The Cartel

Having read the series out of order, The Cartel was my first Winslow book. His story was so captivating that I needed to go back and read how it all started.

The fact that I could start with The Cartel without having read the origin story is an example of Winslow’s talent. The Cartel is a great stand-alone story, made even better when its two companion books are added together. Winslow has developed compelling characters, and it's enjoyable to watch how they evolve and face new challenges.

I started Winslow’s Cartel series in the middle of the trilogy. His novel, The Cartel, was the book that hooked me, not only on his series but on all of his past and future work.

His writing style is different than mine with his long prose, but also similar to my own in its conversational style. If you want to feel like you’re on the front lines of the drug cartel business and wars in Mexico, this book provides a first-hand account, or at least what I expect this world looks and feels like.

Winslow’s character development is also… show more.

If you’re looking for someone who can develop characters, it’s Don Winslow. I chose Winslow’s novel, The Cartel, due to my close association with drug enforcement while employed as an FBI agent. The choice I made couldn’t have been more fascinating. The character descriptions were so well written that I felt I was in the same room with them as they carried out their riveting schemes. Winslow employs betrayal, corruption, and dialogue in ways that bind you, as the reader, to the pages with all the tenacity and veracity you can handle. A dramatic and deep insight into the… show more.