The Cartel: A novel (Power of the Dog Series) Hardcover – Deckle Edge, June 23, 2015

I did three years in the Drug War as chief of counter narcotics operations for the Dept. of Defense in the Pacific. This book is the sequel to Power of the Dog, Winslow's first novel on the Drug War and the best fiction I've read on the subject. My tour overlapped the timeframe of that book and it was filled with fictional renditions of actual events from that period framed around very real, complex and well drawn characters. Probably by coincidence, the hero of both books, DEA agent Art Keller, shares the same last name as one of my DEA counterparts. This book follows Keller and some of the other major characters from the first and takes the war to the current day. It very accurately portrays the enormous increase in violence attendant to the drug trade in Mexico abetted by the widespread corruption in the Mexican government and law enforcement agencies. It also captures the very common belief held in non-American police circles that drugs are more a problem of American demand than Latin American supply and lack of enforcement. There is a lot of violence in this book, but I found none of it spurious. There is also a fair amount of sex, but most is understated. Since my participation, the Drug War has been a major interest for me; if it isn't one for you, it might lose a star here, but it's still a great read. You don't have to read the first to enjoy this one, but I would. I read a lot of books and Power of the Dog was the best book I read that year. This one is up there for this year so far.

This is a harrowing story about what could easily be called Mexico’s Civil War. Unlike the Revolution of 1910, this war was fought for turf and control over the lucrative drug trade, with the direct or indirect participation of the United States, which sees this as another front in the War on Drugs. The author points out the essential role of the United States’ drug demand in the violence occurring south of the border. Some of the book’s parts are hard to read, but are very close to the reality of the dark years in which the Zetas challenged the “traditional” cartels, with much bloodshed and atrocities. A few things made me take one star away: one is an error in geography; Mexicans consider themselves North Americans (which they are). The derogatory term “North Americans” profusely used by the Mexican characters in the book, doesn’t make sense in this case because it is not used on a regular basis by Mexicans (they prefer the derogatory term “gringo” or “yanqui”). The other element is the poor attempts to add “color” by using Spanish terms, which would be fine by me. However, the rule of thumb should be that if you are going to use foreign terms, use and transcribe them properly. Other than that, very captivating.

Seldom do we see books that are technically fiction but based in hard reality and accurate historical details that match the brilliance of Don Winslow. I strongly encourage readers to read "The Power of the Dog" first, as it is the first half of a horrifying world of the Mexican drug cartels, their internal struggles, the jaw droppingly horrifying atrocities against anybody who dares cross a drug lord's path, or a cartel's. "The Cartel" is the second part of this monumental series, and because the first part is highly suggested as the first one to read, although "The Cartel" stands on its own, I will not get into too many plot details. The primary character, Art Keller, who has many notches on his own belt due to fighting in Vietnam and battles in the "War on Drugs", is a marked man having crossed every drug kingpin of note in Mexico and their paid lackeys like federal troops, corrupt politicians and police forces on all levels, not to mention the extremely violent paramilitary troops who enforce the wishes of the leaders of the notorious Zetas, a cartel that has absolutely no code of honor whatsoever. Whereas the other main character, the head of the Sinoloan cartel, the very crafty and intelligent Adan Barrera, at least gives the impression of leaving innocents alone, the Zetas kill anybody any time, including little street level junkies who are found guilty of buying their dope from Barerra's cartel instead of them, and vice versa. We can remember the horrible wars that racked Cuidad Juarez, the border city across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas, where murders were being committed by the scores of victims, many mutilated and tortured and then dismembered and left on city streets as "lessons" for whatever infraction the cartels thought up on any given day. Winslow reports that in this phase of the internecine fighting, as many as close to 16000 Juarez citizens were gruesomely murdered in the space of just a couple of years. While that calamity has subsided somewhat, the worst border crimes focusing in Nuevo Laredo and Laredo, TX, where access to I-35, San Antonio, I-10 with its paths to Houston, New Orleans and beyond to Jacksonville, Florida is a temptation they can't ignore. Border agents, DEA agents and others are corrupted and many times because they want to live another day, so as we all know, the "war" on drugs is nothing but a lot of hot air, token busts, and was never designed to stop anything. There is simply far too much money to be made, and the U.S.' appetite for cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana is gargantuan. We as the consumers of these substances are just as culpable if we do use illicit drugs as the cartels, as they are only too happy to make tons of money and have huge international influence on whole governments while they're at it. The book itself is so well written and researched that it truly belongs in the pantheon of the greatest crime novels or historical crime books, like "The Godfather" for the thrilling story and suspense, and "Wiseguys" and "Casino" for accuracy and explaining just how vicious and just plain psycho cartel bosses and their underlings can be. That the Mexican government is up to its eyeballs in the drug trade is not news, but one can't help but maybe feel a bit of empathy for some in said government and law enforcement who are paid to play, or brutally murdered, and oftentimes forced to watch their families die first. It isn't much of a choice. Nonetheless, Winslow is a superb author, the two books gripping, and I can't wait to read his other novels. Be forewarned: "The Power of the Dog" and "The Cartel" are upsetting, depressing and disturbing. It's a story that needs to be told, however, and we must understand that as long as there is a demand for any kind of product or services, regardless of how dangerous or sinister, there will be a supply. It's a frustrating cycle that humanity bestowed upon itself.

At over 700 pages, The Cartel is an epic undertaking for the reader. The second book in Winslow's trilogy about drug cartels, it is almost the length of a trilogy in itself. The story is brutal - endless set pieces of the most gruesome violence as drug cartels fight it out for control of the market that floods the USA with drugs. At the heart of it all - the ongoing feud between drug lord Barrera and DEA man Keller, which unfolded in the first book in the series. Despite the intensity and shocking nature of the violence in the book, it is driven by the depth of the characters. Keller is a Harry Bosch-like character: older, but certainly not wiser as he aims single-mindedly to bring down Barrera and his empire, doing whatever it takes.Winslow has crafted a truly epic story here. There is tension throughout, making the book an uncomfortable read at times as you fear that characters fighting for good will come to a very messy end. The scale of the story - covering almost a decade in the drugs war, is huge, but at the same time Winslow has a style very much like that of Cormac McCarthy - there is a savage beauty to the way he writes that sticks in the mind. Certainly not a book for the faint-hearted, The Cartel is fantastically well-done, sustaining interest, pace and tension over the course of its 700 page length. Memorable - and there is still the final volume to read. As James Ellroy says in his review on the cover - it's the War and Peace of dope-books. Spot on.

As good as the first book in series, both equally interesting, impossible to put down. An amazing story of the war on drugs. Keller is one remarkable character. Winslow has surpassed anything he has written in the past and I am a huge fan. Can’t wait to read the last book, The Border.

Should be made into prescriptive reading for all Central American citizens. Useless for North Americans who are oblivious of the destruction their needs create among some of the poorest and loveliest people South of the Rio Grand.Legalise all drugs and let those who use suffer accordingly.JUDGE AIW

A fascinating book. It will crush your soul but you will not put it down. The characters and environment setting is well sketched out. Did not like the ending a lot. However a great read, the story and sorrow of the drug war and Mexico will stay with you for a long time. I have google.alerts set up to.follow news of all the cartels etc and because of this book, I have better understanding

So many twists and turns in a story that shocks and fascinates. The way Don Winslow can create a character who you know is just evil, but the inner goodness seems just around the bend, defies taking sides, instead you find yourself putting yourself in the antihero's shoes. The short, sharp writing style provokes and stimulates the imagination so that the streets of Jurarez and the faces of Forty, Ochoa, Keller and Marisol, to name only a few, seem to jump out of the pages. Quite brutal at times, so not for the squeamish. Since the story is based on many true events,the drug problem with the USA and Mexico turns into a palpable and frightening universe, ruled by extremely complicated rules of honour and family ties. ,. Following the travels of Art Keller, Pablo Mora and Adan Barrera on an online map,makes the story really come to life. Highly reccomended.