The Kings of Cool

by Don Winslow
The Kings of Cool cover
Good Books rating 4.08
Crime
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Paperback • £9.99
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  • ID: 6195
  • Added: 2025-11-05
  • Updated: 2025-11-29
  • ISBN: 9781448136100
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2012-08-09
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

The Kings of Cool dives into the backstory of Ben and Chon, best friends who navigate the dangerous world of drug deals and law enforcement in 1960s Southern California. This gripping tale spans fifty years, revealing how the choices of one generation reverberate through the lives of the next. The story is a high-stakes journey filled with twists and turns, culminating in a dramatic showdown that forces the characters to confront their loyalties and the true meaning of family. Don Winslow's novel is not just a prequel to 'Savages' but a standalone epic that explores the complexities of friendship, love, and the consequences of one's actions. The narrative is rich with historical detail and intense action, making it a compelling read for fans of crime fiction and thrillers.

Reviews
MeloVebooks · 2015-08-24
excellent 4.50

The book is fast-paced and well-written, with a mix of humor and action that makes it a quick and enjoyable read. The reviewer was able to finish the book in no time.

The reviewer praises 'The Kings of Cool' for its fast pace and engaging writing style. They appreciate the blend of humor and action, which makes the book a quick and enjoyable read. The reviewer finds the characters to be well-developed and the plot to be engaging. They highlight the author's talent for creating complex characters and intricate plots. The reviewer notes that the book is a prequel to 'Savages' and provides valuable background information for the characters and their relationships.

Quick quotes

    The Kings Of Cool has a fast pace and is very well written: humor is mixed with action and I was able to finish this book in no time at all.

    I find Winslow's writing has a fluid, almost effortless feel.

    It's like he's so on top of his game and knows what he's saying so well that he ...

The Independent · 2012-08-18
enthralling 4.00

The book is more ambitious than its predecessor, Savages, as it delves into the history of the characters' love triangle. It is a complex and layered narrative that explores themes of love, lust, and greed.

The reviewer notes that 'The Kings of Cool' is a more ambitious book than 'Savages', seeking to map out the history of the characters' love triangle. They appreciate the complexity and depth of the narrative, which explores themes of love, lust, and greed. The reviewer finds the book to be a bold and enthralling story, with sharp dialogue and blistering social commentary. They highlight the author's talent for creating complex characters and intricate plots.

Quick quotes

    It is actually a considerably more ambitious book than Savages, seeking to map out not only the history of Savages' weird love triangle, but ...

    The Kings of Cool is a bold, enthralling story of love, lust, greed, drugs, and the fallacies of them all.

    Also, I was impressed with all of the details of the ...

The New York Times · 2012-06-17
engaging 3.75

The book is a slender but impactful prequel to 'Savages', laying the groundwork for the more explosive parts of the latter. The reviewer appreciates the author's talent for creating complex characters and intricate plots.

The reviewer notes that 'The Kings of Cool' is a slender book but has a significant impact as a prequel to 'Savages'. They appreciate the author's talent for creating complex characters and intricate plots. The reviewer finds the book to be a bold and enthralling story, with sharp dialogue and blistering social commentary. They highlight the author's ability to create a fluid and effortless writing style that draws the reader in. The reviewer notes that the book is a quick and enjoyable read, with a blend of humor and action.

Quick quotes

    The Kings of Cool would be a slender book if it merely laid the groundwork for the most explosive parts of Savages.

    But Mr. Winslow ...

    It is filled with Winslow's trademark talents—complex characters, sharp dialogue, blistering social commentary—that have earned him an obsessive ...

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