The Death and Life of Bobby Z

By: Don Winslow

Narrated by: Darrell Larson

When Tim Kearney draws a license plate across the throat of a Hell's Angel, he's pretty much a dead man. It's his third crime and, according to California law, that gives him "life without the possibility of parole". Killing a Hell's Angel also makes him a dead man on any prison yard in California. That's when the DEA makes Kearney an offer: impersonate the late, legendary dope smuggler Bobby Z so that the agency can trade him to Don Huertero, northern Mexico's drug kingpin, for a captured DEA agent. Tim Kearney bears an uncanny resemblance to Bobby Z, and, with some training, he might be able to pass.

Or not. But, really, what choice does he have?

So, he's off to a compound in the middle of a desert that's been designed by Huertero's number-two man to look like the Arabian fort in his favorite movie, Beau Jeste. ("The Santa Fe thing had been done to death.") Kearney's surprised when he meets Bobby Z's old flame, Elizabeth, who was never mentioned in his training, and the son she claims belongs to him. It's a short vacation by the pool before Kearney's on the run from drug lords, bikers, Indians, and cops...and the kid's along for the ride. Some of the pursuers want Bobby Z, and some want the considerably less legendary Tim K. Whether he pulls it off, whether he can keep the kid and the girl and his life, makes for a hilarious, fast-paced, and truly touching novel.

©1997 Don Winslow (P)1997 Random House Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

"Winslow juggles black humor, excellent dialog, and numerous plot twists with the ease of an accomplished veteran." (Library Journal)
"Darrell Larson is absolutely terrific....Larson's portrayal of drug world characters is full of sarcasm, wit and clever humor." (AudioFile)
"For all the nasty stuff that Mr. Winslow throws at Bobby/Tim, he maintains the virtue of a comic-book superhero...playing an exciting game of adventure that is good, clean, mindless fun." (The New York Times Book Review)

Another Slice of Life and Crime

Another Slice of Life and Crime

Don Winslow never disappoints, and this tale is no exception.

Narration is spot on.

Don Winslow at full speed fun

A delightful and creative short story, long on unlikely good fortune, short on realism but who cares. It really shows Mr. Winslow’s virtuosity against ‘Power of the Dog’ and other of his deep novels, all of which are a pleasure to read.

The Great Legend Bobby Z

This was the first Don Winslow I have listened to. I have this on cassette..no longer have cassette player
I now own about size of Don Winslow's masterpieces love this guy Dear Mr Winslow if you get a chance please give us the full version of the death and life of Bobby Z the movie did know Justice and the abridged version is great. I just need more Bobby Z or do you have a sequel to the story like what happened to him and one way

This's my third book....

...from Don Winslow. Compare to his the latest and the best book "The Cartel ", it's a lighter reading. However, it doesn't lack Don Winslow writing mastery. The plot is a little bit predictable, but I have enjoyed it very much. The best narrator of Don Winslow's books is definitely Ray Porter. I understand the theme of the "Z" novel is situated in the surfing community and that's why Don chose the younger narrator. Overall the book is a good reading.

Super fun and slightly silly

I always love Don Winslow’s characters!! A fun ride for all. Any story about idealism in Southern California is going to be entertaining.

Bobby Z...An amazing listen

Performance is outstanding with an easy-going cadence . Excellent story plot. Highly recommend for a fun packed two plus hours. One of Don Winslow's best!

Too abridged

This was more a short story than a novel in the way it was abridged. It’s a good story but I’m sorry that I payed for it before learning it was not the complete book

Good story

Enjoyed this short book. Liked the characters. The narrator did a nice job reading the story.

Abridged version does Winslow's work NO justice

Having thoroughly enjoyed several of Don Winslow's other audiobooks, I figured I would give the The Death and Life of Bobby Z a shot. I did realize I was buying and abridged version of the book; what I did not realize is what an injustice the abridgement does to the story. Rather than the detailed and well-spun tales of previous Winslow books I listened to, this one served up little more than chopped up scenes with varying degrees of connectivity.
I was left wishing that Audible has a full version I could purchase, instead. No such luck. I am thankful (and I am certain Winslow would be as well) that this was not my first purchase of one of this author's books because, if it were, I doubt that I would have ever sought out another. To make matters worse, the narration did absolutely nothing to bring any value to the time I invested in listening to this version of The Death and Life of Bobby Z.

My recommendation; do not waste your time, credit, money on an abridged version . . . at least not this particular book. I'll chalk it up to being a lesson learned. That being said, I would not let this abridged version taint my enjoyment of Winslow's other books.

I hope you find this review helpful in making your reading and listening choices easier.

Just what I was looking for.

This was the right listen at the right time, lively, very well written and with a humorous, lighthearted flair interwoven with the action and mystery.

The book is short, but a great introduction to what I believe will be a new favorite author and narrator.