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The Devil's Harvest: A Ruthless Killer, a Terrorized Community, and the Search for Justice in California's Central Valley
This suspenseful true story of a drug cartel hitman who got away with murder after murder in California's Central Valley over three decades reveals how the criminal justice system fails our most vulnerable immigrant communities. On the surface, fifty-eight-year-old Jose Martinez didn't seem evil or even that remarkable—just a regular neighbor, good with cars and devoted to his family. But in between taking his children to Disneyland and visiting his mom, Martinez was also one of the most skilled professional killers police had ever seen. He tracked one victim to one of the wealthiest corners of America, a horse ranch in Santa Barbara, and shot him dead in the morning sunlight, setting off a decades-long manhunt. He shot another man, a farmworker, right in front of his young wife as they drove to work in the fields. The widow would wait decades for justice. Those were murders for hire. Others he killed for vengeance. How did Martinez manage to evade law enforcement for so long with little more than a slap on the wrist? Because he understood a dark truth about the criminal justice if you kill the "right people"—people who are poor, who aren't white, and who don't have anyone to speak up for them—you can get away with it. Melding the pacing and suspense of a true crime thriller with the rigor of top-notch investigative journalism, The Devil's Harvest follows award-winning reporter Jessica Garrison's relentless search for the truth as she traces the life of this assassin, the cops who were always a few steps behind him, and the families of his many victims. Drawing upon decades of case files, interrogation transcripts, on-the-ground reporting, and Martinez's chilling handwritten journals, The Devil's Harvest uses a gripping and often shocking narrative to dig into one of the most important moral questions haunting our politically divided nation Why do some deaths—and some lives—matter more than others? "Meticulously researched and tightly woven, The Devil's Harvest is an important story because it tells us that if [this] can happen in one place, then it can happen in any place. And that's damn scary." —Michael Connelly, New York Times bestselling author of The Closers , The Lincoln Lawyer , and The Night Fire
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
May 28, 2020
This story about the deadly killer held my interest as it followed him and the men who were trying to catch him. He was really slick at getting away with his various crimes for a long time. He could travel almost anywhere he needed to go to do a job for someone, with no one the wiser. He’d go in and take care of the hit and be gone before the body even began cooling. But there is more to Martinez than just being a brutal killer. He is also a man who is involved in his family. While he may not always be faithful to his wives, he is always there for his children and his mother through the decades. I found this to be an interesting true crime book that turned out to be more current that I realized. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Jessica Garrison, and the publisher.
August 28, 2021
True crime lovers need to read this! Extra plus if you are from California and know exactly where the central valley is...and what it's like there. The agriculture, the heat, the small town life...the drugs. Why have we not heard of Jose Martinez? Any of the 36 lives he took? This book sheds light on so much more than other true crime books I have read. Heartbreaking, thought provoking, and powerful. I couldn't put it down. It makes me think even more about how many people are still found in the valley...really freaking often, and their very suspicious deaths rarely see justice.
August 25, 2020
Now THIS is exactly what true crime nonfiction needs more of 👏👏👏
Over the past year, I’ve really had to reckon with how much I love true crime and how problematic it is, particularly its focus on white victims. THE DEVIL’S HARVEST not only spotlights Latinx victims and immerses you in the culture of Central Valley agricultural communities, but is also unputdownable.
Jose Martinez worked as a contract killer throughout the United States for over 30 years, mostly taking out hits stemming from drug deals gone bad. Because his victims were usually poor and brown, it took years for police to connect what at times were extremely obvious dots. When he was finally caught in 2013, he confessed to 36 killings, though he was only convicted of 9.
I just can’t say enough about how this book does what so many do not: prioritizes victims who are usually ignored while valuing the cultural context that leads people to seek extrajudicial justice. You won’t regret reading this one.
Thank you to Hachette and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for this review.
Over the past year, I’ve really had to reckon with how much I love true crime and how problematic it is, particularly its focus on white victims. THE DEVIL’S HARVEST not only spotlights Latinx victims and immerses you in the culture of Central Valley agricultural communities, but is also unputdownable.
Jose Martinez worked as a contract killer throughout the United States for over 30 years, mostly taking out hits stemming from drug deals gone bad. Because his victims were usually poor and brown, it took years for police to connect what at times were extremely obvious dots. When he was finally caught in 2013, he confessed to 36 killings, though he was only convicted of 9.
I just can’t say enough about how this book does what so many do not: prioritizes victims who are usually ignored while valuing the cultural context that leads people to seek extrajudicial justice. You won’t regret reading this one.
Thank you to Hachette and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for this review.
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February 6, 2024I tried I really tied. I realize and appreciate the effect this story had on California and its agricultural areas not to mention people crossing borders, which is still relevant, and drug wars, but this is just not my speed. It was written well for the most part, but I sometimes got the men confused with each other. I finally threw in the towel. Better luck next time (and no cartels ).
October 29, 2021
Have you heard the name Jose Martinez? What about any of his 36+ VICTIMS? Why is nobody talking about this? Oh, right... because the killer and his victims aren't white. I'd love more true crime books like this. Eye opening. Sheds a lot of light on the racism and inequality in America.
August 17, 2020
For me, the most shocking thing about this book is how long Jose Martinez was actively murdering people in the Central Valley and how I’d never heard of a single one of the victims. Throughout the book there were times I would think “ok, in this year I was in elementary school… I’d just graduated from high school… I was working in Aptos…” and all that time Martinez was essentially a free agent.
Garrison argues that because Martinez was murdering people that no one cared about (immigrants or drug dealers, for example), the police didn’t pay much attention to the cases. While that is in part true, it appears there was also the usual lack of follow through from the police that you get in small communities like Earlimart which is perhaps one part laziness/corruption, and one part lack of resources to handle the volume of crime.
I’ve read a lot of true crime in the past few years and while I think this is a necessary read, especially for California Murderinos, I didn’t find the writing to be particularly engrossing. This book seems to have a lot of filler in terms of dialogue or recounting of events that could have been summarized, but felt drawn out to add length. It was easy to put down, which is unfortunate as I think that the message the author tries to deliver is an important one.
See more of my reviews: Blog // Instagram
Garrison argues that because Martinez was murdering people that no one cared about (immigrants or drug dealers, for example), the police didn’t pay much attention to the cases. While that is in part true, it appears there was also the usual lack of follow through from the police that you get in small communities like Earlimart which is perhaps one part laziness/corruption, and one part lack of resources to handle the volume of crime.
I’ve read a lot of true crime in the past few years and while I think this is a necessary read, especially for California Murderinos, I didn’t find the writing to be particularly engrossing. This book seems to have a lot of filler in terms of dialogue or recounting of events that could have been summarized, but felt drawn out to add length. It was easy to put down, which is unfortunate as I think that the message the author tries to deliver is an important one.
See more of my reviews: Blog // Instagram
September 1, 2021
The Devil’s Harvest tells the incredible story of Jose Martinez, a hitman for a drug cartel. Jose was responsible for dozens of murders across California’s farmlands in the central valley. For 34 years he terrorized so many people. On the outside, Jose appeared to be your everyday family man and mechanic so he was able to fly under the police's radar. This book informs readers how the American justice system failed our country’s most vulnerable population, the immigrant community.
Unlike a lot of true crime books that focus primarily on the killer, The Devil’s Harvest prioritizes the victims who are usually completely ignored. This book also highlights the horrible working conditions that these immigrants go through working on farms such as being sprayed with pesticides and not having any clean drinking water. This book also highlights how the police did absolutely nothing to help these poor people. Also in this book are chilling journal entries written by Jose Martinez.
This book speaks on so many issues about race and class in America today. I feel these subjects are so important and should be brought to the public light. I highly recommend this book to all true crime fans and for readers of social injustices. If you liked I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara or Killers Of The Flower Moon by David Grann then you will definitely like The Devil’s Harvest.
Many thanks to Hachette Books for the gifted copy!
Unlike a lot of true crime books that focus primarily on the killer, The Devil’s Harvest prioritizes the victims who are usually completely ignored. This book also highlights the horrible working conditions that these immigrants go through working on farms such as being sprayed with pesticides and not having any clean drinking water. This book also highlights how the police did absolutely nothing to help these poor people. Also in this book are chilling journal entries written by Jose Martinez.
This book speaks on so many issues about race and class in America today. I feel these subjects are so important and should be brought to the public light. I highly recommend this book to all true crime fans and for readers of social injustices. If you liked I’ll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara or Killers Of The Flower Moon by David Grann then you will definitely like The Devil’s Harvest.
Many thanks to Hachette Books for the gifted copy!
November 14, 2023
El Mano Negra(the Black Hand) was the nickname of contract killer Jose Martinez. The California born entrepreneur was the offspring of Mexican migrant workers who worked the fields during the time of Cesar Chavez's movement to improve the lives of his fellow immigrants.
Jose's stepfather was a drug smuggler and the boy soon learned the family business and after the brutal rape and murder of his sister, avenged the killing by shooting the culprits. He was sixteen and it would be the beginning of a long career as a hitman.
The plight of the immigrant farm workers and their struggles are covered in great depth by the author. She gives a sympathetic tone to the sufferings of these hard working and underappreciated people.
Senor Martinez reminded me of Richard Kuklinski, called the "Iceman," known for his cold blooded contract hits and subject of the excellent Philip Carlo book of that title.
After a thirty plus year career as a hitman, Jose was finally caught, and at the age of fifty-seven, confessed to at least thirty-six murders. His photographic memory provided enough details to prove that he was quite a proficient exterminator of his fellow human beings.
His six children by two wives testified that he was a caring and generous dad and a few of his grandchildren said the same about the saintly man. The Devil's Harvest" is a very good read.
Jose's stepfather was a drug smuggler and the boy soon learned the family business and after the brutal rape and murder of his sister, avenged the killing by shooting the culprits. He was sixteen and it would be the beginning of a long career as a hitman.
The plight of the immigrant farm workers and their struggles are covered in great depth by the author. She gives a sympathetic tone to the sufferings of these hard working and underappreciated people.
Senor Martinez reminded me of Richard Kuklinski, called the "Iceman," known for his cold blooded contract hits and subject of the excellent Philip Carlo book of that title.
After a thirty plus year career as a hitman, Jose was finally caught, and at the age of fifty-seven, confessed to at least thirty-six murders. His photographic memory provided enough details to prove that he was quite a proficient exterminator of his fellow human beings.
His six children by two wives testified that he was a caring and generous dad and a few of his grandchildren said the same about the saintly man. The Devil's Harvest" is a very good read.
May 23, 2020
This true crime book tells the story of Jose Martinez, also known as El Mano Negra, or the Black Hand. He killed almost 40 people in 30 years. Some he was paid to kill. Others just rubbed him the wrong way or spoke ill of his family. He escapes capture for many years, and when he is finally apprehended, he shows no remorse for his crimes and seems to take pleasure in retelling them.
Garrison has an easy-to-read writing style and I breezed through the book pretty quickly. There is no question that she put in a great deal of time and research into this book. The sheer number of murders and cases, each with their own cast of characters, could not have been easy to go through. While I appreciate the amount of work that went into the book, I just was not as interested as I have been with other true crime books. Could it be because I have never heard of Martinez and his murders are hardly well known? Perhaps.
Garrison also discussed the migrant farming communities and small towns in Central Valley, CA that are poverty stricken and laden with drugs and violence with little to no help from law enforcement. I wanted to hear more about that, although that would need to be a stand alone book.
Overall, an interesting look into drug cartels and contract killings with a side of social commentary into the poor, hardworking and often overlooked Mexican American communities.
Garrison has an easy-to-read writing style and I breezed through the book pretty quickly. There is no question that she put in a great deal of time and research into this book. The sheer number of murders and cases, each with their own cast of characters, could not have been easy to go through. While I appreciate the amount of work that went into the book, I just was not as interested as I have been with other true crime books. Could it be because I have never heard of Martinez and his murders are hardly well known? Perhaps.
Garrison also discussed the migrant farming communities and small towns in Central Valley, CA that are poverty stricken and laden with drugs and violence with little to no help from law enforcement. I wanted to hear more about that, although that would need to be a stand alone book.
Overall, an interesting look into drug cartels and contract killings with a side of social commentary into the poor, hardworking and often overlooked Mexican American communities.
October 25, 2020
Narrated by Jessics Garrison and borrowed from the National Library for the Blind and Print Disabled's BARD.
A contract killer operating in Kern and Tulare Counties. Sources come from multiple interviews, court records and primary source documents.
At first I was prepared to give the narrator credit for pronouncing the town Delano the way it is done in Kern County, then I realized that of course the author had spent time there! That attention to detail is what brings this book alive, both as true crime and ethnographic narrative.
A contract killer operating in Kern and Tulare Counties. Sources come from multiple interviews, court records and primary source documents.
At first I was prepared to give the narrator credit for pronouncing the town Delano the way it is done in Kern County, then I realized that of course the author had spent time there! That attention to detail is what brings this book alive, both as true crime and ethnographic narrative.
August 31, 2022
Today's post is on The Devil's Harvest: A Ruthless Killer, a Terrorized Community, and the Search for Justice in California's Central Valley by Jessica Garrison. It is 318 pages long and is published by Hachette Books. The cover is a landscape picture of a grape grove with a barn on it. The intended reader is someone who is interested in true crime. There is foul language, discussion of sex and rape, and lots of violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the dust jacket- On the surface, fifty-eight-year-old Jose Martinez didn't seem evil or even that remarkable- just a regular neighbor, good with cars, and devoted to his family. But in between taking his children to Disneyland and visiting his mom, Martinez was also one of the most skilled professional killers police had ever seen.
He tracked one victim to one of the wealthiest corners of America, a horse ranch in Santa Barbara, and shot him dead in the morning sunlight, setting off a decades-long manhunt. He shot another man, a farmworker, right in front of his young wife as they drove to work in the fields. The widow would wait decades for justice. Those were murders for hire. Other he killed for vengeance.
How did Martinez manage to evade law enforcement for so long with little more than a slap on the wrist? Because he understand a ark truth about the criminal justice system: if you kill the "right people"- people who are poor, who aren't white, and who don't have anyone to speak for them- you can get away with it.
Review-An interesting investigation into one of the most prolific killers for hire that America has ever seen. Garrison comes at this story from the beginning of Martinez's life and how that childhood shaped the man he would become. Garrison does her research, she interviews anyone involved in any of the cases that is willing to talk with her, some of the victims are still afraid of, The Manos Negra, The Black Hands as Martinez called himself. The reader follows more than just Martinez and the cops on his trail, the reader also follows the survivors of his murders, the families left behind. Their stories are moving, going from shock and grief to learning how to live without their fathers, husbands, and sons. The families are determined to survive and honor their lost loved ones. .I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to any true crime fans.
I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
From the dust jacket- On the surface, fifty-eight-year-old Jose Martinez didn't seem evil or even that remarkable- just a regular neighbor, good with cars, and devoted to his family. But in between taking his children to Disneyland and visiting his mom, Martinez was also one of the most skilled professional killers police had ever seen.
He tracked one victim to one of the wealthiest corners of America, a horse ranch in Santa Barbara, and shot him dead in the morning sunlight, setting off a decades-long manhunt. He shot another man, a farmworker, right in front of his young wife as they drove to work in the fields. The widow would wait decades for justice. Those were murders for hire. Other he killed for vengeance.
How did Martinez manage to evade law enforcement for so long with little more than a slap on the wrist? Because he understand a ark truth about the criminal justice system: if you kill the "right people"- people who are poor, who aren't white, and who don't have anyone to speak for them- you can get away with it.
Review-An interesting investigation into one of the most prolific killers for hire that America has ever seen. Garrison comes at this story from the beginning of Martinez's life and how that childhood shaped the man he would become. Garrison does her research, she interviews anyone involved in any of the cases that is willing to talk with her, some of the victims are still afraid of, The Manos Negra, The Black Hands as Martinez called himself. The reader follows more than just Martinez and the cops on his trail, the reader also follows the survivors of his murders, the families left behind. Their stories are moving, going from shock and grief to learning how to live without their fathers, husbands, and sons. The families are determined to survive and honor their lost loved ones. .I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to any true crime fans.
I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
August 9, 2023
This was an interesting account of one of the most prolific cartel hired guns/serial killers in US history. Jose Manuel Martinez (AKA "El Mano Negra") terrorized the farm communities of California's San Joaquin Valley throughout the 80s, 90s, 00s and into the 10s The back story of this book includes an abundance of Kern County and Tulare County history, both farming and political, which, though helpful in fleshing out the setting, was a bit dry at times. Overall, what was most fascinating was the main subject, an utter dichotomy of a man who was at once a loyal, loving, devoted family man and a relentless, ruthless, cold-blooded killer.
July 12, 2023
This was wild to read after having lived in the valley for 5 years!
September 19, 2020
I'm slightly ashamed that I didn't know about this case, it's quite disturbing. That being said, I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing style. The pacing felt somewhat uneven and I found myself somewhat bored (for lack of a better term). There was so much repeating, such as (and I'm paraphrasing): "he made me mad, so I killed him," or "Mr. X told me to, so I did." There wasn't a deep dive into the culture of the Central Valley, just an overall history of how it is/was. An interesting read for sure, just not for me.
November 12, 2020
3 1/2 stars. Thorough examination of a serial killer and his victims and family in central California in the 1970's. It's not a whodunit. It's not even really a courtroom drama. It's more about the tenacity of a few law enforcement and one determined investigative journalist. And it's about the real lives of the families of the Central Valley: the farm-workers, drug sellers, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, cousins, ex-wives and children. And through these family and cultural connections the killer-for-hire becomes known to the reader.
March 20, 2021
Initially an interesting read, the writer has the tendencies to go off on tangents that at times are more interesting than the central story. I think the book would have benefited from being a story of the town of Earlimart rather than about this one killer in particular. I also took issue with the tone the writer takes when describing a woman who was assaulted by police and rightfully chose to sue.
A good book to learn about some of the struggles of an ignored sector of our society that too often loses its focus.
A good book to learn about some of the struggles of an ignored sector of our society that too often loses its focus.
January 7, 2021
Listened to the audio book - didn’t love the reader.
The most interesting thing about this is how not famous he is and what that says about whose lives we value.
The most interesting thing about this is how not famous he is and what that says about whose lives we value.
April 13, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: EL MANO NEGRA – MEXICAN CARTEL HIT-MAN/SERIAL KILLER IN CENTRAL VALLEY
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One of the larger sub-genres in my personal library… is serial killers… profilers… criminal psychology… organized crime… and law enforcement. And this book squarely belongs right… dab in the middle of this section. The main character in this book… is a lowlife… psychopathic… less than human… “thing” named Jose Martinez. The reader will learn very quickly… that when G-d was designing him on his conveyor built… the L-rd must have blacked out for a moment during the assembly process! Martinez was not only wired differently than an actual person… that has empathy for other human beings… a soul… and even a microscopic capability of a “poetic” heart… but any overall positive societal qualities regarding anyone not related to him… were as rare as a hot desert in the North Pole.
Martinez who along with being a drug smuggler… a “coyote” (sneaking illegal aliens from Mexico into the United States)… was a hit-man for the Mexican Drug Cartels. When finally caught after decades of eluding the law in multiple states… he was finally arrested for nine murders… AND THEN… AND THEN… like a little kid bragging about how many cookies he ate… confessed to thirty-six murders. And he confessed without an ounce of remorse! The exact opposite in fact! A microscopic example: “MY WIFE KNEW I WAS A DRUG DEALER,” “BUT SHE NEVER KNEW I WAS A SERIOUS KILLER, OR THAT *I-LIKED-TO-KILL-PEOPLE.”
NOTE: When contacted in prison by the author… this sociopath gave her a four-hundred-page handwritten memoir that included “a sickening account of cold-blooded murder and a moving tale of family bonds”
Martinez’s story from birth to today in prison… exposes… not only his twisted… demented life… but as a byproduct… the reader gets an excellent tutorial of life as a migrant… or local… farmworker… and the unbelievably hard… tough life… they are forced to live. (Not Martinez… other hardworking human beings.) The storytelling even goes back to the historical battles led by the iconic Cesar Chavez… the co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association and civil rights leader. As tough as it is to read about those struggles… it’s almost a relief to get away from the main subject and his senseless… poker-faced… remorseless murders. This book is also almost a text book about the drug smuggling interaction between Mexico and the United States that still plagues us today.
The “literary-beauty”… and power of this book… is fully accredited to… and earned… by the author Jessica Garrison! Her efforts in writing and researching this book… are truly the greatest definition of PROFESSIONAL WRITING AND RESEARCH! This book should be held high… as to the power… and not only *THE-TRUE-DEFINITION-OF-JOURNALISM*… but it should be used as an example to totally embarrass and shame… the charlatans and imposters… who are politically biased… and try to fool the public… with a list of non-stop “buzzwords” and “catchphrases” … that they use to try to hoodwink the public with on network TV and the internet.
Any devotee of true crime literature… (and anyone that just enjoys an endangered species known as good writing and research) should get this book… buckle your seat belt… and prepare to disengage from the rest of the world for a while. From start to finish… there are absolutely… no dull spots… anywhere. No wasted pages… no wasted paragraphs… no wasted sentences… just a true appreciation of the beauty and power of words.
With my lifelong love of reading… For half-a-century… I’ve always said that no movie is as good as the book it was based on. Now this would make a good movie… but I’m telling you right now… I don’t care if a movie based on this book won an Academy Award… it would not be as good as this book!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the larger sub-genres in my personal library… is serial killers… profilers… criminal psychology… organized crime… and law enforcement. And this book squarely belongs right… dab in the middle of this section. The main character in this book… is a lowlife… psychopathic… less than human… “thing” named Jose Martinez. The reader will learn very quickly… that when G-d was designing him on his conveyor built… the L-rd must have blacked out for a moment during the assembly process! Martinez was not only wired differently than an actual person… that has empathy for other human beings… a soul… and even a microscopic capability of a “poetic” heart… but any overall positive societal qualities regarding anyone not related to him… were as rare as a hot desert in the North Pole.
Martinez who along with being a drug smuggler… a “coyote” (sneaking illegal aliens from Mexico into the United States)… was a hit-man for the Mexican Drug Cartels. When finally caught after decades of eluding the law in multiple states… he was finally arrested for nine murders… AND THEN… AND THEN… like a little kid bragging about how many cookies he ate… confessed to thirty-six murders. And he confessed without an ounce of remorse! The exact opposite in fact! A microscopic example: “MY WIFE KNEW I WAS A DRUG DEALER,” “BUT SHE NEVER KNEW I WAS A SERIOUS KILLER, OR THAT *I-LIKED-TO-KILL-PEOPLE.”
NOTE: When contacted in prison by the author… this sociopath gave her a four-hundred-page handwritten memoir that included “a sickening account of cold-blooded murder and a moving tale of family bonds”
Martinez’s story from birth to today in prison… exposes… not only his twisted… demented life… but as a byproduct… the reader gets an excellent tutorial of life as a migrant… or local… farmworker… and the unbelievably hard… tough life… they are forced to live. (Not Martinez… other hardworking human beings.) The storytelling even goes back to the historical battles led by the iconic Cesar Chavez… the co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association and civil rights leader. As tough as it is to read about those struggles… it’s almost a relief to get away from the main subject and his senseless… poker-faced… remorseless murders. This book is also almost a text book about the drug smuggling interaction between Mexico and the United States that still plagues us today.
The “literary-beauty”… and power of this book… is fully accredited to… and earned… by the author Jessica Garrison! Her efforts in writing and researching this book… are truly the greatest definition of PROFESSIONAL WRITING AND RESEARCH! This book should be held high… as to the power… and not only *THE-TRUE-DEFINITION-OF-JOURNALISM*… but it should be used as an example to totally embarrass and shame… the charlatans and imposters… who are politically biased… and try to fool the public… with a list of non-stop “buzzwords” and “catchphrases” … that they use to try to hoodwink the public with on network TV and the internet.
Any devotee of true crime literature… (and anyone that just enjoys an endangered species known as good writing and research) should get this book… buckle your seat belt… and prepare to disengage from the rest of the world for a while. From start to finish… there are absolutely… no dull spots… anywhere. No wasted pages… no wasted paragraphs… no wasted sentences… just a true appreciation of the beauty and power of words.
With my lifelong love of reading… For half-a-century… I’ve always said that no movie is as good as the book it was based on. Now this would make a good movie… but I’m telling you right now… I don’t care if a movie based on this book won an Academy Award… it would not be as good as this book!
October 23, 2023
The phrase "nothing happens in a vacuum" holds a slightly different meaning for the tale told in this book. Jose Martinez waged a horrible, one man murder spree upon his own Central Valley communities for decades -- and nothing happened. The victims came from migrant labor families that worked in the hot, back-breaking, exploitative agricultural industry that feeds millions of Americans around the country. The industry considers these workers as resources to deploy, not humans trying to make a living. When one unit disappears, the supervisors find another willing body to fill the space. Except when a pandemic hit. Suddenly these workers became considered essential personnel who had to put their lives on the lines to keep the food supply going. Until they became sick themselves -- then no one cared. Same as when Martinez killed someone locally -- the law enforcement apparatus cared minimally and the results in not solving the murders proved the point. Nothing happened, but it did not happen in a vacuum. The lack of concern from officials in Kern, Tulare, and the surrounding counties continued a tradition of neglect of a community considered fungible.
And that, interspersed with the tales of some of Martinez's murders, becomes the story Garrison tells in this volume. Individually, some law enforcement people cared for as long as possible, until other murders took priority over the investigations they just started. These victims mattered little to officials, and the results bore that out. Garrison points out the Golden State Killer produced a lower body count within the same period, but generated much more interest in the media -- because people cared more about his victims.
Except for the victims' loved ones left to grieve or wonder what happened to their kin, decades transpired before some detectives in a nearly closed case caught a break that led to Martinez confessing to a myriad murders. Garrison works as a journalist, and she tells this story in a dispassionate, journalist fashion. She offers no attempt to pluck at heart strings or play with emotions. She tells the story in a way that respects the victims and their families without ramping up the emotional tension. The facts speak for themselves.
And that, interspersed with the tales of some of Martinez's murders, becomes the story Garrison tells in this volume. Individually, some law enforcement people cared for as long as possible, until other murders took priority over the investigations they just started. These victims mattered little to officials, and the results bore that out. Garrison points out the Golden State Killer produced a lower body count within the same period, but generated much more interest in the media -- because people cared more about his victims.
Except for the victims' loved ones left to grieve or wonder what happened to their kin, decades transpired before some detectives in a nearly closed case caught a break that led to Martinez confessing to a myriad murders. Garrison works as a journalist, and she tells this story in a dispassionate, journalist fashion. She offers no attempt to pluck at heart strings or play with emotions. She tells the story in a way that respects the victims and their families without ramping up the emotional tension. The facts speak for themselves.
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April 12, 2025Did The First Chapter Get You Hooked? Yeah
Would You Recommend This Book? Yes
I’m left speechless. How many years could this killer go around killing people before he was stopped? This is quite recent, and yet I had no clue about it. I’d never heard of this serial killer, and it just upsets me there are thousands of other people that don’t know about this recent case. It’s heartbreaking how little importance society put on these cases. Why was that? Because it involved people of Hispanic origin? Are White Americans’ lives more important than any other ethnicity?
The author was able to write a bit about everything else that went on around these cases. She talked about the people this serial killer killed. She was able to add how the justice system had its own problems, causing them to fail to capture this killer. It also points out the drug problem and farm labor problems that were repeatedly going on during the killings.
I know this is debatable, because it leads into whether it is morally correct or not, but I personally think the verdict they gave this killer was wrong. There are other people who have done less than this killer, and they had to pay with the maximum penalty, which is death. Yet this killer was let off just because his family softened the judge's heart. I understand that the killer's family didn’t want anything to happen to him, but how is it fair to the victims? He decided for them to end their lives, so why couldn’t the judge decide to end his? And like I said, his family wanted to see him for what he was, their family member, but I find it ignorant of the daughter who decided not to hear anything about the cases because she didn’t want to taint her image of her killer father. I hope the family’s victims had or felt a bit of closure after they got this killer off the streets.
Would You Recommend This Book? Yes
I’m left speechless. How many years could this killer go around killing people before he was stopped? This is quite recent, and yet I had no clue about it. I’d never heard of this serial killer, and it just upsets me there are thousands of other people that don’t know about this recent case. It’s heartbreaking how little importance society put on these cases. Why was that? Because it involved people of Hispanic origin? Are White Americans’ lives more important than any other ethnicity?
The author was able to write a bit about everything else that went on around these cases. She talked about the people this serial killer killed. She was able to add how the justice system had its own problems, causing them to fail to capture this killer. It also points out the drug problem and farm labor problems that were repeatedly going on during the killings.
I know this is debatable, because it leads into whether it is morally correct or not, but I personally think the verdict they gave this killer was wrong. There are other people who have done less than this killer, and they had to pay with the maximum penalty, which is death. Yet this killer was let off just because his family softened the judge's heart. I understand that the killer's family didn’t want anything to happen to him, but how is it fair to the victims? He decided for them to end their lives, so why couldn’t the judge decide to end his? And like I said, his family wanted to see him for what he was, their family member, but I find it ignorant of the daughter who decided not to hear anything about the cases because she didn’t want to taint her image of her killer father. I hope the family’s victims had or felt a bit of closure after they got this killer off the streets.
September 11, 2020
This was an entertaining book for me, particularly because I have affinity for true crime and the southern San Joaquin Valley. The author had very good access and sources, and I appreciated how up-to-date and current the policy issues discussed at the end are. I wish I could give it 3.5 stars but since I can’t, and I’m feeling charitable, I’ll go with 4. I think there were a few big oversights. One: It needs a map and photos. If I wasn’t intimately familiar with the eastside Valley geography, it would have been hard to follow where this was happening and where it is in relation to the rest of California. Also, it would have been helpful to see photos of Martinez and his victims or their families to help make Martinez’s impact a bit more real (if the families were OK with it). Finally, I think a voice in this book is missing: that of the farmers and ranchers upon whose land Martinez’s victims were often found. Instead of hearing their accounts, which could have added to the story, they’re maligned as no better than uncaring overlords. While that may be true in some cases, it isn’t universal and it’s hard to get a true picture of the Valley without including some of their perspective.
May 11, 2020
This book tells us the incredible story of Jose Martinez's reign of terror in California's Central Valley, spanning over 3 states and almost 4 decades. I was completely engrossed as I read about his childhood being a dirt poor farm worker and losing his father. It was then his mother married a well known drug dealer in the area, and Martinez was taught how to shoot guns and smuggle drugs.
His first killing was a man who he had been told raped a woman, although nothing ever proved it. He also shot a man for parking in his driveway and yet another for calling his eldest daughter a B****. He made money by contact killings, delivering drugs, threatening people, and taking people to and from Mexico. Yet, he had his family fooled the whole time, being a nice, giving family member and giving away the money he had made doing his terrible deeds. It's almost like he considered himself the Robin Hood, although he went by the nickname of El Mano Negra, "The Black Hand".
Now other parts of the book were interesting don't get me wrong, but they really didn't tie in with the story so when I read the working conditions of the farmworkers in Central Valley, how they were sprayed with pesticides, how they had little to no help from the police, how they did not have clean drinking water, I was a little disappointed. I found myself feeling sorry for them, but I was more interested in reading about Martinez.
Thank You Net Galley for another free sample.
His first killing was a man who he had been told raped a woman, although nothing ever proved it. He also shot a man for parking in his driveway and yet another for calling his eldest daughter a B****. He made money by contact killings, delivering drugs, threatening people, and taking people to and from Mexico. Yet, he had his family fooled the whole time, being a nice, giving family member and giving away the money he had made doing his terrible deeds. It's almost like he considered himself the Robin Hood, although he went by the nickname of El Mano Negra, "The Black Hand".
Now other parts of the book were interesting don't get me wrong, but they really didn't tie in with the story so when I read the working conditions of the farmworkers in Central Valley, how they were sprayed with pesticides, how they had little to no help from the police, how they did not have clean drinking water, I was a little disappointed. I found myself feeling sorry for them, but I was more interested in reading about Martinez.
Thank You Net Galley for another free sample.
January 28, 2021
If you are a lover of true crime, you won't be disappointed in this book by Jessica Garrison. Garrison has done thorough research to bring the story of Jose Martinez to the written page. Martinez lived in a area of California's Central Valley and for over thirty years he murdered without consequence. Many knew him to be a drug dealer and a few suspected him of worse but no one had any idea of the depth of the evil he was guilty of until he began talking to the police and told them a story they found hard to believe. Even Martinez's family was shocked. He claimed to have murdered over thirty-five people in cold blood. Some of the murders he did for money, some he did for revenge, and some he did simply because he didn't like something someone said. Interesting story of a serial killer that we have heard so little about and, it seems, the reason for that is because the people he murdered were "throw away" people; people of little value. Their stories deserve to be heard and Garrison has given them a voice.
August 26, 2020
A very interesting, detailed and well-researched look into the life of Jose Martinez, El Mano Negra, who killed more than 30 people, mainly in California and got away with it for years. His motives? Money for some, a serial killer for hire. Revenge, for others, his sister's rapist, people who did his family wrong. And others because they were in his way - for example the husband of one of his mistresses. And yet he was also a loving family man who was the one who protected his siblings and adored his grandchildren. His story is told against the background of the California central valley fruit picking towns where he grew up, towns that inhabited by the illegal, the poorest of the poor, the disposable. He killed probably three times as many people as the Golden State Killer but despite numerous indications was never seriously pursued until a cold case (in Florida) tied his DNA to two murders there. His victims were people like himself and no-one much cared.
April 28, 2020
True Crime.
An in-depth look into a drug cartel member who murdered so many - all in the name of drug warfare.
This book was intense and it made me unbelievably angry. I cannot believe the corruption that occurs within cartels.
This book was extremely interesting and upsetting at the same time. I've read countless true crime novels but they never get easier to read. Senseless violence - like the type of violence in these pages - is completely unacceptable. And the people that should have been protecting the communities were nowhere to be found.
If you are interested in learning more about cartels, this would be a good book for you. However, beware, there is a lot of upsetting material.
An in-depth look into a drug cartel member who murdered so many - all in the name of drug warfare.
This book was intense and it made me unbelievably angry. I cannot believe the corruption that occurs within cartels.
This book was extremely interesting and upsetting at the same time. I've read countless true crime novels but they never get easier to read. Senseless violence - like the type of violence in these pages - is completely unacceptable. And the people that should have been protecting the communities were nowhere to be found.
If you are interested in learning more about cartels, this would be a good book for you. However, beware, there is a lot of upsetting material.
April 24, 2022
This is a well researched true story of a contract killer. jose Manuel Martinez was born and raised in central California farm area. Uneducated, impoverished child of farm worker family. Intelligent, witty, charming and dangerous if crossed. He determines that his ticket out of a life poverty and the opportunity to help his family is to become a contract killer. He had more than a 30 year career as a contract for hire killer. He explained he was good at it. He didn't leave evidence. From Maritinez's memoires and police reports the story of his career is detailed then his eventual arrest. He crossed the country killing in multiple states. Known as the "Black Hand" he had a fleeting fame as one of the best killers. I found it an interesting story and worth reading.
December 5, 2022
Very well-written true crime case. There are many layers to this story and a great amount of research that went into this book. I'm always interested in the immigrant experience and this book gives an excellent account of what immigrants go through when they come here wanting to work and the landlords take advantage of them. On top of that, she does a lot of research into the drug trade. The murderer in this story got away with his crimes for 20+ years. The strange thing about him was that most people thought he was a really nice guy, but you didn't want to make him mad. Even after he was caught, the cops were amazed at how cooperative he was. His name was Jose Martinez and most of the book takes place in the San Joaquin Valley in California.
August 23, 2020
I’ve got to stop reading pop history books that claim to do something interesting by winding together social history with the specific history of a mass murderer. I was disappointed by Devil in the White City and I’m disappointed in this for the exact same reasons. It’s not really enough to just tell two parallel stories if I’m left going BUT WHAT IS THE CONNECTION. Just tell one story well! I can always tell which story you’re more interested by, and it’s ALWAYS the part of the book I like the best!
This is a fine pop history book for a beach read, it just never lives up to the title or the promise of the synopsis.
This is a fine pop history book for a beach read, it just never lives up to the title or the promise of the synopsis.
May 24, 2020
This book is both a riveting true-crime narrative of a man who killed with impunity for years and also an investigative story of how society allow it to happen. It's about a hitman and drug cartels and their ability to murder without consequences, leaving family reeling not just from the losses but from the unjustices. But also about life for the underclass of Calfornia's Central Valley, where Mexican immigrants are treated like second-class citizens and how that inequity caused something truly evil to occurred.
January 15, 2022
Complicated feelings about this one. Something was missing - it briefly went into Martinez’s psychology, but not nearly enough. Especially considering there was so much access to him for this book. Hearing at the end of the book that his upbringing was “Dickensian” is like “wut??” Shouldn’t I have had a better idea of that? It was really only touched on in passing. The background on the issues of the communities where Martinez lived, while meant to be contextual, were disconnected from the main story.
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