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Escobarov syn: Prvorodený
Pablo Escobar bol najväčším narkobarónom, akého nosila Zem. Do svojej smrti v roku 1993 patril k najbohatším obyvateľom planéty a ovládal osemdesiat percent globálneho obchodu s kokaínom. V roku 1965 sa kolumbijské špeciálne sily pod velením agenta britskej tajnej služby MI6 vydali na záťah, aby z úkrytu vtedy ešte mladého bezvýznamného kriminálnika Pabla Escobara ukoristili peniaze. Akcia vyvrcholila prestrelkou, po ktorej zostalo mnoho mŕtvych. Escobarovi a niekoľkým jeho mužom sa podarilo uniknúť. Na mieste zostal jediný živý tvor, bábätko menom Roberto, Pablov nemanželský syn. Robertova matka zahynula na mieste. Podivuhodným riadením osudu sa agent MI6 nad dieťaťom zľutoval, vzal ho so sebou a neskôr si ho adoptoval.
Z Pabla Escobara sa časom stal jeden z najväčších zločincov v dejinách
a z Roberta tromf v rukách britských tajných služieb. Chlapec až do dospelosti netušil o svojej pravej totožnosti, hoci sa s Escobarom stretol. Je zrejmé, že Robertov adoptívny otec a britská vláda s týmto gangstrom tajne spolupracovali, aby mali pod kontrolou pranie špinavých peňazí a obchod s drogami. Pred smrťou odovzdal adoptívny otec Robertovi papier so zašifrovaným textom, ktorý podľa neho vedie k úkrytu s Escobarovými „stratenými miliónmi“. Vďaka tejto knihe sa šifra prvý raz dostáva na svetlo sveta.
Z Pabla Escobara sa časom stal jeden z najväčších zločincov v dejinách
a z Roberta tromf v rukách britských tajných služieb. Chlapec až do dospelosti netušil o svojej pravej totožnosti, hoci sa s Escobarom stretol. Je zrejmé, že Robertov adoptívny otec a britská vláda s týmto gangstrom tajne spolupracovali, aby mali pod kontrolou pranie špinavých peňazí a obchod s drogami. Pred smrťou odovzdal adoptívny otec Robertovi papier so zašifrovaným textom, ktorý podľa neho vedie k úkrytu s Escobarovými „stratenými miliónmi“. Vďaka tejto knihe sa šifra prvý raz dostáva na svetlo sveta.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published August 7, 2020
57 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
About the author
Roberto Sendoya Escobar
16 booksRoberto is an accomplished fine artist, author, musician and publisher. He is also the first born son of Pablo Escobar one of the world's most notorious drug lords.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 7, 2020
After having read a few books on Pablo Escobar, when I saw this one, I was immediately intrigued and requested it with fingers crossed. And before long the next day I was reading it; devouring every word. This was the first I’d heard about a first born son, who was scooped up as the mother was breathing her last, what a story. He’s rescued and adopted by an undercover agent who is there on assignment. The agent and his wife had always wanted a child, but had been unable to conceive.
Even after some digging, they learned little more about the boy. The mother who sadly was killed was just a young teenager. The father was an older teen named Pablo Escobar, who lived 350 miles away was early in his career. I think most will find this a good book written from the son’s perspective, growing up with his adoptive family. It’s got plenty of action and excitement, I know I enjoyed the heck out of it and would recommend it for anyone who is interested in the Pablo Escobar story. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Roberto Sendoya Escobar, and Ad Lib Publishers.
Even after some digging, they learned little more about the boy. The mother who sadly was killed was just a young teenager. The father was an older teen named Pablo Escobar, who lived 350 miles away was early in his career. I think most will find this a good book written from the son’s perspective, growing up with his adoptive family. It’s got plenty of action and excitement, I know I enjoyed the heck out of it and would recommend it for anyone who is interested in the Pablo Escobar story. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Roberto Sendoya Escobar, and Ad Lib Publishers.
August 6, 2020
The Son of Escobar: First Born is a thrilling and fascinating true crime autobiography written by the elusive son of notorious criminal and drug kingpin, Pablo Escobar. It charts the making of a man who was universally feared and who became one of the most-wanted criminals in the world before moving on to what happened to his oldest son. Rescued as a baby from a fatal shoot out at which his mother died, adopted by an MI6 agent working out of Colombia, kept in the dark about his true identity until the age of 24, sent to boarding school in the UK to avoid escalating kidnapping attempts, and finally given the location of Escobar’s hidden millions. Pablo Escobar’s firstborn son, Roberto Sendoya Escobar, tells his unbelievable true story.
In 1965, a secret mission by Colombian Special Forces, led by an MI6 agent to recover a cash hoard from a safe house used by a young Pablo Escobar, culminates in a shoot-out leaving many dead. Escobar and several of his men escape. Only a baby survives, Roberto Sendoya Escobar. In a bizarre twist of fate, the MI6 agent takes pity on the child, brings him home and later adopts him. Over the years, Pablo Escobar tries, repeatedly, to kidnap his firstborn son. Flanked by his trusty bodyguards, the child, unaware of his true identity, is allowed regular meetings with Escobar and it becomes apparent that Roberto’s adopted father and the British government are working covertly with the Escobar in an attempt to control the money laundering and drug trades. Many years later in England, as Roberto’s father lies dying in hospital, he hands his son a coded piece of paper which, he says, reveals the secret hiding place of Escobar’s ‘missing millions’. The code is published in this book for the first time.
This is a completely compulsive, riveting and gritty real-life thriller with the same twists, turns and shocks as fiction but you must keep reminding yourself that this is real life. There is barely a moment to breathe as Escobar relays the story to you complete with full-on high-stakes action and an abundance of exciting, on the edge-of-your-seat moments throughout. It's very readable and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish and once it has you gripped there is no possibility of placing it down. It's a truly engrossing true tale and a cracking page-turner in which we learn more about Pablo, Roberto, their wider family and the impact Pablo and the Medellin Cartel’s escapades had on Colombia. If you're a true crime connoisseur then this is an unmissable book. Many thanks to Ad Lib for an ARC.
In 1965, a secret mission by Colombian Special Forces, led by an MI6 agent to recover a cash hoard from a safe house used by a young Pablo Escobar, culminates in a shoot-out leaving many dead. Escobar and several of his men escape. Only a baby survives, Roberto Sendoya Escobar. In a bizarre twist of fate, the MI6 agent takes pity on the child, brings him home and later adopts him. Over the years, Pablo Escobar tries, repeatedly, to kidnap his firstborn son. Flanked by his trusty bodyguards, the child, unaware of his true identity, is allowed regular meetings with Escobar and it becomes apparent that Roberto’s adopted father and the British government are working covertly with the Escobar in an attempt to control the money laundering and drug trades. Many years later in England, as Roberto’s father lies dying in hospital, he hands his son a coded piece of paper which, he says, reveals the secret hiding place of Escobar’s ‘missing millions’. The code is published in this book for the first time.
This is a completely compulsive, riveting and gritty real-life thriller with the same twists, turns and shocks as fiction but you must keep reminding yourself that this is real life. There is barely a moment to breathe as Escobar relays the story to you complete with full-on high-stakes action and an abundance of exciting, on the edge-of-your-seat moments throughout. It's very readable and thoroughly entertaining from start to finish and once it has you gripped there is no possibility of placing it down. It's a truly engrossing true tale and a cracking page-turner in which we learn more about Pablo, Roberto, their wider family and the impact Pablo and the Medellin Cartel’s escapades had on Colombia. If you're a true crime connoisseur then this is an unmissable book. Many thanks to Ad Lib for an ARC.
August 28, 2020
When I first heard about this book I was shocked that many of the claims being made by Phillip Witcomb (aka Roberto Sendoya Escobar) in publicity weren’t being queried or challenged by journalists, some of them from very reputable news outlets.
Etan Smallman in the UK’s I newspaper belatedly rectified this with his excellent story published on 28 August 2020: https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/p...
By way of disclosure I was interviewed for Smallman’s story as I recently wrote a book called Pure Narco with and about Cuban-American cocaine trafficker Luis Antonio Navia, who worked as a high-level transporter for the Colombian and Mexican cartels in the 1980s and ’90s before his arrest in 2000’s Operation Journey. I’d had my own doubts about Witcomb’s story and had expressed those doubts to friends. I believe all authors have an obligation to their readers to be open and truthful; it’s an unspoken but understood contract between author and reader. (I most certainly can assure you it gives me no pleasure at all to write this review.)
First thing for a reader to consider is that Juan Pablo Escobar (aka Sebastián Marroquín), Escobar’s real son, is a dead ringer for Pablo. He looks just like him. Witcomb, meanwhile, does not look Pablo at all. Why did one son get Pablo’s distinctive looks and not the other? Juan Pablo accuses Witcomb of peddling in “huge lies”. I know who I believe.
Second, as Smallman and others have pointed out, Witcomb was allegedly 13 when he started at Lucton School in Herefordshire in 1975. This 2008 story by Alex Renton for ITV, “Boarding Schools: The Secret Shame” – says as much; start watching from 17:50: https://youtube.com/watch?v=uhWOM3iqF7c
Meanwhile in this Hereford Times story it says Witcomb started at Lucton at 14: https://herefordtimes.com/news/162505...
But in the book Son of Escobar Witcomb says he was born in 1965, which would make him 10 in 1975. So there’s an unexplained age discrepancy. Smallman thoroughly investigates this in his I story and shows that Witcomb’s birth date in Companies House records is 1962.
Third, the name “Pablo Escobar” is not uncommon in Latin America. From what I’ve seen in publicity for the book there is no “Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria”, Pablo’s full name with the patronym and matronym, on documents related to Witcomb, so why should a reader have any reason to believe his biological father was THE Pablo Escobar: Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria?
Fourth, if Witcomb’s adopted father Patrick really worked undercover for MI6, the top ranks of British intelligence, in trying to infiltrate Colombian drug gangs why would he be even remotely concerned with Pablo in the mid to late 1960s? Pablo was first picked up by the Colombian police for car theft in 1974. He was arrested for possession of nearly 20 kilos of coca paste in 1976.
Marijuana from northern Colombia was the primary drug export of Colombia in the early to mid 1970s. Marijuana smugglers were called marimberos. Cocaine then supplanted marijuana in the late ’70s when it became vastly more profitable.
Sorry, not buying Witcomb’s story for a minute. None of it adds up.
Etan Smallman in the UK’s I newspaper belatedly rectified this with his excellent story published on 28 August 2020: https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/p...
By way of disclosure I was interviewed for Smallman’s story as I recently wrote a book called Pure Narco with and about Cuban-American cocaine trafficker Luis Antonio Navia, who worked as a high-level transporter for the Colombian and Mexican cartels in the 1980s and ’90s before his arrest in 2000’s Operation Journey. I’d had my own doubts about Witcomb’s story and had expressed those doubts to friends. I believe all authors have an obligation to their readers to be open and truthful; it’s an unspoken but understood contract between author and reader. (I most certainly can assure you it gives me no pleasure at all to write this review.)
First thing for a reader to consider is that Juan Pablo Escobar (aka Sebastián Marroquín), Escobar’s real son, is a dead ringer for Pablo. He looks just like him. Witcomb, meanwhile, does not look Pablo at all. Why did one son get Pablo’s distinctive looks and not the other? Juan Pablo accuses Witcomb of peddling in “huge lies”. I know who I believe.
Second, as Smallman and others have pointed out, Witcomb was allegedly 13 when he started at Lucton School in Herefordshire in 1975. This 2008 story by Alex Renton for ITV, “Boarding Schools: The Secret Shame” – says as much; start watching from 17:50: https://youtube.com/watch?v=uhWOM3iqF7c
Meanwhile in this Hereford Times story it says Witcomb started at Lucton at 14: https://herefordtimes.com/news/162505...
But in the book Son of Escobar Witcomb says he was born in 1965, which would make him 10 in 1975. So there’s an unexplained age discrepancy. Smallman thoroughly investigates this in his I story and shows that Witcomb’s birth date in Companies House records is 1962.
Third, the name “Pablo Escobar” is not uncommon in Latin America. From what I’ve seen in publicity for the book there is no “Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria”, Pablo’s full name with the patronym and matronym, on documents related to Witcomb, so why should a reader have any reason to believe his biological father was THE Pablo Escobar: Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria?
Fourth, if Witcomb’s adopted father Patrick really worked undercover for MI6, the top ranks of British intelligence, in trying to infiltrate Colombian drug gangs why would he be even remotely concerned with Pablo in the mid to late 1960s? Pablo was first picked up by the Colombian police for car theft in 1974. He was arrested for possession of nearly 20 kilos of coca paste in 1976.
Marijuana from northern Colombia was the primary drug export of Colombia in the early to mid 1970s. Marijuana smugglers were called marimberos. Cocaine then supplanted marijuana in the late ’70s when it became vastly more profitable.
Sorry, not buying Witcomb’s story for a minute. None of it adds up.
August 23, 2020
All lies. My parents took us to Colombia in 1971 where my Dad worked with Pat Witcomb. Phillip was the same age as my elder brother and thus is too old to be the son of Escobar as he would have been 12 when Phillip was conceived.
Any intelligent reader will read the bit where he explains that his father changed his age to be 3 years older to get a passport and that explained why he was so much smaller than other kids in his class in Colombia, this would mean when he went to school at 5, he would have been 2, enough said.
Last year Phillip posted a picture of his fathers OBE given for services to the country as an undercover agent, I checked , and his father never received a OBE, I decided to challenge Phillip, who said he remembered us and that my father would not be implicated in the book, when I asked about the OBE, he blocked me and took down the post, I still have it.
He has given his right age in many places and will soon be shown up for what he is, a fantasist who sat there thinking it was a good idea to buy a fake OBE on Ebay and then make up how his dad was given it on Facebook.
Any intelligent reader will read the bit where he explains that his father changed his age to be 3 years older to get a passport and that explained why he was so much smaller than other kids in his class in Colombia, this would mean when he went to school at 5, he would have been 2, enough said.
Last year Phillip posted a picture of his fathers OBE given for services to the country as an undercover agent, I checked , and his father never received a OBE, I decided to challenge Phillip, who said he remembered us and that my father would not be implicated in the book, when I asked about the OBE, he blocked me and took down the post, I still have it.
He has given his right age in many places and will soon be shown up for what he is, a fantasist who sat there thinking it was a good idea to buy a fake OBE on Ebay and then make up how his dad was given it on Facebook.
September 7, 2020
A very unconvincing read. It is poorly written, far fetched, factually incorrect and just embarrassingly bad at times.
After reading it I saw that the credibility of the author and this story have been completely undermined in articles by inews, Private Eye and The Telegraph. I could have worked that out for myself though. This guy claims to have gone through his entire school life pretending to 3 years older than he is, just because his adoptive father told a lie on a passport form (for no clear reason). So he started school at 2 with a load of 5 year olds and nobody noticed??? Hahahaha. Let’s not forget Pat was supposedly a well connected MI6 agent and yet he has to tell porky’s to get his child a passport?
It’s pretty clear he is just trying to cover up lying about his age to try and make it possible to claim The Pablo Escobar is his father - if he sticks with his real age then Pablo would have been 11yrs old at conception lol.
There is not one scrap of evidence contained in the book to show The Pablo Escobar was his father! There is a random baptism certificate with a Pablo Escobar mentioned, but that doesn’t count as proof of parentage in Colombia! You can give any name without it being verified and without a full name and ID number it could be any Pablo Escobar alive then (of which there many). There’s a massive problem with that baptism certificate anyway, because he says he was baptised as an orphan in December, BUT the certificate actually says the baptism was performed in September (when he wasn’t orphaned) AND his grandparents are listed; so what happened to them? The certificate doesn’t match anything he says or his other forms!! Does he just think nobody can read Spanish?
Just absolutely unconvincing and awful! I would recommend fans of true crime find other books with stories that are actually credible and not line the pockets of this scammer.
After reading it I saw that the credibility of the author and this story have been completely undermined in articles by inews, Private Eye and The Telegraph. I could have worked that out for myself though. This guy claims to have gone through his entire school life pretending to 3 years older than he is, just because his adoptive father told a lie on a passport form (for no clear reason). So he started school at 2 with a load of 5 year olds and nobody noticed??? Hahahaha. Let’s not forget Pat was supposedly a well connected MI6 agent and yet he has to tell porky’s to get his child a passport?
It’s pretty clear he is just trying to cover up lying about his age to try and make it possible to claim The Pablo Escobar is his father - if he sticks with his real age then Pablo would have been 11yrs old at conception lol.
There is not one scrap of evidence contained in the book to show The Pablo Escobar was his father! There is a random baptism certificate with a Pablo Escobar mentioned, but that doesn’t count as proof of parentage in Colombia! You can give any name without it being verified and without a full name and ID number it could be any Pablo Escobar alive then (of which there many). There’s a massive problem with that baptism certificate anyway, because he says he was baptised as an orphan in December, BUT the certificate actually says the baptism was performed in September (when he wasn’t orphaned) AND his grandparents are listed; so what happened to them? The certificate doesn’t match anything he says or his other forms!! Does he just think nobody can read Spanish?
Just absolutely unconvincing and awful! I would recommend fans of true crime find other books with stories that are actually credible and not line the pockets of this scammer.
December 16, 2020
I always feel uncomfortable about reviewing someone's life story or memoirs, because, let's face it... who am I to judge their life, their emotions, their actions? However as an avid reader and blogger I realise the importance of reviews and therefore I will be brief here.
I binge watched Narcos Season 1 and 2 on Netflix a few weeks ago, so when I saw there was a book written by the first born son of Pablo Escobar I was very, very excited and interested to read his story.
I know that the Netflix programme has been edited and dramatised to make for more interesting viewing and this might have been "my" problem because the book just didn't really work for me.
I appreciate that Robert Sendoya Escobar is NOT an author and so I can overlook the flitting around and slightly wonky timelines which either overlapped or contradicted themselves, but I did however struggle with all the many Colombian names, personalities, roles in his life and found it difficult to remember who was who.
I also struggled to understand exactly what Pat Whitcomb did for De La Rue and when the author was explaining his adoptive fathers various businesses and responsibilities I was left scratching my head.
I am sure that true crime lovers and those fascinated in Escobar's life will enjoy this book more than I did - so ignore everything I said above !!
I binge watched Narcos Season 1 and 2 on Netflix a few weeks ago, so when I saw there was a book written by the first born son of Pablo Escobar I was very, very excited and interested to read his story.
I know that the Netflix programme has been edited and dramatised to make for more interesting viewing and this might have been "my" problem because the book just didn't really work for me.
I appreciate that Robert Sendoya Escobar is NOT an author and so I can overlook the flitting around and slightly wonky timelines which either overlapped or contradicted themselves, but I did however struggle with all the many Colombian names, personalities, roles in his life and found it difficult to remember who was who.
I also struggled to understand exactly what Pat Whitcomb did for De La Rue and when the author was explaining his adoptive fathers various businesses and responsibilities I was left scratching my head.
I am sure that true crime lovers and those fascinated in Escobar's life will enjoy this book more than I did - so ignore everything I said above !!
August 26, 2020
This is a remarkable story and makes for some truly riveting reading – but is it true? I took it all at face value whilst I was reading the book, however incredible it all seemed, but having delved a little deeper I see that doubts have been cast on the veracity of the tale and so I reserve my judgment. That doesn’t prevent the book being a great read, however. It tells the story of a little boy who is adopted by an Englishman working for a private security firm in Colombia and this little boy turns out to be the first born son of drug lord Pablo Escobar. The adoptive father Pat Witcomb was also working, apparently, for MI6 as a secret agent which led him into some very murky waters indeed. It’s not a brilliantly written book but has the power of a true adventure story and seems to be a deeply felt memoir – or is some, or indeed all, of it made up? There’s even a code for finding some missing millions – so the story is by no means over. Read it, then watch some of the YouTube clips – and decide for yourselves.
September 5, 2020
My review is on my website www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
Son of Escobar First Born by Roberto Sendoya Escobar is about kidnapping, murders and hidden millions and M16’s secret that I would rather not reveal the M16’s secret as it will do a spoiler. And then there’s Roberto finding out the truth about his drug lord father, Pablo Escobar. As I dwelled on through Roberto’s autobiography I discovered a lot more happens than I ever expected, I found out about things that I didn’t quite know that I was going to find out. You can see just reading by the prologue this story is very well worth reading. I have to say that this is certainly one unbelievable true story, definitely one not to be missed specially if you love reading about true autobiographies.
Son of Escobar First Born by Roberto Sendoya Escobar is about kidnapping, murders and hidden millions and M16’s secret that I would rather not reveal the M16’s secret as it will do a spoiler. And then there’s Roberto finding out the truth about his drug lord father, Pablo Escobar. As I dwelled on through Roberto’s autobiography I discovered a lot more happens than I ever expected, I found out about things that I didn’t quite know that I was going to find out. You can see just reading by the prologue this story is very well worth reading. I have to say that this is certainly one unbelievable true story, definitely one not to be missed specially if you love reading about true autobiographies.
August 5, 2020
I was really surprised when I stumbled across this book on NetGalley, I thought after having watched Narcos and doing some follow-up research, I knew all the main points to Pablo Escobar’s life. However, learning there is a prologue of sorts I was desperate to read it.
This book is recounting everything that leads up to Escobar being as notorious as he was and is also introducing his firstborn son and his fate.
I wasn’t entirely convinced on the style of writing, at times it jumped all over the place and others the timeline was fluid. I also got lost a little bit with the technicalities of what was happening.
It was very frustrating when Roberto/Phillip was asking for clarification but then said ‘I didn’t find this out for years to come’, but he didn’t give us, the reader, the outcome. It may have come at the end, but by then I’d forgotten what I’d wanted to know 100 pages earlier! So the young boy may not have known then, but we could have been filled in. This is really my only major gripe with the book.
It was very gripping, and it was great to get more of Pablo Escobar’s story and even to find out more about Columbia. It doesn’t just focus on Escobar’s escapades but the bigger picture of how everything developed.
Once I’d settled down into the book and was used to the writing style, I was utterly fascinated by this true story. The ending is very sombre and heartbreaking, but I’m glad we got to see everyone’s fates. I really felt invested in what was happening with Roberto/Phillip and wanted to know how his life panned out.
A great read and an excellent addition and prelude to the Narcos series that I have watched.
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com
This book is recounting everything that leads up to Escobar being as notorious as he was and is also introducing his firstborn son and his fate.
I wasn’t entirely convinced on the style of writing, at times it jumped all over the place and others the timeline was fluid. I also got lost a little bit with the technicalities of what was happening.
It was very frustrating when Roberto/Phillip was asking for clarification but then said ‘I didn’t find this out for years to come’, but he didn’t give us, the reader, the outcome. It may have come at the end, but by then I’d forgotten what I’d wanted to know 100 pages earlier! So the young boy may not have known then, but we could have been filled in. This is really my only major gripe with the book.
It was very gripping, and it was great to get more of Pablo Escobar’s story and even to find out more about Columbia. It doesn’t just focus on Escobar’s escapades but the bigger picture of how everything developed.
Once I’d settled down into the book and was used to the writing style, I was utterly fascinated by this true story. The ending is very sombre and heartbreaking, but I’m glad we got to see everyone’s fates. I really felt invested in what was happening with Roberto/Phillip and wanted to know how his life panned out.
A great read and an excellent addition and prelude to the Narcos series that I have watched.
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com
August 15, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Ad Lib for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was so intrigued when I saw this true-crime autobiography written by the son of notorious Pablo Escobar
It was very interesting and gripping, and it was great to get more of Pablo Escobar’s story and even to find out more about Columbia. There are lots of twists which plays out in the book. Personally I enjoyed reading about how MI6 was entangled with Columbia and how the impact of drugs began to dominate the world. I really felt invested in what was happening with Roberto/Phillip.
If you're into true crime stories, you should read this book!
I was so intrigued when I saw this true-crime autobiography written by the son of notorious Pablo Escobar
It was very interesting and gripping, and it was great to get more of Pablo Escobar’s story and even to find out more about Columbia. There are lots of twists which plays out in the book. Personally I enjoyed reading about how MI6 was entangled with Columbia and how the impact of drugs began to dominate the world. I really felt invested in what was happening with Roberto/Phillip.
If you're into true crime stories, you should read this book!
August 11, 2020
Son of Escobar: First Born is a thrilling story detailing Roberto Escobar's life story and growing up as the adopted son of two English diplomats. Renamed Phillip by his parents - we read about his Fathers (Pablo Escobar's) repeated attempts to kidnap his son. There are lots of interesting and edge of the seat drama which plays out in the book - and I particularly enjoyed reading about how MI6 was entangled with Columbia and how the impact of drugs began to dominate the world.
Well written, the characters were richly described and jumped off the page.
Well written, the characters were richly described and jumped off the page.
July 21, 2021
1/5 stars.
ebook, 184 pages.
Read from December 26, 2020 to December 31, 2020.
Review at The Pluviophile Writer: https://bit.ly/3hSTxX1
This book was a selection for my book club. Normally, the beauty of book clubs is reading books that you wouldn’t have read and most of the time that’s a good thing, this time, however, it was not.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know the name, Pablo Escobar. You know, the biggest drug lord in history? The guy has a whole Netflix series (Narcos) about him. The premise of this book is that the author claims that he is Escobar’s firstborn son. In 1965, MI6 operatives raid and shoot up a safe house that results in the death of a young mother with one of the operatives deciding to save her newborn baby (the author). The operative put the child in an orphanage only to adopt him later. The operative learns whose child it is and massive amounts of effort are gone into protecting the child as well as using him to coerce a friendly relationship with Pablo himself. The book details all of the events that happened to the author as he grew up in this strange environment. From kidnappings, shootouts, murder, and more, all while not knowing who his real father is and thinking that having armed guards is a normal part of childhood. Strange meetings were made with Pablo Escobar as the author grew but he was never given an explanation of who Pablo was or the relevance of the meetings. As an adult, the author does eventually learn that Pablo Escobar is his father, apparently, and at the end of his adoptive father’s life, he is given a code that is supposed to be the location of Pablo Escobar’s missing fortune after he was taken down and his property destroyed. The code is published within this book hoping someone will figure out its encrypted location.
If this sounds far fetched to you, you’re not alone. The author has been called out for misinformation and lies since this book’s publication. It makes no difference to me if this story is real or not as people can write whatever they please, however, the writing quality in this book was dire and I didn’t find it all that entertaining. Well, I suppose it was interesting to discuss these points in a book club setting but the book was still a disappointing read. I would not recommend this book as I think it’s likely a money grab and a publicity stunt. Outside of that, say this story is true, the calibre of writing in this book isn’t worth enduring.
ebook, 184 pages.
Read from December 26, 2020 to December 31, 2020.
Review at The Pluviophile Writer: https://bit.ly/3hSTxX1
This book was a selection for my book club. Normally, the beauty of book clubs is reading books that you wouldn’t have read and most of the time that’s a good thing, this time, however, it was not.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know the name, Pablo Escobar. You know, the biggest drug lord in history? The guy has a whole Netflix series (Narcos) about him. The premise of this book is that the author claims that he is Escobar’s firstborn son. In 1965, MI6 operatives raid and shoot up a safe house that results in the death of a young mother with one of the operatives deciding to save her newborn baby (the author). The operative put the child in an orphanage only to adopt him later. The operative learns whose child it is and massive amounts of effort are gone into protecting the child as well as using him to coerce a friendly relationship with Pablo himself. The book details all of the events that happened to the author as he grew up in this strange environment. From kidnappings, shootouts, murder, and more, all while not knowing who his real father is and thinking that having armed guards is a normal part of childhood. Strange meetings were made with Pablo Escobar as the author grew but he was never given an explanation of who Pablo was or the relevance of the meetings. As an adult, the author does eventually learn that Pablo Escobar is his father, apparently, and at the end of his adoptive father’s life, he is given a code that is supposed to be the location of Pablo Escobar’s missing fortune after he was taken down and his property destroyed. The code is published within this book hoping someone will figure out its encrypted location.
If this sounds far fetched to you, you’re not alone. The author has been called out for misinformation and lies since this book’s publication. It makes no difference to me if this story is real or not as people can write whatever they please, however, the writing quality in this book was dire and I didn’t find it all that entertaining. Well, I suppose it was interesting to discuss these points in a book club setting but the book was still a disappointing read. I would not recommend this book as I think it’s likely a money grab and a publicity stunt. Outside of that, say this story is true, the calibre of writing in this book isn’t worth enduring.
September 15, 2020
Five big fat stars!! What a story! What's the saying? "Truth is stranger than fiction" - and that is certainly the case with Son of Escobar: First Born by Roberto Sendoya Escobar. This is the strange and scary story of Pablo Escobar's first born son who was adopted by a very involved secret service agent. I really don't know how to say more without spoiling the story for a potential reader, so I won't. To take an unbelievable topsy turvy adventure and thrilling ride into the life of Roberto Sendoya Escobar - Read this book!! It's due out on October 1st. A huge thank you to Ad Lib Publishers and Net Galley for this great read! Don't miss out on this true story, it's well worth anyone's time!!
November 29, 2020
I have no way of ascertaining what details are and which, if any, are fiction. I found this to be a very enjoyable reading experience.
After finishing the book, I felt as if the main characters were described in context of the events in which they were involved and left me with a good perception as to their individual personalities. The details were presented in a chronological order and flowed succinctly from one event to the next.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
After finishing the book, I felt as if the main characters were described in context of the events in which they were involved and left me with a good perception as to their individual personalities. The details were presented in a chronological order and flowed succinctly from one event to the next.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book to read and review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
September 1, 2020
With a figure as deeply ingrained into the public consciousness as Pablo Escobar, for his legendary exploits and stories, this is an opportunity to see the person behind the myth, or, conversely, a embellishment of the legend.
It reads as a memoir, and an evocation of the late 1960's and early 70's, and the environment in which someone like Escobar could come to such prominence. Roberto's father and adopted father could not be more different, despite the fact that they both dealt in money and had access to state secrets.
There appears to be a disconnect in the story telling, and a sense of jumping back and forth between events which happen in the same year, which adds to the impression that this is like listening to a conversation. Some embellishments must surely have been made for the parts of the book which concern Pat Whitcomb, Roberto's adopted father, he 'speaks' with a terribly English affectation which may or may not have been how he talked, but made me think of vintage black and white movie stars.
The things which Roberto remembers about the secrecy in which he grew up is vividly recreated throughout the book, how he lived as a child aware that he could be kidnapped because of who his father was (Pat, not Pablo). It was not until he was grown up that he finally found out about the way his biological mother died, and even later again about his biological father's financial legacy.
There is no sense of regret or wishing that he grew up in the world that Escobar created, and maintained throughout his lifetime. This was a man, remember, who not only provided at one point 80% of the world's cocaine, but also posed with his son in front of the White House when he topped the FBI's most wanted list.
Acknowledging where you came from is not the same as rejecting where you have been, and those that have put you there. There is a great deal of strength and humility which comes through Roberto's writing. If you read this book, you might think that it is just crazy enough to actually be the truth. Since publication was announced, his claims have been challenged as a scam, however, who is to say that what Roberto has written is not what really happened?
His finishing flourish is to claim that the death bed code to the -witnessed by Roberto-missing millions of Escobar's fortune, disclosed by Pat, is hidden in the book. Whether this is a grandiose claim or not, I imagine that many readers will turn back to page one, and begin hunting for a treasure that may be as elusive as that of D.B Cooper
It reads as a memoir, and an evocation of the late 1960's and early 70's, and the environment in which someone like Escobar could come to such prominence. Roberto's father and adopted father could not be more different, despite the fact that they both dealt in money and had access to state secrets.
There appears to be a disconnect in the story telling, and a sense of jumping back and forth between events which happen in the same year, which adds to the impression that this is like listening to a conversation. Some embellishments must surely have been made for the parts of the book which concern Pat Whitcomb, Roberto's adopted father, he 'speaks' with a terribly English affectation which may or may not have been how he talked, but made me think of vintage black and white movie stars.
The things which Roberto remembers about the secrecy in which he grew up is vividly recreated throughout the book, how he lived as a child aware that he could be kidnapped because of who his father was (Pat, not Pablo). It was not until he was grown up that he finally found out about the way his biological mother died, and even later again about his biological father's financial legacy.
There is no sense of regret or wishing that he grew up in the world that Escobar created, and maintained throughout his lifetime. This was a man, remember, who not only provided at one point 80% of the world's cocaine, but also posed with his son in front of the White House when he topped the FBI's most wanted list.
Acknowledging where you came from is not the same as rejecting where you have been, and those that have put you there. There is a great deal of strength and humility which comes through Roberto's writing. If you read this book, you might think that it is just crazy enough to actually be the truth. Since publication was announced, his claims have been challenged as a scam, however, who is to say that what Roberto has written is not what really happened?
His finishing flourish is to claim that the death bed code to the -witnessed by Roberto-missing millions of Escobar's fortune, disclosed by Pat, is hidden in the book. Whether this is a grandiose claim or not, I imagine that many readers will turn back to page one, and begin hunting for a treasure that may be as elusive as that of D.B Cooper
March 18, 2022
Dobro a zlo. Svetlo a temnota. Tento príbeh obsahuje všetko.
Ako dieťa som o ničom netušil. Patrick, alebo Pat, ako mu všetci hovorili, bol pre mňa obyčajný otec. V našej krásnej kolumbijskej rezidencii sa síce objavovalo množstvo zbraní a diali sa tam čudesné veci, môj otec však pracoval v spoločnosti, ktorá pre vládu tlačila bankovky a obchodovala s pancierovými autami, takže ako zamestnanec bol cieľom útokov zločineckých gangov. Jednoducho to patrilo k nášmu životu, hoci som mal občas pocit, že nás násilie prenasleduje na každom kroku a bol som vďačný, že ma neprestajne stráži ozbrojená ochranka.
Pablo Escobar bol najväčším narkobarónom, akého nosila Zem. Do svojej smrti v roku 1993 patril k najbohatším obyvateľom planéty a ovládal osemdesiat percent globálneho obchodu s kokaínom.
V roku 1965 sa kolumbijské špeciálne sily pod velením agenta Britskej tajnej služby MI6 vydali na záťah, aby z úkrytu vtedy ešte mladého bezvýznamného kriminálnika Pabla Escobara ukoristili peniaze. Akcia vyvrcholila prestrelkou, po ktorej zostalo mnoho mŕtvych. Escobarovi a niekoľkým jeho mužom sa podarilo uniknúť.
Na mieste zostal jediný živý tvor, bábätko menom Roberto, Pablov nemanželský syn. Robertova matka zahynula na mieste. Podivuhodným riadením osudu sa agent MI6 nad dieťaťom zľutoval, vzal ho so sebou a neskôr si ho adoptoval.
Toto je jeho príbeh.
Z Pabla Escobara sa časom stal jeden z najväčších zločincov v dejinách a z Roberta tromf v rukách britských tajných služieb. Chlapec až do dospelosti netušil o svojej pravej totožnosti, hoci sa s Escobarom stretol. Je zrejmé, že Robertov adoptívny otec a britská vláda s týmto gangstrom tajne spolupracovali, aby mali pod kontrolou pranie špinavých peňazí a obchod s drogami.
Pred smrťou odovzdal adoptívny otec Robertovi papier so zašifrovaným textom, ktorý podľa neho vedie k úkrytu s Escobarovými „stratenými miliónmi“. Vďaka tejto knihe sa šifra prvý raz dostáva na svetlo sveta.
Kniha Escobarov syn sa zakladá na informáciách od Robertovho adoptívneho otca Pata spolu s jeho rozsiahlym výskumom. „Konečne môžem rozpovedať pravdivý príbeh svojho života. Všetky spomínané fakty sú skutočné, hoci som sa nevyhol dramatizácii udalostí a rozhovorov v súlade s tým, ako podľa mňa prebiehali. Príbeh sa začína dňom, keď na mňa narazil Pat. Moju záchranu spôsobila náhoda, ktorá skrížila dráhy osudov Patricka Witcomba a Pabla Escobara a navždy nás spojila,“ rozpráva Roberto Escobar, syn známeho narkobaróna.
Ako dieťa som o ničom netušil. Patrick, alebo Pat, ako mu všetci hovorili, bol pre mňa obyčajný otec. V našej krásnej kolumbijskej rezidencii sa síce objavovalo množstvo zbraní a diali sa tam čudesné veci, môj otec však pracoval v spoločnosti, ktorá pre vládu tlačila bankovky a obchodovala s pancierovými autami, takže ako zamestnanec bol cieľom útokov zločineckých gangov. Jednoducho to patrilo k nášmu životu, hoci som mal občas pocit, že nás násilie prenasleduje na každom kroku a bol som vďačný, že ma neprestajne stráži ozbrojená ochranka.
Pablo Escobar bol najväčším narkobarónom, akého nosila Zem. Do svojej smrti v roku 1993 patril k najbohatším obyvateľom planéty a ovládal osemdesiat percent globálneho obchodu s kokaínom.
V roku 1965 sa kolumbijské špeciálne sily pod velením agenta Britskej tajnej služby MI6 vydali na záťah, aby z úkrytu vtedy ešte mladého bezvýznamného kriminálnika Pabla Escobara ukoristili peniaze. Akcia vyvrcholila prestrelkou, po ktorej zostalo mnoho mŕtvych. Escobarovi a niekoľkým jeho mužom sa podarilo uniknúť.
Na mieste zostal jediný živý tvor, bábätko menom Roberto, Pablov nemanželský syn. Robertova matka zahynula na mieste. Podivuhodným riadením osudu sa agent MI6 nad dieťaťom zľutoval, vzal ho so sebou a neskôr si ho adoptoval.
Toto je jeho príbeh.
Z Pabla Escobara sa časom stal jeden z najväčších zločincov v dejinách a z Roberta tromf v rukách britských tajných služieb. Chlapec až do dospelosti netušil o svojej pravej totožnosti, hoci sa s Escobarom stretol. Je zrejmé, že Robertov adoptívny otec a britská vláda s týmto gangstrom tajne spolupracovali, aby mali pod kontrolou pranie špinavých peňazí a obchod s drogami.
Pred smrťou odovzdal adoptívny otec Robertovi papier so zašifrovaným textom, ktorý podľa neho vedie k úkrytu s Escobarovými „stratenými miliónmi“. Vďaka tejto knihe sa šifra prvý raz dostáva na svetlo sveta.
Kniha Escobarov syn sa zakladá na informáciách od Robertovho adoptívneho otca Pata spolu s jeho rozsiahlym výskumom. „Konečne môžem rozpovedať pravdivý príbeh svojho života. Všetky spomínané fakty sú skutočné, hoci som sa nevyhol dramatizácii udalostí a rozhovorov v súlade s tým, ako podľa mňa prebiehali. Príbeh sa začína dňom, keď na mňa narazil Pat. Moju záchranu spôsobila náhoda, ktorá skrížila dráhy osudov Patricka Witcomba a Pabla Escobara a navždy nás spojila,“ rozpráva Roberto Escobar, syn známeho narkobaróna.
June 29, 2022
WOW what a brilliant read I was enthralled with the roller coaster life style of the young Roberto AKA Phillip Witcomb. Young Roberto was rescued by Patrick Witcomb when he headed a helicopter drug raid in Columbia and unfortunately resulted in Roberto's young Mother being killed in the raid. Patrick adopts the young Roberto and re-names him Phillip.
Patrick is an M16 agent and works for a company that goes into business with Roberto's biological Father in order to infiltrate the business of the drug cartel in Columbia which is run by Escobar, Roberto's Father, Escobar who was also involved in money laundering.
Patrick works for a company called De La Rue and is likened to 007, their accountant, Clem Chalk AKA Chalky is likened to Q and Arthur Norman the MD of the company is likened to M and Lady Anne, Arthur's Personal Assistant is likened to Miss Moneypenny. Clem is in charge of all the spyware for the company.
Columbia took the view that politics was all about keeping the wrong people in power and keeping the poor people in their place. Money bought power but if you combined money with political power Escobar could be unstoppable. After all he who controls the cash controls the country. By silver or lead would entail Escobar's cartel putting a bullet in order to gain control.
The ending of this book is very sad indeed. On Patrick's deathbed he passes a piece of paper to Phillip which has a masonic code which once solved will lead to the missing millions which was the supposedly secret stash which Escobar had negotiated with Patrick to keep hidden. Phillip at the end of the book lets the reader know that there are clues on the front cover and also inside the book too. Madrid was mentioned by Patrick to Phillip.
Patrick is an M16 agent and works for a company that goes into business with Roberto's biological Father in order to infiltrate the business of the drug cartel in Columbia which is run by Escobar, Roberto's Father, Escobar who was also involved in money laundering.
Patrick works for a company called De La Rue and is likened to 007, their accountant, Clem Chalk AKA Chalky is likened to Q and Arthur Norman the MD of the company is likened to M and Lady Anne, Arthur's Personal Assistant is likened to Miss Moneypenny. Clem is in charge of all the spyware for the company.
Columbia took the view that politics was all about keeping the wrong people in power and keeping the poor people in their place. Money bought power but if you combined money with political power Escobar could be unstoppable. After all he who controls the cash controls the country. By silver or lead would entail Escobar's cartel putting a bullet in order to gain control.
The ending of this book is very sad indeed. On Patrick's deathbed he passes a piece of paper to Phillip which has a masonic code which once solved will lead to the missing millions which was the supposedly secret stash which Escobar had negotiated with Patrick to keep hidden. Phillip at the end of the book lets the reader know that there are clues on the front cover and also inside the book too. Madrid was mentioned by Patrick to Phillip.
August 1, 2022
I was hooked to this book! A short book really for me at almost 240 pages but it was fascinating. Imagine being the son of one of the world's most famous ganglords and not knowing it!
Now I have read many negative reviews on this claiming it's untrue and as I don't know what is true or not I won't comment on that. Just to say that it was very well written and really had me interested throughout. It was fascinating to read about the life of a young boy growing up in Columbia, the son of a drug king and he didn't know at the time. Phillip was rescued from a house where his mother lay dying, by Pat, who worked for money printing company De La Rue. He was adopted and brought up by his english parents in Columbia. Due to the nature of his father Pat's job, he got caught up in many hair raising situations one can only imagine.
Phillip attends a new years party every year and always gets taken to meet a man who he has no idea who he is, but eventually his dad reveals to him that his father is Don Pablo. Pablo Escobar. You can imagine the emotions this must provoke and it was a great read, whether it's all true or not, I guess we will never know. But it was very well written and I really liked it.
Now I have read many negative reviews on this claiming it's untrue and as I don't know what is true or not I won't comment on that. Just to say that it was very well written and really had me interested throughout. It was fascinating to read about the life of a young boy growing up in Columbia, the son of a drug king and he didn't know at the time. Phillip was rescued from a house where his mother lay dying, by Pat, who worked for money printing company De La Rue. He was adopted and brought up by his english parents in Columbia. Due to the nature of his father Pat's job, he got caught up in many hair raising situations one can only imagine.
Phillip attends a new years party every year and always gets taken to meet a man who he has no idea who he is, but eventually his dad reveals to him that his father is Don Pablo. Pablo Escobar. You can imagine the emotions this must provoke and it was a great read, whether it's all true or not, I guess we will never know. But it was very well written and I really liked it.
September 25, 2020
It wasn't until I had finished this book that I read other reviews questioning it's authenticity.
Having no knowledge about Pablo Escobar apart from being familiar with the name and knowing he was a big drug kingpin, I was intrigued by the premise of this book.
Whether or not the accounts in the book are accurate and true, it made for an interesting read. I enjoyed travelling to Colombia with the author through his memories. I've often wondered how involved UK and US intelligence agencies get with the murkier sides of the law so I was drawn in to the story they they essentially helped to build up this man who turned into a monster.
I did wonder about them changing his age to be three years older, meaning he would be entering secondary school at such a younger age felt slightly unbelievable but then schooling was probably quite different back in the 60s and 70s.
At the end of the day. I enjoyed this book and felt like I got to know the principle characters well through the eyes of the author.
**Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me advanced access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Having no knowledge about Pablo Escobar apart from being familiar with the name and knowing he was a big drug kingpin, I was intrigued by the premise of this book.
Whether or not the accounts in the book are accurate and true, it made for an interesting read. I enjoyed travelling to Colombia with the author through his memories. I've often wondered how involved UK and US intelligence agencies get with the murkier sides of the law so I was drawn in to the story they they essentially helped to build up this man who turned into a monster.
I did wonder about them changing his age to be three years older, meaning he would be entering secondary school at such a younger age felt slightly unbelievable but then schooling was probably quite different back in the 60s and 70s.
At the end of the day. I enjoyed this book and felt like I got to know the principle characters well through the eyes of the author.
**Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me advanced access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2022
Pablo Escobar was the most notorious drug trafficking organization in the world. Before being shot dead in 1993, he became one of the ten wealthiest people in the world and dominated 80% of the world's cocaine trade. This is the long-awaited autobiography of his eldest son, Roberto Sendoya Escobar. The story begins with two attack helicopters filled with heavily armed Colombian special forces personnel led by MI6 agents. This book shows how his son at a young age viewed Pablo Escobar (his father) while he was a drug lord. The author overall did a great job telling the readers his point of view on which he sees his father
September 26, 2020
I found this book riveting it reads like a thriller but is supposedly true! It provides insight into Colombia’s violent and lawless drug dealing past and the rise of Pablo Escobar the kingpin aided and abetted by the involvement of British, Panamanian and CIA Operatives in his drug trafficking and money laundering. An extraordinary story told by Pablo Escobar’s biological son who was rescued and adopted as a baby and brought up by the Englishman, whose role was transporting the huge quantities of bank notes within and out of Colombia.
October 27, 2020
Reads more like a memoir to his adopted father
This book is more about Pat his adopted fathers exploits than about his life. There's maybe three or four chapters about his memories of incidents that happened. Everything else was all about Pat's work. I noticed how he never really called his adopted mother mom it was always Joan which was the complete opposite to his father. His sister is mentioned a couple times and that was it. This really isn't about his life at all it's about Pat's work for a company in Columbia.
This book is more about Pat his adopted fathers exploits than about his life. There's maybe three or four chapters about his memories of incidents that happened. Everything else was all about Pat's work. I noticed how he never really called his adopted mother mom it was always Joan which was the complete opposite to his father. His sister is mentioned a couple times and that was it. This really isn't about his life at all it's about Pat's work for a company in Columbia.
August 13, 2020
Although the name Escobar is well known, I'd never really read anything about the man or his atrocious legacy. This autobiography of his first born son has both of the incredible and of the absurd, and really reads like a work of fiction. I struggled to believe it really, but perhaps because it is written exactly like a spy novel. My first book on Columbia. Perhaps not the best depiction of this country, but a start nonetheless.
August 11, 2022
9/10 14% £HB. I really enjoyed this - wasn’t at all what I expected (woe is me, I didn’t know, not my fault, etc)….just a really interesting unexpected life story with all the intrigue of a spy thriller thrown in to boot….and a hint of hidden $billions so what’s not to like. Well done to Phillip aka Roberto for being brave enough to tell the story and to do it so well, Patrick would be rightly proud of you….MI6 maybe less so!
September 27, 2020
A very interesting, honest account of one man’s life and paternal connection to Pablo Escobar. pics.
The story left me wanting more details and pics. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Read it in one sitting. Where’s the money?
The story left me wanting more details and pics. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Read it in one sitting. Where’s the money?
January 8, 2021
Finished ! This book was really interesting. What a world to have lived in ! Abit to much politics for me mind but what a life to read about. And there is still millions of dollars out there still unfound. The clues are there but no ones cracked the code! Very cool ! 💴💵💸💷💶💰💰💰💰💰💰
October 20, 2023
Добро начало.До към 190-та страница историята се развива,държи те. После рязко спира,приключва и това е всичко. През тези 180,190 страници очаквах нещо "уоу" , което така и не дойде. Краят всякаш е копиран с информация от Интернет . Не си заслужава...
July 27, 2025
I have to say this was a surprisingly good read. very little know about this man. Of course this is a one sided story. So without going into deep history is it all true. Definitely worth a read if you're interested in Pablo Escobar.
August 30, 2020
A brilliant book, I could not put the book down, amazing story.
September 4, 2020
So I wonder if it’s true or not but I enjoyed it nonetheless
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews