If you enjoy reading crime and thriller fiction or, more specifically,  very well-researched and intriguing stories about the drug cartel, then the critically acclaimed Cartel series is for you. In the first part of this three-part series, The Power of the Dog follows the intricate lives of several corrupt characters and organisations battling for power and revenge. 

This series includes all of the characteristics you would expect from a thriller novel — it’s fast-paced, conflict-filled, suspense-inducing, and you can expect to be kept on the edge of your seat as you begin your journey into 1970s America.

Avid readers of the likes of James Ellroy and Don DeLillo have thoroughly enjoyed this rich and compelling thriller that takes its readers down various twists and turns, piecing together a fascinating narrative with real-life, factual events.

Set across areas of Central and Southern America, including New York City and Tijuana, The Power of the Dog takes a dark glimpse into the war on drugs. 

Destructive, power-hungry characters take centre stage in this crime classic, most notably an obsessive, vengeful DEA Agent, Art Keller, who is determined to get revenge for the murder of his colleague and take down the drug federation responsible. His enemy? The Barrera Brothers, heirs to a thriving drug empire, and responsible for millions of dollars worth of cocaine and heroin being trafficked into the US. 

The Power of the Dog is the first in a series of three books detailing a thirty-year story of the cartel, so get ready to join a wild ride as the lives of these intriguing, but mostly important,  corrupt, characters unfold.

Who is Don Winslow?

A New York Times Bestselling Author, Don Winslow has written a staggering 21 novels over a career spanning three decades. Remember the film ‘Savages’, starring Blake Lively and Aaron Taylor-Johnson? That’s just one of several books written by Winslow that has been adapted for television and film.

As you may have guessed by now, Winslow is an award-winning crime fiction writer. He even spent a bit of time working as a Private Investigator in Times Square. How apt.

Other books by Don Winslow

Don Winslow has written an extensive collection of crime thrillers, most notably his ‘The Cartel’, ‘Neal Carey’, and ‘Savages’ series. 

As well as novels, Winslow has published short stories in anthologies and magazines, such as Esquire and the LA Times Magazine. Winslow has also written in columns for newspapers and magazines, including Vanity Fair and Huffington Post.

Want to read more?

Keen to read The Power of the Dog? Why not browse the books we’ve reviewed in similar genres like Drama or wider Fiction?

In the meantime, keep up-to-date on the latest reviews and literary advice by visiting our latest reviews page and, of course, the Victoria Freudenheim blog.