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The Mastermind
The Mastermind: Drugs. Empire. Murder. Betrayal. | Evan Ratliff
The incredible true story of the decade-long quest to bring down Paul Le Rouxthe creator of a frighteningly powerful Internet-enabled cartel who merged the ruthlessness of a drug lord with the technological savvy of a Silicon Valley entrepreneur Evan Ratliff has pried open a hidden world of high-tech gangsters and drug kingpins and double-crossers and stone-cold hitmen.David Grann, author of Killers of the Flower Moon It all started as an online prescription drug network, supplying hundreds of millions of dollars worth of painkillers to American customers. It would not stop there. Before long, the business had turned into a sprawling multinational conglomerate engaged in almost every conceivable aspect of criminal mayhem. Yachts carrying $100 million in cocaine. Safe houses in Hong Kong filled with gold bars. Shipments of methamphetamine from North Korea. Weapons deals with Iran. Mercenary armies in Somalia. Teams of hit men in the Philippines. Encryption programs so advanced that the government could not break them. The man behind it all, pulling the strings from a laptop in Manila, was Paul Calder Le Rouxa reclusive programmer turned criminal genius who could only exist in the networked world of the twenty-first century, and the kind of self-made crime boss that American law enforcement had never imagined. For half a decade, DEA agents played a global game of cat-and-mouse with Le Roux as he left terror and chaos in his wake. Each time they came close, he would slip away. It would take relentless investigative work, and a shocking betrayal from within his organization, to catch him. And when he was finally caught, the story turned again, as Le Roux struck a deal to bring down his own organization and the people he had once employed. Award-winning investigative journalist Evan Ratliff spent four years piecing together this intricate puzzle, chasing Le Rouxs empire and his shadowy henchmen around the world, conducting hundreds of interviews and uncovering thousands of documents. The result is a riveting, unprecedented account of a crime boss built by and for the digital age. Advance praise for The Mastermind If truth is stranger than fiction, then The Mastermind is the truest book youll read this year. The only thing predictable about it is how quickly youll turn the pages.Noah Hawley, author of Before the Fall and creator of the TV series Fargo
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jenniferw88
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Pickpick

An interesting book. Would work for #philippines or #israel for #readingasia2021 @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

4.75 ⭐

Librarybelle Great! 3y
54 likes1 comment
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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

Quite a story! This is the compilation of the crimes of Paul Le Roux and his employees. The author, Evan Ratliff, does a masterful job of tracking down thugs, ex-military, hitmen, and others affiliated with Le Roux's operations. I got a bit lost in parts trying to keep track of the myriad of characters and who was on which continent, but it was a mind blowing story of one man's power and control over foreign governments, the drug trade, and more.

77 likes1 stack add
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Chelsea.Poole
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Couldn't sleep last night so I listened to a couple hours of this insane #audiobook! I'm just getting started, but I'm intrigued by this true story. #nonfictionnovember #nfnovember

67 likes1 stack add
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Cinfhen
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#LilithJuly This previous #BOTM was a true crime thriller that seemed too crazy to be true. Paul Calder Le Roux—a reclusive programmer turned #criminal genius taunted the FBI with his brazen online activities that included selling prescription drugs ( without legit prescriptions) weapons, mercenaries and a host of other illegal schemes. Totally mind boggling and made for a wild read. I just had a hard time keeping up with all the “players” 🤯

Megabooks When I first saw his picture, I was like THAT‘S what he looks like?!? 5y
KarenUK Wow, this sounds crazy, and fascinating! 5y
8little_paws This book was so well written 5y
Reviewsbylola I have such a hard time with true crime where no one dies. 🤣🤣 5y
8little_paws @reviewsbylola oh people die in this! 5y
98 likes5 comments
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8little_paws
Pickpick

This is a wild ride uncovering a global drug and arms ring that also hits the online pharmaceutical industry. The amount of reporting, on a subject straight up filled with unreliable narrators, is astounding. Really fascinating what goes on in our world.

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8little_paws
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Well I just started this on my commute in today and I'm so hooked already that I need some sort of fake emergency to get me out of work and back home so I can binge read this on the couch. Any ideas?

blank Your cat called and needs you to come home right away! 5y
8little_paws @laurenslibrary Winnie definitely didn't want me to go to work this morning (she didn't want cuddles, she was just dissatisfied with her breakfast selection because she's super picky and gets tired of the same meal every day 😂😂😂) 5y
Booksblanketsandahotbeverage How about - You left the stove on? (edited) 5y
39 likes3 comments
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

This book is incredible. It‘s American Kingpin & American Pain on steroids. If you like true crime & international criminal conspiracies, you‘ll love this!

It‘s about the takedown of a man who started running an internet pharmacy that prescribed addictive non-scheduled drugs over the internet, but then it exploded to contract killings, throwing over governments, & making deals with North Korea & Iran. 5⭐️

Quite a #Manhunt #StarTrekSummerMay #BFC

Megabooks Thanks for the rec @Cinfhen ! #BFC Book 1 of 8, Audiobook 1 of 2 #BookFitnessChallenge @wanderinglynn 5y
Cinfhen I‘m so glad you liked it!!! I‘m just amazed at what people think they can get away with 🤯 5y
Clwojick This sounds like it would be great on audiobook! I‘ll have to check it out! 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I know!! Some of the people were able to slip custody, but greed will get you every time!! 5y
Megabooks @Clwojick I did really enjoy the audiobook, but you kind of have to listen with purpose because there are so many arms of his criminal empire. 5y
78 likes6 stack adds5 comments
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Megabooks
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There‘s certainly a lack #Ethics on the part of Paul La Roux and some of his associates in this true crime book. The story is so unbelievable, it can‘t be made up!

He‘s got his hand in so many business that are so criminal and personally unethical, it‘s just blown my mind.

Thanks @Cinfhen for the rec. 😘 #StarTrekSummerMay #audiobook #audible

Cinfhen Good choice!!! The story really is bunkers 😆 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen Truly! I‘m at the part where he‘s looking into catching tuna in Somalia and invading the Scheylles! 5y
Cinfhen I sort of had a soft spot for The Israeli‘s 😂😂😂But man, this story was beyond wild 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen I feel like there were definitely some people who were duped and there were definitely some out there soldiers of fortune. One of his lieutenants came from my little hometown in Kentucky! 5y
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AnneFindsJoy
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Pickpick

#nonfiction2019 #turnedoutunexpectedly. A crazy true story of a criminal genius who made hundreds of millions in an online scheme w/ painkiller med supply, and then he graduated to darker criminal schemes in the underworld of drugs and arms and more. It‘s a complex story with many characters and events, but it‘s a wild ride. There‘s plenty of surprising unexpected things that occur in this one! No spoilers - read it and see!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

AnneFindsJoy Thanks @cinfhen for the REC in this one! I thought it was GREAT! (edited) 5y
Megabooks I‘m reading it right now!! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage I just picked this one for May BOTM, based on @Cinfhen ‘s rec. Glad to have yours as well—and the idea for the nonfiction bingo square. I need to get that one covered! 👊🏻📚♥️ 5y
Cinfhen It‘s soooo crazzy!! I‘m glad you liked it @AnneFindsJoy it was a little difficult to keep track of everyone @BarbaraTheBibliophage but once I had ALL the players straight I was good to go!! I still want to read the book you recommended @Megabooks 5y
42 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Megabooks
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I can already tell this book is going to be insane and possibly disturbing @Cinfhen !! Signature executions, worldwide drug cartels that trace to Oshkosh, WI! Sounds like a #HighwaytoHell for me! Dad and I are enjoying it, though. #MayMovieMagic @rohit-sawant

Cinfhen This book is 🍌👖Great choice and so glad your dad is enjoying!! After I read this book, my dad chose to read it too!!! #FatherDaughterBookClub 💕💕 (edited) 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen Yes, my dad liked American Kingpin, too, which is sorta similar. (Less murder!) But he‘ll only read audiobooks, so we share an audible account. 💕👍🏻💕 5y
Cinfhen Tagged book sounds really good stacked !!!! 5y
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Cinfhen I‘ve already stacked it😂😂thanks for the reminder 5y
Cinfhen Watched this movie yesterday ~ soooo good... want to read the book 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen That sounds interesting, too!! #stacked 5y
Cinfhen Watch the movie ... Tom Cruise is smokin 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 5y
RohitSawant Great pick! 5y
gradcat All you have to do is mention Oshkosh, and I‘m in! Stacking!! 📚 5y
Megabooks @rohit-sawant Thanks! 5y
Megabooks @gradcat 👍🏻👍🏻 So far it‘s good! 5y
58 likes3 stack adds11 comments
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Spettway
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SW-T Welcome to Litsy 😊 5y
Spettway @SW-T thank you 😊 5y
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DarcysMom Welcome to Litsy! 🤩 5y
wanderinglynn Welcome to Litsy! 👋🏻 5y
Spettway Thank you everyone! I feel so welcomed 🥰 5y
BethM Welcome! 5y
LitsyWelcomeWagon Welcome to Litsy! Hope these #Litsytips by @RaimeyGallant http://bit.ly/litsytips and #LitsyHowTo videos: goo.gl/UrCpoU are helpful. #LitsyWelcomeWagon 5y
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AlwaysForeverReading Welcome to Litsy!!! ❤️🧡💛💜💙💚💗 5y
22 likes11 comments
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Jbakesmcgee3
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Starting this one, stranger than fiction #botm #nonfictionreads #truecrime

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Cinfhen
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Mehso-so

This was one crazy true story with so many components, it was difficult to keep track. Paul Le Roux created a multi million dollar online pharmacy allowing billions of painkillers to enter the US & be placed into the hands of customers without a doctor‘s prescription. Soon he was running guns, weapons and drugs right under the nose of the DEA. His disregard for the law, paranoia & greed ultimately became his downfall.

Cinfhen Great story but confusing content made this a so-so. Would have liked photos and a list of “characters” with their various relationships within the organization. 5y
119 likes1 comment
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Cinfhen
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#FridayMorningChill This book falls under the category of #TooUnbelievableToBeBelievable Im happy to see #BOTM offering NonFiction selections 🤓♥️

KT1432 Is it well-written? I almost added it to my box but wasn't sure about the writing style. But now I'm so curious about the events that took place, I want to get it lol. 5y
Cinfhen It‘s a little overwhelming to process @lele1432 and the writing is at times muddled. I think it‘s a #BorrowNotBuy 5y
KT1432 @Cinfhen thanks so much!! My shelf space is pretty scarce these days so I try to only buy physical copies of books worthy of the space. I'll wait on my library hold for this one! 5y
106 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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LonelyMushroom
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Pickpick

I download this book from www.findebook.net and it's blow my mind. I think it's become one of my all time favorite book
#evan_ratliff

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Cinfhen
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Woohoo!! #BOTM arrived ❤️

akckitty I'm currently reading Daisy Jones & the six. It's good so far! It's written all in "interview" style so it makes for fast easy reading, however the story has really sucked me in so far. I hope you enjoy it too! 5y
TrishB Enjoy 👍🏻 5y
Reviewsbylola SO curious to see how you like Daisy Jones. It's different! 5y
120 likes3 comments
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Cinfhen
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Chose my March #BOTM picks and decided to renew my yearly subscription! They really drew me in with their new Nonfiction category 🥳❣️😁

Cathythoughts @Cinfhen Please a question ? When does Fight Club buddy read start ?? I can‘t find the posts .... thanks X 5y
Megabooks You went back!! 🎉🎉 I‘m considering it, but I‘ve been so into ebooks. Plus I‘m going to Parnassus next week, and at least for this month, I‘ll shop there!! 📚👍🏻 5y
Cinfhen It‘s March 28 and I recently sent a big post. Click on this hashtag @Cathythoughts #90sSpringFling 🥳🥳🥳 5y
See All 14 Comments
Cinfhen I‘d love to visit Parnassus @Megabooks #BOTM will always be there 5y
Cathythoughts Thankyou 😘 5y
shellleigh33 ❤️ Daisy Jones. It is such a great book!! 5y
Megabooks I‘m super excited! It‘s my birthday present from my parents! 5y
KarenUK I‘m loving Daisy Jones, and it‘s spotify playlist 👍🎧💕 5y
Cinfhen What a fabulous gift!!! When‘s your bday @Megabooks 5y
Cinfhen I‘m going to check out the playlist @KarenUK How are your guests?? Is it dad??? 5y
Cinfhen I didn‘t really love Evelyn so I hope I love Daisy @shellleigh33 5y
Megabooks @Cinfhen the 11th 💃🏻🎂 5y
KarenUK @Cinfhen Dad first, then in-laws, then friends with kids.... 😊💕 5y
Reviewsbylola Damn girl, they got ya! I‘m reading Daisy Jones currently. 5y
109 likes2 stack adds14 comments