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I read the book, two years ago, and just finished the prequel/sequel, last week. The author is among my recent favorites. For those who haven't seen the trailers, it is the story, directed by Oliver Stone, of Southern California major marijuana wholesalers, (white) in a relationship with the same woman, who are contacted by reps from Tijuana, to turn their business and clients over to them. Negotiations take an ugly turn when the woman is kidnapped, to ensure their cooperation. Things precede from there.
The cartel in question is referred to in the book as the Baja Cartel, but besides some small details, and names, it is essentially the Arellano Felix, which the author also explains the history and legacy of, including their present leader, Elena(Endenina), played by Salma Hayek. The book has an 'Engineer' character, played as a hapless leader, but the movie I don't think does.
The movie looks good, if a bit over stylized, and overcast in some instances, Salma, from the trailer, appears to be chewing the scenery a bit much for my taste, but I am still excited to see it. I just would prefer a more reserved and refined Endenina, being that she is based on a real person, who is an accountant.
I recommend the book, as well as most of Don Winslow's work, as he has the Tijuana and Sinaloa Cartel in just about every book he's written, including one, where he basically tells the story of the entire cartel structure in Mexico, as well as a detailed account of Arellano Felix family, fictionalized, and wildly over the top at times, still an interesting read. 'The Power of The Dog' was the title.
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