Don Winslow’s majestic novel of the Mexican drug cartels, The Power of the Dog, has a cast of dozens of characters. Winslow shows how the cartels work fueled by millions of dollars and millions of guns. That alone would make The Power of the Dog a great novel. But Winslow goes a step further and shows how the U.S. deals with the drug cartels. There are points in this book where I didn’t know the Good Guys from the Bad Guys. Everyone in the drug trade becomes corrupted. There are scenes of extreme violence in The Power of the Dog. Double dealing, betrayal, treachery, and scheming permeate this detailed narrative. Next week, I’ll read Don Winslow’s sequel, The Cartel. and post my review. If it’s as powerful as The Power of the Dog, I’ll be in for another turbulent reading experience.
George, this sounds like a solid novel. I have read about Mexican drug cartels in the media and probably seen them in the movies. I think, the drug cartels in Mexico and elsewhere in the region couldn’t have amassed so much power and pelf without tacit political backing.
Prashant, the Big News here is the escape of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman from prison. Clearly he had the help of elements of the Government in this elaborate caper.
George, I read about his escape in the Indian press. It made the front page
Prashant, the escape was elaborate and sophisticated. The drug lord had a lot of help in his escape.
Winslow is one of my favorite writers. I just started The Cartel. Very timely book since one of the main characters is based on the cartel leader who just escaped from jail. Heard Winslow on Fresh Air(NPR) last week on NPR.
Steve, I’ll listen to the FRESH AIR interview once I finish reading THE CARTEL. I want to avoid spoilers. Winslow is a very underrated writer.
Don’t recall any would be spoilers in the interview.
Steve, thanks for that info. I’ll listen to the Don Winslow interview on FRESH AIR this afternoon then.
I finally bought this last week after years of putting it off because the book’s so long. I don’t know when or if I’ll read it, but at least it’s in the house.
Bill, the story is complicated because of the huge cast of characters but at the end of the book, you’ll be an expert on the drug cartels.
But I don’t want to be an expert on the drug cartels.
For whatever reason (and it is my fault, definitely), Winslow is one of those widely-praised, undoubtedly excellent authors I have had trouble reading. I’ve tried several. I did like CALIFORNIA FIRE AND LIFE, which I know some people thought wasn’t one of his best. I guess I need to try another. The whole border/drug cartel thing is too real.
Jeff, you’re exactly right. The subjects Don Winslow writes about are grim and difficult. There were times while I was reading THE POWER OF THE DOG that I had to put the book down and walk away from the extreme violence. Winslow doesn’t sugar-coat the operation of the drug cartels. They use fear and violence and money as instruments of control.
I like some of his older books, and there are a couple I’ve yet to read, but the newer long drug ones, no, I don’t think so.
Rick, to tackle THE POWER OF THE DOG and THE CARTEL you have to be committed to a 1000 pages of crime and violence and treachery. But the end result is a complete understanding of why the WAR ON DRUGS is idiotic and a failure.
The first Winslow novel I read was “Savages”. I’d never read anything like it and was so completely hooked I went back and read most of his previous books. Most of the others are nothing like “Power of the Dog” or the new one, “The Cartel”. I’d particularly recommend “The Dawn Patrol” and “The Death and Life of Bobby Z”.
Michael, I’ve read all those early Don Winslow books, too. Great stuff! THE POWER OF THE DOG and THE CARTEL are breakthrough novels.
I really liked DAWN PATROL
Rick, I liked DAWN PATROL and its sequel, THE GENTLEMAN’S HOUR.
I heard Winslow talking about this on NPR last week, and he said it was pretty good.