Don Winslow's masterpiece is not only a page-turning thriller but also a rich & compelling novel about a very mixed group of characters, each in his or her own way seeking some sort of salvation or redemption. Set on the Mexican border & against the background of the US government's (via its agencies the CIA, FBI & DEA) underhand encouragement, sponsoring & active financing of the development of the drug cartels & their trade in Mexico, The Power of the Dog tells of the stories of a hugely varied cast of characters: a young Chicano boy from the barrio who makes good & becomes a Senator; a morally troubled DEA boss who tries to do good, but who is driven by events & by a desire both for salvation & revenge to sleep with the devil; the leaders of the drug gangs, some of them psychopathic, others urbane, civilised & deadly; a high-class prostitute; & a charismatic Catholic priest who is dedicated to the improvement of the lives of his people. Out of this material, Winslow has crafted a hugely ambitious
- & hugely successful
- novel that works on so many levels & offers so many satisfactions it defies belief.