What do you think?
Rate this book
Hotel Scarface: Where Cocaine Cowboys Partied and Plotted to Control Miami
The wild, true story of the Mutiny, the hotel and club that embodied the decadence of Miami’s cocaine cowboys heyday—and an inspiration for the blockbuster film, Scarface...
In the seventies, coke hit Miami with the full force of a hurricane, and no place attracted dealers and dopers like Coconut Grove’s Mutiny at Sailboat Bay. Hollywood royalty, rock stars, and models flocked to the hotel’s club to order bottle after bottle of Dom and to snort lines alongside narcos, hit men, and gunrunners, all while marathon orgies burned upstairs in elaborate fantasy suites.
Amid the boatloads of powder and cash reigned the new kings of three waves of Cuban immigrants vying to dominate the trafficking of one of the most lucrative commodities ever known to man. But as the kilos—and bodies—began to pile up, the Mutiny became target number one for law enforcement.
Based on exclusive interviews and never-before-seen documents, Hotel Scarface is a portrait of a city high on excess and greed, an extraordinary work of investigative journalism offering an unprecedented view of the rise and fall of cocaine—and the Mutiny—in Miami.
In the seventies, coke hit Miami with the full force of a hurricane, and no place attracted dealers and dopers like Coconut Grove’s Mutiny at Sailboat Bay. Hollywood royalty, rock stars, and models flocked to the hotel’s club to order bottle after bottle of Dom and to snort lines alongside narcos, hit men, and gunrunners, all while marathon orgies burned upstairs in elaborate fantasy suites.
Amid the boatloads of powder and cash reigned the new kings of three waves of Cuban immigrants vying to dominate the trafficking of one of the most lucrative commodities ever known to man. But as the kilos—and bodies—began to pile up, the Mutiny became target number one for law enforcement.
Based on exclusive interviews and never-before-seen documents, Hotel Scarface is a portrait of a city high on excess and greed, an extraordinary work of investigative journalism offering an unprecedented view of the rise and fall of cocaine—and the Mutiny—in Miami.
Audible Audio
First published October 17, 2017
285 people are currently reading
2104 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
November 28, 2017
Hotel Scarface: Where Cocaine Cowboys Partied and Plotted to Control Miami- by Roben Farzad is a 2017 Berkley publication.
Miami Vice? Al Pacino’s Scarface? Miami in the 1980s, was all that and more. You'll have to keep reminding yourself that this is no work of fiction. While the entire country suffered an economic downturn, Miami was hustling and bustling, its economy bursting at the seams, solidifying its ‘sexiest’ city reputation- all thanks to that high priced, highly addictive, white powder- Cocaine.
At the center of all the excitement, sat the Mutiny Hotel, situated on Bayshore drive. The hotel and club, was Miami’s version of ‘Casablanca’, with Burton Goldberg at the helm. This was the gathering spot for the Miami Dolphins football players, rock stars, party girls, drug smugglers and dealers and cops, alike.
Business was conducted at all hours of the day and night. The Cocaine, the money, the Dom- all flowed like water through the Mutiny in its heyday. The city was a war zone, with the highest murder rate in the nation, and the cops and judges were in the pockets of the drug lords- many of whom were household names, right alongside the celebrity clientele at the Mutiny. People from all walks of life, small time earners, and lower income Cuban immigrants, were suddenly flush with unimaginable amounts of cash, expensive cars, and all the rest.
It was a crazy time, and Mutiny Hotel became THE place to meet and do business for the notorious ‘Cocaine Cowboys.’
The book replays the drama that took place inside the storied walls of the Mutiny, featuring a large cast of characters, some of whom will sound very familiar, while others were mostly famous inside the confines of the drug industry. To help keep it all sorted, the author graciously provides a list of the major players the book is centered around.
I was not surprised by the number of celebrities that partied there, and while a few of the names mentioned will shock you, most of them won’t. Some may be moderately shaken by how many local athletes were participants, but you really shouldn’t be.
A few notorious regulars were Rick James, members of the classic rock group- The Eagles, and few politicians, popped in and out as well- maybe a famous Kennedy? – and of course, some cast members from the wildly popular television show, 'Miami Vice’.
One notorious dealer even landed a couple of guest spots on the show for providing the crew with trustworthy cocaine.
While the stage is set to look like everyone was having a good time partying, drinking Dom, visiting the fantasy suites, there was a lot more going on than meets the eye. The Cuban immigrant issues that settled into the city in the 1980’s and the political climate with Cuba, in general, roiled just as intensely as it did two decades prior.
While the events that were transpiring in Miami may have helped inspire the Al Pacino movie, ‘Scarface’, the movie was mostly shot outside of Miami, and the author will explain those details, but it mainly had to do with the fear of how Cubans would be portrayed in the film.
Still, many thought they recognized themselves or others they knew in the film, and weren’t particularly offended by it.
It’s crazy to think back on it all now. Everything detailed in this book would have made for great television and movies… which it did- but it was very real, very scary, and a very dark piece of Miami’s history. It was a dangerous situation, shocking to the core, as Americans watched it all play out in real time, but now with the benefit of hindsight, it seems even more insane and hard to believe.
This book makes an excellent companion piece to the documentary ‘Cocaine Cowboys’- (the producers of the documentary even provided the prologue for this book), if you have seen it. If not, I highly recommend watching it and reading this book, in no particular order, because both will provide incredible look back at this part of America’s history- Miami’s, in particular. FYI- the documentary is available with Neflix streaming.
Overall, this book focuses primarily on the Mutiny Hotel and the goings on connected to it, but also delves into the city’s history, political climate, Cuba, Columbia, and the drug smuggling superstars and how it all came crashing down.
The author did a great job of organizing the material and helping to put names with faces, so to speak,
and tells this riveting true crime saga in such a way, you feel like you are seeing these events unfold in front of your very eyes.
Even if you remember hearing all about Miami's drug trade on the news ad nauseam in the eighties, you didn’t get this inside version of events, believe me. You will feel the reverberations, get caught up in a bit of nostalgia, shake your head at the name dropping, and gasp in horror at the ruthless double crosses and killings. I can almost hear Jan Hammer’s Miami Vice theme song in my head as we speak.
This is an excellent true crime drama which will appeal to those of a certain age, but I highly recommend it for younger readers, too, who will get a bit of unexpected history behind the sexiest city in America. You will never look at the Miami skyline the same way again.
Miami Vice? Al Pacino’s Scarface? Miami in the 1980s, was all that and more. You'll have to keep reminding yourself that this is no work of fiction. While the entire country suffered an economic downturn, Miami was hustling and bustling, its economy bursting at the seams, solidifying its ‘sexiest’ city reputation- all thanks to that high priced, highly addictive, white powder- Cocaine.
At the center of all the excitement, sat the Mutiny Hotel, situated on Bayshore drive. The hotel and club, was Miami’s version of ‘Casablanca’, with Burton Goldberg at the helm. This was the gathering spot for the Miami Dolphins football players, rock stars, party girls, drug smugglers and dealers and cops, alike.
Business was conducted at all hours of the day and night. The Cocaine, the money, the Dom- all flowed like water through the Mutiny in its heyday. The city was a war zone, with the highest murder rate in the nation, and the cops and judges were in the pockets of the drug lords- many of whom were household names, right alongside the celebrity clientele at the Mutiny. People from all walks of life, small time earners, and lower income Cuban immigrants, were suddenly flush with unimaginable amounts of cash, expensive cars, and all the rest.
It was a crazy time, and Mutiny Hotel became THE place to meet and do business for the notorious ‘Cocaine Cowboys.’
The book replays the drama that took place inside the storied walls of the Mutiny, featuring a large cast of characters, some of whom will sound very familiar, while others were mostly famous inside the confines of the drug industry. To help keep it all sorted, the author graciously provides a list of the major players the book is centered around.
I was not surprised by the number of celebrities that partied there, and while a few of the names mentioned will shock you, most of them won’t. Some may be moderately shaken by how many local athletes were participants, but you really shouldn’t be.
A few notorious regulars were Rick James, members of the classic rock group- The Eagles, and few politicians, popped in and out as well- maybe a famous Kennedy? – and of course, some cast members from the wildly popular television show, 'Miami Vice’.
One notorious dealer even landed a couple of guest spots on the show for providing the crew with trustworthy cocaine.
While the stage is set to look like everyone was having a good time partying, drinking Dom, visiting the fantasy suites, there was a lot more going on than meets the eye. The Cuban immigrant issues that settled into the city in the 1980’s and the political climate with Cuba, in general, roiled just as intensely as it did two decades prior.
While the events that were transpiring in Miami may have helped inspire the Al Pacino movie, ‘Scarface’, the movie was mostly shot outside of Miami, and the author will explain those details, but it mainly had to do with the fear of how Cubans would be portrayed in the film.
Still, many thought they recognized themselves or others they knew in the film, and weren’t particularly offended by it.
It’s crazy to think back on it all now. Everything detailed in this book would have made for great television and movies… which it did- but it was very real, very scary, and a very dark piece of Miami’s history. It was a dangerous situation, shocking to the core, as Americans watched it all play out in real time, but now with the benefit of hindsight, it seems even more insane and hard to believe.
This book makes an excellent companion piece to the documentary ‘Cocaine Cowboys’- (the producers of the documentary even provided the prologue for this book), if you have seen it. If not, I highly recommend watching it and reading this book, in no particular order, because both will provide incredible look back at this part of America’s history- Miami’s, in particular. FYI- the documentary is available with Neflix streaming.
Overall, this book focuses primarily on the Mutiny Hotel and the goings on connected to it, but also delves into the city’s history, political climate, Cuba, Columbia, and the drug smuggling superstars and how it all came crashing down.
The author did a great job of organizing the material and helping to put names with faces, so to speak,
and tells this riveting true crime saga in such a way, you feel like you are seeing these events unfold in front of your very eyes.
Even if you remember hearing all about Miami's drug trade on the news ad nauseam in the eighties, you didn’t get this inside version of events, believe me. You will feel the reverberations, get caught up in a bit of nostalgia, shake your head at the name dropping, and gasp in horror at the ruthless double crosses and killings. I can almost hear Jan Hammer’s Miami Vice theme song in my head as we speak.
This is an excellent true crime drama which will appeal to those of a certain age, but I highly recommend it for younger readers, too, who will get a bit of unexpected history behind the sexiest city in America. You will never look at the Miami skyline the same way again.
July 12, 2020
Ultimately, there was far too much about the trials at the end for my liking, but this is definitely one of those "the truth is stranger than fiction" type books. The Cocaine Cowboys documentary is a good follow up if you find this topic interesting. It's BRUTAL, though - just to warn you!
I talk about the soundtrack that was playing in my head the whole time I was reading this book over on my blog, Olive the Books.
I talk about the soundtrack that was playing in my head the whole time I was reading this book over on my blog, Olive the Books.
September 10, 2017
Cocaine's a hell of a drug. Hotel Scarface tells the story of the rise and fall of The Mutiny, one of the hottest places to be in the 70s and 80s when Cocaine trafficking & dealing became an economy of its own.
Naturally, it starts out with all of the excitement of obscene amounts of money falling into the hands of many Cuban exiles who had never experienced anything close to this kind of wealth before. There's money, drugs, celebrities, and eventually the violence increases and it's still exciting, but in a different way.
I enjoyed this book overall, and I appreciate the personal note the author brings in with his connection to Miami. However, I struggled at times to get through the book. In the beginning, it was almost too much excess for me. All I could think about was all the money being thrown around and here I am with my mountains of student loan debt, reading an advance copy for review because I don't have money to buy a copy of this book when it comes out. But you know, that's got more to do with me than it does the book. I'm choosing to let it depress me a little bit that I could pay for college and then get an advanced degree with the money that was spent on Dom Perignon in a few days at the Mutiny.
Of course, the focus is eventually taken away from the money as the story becomes more murderous as the law cracks down and informants are offered plea bargains. I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying that eventually the Mutiny becomes a shadow of its former self, as do the aging Kingpins and Cocaine cowboys who are behind bars.
If you have a specific interest in Miami during that time period, you will probably enjoy this book. I had no real knowledge of it and after reading this, I look forward to watching the documentary Cocaine Cowboys for a little more personal insight.
Thank you to Penguin's First to read program for providing me with an advance copy for review.
Naturally, it starts out with all of the excitement of obscene amounts of money falling into the hands of many Cuban exiles who had never experienced anything close to this kind of wealth before. There's money, drugs, celebrities, and eventually the violence increases and it's still exciting, but in a different way.
I enjoyed this book overall, and I appreciate the personal note the author brings in with his connection to Miami. However, I struggled at times to get through the book. In the beginning, it was almost too much excess for me. All I could think about was all the money being thrown around and here I am with my mountains of student loan debt, reading an advance copy for review because I don't have money to buy a copy of this book when it comes out. But you know, that's got more to do with me than it does the book. I'm choosing to let it depress me a little bit that I could pay for college and then get an advanced degree with the money that was spent on Dom Perignon in a few days at the Mutiny.
Of course, the focus is eventually taken away from the money as the story becomes more murderous as the law cracks down and informants are offered plea bargains. I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying that eventually the Mutiny becomes a shadow of its former self, as do the aging Kingpins and Cocaine cowboys who are behind bars.
If you have a specific interest in Miami during that time period, you will probably enjoy this book. I had no real knowledge of it and after reading this, I look forward to watching the documentary Cocaine Cowboys for a little more personal insight.
Thank you to Penguin's First to read program for providing me with an advance copy for review.
August 26, 2017
Miami Vice - The True Story! What an excellent read! Hotel Scarface is the story of the "Mutiny Club", a hotel/club/restaurant in Miami. It's set in the 1980's, running up to the present day. The Mutiny Club was the nucleus of the 80's cocaine scene, and of the "Cocaine Cowboys". Think "Miami Vice", "Scarface", and the "Godfather". Then add in anti-Castro patriots, the Marielitos from Cuba, the Columbians (including Pablo Escobar), the Iran-Contra fiasco, Manuel Noriega, Janet Reno, and a whole host of professional ball players, actors, and politicians. All of those frequented, or had connections to, the Mutiny Club. It's just an amazing story. And handled so well. At times, just the amount of names and characters can seem overwhelming, but if you take a breath and think a bit, it's not hard to follow. You want to just keep plunging ahead, because it's such an exciting story, but you really need to slow down and savor it a bit to get the full effect. Farzad fleshes out the characters well, so you get the sense that you are there with them (and that's a scary thought). The story goes beyond the Mutiny Club itself, into broader settings, worldwide, but the author manages to keep tying the story back to the Club itself. I was fortunate (????) enough to meet several of the characters myself, not on their level, but during my career in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The descriptions of the manner and bearing of the "drug lords" is spot on. As is his descriptions of the lesser players, and especially of the Mariel Cubans. I think I could write a book myself, just on my experiences with these people. And, finally, the ending. Not to spoil it, but Farzad describes well the zeal with which the Federal government goes after these people in court. As they well learned, once the Fed's decide they want you, it's curtains for you. It's just a matter of time. As you can tell, I really, really enjoyed this book. More than most of the other 60-odd books that I have read and reviewed this year. I highly recommend this one!
October 18, 2017
Thanks to Berkley Pub for the copy in exchange for my honest review!
I'm a huge nonfiction fan. Especially if it's around true crime and drugs. It's always been intriguing to me how that whole lifestyle is/was - and HOTEL SCARFACE is about the 70's - 80's when everything was at it's peak. Drugs, sex, money, The Mutiny club, celebrities, cartels, Miami, and the Cocaine Cowboys.
Going into this, you should know that it is nonfiction and definitely more of a history on the topic and time period. This does not read like fiction. If these are topics that intrigue you, then this will definitely be up your alley. Roben Farzad definitely did his homework. I love the classic mafia movies - Goodfellas, Scarface, Godfather, and others - so this lifestyle has always had my attention. There are a lot of characters and people to follow in this book, but Farzad did a fantastic job making them come to life. I had many moments of "wow, this person exists" or "this really happened??" as I was reading.
I don't want to go into too much detail, because I think it was more fun going into it without too much background. If you're like me and enjoy reading a more factually saturated nonfiction book, then this will be perfect for you. If you're more of a fan of the nonfiction written more like a fiction book, then this probably won't be for you!
I give this one 5/5 stars!
I'm a huge nonfiction fan. Especially if it's around true crime and drugs. It's always been intriguing to me how that whole lifestyle is/was - and HOTEL SCARFACE is about the 70's - 80's when everything was at it's peak. Drugs, sex, money, The Mutiny club, celebrities, cartels, Miami, and the Cocaine Cowboys.
Going into this, you should know that it is nonfiction and definitely more of a history on the topic and time period. This does not read like fiction. If these are topics that intrigue you, then this will definitely be up your alley. Roben Farzad definitely did his homework. I love the classic mafia movies - Goodfellas, Scarface, Godfather, and others - so this lifestyle has always had my attention. There are a lot of characters and people to follow in this book, but Farzad did a fantastic job making them come to life. I had many moments of "wow, this person exists" or "this really happened??" as I was reading.
I don't want to go into too much detail, because I think it was more fun going into it without too much background. If you're like me and enjoy reading a more factually saturated nonfiction book, then this will be perfect for you. If you're more of a fan of the nonfiction written more like a fiction book, then this probably won't be for you!
I give this one 5/5 stars!
January 30, 2019
You might get a contact high reading this book. It's very fast-paced, written in vignettes more than a sweeping narrative. It's jam-packed with interesting characters, many of them high or murderous (oftentimes both). The cast of characters includes cocaine kingpins, international assassins, CIA-trained bombers, an evangelical turned lipstick lesbian chauffeur to coke lords, arms dealers, the infamous" merchant of death," a serial killer and voodoo worshipper, pirates, a blinged-out chimp and his human that inspired an Al Pacino classic.
The author did a decent job of setting the scene but it felt more like being told anecdotes at a cocktail party. In the end, I thought the book had tons of interesting information but no glue. One central character would have provided that - the one that is said to have inspired Tony Montana would have been great. I mean a 1970s cocaine kingpin turned wildlife activist that inspired a cult classic and one of the most enigmatic protagonists in film history - a missed opportunity if there ever was one. Back in the day, he had a compound with jungle cats and snakes and tarantulas and other creatures. His life story would have made this story better. It would have been the anchor that could have made this a sweeping narrative instead of a lunchbox of interesting tidbits.
The only real protagonist in this tale was Miami's Mutiny Hotel. The hotel was like Disneyland for the rich and famous. Everybody that was anybody made a cameo it seemed. Movie stars, rock stars, television stars (ironically, the pastel clad Miami Vice stars), sports icons, politicians, and drug lords all mingled at the Mutiny. Of course, law enforcement was there as well. If you aren't familiar with yesteryears icons, do yourself a favor and Google them as you go.
The name-dropping in this book includes U.S. presidents, former First Ladies, and other world leaders. At one point, Cuban exiles turned drug kingpins are let off the hook by a judge while future Bill Clinton U.S. attorney general (Janet Reno) promises to get them. When Ronald Reagan ran for POTUS with George Bush as his running mate, two of Bush's sons hung at the Mutiny. One of them was Jeb (future Florida governor) who had just moved to Miami from Houston and was working with prominent exile millionaires who kept tables at the hotel's club.
One of the myriad of characters the author introduces us to was the godmother of cocaine (the female Pablo Escobar). From Medellin (Columbia), she was killing the competition. Literally. She knew every line of The Godfather by heart and even named her son Michael Corleone. Her syndicate was selling about $90 million wholesale cocaine a month to Miami. She got her start as a pickpocket and prostitute in Medellin, often just killing anyone she didn't want to pay or that gave her a bad glance. Or ex-lovers. She infamously machine gunned her ex-husband and his bodyguards. She had an undergarment factory in Medellin that specialized in making bras and corsets with special compartments for female smugglers. So many colorful characters like this are in this book. But mostly, it left me wanting to know more.
About half way through the book, I was wondering when the guy that was the main inspiration for Scarface's protagonist was going to make an appearance. Mario Tabraue isn't even listed under the cast of characters though his bling-clad chimp is. A photo of Tabraue is included in the book, supplied by Tabraue, but not much else is attributed to him or about him in the book. It seemed odd. The only thing I can figure is he must have been a major off-the-record or background source for the author. It's the only thing that explains why he barely gets a mention, especially considering what a colorful character he was. The author doesn't even mention if he did jail time (he did), if he ever got out (he did), or if he's even still alive (he is). Highly suspect. Tabraue must have corroborated and supplied valuable intelligence in exchange for not being written about. There is no other legitimate explanation for it. How did the inspiration for Tony Montana not only make it out alive but end up having a normal (sort of) and productive life in the end The author missed the boat on this count.
My initial impression of this story was that it was a companion piece to a book I read on Cuba (Havana Nocturne) when the mob and U.S. government were in bed with Batista (it was a much better read). Once Castro kicked them (U.S. and mobsters) out of bed, "Hotel Scarface" was inevitable as Cuban exiles made their way to Miami with cocaine (pre-revolution Cuba had the world's highest per capita of cocaine use). The irony was that exiles were just killing time in Miami waiting to return to a free Cuba. The irony deepens when you consider that the U.S. government being so tight with Batista had something to do with Castro's revolution. I mean, the U.S. government was just as criminal as the mob when it came to Cuba pre-revolution. The U.S. government was criminal on behalf of U.S. corporate interests pre-revolution and then really angry on their behalf afterward. The irony that the U.S. government ended up using Cuban exiles to run cocaine and arms while Nancy Reagan told America's youth to "just say no" is irony-squared.
The description of the struggle to shoot the Oliver Stone film (Scarface) in Miami in the early 1980s was humorous. In the end, they shot it mostly in Los Angeles because things got a little dicey. Cuban exiles and drug runners and dealers didn't want the attention of the movie so threats were made. It got ugly. It probably came down to insurance rates being too high as well as the intensity of the security detail that would have required a "policeman sitting by your bed with an uzi."
I had no idea what part the Scarface movie played into things. Someone should do a movie about the making of that movie and the aftermath. The movie when it came out in 1983 wasn't exactly a hit and was actually criticized as a lousy Godfather knockoff. It took years before it had cult-like status. Those that were there in real life thought the film was pretty accurate. Almost everyone claimed Tony Montana was based on them. After the movie, the Mutiny was filled with Tony Montana clones looking for their 15 minutes. Even Pablo Escobar, a wanted man in his country and ours, made his way to the Mutiny as Bush (future POTUS 41) was down the street at another hotel.
Many things struck me as "small world department" including one character's father-in-law that had been recruited to break into the Watergate Hotel.
About the last third of the book was about the Iran Contra affair and how it was a big part of the cocaine smuggling side of things. It makes one wonder if smugglers hadn't been busted if we would ever have found out about Iran Contra.
The most interesting part of the smuggling operation was that different drug lords hired the same crews. One smuggler, Coca Cola, explained the Mutiny was the clearinghouse for those gigs (sort of like how people hire workers outside of Home Depot).
It was announced last year that the Coen brothers plan to do a remake of Scarface, but this time it will be a Mexican immigrant. I think they are missing the boat on including the real story here - that is the movie they should make. Though, I think the original tale was a remake of something but also inspired by original events.
If you want to know more about this time, this is an excellent source. If you are looking for a great read, this might not be your cup of tea (though it wasn't a bad read, just not great).
The author did a decent job of setting the scene but it felt more like being told anecdotes at a cocktail party. In the end, I thought the book had tons of interesting information but no glue. One central character would have provided that - the one that is said to have inspired Tony Montana would have been great. I mean a 1970s cocaine kingpin turned wildlife activist that inspired a cult classic and one of the most enigmatic protagonists in film history - a missed opportunity if there ever was one. Back in the day, he had a compound with jungle cats and snakes and tarantulas and other creatures. His life story would have made this story better. It would have been the anchor that could have made this a sweeping narrative instead of a lunchbox of interesting tidbits.
The only real protagonist in this tale was Miami's Mutiny Hotel. The hotel was like Disneyland for the rich and famous. Everybody that was anybody made a cameo it seemed. Movie stars, rock stars, television stars (ironically, the pastel clad Miami Vice stars), sports icons, politicians, and drug lords all mingled at the Mutiny. Of course, law enforcement was there as well. If you aren't familiar with yesteryears icons, do yourself a favor and Google them as you go.
The name-dropping in this book includes U.S. presidents, former First Ladies, and other world leaders. At one point, Cuban exiles turned drug kingpins are let off the hook by a judge while future Bill Clinton U.S. attorney general (Janet Reno) promises to get them. When Ronald Reagan ran for POTUS with George Bush as his running mate, two of Bush's sons hung at the Mutiny. One of them was Jeb (future Florida governor) who had just moved to Miami from Houston and was working with prominent exile millionaires who kept tables at the hotel's club.
One of the myriad of characters the author introduces us to was the godmother of cocaine (the female Pablo Escobar). From Medellin (Columbia), she was killing the competition. Literally. She knew every line of The Godfather by heart and even named her son Michael Corleone. Her syndicate was selling about $90 million wholesale cocaine a month to Miami. She got her start as a pickpocket and prostitute in Medellin, often just killing anyone she didn't want to pay or that gave her a bad glance. Or ex-lovers. She infamously machine gunned her ex-husband and his bodyguards. She had an undergarment factory in Medellin that specialized in making bras and corsets with special compartments for female smugglers. So many colorful characters like this are in this book. But mostly, it left me wanting to know more.
About half way through the book, I was wondering when the guy that was the main inspiration for Scarface's protagonist was going to make an appearance. Mario Tabraue isn't even listed under the cast of characters though his bling-clad chimp is. A photo of Tabraue is included in the book, supplied by Tabraue, but not much else is attributed to him or about him in the book. It seemed odd. The only thing I can figure is he must have been a major off-the-record or background source for the author. It's the only thing that explains why he barely gets a mention, especially considering what a colorful character he was. The author doesn't even mention if he did jail time (he did), if he ever got out (he did), or if he's even still alive (he is). Highly suspect. Tabraue must have corroborated and supplied valuable intelligence in exchange for not being written about. There is no other legitimate explanation for it. How did the inspiration for Tony Montana not only make it out alive but end up having a normal (sort of) and productive life in the end The author missed the boat on this count.
My initial impression of this story was that it was a companion piece to a book I read on Cuba (Havana Nocturne) when the mob and U.S. government were in bed with Batista (it was a much better read). Once Castro kicked them (U.S. and mobsters) out of bed, "Hotel Scarface" was inevitable as Cuban exiles made their way to Miami with cocaine (pre-revolution Cuba had the world's highest per capita of cocaine use). The irony was that exiles were just killing time in Miami waiting to return to a free Cuba. The irony deepens when you consider that the U.S. government being so tight with Batista had something to do with Castro's revolution. I mean, the U.S. government was just as criminal as the mob when it came to Cuba pre-revolution. The U.S. government was criminal on behalf of U.S. corporate interests pre-revolution and then really angry on their behalf afterward. The irony that the U.S. government ended up using Cuban exiles to run cocaine and arms while Nancy Reagan told America's youth to "just say no" is irony-squared.
The description of the struggle to shoot the Oliver Stone film (Scarface) in Miami in the early 1980s was humorous. In the end, they shot it mostly in Los Angeles because things got a little dicey. Cuban exiles and drug runners and dealers didn't want the attention of the movie so threats were made. It got ugly. It probably came down to insurance rates being too high as well as the intensity of the security detail that would have required a "policeman sitting by your bed with an uzi."
I had no idea what part the Scarface movie played into things. Someone should do a movie about the making of that movie and the aftermath. The movie when it came out in 1983 wasn't exactly a hit and was actually criticized as a lousy Godfather knockoff. It took years before it had cult-like status. Those that were there in real life thought the film was pretty accurate. Almost everyone claimed Tony Montana was based on them. After the movie, the Mutiny was filled with Tony Montana clones looking for their 15 minutes. Even Pablo Escobar, a wanted man in his country and ours, made his way to the Mutiny as Bush (future POTUS 41) was down the street at another hotel.
Many things struck me as "small world department" including one character's father-in-law that had been recruited to break into the Watergate Hotel.
About the last third of the book was about the Iran Contra affair and how it was a big part of the cocaine smuggling side of things. It makes one wonder if smugglers hadn't been busted if we would ever have found out about Iran Contra.
The most interesting part of the smuggling operation was that different drug lords hired the same crews. One smuggler, Coca Cola, explained the Mutiny was the clearinghouse for those gigs (sort of like how people hire workers outside of Home Depot).
It was announced last year that the Coen brothers plan to do a remake of Scarface, but this time it will be a Mexican immigrant. I think they are missing the boat on including the real story here - that is the movie they should make. Though, I think the original tale was a remake of something but also inspired by original events.
If you want to know more about this time, this is an excellent source. If you are looking for a great read, this might not be your cup of tea (though it wasn't a bad read, just not great).
September 14, 2017
First, I have to say I thought this book was going to be fiction. I had no idea that this was a true story account of the late 70's and early 80's in Coconut Grove Florida. I didn't understand before I started reading that The Mutiny was a real place and that the characters in the book were real people selling/doing drugs and living large during the early days of cocaine being imported into the US.
Way before Pablo Escobar stepped onto the seen in Miami there was a group of Cuban immigrants who imported and sold cocaine. They could be found any night of the week at the exclusive Mutiny Club. They did drugs, partied with prostitutes and threatened to kill each other. The story is told by waitresses, clients, drug dealers and cops who all hung out together at the Mutiny.
"Gomez was still convinced the Monkey would blow him away with a flick of his wrist. He imagined his head in a puddle of blood. But Morales rapidly tucked his semiautomatic back into his pants. His rival bolted, but Gomez didn't put away his revolver. 'Get the fuck out of here, Ricky!' he yelled to Morales, panting, almost hyperventilating. 'Try! If you even try to fucking come back...'"
"'You know who you talking to?' shot back Morales, snarling. 'Do. You. Know?' He pulled back his coat to reveal a giant grenade on his belt. It was practically the size of a Florida avocado. The Monkey flashed a deranged grin and took his time walking out the front of the Mutiny."
Soon most of Miami, Florida and the east coast knew what cocaine was and they were all doing it. With such a huge demand there was room for lots of drug lords and they all chose to spend their free time in The Mutiny. Eating, drinking, doing drugs and plotting against each other.
"They were Miami's ruling drug lords. With bullets flying everywhere there at all hours of the day, the town was increasingly being called Dodge City. And so these guys were it's "cocaine cowboys" the Latin masterminds of the era's go-go wonder drug: yeyo, perch, toot, snow, white pony. Cocaine. And The Mutiny was their favorite saloon."
The more drugs were sold and the more cocaine was used the more paranoid the drug lords began to get. Soon they were all thinking about killing each other and being killed. They jockeyed for position as the reigning drug king. It didn't help when the movie Scarface was based on them and The Mutiny. They all thought they were the lead character and vied for roles in the movie.
"'It was a crazy time,' said Mollie. 'I knew Rudy and Carlene as friends. Then all of a sudden you had to pick sides. You never knew if they'd open fire in the club. Things felt like they were just coming to a head between them.'"
The era of decadence went on for years before law enforcement stepped in and began turning drug kings, their families and body guards into informants. Soon they were all ratting on each other and getting arrested. By the early 80's a lot of The Mutiny's regulars were in jail. Some of them even together!
As The Mutiny lost it's high rollers it began to go down hill. Soon the place was in disrepair. Finally they had to file for bankruptcy and the federal government seized the property. It was a sad ending for a place that saw Friday night net profits of $60,000 at one time.
Hotel Scarface is a history lesson of how cocaine became popular in the US. It tells the story of a height of glory for the men who brought it here, the club they hung out in and then the demise of their way of life.
The first half of this book was excellent. I could have done without some of the details in the middle, but was glad I continued to read so I got to see how the story ended. It was crazy to think about how easy it was to bring cocaine into the US during that time!
Way before Pablo Escobar stepped onto the seen in Miami there was a group of Cuban immigrants who imported and sold cocaine. They could be found any night of the week at the exclusive Mutiny Club. They did drugs, partied with prostitutes and threatened to kill each other. The story is told by waitresses, clients, drug dealers and cops who all hung out together at the Mutiny.
"Gomez was still convinced the Monkey would blow him away with a flick of his wrist. He imagined his head in a puddle of blood. But Morales rapidly tucked his semiautomatic back into his pants. His rival bolted, but Gomez didn't put away his revolver. 'Get the fuck out of here, Ricky!' he yelled to Morales, panting, almost hyperventilating. 'Try! If you even try to fucking come back...'"
"'You know who you talking to?' shot back Morales, snarling. 'Do. You. Know?' He pulled back his coat to reveal a giant grenade on his belt. It was practically the size of a Florida avocado. The Monkey flashed a deranged grin and took his time walking out the front of the Mutiny."
Soon most of Miami, Florida and the east coast knew what cocaine was and they were all doing it. With such a huge demand there was room for lots of drug lords and they all chose to spend their free time in The Mutiny. Eating, drinking, doing drugs and plotting against each other.
"They were Miami's ruling drug lords. With bullets flying everywhere there at all hours of the day, the town was increasingly being called Dodge City. And so these guys were it's "cocaine cowboys" the Latin masterminds of the era's go-go wonder drug: yeyo, perch, toot, snow, white pony. Cocaine. And The Mutiny was their favorite saloon."
The more drugs were sold and the more cocaine was used the more paranoid the drug lords began to get. Soon they were all thinking about killing each other and being killed. They jockeyed for position as the reigning drug king. It didn't help when the movie Scarface was based on them and The Mutiny. They all thought they were the lead character and vied for roles in the movie.
"'It was a crazy time,' said Mollie. 'I knew Rudy and Carlene as friends. Then all of a sudden you had to pick sides. You never knew if they'd open fire in the club. Things felt like they were just coming to a head between them.'"
The era of decadence went on for years before law enforcement stepped in and began turning drug kings, their families and body guards into informants. Soon they were all ratting on each other and getting arrested. By the early 80's a lot of The Mutiny's regulars were in jail. Some of them even together!
As The Mutiny lost it's high rollers it began to go down hill. Soon the place was in disrepair. Finally they had to file for bankruptcy and the federal government seized the property. It was a sad ending for a place that saw Friday night net profits of $60,000 at one time.
Hotel Scarface is a history lesson of how cocaine became popular in the US. It tells the story of a height of glory for the men who brought it here, the club they hung out in and then the demise of their way of life.
The first half of this book was excellent. I could have done without some of the details in the middle, but was glad I continued to read so I got to see how the story ended. It was crazy to think about how easy it was to bring cocaine into the US during that time!
March 12, 2019
Derek contributed this review to Really Into This
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
HOTEL SCARFACE BY ROBEN FARZAD BOOK REVIEW
Hotel Scarface gives readers a detailed history of the cocaine market in Miami. In an entertaining fashion, Farzad educates readers on the many ways the cocaine trade contributes to the overall economy in Miami.
MUTINY – THE RISE & FALL OF THE HOTEL
This brings us to the hotel, the Mutiny. We learn of the rise & fall of the hotel. As the cocaine trade hits it’s stride, so does the popularity & prestige of the Mutiny. All the dealers frequent the spot. You’ve got have a membership, so it’s only the best of the best. There are actors, actresses, athletes & more. The classic movie, Scarface, even features a dance scene inspired by the Mutiny nightclub. Quickly, the hotel becomes an impromptu office for many of the drug dealers. Unbelievably, there are even phone jacks at each table so you never miss a drug deal.
As the market becomes saturated, things slow down. Many of the big dogs & kingpins go to jail. If you’re lucky enough to escape jail, chances are death is imminent. Almost overnight, the cocaine-fueled fast life comes to a screeching halt. With it, the stature of the hotel falls as well. For many, it’s a sobering reality.
THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book! Hotel Scarface is a book about hustling, glamour & the reality of dealing drugs. I would place it in true crime and/or history category. If you’re a fan Scarface or Blow, you’re sure to love this novel. Even though this is a non-fiction book, Farzad brings so much life to the story. For me, Hotel Scarface reads as an entertaining fiction novel. It’s wild, unreal & even better because it’s true.
Special thanks to Roben Farzad & Berkley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
HOTEL SCARFACE BY ROBEN FARZAD BOOK REVIEW
Hotel Scarface gives readers a detailed history of the cocaine market in Miami. In an entertaining fashion, Farzad educates readers on the many ways the cocaine trade contributes to the overall economy in Miami.
MUTINY – THE RISE & FALL OF THE HOTEL
This brings us to the hotel, the Mutiny. We learn of the rise & fall of the hotel. As the cocaine trade hits it’s stride, so does the popularity & prestige of the Mutiny. All the dealers frequent the spot. You’ve got have a membership, so it’s only the best of the best. There are actors, actresses, athletes & more. The classic movie, Scarface, even features a dance scene inspired by the Mutiny nightclub. Quickly, the hotel becomes an impromptu office for many of the drug dealers. Unbelievably, there are even phone jacks at each table so you never miss a drug deal.
As the market becomes saturated, things slow down. Many of the big dogs & kingpins go to jail. If you’re lucky enough to escape jail, chances are death is imminent. Almost overnight, the cocaine-fueled fast life comes to a screeching halt. With it, the stature of the hotel falls as well. For many, it’s a sobering reality.
THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book! Hotel Scarface is a book about hustling, glamour & the reality of dealing drugs. I would place it in true crime and/or history category. If you’re a fan Scarface or Blow, you’re sure to love this novel. Even though this is a non-fiction book, Farzad brings so much life to the story. For me, Hotel Scarface reads as an entertaining fiction novel. It’s wild, unreal & even better because it’s true.
Special thanks to Roben Farzad & Berkley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
April 26, 2018
I so so so wish this was a better book.
I love learning about Florida in the 1980s, and in fact the US in the 1980s, because frankly I'm amazed any of us survived. This book, about not just cocaine dealing in late 70s - early 80s Florida but more about Cuba's Mariel boatlift and its operation Pedro Pan, is fascinating in dealing with those details.
But... and I can't believe I'm saying this but: the movie was better than the book. Last I checked, Netflix has the documentary Cocaine Cowboys available, and it's way way better than this book. The book is kind of rah-rah for police and federal agents intercepting cocaine traffic, which is awesome, but the book kind of glosses over a lot of problematic behavior.
Also, I am a massive Miami Vice fan and hoo boy did I learn a lot about how the show was based off of real-life Miami cases. Also that everyone on the show did cocaine. Spoiler: knew that.
Did not know how many of the episodes were based on real-live occurrences in the hotel. Holy cats.
At the same time, this book is really light on "hotel" and really heavy on "and then they were all arrested / died." Which is less interesting. A much better book on the time and place is Diary of a South Beach Party Girl, or the documentary.
I love learning about Florida in the 1980s, and in fact the US in the 1980s, because frankly I'm amazed any of us survived. This book, about not just cocaine dealing in late 70s - early 80s Florida but more about Cuba's Mariel boatlift and its operation Pedro Pan, is fascinating in dealing with those details.
But... and I can't believe I'm saying this but: the movie was better than the book. Last I checked, Netflix has the documentary Cocaine Cowboys available, and it's way way better than this book. The book is kind of rah-rah for police and federal agents intercepting cocaine traffic, which is awesome, but the book kind of glosses over a lot of problematic behavior.
Also, I am a massive Miami Vice fan and hoo boy did I learn a lot about how the show was based off of real-life Miami cases. Also that everyone on the show did cocaine. Spoiler: knew that.
Did not know how many of the episodes were based on real-live occurrences in the hotel. Holy cats.
At the same time, this book is really light on "hotel" and really heavy on "and then they were all arrested / died." Which is less interesting. A much better book on the time and place is Diary of a South Beach Party Girl, or the documentary.
September 27, 2017
This book is about the story of the Mutiny in Coconut Grove, the exclusive club and hotel that much of the crazy decadence and violence of the cocaine cowboy times behind the movie SCARFACE (1983) sprung from that is so memorable. The actual place has so many stories and people that inhabited it that it needed its story told about all that was going on there. My mind is still spinning with all of the things that were happening there then and for a long time after the 70's when the boatloads of Cubans were kicked out and showed up along with all of the waves of cocaine that became such a problem too. Not just anyone could get into the Mutiny. This was an exciting read if you like true crime and the Scarface movie, you really should give it a look! I was given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher.
September 11, 2021
Another great book that transported me to my childhood surrounded by dopers and dealers. Although I was too young to go to the Mutiny, I do remember a lot of the people (adults) I hung out with going.
The book is obviously about The Mutiny Hotel in Coconut Grove, but it talks about all the players that made the Mutiny as famous in many cases as Studio 54. A who's who of people that would frequent the Miami spot.
Cocaine made Miami. I never really saw a problem with it as most people getting killed where the criminals themselves. Although innocent people would get sucked into it as well. However today we still have crime and the gangbangers that really don't care about anyone. Even legitimate business were thriving during that time. I remember going out to dinner at The Forge in Miami Beach and the bill would be upwards of 5k. We would go out in a squadron of 38' Cigarette racing boats. I did not own a car for over 2.5 years. I would go over to my "friend's" homes and take a Benz, Porche, Bronco, 300z, Mustangs, even a Ferrari.
I was never "in" the business but I did enjoy the spoils. Like a strip bar where we would drop 10k.
Great book especially if you are from Miami.
The book is obviously about The Mutiny Hotel in Coconut Grove, but it talks about all the players that made the Mutiny as famous in many cases as Studio 54. A who's who of people that would frequent the Miami spot.
Cocaine made Miami. I never really saw a problem with it as most people getting killed where the criminals themselves. Although innocent people would get sucked into it as well. However today we still have crime and the gangbangers that really don't care about anyone. Even legitimate business were thriving during that time. I remember going out to dinner at The Forge in Miami Beach and the bill would be upwards of 5k. We would go out in a squadron of 38' Cigarette racing boats. I did not own a car for over 2.5 years. I would go over to my "friend's" homes and take a Benz, Porche, Bronco, 300z, Mustangs, even a Ferrari.
I was never "in" the business but I did enjoy the spoils. Like a strip bar where we would drop 10k.
Great book especially if you are from Miami.
July 5, 2023
Living in Miami for the past 4 years, there are so many things you learn to take for granted - the neon super cars parked in the same apartment garage as your beat up Ford Focus, Cuban pastelitos and cafecitos in the morning alone with reggaeton, 'Miami time' as a catch all for everyone running 3+ hours late everywhere they go, the culture of flashiness regularly getting in the elevator with someone wearing more than your entire net worth.
I knew the Cocaine Cowboys of the 1970s-1980s were an integral part of Miami's rise and culture (it's a running joke that Miami hotels and apartment buildings were built on cocaine money) but I didn't understand how they were related. Everyone in Miami should read this book! The Netflix documentary "Cocaine Cowboys" is a great teaser for this book; it goes into everything from the show and answers a lot more that the documentary didn't have time to cover. The author grew up in Miami and spent years communicating with many of the Cocaine Cowboys detailing the rise and fall of the multi-billion dollar cocaine empire housed in Miami.
The Mutiny Hotel, a hotel in Coconut Grove, was the hotspot for all the drug operations and where the book lends its name. The book delves deeper into the geopolitical conflicts at the time which spurred the rise of cocaine in the US - most notably the CIA backed flights of support to disrupt South American governments and returning with shipments of cocaine and Fidel Castro's Mariel boatlift shipping over ~100,000 Cubans to South Florida. Reading this book provides so much context to the Miami culture and has made me appreciate much more about the city I call home!
I knew the Cocaine Cowboys of the 1970s-1980s were an integral part of Miami's rise and culture (it's a running joke that Miami hotels and apartment buildings were built on cocaine money) but I didn't understand how they were related. Everyone in Miami should read this book! The Netflix documentary "Cocaine Cowboys" is a great teaser for this book; it goes into everything from the show and answers a lot more that the documentary didn't have time to cover. The author grew up in Miami and spent years communicating with many of the Cocaine Cowboys detailing the rise and fall of the multi-billion dollar cocaine empire housed in Miami.
The Mutiny Hotel, a hotel in Coconut Grove, was the hotspot for all the drug operations and where the book lends its name. The book delves deeper into the geopolitical conflicts at the time which spurred the rise of cocaine in the US - most notably the CIA backed flights of support to disrupt South American governments and returning with shipments of cocaine and Fidel Castro's Mariel boatlift shipping over ~100,000 Cubans to South Florida. Reading this book provides so much context to the Miami culture and has made me appreciate much more about the city I call home!
May 21, 2025
"All the movers and shakers of the underworld were at the Mutiny,” recalled Hawkins. “It was just their hangout. Maybe like the mob’s favorite restaurant in New York, that’s what the Mutiny was to Miami."
Meh, this was just ok, I'd say about half the book is about the Mutiny Hotel how it was started and how it became the place to be seen at, frequented by drug lords, bankers, politicians, cops, movie stars and assorted millionaires, the debauchery abounded. The second half of the book focuses on the drug traffickers, particularly on Miami's own Los Muchachos, one of the most successful cocaine trafficking organizations in US history, that part of the book was not as good and was done better by T.J. English in his book The Last Kilo.
Meh, this was just ok, I'd say about half the book is about the Mutiny Hotel how it was started and how it became the place to be seen at, frequented by drug lords, bankers, politicians, cops, movie stars and assorted millionaires, the debauchery abounded. The second half of the book focuses on the drug traffickers, particularly on Miami's own Los Muchachos, one of the most successful cocaine trafficking organizations in US history, that part of the book was not as good and was done better by T.J. English in his book The Last Kilo.
May 21, 2018
Roben Farzad provides a snapshot of Miami in the late 70s and 1980s when cocaine ruled the city and gave rise to a diverse range of drug dealers, criminal lawyers, illicit bankers and rages to riches Cuban exiles. Farzad keeps his attention on the former luxury hotel the Mutiny which hosted the excess of the cocaine industry allowing dealers, their mistresses and hangers on to enjoy the spoils of the rampant drug industry.
While we meet a diverse cast of characters many are not developed enough to leave a long term impact. Instead the book proceeds quickly, demonstrating the Mutiny and its clients dramatic rise and fall as a result of cocaine. I would have preferred a bit more in depth analysis but as the book stands it provides an excellent peak into the world of coke obsessed Miami.
While we meet a diverse cast of characters many are not developed enough to leave a long term impact. Instead the book proceeds quickly, demonstrating the Mutiny and its clients dramatic rise and fall as a result of cocaine. I would have preferred a bit more in depth analysis but as the book stands it provides an excellent peak into the world of coke obsessed Miami.
September 16, 2024
If you've spent any time in Miami this is a must read
August 18, 2017
This is a Goodreads win review. I really loved this book. It is about the 70's in Miami and the true story of the Mutiny Hotel and the cocaine days. Cocaine was king in those days and the hotel was full of Hollywood stars, rock stars, models and everything was wild and free. Three Cuban immigrants were the Kings of all this but as the bodies stacked up law enforcement took active notice of all this. This author did extensive research and interviews to write this book.
March 21, 2018
I liked seeing Coconut Grove & Miami thru a different lens in this book. But the narrative didn’t keep my interest. Each chapter felt like a snippet of information... and there was no thread tying all the pieces together. This is as a collection of articles - and not a book, in my opinion.
May 21, 2018
3.5*
This is an account of the rise and fall of Hotel Mutiny; a Coconut Grove, Miami-based hotel and club founded in the 1970s. It became the haunt of rising cocaine drug lords, their entourages and lawyers, as well as undercover cops and celebrities. This exclusive boutique facility boasted sumptuous cuisine, exotic cocktails, beautiful hostesses and individually furnished rooms. Of the many uber wealthy criminals that frequented this hedonistic nightspot, none were richer and more flamboyant than Cuban immigrants Willie and Sal, the heads of Los Muchachos (The Boys), a Medellin Cartel-connected drug trafficking organisation. At the Mutiny, they, along with their fellow criminals, could combine scheming and indulgence.
Named after iconic film Scarface, Hotel Scarface captures the zeitgeist of 1980s Miami; a time characterised by massive importation of cocaine, social upheaval and murders. The rise and fall of Hotel Mutiny and their drug selling guests is a microcosm of Miami as a whole during this period.
This reader was intrigued by Los Muchachos’ links to General Noriega, the CIA and Castro; and he marvelled at the libertine tales of Dom Perignon filled baths, orgies, fast cars, power boat racing and rampant drug abuse. However, the endless anecdotes become relentless. Another criticism is the narrative’s lack of variety, with the vast majority being recounted by the author. More first-hand personal accounts would have been welcomed. A consequence of this near blanket approach is that it is difficult to keep up with the host of mostly Latin names because there is little to differentiate them from one another. Nonetheless this is a mostly entertaining read that will appeal to those with an interest in this anarchic spell in Miami’s history.
This is an account of the rise and fall of Hotel Mutiny; a Coconut Grove, Miami-based hotel and club founded in the 1970s. It became the haunt of rising cocaine drug lords, their entourages and lawyers, as well as undercover cops and celebrities. This exclusive boutique facility boasted sumptuous cuisine, exotic cocktails, beautiful hostesses and individually furnished rooms. Of the many uber wealthy criminals that frequented this hedonistic nightspot, none were richer and more flamboyant than Cuban immigrants Willie and Sal, the heads of Los Muchachos (The Boys), a Medellin Cartel-connected drug trafficking organisation. At the Mutiny, they, along with their fellow criminals, could combine scheming and indulgence.
Named after iconic film Scarface, Hotel Scarface captures the zeitgeist of 1980s Miami; a time characterised by massive importation of cocaine, social upheaval and murders. The rise and fall of Hotel Mutiny and their drug selling guests is a microcosm of Miami as a whole during this period.
This reader was intrigued by Los Muchachos’ links to General Noriega, the CIA and Castro; and he marvelled at the libertine tales of Dom Perignon filled baths, orgies, fast cars, power boat racing and rampant drug abuse. However, the endless anecdotes become relentless. Another criticism is the narrative’s lack of variety, with the vast majority being recounted by the author. More first-hand personal accounts would have been welcomed. A consequence of this near blanket approach is that it is difficult to keep up with the host of mostly Latin names because there is little to differentiate them from one another. Nonetheless this is a mostly entertaining read that will appeal to those with an interest in this anarchic spell in Miami’s history.
June 26, 2019
What a book! Hotels are always interesting places but the Mutiny hotel in Miami has to take the cake. If you're at all interested in Miami, Medellin, Cuba, and the drug trade in these parts during the 70s and 80s you're going to love this book. It was absolutely fascinating. The stories are so out there, so jaw-dropping it's actually quite humorous. I know cocaine isn't funny but I found myself laughing at the audacity of these 'cocaine cowboys' and all of the people that surrounded them, flocked to them, flaunted, and followed them at the Mutiny in Miami.
Farzad writes, "I've since spent the better part of two decades collecting public and law enforcement materials on the address. I've traveled the country and worked my nights and weekend minutes to meet its heyday's habitues, from retired kingpins and arms dealers to undercover cops, hostesses, ex-madams and the Mutiny's late founder, Burton Goldberg."
And it really shows. Not a line is left un-snorted in this amazing account of an iconic building and iconic era in Miami's history.
Farzad writes, "I've since spent the better part of two decades collecting public and law enforcement materials on the address. I've traveled the country and worked my nights and weekend minutes to meet its heyday's habitues, from retired kingpins and arms dealers to undercover cops, hostesses, ex-madams and the Mutiny's late founder, Burton Goldberg."
And it really shows. Not a line is left un-snorted in this amazing account of an iconic building and iconic era in Miami's history.
May 22, 2022
"You know something about cocaine, Tony?" Once upon a time, when they dressed so fine, Cubans, not Colombians, ran the cocaine trade in Miami, under the nose of the Anglo politicians who governed the city. Not surprisingly, many of the original cocaine cowboys had participated in the Bay of Pigs invasion---guess all that CIA training in sabotage and contraband finally paid off. This is their story and also of some famous customers, from Rick James to the Doobie Brothers. The author uses a breezy style to tell a terrifying tale of coke and corruption, Cuban-style. But then, in 1979, the Colombians showed up, blood got spilt in the Miami Parkland Mall shoot-out, Griselda Blanco came to town...and the rest is history.
September 7, 2017
I really wanted to love this book. I lived in the Miami area for many years. I used to drive/walk past the Mutiny often. I know the background a little, but I just found the style of writing did not capture me. I may try again, but at this time I cannot complete it. I did watch the whole Cocaine Cowboys on Netflix and it was engaging, so I thought this would be too, especially as a reader.
January 10, 2022
Wild times! It was a little hard to keep everyone straight, but still, really interesting and well written stories. Congrats to the author for diving in. Read during a trip to Miami. Recommend.
June 19, 2021
Solid investigative reporting on the Cocaine Cowboys and the history of the cocaine trade, using the Mutiny Hotel setting as the binding thread to tie the story together. While I think it was a little heavy on machismo for my personal taste, this book was exactly what it promised to be so I would recommend it if you are interested in its subject.
July 21, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley.com and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me an advanced copy for my review.
Hotel Scarface is a well written novel chronicling the vast amount of characters during the Miami drug scene of the late 70s and 80s. Centered on the Mutiny Hotel, the author tells the stories of the rise and fall of many of the key players involved in the introduction and smuggling of cocaine. The facts, which include the lavished lifestyle of these criminals, are incredible and over the top.
Pros
The author details a vast amount of interesting, entertaining, shocking, and humorous stories that will keep you glued to the book, while wanting more. The writer’s style is easy to read and gives you a sense that he conversing with you one on one. He provides a lot of information, so one will not need to know anything about the era prior to reading.
Cons
Since there are so many characters involved, it was extremely hard to accurately follow an individual’s storyline. Each chapter detailed numerous events, which could involve a large amount of participants. The author did provide a cast of characters at the beginning of the novel, which I suggest one refers too frequently while reading.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in true crime, lifestyles in the 80s, fans of Scarface, and readers who like quirky and eccentric characters.
Hotel Scarface is a well written novel chronicling the vast amount of characters during the Miami drug scene of the late 70s and 80s. Centered on the Mutiny Hotel, the author tells the stories of the rise and fall of many of the key players involved in the introduction and smuggling of cocaine. The facts, which include the lavished lifestyle of these criminals, are incredible and over the top.
Pros
The author details a vast amount of interesting, entertaining, shocking, and humorous stories that will keep you glued to the book, while wanting more. The writer’s style is easy to read and gives you a sense that he conversing with you one on one. He provides a lot of information, so one will not need to know anything about the era prior to reading.
Cons
Since there are so many characters involved, it was extremely hard to accurately follow an individual’s storyline. Each chapter detailed numerous events, which could involve a large amount of participants. The author did provide a cast of characters at the beginning of the novel, which I suggest one refers too frequently while reading.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in true crime, lifestyles in the 80s, fans of Scarface, and readers who like quirky and eccentric characters.
October 16, 2017
3.5 stars
In the late 1970s and 1980s the cocaine industry in Miami was booming. Movie stars, models, athletes, and even politicians flocked to the Mutiny, a club and hotel, where they could party alongside the drug kingpins. This book follows the rise and fall of the drug trade in Miami along with the eventual demise of the once popular Mutiny.
I liked how this book revolved around the hotel and club but it also provided a good history on how the drug trade was started in Miami and was allowed to thrive during this time period. The author was able to interview people close to the action like the waitresses, law enforcement, and even the drug dealers, and this led to many unique perspectives.
While the book certainly is full of interesting facts it isn't exactly a page turner. It was hard to get into a real flow when reading because the book does bounce around among the cast of characters (there is a list provided for the major characters). Overall though I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in learning more about the drug trade during this time period.
I received a free copy of this book from Penguin Random House but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
In the late 1970s and 1980s the cocaine industry in Miami was booming. Movie stars, models, athletes, and even politicians flocked to the Mutiny, a club and hotel, where they could party alongside the drug kingpins. This book follows the rise and fall of the drug trade in Miami along with the eventual demise of the once popular Mutiny.
I liked how this book revolved around the hotel and club but it also provided a good history on how the drug trade was started in Miami and was allowed to thrive during this time period. The author was able to interview people close to the action like the waitresses, law enforcement, and even the drug dealers, and this led to many unique perspectives.
While the book certainly is full of interesting facts it isn't exactly a page turner. It was hard to get into a real flow when reading because the book does bounce around among the cast of characters (there is a list provided for the major characters). Overall though I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in learning more about the drug trade during this time period.
I received a free copy of this book from Penguin Random House but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
October 23, 2017
Holy hell was this an exciting and interesting book. True Crime doesn't get more "fun" than this. Hotel Scarface traces the origins of the Cocaine Cowboys in South Florida, their quick rise, the blizzard of users in Miami, and the amazingness of The Mutiny at Sailboat Bay. The Mutiny was where all the drug lords, smugglers, vixens, celebrities, and dirty cops hung out and my lord, to have been a fly on the wall there. The Mutiny was the hub in the early days of cocaine and even the movie, Scarface, models itself off The Mutiny and the eccentric characters there. The cast of characters in this nonfiction history is extensive and can get a little overwhelming at times, but it is definitely worth getting through because this book is full of bizarre little tid bits and over the top lifestyles that could of course not be kept up forever. Extensively researched, wonderfully written, and compelling as hell, this is a must read!
March 28, 2018
Wow! This was a fantastic in depth look at Miami during it's "heyday" as the drug capital of the world.
It was crazy what those people were able to get away with.
I also enjoyed the history part of it, as well. The name dropping was off the charts. The Mutiny sounded like Studio 54 in New York City. We've all heard stories from there, but I've never really heard about The Mutiny and all this other stuff. Especially the plight of the Cuban exiles.
I can now add another subject to my trivia expertise list. Ha!
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Company and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
It was crazy what those people were able to get away with.
I also enjoyed the history part of it, as well. The name dropping was off the charts. The Mutiny sounded like Studio 54 in New York City. We've all heard stories from there, but I've never really heard about The Mutiny and all this other stuff. Especially the plight of the Cuban exiles.
I can now add another subject to my trivia expertise list. Ha!
Thanks to Berkley Publishing Company and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
September 16, 2017
This book seems to be well-researched, but it is not written in a way that is engaging to read. It comes across as mostly a dry recitation of facts without a strong narrative to bind everything together. There were many interesting characters in this Miami scene, and I think this book maybe could've been better if it had been a more in-depth study of one of them instead of small factoids about everyone.
January 15, 2018
I saw the author interviewed on PBS News Hour, and thought the book sounded interesting. It was! But it was written in a wAy that makes it hard to follow all of the characters. .Mainly because there are so many of them. The hedonistic life style of the cocaine cowboys is quite interesting, and that comes across well in the book. Also the story of the Mutiny, the base for the cocaine trade in Miami in the 80s. Fascinating story.
March 3, 2022
A really quick read. I had found this in a bargain bin but it is well written and interesting. The Mutiny in Miami had a Casablanca quality. While the documentary "Cocaine Cowboys" is mentioned it does not waste time presenting information that was the focus of that documentary. It more or less covers a collection of people in the Miami scene but it does not waste time covering material that has already been covered by other mainstream sources.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews