris, you rock!!

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Delicious!

I am a big Don Winslow fan, and an even bigger Audible fan. This short story was delightful. The reading well done. Thank you Audible!

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Free Billy

Funny! I love the reader’s voice. The story is brief but satisfying and has a great cast of characters.

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My new retirement plan!

Ed Harris had the perfect voice and tone for this story. The story was engaging and endearing. Def recommend it.

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Sweet short story!!

Such a sweet story!! Makes you think about how life can go sideways and then come back to something good! Great narration by Ed Harris!

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a humorous short stort

this story has all the san diego surfing characters in other don winslow books and is funny and a great read.

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Worth the listen!

I smiled the entire time I listened. I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out in an hour, but it was worth the listen. A story of friendship and love. I’m glad the two of them found each other.

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