Bloodlines

Starred review from August 15, 2017
Two FBI agents work to take down members of a drug cartel wrapped up with quarter horse racing in Texas.In her first book, Texas Observer investigative reporter del Bosque follows new agent Scott Lawson and his eventual partner, identified here with a pseudonym because she has family in Mexico, as they work with Tyler Graham, the young owner of a horse farm, to uncover a money laundering scheme set into motion by the Zetas, a violent cartel controlled by the Trevino family. The author describes scenes of action in suspenseful detail without neglecting the more mundane aspects of the investigation, including the painstaking tracing of the money trail between the cartel's leaders in Mexico and their agents, who often spend unusual amounts of cash to buy horses in the United States. The author has a clear understanding of the often counterproductive conflicts among the various government agencies working the drug war in Texas, and she builds tension in the narrative by emphasizing how close the FBI's carefully built case came to being scuttled by the agendas of other agencies. Del Bosque also follows closely the trial of those accused of money laundering, analyzing the ups and downs of the prosecution of the case. While the account is, as might be expected, skewed toward the points of view of those participants who were willing to talk with her, particularly Lawson, the author skillfully uses a variety of sources to convey the intricacies of a complicated case and builds in bits of background without slowing down the movement of the story. The working relationship between Lawson and his partner is particularly well-defined. Fans of true crime and readers curious about the inner workings of Mexican drug cartels should enjoy this well-researched story. Though different in execution, this book pairs nicely with Joe Tone's Bones, which covers the same subject.

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October 1, 2017

The perennial problem of operating a drug cartel is how to launder millions of illegal dollars. Miguel and Omar Trevino, the leaders of Mexico's bloodthirsty Zeta cartel, dabbled in quarter horse racing, using proxies to buy, sell, and race hundreds of horses. This worked until rookie FBI agent Scott Lawson got a tip that led him to Tyler Graham, an American stable owner who was willing to help Lawson infiltrate the cartel. Thus began a years-long investigation by Lawson and partner Alma Perez to unravel the complex strands of the conspiracy before the Trevinos got wind of it and vanished--and before any of their witnesses could be murdered. Investigative journalist del Bosque combines interviews with her extensive knowledge of the region to craft a compelling story of how the government followed the links in the chain that finally led to four successful convictions. Not much about horses or racing but an intense look at the criminals behind the events. VERDICT The minutia of a money-laundering case can be difficult for the layman to follow, but the author makes the hunt entertaining. Those interested in the drug trade, the racing industry, and the region will enjoy.--Deirdre Bray Root, MidPointe Lib. Syst., OH

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