BajaNomad

El Narco: Inside Mexico's Criminal Insurgency

bigzaggin - 1-31-2012 at 01:49 PM

by Ioan Grill...has anyone else read? Certainly a little slanted, but offers a really fascinating overview of the history behind the El Narco and what might be next for Mexico. Particularly interested by the role Chinese immigrants played and how small-time highland farmers were lured into the drug game.

A worthy read if you haven't done so already.

DENNIS - 1-31-2012 at 02:30 PM

Looks like a good one. I'll just tuck it away in my Kindle and get to it later.

Kalypso - 1-31-2012 at 08:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bigzaggin
by Ioan Grill...has anyone else read? Certainly a little slanted, but offers a really fascinating overview of the history behind the El Narco and what might be next for Mexico. Particularly interested by the role Chinese immigrants played and how small-time highland farmers were lured into the drug game.

A worthy read if you haven't done so already.


Yes, I read it last Fall shortly after it came out. It's pretty good, but not as in depth as I would have hoped given his credentials and apparent access. But I think anyone that travels in Baja should read the books just for perspective and framework.

This story from the SD Reader gives a surprisingly good account of the raise of the drug culture, trade and narcos.

And if you want to read a VERY thinly veiled work of fiction about the rise of the drug lords beginning at the onset of the establishment of the DEA, read The Power of the Dog . It traces the drug trade from the late '70s to 2004 just before the explosion of the worst of the violencia.

Anyone who has even remotely followed (or tried to educate themselves) about the drug wars and narcolandia will recognize all of the major events, all of which are depicted in this book. It's violent, raw, scarier that h*ll in some parts. It is a fictionalized version of how the drug lords came to power. A lot of it happens in Baja, particularly Tijuana, and San Diego. Locals will definitely recognize locations and events. In fact, Don Winslow, the author actually lives in SD county (Julian area).

The Power of the Dog is actually the best "history" I've read about the drug trade. They say truth is stranger than fiction, but this fiction was probably pretty close to the truth in many areas.

Ateo - 1-31-2012 at 08:16 PM

Thanks for that San Diego Reader article. In depth.....

watizname - 2-1-2012 at 10:31 AM

The Winslow book was one of the best books I have ever read. A spot on page burner, that didn't read like fiction at all.