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frasersimons's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Whereas the second book has a natural (almost inevitable) jumping off point from the first, it also had an epilogue that implies it was supposed to be a duology. Plot beats that only somewhat conform to the epilogue take place, and feel very strange, especially concerning a minor character who was in the epilogue, involved in plot beat relatively early on in the book, and promptly forgotten by the main characters completely. It feels antithetical to the MC in particular, who goes off like Jack Bauer for the slightest provocation in the earlier books.
Another reason it doesn’t work though, is the poor straddling of action thriller and legal thriller. There’s still somewhat more intricate plotting, with multiple characters colliding, but so much of the book is boring political machinations that it thinks is interesting. The pacing doesn’t nearly vacillate between the other characters, making large blocks of the books characters in a room trying to be coy with one another, where previously it was frenetic, epic, engaging plot beats. It doesn’t suit the character or tone of the books at all.
But more than that, it also doesn’t have anything new to say. It brings the narrative up to the “present”, when a Trump-a-like is sworn in. The novel aspect is allegations of that admin taking cartel money and ties, rather than the Russia collection, and I suppose reminds people that drugs are still a problem (as if we didn’t know it?). But that aspect brings in a new faction, led by a black man that was just not at all convincingly rendered, and the subsequent emphasis on heroin rather than the briefly touched upon fentanyl makes it feel completely out of step with the times, even as it’s trying to comment on them in a more relatable way via a Guatemalan immigrant trying to get to and in the U.S., also rather feeling like a cardboard cut out.
Winslow bit off a bit more than he could chew, making aspects of the book really difficult to suspend disbelief for, and steering away from his strengths as a writer.
Another reason it doesn’t work though, is the poor straddling of action thriller and legal thriller. There’s still somewhat more intricate plotting, with multiple characters colliding, but so much of the book is boring political machinations that it thinks is interesting. The pacing doesn’t nearly vacillate between the other characters, making large blocks of the books characters in a room trying to be coy with one another, where previously it was frenetic, epic, engaging plot beats. It doesn’t suit the character or tone of the books at all.
But more than that, it also doesn’t have anything new to say. It brings the narrative up to the “present”, when a Trump-a-like is sworn in. The novel aspect is allegations of that admin taking cartel money and ties, rather than the Russia collection, and I suppose reminds people that drugs are still a problem (as if we didn’t know it?). But that aspect brings in a new faction, led by a black man that was just not at all convincingly rendered, and the subsequent emphasis on heroin rather than the briefly touched upon fentanyl makes it feel completely out of step with the times, even as it’s trying to comment on them in a more relatable way via a Guatemalan immigrant trying to get to and in the U.S., also rather feeling like a cardboard cut out.
Winslow bit off a bit more than he could chew, making aspects of the book really difficult to suspend disbelief for, and steering away from his strengths as a writer.
whiskers_and_lipstick's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jeffer0922's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
brisamar's review against another edition
4.0
Me gustó como fue cerrando las tramas de las novelas anteriores, el autor aplasta cualquier esperanza de que se enderecen las cosas.
antonio507's review against another edition
4.0
ya know, every book has its strengths.
i wasn’t feeling the first 100 pages. i thought it was corny, ridiculous, and self-serious. but i kept on going and quickly found myself sucked in, and i mean sucked in. i was dumping 50 - 80 pages per sitting easily. sometimes more, upwards of 100. yeah, the book has some corny, over-the-top thriller moments. yeah, the characters are pretty thin, if distinct enough. but the plotting, the structure, the world. INCREDIBLY strong. the simple writing helps you not to get lost in the complexities of corruption and cartel politics. there’s a great forward momentum with each chapter, good surprises. it is a REALLY fucking engaging and entertaining story. if you want a comprehensive and complex account of the war on drugs, you’d best look elsewhere. i couldn’t tell ya where to start. but this does a really good job of prodding. it’s a fascinating, tragic, and frustrating world
if you’re a trumpie you might not like this. honestly i would argue that it’s a pretty straightforward depiction for the most part. if you don’t like the tweets... well, that’s how the guy tweets. as for the later, far more fictional turn later in the book, idk. wouldn’t be surprised if it was true. i would advise you not to put it away though cause it’s a lot of fun and it says a lot of important things
i wasn’t feeling the first 100 pages. i thought it was corny, ridiculous, and self-serious. but i kept on going and quickly found myself sucked in, and i mean sucked in. i was dumping 50 - 80 pages per sitting easily. sometimes more, upwards of 100. yeah, the book has some corny, over-the-top thriller moments. yeah, the characters are pretty thin, if distinct enough. but the plotting, the structure, the world. INCREDIBLY strong. the simple writing helps you not to get lost in the complexities of corruption and cartel politics. there’s a great forward momentum with each chapter, good surprises. it is a REALLY fucking engaging and entertaining story. if you want a comprehensive and complex account of the war on drugs, you’d best look elsewhere. i couldn’t tell ya where to start. but this does a really good job of prodding. it’s a fascinating, tragic, and frustrating world
if you’re a trumpie you might not like this. honestly i would argue that it’s a pretty straightforward depiction for the most part. if you don’t like the tweets... well, that’s how the guy tweets. as for the later, far more fictional turn later in the book, idk. wouldn’t be surprised if it was true. i would advise you not to put it away though cause it’s a lot of fun and it says a lot of important things
kcb263's review against another edition
5.0
Unbelievably powerful trilogy topped off by The Border. In addition to being a well written book with nonstop action, twists and drama, these three books have been eye opening to me by seeing the similarities to the current real life stories reported in Mexico.
labougie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
markfromct's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
rossborkett's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this trilogy, and this final book brought it all together nicely. Will definitely read some of Winslow’s others. If you like Netflix’s Narcos you will enjoy this