Drug lord Miguel Angel Barrera is head of the Mexican drug federación, responsible for millions of dollars worth of cocaine traffic into the US and the torture of those who stand in its way. His nephew, Adan Barrera, is his worthy successor.Art Keller is the US government operative, so determined to obtain revenge for a murdered colleague that his pusuit of the cartel veers dangerously towards an obsession outside the law. In a world characterised by its brutality, all of Winslow's incredibly varied cast - including a high class prostitute, an Irish hitman and a charismatic Catholic priest - are searching for salvation. Don Winslow's masterpiece is not only a page-turning thriller but also a rich and compelling novel in the league of Ellroy or Delillo.