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Hunting El Chapo: The Inside Story of the American Lawman Who Captured the World's Most Wanted Drug-Lord – An Investigative Thriller, Soon to Be a Major Motion Picture
A blend of Manhunt, Killing Pablo, and Zero Dark Thirty, Andrew Hogan and Douglas Century’s sensational investigative high-tech thriller—soon to be a major motion picture from Sony—chronicles a riveting chapter in the twentieth-century drug wars: the exclusive inside story of the American lawman and his dangerous eight-year hunt that captured El Chapo—the world’s most wanted drug kingpin who evaded the law for more than a decade.
Every generation has a larger-than-life criminal: Jesse James, Billy the Kid, John Dillinger, Al Capone, John Gotti, Pablo Escobar. But each of these notorious lawbreakers had a "white hat" in pursuit: Wyatt Earp, Pat Garrett, Eliot Ness, Steve Murphy. For notorious drug lord Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán-Loera—El Chapo—that lawman is former Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Andrew Hogan.
In 2006, fresh out of the D.E.A. Academy, Hogan heads west to Arizona where he immediately plunges into a series of gripping undercover adventures, all unknowingly placing him on the trail of Guzmán, the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, a Forbes billionaire and Public Enemy No. 1 in the United States. Six years later, as head of the D.E.A.’s Sinaloa Cartel desk in Mexico City, Hogan finds his life and Chapo’s are ironically, on parallel paths: they’re both obsessed with the details.
In a recasting of the classic American Western on the global stage, Hunting El Chapo takes us on Hogan’s quest to achieve the seemingly impossible, from infiltrating El Chapo’s inner circle to leading a white-knuckle manhunt with an elite brigade of trusted Mexican Marines—racing door-to-door through the cartel’s stronghold and ultimately bringing the elusive and murderous king-pin to justice.
This cinematic crime story following the relentless investigative work of Hogan and his team unfolds at breakneck speed, taking the reader behind the scenes of one of the most sophisticated and dangerous counter-narcotics operations in the history of the United States and Mexico.
Every generation has a larger-than-life criminal: Jesse James, Billy the Kid, John Dillinger, Al Capone, John Gotti, Pablo Escobar. But each of these notorious lawbreakers had a "white hat" in pursuit: Wyatt Earp, Pat Garrett, Eliot Ness, Steve Murphy. For notorious drug lord Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán-Loera—El Chapo—that lawman is former Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Andrew Hogan.
In 2006, fresh out of the D.E.A. Academy, Hogan heads west to Arizona where he immediately plunges into a series of gripping undercover adventures, all unknowingly placing him on the trail of Guzmán, the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, a Forbes billionaire and Public Enemy No. 1 in the United States. Six years later, as head of the D.E.A.’s Sinaloa Cartel desk in Mexico City, Hogan finds his life and Chapo’s are ironically, on parallel paths: they’re both obsessed with the details.
In a recasting of the classic American Western on the global stage, Hunting El Chapo takes us on Hogan’s quest to achieve the seemingly impossible, from infiltrating El Chapo’s inner circle to leading a white-knuckle manhunt with an elite brigade of trusted Mexican Marines—racing door-to-door through the cartel’s stronghold and ultimately bringing the elusive and murderous king-pin to justice.
This cinematic crime story following the relentless investigative work of Hogan and his team unfolds at breakneck speed, taking the reader behind the scenes of one of the most sophisticated and dangerous counter-narcotics operations in the history of the United States and Mexico.
448 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2018
324 people are currently reading
1099 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
June 30, 2018
On this book I call B.S. Andrew Hogan’s claims were so outrageous that I started to Google them to verify their veracity. I couldn’t. Unlike other books on the subject that I’ve read, there are no write ups, articles or reports of any kind, in either English or Spanish, verifying his supposed takedowns in AZ, in Mexico or anywhere. I checked with DEA friends and they call Hogan’s claims as pure fiction. He’s a narcissist with delusions of grandeur. You’ve heard of fake news? This is fake nonfiction.
The book is not worth reading. You will not receive any insight into the drug situation nor the bloody, horrible war that’s been raging for decades. Read Ion Grillo’s work instead. That’s entertaining yet true.
The book is not worth reading. You will not receive any insight into the drug situation nor the bloody, horrible war that’s been raging for decades. Read Ion Grillo’s work instead. That’s entertaining yet true.
September 12, 2018
Mostly this was a huge bore, something that’s hard to do in the world of Mexican drug cartels. He makes a big deal out of his Sherlock Holmes’ like powers of deduction, like how tocayo means namesake, Yawn. I guess he’s just proud of his Spanish, but for someone who already speaks the language hear him brag about how he put two-and-two together was fairly tedious.
He also finds himself to be magnificently clever for coming up with the nickname “Duck Dynasty” for some sort of duck refuge. He mentions his cleverness on this point at least three separate times. First of all, it isn’t clever and next, it isn’t up to you to say that something you came up with was funny or not. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not.
He makes a big deal out of arresting El Chapo only to have him break out of jail once again, so don’t throw your arm out patting yourself on the back.
He also finds himself to be magnificently clever for coming up with the nickname “Duck Dynasty” for some sort of duck refuge. He mentions his cleverness on this point at least three separate times. First of all, it isn’t clever and next, it isn’t up to you to say that something you came up with was funny or not. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not.
He makes a big deal out of arresting El Chapo only to have him break out of jail once again, so don’t throw your arm out patting yourself on the back.
May 10, 2018
The super macho tone is perfect for fans of NARCOS but disastrous for anyone looking for a greater appreciation of the drug war or the tactics and procedures used to capture Chapo. My uncles will love it.
February 2, 2021
I don't know how much of this book is true, but it reeks of the guy you can't get away from at the bar. He was the only person in the U.S. government looking for El Chapo? No one else on earth had his amazing intel? He ordered Marines and the Mexican authorities around like lackeys?
Sure, bro. Check, please.
Sure, bro. Check, please.
October 23, 2019
I’ve heard many reviews arguing the accuracy of the author’s story about catching Guzman but when you see a picture of the author posing with a handcuffed el chapo I think you can conclude that he played some role in the act.
I didn’t think the book was well written, but wow what a gutsy story. Though a majority of the story is about the monotonous process of investigations, there are also good doses of action. Overall, a good read.
I didn’t think the book was well written, but wow what a gutsy story. Though a majority of the story is about the monotonous process of investigations, there are also good doses of action. Overall, a good read.
May 21, 2018
This book was so interesting!!!!!!! It’s like a thriller cause you keep wondering HOW they will ever capture el Chapo. Fast read, learned a lot about how he organized the cartel’s communication plan and the simple mistakes he made that got him caught. Can’t say how much is really true but I was very entertained.
dnf
March 3, 2022dnf at page 45 ish
while i do want to read a book on Guzmán this is not gonna be it.... especially after reading some other reviews, this story is basically the author claiming he ALONE was responsible for the capture of el Chapo... sure buddy. you were boring anyway. gotta find someone else's account; this was nothing like the research of 'Killing Pablo'.
while i do want to read a book on Guzmán this is not gonna be it.... especially after reading some other reviews, this story is basically the author claiming he ALONE was responsible for the capture of el Chapo... sure buddy. you were boring anyway. gotta find someone else's account; this was nothing like the research of 'Killing Pablo'.
September 7, 2018
The "Rambo" viewpoint here is so strong, it makes you root for El Chapo. The guy ain't no angel, that's for sure, but let's face it, he ain't a bigger criminal than the American Government.
You can understand that the writer is so full of crap, he wants to take credit for El Chapo's arrest while his actual involvement was minimum. The role of the Mexican side in the whole operation is constantly downplayed. Since Mr. Hogan wasn't even present when El Chapo got busted, he had to come up with this nice little scene where he comes face to face with El Chapo and treats him in the same manner one would treat a kid who broke his window with a baseball.
At the end, El Chapo's arrest did little to curb the drug problem or drug related crime, but in one rare moment of insight, the writer reveals the real reason they wanted Mr. Guzman in the USA was the thirteen billion dollars of drug money.
You're better off watching the Netflix show!
You can understand that the writer is so full of crap, he wants to take credit for El Chapo's arrest while his actual involvement was minimum. The role of the Mexican side in the whole operation is constantly downplayed. Since Mr. Hogan wasn't even present when El Chapo got busted, he had to come up with this nice little scene where he comes face to face with El Chapo and treats him in the same manner one would treat a kid who broke his window with a baseball.
At the end, El Chapo's arrest did little to curb the drug problem or drug related crime, but in one rare moment of insight, the writer reveals the real reason they wanted Mr. Guzman in the USA was the thirteen billion dollars of drug money.
You're better off watching the Netflix show!
March 17, 2020
Really interesting to see what went into El Chapo's capture. Some people have accused the author's tone of being arrogant and braggadocious--I didn't get that impression. Rather, the tone seems to be confident...and I would say it was well earned. I listened to this as an audiobook, so I might get these quotes wrong, but two things really stood out. First, a line: "It was never about Chapo. It was about the hunt." Second: the reframing if El Chapo's narrative. He isn't a Robin Hood figure as romanticized in the songs. He was a "cancerous tumor".
Also, there was an unexpected amount of hugging.
Also, there was an unexpected amount of hugging.
January 21, 2023
Real life thriller with interesting details about the case. Will never be able to travel to Mexico now…lol.
May 19, 2018
The DEA man who coordinated the takedown of El Chapo details the ups and downs of the years-long hunt, capture, and prison escape that shook the world.
As one who's been spoiled by the richness and depth of several books on Pablo Escobar, I found this book on El Chapo lacking in personal details on Guzman and his top tier men. I don't fault the authors, though. That kind of information will come out of interviews and research over the next several years. I expect the best El Chapo biographies to emerge only after that time.
The lengthy passages in Spanish were irritating and a massive buzz-kill, even though they were mostly interpreted immediately after. The average reader would maintain greater interest if those were reduced, and only presented in English.
3 stars (worth a look, but don't feel pressed to read this one).
As one who's been spoiled by the richness and depth of several books on Pablo Escobar, I found this book on El Chapo lacking in personal details on Guzman and his top tier men. I don't fault the authors, though. That kind of information will come out of interviews and research over the next several years. I expect the best El Chapo biographies to emerge only after that time.
The lengthy passages in Spanish were irritating and a massive buzz-kill, even though they were mostly interpreted immediately after. The average reader would maintain greater interest if those were reduced, and only presented in English.
3 stars (worth a look, but don't feel pressed to read this one).
June 2, 2025
Andrew Hogan tries too hard to be big tough macho man. This reads like a cesspool of narcissism. Respectfully I do NOT believe that Hogan was basically the ONLY guy in the country trying to catch el chapo? Be so for real
The story is fascinating and I do believe he played a good role in the initial capture but potential for a good book feels wasted by this guy bragging about how funny and clever and smart he supposedly is. Because guys! He can speak Spanish AND English! Doesn’t that make him such a smartypants?! snore
You can’t help but wonder if he’s overcompensating for something?
Anyways. Good story. El Chapo was fascinating and it’s interesting to see what the behind the scenes investigation looked like. Also disturbing to see how corruptible literally everyone is.
Tldr; good story watered down by an overinflated ego
The story is fascinating and I do believe he played a good role in the initial capture but potential for a good book feels wasted by this guy bragging about how funny and clever and smart he supposedly is. Because guys! He can speak Spanish AND English! Doesn’t that make him such a smartypants?! snore
You can’t help but wonder if he’s overcompensating for something?
Anyways. Good story. El Chapo was fascinating and it’s interesting to see what the behind the scenes investigation looked like. Also disturbing to see how corruptible literally everyone is.
Tldr; good story watered down by an overinflated ego
February 25, 2022
Terrible book. Quit reading almost before I began. Book is just a tooting author's own horn. Much bragging and boasting about how great he is with nothing to back it up.
September 13, 2025
This was an interesting book, about the operation that was set up to try and localize & arrest El Chapo.
I got an interesting look behind the scenes of the men and women working together, across the boundaries of their own organization, to get something important done.
What they do, their frustrations, the leaks they need to fix or circumvent, the political situation that is a pain in the butt, because politicians want results, media attention and honour for themselves, where an operation as the one described can o ly be completed when all steps are taken in the utmost silence & secrecy.
I liked this book.
Next time I get a Dutch audiobook however, I'll make sure it isn't narrated by the person who did this book.
What a horrible way of reading a story like like this. The most common words pronuciated wrongly, words skipped, mistakes in the intonation... I kept listening because the book was interesting & worth my time, otherwise I would have given up after half an hour or so.
I got an interesting look behind the scenes of the men and women working together, across the boundaries of their own organization, to get something important done.
What they do, their frustrations, the leaks they need to fix or circumvent, the political situation that is a pain in the butt, because politicians want results, media attention and honour for themselves, where an operation as the one described can o ly be completed when all steps are taken in the utmost silence & secrecy.
I liked this book.
Next time I get a Dutch audiobook however, I'll make sure it isn't narrated by the person who did this book.
What a horrible way of reading a story like like this. The most common words pronuciated wrongly, words skipped, mistakes in the intonation... I kept listening because the book was interesting & worth my time, otherwise I would have given up after half an hour or so.
November 5, 2021
Good! I thought the storytelling and writing were very good, and I found the "story" very interesting, too. I was reading Don Winslow's
The Border
at the same time, and it was cool to see the similarities between the real story and the fiction, which, for all I know, included this book as research.
Happy to read a nonfiction book that isn't 500 pages long—this book was just as long as it needed to be. :)
Happy to read a nonfiction book that isn't 500 pages long—this book was just as long as it needed to be. :)
May 1, 2018
2018 erscheint ein Roman über die Festnahme eines Drogenbarons, der schon seit Jahren in Haft sitzt. Warum ausgerechnet jetzt? Weil am 16. April 2018 (ursprünglich) die Verhandlungen gegen ihn beginnen sollten. Vor einem US-Gericht, denn schließlich wurde El Chapo auch von einem Spezialagenten aus den US gefasst. Dieser Agent heißt Andrew Hogan und ist Co-Autor dieses Buchs. Gemeinsam mit Douglas Century hat er eine Geschichte veröffentlicht, bei der man vor Staunen den Atem anhält und die beinahe unglaublich scheint.
Worum geht es?
Andrew Hogan ist Spezialagent der amerikanischen Drogenvollzugsbehörde DEA. Nachdem er mit seinem Partner Diego bereits einige kleinere Kriminelle und Drogenhändler geschnappt hat reizt es ihn, weiter nach oben vorzudringen und nicht nur die kleineren Verkaufskreise sondern großräumige Kartelle zu zerschlagen - seine Wahl fällt ausgerechnet auf El Chapo. Der fast schon mystifizierte Drogenbaron aus Sinaloa galt als gefährlichster Drogenboss der Welt und als einer der reichsten noch dazu. Wie soll also ein "einfacher" Agent diesen Mann schnappen?
Der Weg dorthin ist nicht gerade einfach, wird jedoch im Buch sehr detailreich wiedergegeben. Mit viel Witz, Geschick und vor allem Geduld kämpft sich Hogan immer weiter in die Kreise des Kartells vor, so dass man am Ende wirklich sprachlos ist. In diesem Fall ist die Realität noch viel spannender als jeder Kriminalroman.
Graphische und rhetorische Gestaltung
Das Cover ist realtiv simpel gehalten und zieht dadurch umso mehr in seinen Bann. Besonders gut hat mir die simple Farbwahl gefallen - die Schwarz-Weiß-Töne und dazu das knallige Rot wirken spannend und gleichzeitig auch bedrohlich.
Das Buch ist an sich sehr unterhaltsam und spannend geschrieben, allerdings hat es an einigen Stellen unter der Übersetzung gelitten, sprich: Die Grammtik und Wortwahl ist an einigen Stellen nicht so schön wie ich es mir vom Original erhoffe. Inhaltlich wird das allerdings locker wett gemacht und so sieht man gern über diese kleinen Schnitzer hinweg.
Erzählt wird aus der Ich-Perspektive von Andrew Hogan, lediglich das Nachwort ist in dritter Person gehalten und fast die Ereignisse nach der Verhaftung von El Chapo zusammen.
Meine Meinung
Bevor ich das Buch gelesen habe war mir der Name "El Chapo" allerhöchstens vom Hörensagen bekannt und über seine Geschichte usw. wusste ich wirklich gar nichts - vielleicht hat das Buch auch deshalb bei mir so einen starken "Roman"-Eindruck hinterlassen. Positiv kann ich dadurch anmerken, dass sich das Buch auch ohne Vorwissen lesen lässt.
Da ich erst vor kurzem damit begonnen habe, Kriminalgeschichten zu lesen, war dieses Buch perfekt für mich - wenig Blut vergießen, vor allem hervoragende Ermittlungsarbeit und viel Spannung: So wie eigentlich jedes Buch dieses Genres sein sollte.
Fazit
Insgesamt ist "Jagd auf El Chapo" ein absolut gelungener Roman, den ich absolut weiter empfehlen kann und möchte. Das all die Geschichten, die man sonst nur aus Romanen oder Filmen kennt, tatsächlich 'da draußen' passieren und sogar noch viel spannender sind, klingt für mich immer etwas unglaublich - gerade an diesem Beispiel sieht man jedoch, wie wahr es ist. Wer also nach einer spannenden Lektüre sucht (am Besten für den Urlaub in Mexiko :D) der ist hier genau an der richtigen Adresse!
Worum geht es?
Andrew Hogan ist Spezialagent der amerikanischen Drogenvollzugsbehörde DEA. Nachdem er mit seinem Partner Diego bereits einige kleinere Kriminelle und Drogenhändler geschnappt hat reizt es ihn, weiter nach oben vorzudringen und nicht nur die kleineren Verkaufskreise sondern großräumige Kartelle zu zerschlagen - seine Wahl fällt ausgerechnet auf El Chapo. Der fast schon mystifizierte Drogenbaron aus Sinaloa galt als gefährlichster Drogenboss der Welt und als einer der reichsten noch dazu. Wie soll also ein "einfacher" Agent diesen Mann schnappen?
Der Weg dorthin ist nicht gerade einfach, wird jedoch im Buch sehr detailreich wiedergegeben. Mit viel Witz, Geschick und vor allem Geduld kämpft sich Hogan immer weiter in die Kreise des Kartells vor, so dass man am Ende wirklich sprachlos ist. In diesem Fall ist die Realität noch viel spannender als jeder Kriminalroman.
Graphische und rhetorische Gestaltung
Das Cover ist realtiv simpel gehalten und zieht dadurch umso mehr in seinen Bann. Besonders gut hat mir die simple Farbwahl gefallen - die Schwarz-Weiß-Töne und dazu das knallige Rot wirken spannend und gleichzeitig auch bedrohlich.
Das Buch ist an sich sehr unterhaltsam und spannend geschrieben, allerdings hat es an einigen Stellen unter der Übersetzung gelitten, sprich: Die Grammtik und Wortwahl ist an einigen Stellen nicht so schön wie ich es mir vom Original erhoffe. Inhaltlich wird das allerdings locker wett gemacht und so sieht man gern über diese kleinen Schnitzer hinweg.
Erzählt wird aus der Ich-Perspektive von Andrew Hogan, lediglich das Nachwort ist in dritter Person gehalten und fast die Ereignisse nach der Verhaftung von El Chapo zusammen.
Meine Meinung
Bevor ich das Buch gelesen habe war mir der Name "El Chapo" allerhöchstens vom Hörensagen bekannt und über seine Geschichte usw. wusste ich wirklich gar nichts - vielleicht hat das Buch auch deshalb bei mir so einen starken "Roman"-Eindruck hinterlassen. Positiv kann ich dadurch anmerken, dass sich das Buch auch ohne Vorwissen lesen lässt.
Da ich erst vor kurzem damit begonnen habe, Kriminalgeschichten zu lesen, war dieses Buch perfekt für mich - wenig Blut vergießen, vor allem hervoragende Ermittlungsarbeit und viel Spannung: So wie eigentlich jedes Buch dieses Genres sein sollte.
Fazit
Insgesamt ist "Jagd auf El Chapo" ein absolut gelungener Roman, den ich absolut weiter empfehlen kann und möchte. Das all die Geschichten, die man sonst nur aus Romanen oder Filmen kennt, tatsächlich 'da draußen' passieren und sogar noch viel spannender sind, klingt für mich immer etwas unglaublich - gerade an diesem Beispiel sieht man jedoch, wie wahr es ist. Wer also nach einer spannenden Lektüre sucht (am Besten für den Urlaub in Mexiko :D) der ist hier genau an der richtigen Adresse!
April 27, 2018
I think for any fan of true crime, this is a must read for it’s interesting topic, one that had so many details that I had no idea about. But also, for how well it was written ( which I know, I’ve said like 5 times already. But I’m serious! This was the most well written non fiction book I’ve ever read! )
Positives
-good pacing and writing
-it managed to make me enjoy the characters (who were indeed real people)
-it educated me without feeling like I was reading a text book
Positives
-good pacing and writing
-it managed to make me enjoy the characters (who were indeed real people)
-it educated me without feeling like I was reading a text book
September 25, 2019
I can't believe how much I didn't like the narration of this book. It's like reading the script to an action movie whose soundtrack is exclusively Nickelback and Five Finger Death Punch. The raging machismo reads like parody, and the scene of the narrator throwing a tantrum and blasting rock music and trashing a bar was so embarrassing I couldn't even deal with it. I suppose that such a reaction will resonate with the many people who find this guy's outlook admirable (raging on alcohol is a sign of manhood but smoking weed is a horrific criminal offense) but to me it illustrates the kind of thinking that has made the War on Drugs a profound disaster for everyone involved. I'm by no means a fan of bloodthirsty cartel violence but this just demonstrates there has to be a better way.
On the more positive side, I do like the glimpse into the nuts and bolts of such an enormous operation and appreciate the play-by-play of pulling something like this off (though another reviewer notes that the events of this book are completely unverifiable). I haven't looked into the veracity of this book but I was so put off by the writing that it wasn't worth it to give it much more thought once I was finished.
On the more positive side, I do like the glimpse into the nuts and bolts of such an enormous operation and appreciate the play-by-play of pulling something like this off (though another reviewer notes that the events of this book are completely unverifiable). I haven't looked into the veracity of this book but I was so put off by the writing that it wasn't worth it to give it much more thought once I was finished.
May 21, 2018
There are some books you know you are going to like right from the start and this was one of those for me. From start to finish, this book had me gripped and enraptured. I loved all of the detail and the process involved. It was incredibly well written and am so glad I checked it out.
May 17, 2018
Very well written tale. amazing courage and competence by the author. Great insight for us into many aspects of the drug underworld and how it touches us all.
February 15, 2019
Me parece un libro bien redactado, sin embargo me hubiera gustado un poco más de historia en la captura del Chapo como tal, pues parece mucho preámbulo y poco desenlace.
September 14, 2019
This book is essentially a play-by-play of this DEA Agent's tactics, "hunting" Joaquín Guzmán, (El Chapo). Drew Hogan is one of many agents involved in taking down this infamous drug lord. This book offers his point of view during the El Chapo investigation. This book is fast-paced and there's plenty of action.
But this book skips a lot of the detail and it doesn't mention the wider effort of the DEA. I've read books by other agents in the DEA, and this investigation obviously wasn't led by solely Hogan and his team. Hogan makes a big deal of personally confronting El Chapo, and to me it felt like he took a lot of credit for his arrest. This is not the case - the rest of the DEA and the Mexican side played a huge role in the arrest. This was not emphasised enough.
There is zero insight into the wider problem of the war on drugs in Mexico. El Chapo is a vicious murderer. The drug war has costs countless lives. Disputes between cartels over money, territory and, well drugs, has resulted in a bloodbath. This is well-known, but Hogan doesn't focus on it. Hogan acknowledges that El Chapo's sons and the wider network of the cartel are still at large. But the author doesn't explore this angle at all. In reality, Guzmán's arrest has done little to impact the worldwide illegal drug trade. Just look up the Sinaloa Cartel. Chapo is locked up, but that just means that someone else in the network has assumed leadership. I am not down-playing the hard work and effort by the DEA and similar agencies. I commend agents and police who risk their lives every day, to protect the public. However, I expected Hogan to touch on the wider problem of the 'war on drugs', but the book solely focuses on Hogan's investigation.
If you want a detailed overview of the drug trade in Mexico and the failed 'war on drugs' in the US, this is not for you. I would recommend this to fans of Narcos, true crime and action.
But this book skips a lot of the detail and it doesn't mention the wider effort of the DEA. I've read books by other agents in the DEA, and this investigation obviously wasn't led by solely Hogan and his team. Hogan makes a big deal of personally confronting El Chapo, and to me it felt like he took a lot of credit for his arrest. This is not the case - the rest of the DEA and the Mexican side played a huge role in the arrest. This was not emphasised enough.
There is zero insight into the wider problem of the war on drugs in Mexico. El Chapo is a vicious murderer. The drug war has costs countless lives. Disputes between cartels over money, territory and, well drugs, has resulted in a bloodbath. This is well-known, but Hogan doesn't focus on it. Hogan acknowledges that El Chapo's sons and the wider network of the cartel are still at large. But the author doesn't explore this angle at all. In reality, Guzmán's arrest has done little to impact the worldwide illegal drug trade. Just look up the Sinaloa Cartel. Chapo is locked up, but that just means that someone else in the network has assumed leadership. I am not down-playing the hard work and effort by the DEA and similar agencies. I commend agents and police who risk their lives every day, to protect the public. However, I expected Hogan to touch on the wider problem of the 'war on drugs', but the book solely focuses on Hogan's investigation.
If you want a detailed overview of the drug trade in Mexico and the failed 'war on drugs' in the US, this is not for you. I would recommend this to fans of Narcos, true crime and action.
June 3, 2018
Un libro fascinante y de interés contemporáneo sobre, como indica el subtítulo, la caza de Joaquín «El Chapo» Guzmán Loera por la DEA y sus homólogos mexicanos, desde la perspectiva de Andrew Hogan, agente de la DEA. El Chapo, uno de los narcotraficantes más exitosos y más buscados del mundo, construyó su cartel poderoso y temido, y su negocio multimillonario, por medio de violencia y explotando la corrupción de muchas autoridades en su país. Hogan tuvo un papel clave en la búsqueda y la captura, y cuenta la historia detallada de como él y sus colegas estadounidenses y mexicanos lo persiguió hasta capturarlo. Las estrategias del narco y de los agentes son intrigantes y la historia tiene un ritmo rápido; se aprende mucho de la red de protección de El Chapo y de la caza paciente de Hogan y sus colegas. Sin embargo, hay limitaciones de la historia; en particular, hace falto contexto para entender verdaderamente la vida y éxito de Guzmán. En particular, no trata las razones por la corrupción en México y el papel de todos que hacen que el negocio funcione, desde narcos jóvenes hasta los consumidores de los EEUU. No es que se deba esperar de un libro así—contado desde la perspectiva de una persona con un papel especifico—otros enfoques; sin embargo, la historia no puede explorar suficientemente a Guzmán sin alguna exploración de estos elementos.
May 14, 2020
I can't say I loved this book. There were definitely mixed feelings that not only I had when reading this. As an Asian who doesn't know a wink of Spanish, this was very hard to understand. There would occasionally be translations next to the word, but the use of Spanish in this book makes this more difficult to read in my opinion. I don't think this was an immersive book. While there were some good parts, overall, I can't say I loved the writing. It's clear that Mr. Hogan is confident with himself and his Spanish, but it can come across as being proud and somewhat arrogant. This is not the first time I've read a book like this. I've read about El Chapo before and many other drug cartels. I've watched documentaries and drug lords all over the world as well. I've seen books similar to this genre that has been written well so it's not like it's impossible to make a well-written book. I was definitely disappointed after reading this, but I must acknowledge the fact that there are good pieces of writing in this book as well as an interesting chapter occasionally. Overall I thought this book was boring, the way this was written makes it come across that Mr. Hogan wants to take credit for El Chapo's arrest even though his actual involvement was minimum. I feel like this book was a bit of a money grab, can't say I would suggest to anyone unless to want to practice your Spanish.
September 8, 2021
This is a fast moving book that keeps the reader engaged to the end. I appreciated the transparency of the author in telling this true story. Indeed in order to do so, he had to leave his job as a federal agent behind. The corruption in Mexican government and policing has been a harsh reality for decades. It can outdistance the very worst of any government official of any other country. The control of the Cartels is relentless and as a non corrupt investigator, American or Mexican, it makes the job extremely hard. Clearly drug trafficking across our southern border is a ginormous challenge. But the corruption only exacerbates the problem. Hogan was running this investigation to find Chapo and take down his DTO in the mid to late 2000's. Ironically, today, just a few years later, he would not even be able to do that. Mexican government cooperation, with the USA and other countries included, is at an all time low. I really appreciated the collaboration and bond Hogan formed with the SEMAR, the Mexican Marines, who were just as bent on catching Chapa as Hogan and the Americans. If you like a non fiction crime thriller, OR if you just want a reality check into the crazy extent of the labyrinth of Mexican traffickers, this book is for you.
March 30, 2023
"Hunting El Chapo" by Andrew Hogan is a captivating and thrilling read that takes you on a wild ride through the world of drug cartels and international law enforcement. The author, a former DEA agent, provides a detailed and personal account of the investigation and capture of the infamous drug lord, El Chapo.
Hogan's writing style is both informative and engaging, and he does an excellent job of balancing technical details with personal anecdotes that make the story come alive. His insights into the inner workings of drug cartels and the challenges faced by law enforcement are truly eye-opening.
What I appreciate most about this book is the emphasis on teamwork and the bravery of the men and women who risked their lives to bring El Chapo to justice. Hogan provides a well-deserved tribute to their hard work and dedication.
Overall, "Hunting El Chapo" is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of drug trafficking and law enforcement. It's an inspiring and uplifting story that highlights the power of teamwork and the triumph of justice over evil.
Hogan's writing style is both informative and engaging, and he does an excellent job of balancing technical details with personal anecdotes that make the story come alive. His insights into the inner workings of drug cartels and the challenges faced by law enforcement are truly eye-opening.
What I appreciate most about this book is the emphasis on teamwork and the bravery of the men and women who risked their lives to bring El Chapo to justice. Hogan provides a well-deserved tribute to their hard work and dedication.
Overall, "Hunting El Chapo" is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of drug trafficking and law enforcement. It's an inspiring and uplifting story that highlights the power of teamwork and the triumph of justice over evil.
December 6, 2018
El Chapo was at one time a exceedingly wealthy and powerful in the world of drugs. Author Hogan tells us how El Chapo was brought down in Mexico. Hogan also goes beyond the take down.
The book focuses on the way the US and Mexican police did their work. After some background material comes in the early chapters, we get on board in a chase that is spelled out in a way that will keep the reader (or in my case, the listener) engaged in the story. We get a sense of how difficult the job could be. The events won’t fit in a none hour TV show (nor in a two hour movie). We also get an insight into what the leaders of the quest have to give up in their lives to do their work.
But the details of the chase were sufficiently powerful to keep me listening. In fact, I believe that the audio version to read this book.
I encourage the reader to be a listener on this book.
The book focuses on the way the US and Mexican police did their work. After some background material comes in the early chapters, we get on board in a chase that is spelled out in a way that will keep the reader (or in my case, the listener) engaged in the story. We get a sense of how difficult the job could be. The events won’t fit in a none hour TV show (nor in a two hour movie). We also get an insight into what the leaders of the quest have to give up in their lives to do their work.
But the details of the chase were sufficiently powerful to keep me listening. In fact, I believe that the audio version to read this book.
I encourage the reader to be a listener on this book.
February 13, 2022
What a disappointing read. This book should have been titled “the life and miracles of Andrew Hogan, and also Chapo was there at some point”. While I don’t question his involvement, mr Hogan blows a lot of his skills and influence clearly out of proportion, thinks highly of himself and his spanish speaking skills (which he relentlessly tries to demonstrate for no good reason). If you want to know about Chapo’s origins, history or how he came to power, you can forget it (the very first account of Chapo is escaping prison already at the height if his power). This was very self-serving and most conversations are honestly just hard to believe, with mr Hogan ordering and convincing American and Mexican officials left and right, giving credit to a handful of people but clearly putting himself in the best of lights (the best police officer, always alert, perfect memory, nothing eludes him, and so on). What an insufferable read.
October 16, 2024
Hunting El Chapo by Andrew Hogan
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Follow DEA agent Andrew Hogan and his team as they track the most notorious drug lord in history through the streets and deserts of Mexico 🇲🇽. El Chapo, aka: Joaquin Guzman, now sitting in a prison cell in the USA after being tracked down by the DEA and Mexican officials, was the leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel and was on Forbes list as one of the richest men in the world. His influence and corruption of Mexican officials allowed him to operate freely for decades in Mexico and escape incarceration multiple times until being extradited to the US to keep him secure in the American justice system. His list of many crimes includes murder, money laundering, racketeering, drug trafficking, and the list goes on and on. A riveting read and look inside the Sinaloa cartel and disturbing insight into the life of a paranoid drug lord.
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#read #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #books #history #dea #usa #mexico #cartel #elchapo #lawenforcement #narcos #corruption
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Follow DEA agent Andrew Hogan and his team as they track the most notorious drug lord in history through the streets and deserts of Mexico 🇲🇽. El Chapo, aka: Joaquin Guzman, now sitting in a prison cell in the USA after being tracked down by the DEA and Mexican officials, was the leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel and was on Forbes list as one of the richest men in the world. His influence and corruption of Mexican officials allowed him to operate freely for decades in Mexico and escape incarceration multiple times until being extradited to the US to keep him secure in the American justice system. His list of many crimes includes murder, money laundering, racketeering, drug trafficking, and the list goes on and on. A riveting read and look inside the Sinaloa cartel and disturbing insight into the life of a paranoid drug lord.
.
.
#read #bookstagram #readersofinstagram #books #history #dea #usa #mexico #cartel #elchapo #lawenforcement #narcos #corruption
July 21, 2018
Muy buen libro que detalla cómo capturaron al chapo luego de 14 años de fugado, es relatado por un ex integrante de la DEA y se lee como un thriller por lo emocionante de su relato
Uno conoce como son capturados este tipo de personajes y la importancia de las labores de inteligencia, buena parte del éxito de su operación se basó en que tenían interceptados sus teléfonos
Se aclaran muchos mitos qué hay respecto al chapo pero lo único comprobable es que uno de sus lugartenientes tenía infiltrada a la sedena porque sabían de antemano las operaciones del ejército
En cambio habla muy bien de los integrantes de la marina , una de las aportaciones de este libro es conocer a estos héroes anónimos que combaten al narco a costa de sus vidas y de su bienestar emocional
Muy interesante saber lo qué hay detrás de la captura de este asesino serial y narco
Uno conoce como son capturados este tipo de personajes y la importancia de las labores de inteligencia, buena parte del éxito de su operación se basó en que tenían interceptados sus teléfonos
Se aclaran muchos mitos qué hay respecto al chapo pero lo único comprobable es que uno de sus lugartenientes tenía infiltrada a la sedena porque sabían de antemano las operaciones del ejército
En cambio habla muy bien de los integrantes de la marina , una de las aportaciones de este libro es conocer a estos héroes anónimos que combaten al narco a costa de sus vidas y de su bienestar emocional
Muy interesante saber lo qué hay detrás de la captura de este asesino serial y narco
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