Ratings17
Average rating4.2
From the internationally bestselling author of the acclaimed novel The Power of the Dog comes The Cartel, a gripping true-to-life epic, ripped from the headlines, of power, corruption, revenge and justice spanning the past decade of the Mexicanâe"American drug wars. Itâe(tm)s 2004. DEA agent Art Keller has been fighting the war on drugs for thirty years in a blood feud against Adan Barrera, the head of El FederaciÃ3n, the worldâe(tm)s most powerful cartel, and the man who brutally murdered Kellerâe(tm)s partner. Finally putting Barrera away costs Keller dearly âe" the woman he loves, the beliefs he cherishes, the life he wants to lead. Then Barrera gets out, determined to rebuild the empire that Keller shattered. Unwilling to live in a world with Barrera in it, Keller goes on a ten-year odyssey to take him down. His obsession with justice âe" or is it revenge âe" becomes a ruthless struggle that stretches from the cities, mountains and deserts of Mexico, to Washingtonâe(tm)s corridors of power, to the streets of Berlin and Barcelona. Keller fights his personal battle against the devastated backdrop of Mexicoâe(tm)s drug war, a conflict of unprecedented scale and viciousness, as cartels vie for power and he comes to the final reckoning with Barrera âe" and himself - that he always knew must happen. The Cartel is a story of power, corruption, revenge, honour and sacrifice, as one man tries to face down the devil without losing his soul. It is the story of the war on drugs and the men âe" and women âe" who wage it.
Featured Series
3 primary booksPower of the Dog is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2005 with contributions by Don Winslow.
Reviews with the most likes.
This book will weigh heavy on you, but it's an excellent read. If you liked I Am Pilgrim, you'll enjoy this. Be forewarned that it's fairly dark with extremely graphic violence.
Epic. Dark. Realistic.
I was amazed at how true to life this story seemed. I have no personal experience in the cartel world, but what little I know seems to coincide with this narrative. If not for the voice and distinctive style of fiction, you would wonder if this was not a compilation of memoirs.
The ending was satisfying the way I hoped it would be. After a 600 page juggernaut of literary achievement, a clean, plausible, and climactic finale is expected. Few deliver as well with stakes this high.