The Story of Vicente, Who Murdered His Mother, His Father, and His Sister: Life and Death in Juárez

by Sandra Rodriguez Nieto

The intimate story of a teenager’s murder of his family, from an award-winning Mexican journalist

Sixteen-year-old Vicente and two of his high school friends murdered his mother, his father, and his little sister in cold blood. Through a Capote-like reconstruction of this seemingly inexplicable triple murder, Sandra Rodríguez Nieto paints a haunting and unforgettable portrait of the most violent city on Earth, with an in-depth investigation into the thought process of the three boys, the city of Juárez and the drug cartels that wage war in its streets.

This book explores how poverty, political corruption, incapacitated government institutions and US meddling combined to create the explosion of violence in Juárez. The product of years of tenacious reporting that have brought Sandra Rodríguez Nieto international acclaim, this book traces the rise of a national culture of extreme violence, and is a testament to the extraordinary bravery of a reporter.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Crime

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2015

Reviews

[Professor Weasel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, compelling readable true crime novel that truly makes you realize the level of impunity, lack of accountability, and extent of the linkage between drug cartels + the Mexican government. The chapters focused on the murders are particularly grim. Interesting to read alongside "2666."

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

** Books 74 - 2022 *

This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2022 and Baca Sastra Latin

3,4 of 5 stars!

I remembered buy this books since the tite itself already reveals what horrible the story is. Can you imagine an 16-years-old young man murdered his mother, father and also his sister and he doesn't any guilty feeling? This pieces is about how fucked up the criminality in juarez city and even the police can't do anything. Vicente feels he wil be safe since he know he can't being punished. many people disappeared since the city also full of mafia and trading some narcotics too.

This books is really makes me shocked since i never expect the motive behind from Vicente. The ending also tragic you need prepare your heart is to finish this books until the last page

Thankyou Versobooks!

[Shannyn Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems like a good starting point for someone like me who is woefully unfamiliar with Mexico's political problems. This was surely not an easy book to write, given the number of journalists who have been murdered in Mexico for covering such topics, and I admire the author's courage. Like Truman Capote, who Nieto is frequently compared to, she manages to humanize someone who, to others, might seem inhuman. Natually, the chapters focusing on the details of her subject's crime are the most enthralling, but her analysis of crime and corruption in Juarez is just as important.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic portrayal of the culture of cartel and government-fueled violence in Juarez, Mexico. If you're looking for true crime, this is not it. While Vicente's crime makes up the first few pages of the book, the primary focus is on unraveling the political and economic climate that led to the astounding crime rate in Juarez, the depth of corruption from both the U.S. and Mexico, and level of impunity that permeates the legal system - all of which contributed to the investment in crime without consequence and seeing zero value in human life.

Rodriguez Nieto does an incredible job at both presenting an unbiased view of Vicente's crime while explaining the environment that led the young boy to commit such a disturbing act.

Some of the translations in this book were questionable and ultimately did the book a disservice. The original title, for example, translates to "The Factory of Crime," which much more accurately portrays what the book is about. There were other issues in the translation that also took away from the context (song lyrics, for example).

Ultimately a really captivating and shocking portrayal of the tragic situation in Juarez. Highly recommend.

[Sarah Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's important when reading this not to get too caught up into comparisons with Capote's In Cold Blood. While Nieto recreates the murder itself, there was little the police needed to do before arresting Vicente and his accomplices.
What is central to this is the culture existing in Juarez both at the time and subsequently. The violence and corruption is astonishing and the story ultimately comes full circle.

This is a terrific analysis of a city under siege, thought-provoking and brilliant. An excellent read

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

"An analysis of the Juárez femicides, published in 2010 by the Catalonia Office for Peace and Human Rights, argued that the “institutionalized apathy toward the murders” is itself a mechanism for structural violence that trivializes attacks on the community and, through its constancy, naturalizes and normalizes acts of aggression."

or

"Boiled down: impunity turns crime into a habit."

[Mandy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very informative and brave of the author to write it . My heart breaks for the innocent people trying to live normal lives in Juarez. We meet Vicente first and I found what he did unbelievable evil although I did start to have sympathy as we got to know him but it doesn’t excuse what he did. I wanted a better ending for him and was sad at what happened. I remember seeing a lot of headlines early 2000’s of headless corpses being left around Juarez and all the crime and murders that were happening over there so it was good to be able to read about what was actually going on at that time. The level of corruption within the police and government is disgusting and the people don’t stand a chance. This is what happens when people are greedy and want more and more money and control. I don’t see what hope there is for the people and children growing up in Juarez and the surrounding areas. I did get confused at times because there are a lot of similar names and people often switched sides and killed their own people.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're after a focused true crime book and you only read the title of this, you're likely going to be disappointed.

If you're interested in a larger picture and how it can be reflected in and impact the lives of individuals, then this is the book for you.

This book serves a dual purpose: informing us about Juárez, specifically in the context of 1999-2009 through sharing the story of Vicente León Chávez.

I can freely admit that certain glitches shouldn't be distracting when faced with this topic, but that I did find that they took something away from the story (e.g., reference to 0.9 caliber bullet) and brought me to wonder what other items might be presented, edited, or translated incorrectly.

Overall, the book was very readable and balanced presenting facts and creating a story very well.

[Don't Worry Bout It · Rating 1 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS HORRIBLE.

when I picked it up I thought forsure it was going to tell me all about Vicente and what was going through his mind.. Only the first damn chapter talked about what happened in his point of view.

The rest of the stupid book is all about the city and about crimes / criminals that are unrelated to vicente.

I have been stuck on this book for a year - I simply can not finish it, it's that bad.

Very disappointed.

[Bobbie Ditcharo-Roland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful book. The actual story concerning the murder was addressed in just a few short chapters and then intermittently throughout the rest of the book. The book was primarily an expose on the crime in the city of Juarez, Mexico. It was a total waste of my reading time!

[Chris Patrick Hansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really have nothing much to say. There isn’t enough here to constitute a book being written. It’s not really about Vincente, it’s not insightful or intriguing, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with it. It’s a drag to push through and just feels needless needless needless

[kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

True crime/investigative journalism book that uses the murder by a young man of his parents and sister to explore many of the issues that plague Juarez, the infamous Mexican border city that's only miles away from El Paso, Texas. Only the first few chapters discuss the actual details of the crime and what happens to Vicente in the aftermath (he only got a measly five years in prison, btw). It's not Vicente's fate that drives this book as much as its overarching message: that when violence occurs in a place with impunity, it effects everyone--including a 16-year-old who decides to slaughter his family.

Nieto spends the majority of the book breaking down the rampant political corruption, cartel wars, gang conflicts, and the other cogs of the machine that are the cause of the epidemic violence that go on in Juarez. At the height of the violence in 2010, there were 20 homicides a day and 8 kidnappings. It's pretty shocking stuff. Brutal kidnappings, dead bodies left in the street, in front of schools, in neighborhoods. There's also a chapter that discusses the joke of a police department Juarez has. How does a city rack up thousands of murders in one year? It's because they don't even bother to investigate. Case received, case closed. Next...

I recommend this book for anyone interested in current issues, particularly in Mexico.

[India Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read that explains Mexico's difficult history with corruption, the police and impunity. By coaxing the reader in with the story of Vicente, she relates his sad tale to the wider problems that the country faces. Fascinating.

[yzn]

Marvelous reportage.

[Anita Arvast · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very compelling read from an inside of a city of hopelessness because of not only the drug trade but free trade as well.