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The Killing Fields: Harvest of Women
Explosive book exposes the Mexican killing fields that claimed the lives of hundreds of women at the Juarez, Mexico border. The author's dangerous investigation reveals high-level corruption, a drug cartel run amok and more. Hollywood took note and produced a movie starring Jennifer Lopez and Antonio Banderas. Amnesty International, the United Nations and the U.S. State Department want the Mexican government to put an end to the murders and disappearances that have spread to other places. Exclusive material, including FBI interviews, puts this book at the frontlines of the issue. Author is the expert on the ghastly border crimes. It is the first nonfiction book in English about the murders that attracted international attention.
390 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2006
14 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 2, 2010
The information in this book blew me away! As an Amnesty International activist I have known about the hundreds of unsolved murders in Juarez for a several years now, and I have been under the impression that no one knew what was behind the femicides.
This book makes it perfectly clear that powerful people on both sides of the border know what's going on and that many of those power-brokers south of the border are directly responsible. This book is especially commendable because of the attention and honor it pays to the families of the victims and the toll all of the trauma on citizens of the border region.
A simplified version of this book's explanation of the Juarez femicides is that the Colombian drug cartel forged an agreement with some of the most powerful people in Mexico, and that in exchange for money the Mexicans would grant the cartel and its allies total impunity in the state of Chihuahua. This grim agreement gave the power to kill, kidnap and torture to a mix of sadists, misogynists, serial killers and multi-millionaires.
The cartel recruited many of its operatives from the Mexican army when the Cold War ended, which brings up another important point in this book. These operatives were trained to kidnap, torture, and kill leftists and other political dissidents, and had no use for these awful skills when the Cold War ended (and with it Mexico's "Dirty War" against political dissidents). This made them ripe for recruitment by the cartels for whom they applied all of the same twisted techniques of their trade (like throwing people out of airplanes). The book also notes that the government was easily corrupted by the cartel largely because Mexico's political and justice institutions were so badly weakened by three decades of the Dirty War.
This Dirty War was covertly encouraged and supported by the USA as part of its Cold War strategy. It's a horrifying example of what the intelligence community refers to as 'blowback'. The amount and specificity of information make this the best single source of information on this issue that I have encountered.
Valdez names names and cites her sources to the extent that is possible. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to begin to understand this issue, and especially to journalists, human rights activists and researchers who are working on this issue.
This book isn't for everyone. I contains graphic descriptions of horrific acts of violence. This is not done gratuitously as the victims' bodies have given forensics experts important clues that Valdez uses to unravel some of the mysteries. And, some people might not take to the journalistic writing style of Valdez, a journalist for the El Paso Times, because it doesn't always flow the way a good novelist might tell a story. Some times information is thrown in for factual completeness that kind of breaks the rhythm of the narrative. For these reasons, I recommend this book more for someone who wants to learn about the Juarez femicides than for someone who is looking for an entertaining story.
This book makes it perfectly clear that powerful people on both sides of the border know what's going on and that many of those power-brokers south of the border are directly responsible. This book is especially commendable because of the attention and honor it pays to the families of the victims and the toll all of the trauma on citizens of the border region.
A simplified version of this book's explanation of the Juarez femicides is that the Colombian drug cartel forged an agreement with some of the most powerful people in Mexico, and that in exchange for money the Mexicans would grant the cartel and its allies total impunity in the state of Chihuahua. This grim agreement gave the power to kill, kidnap and torture to a mix of sadists, misogynists, serial killers and multi-millionaires.
The cartel recruited many of its operatives from the Mexican army when the Cold War ended, which brings up another important point in this book. These operatives were trained to kidnap, torture, and kill leftists and other political dissidents, and had no use for these awful skills when the Cold War ended (and with it Mexico's "Dirty War" against political dissidents). This made them ripe for recruitment by the cartels for whom they applied all of the same twisted techniques of their trade (like throwing people out of airplanes). The book also notes that the government was easily corrupted by the cartel largely because Mexico's political and justice institutions were so badly weakened by three decades of the Dirty War.
This Dirty War was covertly encouraged and supported by the USA as part of its Cold War strategy. It's a horrifying example of what the intelligence community refers to as 'blowback'. The amount and specificity of information make this the best single source of information on this issue that I have encountered.
Valdez names names and cites her sources to the extent that is possible. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to begin to understand this issue, and especially to journalists, human rights activists and researchers who are working on this issue.
This book isn't for everyone. I contains graphic descriptions of horrific acts of violence. This is not done gratuitously as the victims' bodies have given forensics experts important clues that Valdez uses to unravel some of the mysteries. And, some people might not take to the journalistic writing style of Valdez, a journalist for the El Paso Times, because it doesn't always flow the way a good novelist might tell a story. Some times information is thrown in for factual completeness that kind of breaks the rhythm of the narrative. For these reasons, I recommend this book more for someone who wants to learn about the Juarez femicides than for someone who is looking for an entertaining story.
April 25, 2015
I'm going to explain my rating - since i do agree with other reviews that discuss the way it was written.
This is an important book, filled with information and facts. The problem is, it feels like it was copied from someone's index card notes back in 70's HS/College and never put in any order or even correct types of chapters.
It also has the feel of possibly being newspaper articles, which it also could have been (but this is never mentioned). I guess this is an English-translated version, so i can totally understand seeing words that are incorrect, or missed by the Proofreader or Editor. This doesnt bother me - i've read books by small publishers and independent publishers and seen this, and that's OK. I'd rather have the chance to read these type of books than be super-picky about a missed word.
But - the way these chapters are done, you really can never get the full story of any ONE woman, any ONE area where bodies were found, or even one FULL story of a certain GROUP of killings. It's frustrating. The writing of it would probably be given one star. But i read the entire book - it kept my attention and was readable, and lists the women's names, ages, causes of death at the end of the book, which leaves one with a feeling that cannot be explained. Mostly - WHY? HOW? And now i need to read more. I cannot believe this was allowed to happen - and people wonder why Mexicans risk their lives and the lives of their children to flee across the border daily - especially women?! This is a book that should be read.
This is an important book, filled with information and facts. The problem is, it feels like it was copied from someone's index card notes back in 70's HS/College and never put in any order or even correct types of chapters.
It also has the feel of possibly being newspaper articles, which it also could have been (but this is never mentioned). I guess this is an English-translated version, so i can totally understand seeing words that are incorrect, or missed by the Proofreader or Editor. This doesnt bother me - i've read books by small publishers and independent publishers and seen this, and that's OK. I'd rather have the chance to read these type of books than be super-picky about a missed word.
But - the way these chapters are done, you really can never get the full story of any ONE woman, any ONE area where bodies were found, or even one FULL story of a certain GROUP of killings. It's frustrating. The writing of it would probably be given one star. But i read the entire book - it kept my attention and was readable, and lists the women's names, ages, causes of death at the end of the book, which leaves one with a feeling that cannot be explained. Mostly - WHY? HOW? And now i need to read more. I cannot believe this was allowed to happen - and people wonder why Mexicans risk their lives and the lives of their children to flee across the border daily - especially women?! This is a book that should be read.
Want to read
June 17, 2020I have not read this book yet, but on the podcast “forgotten, women of Juarez” the author of this book mentioned that she felt she had to finish writing this book and get it out asap as she felt her life could be in danger because of her investigating.
July 24, 2009
Interest subject matter but it had to have been the most poorly written book ever. There was no rhyme or reason to the order - not topical nor chronological.
September 26, 2016
A powerful, challenging look at our government, Mexico, and what is occurring next door across from our border.
February 19, 2023
As someone who lives in El Paso right next to the border it’s so important to have read this and really grasp the injustice that happens so close to home. I use to go to Juarez when I was younger and slowly stopped, I never knew why other than it’s “dangerous” but I never knew to what extent. The whole system is corrupt and the killings that happen usually go unsolved which is just horrific. These poor woman and their families who should be relying on the system to at least find answers for these cruel acts just get brushed off.
I listened to a podcast about the femicides and I encourage anyone who wants to learn more to have a listen, Its called ( Forgotten: Woman of Juarez ) she goes over the maquiladoras and many different woman’s stories.
**This book was definitely not written in the best format possible and I found many mistakes, but I think the importance of educating yourself overrides any mistakes published.
I listened to a podcast about the femicides and I encourage anyone who wants to learn more to have a listen, Its called ( Forgotten: Woman of Juarez ) she goes over the maquiladoras and many different woman’s stories.
**This book was definitely not written in the best format possible and I found many mistakes, but I think the importance of educating yourself overrides any mistakes published.
Want to read
January 26, 2021Para los que somos de Juarez conocemos alguna mencionada del libro y mas historias...
March 30, 2008
This is a very interesting story; however, I find the writing style a bit confusing. The author discusses a large number of murder cases that were never resolved. It is sometimes difficult to determine if she is discussing facts about a new case, or going back to add information about a case previously discussed. I read the English version of this book. I wonder if something was lost in translation. I saw excellent reviews given to the Spanish version. The book did prompt me to want to learn a bit more about the Juarez femicides, so I googled the topic to try to understand it a bit better. It is a topic worth learning about.
February 4, 2016
Finally had a chance to read in detail about the Juarez femicide which as of 2006, stands at around 470 women. The author makes a brief, but small connection to other places that have/had femicides. The author, in her dry journalist voice, states what happened and all of the people involved to ultimately implicate the murderers which are the "juniors," sons of rich and powerful people and the State, for it's corruption, failure to investigate adequately and arrest the culprits, and making a pact with Colombian drug cartels. The author does a great job of linking it to recent history with Mexico's "dirty wars." Horizon City is mentioned once, and my town is mentioned twice, unfortunately!
August 3, 2009
Very factual, lots of names and dates of murders.
August 12, 2016
Excellent research and well written.
November 20, 2022
Le este libro los primeros días de vida de mi nene, hubiera preferido no haberlo echo así.
Investigación valiente e importante.
Investigación valiente e importante.
May 8, 2017
Very poorly written book. See full review at http://relaxandhavefun.com/?p=47
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews