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The Cartel
The Cartel | Don Winslow
From the internationally best-selling author of the acclaimed novel The Power of the Dog comes The Cartel, a gripping true-to-life epic, ripped from the headlines, of power, corruption, revenge and justice spanning the past decade of the Mexican-American drug wars.It's 2004. DEA agent Art Keller has been fighting the war on drugs for thirty years in a blood feud against Adan Barrera, the head of El Federacin, the world's most powerful cartel, and the man who brutally murdered Keller's partner. Finally putting Barrera away costs Keller dearly - the woman he loves, the beliefs he cherishes, the life he wants to lead.Then Barrera gets out, determined to rebuild the empire that Keller shattered. Unwilling to live in a world with Barrera in it, Keller goes on a ten-year odyssey to take him down. His obsession with justice - or is it revenge - becomes a ruthless struggle that stretches from the cities, mountains and deserts of Mexico, to Washington's corridors of power, to the streets of Berlin and Barcelona.Keller fights his personal battle against the devastated backdrop of Mexico's drug war, a conflict of unprecedented scale and viciousness, as cartels vie for power and he comes to the final reckoning with Barrera - and himself - that he always knew must happen.The Cartel is true-to-life story of power, corruption, revenge, honour and sacrifice, as one man tries to face down the devil without losing his soul. It is the story of the war on drugs and the men - and women - who wage it.
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RebelReader
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

This is number two in the trilogy. I think The Power of the Dog was better. I wonder what it says about me that I would keep turning the pages (over 600) on a book so violent and just downright nasty??
However, in my defense I‘m learning a lot about the real “war on drugs”. I will definitely be finishing this trilogy in May with The Border.

41 likes1 stack add
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Cesarmm
Cartel | Don Winslow
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This hits home.

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MicheleinPhilly
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Finally 99p! @TrishB

Cinfhen Hi!!!!! 4y
TrishB Yay , I‘ve got all three now for 99p each! Just need to read. These look like big books. Thank you 😘😘 4y
MicheleinPhilly @Cinfhen 👋🏼👋🏼👋🏼 4y
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MicheleinPhilly @TrishB Same! I just kept waiting for that pesky middle one to go on sale. But if they‘re anything like The Force they‘ll fly by. 😘 4y
TrishB True! Might be a holiday read 👍🏻 4y
MicheleinPhilly @TrishB A holiday? What‘s that? 😉 “Today I travelled from this end of the couch to THAT end of the couch. The food was great! Want to see my pictures?” 4y
TrishB 😂😂 I‘m defining holidays by not looking at a computer screen. I have zoom fatigue, I read about it today and have self diagnosed. 4y
MicheleinPhilly @TrishB Thankfully everyone I work with seems to be tired of Zoom as well. I just don‘t turn the camera on so I can roll my eyes with abandon. 4y
TrishB Maybe I‘ll try that!! 4y
39 likes9 comments
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Minervasbutler
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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tdrosebud WTG!! 4y
Nute Way to go!👏🏽 4y
68 likes2 comments
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Minervasbutler
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

2nd in his trilogy about the Mexico-US drug trade and this one is easily as good as The Power of the Dog, though the large cast of characters, their familial relationships and shifting alliances make it a demanding read, and one which at times seems to abandon fiction and become exposé journalism. Superb.

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vivastory
Cartel | Don Winslow
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1) One of my favorites of the year.
2) It's casual Friday, so my black book nerd shirt from out of print.
3) Yesterday portable oxygen was finally delivered for one of my individuals. I spent close to 10 hours over the past couple of weeks on the phone & at the doctor's office trying to make this happen.
4) I can't whistle, but I can snap my fingers.
#friyayintro @howjessreads

Ruthiella Congratulations on the portable oxygen score! It‘s a good feeling when efforts are rewarded and things go right at work!😀 5y
58 likes2 comments
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vivastory
Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

When I read the first book in Winslow's Cartel trilogy, "Power of the Dog," I was struck by how similar it was to a great HBO program. With an enormous cast of instantaneously memorable characters, a sprawling setting, twists & betrayals. Winslow's saga is the Grimdark version of crime fiction. Covering the years of the worst of the cartel violence, his second book shares many of the same characteristics as the first. However,his chronicling of ?

vivastory said violence is thorough & will be off putting for some readers. As Bolaño in 2666 overly documented the murders in Juarez to instill in the reader a numbing to the violence, Winslow excessively chronicles the drug violence to great effect. His arguments in the book are also nuanced, placing the blame on both sides of the border as well as on both Democratic & Republican administrations. This book was thoroughly informative about the economic 👇 5y
vivastory legislation that led to the cartels, why they are allowed to flourish, the political & economic realities of the disenfranchised. If The Power of the Dog starts out as great entertainment, The Cartel is a horrific nightmare. 5y
Tex2Flo Winslow is a master!! 5y
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vivastory @Tex2Flo Absolutely! 5y
KT1432 I really like him. I need to read this series! 5y
MicheleinPhilly GREAT review Scott! 5y
Suet624 Sounds like an important read. 5y
78 likes7 comments
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vivastory
Cartel | Don Winslow
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I just finished the second book in Winslow's Cartel trilogy & like the first book, "Power of the Dog", although the story primarily focuses on Mexico & southern US, there are plenty of chapters set #allaroundtheworld depicting the international connections of the drug trade.
#RedRoseSeptember
@arlenefinnigan @Cinfhen

arlenefinnigan A global trade, right enough. 5y
alvingregorio I was obsessed with this series! Crazy ride! 5y
vivastory @alvingregorio My mouth literally dropped open at the end! 5y
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Cinfhen I‘ve been meaning to read this series since @Melissa_J recommended it ♥️ 5y
Melissa_J You‘ve both reminded me that I really need to read this one! I will definitely get to it soon. @cinfhen 5y
andrew61 I finished it last week, it's overwhelming in its storytelling but brutality and after that ending i don't know where he will go in the next book - can't wait! 5y
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vivastory
Cartel | Don Winslow
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andrew61
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

Gosh this was a tough rd with an unrelenting catalogue of dreadful atrocities which was inflicted upon the people of Mexico because of the drug wars. This bk however is compelling as dea agent art keller continues his battle against adnan berrara and the drug cartels. Shocking i put it down exhausted and with an ending that left me wondering where the next bk wd go. Plus an easter egg bk i plan to try. A tough read but impressive writing.

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andrew61
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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It's Friday night and i am now well into the second part of this impressive series of novels about the drug war on the Mexican /American border.
I am provisionally going to put this down for my first autumn #booked2019 'book about addiction' unless i read something else but gosh it is so good.

Christine Love this series! So brutal but so good. 5y
33 likes2 comments
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amywithbooks
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

This was a re-read for me, leading up to the final book in this amazing trilogy - The Border - which comes out TOMORROW!! This series is not for the faint of heart. The violence described is brutal and terrifying and real- the scenes in these books are based on actual events. Don Winslow has elevated crime writing with this series and I cannot wait to see how it ends.

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susanw
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

One of my best reads of the year. Wow! The writing is awesome, the story would be unbelievable if it wasn‘t so real, and the pace is fast. Trigger warning for excessive violence. Man oh man, this was so very good.

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wintercherry
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Amiable
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Packing my bag for a weekend getaway ... Okay, I'm done. What else do I really need? 😎📚

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Amiable
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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This book! Oh my God, this book ...

BookedBySunrise Read the first book loved it.. this one is on my shelf just haven‘t gotten around to it.. I gave 5 stars to Power of the Dog so I know this one has to be good as well 6y
Amiable @MoBee Oh, it's SOOO good. Just like the first one. I have to force myself to put it down so I can actually get work done. 😬 6y
22 likes2 comments
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Amiable
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Zihuatanejo...isn't that also where Andy Dufresne told Red to meet him if he ever got out of prison? 🤔 I can never remember the name of the place when I hear it --I have to see the word spelled out in order to remember it. If Andy told me where to find him, I'd still be sitting in that damn hay field in Maine. 🙄

Lauram Yep! 6y
CouronneDhiver That‘s the one! 6y
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Amiable
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Me too, buddy. Me too.

AshleyHoss820 Yes! Same here! 📚❤️ 6y
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Amiable
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Moving on to my next book pairing (one fiction, one nonfiction) for August. A novel about the drug war in the 21st century and a memoir by the woman who piloted the Washington Post through the crises of the Pentagon Papers and Watergate. Can't wait to dive in!

BookedBySunrise Read the first in the series but haven‘t read that one yet 6y
20 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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amywithbooks
Cartel | Don Winslow
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1. (The) Cartel
2. Justin Cronin
3. Center Stage (it‘s like the ballet version of Bring It On, and it‘s awful and cheesy and i love it)
4. Carnitas!

#manicmonday

JoScho Thanks for playing 😊💖 6y
Guildedearlobe The Cartel was amazing 6y
britt_brooke Mmm, carnitas! 6y
CindyMyLifeIsLit I absolutely LOVE Center Stage!! The modern ballet at the end is freaking awesome!! ❤️ 6y
amywithbooks @CindyMyLifeIsLit yes, it‘s so good!!! 👏🏽👏🏽 6y
22 likes5 comments
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AshD16
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Aaahhhh!! Only on chapter 3 and this book is already SO intense!! It‘s so full of action, yet so much love and passion. Spending my Sunday just how it should be - curled up on the recliner with a book in one hand, coffee in the other, and not a thing on my mind other than what I‘m reading 🙌🏼❤️ #sundayspentright 📚☕️

tammysue Sounds like a pretty great night! 💜😊 6y
AshD16 Absolutely 🤗 6y
12 likes2 comments
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AshD16
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Love love looovveee book maps 😂😍 spending my Saturday evening curled up on the couch, starting “The Cartel” 🙌🏼📚

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AshD16
Cartel | Don Winslow
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Finally got the second book in “The Cartel” series!! CANNOT wait to start reading it!! Also picked up “The Force” by Winslow as well, recommended by @wintercherry thank you for the recommendation, it sounds like such a good read!! ❤️

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BookedBySunrise
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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"An epic, South-of -the -border Godfather for our time" as its been described.

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farre
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

This one was difficult to get through. I kept having to remind myself it was fiction, but it was still horrifying to think these things could have happened to the citizen of Mexico.

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CocoReads
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Supporting the economy after tonight‘s book group. I‘m pretty sure this is my haul but I haven‘t hit the $5 table yet.

Reecaspieces Got some good ones there.... 6y
rachelm Harmony is really good!! 6y
CoverToCoverGirl ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
See All 7 Comments
CocoReads @Reecaspieces @rachelm @CoverToCoverGirl I‘ve been eyeing Harmony and Mississippi Blood for awhile and I like Don Winslow for some good, morally ambiguous plots (ahem, Savages, I‘m looking at you) 6y
Reecaspieces @CocoReads Mississippi blood is last of a trilogy. You probably know. But I would recommend starting with the first. Natchez burning 6y
CocoReads @Reecaspieces I have them all now. Just have to get them read. I‘m still slowly working my way through The Devils Punchbowl. Which I know is pre-trilogy but still Penn Cage. 6y
Reecaspieces @CocoReads yep and they are soooooo good. 6y
91 likes7 comments
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Lauren_reading
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

This was a great book. It was horrific and violent, but it all tied together in a novel I couldn‘t put down.

57 likes2 stack adds
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Lauren_reading
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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This book is awesome, long, but awesome...I‘m feeling super ugh today (thanks congestion 🤧) so I‘ll be relaxing and reading and watching football.

Ashley_Nicoletto Oooo and I spy Starbucks. You. Go. Girl. 😍 6y
robinb Feel better soon! 6y
57 likes2 comments
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Beckys_Books
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Missed yesterday's #30daysofreadathon #redbook prompt so playing catch up. Most of my books are still in boxes from our move four weeks ago, but I've unpacked some good ones!

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DogEaredBooks
Cartel | Don Winslow
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Enjoy the end of summer

mcipher It went so fast! 7y
DogEaredBooks @mcipher it really did! 7y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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MarticaMustRead
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

??????⚰ #CrimeThriller #Audiobook ??

Wow....A gripping crime saga about the 'War on Drugs' that's truly never ending. With an assortment of memorable characters-most with disparaging moral codes, & even some surprisingly strong females ones, plus plenty of plot twists, this audio kept me "plugged" into my ear buds every chance I got! A gripping ride & great narration.

☠Warning: There are moments of graphically described violent acts.

21 likes1 stack add
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MarticaMustRead
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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😳📖📚📖📚💪🤓 #BookishHumor #BookwormProblems #ForTheLoveOfBooks

Case of the Mondays.... #Mood

Didn't get to do any reading whatsoever this weekend and my body & mind are having serious withdrawals!!!😖😣

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MarticaMustRead
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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?❤?? #Audiobook #CurrentListen #BooksWithDinner

Listening to my current audiobook which came highly recommended by a friend, as I devour these delicious nachos for dinner.

If you enjoy shows like "Narcos" or the movie "Blow," this audiobook is for you. I started it this morning and am ALL in already.

?.... Nachos really are a complete meal if you think about it. They have protein, dairy, veggies, & grains all in one bite!!???????

LauraBrook Omg, those look delicious!!!! 7y
MarticaMustRead @LauraBrook oh they totally were!!!😋😋😋 7y
27 likes2 comments
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DogMomIrene
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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About two hours into this 23 hour audiobook. Narrator and plot details have definitely sucked me into this gritty story. While descriptions haven't been adjective gory, yet, there are details shared that make my face blanch. Starting an organizational extravaganza with the SO...not sure how much I can listen in the next few days. Poorly planned reading choice.🙁

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misslala
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

One of the best crime books I have ever read. Don Winslow is a master of language. He used words like Decolletage to add elegance to the language. Loved it. I'm a fan.

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Schuhbox
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

This is the sequel to The Power of the Dog. Loved this and it's predecessor!

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SarahKay
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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September reading stats! A Little Life remains my best book of the year.

Books_Wine_Repeat Love this series! Don Winslow is amazing. 8y
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AnnieReads
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

This was not an easy read. So much death and violence. It's fiction but "inspired by actual events". I would often find myself googling events in the book only to find they happened in real life. Very well written and worth the read.

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AnnieReads
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Lunch break time. I'm about halfway through The Cartel. Very gritty but good.

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DidIReallyReadThat
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

Well written story of the drug wars in Mexico. Sometimes hard to read but, in the end, also hard to put down.

4 likes1 stack add
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JennaB
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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I realized as I sat in an airport today that I should have been paying better attention to books people read when they're traveling this summer. This is the first book I spotted today #airportreading

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Books_Wine_Repeat
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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Pickpick

Violent. Gruesome. Honest. Epic. Powerful. This true-to-life story follows a DEA agent through 7+ years of living in Mexico fighting the 'war on drugs'. Although it is fiction, this hit close to home because I grew up in El Paso, TX, the border city to Juarez, MX. I remember seeing the newspapers and newscast about the cartels and murders, dead bodies. The names are different but a lot of this story was very very real.

Texreader A good friend lost 8 family members in one violent act by a gang in Juarez just a few years ago. It was horrific. When I visited El Paso and Juarez a long long (decades) time ago I loved it all. So so sad the pain the area has suffered. 8y
MrBook Nice review! 8y
Books_Wine_Repeat @Texreader That's horrible! I'm sorry for your friend's loss. I remember when I was little, my parents would take us to Juarez every Friday night, to restaurants or to shop. Once everything started getting out of control, my parents forbade any of us to cross the border. It's sad to see what Juarez has become. 8y
See All 6 Comments
amywithbooks There's going to be a Part Three to this story. So excited!! 8y
Books_Wine_Repeat @avgeyer That's awesome! 8y
67 likes4 stack adds6 comments
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Books_Wine_Repeat
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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I've had many of these moments while listening to this audiobook. 😳

britt_brooke 😂 8y
CynCruz23 I love when that happens 😁 8y
jessberk13 My boyfriend finds it hilarious when I do this (but generally hates it when I do it while he's trying to watch TV). 8y
See All 9 Comments
Cinfhen 😂😂😂 8y
BibliophileMomma I just did this while reading Dark Matter. 8y
LeahBergen Love it! 8y
Zelma Great description! That is the best feeling. 8y
LitHousewife 😂😂😂😂 8y
Bookzombie Love. 😂 8y
86 likes3 stack adds9 comments
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Books_Wine_Repeat
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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60% in and this book keeps getting better and better. Violence, corruption, drugs, cartels, oh my! 💀🔫☠

susanw I've got to move this up my TBR! 8y
58 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Books_Wine_Repeat
The Cartel | Don Winslow

60% in and this book keeps getting better and better. Violence, corruption, drugs, cartels, oh my! 💀🔫☠

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Books_Wine_Repeat
The Cartel | Don Winslow
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In reference to agents constantly taking lie detector test to weed out the agents working with the narcos. 'If you're going to keep the stable clean, you have to keep shoveling out the shit.' 😂😂😂

MrBook Got that right 😎😊👌🏻. 8y
TheNextBook I need to read this! 8y
39 likes1 stack add2 comments