Don Winslow has worked as a movie theatre manager, a production assistant, and as a private investigator. In addition to being a novelist he now works as an independent consultant in issues involving litigation arising from criminal behaviour. His novels include The Kings of Cool , Savages , The Death and Life of Bobby Z , California Fire and Life , The Power of the Dog , The Winter of Frankie Machine and The Dawn Patrol . In 2012 Savages was released as a blockbuster film.