The Reaper's Line: Life and Death on the Mexican Border

by Lee Morgan II

A true story of violence, drugs, human smuggling, and dirty politicians. “I’ve fallen under the spell of a fabulously infatuating mistress,” writes Lee Morgan II in this searing memoir. “She” is Arizona’s beautiful, dangerous borderland, and this is the shocking true story of Morgan’s many years of combat there. A young Marine taught Morgan, aged 14, how to shoot a rifle. Then, he says, “my pseudo ‘big brother’ went on to infamously enter history books as the ‘Texas Tower Sniper.’” Haunted by the Grim Reaper, today’s Wild West is near anarchy. “To know the Mexican people is to love them,” writes Morgan, but he hates with righteous rage the crime and corruption he’s witnessed on both sides of the border. Discover why Morgan has been called the Serpico of the desert. Climb down with him into a “narco-tunnel” built by slave labor to smuggle drugs. Consider the huge social and political questions raised by Morgan’s passionate exposé. “I’ve been personally shot, shrapneled, slashed, clubbed, burned, and nearly dragged to death,” says the veteran lawman, who now lives with a Mexican bounty on his head. “It’s been a hell of a ride.” And it’s a hell of a story.

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime

524 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2006

Reviews

[Amy Fleming-Heller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting info about the border security. Many times I felt like the author was using this platform as a soapbox. He railed against a corrupt Mexican government while exposing many of the same flaws in the US government.

His writing, in general, is a bit elementary and full of collequilisms. I think his opinion about how to secure our boarders is more realistic and show a first hand account of how we have been so misguided in the war on drugs. A wall will do nothing to keep us safer! We all need to be a part of the difficult and multiifacited solutions.

Mr. Morgan showed a great level of compassion for all humans even after his experiences of near death at the Mexican border. This is the main reason I gave the book 3 stars. I thank God for men like him who are doing all they can, even with the threat of harm, to keep others safe. His dedication to country and justice are evident.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed my life. Since I read this book I have become passionate about the drug cartels and how they operate. I have published two articles about this very real problem. If anyone wants to learn about what is really happening on the border, read this book. It is long but reads like a novel. Pay attention to the Brownsville agreement where Janet Reno agreed to tell Mexico every activity our agents were planning beforehand, causing the deaths of numerous devoted agents.

Jump ahead to 2010 when Eric Holder facilitated the sale of guns to Mexican cartels causing the death of Border Agent Brian Terry. Rest in peace, agent Terry. You are a hero.

[E · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poster book for toxic white masculinity. Women are rated on big racks and I'm not talking guns. Okay to talk shit about "blacks" because he "had a black mammy as a child and loved her dearly". Way cool to shoot Mexicans on the border because "they started it". In short, stay away from Bubba Bubba Morgan's books.

[Quirky Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a different view than that portrayed in mainstream news sources, read this. It's crude with profanity just like the border.
I don't even pretend to know how to fix the violence at our southern border. It's dangerous business for border agents. Bad guys are everywhere. My heart aches for the innocent immigrants who just want a fighting chance at a good life, though this is not really portrayed in this book. To be honest, I didn't finish the book but got through about three-quarters.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book and the characters are real...I dealt with some of these people during my career.

[Icicle4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to slip a nonfiction book into the mix. This one is not that well written, but what a tale he tells. We'll never look at Douglas, AZ in the same way. There was a story in Geroge magazine few years back that called Douglas the third most corrupt town in the country. Can believe it after reading just part of this book. Finished the book and it is absolutely wild - if the book is true our efforts on the border are totally FUBAR.

[Ron Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

A searing indictment of both the drug and immigration wars along the Mexican border by someone who spent 26 on the front lines. Reads more like an incisive investigative book than a first person expose. At times, the writing is a little like a heated conversation in a ballroom, other times like Woodward and Bernstein. As a former investigative journalist, I would have been proud to write a book like this.

[Suzie Quint · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you really want to know what's going on at the US's southern border, this is the book to read. The author tells the tale from perspective of the border patrol and customs viewpoints. An impossible job made even more difficult by our own politicos who don't want them to succeed. Educational and maddening.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. Mad Dog described the fine line between trying to provide for your families everyday needs and the dangers of being a illegal alien. Then there are the Drug dealers and the Mexican Mafta
Mad Dog shows the true dangers of living and working on the Mexican Border.

[Jennifer Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met this guy (Lee) and he is a Texan through-and-through. From the accent to the tall tales and even taller heart. I keep this book (signed copy) in my office to remind me of how dangerous it is to work on and around the border.

[Jesse Garner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This guy tells some pretty crazy stories. It reads like you are BS-ing in a bar with the guy.