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California Fire and Life
- Narrated by: Jon Lindstrom
- Length: 12 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
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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.
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Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Mr Valentine 'Bunny' Prendergast
- 07-06-15
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 people found this helpful
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- MooseMalloy
- 04-07-22
liked this book a lot
I have read a few of the author's books and not crazy about them - but really solid all the same. but this one was really good with a cool story and follows a nice tradition of an insurance investigator (sounds a bit dull but it ain't).!
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- G F W H Dagger
- 08-06-22
pulp fiction
Pretty inane but listened all the way through. Wouldn't really recommend this unless you are happy to let it wash over you. Typical stuff - all goodies are tall and beautiful, all baddies are 2D villains.
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- Anonymous User
- 12-08-20
Stick with it
There are s couple of chapters that go into a lot of detail about fires and fire investigation. Push through all of that though and it's worth it.
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- Mark
- 05-04-20
Almost there, just needs an editor
It’s a great story, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader on his toes. I do think however that the technical sections on fire investigation were just a little too detailed when compared with the ending which seemed rushed in comparison.
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- Thewilsonman
- 20-06-19
Don’t get this if you have things to do!
This is a very well written and performed story with great characters and intriguing twists that keep you listening and listening.
Don Winslow demonstrates (again) that he has a great eye for details. I suppose it helped that the places were known to me but, even so, it all comes to life in your mind’s eye.
As cliched as it is; I really did not want the book to end.
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- alastairl39
- 22-05-19
Fire and Life
California Fire and Life is a compelling story that twists and turns to an interesting conclusion. The narration is also of a very high standard!
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- Descendent
- 10-08-18
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.
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- A. O. Dea
- 19-11-17
phenomenal
Don Winslow is a phenomenal writer and storyteller. And the narrator was flawless. Hated to finish..
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- John S
- 18-04-15
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.
47 people found this helpful
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- L. O. Pardue
- 14-06-15
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.
27 people found this helpful
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- Darwin8u
- 28-06-17
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).
13 people found this helpful
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- Dr. Meggin McIntosh
- 06-02-18
Buy this one now. California Fire & Life. Worth it
Have liked several of Don Winslow's other books but this one...incredible. Wanted to listen to all 10+ hours at once, but of course, couldn't because...I have clients who need me. Oh, and sleep is good. But other than that...I was listening. Excellent on all counts. Narrator was ideal.
5 people found this helpful
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- My Name
- 30-04-15
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.
5 people found this helpful
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- Kimberly
- 28-03-15
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.
16 people found this helpful
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- Ted
- 26-06-15
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.
10 people found this helpful
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- Eric
- 19-04-15
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.
4 people found this helpful
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- Chip Atkinson
- 22-05-18
It’s a barn burner!
This is a novel with a lot of characters and information, which means it’s complicated. But it’s also ingenious, particularly how Winslow brings it all together in the end.
7 people found this helpful
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- Mark Hancock
- 23-05-15
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!
15 people found this helpful