The final score Six short novels

Characters wrestle with the costs of loyalty and the burdens of familial responsibility in this spare collection of six short novellas from Winslow (City in Ruins). In the title story, career thief John Highland faces a lengthy prison sentence after a botched heist. As mounting legal debts threaten to leave John's wife destitute, John devises one last gamble: a scheme to steal millions of cartel dollars from a crooked casino. In the standout "The North Wing," a straitlaced patrolman has his loyalty to his troubled cousin tested after a fatal drunk driving accident. Longtime Winslow fans will welcome the reappearance of surfer/PI Boone Daniels in "The Lunch Break," which finds Boone babysitting a petulant starlet whose addictions have made her an insurance liability for the studio hoping to get one last great performance out of her. Meanwhile, a stalker threatens to end more than just her career. Winslow's keen ear for dialogue shines throughout--especially in "True Story," where two mob associates swap tall tales over a diner breakfast--but some of the entries feel more like outlines than full-blooded narratives. Still, it's always refreshing to spend time with Winslow's inimitable prose. Agent: Shane Salerno, Story Factory. (Sept.)

Winslow has deftly and successfully approached crime fiction and mystery from various angles in bestsellers like Power of the Dog and City on Fire; his new collection of short stories is equally strong, with memorable characters and plotlines. One standout character is John Highland, who is about to spend another stretch in prison for armed robbery. Before he self-surrenders, he decides to cede his freedom on his terms, assembling a crew to pull off a high-risk but highly lucrative heist at a money-laundering casino--an optimally planned scheme that he intends to include as little violence as possible. Another well-drawn protagonist is policeman Doug Pritchett, whose beloved cousin has just been convicted of vehicular manslaughter and is set to serve a lengthy sentence in prison. Loyal Doug considers making a deal with the devil so his cousin can do his time in comfort and safety. VERDICT After a brief period of retirement, Winslow's welcome return to writing proves that he's still a deft hand at crime fiction. Running the gamut from action-packed to uproariously funny to deeply poignant, every story in this collection hits its mark.--Philip Zozzaro

A collection of six short stories about crimes both planned and accidental, the collision of dreams and reality, and the things people do for love. John Highland, for example, faces a lifetime in prison. But if he can do one "Final Score" before turning himself in, at least he can set up his beloved wife for the rest of her days. His plan is impossible to pull off, which is even more reason to do it--a brilliant finale to his criminal career. Another tale takes the reader to Rhode Island, where liquor sales are banned on Sundays. One liquor store maintains a secret "Sunday List" of thirsty patrons and their liquid requirements to get them through the Lord's Day. Some stories are more serious--a drunk kid kills a young woman in a DUI and is headed to prison. But the kid's cousin, a cop, worries he may not survive long in the general population. If only the kid could get assigned to the "North Wing," where a mob boss prisoner protects its inmates. "True Story" is sharp, funny, and one hundred percent dialogue. Guys swap wacky crime stories in a diner. A sample: "Listen--Angela, for all her fine qualities, was no Rose Scholar, either." But then in "The Lunch Break," Dave is hired to watch over the spoiled actress Brittany McVeigh and make sure she shows up on set sober and on time. She is only 5-foot-3, but "bad things come in small packages" and she's a "drunken, drug-addled, promiscuous little diva" who claims she's being stalked. In the final tale, "Collision," life is darn near perfect for an upwardly mobile white family of three. Brad McAlister is a highly talented hotel manager. Upper management invites him and his wife to a fancy restaurant and offers him his dream promotion. But in a squeal of tires in the parking lot, their lives change forever. Will the McAlisters' deep love for each other survive? Each of these stories has clever plotting and sharp dialogue, a hallmark of all the author's work. Winslow had previously announced his retirement, but maybe that collided with his love of writing. Gritty little gems. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.