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A review by saareman
Free Billy by Don Winslow
4.0
The Dawn Patrol 2.1
Review of the Audible Originals audiobook narrated by [a:Ed Harris|429396|Ed Harris|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (March 22, 2022).
Surprisingly for crime writer Don Winslow, Free Billy is not a short story about cartels, cops and mayhem. You could even say it is rom-com meet-cute fiction. The "Free Billy" of the title is the nickname given by Boone Daniels when Billy joins the Dawn Patrol group of surfers on their early morning rides on the waves. The Dawn Patrol feature in Winslow's duo novels of the Boone Daniels series (2008-11) with the former cop/now private investigator & sometime surfer.
Billy is a scrounger who eats for free at a rotating series of breakfast buffets in area hotels, those large enough where an extra person won't be noticed. He attends art gallery openings where free drinks and snacks are served. He sleeps in his van or in friend's homes by regular house-sitting jobs. He has a dwindling amount of cash to use for gas. Otherwise his life is surfing and living on the mooch.
Suddenly his life takes a turn when he meets older woman Angie at a gallery opening. Angie appears to be wealthy with a condo apartment and a luxury car. Billy envisions a future where he can live the carefree life of a boy-toy. All he needs is enough money to impress Angie with a few dinners and dates. The Dawn Patrol pitch in to assist, while at the same time making side bets as to how long the deception will last.
This was a light fun listen with narrator Harris as excellent as always. Although not listed in GR's Boone Daniels series, this short story would count as The Dawn Patrol #2.1 and a recent follow-up, 2024's Downward Facing Doug would be The Dawn Patrol #2.2.
Trivia and Links
Don Winslow has written several short stories for Audible Originals with Ed Harris as the narrator. In addition to this current story, these have been [b:Deep Hole|61172402|Deep Hole|Don Winslow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659297568l/61172402._SX50_.jpg|96429369] (May 26, 2022), [b:Dietrich|211497969|Dietrich|Don Winslow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1713267250l/211497969._SX50_.jpg|217747949] (March 28, 2024), [b:Oregon|213995704|Oregon|Don Winslow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1717012927l/213995704._SX50_.jpg|220265635] (May 23, 2024) and [b:Downward Facing Doug|216646624|Downward Facing Doug|Don Winslow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1721390501l/216646624._SX50_.jpg|223073808] (July 11, 2024). Several of the stories deal with surfing culture.
Audible Originals are exclusive audio productions for Audible. The exclusivity may be time-limited. An author may agree to a (e.g.) six-month audio exclusive before they are free to publish the story in eBook or paper formats. To date none of the Don Winslow / Ed Harris short stories have appeared in print, but possibly there will be a future anthology collection. Because there is as yet no print equivalent, the stories have a zero page count and will not add to your Goodreads page count for the year if you read (listen to) them. Based on their 1+ hour narration times, they would likely be approximately 30+ pages in printed form.
Review of the Audible Originals audiobook narrated by [a:Ed Harris|429396|Ed Harris|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (March 22, 2022).
Surprisingly for crime writer Don Winslow, Free Billy is not a short story about cartels, cops and mayhem. You could even say it is rom-com meet-cute fiction. The "Free Billy" of the title is the nickname given by Boone Daniels when Billy joins the Dawn Patrol group of surfers on their early morning rides on the waves. The Dawn Patrol feature in Winslow's duo novels of the Boone Daniels series (2008-11) with the former cop/now private investigator & sometime surfer.
Billy is a scrounger who eats for free at a rotating series of breakfast buffets in area hotels, those large enough where an extra person won't be noticed. He attends art gallery openings where free drinks and snacks are served. He sleeps in his van or in friend's homes by regular house-sitting jobs. He has a dwindling amount of cash to use for gas. Otherwise his life is surfing and living on the mooch.
Suddenly his life takes a turn when he meets older woman Angie at a gallery opening. Angie appears to be wealthy with a condo apartment and a luxury car. Billy envisions a future where he can live the carefree life of a boy-toy. All he needs is enough money to impress Angie with a few dinners and dates. The Dawn Patrol pitch in to assist, while at the same time making side bets as to how long the deception will last.
This was a light fun listen with narrator Harris as excellent as always. Although not listed in GR's Boone Daniels series, this short story would count as The Dawn Patrol #2.1 and a recent follow-up, 2024's Downward Facing Doug would be The Dawn Patrol #2.2.
Trivia and Links
Don Winslow has written several short stories for Audible Originals with Ed Harris as the narrator. In addition to this current story, these have been [b:Deep Hole|61172402|Deep Hole|Don Winslow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659297568l/61172402._SX50_.jpg|96429369] (May 26, 2022), [b:Dietrich|211497969|Dietrich|Don Winslow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1713267250l/211497969._SX50_.jpg|217747949] (March 28, 2024), [b:Oregon|213995704|Oregon|Don Winslow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1717012927l/213995704._SX50_.jpg|220265635] (May 23, 2024) and [b:Downward Facing Doug|216646624|Downward Facing Doug|Don Winslow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1721390501l/216646624._SX50_.jpg|223073808] (July 11, 2024). Several of the stories deal with surfing culture.
Audible Originals are exclusive audio productions for Audible. The exclusivity may be time-limited. An author may agree to a (e.g.) six-month audio exclusive before they are free to publish the story in eBook or paper formats. To date none of the Don Winslow / Ed Harris short stories have appeared in print, but possibly there will be a future anthology collection. Because there is as yet no print equivalent, the stories have a zero page count and will not add to your Goodreads page count for the year if you read (listen to) them. Based on their 1+ hour narration times, they would likely be approximately 30+ pages in printed form.