Dying for the Truth: Undercover Inside the Mexican Drug War by the Fugitive Reporters of Blog del Narco

by Blog del Narco

What is the value of telling the truth? For independent blog reporters in the midst of the Mexican Drug War, it's as important as their very lives, which are threatened on a daily basis. Blog del Narco is a heavily visited website, both in Mexico and the rest of North America, and it reveals the horrible savagery of the drug cartels. More than this, it also speaks of corruption and violence from the government itself. Many journalists in Mexico have been killed and silenced. Blog del Narco is not run by professional journalists, but it's the only forum for the true story of the violent drug war. Dying for the Truth is the first and only book release that contains both text and images, many of them gruesome, from this vital public forum. This book contains both the original Spanish-language posts in addition to their English translations. Truth is risky, and sometimes it's also harsh. Here is the reality of the Mexican Drug War, created in part by American demand for the products controlled by the cartels and their government collaborators. The Blog del Narco authors live anonymously and under threat in Mexico and aspire to relocate to the United States.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Journalism

398 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not for the people with weak stomachs. It was an extremely interesting read and has so many very gruesome pictures. I think the pictures were necessary to illustrate the true severity of what is going on in Mexico with the cartels.

[Luis Orozco · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is basically a collection of blogposts from 2010-2011 in both Spanish and English. While the English texts are well edited, the Spanish ones suffer a little bit. We all know this happens even if we don't necessarily see it, and we certainly hope it comes to an end.

BTW, the book contains extremely gruesome pictures from the events it depicts. Don't pick it up unless you have a strong stomach.

[Matteo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book that I’d never recommend to anybody.

[Jessicka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was morbidly captivating. I read it in one sitting and felt sickened, disturbed and overwhelmed.

Like the other reviewer said, this book contains many gruesome images which one must view with caution if they are sensitive to this kind of thing. Some might argue that the inclusion of the images is sensationalism but, in my opinion, it further illustrates the struggles and brutality of modern Mexico.

One cannot help but feel the horror and absolute terror that Mexican's are living with. The fact that the police are either too afraid, paid out by the cartels or even part of the cartels is mortifying. Innocents are left to fend for themselves.

The book is a collection of Blog Del Narco's first year. I thought that the articles were just as disturbing as the images and they paint a perversely dark universe in which the cartels rule.

I have utmost respect to the two anonymous creators of the blog and the many brave reporters and civilians that have contributed to it. This is a must read for anyone (over 18), who is interested in the cartels or in Mexico's struggle. However, be warned that the images you see and the images your mind creates when reading the articles will sear themselves into your brain.

An incredible, enlightening and brutal read.

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a bit much for me. Maybe it was too repetitive (which I should have expected given the subject matter). Maybe the images were too disturbing for me. Maybe my reading interests are just more shallow than this book. I understand the importance of the subject matter, but I still couldn't force myself to finish it.