A Book A Week

There's something to be said about an author who takes the time to research their topic to such an extent that they are able to create a story that completely inhabits the world they researched. In the case of author Don Winslow, he's studied the intricacies of the drug trade on the Mexican border for over 20 years. Winslow has recently taken to Twitter as a vocal critic to President Trump's border control policies. Whatever your political persuasions, there is no denying that Winslow writes and speaks from a place of well-earned understanding and expertise. He may just write fiction, but he's lived in the worlds he writes about, studied the complex social and economic factors behind that world, and written some killer fiction in the process.

The Power of the Dog is nothing short of a masterwork. Attempting to summarize the plot or characters would be an injustice to the narrative that Winslow has worked so diligently to present. Imagine the best elements of a police procedural wrapped up with the crime elements of Sicario or Narcos, and throw in a touch of The Godfather or The Sopranos for good measure. That is just barely scratching the surface of the scope of this novel. Despite the multiple decades covered, crimes committed, and the sheer amount of character lines running through the novel, it never feels confusing or overstuffed. The story flows effortlessly off the page, a true testament to Winslow's ability to present such an intricate world.

At the heart of the novel lies Art Keller, a DEA agent who has worked the Mexico cartels for years. He is motivated to bring down the notorious cartel run by Adan Barrera. Interspersed amongst this main plot are the stories of a young prostitute, a priest, a Mexican cop, and some Irish mobsters. Each character is impacted either directly or indirectly by the drug culture or the fight against it. From the mid-1970s to the early 2000s, we see these characters advance through time and experiences that have inevitable physical, monetary, and emotional ramifications. It truly is an in-depth portrait of the cause and effect of the "War on Drugs."

For all the large set pieces and action, and Winslow spares no detail in his graphic and striking actions scenes, The Power of the Dog is ultimately an intimate character study and a conclusive referendum on the inner workings of both the drug trade and the fight to stop it. It is a true testament to Winslow's authorial prowess that the novel manages to cover such a large period of time and characters while still being the kind of thriller that you can't stop reading. Moreso, the depth of Winslow's research brings an authenticity that grounds this novel in a reality that is undeniable. Several times I had to remind myself that I was reading a work of fiction. The Power of the Dog is the first in a trilogy that includes The Cartel and this year's The Border. It reads as a complete work, but I can't wait to see where these characters go next.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2019, 14)