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Killing Pablo
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Killing Pablo, Mark Bowden's intoxicating account of the turbulent life of Colombian drug baron Pablo Escobar and his inevitable demise, relates in riveting detail the cataclysmic effect one man can have on the world economy. Finally tracked down and killed in 1992 after a 15-month intense manhunt that had resulted in hundreds of casualties on both sides, Escobar was, ironically, that archetypal American hero, the outlaw, siding with "ordinary people" against the ruling oligarchy (although at his peak Forbes magazine listed him as the seventh-richest person in the world). His break came when the American drug of choice changed from dope to cocaine, a golden, or perhaps powdered, egg exploited by Escobar with resourceful manipulation of officials and politicians--he would offer the classic choice of his silver or his lead. Even when incarcerated at La Catedral prison on a smuggling charge, he turned it into a state within a state. The guards, the army and the police all fell within his pay and he led his operation with a quiet, well-mannered ruthlessness. Until, that is, the Americans took an interest.
Bowden is well-equipped to describe the drawn-out campaign by the intelligence services to assassinate Escobar, having already covered similar territory in the superb Black Hawk Down, which chronicled the disastrous 1993 American operation in Mogadishu. His descriptions of the electronic surveillance that finally ensnared the hounded Don and the shady mutual interests of civilian militia group Los Pepes, the Colombian government forces and the US Delta unit that wore him down, are taut, dramatic and deeply thrilling. While he stops short of claiming that the Americans were present or active in the killing, he admits that Delta knew roughly where Escobar was and were dismissive of the electronic wizardry, pointing out that Escobar was eventually spotted by the naked eye. Though Escobar died, the circumstances he seized upon would be harder to expunge. The troubling, concluding lines of Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui come to mind, referring to a character based on Al Capone and Hitler but who could have been Escobar, "The bastard son is dead but the bitch is still on heat". --David Vincent --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
The first title from Atlantic Books, Killing Pablo pins their ambitious trade credentials firmly to the mast and should make their rivals just that little bit nervous. Charting the rise and fall of Colombian drugs baron Pablo Escobar, Bowden's account is firmly in the factual bestseller mould: contemporary, colourful and addictive. Escobar's career was an extraordinary one: he was an elected member of parliament, and built roads, houses and hospitals. He was a hero to the poor. He was also "the richest and most powerful criminal in history", head of a brutal crime organisation holding a country to ransom. The efforts to bring Escobar to justice involved covert action by US Special Forces and intelligence services and is a story which, until now, has never been told in detail. Bowden had access to highly classified documents to compile this authoritative account, as well as secret surveillance footage, wire tap transcripts and he interviewed all of the major players in the case. The result is a colourful and absorbing account of true crime, corruption and an international manhunt, written with excitement and flair.. Pablo should prove a trade killer.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
On the day that Pablo Escobar was killed, his mother, Hermilda, came to the place on foot. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
On the day that Pablo Escobar was killed, his mother, Hermilda, came to the place on foot. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a biography of the life of drug king Pablo Escobar. The writer has clearly got some inside story as to his life as it is very detailed (probably too detailed regarding his early life which does drag on far too long). However, if you stick with it, it does give a fantastic insight into Pablo's early years, what formed him and Columbia's recent history.
It also describes the Colombian and US Govts attempts to bring him to justice and the time he spent in prison which was more of a five start hotel, run by his staff and even the prison guards were on his payroll. It also exposes the illegal, covert US operation (and the manipulation of several US laws) to bring Escobar to book, culminating in his assassination on 1992.
Escobar comes across as a very intelligent man, bit of a modern day Robin Hood to some extent and you are rooting for him at times until you realise the death and destruction he brought to the world.
A well researched book that is certainly worth a read.
It also describes the Colombian and US Govts attempts to bring him to justice and the time he spent in prison which was more of a five start hotel, run by his staff and even the prison guards were on his payroll. It also exposes the illegal, covert US operation (and the manipulation of several US laws) to bring Escobar to book, culminating in his assassination on 1992.
Escobar comes across as a very intelligent man, bit of a modern day Robin Hood to some extent and you are rooting for him at times until you realise the death and destruction he brought to the world.
A well researched book that is certainly worth a read.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
An avid reader of many of these types of books, the author really manages to place you in the scene, as if you too were on the hunt for Pablo. Unlike "spycatcher" the talk of radio monitoring is kept interesting and will make you amazed at what one can do with a cell phone.
Brilliantly planned and executed, well done Mark Bowden!
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an excellent book.
I particularly liked the way that Bowden took the time at the beginning of the book to explain the recent history of Colombia, and how Pablo came to grow up in such an incredibly violent country. It put everything into perspective for me as I read further into the book.
Mark Bowden touches on several sensitive areas in the book. For example, the premise that came to mean death for Pablo - that a civilised society cannot be seen to allow a man like him to live in such luxury. This meant that the American and Colombian governments co-operated closely to ensure that Escobar would not escape. It also meant that Ronnie Reagan had to bend several laws governing US involvement in another country's troubles, so that US intelligence officals could help track Escobar.
He very nearly did escape on several occasions, though. And this is what Bowden uses to keep you on the edge of your seat. You get a very real impression of just how powerful, resourceful and cruel Pablo was. And you also get a real feeling for how hopeless the job of the Colombian police was - with Pablo one step ahead of them all along.
There's even a twist of sorts - as Bowden explains the quirk of fortune that allows the police to catch him at last.
Superb book - well researched and well constructed to maintain the suspense.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Riveting read from cover-to-cover
The 4 and 5 star reviews convinced me to try the book and I'm happy I did. Without going into details that might spoil the book or to repeat what other's have said, I'll simply... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Elliot Richards
Pablo Escobar and the "War on Drugs"
Pablo Escobar was one of the world's prime monsters and at one point probably the richest, becoming a billionaire on the back of the American cocaine business. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Baraniecki Mark Stuart
Astonishing ..
A fascinating read, almost unbelievable, the amount of power and influence this man had.
Definitely recommended reading - a little bit disjointed to begin with but comes... Read more
Definitely recommended reading - a little bit disjointed to begin with but comes... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Stella
Power corrupts
A real page turner, reads like the Godfather or Scarface, with the obvious difference being that this is all true. Read more
Published 22 months ago by raouldrake
Excellent Read
After reading the reviews of this book, it would seem that the book was a must read - the reviews weren't wrong! Read more
Published 23 months ago by MrWhat101
Bloody good book
What a good read, was not able to put this book down! Gives a great insight into the interesting, violent and corrupt life of the man himself! Worth a read for sure!
Published on 11 Oct 2009 by G. I. Heather
3 weeks on and still have not recieved my book!
I orderd the book almost 3 weeks ago if not more and i am still to recieve it!! What more can i say! Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2009 by Rikky Shah
Excellent
Very well researched and detailed account of a truly staggering story.
Indeed the money & amount of casual violence involved is so incredible that the book benefits from... Read more
Indeed the money & amount of casual violence involved is so incredible that the book benefits from... Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2009 by Mr. Thomas R. Mullin
Surely a film soon?
For me, this is not normally the sort of book that I read, but the back cover pulled me in and I felt it sounded interesting. That I have to say is an understatement.... Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2009 by chuckles
Brilliant!
By the man who brought you Black Hawk Down - another very fine, in-depth and fascinating exploration of the rise and demise of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Published on 2 Feb 2009 by miller
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