Blood in the Fields: Ten Years Inside California's Nuestra Familia Gang

by Julia Reynolds

The city of Salinas, California, is the birthplace of John Steinbeck and the setting for his epic masterpiece, East of Eden, but it is also the home of Nuestra Familia, one of the most violent gangs in the United States. Born in the prisons of California in the late 1960s, Nuestra Familia expanded to control drug trafficking and extortion operations throughout the northern half of the state, and left a trail of bodies in its wake. Award-winning journalist Julia Reynolds tells the gang’s story from the inside out, following young men and women as they search for a new kind of family, quests that usually lead to murder and betrayal. Blood in the Fields also documents the history of Operation Black Widow, the FBI’s questionable decade-long effort to dismantle the Nuestra Familia, along with its compromised informants and the turf wars it created with local law enforcement agencies. Reynolds used her unprecedented access to gang members, both in and out of prison, as well as undercover wire taps, depositions, and court documents to weave a gripping, comprehensive history of this brutal criminal organization and the lives it destroyed.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Crime, History, American History, Audiobook

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Julia Reynolds is a reporter who coproduced and wrote the PBS documentary Nuestra Familia, Our Family, and reported on the northern California gang for more than a decade. She is a staff writer at the Monterey County Herald, and has reported for the Discovery Channel, Mother Jones, the Nation, National Public Radio, the San Francisco Chronicle, and more. She was a 2009 Harvard Nieman Fellow focusing on solutions to gang violence and has been an adjunct professor and researcher for the Center for Conflict Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. She lives in California’s Central Coast.

Reviews

[David Skarbek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masterful story telling. Powerful message. Unprecedented and thoroughly documented look inside one of California's most powerful prison gangs. If you care about prison and gangs--and you should--then this is a must read.

[Emer Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating glimpse into an often hidden world of California's Neustra Familia gang. Reynolds tells the story with precision and without judgement. She traces the lives of individuals born into a culture that recruits them, initiates them into violence, and imprisons them before they realize who they are. She paints a portrait through facts and characters of mostly ignored, marginalized lives that are violent, and yet tragically mundane all at the same time.

[DS Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood in the Fields, Julia Reynolds

This history of the Nuestra Familia is a must-read page turner for anyone with an interest in the causes and results of poverty and disrespect on any country. At first, I thought I this narrative non-fiction book was about the etiology of gangs, specifically the most powerful criminal organization in California. It was so interesting, I read it almost non-stop. But after I finished, I realized that the stories of the gang members, all living within the same set of dilemmas, could easily be applied to any fringe group with violent tendencies. And that’s what makes this such an important book.

The Nuestra Familia was born in California but now has spread, like a cancer, across the United States and Mexico. At first it was a way for Northern Mexican farmers now living in the United States to defend themselves against the Southern Mexico gangbangers. But it’s mission and operations morphed into a criminal business, and Julia Reynolds shows the process through the lives of some of its members.

Julia Reynolds also shows what we can do to declaw gangs.

The lessons within her marvelous text can be applied to an understanding of how gangs develop into criminal organizations, such as the Italian Mafia, Russian Mafiya, Irish gangs. Al Qada, ISIS, and other current problem organizations for Western civilization.
I recommend this book for everyone. Indeed, it should be required reading for anyone in law enforcement or politics.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous, well researched book about the growth and culture of the Norteno Nuestra Familia of Northern California, including fascinating insight into the politics of law enforcement, specifically "Operation Black Widow" which took place in the late '90's and early 2000's. This gang is controlled by the top of its' hierarchy from behind the walls of Pelican Bay State Prison, and is on the ground in small and medium sized Northern California towns such as Salinas, Watsonville, and Santa Rosa, where I live. I was raised in Los Angeles and spent many years in Portland Oregon; Santa Rosa is by far the smallest town I've ever lived in, and over the years I've been here, I have often puzzled over how a town as small as Santa Rosa could have a gang problem so out of proportion to its' size. Now I understand. A must read, especially if you live in this region of the country.

[Spencer Critchley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone interested in gang violence: Deeply reported and beautifully written, surprising and enlightening - and a page-turner to boot.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who was born and raised in Watsonville, and now lives in Salinas, I had a hard time putting this book down as soon as I started reading it.

In her book, Julia Reynolds pieces together a timeline of gang activity that primarily took place in Salinas, Watsonville and other surrounding areas in the 1990s/2000s. She presents personal accounts from gang members, offers a glimpse into the structure of the Nuestra Familia criminal organization, and educates the reader on the U.S. government’s involvement in infiltrating and attempting to bring down the organization.

While reading the book, I did struggle with learning the names of individuals as there were so many introduced throughout the book. I also found the overall structure to be a bit challenging to follow as the subject matter would change rather abruptly from time to time.

I particularly appreciated that she touched on the indoctrination of many gang members as children through familial ties. It’s something I’ve observed in my personal life through the experiences of extended family and classmates. I think it’s important to recognize that many people feel the obligation to continue being in gangs as it’s ingrained in the way of living for so many families.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this. It’s sad and hard to read. A gang life is no life, in my opinion. So sad.

[Harry Brake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was on a roller coaster of emotions with every section and found myself getting frustrated, sometimes at the law, sometimes and the gang members, brittleness inside built up at these inside accounts of life, and what seemed to feel was their only life. The disappointment of how some members realize only too late their worth is measured by their jail sentence resounds loud and clear in this detailed account of Julia Reynold's risky account of life in Salinas valley, known to few only as seen in movies. Sharp, bitter, and more than real, I was a little slow to get into the first few chapters, but by the middle, that was all taken care of. Go ahead and try to count the number of times your head will shake - you will lose count too.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant 10 year chronicle of the men and women who's families, lives, loves and dreams have been destroyed by the false hope, promises and betrayals of California's horrifying Nuestra Familia gang.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Interesting although the way it was written, I sometimes got confused with the characters.

[Ceilidhchaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a teacher in East Salinas, this gave me more insight into the neighborhood where I work.

[Ness · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Kurt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Nuestra Familia gang was born and raised in the jails and prisons of Fresno, California to protect Northern California Mexican Americans from their Southern California counterparts the Mexican Mafia. Limited social and educational opportunities created fertile soil in the farm towns of central and northern California for the gang to spread beyond prison walls. Tightly organized, Nuestra Familia grew to control much of the crime in California.

BLOOD IN THE FIELDS chronicles the rise, fall and rise of Nuestra Familia. Many stories of gang lives ending suddenly in the street or slowly in prison already exist but this book starts by showing how those lives began. It speaks to how poverty and discrimination close doors that might lead away from crime allowing gangs to fill the gaps where hope should be. A society that stifles hope does so at its own peril. Through unique and extended access to gang members and their lives the author runs several biographical stories through the narrative of this book. We watch youngsters harden to survive and ultimately better serve the Nuestra Familia only to have them eventually question their devotion to an organization they finally sadly realize does not really care about them at all. Crushing are the moments where violent men cry for the loss of their families—gone is any chance to hold their wives and raise their kids.

Much of the criminal activity is woven into the narrative from the perspective of law enforcement. This has its moments and acts as a presentation of a path not taken by those who became gang members, but the extensive politics involved in trying to unravel the Nuestra Familia distracts from the compelling part of the book. About this time it became more difficult to keep track of which gang member was doing what and the pulse of the book began to weaken. Either a more parallel structure of gangs and law enforcement or sticking to just the stories of gang members would have better served the book. Still unique and fascinating and worthwhile.

[Deb Blackbourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, although it took me a while to finish it. It's one of those books for me that I found I could only read for short bursts of time. I interspersed it with other books. I'm not sure what I was looking for in this book. I have worked in prisons & with gang members. I never read the charges any of the inmates were in for as I never wanted to have a bias against them before I started working with them. This book looked more into how the gang(s)!worked on the outside & how it affected their everyday life. While I found it interesting, I don't know if I could recommend it as reading material for just anyone. I think anyone reading it would have to have an open mind & not be easily paranoid!

[Kevin McAvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook version free from Audible if you are a subscriber.
13 hours. Interesting look into the gang called Nuestra Familia who are in Northern California.
Real people, real crimes and real prison stories.
The gang is actually run from inside Pelican Bay prison near the Canadian Border.
Enjoyed getting into this book each day.
It reads like a crime series written from the gang side and the police side.
Some gang members want to go to jail in order to get more credit as a member and move up in rank.
Misleading title though as there was no blood mentioned as being in any field at all and I was waiting for that.

[Paul Wilner · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astonishingly well reported look at gang violence and culture, as well as the sometimes futile misguided efforts of law enforcement (including a look at Robert Mueller's mixed legacy in that regard) to stop it, along with firsthand accounts from street cops who did their level best. Must reading. Anyone who thinks the Central Coast is just a place to play golf or catch a glimpse of Clint Eastwood has another think coming. Amazing reporting by Julie Reynolds, who gained unparalleled access to gang members and lawmen alike.
A must read book, one I wish I'd checked out sooner.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I was so engulfed by the storyline I read it in 11 days! We often think gangbangers have a choice - join or stay away, but this book really gave me a different perspective of how the kids that grow up in the gang are so brainwashed they see no other way but to continue in the path. Lil Mando's life story is a great lesson to our youth to stay away from gangs and he provides many reasons as to why. He articulates it very well.

[KC Palma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable as I am familiar with Salinas, CA and some of the people mentioned. It's a good read because it is true (and to people unfamiliar with the Nuestra Familia, probably shocking.) But you must go into it understanding you're going to read it like a non-fiction book, not a novel. It is too confusing, has too many characters, and spans too many years to be enjoyable as a story. It doesn't go into enough depth with any one person or event to get attached to it.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in the same style as Capote's "In Cold Blood," but with a heart-rending empathy that makes the players in this saga actually seem like real people--such as they are/were--rather than just names on a page. The amount of work that went into the making of this book is amazing, and I commend Ms. Reynolds for her dedication and diligence. Beautifully written.

[Rumple Stiltkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is heartbreaking.
I bought this book because I work in Corrections and I wanted a better understanding of the Northern gang structure, what I found was this and so much more.
The lives of these kids ultimately mean nothing to the hierarchy of this gang, unfortunately they realize this when it is too late.

[Whatcha Reading Heather? · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this would have been better in a physical format over audio, but I still thought it was very informative and helped me learn a bunch about my hometown’s history. The format seems similar to ‘In Cold Blood,’ but I think the narrations should have been similar to that of ‘Killers Of The Flower Moon.’

[Josh Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this during a “let’s learn about prison gangs” phase of my reading life. Sad, honest, and good read. Prison politics is such a fascinating subject, albeit ugly. Had me thinking about my estranged brother and his letters from prison. Sigh. Good read, great work Julia Reynolds.

[Celina J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always looking for way to learn and be knowledgeable about different topics throughout the world. This book helped opened my eyes to how the NF was formed and how it continue to operate throughout Northern California and the border of Oregon.

[Dora Escobedo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly well written, heartbreaking, and yet fascinating story.

I learned the why, that was new information to me.

However, the consequences are horrific. So many separated families and broken dreams.

[Kayla F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this during my study at university, it’s a great take on gang culture and how they develop and love behind the scenes. I had to write a report on this when I was studying criminology and the book is interesting, because you don’t think this stuff is as real as it’s portrayed in the text.

[Kayla Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really shows a true insight on gangs in California back in the day. It was interesting to know how they moved with the economy and how they handled their business behind bars and how they all interacted with each other.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea about more rural gang life. Fascinating, especially professionally. The amount of information that was gleaned is mind-boggling. However, once the scene was set it got a little tedious.

[Dave Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring

The author was more interested in talking about herself. Every paragraph had more I, me, my than was needed. Why did she turn the gang story into a story about her?

[Moises Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good journalism .

I would recommend this book to young people who are headed that path. Its nice to see a author look into this world because no one really cares.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Found the beginning a little dry and confusing, after that it was an excellent read.