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Kilo

Life and Death Inside the Secret World of the Cocaine Cartels
4.18 goodreads logo

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( 1,384 ratings, 116 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Kilo by Toby Muse offers a gripping journey into the heart of Colombia's dangerous cocaine industry. The author chronicles his immersive experience, following the journey of cocaine from coca leaf cultivation through its perilous transport to global markets. The narrative provides a vivid, behind-the-scenes look into the lives impacted by this illicit trade, artfully blending journalism with thriller elements.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this exploration of the drug trade if you're fascinated by the gritty, behind-the-scenes world of crime and those who navigate it. The author provides a gripping, first-hand account that immerses readers in the lives of the people entwined in this dangerous industry, offering a unique perspective on the challenges and complexities of this hidden world.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

On the ground in the drug war for over a decade, earning the trust of those involved on all sides, Toby Muse takes us with him through the endless blood-soaked horror and economic logic at every level of the journey of the world’s most alluring and dangerous drug.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In this ground-breaking and utterly compelling book, Toby Muse draws on 15 years of reporting on the drug war in Colombia, giving readers unprecedented access to the entire cocaine supply chain—perfect for fans of Narconomics, Killing Pablo and Gomorrah.

Join the deadly journey of cocaine, from farmer to kingpin.

Meet Maria. Maria doesn't see herself as a criminal. She's just a farmhand picking the crops that never lose money—coca.

This is Cachote. He prays to the Virgin of the Assassins that his bullets find their target. If he misses, he'll have to answer to the cartel who pay him to take out their enemies.

Pedro works the coca labs. But this laboratory is hidden deep in the jungle, and he turns coca leaves into coca paste, a step just short of cocaine.

And finally, here is Alex. Alex is a drug-lord and decides where the drug goes next—into Europe or the US. And he wields the power of life and death over everyone around him.

In Kilo, Toby Muse takes us deeper into the drug trade than ever before, following a kilo of cocaine as it travels from its origins to the street. On the ground in the drug war for over a decade, earning the trust of those involved on all sides, Toby Muse takes us with him through the endless blood-soaked horror and economic logic at every level of the journey of the world's most alluring and dangerous drug. We come to meet and ultimately understand the tainted personal psychology and motivations of each player in this dark El Dorado.

But there are no winners here. Anyone who tries to hold the power of the 'white goddess' cocaine is ultimately undone, violently stripped of their humanity, their souls, and their lives in this endless, pointless dance of death.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Kilo by Toby Muse provides a vivid, raw exploration of the Colombian cocaine trade. Critics praise it as one of the best works on the subject, highlighting its poetic journalism and compelling storytelling. It's described as hair-raising and unforgettable, offering an authentic look into the tragic realities of this underworld.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529103410

Publisher: Ebury Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 June 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Ebury Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 245g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Toby Muse is a British-American writer, television reporter, documentary filmmaker and foreign correspondent. He has reported from the front lines of the conflicts in Colombia, Iraq and Syria. He has embedded with soldiers, rebels and drug cartels, producing exclusive reports from cocaine laboratories and guerrilla jungle camps. He lived in Bogota, Colombia for more than fifteen years, reporting across South America and the endless drug war.

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