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  • Savages

  • A Novel
  • By: Don Winslow
  • Narrated by: Michael Kramer
  • Length: 7 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (1,540 ratings)

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Savages

By: Don Winslow
Narrated by: Michael Kramer
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Publisher's summary

Part-time environmentalist and philanthropist Ben and his ex-mercenary buddy Chon run an independent Laguna Beach–based marijuana operation, reaping significant profits from an established clientele. But they may have come up against something that they can't handle---the Mexican Baja Cartel wants in, and saying no is unacceptable. When they refuse to back down, the cartel kidnaps Ophelia, the boys' playmate and confidante. O's abduction sets off a dizzying array of ingenious negotiations and gripping plot twists that will captivate listeners eager to learn the costs of freedom and the price of an amazing high.
©2010 Samburu, Inc. (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A spellbinding, tour de force that is utterly impossible to put down. Savages is, bar none, the finest novel I have read in years." (Christopher Reich, author of Rules of Deception)

What listeners say about Savages

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

amazing writing

this book is an ode to style. Not to say that substance is lacking although the characters are not particularly credible. But oh the style. In the same vein perhaps as James Ellroy and almost in the same league. That's high praise...

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Goon Where the Wind Don't Blow so Strange!

I derive a sick pleasure watching my bipolar friends and family freak fully out at the state of affairs. Depending on which way they swing it's either the best of times or the worst of times. I'm just sitting over here like nothing is ever going to change and we're all going to die. The coral reef is missing but their is an over abundance of glyphosate along with cancer. Despite the 80's my moms even made it to the ripe old age of 49 which a million years ago was ancient. Anywho, once again I was wrong and despite Hollywood's ruination of all things good Winslow is still batting a 1.000. In this old sailor's humble opinion, Savages was truly amazing but now like a damn liberal even I'm depressed. I thought I had one more Winslow piece to go only to find out it was a German version of one I've already read. Thanks Trump.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of my all time favorite listens!!

If you could sum up Savages in three words, what would they be?

A brilliant story

What other book might you compare Savages to and why?

I really can't think of anything else to compare it to. Winslow is one of a kind and I think this is his best, better than Dawn Patrol. Better than Power of the dog. I only wish it was longer. I really found his one word chapters interesting and amusing.

What does Michael Kramer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Michael Kramer is the perfect actor for this story. The way he read it portrayed the personalities of the characters perfectly. I've listened to it three times.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Savage!

A super fan of Don Winslow since I saw the movie Savages I didn't read this book right away but I wanted to see what else the author had. I started with Power of the Dog then The Cartel, The Winter of Frankie Machine, Dawn Patrol, California Fire and Life and Gentleman's Hour. After reading and absolutely LOVING all of those I finally decided to see how different the book was from the film and read(listened to) Savages. It was naturally more in depth than the film with a cooler ending. Compared to all the previous Winslow books I've read, Savages is almost Don's"Y.A." novel, if Y.A. novels had lots of graphic sex, drug use and violence of course. Meaning just that the other books seemed more adult in their characters and plots. Savages is more a young person's type of story, I would have sworn this book was the end all/be all had I read it as a late teen/early 20 something. It reads like most of my life back then actually and reading it reminds me of how lucky I am to have made it to 37yrs old. If you like sex, drugs and "Iraq and Roll" type Cartel-gangster s**t you're gonna F**k'n Love Savages!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good book weird editing

This is the second book I’ve listened to recently that most of the first words are cut off. I can figure it out but am getting annoyed with having to. Not sure what’s going on. Great book though. Good listen!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid"

Meets the "Real Housewives of Orange County". I agree that the characters were not very likable or well developed, but they had their own unique appeal. The novel brings to mind the first time I saw that "reality" TV show. The characters are so awful you just cannot look away. It is fun to peek into something foreign and so far removed from most of our realities. I stuck with the book unlike the TV show. A much more enjoyable way to spend some time. I loved Winslow's pace and his prose.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I can't stand the narrator

I'm returning this one. the tone of the narrator is so bad. he's trying to sound cool or something, but it just comes across in a DB way.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I preferred the sequal

excellent novel which as expected was better than the film adaptation. overall though I must say it came across as more shallow than the prequel or Mr. Winslow's Cartel novels.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

It was just OK

I love Don Winslow and really liked the prequel ‘Kings of Cool’, but for me ‘Savages’ just didn’t deliver. I felt as a stand alone book it didn’t give enough background on how they go to where they were, and there wasn’t much character development or suspenseful moments (in the first 60% or so of the book). As always the writing is good, but overall it was a bit disappointing from what I’m used to.

The narrator didn't do a great job with the various characters especially the female ones. Again vs. the first book it just fell short.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Story and Narrator Were Made For Eachother

I thought I had a favourite narrator before this book...now I'm torn. I'm almost scared to listen to other books he's done because this book was so perfect for his voice.
The book was so real and raw, the movie was close but not half as good.
I started recommending it when I was only an hour in.

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