Cocaine Cowgirl: The Outrageous Life and Mysterious Death of Griselda Blanco

by Jennie Erin Smith

Her real name was Griselda Blanco, but she was known by many other, more evocative names: Black Widow, the Godmother, La Madrina, Queenpin. For years she dominated the cocaine trade between South America and the United States as no woman ever had, ordering custom lingerie from Medellín tailors with hidden pockets for smuggling coke and sending fleets of women to America to deliver it. Rivaled in her ruthlessness only by her fellow Colombian and sworn enemy, Pablo Escobar, she left dozens of bodies in her wake. By the time of her death last year she was celebrated as one the most bloodthirsty female criminals in history.

Immaculately coiffed and dripping with diamonds, Blanco ordered horrific hits, dispatching her enemies with bullets and bombs, and even a bayonet. She killed men, women, and, once, a small child. She also allegedly murdered—or ordered the murders of—her own husbands, her fellow partners in crime. After serving a prison term in the United States, Blanco returned to Colombia for what appeared to be a genteel retirement, right up to the moment she took a bullet in the head outside a butcher shop.

Celebrated journalist Jennie Erin Smith was living in Medellín when Blanco was killed, and quickly immersed herself in the legend, unraveling the never-before-told story of the Godmother’s final years. As she ventures deeper into Griselda’s world, Smith stumbles into a possible solution to a crime that the local authorities appear to have little interest in investigating. In doing so, she puts herself directly in harm’s way.

Did Blanco die in an act of long-deferred vengeance? Or were there other, stranger motives for her murder? “Cocaine Cowgirl” is brilliant storytelling—with an unnerving jolt of genuine fear.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennie Erin Smith is the author of “Stolen World: A Tale of Reptiles, Smugglers, and Skulduggery” (Crown, 2011). She has written about science, natural history, and the environment, most recently for the “Times Literary Supplement,” “The New Yorker,” “McSweeney’s,” and “The Wall Street Journal.” She lives in Central America.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Crime, Drugs

54 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 23, 2013

About the author

I am a reporter, writer and reviewer specializing in science and natural history, with a longtime interest in zoos, museums, animals and conservation. For several years I worked as an environmental reporter in Florida, where I developed many of the contacts needed to write Stolen World; currently I live in Europe, where I write for the Times Literary Supplement and other publications. I am always happy to talk about my work, so please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions, or feedback, or would like to schedule a Skype video chat for a book club or class.

Reviews

[Maryellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There really wasn't much Outrageous or Mysterious about what I read. It was a serviceable, surface history of someone who was probably a lot more interesting than this Kindle Single had space for.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Interesting. Not spectacular, but glad I read it. I learned a bit about Griselda Blanco.

[Niklas Pivic · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a speedy, pop-crime read. It's a simple take on the life of Griselda Blanco, a purported physical murder emporium - although quite few bodies can be attributed to her name - and drug lord (which she was, at the top of her game), and should be taken as such.

I got this because it was at the top of the Amazon Kindle Singles list and very cheap, but despite that, I regret the purchase; this is well-written but in total, not engaging to me, and should have been edited well.

[Pep Bonet · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was not what I was looking for. I heard from a colleague about Doña Gris (Griselda Blanco), the Queen of cocaine in Miami. He told me that I should watch the Cocaine Cowboys documentaries. The title was so close, wasn't it? Indeed, it is not a story about Dame Griselda, but rather a journalistic account or reconstruction of her last days when she was kileld as she had many killed before. Interesting, but not what I needed. I'll have to find the good book on the subject. Ideas are welcomed.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m glad I waited for this to be free because I think if I had paid for it, I would have been disappointed. The writing is good, but there isn’t much depth. In many ways, it is like an obit in the newspaper.

[Jennifer Wohlfort · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It felt too rushed. More of a summary when I was hoping for an in-depth biography. I couldn't get a good feel for the timeline.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, informative read.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this very short biography. I wish it were longer. She was an interesting lady.

[Writerstewie · Rating 2 out of 5]

disappointing.

[Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Griselda Blanco's life makes for a great story, but the writing in this book does not do it justice.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need something a little more in depth for this.

[Deborah LoVette-Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew!