Description

---

You've heard of Pablo Escobar, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, and Rafael Caro Quintero. Their names conjure ghoulish images of bloody streets, white powder, bundles of weed, and a particular flavor of machismo unique to ruthless drug lords. But what of the drug ladies, las narcas? Investigative reporter Deborah Bonello takes you behind the curtain to introduce the women at the helm of organized crime south of the US-Mexico border. Narcas gives voice to the women of notorious drug trafficking monarchies, meticulously documenting the variety of roles they play. Bonello chronicles the complexity of their actions and their desires, the gray chasm between victims and victimizers, co-option and agency, and right and wrong. She also examines why women's experiences are under-reported, emphasizing the importance of understanding women as fully capable beings who are often as ambitious, innovative, ruthless, and violent as their male counterparts. With careful detail, comprehensive research, and groundbreaking storytelling, Narcas paints a vivid picture of the women behind some of the most notorious drug cartels. You will not see Sebastiana Cott n or Marixa Lemus in the stereotypical portrayals of beautiful narco wives or girlfriends like Emma Coronel Aispuro or in the faces of trafficking survivors or drug mules. Rather, you'll encounter, at staggering rates, the female cartel killers, money launderers, logistical heads, and transporters of Latin America's infamous crime syndicates.