The Cartel, Winslow - B +

                                               In this sequel, Adan Barrera gets himself transferred to a Mexican prison, from which he escapes, thus prompting Art Keller to come in out of the cold and re-join the DEA. Game on.  Adan slowly re-establishes control of the drug business in Mexico. The key is the 'plazas', the cities with access to the north. They are Tijuana, Juarez, Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros. Controlling the flow of coke, heroin and marijuana requires teamwork and in order to succeed, Adan establishes an 'alliance of blood' - only people from Sinoala, his home province. The Federal government, though, has actually re-organized and significantly improved its anti-drug efforts and they have help from Keller.  Adan faces some stiff competition, especially in the eastern part of Mexico, and eventually goes to war with the Zetas.  Around and around the wars go, an endless cycle of deceit, treachery, torture  and murder. It ends dramatically in a jungle in Guatemala. Keller walks away the winner; but, there is no prize, or even peace of mind. These two books have been a fun read and on a topic I've never come across. Interestingly, they also offer perspective that I've never considered. That is, that the problems that we associate with Colombia, Mexico and other centers of the drug world would not exist were it not for America's appetite for drugs.