Drug-trafficking & cartels:
A resurgence
Narcos on Netflix and the movie Sicario are two recently released projects
Both brought me to finally read The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow. The book presents us with a labyrinthine world of corruption, greed and murder. DEA agent Art Keller is determined to bring Don Pedro Aviles, the Patron of Sinaloa to justice and works ceaselessly to that end.
Other characters include a hit-man, a prostitute and a priest which sounds like the introduction to a ribald joke. Rather, they bring depth and human faces to an unfathomable world.
The book spans 25-years of Mexican drug history during the time of President Nixon’s futile: War on Drugs. There is enough revenge and vendetta to keep you going through a large assembly of characters. Don’t worry the cast is whittled down as the years pass and loyalties shift – or disappearances take place.
Awards for The Power of the Dog:
2009 Japan Adventure Fiction Association Prize
2010 Maltese Falcon Award, Japan
Finalist List:
2005 Finalist Hammett Prize
2006 Finalist Barry for Best Novel
2006 Finalist Dilys Award
2006 Finalist Macavity Award for Best Novel
The Cartel
Power of the Dog is a stellar chronicle that now has a partner with The Cartel, Winslow’s follow-up novel in the Power of The Dog Series. Cartel picks-up in 2004 with Adán Barrera, the head of El Federación cartel looking for personal revenge against Agent Keller. This one is on my TBR (to be read) list.
Winslow has 15 additional books to his credit, if the world of narcos doesn’t interest you then check out his author page. There’s lots there to consider.
~ June Lorraine
4 responses to “The Power of the Dog: Don Winslow”
When Don Winslow wrote his 2015 book–The Cartel–he commented in an interview how the violence in Mexico has escalated since The Power of the Dog. It was a rough read, but an important one, since U.S. behavior (casual drug use, gun-running) has destroyed so many lives south of the border. My review of The Cartel is at vweisfeld.com/?p=4812. This is an interesting blog, June!
An excellent post on The Cartel Victoria and thanks for the compliment 🙂
I am so glad I found your blog! I’m being introduced to some new-to-me authors in my favourite genre!
Hi Cathi, I’m so glad you are enjoying the blog. Let me know if I can help you find other authors. Your site is lovely by the way – great pictures of amazing work.