"Readers fascinated by organized crime and the inner workings of investigative journalism will want to check it out." -- Publishers Weekly "Bonello presents a complex report on women's roles in a world of extreme machismo and an eye-opening challenge to the perception of women involved in the complicated and brutal world of cartels." -- Booklist "Throughout this intriguing text, the author busts the myth that these narcas are mere victims." -- Kirkus Reviews "In Narcas , Deborah Bonello bypasses the typical macho narco narrative into something far more complex and fascinating: a look at the powerful patronas of organized crime. Finally, we get the other half of the story in this deeply reported and masterfully written book about women who built and ran their own drug empires, no matter the cost." --Melissa del Bosque, author of Bloodlines: The True Story of a Drug Cartel, the FBI, and the Battle for a Horse-Racing Dynasty "Deborah Bonello, a renowned journalist and author, brilliantly captures the ascension of women into leadership roles within the dark, violent world of powerful drug cartels dominated by ruthless men for many decades." --Mike Vigil, former DEA chief of International Operations "This incredibly well-researched and well-written book approaches the world of drug trafficking in a unique and novel fashion--through the eyes and stories of the women who live and work in that world. By telling the stories of these women, the book debunks the long-standing view that narcas are simply eye candy or accessories for their men and shows that smart, aggressive women can be leaders in their own right.

I commend the author for an excellent piece of investigative journalism!" --Bonnie S. Klapper, criminal defense attorney, animal rights activist, and former federal prosecutor "Deborah Bonello has years of experience in Mexico and the smarts to probe deep--and it shows in Narcas . From El Chapo's young wife to the women and girls enduring misogyny in Central America's gangs, this is a fascinating narrative, a behind-the-scenes look at an aspect of the drug business most people don't know about." --Tracy Wilkinson, senior foreign policy writer and former Latin America bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times "In a feat of intrepid reporting, Deborah Bonello travels to the front lines of the cartel wars to uncover stories of women who have risen through the ranks. Narcas is an important and nuanced corrective to decades of blinkered reporting on the drug trade--and essential reading for anyone who really wants to understand the culture within it." --Evan Ratliff, cofounder of the Longform podcast and author of The Mastermind: A True Story of Murder, Empire, and a New Kind of Crime Lord.