Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive

by Dan "Tito" Davis, Dan "Tito" Davis (Narrator)

Dan “Tito” Davis is the ultimate survivor. Having been an international fugitive for over 13 years, and across more than 54 countries, Tito had evaded the tough, three lettered trio of the F.B.I., C.I.A., and the D.E.A., and then, for good measure, the U.S. Marshals, Homeland Security, U.S. Customs, Interpol, local law enforcement agencies, immigration agents, mercenaries, guerilla organizations, professional kidnappers, career hitmen, vigilantes, human traffickers, and most other entities worth being wanted by. Through the various chapters of his life, Tito dealt with the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, invented the “Red Bull” of the day, lived, laughed and loved with the Medellin cartel, negotiated the deadly Darien Gap, weathered three weddings, had plastic surgery to alter his appearance, owned a resort in Venezuela, attended school with third graders, looked down a few gun barrels, piloted jet airliners, won a national kite surfing championship, racked up a few million dollars, made some enemies and a heck of a lot of friends.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, True Crime, Memoir, Autobiography

247 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2016

Reviews

[Andrea N Carr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dragged on and on


I gave this story 3 out of 5 stars. The story dragged on too long and had gaps in the story. This character didn't start off one way then go through something and change as a result. I was disappointed by the matter of fact storytelling.

There were some parts in the story I wish had been explained better. For instance, the reason he felt he was above the law which was the theme throughout the entire story. He kept doing the same thing over and over again. His only regret seemed to be getting caught.

The story begins with Gringo working as a jockey at sixteen years old then, starting college and a criminal career selling white cross ephedrine pills to his classmates to help them stay awake and study. Moving over a million pills a month and was eventually arrested. Upon release from prison is where the story's intrigue begins, having job search and financial hardships as a convicted felon drives Gringo back into a life of crime.

He decides to sell pot and get a pilot license to make a lot more money while falling in love with a girl from a wealthy family around the same time. Money was the most important thing in his life After another arrest he somehow manages to rebuild a life for himself from hidden cash.

Gringo takes what he has and starts again with another wife and a life of crime. Things went fine for a time but, this turned out to be the beginning of a life on the run while convincing himself he didn't deserve prison again. He didn't do the crime he was being charged with this time though, responsible for several unlawful acts. Guilty of bad association, with a fellow miscreant that turned informant. Gringo decided to take his chances and run.

Instead of living as a humble fisherman or farmer alone, He took advantage of the economic hardships in other countries to get what he needed with no genuine concern for anyone but himself. Pursuing another wife, investing in and building a resort that locals were against. Greed fueled most actions of Gringo and selfishness the rest. Gringo was even warned he had been given up but kept on focusing on what he wanted and doing the same thing until caught.

I found his journey very eventful but was pleased when he was finally caught after being on the run as a fugitive for many years. I can see a sequel coming but would not care to read it. Though the story ended very abruptly, I had enough of El Gringo Stupido.

[Riley Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the ride that Peter Conti took us on in retailing Titos life. I could smell the Venezuelan beaches and the fear that remained at the forefront of Titos mind. I'm ready for the follow up - Tito is now free - surely the adventure continues.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning of the book was slow, but I'm glad that I stuck with it. It's the story of Don "Tito" Davis. He was actually born and raised in South Dakota, which is where I'm from. He really emphasized how podunk SD is, which got a little offensive. We're not big big, but we've heard of luxury and all that!

Anyway, Davis gets into selling drugs. He gets into it, he makes a ton of money, and then he gets out of it. He sells ephedrine, then he sells marijuana, and then he gets framed for meth and has to run for it.

The majority of the book is while he is on the run in Latin America. He doesn't know any Spanish and keeps trying to learn more. He befriends people who sell cocaine or are hitmen for hire. Davis is very unflinching about the good and the bad that happens to him. It's amazing to read how unflinching he is about the choices in his life.

The book just ends. I couldn't believe the last page was the last page. If he ever writes a sequel, I would read it.

[Cristin Grenier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! My first thought was, "How can this story be real?" Growing up in a very small town myself, I understand the feeling of escaping small town life at any cost. Lucky for me, I did not take things as far as Tito did. I think the book was so intriguing because I could relate to Davis on a personal level. He was a charismatic, young, and educated man. He is not what you imagine a drug dealer to be. These attributes, no doubt, helped to get him out of many tight spaces and lots of trouble.


I have read other books written by Peter Conti and find him to be a very talented writer. He was an excellent choice to tell Dan “Tito” Davis’ thrill ride of a story. From the moment I picked it up, I did not want to put Gringo down. The book is full of dark humor that surrounds his self deprecation. I am sure his ability to laugh at himself and learn from his mistakes was vital to Tito’s survival.


This gripping story begins in a small town in South Dakota and follows the thrill seeking Davis across many states and countries. Tito starts small with manufacturing ephedrine while attending college at UNLV. His business grows and he gets busted and ends up serving 5 years in prison. After his stint in the big house, he gets into dealing weed. He is turned in by an old friend and facing 30 years in prison. Tito has no intention of going back. Evading prosecution in the US, Tito makes his way through many countries in Latin America over the next 13 years and settles in Venezuela. The story he tells is so suspenseful and exciting it will keep you reading through the night. He has so many close calls with law enforcement and cartels. It is hard to believe he is alive to tell the story.


I give Gringo 5 out of 5 stars. I loved the thrilling and sometimes funny narration of the story. Conti’s writing style is impeccable and only adds to the incredible tale. I thought it was also very well edited. I loved reading the stories of how different cartels in different countries managed their drug trade. It intrigues me that these individuals are so intelligent and able to avoid prosecution and getting caught for so long. I did not like the fact that I feel that there were some holes in the story. Sometimes I would get the feeling like I missed something or that he was holding back some information. It is hard to believe there would be anything worse than the story he was already telling.


I recommend this book to anyone who loves true crime or suspense novels. If you were a fan of the television shows “Breaking Bad” or “Weeds” you will definitely enjoy this raw look at the true drug trade industry. I do not recommend it for kids under 15.

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Robert Leon Davis for Reader Views (8/19)

“Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive,” written by authors Dan "Tito" Davis and Peter Conti, is the true-life story of Dan "Tito" Davis, who was a fugitive wanted by the U.S. Marshals Office for 13 years before he was eventually apprehended for drug crimes. The story not only speaks of the "hunt" for the fugitive but also narrates about the various cities and countries he escapes to before his apprehension.

His first task was to leave the United States via Mexico, and visit various other Latin American countries, learning Spanish quickly, hiding, staying low, and escaping his hunters. He eventually got caught up with other various nefarious individuals and crimes, and was eventually arrested, extradited back to the United States, and began to serve time for his past crimes. He now disavows crime after serving his sentence, and shares with the readers about living “life on the edge.”

Well, I really don't know where to begin after reading this amazing story, as it covers so many subjects, it's difficult to establish a start part. But I'll start with this statement. You will devour this book! And quickly. Why? Because the story will overwhelm you! It's not only the many adventures and exotic locales Davis visited while an international fugitive, but the various lives and unique mindset he had to maintain to “get away.”

The pace of “Gringo” is super-fast! Not so fast that you can't keep up, but fast in the sense that the next chapter outdoes the previous chapter. It makes one says, “what's next with this journey?” Running through different cities and countries, numerous deliberate characters he develops to fit the situation, learning a new language, and his head all the while on a swivel looking out for law enforcement.

This story is mind-boggling, and I'm utilizing that term in the strictest way I can. It's also what I describe as “rapid” meaning the succeeding chapters and engagements takes on a complete set of different circumstances for Davis to overcome. Constant deliberate planning is obvious. I guess that's what it takes to remain free: precise planning! The plots (keep in mind this is a real story), is brilliantly written and explained in vivid detail. It's the type of story that a review really doesn't give proper justice to. “Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive,” written by authors Dan "Tito" Davis and Peter Conti is a definite “buy” book. And may I also add, I wouldn't be surprised to see it on the big screen in the future. Yes, it's that engaging...Five Stars!

[Darryl Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life on the run as a fugitive from American law.

This is the thrilling story, by the author of his life as a fugitive, in order to escape arrest as a drug peddler in America. It could also serve as a manual for anyone wishing to disappear and do the same thing, except, I'm sure that regulations are more stricked today, than they were during the end of the twentieth century, when most of this gripping tale is set. Apart from detailed descriptions of interactions with authorities in countries from South America to Cuba, and even India, as well as with criminal elements whom he had no other choice but to use and work with, there are some exquisitely written descriptions of the conditions and the locations where he travelled to. One can almost feel the oppressive heat in the jungles, and smell the rancid fumes of dwellings in the nether regions of third world countries. Frankly admitting his own stupidly at times, his overwhelming sensations of panic and despair are expressed in such a graphic manner that, even as the reader, you experience his discomfort as he is confronted by hostile and suspicious authorities. The violence, and the good times, are expressed with a candour that is unlike the scenes that we see in Hollywood movies, and are based on the reactions of a man desperate to remain at large, and to even make another fortune using more legitimate methods. But the loneliness and isolation that the author faced, as well as a continual fear and distrust of those around him, even friends, is highlighted in stirring and moving prose. This is an absorbing and an educational read, which may be enjoyed and also serve as a warning to anyone contemplating something similar. After all, despite all of his precautions, the author was eventually caught, and served a long prison term in a US penitentiary, where he wrote this compelling book.

[Anoush Bargamian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with captivating storytelling! This book will have you burst into laughter and sit on the edge of your seat! Buy this gem of a book & read it. Peter Conti is a gifted contemporary author!

[Amy Navarre · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the free e-book Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive by Dan "Tito" Davis and Peter Conti in exchange for an honest review. The following review is my honest opinion.

Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive by Dan "Tito" Davis and Peter Conti is a memoir of Dan “Tito” Davis that is part true crime story, part adventure tale. I would recommend this to individuals that enjoyed watching the Breaking Bad crime drama television series or to someone who has enjoyed reading the memoir What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding by Kristen Newman which is also part adventure tale.

This particular story delves into the business side of the drug world in the sense of how can a profit be made by selling and distributing drugs, which is similar to the Breaking Bad storyline. Another similarity to the Breaking Bad story is to what lengths an individual might go to for self-preservation, specifically in the sense of evading the authorities. Of course, there are some glaring differences between the story of Breaking Bad and Gringo: My Life of the Edge as an International Fugitive, for instance, Breaking Bad is about two individuals that partner to create Meth and “Tito” of Gringo: My Life of the Edge as an International Fugitive claims to have never dealt in Meth, despite being accused and arrested for the contrary. Walter White of Breaking Bad manages to evade the authorities while remaining stateside; Dan “Tito” Davis not only gets arrested, but also does time in prison, however, upon his second arrest he flees the country and then spends considerable amount of time evading not only detection by US Authorities, but various foreign authorities as well. “Tito” even references Breaking Bad within the book, but prior to his mention I was already drawing comparisons.

Both Kristen of What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding and “Tito” of Gringo: My Life of the Edge as an International Fugitive choose escape from work-related qualms through travel – granted Kristen’s choice to travel is more temporary always returning to the USA after her many varied trips. Both Kristen and “Tito” have a way of describing the places they are visiting and highlighting the unique beauty of those places while not romanticizing but still honoring the realism of the place. They both highlight various cultural aspects discovered through their travels and they both spend time describing some of the interesting relationships they form throughout these travels. There is also a certain raunchiness to the more personal encounters described in each of these books.

I rate this book a three out of five stars. I found the story to be fascinating, but the writing itself to be a bit on the crude side. I could actually make an argument that we, the readers, are warned about this within the author’s note at the beginning of the novel within the line: ‘Tito had written a manuscript Mike said was “a brilliant mess.”’ There were moments when I found the writing to be repetitive which for me interrupted the flow of reading. I read this story as an e-book on an e-reader and therefore there were several items annotated for an index where the explanation or definition is provided, however, for me navigation back and forth to the index on an e-reader is not easily accomplished. In fact, I would have preferred for the definitions or explanations to be incorporated into the text to better support ease of understanding during the reading of the story. To be fair, there are some places within the story where a lengthy history or explanation is provided, so at best I would say there is an inconsistency in where the information is provided. Speaking of inconsistency, there was a phrase “Do the math” that was used a few times throughout the book: the first time this phrase was used he did the math for us, the readers, but later when he uses this phrase, he doesn’t actually do the math for us and considering I’m not much of a math whiz, I primarily read for enjoyment, and I found the math he is referencing complicated, I grew increasingly frustrated upon seeing this particular phrase. Lengthy or short, I would still prefer to see this information incorporated into the story itself. I felt some of the phrasing was awkward creating some confusion when trying to parse possible meaning. There were a lot of people mentioned throughout the book and I struggled to remember each of the characters and their various connections. Also, the pacing felt inconsistent to me.

There are some relatively deep and possibly controversial topics within this story. One such topic arises when “Tito” is working as a jockey he must “make weight” and his brief description of his process to ensure he “made weight” is essentially an eating disorder. One point that I find fascinating, albeit controversial about this brief description of eating disorder is that most often it is a female that is highlighted as suffering from such afflictions, but here we see a male experiencing a similar pressure creating a pattern of unhealthy habits. A major difference in the way an eating disorder seems to affect the typical female character versus this specific male character is the long-term effects: a female character typically continues these unhealthy habits well beyond adolescence and certainly beyond the circumstances producing such unhealthy behaviors; however, “Tito” seems more to have compartmentalized the behaviors to the circumstances, meaning, once he was no longer jockeying, he no longer suffered from the eating disorder. I question whether this ability is unique to “Tito” or whether this ability is more prominent in men? A second topic is the issue of peer pressure and what role peer pressure played in “Tito’s” involvement in the drug world.

Please be forewarned that the language used in the book was for the most part clean, a few curse words are used but I did not feel that foul language was prevalent throughout the book. There is some sex within the story, however, I feel it was handled with tact.

All in all, I enjoyed the story.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only complaint is that there are obvious gaps in the book and that he does not describe his life during and after the 10 years in prison.

[Sam Law · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read More Book Reviews on my blog It's Good To Read

Summary:
This is the story of Dan “Tito” Davis, who made it big in the drug business in the 1970’s peddling ephedrine, weed, and small amounts of cocaine, only to be accused of a crime he actually didn’t commit (selling meth), and forced to go on “the lam”. This leads him into a dangerous, tension-filled globe-trotting life, the running man always looking over his shoulder.

Main Characters:
Dan Davis: The protagonist and narrator, he is looking back on his life, the highs and lows, the contacts and the adventures.

Minor Characters:
There are a slew of characters, amongst whom are:

Julio: His “best friend” while on the run, and a top-level “executive” in the local drug operations, he was his protector while in Columbia.

Nick: His business partner in Thailand, with whom he set up a paradise surfing village type operation.

Maria Luz: Stat of the Venezuelan Volleyball team, later to become his wife.

Paul Holt: His long-time friend and confidante, whom he trusts implicitly.

Plot:
While eulogising his small-town start in South Dakota, this young innocent “entrepreneur” quickly gets into the rhythm of the seedier side of life, beginning by selling ephedrine pills (White Crosses) to the students at his local college and to biker gangs, then moving to a more upscale college in order to grow his market. His suppliers cannot keep pace with demand, and Dan quickly makes a fortune by selling this not-yet illegal drug (it’s the ‘70’s, after all!). He learns to fly a plane and gets a pilot’s licence, facilitating his supply chain. At his peak, he claims to have sold upwards of a million pills a week. He branched out into cocaine at this time, as the profits were greater. Of course, the risks were also higher.

He is eventually arrested, incarcerated by the Feds and sent to a Southwest prison. Here he makes contacts that will serve him for the rest of his career (for selling meth, which he didn’t do). Upon his release, he tries to go straight, but the reality of being an ex-con in the jobs market hits hard, and soon he is back to what he knows best.

He begins to peddle weed, but is caught and imprisoned again. He is falsely accused of selling meth, which carries a heftier sentence. He makes bail, but chooses to flee to Mexico as he knows he cannot escape the charges brought against him. He leaves behind a young wife and child. While on the run, tragedy strikes, and his young child dies.

In Mexico, he slides into an alternative reality, where the fact of being an illegal gringo (a gringo stupido, as he calls himself) who cannot speak the language makes life very interesting. His contacts help him out, but this is only the start of his roller-coaster life, which takes him from Mexico to Columbia, Guatemala, Venezuela, Cuba, and across the world including Germany, India and Thailand. His constant concern is not having appropriate quality documentation (e.g. a passport that would be considered valid, and pass close inspection).

What I Liked:
- The book had a lot of humour, mostly self-deprecating
- A real thriller, with some strong tension-filled scenes (e.g. the guerrillas taking their bus, the kidnapping of Hector etc.)
- He has a never-say-die spirit.

What I Didn’t Like:
- Obviously, it glamorised the lifestyle he had (before being on the run). He sold drugs, which ruin lives and kill people.
- It was an abrupt ending.
- Some of the teasers actually lessened the tension (e.g. the trip to Germany would be a success – we knew this before he even left, as he mentioned his wife).

Overall:
I give it three stars. It is a great read, fast and entertaining, but I do not like that it adds a certain cachet to this evil and illegal trade. He is a small town "boy who did good" by hurting others (e.g. he left two of his three wives), and for me there is only mealy-mouthed apologies for that. While overall the story clicks along nicely, there are unexplained gaps in the travel timelines, and also inadvertent spoilers that with better editing should have been eliminated.

It is a good holiday read. How this guy survived his fugitive life is inexplicable. He seems to have been able to walk around Columbia with relatively little hassle for the most part, he benefitted from extremely lax and/or corrupt security and customs personnel, he was in the right place at the right time for numerous different ventures, and seems to have an ability to inspire friendships in a notorious cold-eyed world.

It does draw you in, and the pace like his life is fast, and riveting. It most definitely will be a Netflix mini-series, and I can also see the potential for a film. As a novel, it has suspense, thrills, and a classic rise-and-fall storyline. Well worth a holiday read!

Acknowledgements:
Thanks to the Online Book Club, for sending me an e-copy of the book to review.

[Bob Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book, but for much different reasons than I thought it would be. "Gringo" is a real person, Dan Davis, a drug dealer in the mid 1970's. He began using ephedrine as a study aid and before long was selling pills to other students and motorcyclists. Bikers were told they were methamphetamine and they expanded Davis' business throughout the Midwest. At the time, ephedrine wasn't an illegal drug. The book recounts how several bikers who were arrested and had to be released.

The business continues to grow and in order to satisfy customer demand Davis gains a contact in Las Vegas. At the height he claims to be selling a million pills a week. He was 24 at the time. To solidify his supply and to ensure a more consistent quality he contracts with Eli Lilly to manufacture the drug, under the guise of making dog vitamins. By this time Davis has acquired a pilots license and several small planes to transport the pills to South Dakota and to meetings with his biker network of distributors throughout the Midwest. What could go wrong?

He discovers the profits to be made from the sale of cocaine dwarfs the money from legal ephedrine and in dealing with his contacts in Las Vegas, begins to fly coke and use the distribution he had established. Of course, cocaine was illegal and its not long before he attracts the attention of the Federal and is arrested and imprisoned in a Federal prison in the Southwest. There he meets a more seasoned, more experienced group of criminals and makes the contacts he'll use when he's released in 1990.

After a brief effort of trying to be legit, the money available from drug dealing proves to be too strong and using one of the people he met in prison started dealing in marijuana brought in from Mexico in a horse trailer with a false bottom. Soon he is back in business. And now we're only in Chapter 4 of a book that contains 16 chapters.

Davis is arrested again and flees Federal custody and the US while on bail. Then the real story begins. His story of eluding authorities into South America and years spent trying to live surreptitiously in foreign cultures, unable to speak native languages, is the real story. The living conditions he endured to stay beneath the attention of the local authorities is nothing like anything, anywhere in the US. It all comes to an end in 2007, and the story ends with the suddenness of a jail door slamming in your face.

The author has written his book from manuscripts provided from and subsequent interviews with Davis himself. Its impossible to know how Davis has "spun" the story and how much Conti has doctored the manuscript to produce something that would sell. But the story of fortunes gained and lost has always had a market. It is a compelling story and Conti keeps a level of suspense throughout the book that makes it read like a thriller. A very good book. Should be read by anybody who is a fan of Breaking Bad, the television series.

[Matthew William · Rating 5 out of 5]

The crazy world of the international drug trade is often a world only imagined in Hollywood. There have been numerous movies made about how notable figures in the the cutthroat quid pro quo environment of drug manufacturing, transporting, and trade. These movies often gloss over the brutality and viciousness of the need to maintain power and control that comes with the unbelievable amounts of money made by men who would massacre their whole families to make sure that they continue to make that money. Drug cartels who have dominated this horrible part of the underworld economy can sometimes be glamorized in ways that attract danger and an unusual brand of life on the run. The fugitives who have immersed themselves in the drug trade fastlane and who decided to cut and run are usually filled with the anxiety of being caught by the government or murdered by their former colleagues.

This life on the run is the thread that holds the narrative together in Gringo: My Life On The Edge As An International Fugitive by Dan Tito Davis and Peter Conti. Gringo reads like a rollercoaster and takes the reader along on a wild ride. Davis is a drug trafficker who served time in state and federal prisons on charges that were miniscule compared to his ease in making a fortune by beginning with moving Ephedrine tables (an energy booster) to much harder drugs of choice. Davis eventually escapes from prison and goes on the run to South America. Along the way, he meets a really unusual cast of characters from traditional grandmas, boys who have intercourse with goats on the beach, and eventually to the love of his life and wife Mary Luz. Davis is eventually captured and moved back to the United States after a decade on the run and served several years before being released not too long ago.

I chose this book because it was an easy read and I enjoyed reading about the variety of characters that Davis meets along his journeys. His vivid portrayals of drug lords, private security agents, and law enforcement is just as real as if they were on the television. Gringo is a proverbial instructional manual for anyone who is contemplating a life on the lamb and hiding large amounts of cash from everyone but desperadoes who lacked any scruples and sense of write and wrong. Davis writes with a sympathetic pen for those who are desperate and forced to involve themselves in the drug trade. However, his pen is not so sympathetic for those who think that the drug life is cut and dry.

I give this book a four out of four stars. I really enjoyed Davis's writing and ease at which he was willing to share his personal story. I think that Gringo would be the perfect book to movie project to serve as a modern day Scarface. As mentioned earlier, it is a virtual instruction manual for anyone who seeks a life on the lamb and away from prying eyes. It is also a real window into the hurt and heartache of a life on the run. Gringo is a great book and a good late summer read.

[Owen Hamill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Born in South Dakota, Dan “Tito” Davis, along with co-writer Peter Conti, initially attempts to portray himself as an average kid. “Looking back at it,” he tells the reader, “I’m not proud of my behavior, but I wasn’t the first, nor will I be the last, twenty-year-old who got some help from his parents to start a business.” The difference, however, is that Tito’s just borrowed ten thousand dollars to expand his drug business, so that he can continue supplying large quantities of White Crosses first to his buyers in South Dakota, then later across much of the Southwest when he goes off to college at UNLV. After moving on from White Crosses, now involved with meth, he’s set up and, rather than stick around and insist on his innocence, he flees to Mexico, leaving behind a wife and child.

The story of Tito’s life works best when he’s on the move, both because the peripheral details of his escape enliven the story and because it forces Tito to reflect on what he’s lost. Luckily, he never rests for long. In San Cristobal, Mexico, he meets Carlos, a fellow American on the run whose stories, Tito complains, “made absolutely no sense.” Tito wonders if this was because Carlos “had made up so many lies trying to reinvent himself along his journey that he no longer seemed like a real person.” Tito worries he’ll turn out the same way. There’s an acute sense here that Tito may lose himself long before he ever loses the feds, that losing himself won’t help him escape. This is driven home while on vacation in Cancun with his Venezuelan love, Mary Luz, who knows nothing about his fugitive status: “This begged the question: was I really the man she’d fallen for? How could I possibly be, when that man would never do such a thing to her?”

And while Tito’s jam-packed life is always fascinating, at times it actually acts as the book’s achilles heel. Eager as Mr. Conti and Tito are to recount his entire life on the lam, they occasionally get ahead of themselves, teasing future events before promising to revisit them later in more detail. This approach backfires in perhaps the book’s tensest section, when Tito, still evading U.S. authorities, boards a plane to Germany with a layover in Miami in order to win back Mary Luz, abroad at university. His passage through customs is treated as fraught with potential detection and arrest, as it must have been at the time, but if readers aren’t on the edge of their seat, it’s because we were told a few chapters prior that Tito and Mary Luz eventually marry. As they churn through Tito’s life, the co-authors do touch on a wide range of bigger-picture topics, from rates of recidivism to prostitution, although they don’t always fully flesh them out. Oddly, though, this comes as a relief, because they don’t distract too much from Tito himself. Relentless and riveting, neither Tito nor the book ever stop to catch their breath.

[Cary Kostka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having recently watched a documentary about Pablo Escobar, I was excited to have the opportunity to read about the life of a drug dealing fugitive on the run in Mr. Escobar’s neighborhood. The point-blank language in introduction, written by Peter Conti, locked me into reading what I hoped would be a rollercoaster ride to adventure. I will note before I dive into the review that this book should only be read by mature audiences that are not easily offended by criminal or violent activities.

“Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive”by Dan "Tito" Davis and Peter Conti is a book that presents the life of a fugitive on the run, Dan “Tito” Davis, and gives the reader the elements of adventure and drama. The story begins around Mr. Davis’s upbringing and college adventures, including his introduction into the world of drug trafficking. When things get too hot in the United States, he exits stage left into a rough and tumble Latin American world. As he struggles to adapt to life on the run, he ends up in various precarious situations that lead to high risks of capture or death. It is a high-stakes story that crosses wide aspects of emotions: love, fear, remorse, loneliness, and packs them into a life that seems to always be on the verge of collapse.

What I liked most about this book is that the action never stopped. It always felt as if even though Mr. Davis escaped one dangerous situation, the other shoe was going to drop…now. In reading this I never felt as if the author had a moment of rest; that while he was falling in love with the places he lived, he was too exhausted to make the sound decisions that would make his life easier. The adventure alone is enough to hook the reader, and I often had to remind myself that I was not reading a piece of fiction.

What I disliked most about this story, and I will note here that this is strictly a personal opinion, is that the speech is a bit rough. I think the editors had their work cut out for them with this one, and did a great job, but there are places where the speech could have been cleaned up a bit more. This would open the book up to broader audience.

Overall, I have given “Gringo” 3 out of 4 stars. It’s action packed nature and ease of reading offset the primary weakness of the book, which in my mind is the primary weakness of any memoir, and that is the language used to write the book. While I appreciate the authenticity the author presents here, it will unfortunately turn off some readers. I am also hopeful that the books abrupt ending will be corrected at some point after the author has lived a bit more of his life.

[Ibukun Jimoh]

Serving time in prison is never a sweet experience. Being constantly on the run with law enforcement agents in hot pursuit is not desirable as well. However, this is Dan's lot as he tried to evade arrest in Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive by Dan 'Tito' Davis and Peter Conti. Dan's dangerous and daring exploits keep the reader engaged and captivated.

In the early chapters of the book, Dan's hardworking disposition fetched him a whopping eleven thousand dollars from jobs which he did between school vacations at a very young age. His appetite for wealth caused him to abandon his lucrative business and get into the illegal business of drug smuggling. Soon, law enforcement agents were breathing down his neck. His family life crashed, and he had to flee to Venezuela. Can Dan dare to hope for a renewed love life? Can he provide the stability needed by Mary Luz? Can he evade the federal agents for the rest of his life? These are a few of the issues that confront Dan.

Dan Davis and Peter Conti did an excellent job of penning down the details of Dan's life. The narrative follows Dan from his tender years into adulthood. The narrative voice was explicit and well-articulated. Dan's strengths and weaknesses stand out in the book. His industriousness, wit, intelligence, and loyalty contrasted with his impulsiveness and involvement in illegal deals.

There are numerous lessons to be learned from this book. Dan could have lived out his years with much love and wealth if only his past had not haunted him. This reminds me of the need to always stay innocent and make good decisions. The narrative is engaging and interesting. My favorite character is Mary Luz, who fell in love with a man who is very much older than her. I admired her maturity and strength of character, which she acquired despite her disadvantaged background.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. It was professionally edited without typographical and grammatical errors. It opened my eyes to the world of fugitives, prisoners, and drug smugglers. I learned some useful tips on establishing businesses and keeping employees happy. I have no dislikes about this book. Dan's adventurous life was well documented. His flaws were not hidden or glazed over. I would recommend this book to lovers of biographies and to those who are under pressure to smuggle drugs.

[Lisbeth Ivies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading 'Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive', I never thought I would root so much for a person who has broken the sheer amount of laws that Dan "Tito" Davis has. Told in almost completely chronological order, the story describes a roller coaster of a life that would touch and be touched by some of the most infamous drug cartels and lords. The wry humor and adaptive force of "Tito" invite the reader along on a journey that often seems too big to be real.

The novel opens with a note from collaborator Peter Conti describing his first meeting with the almost larger-than-life Dan Davis. Without having read that forward, I probably would have thought this was fiction instead of a biography. Because, after a brief prologue describing a turning point in his life, the reader is taken through virtually every moment of a very eventful life, starting at birth.

Growing up poor, "Tito" was very focused on making money from an early age and showed an extraordinary amount of self-discipline. Money continues to be a huge factor throughout the novel, leading Davis to make both empires and fortunes. Setbacks happen to everyone, but the way in which this person rolls with those punches and swings back is what kept me reading. While I don't personally condone some of those choices, quite a few of the drugs Davis sold were not illegal at the time he sold them.

"Tito" also frequently expresses remorse and can often be self-deprecating, but paired with the dry humor and delivery, I would never call it whiny as some characters can lean. In addition to allowing this first-hand look into his head, I am happy that the novel was written in first person because I would have had a hard time keeping track of all the different personas that he assumes during the course of his journey. The choice of first-person point of view also humanizes many of the people he meets, including some of those aforementioned drug lords.

Because of how enjoyable this novel was to read, I chose to award Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive by Dan "Tito" Davis and Peter Conti with 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone who likes nonfiction with an edge, much like the recent movie: American Made. If you are sensitive to language, descriptions of drug use, or descriptions of violent acts, you might want to choose a different book.

[Rachel Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I was not tempted by pot or any other illegal drugs because, believe it or not, there were none."

Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive was sent to me for review through OnlineBookClub.

This was honestly my first true crime story. I've been trying to read more nonfiction, and thought this book might be a good way to do so. I couldn't have been more right.

I really love the way that this book expresses Dan "Tito" Davis' fear as he travels through South America. He included the absolute terror he had whenever he had to show his fake papers. He also added in the kinds of thoughts that flooded his mind during these incidents. This made the book feel more realistic.

Dan Davis also includes a lot of history about meth and White Crosses. As someone who loves to learn, this really satisfied my curiosity. It gave me a better feel for the kind of trouble he was in as a fugitive drug-dealer, and taught me something that I never even realized I wanted to know.

There weren't many things that I didn't like about this book, but there were a few things that I feel are important to mention. One of these things is the length of the book. Because it's a fairly short book covering around 30 or so years, a lot of it felt crammed in and rushed. Some of the chapters covered a couple years of his life, so when crazy events happened, they seemingly happened all in a row (though sometimes they actually took years to happen or had years between them). This made some of the events less believable and made me question whether they were actually true or not.

Another thing that really bothered me was the ending. I felt that the ending was too abrupt. I invested quite a bit of time into reading this book, only for the ending to leave me wanting a lot more information. It just didn't wrap up the story at all.

I also found some grammar issues that were too hard to ignore. Throughout the book, there were a few places where paragraphs were repeated in slightly different manners, as if he rewrote a paragraph during the editing process and then forgot to delete the original. This made me really confused at first, as it took a while to realize that this is what happened.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to anyone in need of adventure.

[Tahoora Hashmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

💭Gringo: Spanish word for a White Boy. Which I think was quite smart of a title.
💭There is not a single chapter in this book which made me go 'oh I am not liking this' or 'oh this is okayish'. Every single para brings in more crazy and thrilling adventure which makes the reader feel like he/she is on the edge too. I mean why wouldn't one feel like that?! Dan was dealing with people that were asassins that once worked directly under Pablo Escobar. Yes you read that right. We are talking big names like him, his business partners like Carlos Lehder, their then girlfriends who were in the same business and kick ass ladies who helped Dan in Latin America to stay hidden under the radar.
💭One crazy thing I learnt which I must add I am trying to forget is the fact that in rural Columbia boys hitting puberty used to (or still) have sex with burros (small donkeys) YES YOU READ THAT RIGHT TOO. Congratulations we both have been scarred for life.
💭Talking about "Crazy" I guess the whole book is filled with it. Lets say his love life. He married 3 women had a child with one whom he got to spent time with only for 9 days before he got arrested and then never saw them again.
💭There are so many subjects the book covers that I could go on for days! I think you should simply read it to find out more💗

[Bryan Spellman · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 down on the 2019 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge. Challenge #20 is to read "a book written in Prison." Dan "Tito" Davis wrote a 700 page manuscript while in federal prison on drug charges. Peter Conti took that manuscript, and in close collaboration with Davis turned it into a manageable book, Gringo: My Live on the Edge as an International Fugitive. The book reads as a fascinating travelogue, or even a business how-to (How I earned $50 million a year while studying at UNLV; How I built a luxury, world-famous resort in Hugo Chavez's Venezuela), assuming you don't mind being the fellow traveler of a man on the run from the U.S. Federal Government. Davis's "life on the edge" takes him to Mexico, post Pablo Escobar Medellin, Colombia, Panama's Darien Gap, and finally Hugo Chavez's Venezuela, with side trips to Cuba, Bavaria, Spain, Bali and India. Along the way he meets and marries various beautiful women, always leaving them behind because his life on the run would not be fair to the women (and in a couple of cases, children), or, to be fair, in the last case because he's in handcuffs and then in federal detention. The main lesson I took away from this cautionary tale is that there is no honor among thieves, but the ride was exhilarating. Highly recommended.

[Christie Bane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well! This book was right up my alley. Dan Davis ("Tito") was a very bad boy. By virtue of making some objectively bad life choices, he went from rural South Dakota to being an international fugitive all over Central and South America. One of my favorite things about this book is that he never sounds even the least bit ashamed of his life choices. Whether it was selling drugs in the first place, cheating on his wife, leaving his family, he never weakens the story by saying anything like, "Maybe I shouldn't have done that," or "that really wasn't the best choice," or, "I really hurt some people by doing those things." Nope, he is unrepentant other than wryly referring to himself as "Gringo Stupido" in an "Oops, I did it again" tone. I appreciate that. Go big or go home, is what I always say. If you're going to break laws, break the hell out of them, no regrets. Add that attitude to the fact that most of this book is set in poor, dangerous places where Spanish is spoken and it should be obvious why this book was a winner for me. I hope Tito ends up getting out of prison; he's too good a writer to languish in there.

[Gary Delligatti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A memoir that is full of action, suspense, and thrills

I usually don't read member wars or biographies or anything like that. I am a psychological thriller, crime thriller, cop drama , mystery type of reader and love those type of books . Little did I know until I started to read this book, that almost all of those elements listed above are included in this guys life . It was fascinating to see how as early as in his 20s, he built an empire out of the drug trade, and became a millionaire . He lost it all and rebuilt another empire and then lost all that, then escape to a few different countries and then rebuild a third empire . It's kinda hard to feel sorry for this guy because he didn't build his money from the illegal drug trade , but it's fascinating to find out how he did it , he was not violent drug dealer . For literary gurus, this book will be agitating to you because it has several literary mistakes within it, including repeating thoughts over and over again. But if you could get past that, it's not a bad reaD

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this book a 4.5 stars, but rounding up, gave it a five. Imagine what he could have accomplished on the *right* side of the law as a young man!

The book was a living on-the-edge type of book. Although at times I feel it could have done with better editing (Tighter sentences, also, we know that he will make it through Miami on his way to Germany as he has already told us he will marry his girlfriend. There are hints about upcoming disasters, although those don't bother me as much as the whole flight diversion into Miami.). There were gaps in the story. He's in Cuba, then we're told he's been there several times before. Were those times not fraught with danger? Again, editing would have taken care of that.

As I said, though, the book held my attention and kept my heart rate up.

[Aravind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This exciting account of Dan "Tito" Davis's life on the run in the Latin America due to his connection with the drug trade is a fast paced read. His journey takes him to various parts of Mexico, Colombia, Panama and Venezuela, with some interludes in Cuba, Germany, Indonesia and India, among other places. He is helped by people who, though belonging to criminal background, value honour more than money, even life itself. He gets into several sticky situations, mainly due to his own well acknowledged stupidity, and gets out of them by providence.
Barring the few omissions, some unnecessarily detailed events, unqualified comments on societies and cultures, and the sudden ending, I much enjoyed this ride and would rate it a 3.5 stars.

[Rose Mute · Rating 5 out of 5]

An action-packed, page-turner.

What an amazing book. I still can't believe these were real life events. A memoir that chronicles Dan's life from his humble beginnings to his thirteen year run from the law. An action packed, page turning book that takes hold of you from beginning to end. Peter Conti does a great job of telling this remarkable story in such simplicity. I never have I and I don't ever will encounter such a story. The book is well edited. It contains handy comment boxes that explain foreign terms. This is a great book that I would recommend to True crime fanatics, and diehard fans of the Narcos series on TV.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit that I didn’t expect much from this book, given that he admitted to being a drug runner and fugitive from the law. I was very wrong. Of course the US government sentenced him to 10 years for tax evasion for selling legal drugs and believed a drug addict and drug dealer without digging deeper into the guy’s story before wanting to come down on Dave with the full weight of the law. They only like stealing from their own citizens. His story is absolutely riveting and fascinating. I am curious as to whether he ever finds his wife and what happens with Venezuela—especially now, given the current political climate.

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventures of a fugitive on the run

Dan or Tito as he was often called has written a very vivid account of his life. The book was interesting in that it described the locals and their customs. He took you on a tour of several countries where he lived on the lam. What was most interesting was that you were not shown the tourist areas but the areas of the country you would never see. Twists and turns, ups and downs and a betrayal by a most unlikely person. You will be pleasantly surprised by how well written the book is. I definitely recommend it for a good read.

[Lisa Neuharth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not an easy read. And there seemed to really be no ending - but I suppose the interesting part of the story ended and thus the book could go no further. The life we are told about in the book is so bizarre it is almost unbelievable! Am I glad I read the book? Yes. Would I recommend it to all my friends? No. Would I recommend to the true book reader friends, those who love variety? Absolutely.

[Gary L. Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A frantic and heart pounding life of a fugitive

This amazing book follows the life and adventures of Dan “Tito” Davies from his upbringing through his years as an international fugitive traveling the world seeking safe haven. Peter Conti has taken his story an produced this incredible book where you not only feel the danger, stresses but as if you were with Tito at every moment in his life and journey.

[Linda B. Vuono · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those were the days...

It's amazing what one could do in the 80's and 90's in terms of entreprenureal opportunities - even in a different country.
I found this accounting of "Tito's life on the run to be interesting and also very scary. Most people would have thrown in the towel long before they even made it into Mexico but this guy had a lot of hutzpah!

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Exciting Adventure

Dan "Tito" Davis has lived an incredible journey and he takes the reader on one as well. I read from cover to cover wishing it not to end. There is an exciting on-the-run narrative that allows the reader access to remote locale and unfamiliar culture and so much more.