Rating: 
Summary: Bowden does it again!
Review: After Mark Bowden wrote the highly acclaimed "Black Hawk Down" I thought I had seen the last of this journalist. However, I was wrong. In "Killing Pablo" Bowden has done it again by merging a blow-by-blow account of the manhunt for the drug kingpin Pablo Escobar with little gems of US foreign policy and the future of warfare.While the book in itself is a good read it really becomes excellent if one takes it as a case study of what is to come in the future in the realm of armed conflict. Escobar and his drug cartel was by no measure a government but the casaulties still massed up to thousands during the manhunt for him. Much like Osama Bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network these are non-governmental organization waging war!! "Killing Pablo" serves as a reminder that Bin Laden and Al Qaeda are not the first, or last, non-state group to seriously threaten the security of nations in the 21st Century.....
Rating:
Summary: Symphony for the Devil
Review: This is a fascinating tale of the life and death of a modern day outlaw, Pablo Escobar, a Colombian narcotics trafficker who became more powerful than the government of the country in which he lived. The book raises an interesting moral point. To defeat Pablo it was necessary to kill him. He was too powerful in Colombia to be suppressed by legal means. What should a government do when it is faced with a merciless gang? Is it ever moral for a government to sanction the murder of its citizens? Is the struggle against a powerful criminal gang akin to a war in which killing political opponents is "fair play?" Is an employee or family member of an evil man a fair target? The author reports the facts as he discovered them and doesn't express a clear opinion, but his story of Pablo's killing makes you ponder right and wrong. The author constructed "Killing Pablo" by interviewing participants. The story is necessarily one-sided as so many of its characters ended up dead. The actions of the Colombian and U.S. governments in ridding the world of Pablo Escobar will be applauded by some and deplored by others. Read the book and make up your own mind. It's a thought-provoking story of evil.
Rating: 
Summary: Understanding drugs and Columbia
Review: Bowden has followed Blackhawk Down with another spellbinding work. His story makes sense of the complex drug-related events in Colombia with text that is riveting. He provides cultural and historical context, then chronicles the rise in power of Escobar. A petty criminal, his absolute ruthlessness eliminated drug trade competitors and overwhelmed the ability of the government to cope. He either bought or killed officials who stood in his way; his motto was "silver or lead." Those brave enough to resist usually survived only weeks after refusing a bribe. His reporter's skill is apparent: Bowden is careful to present what information he knows, as compared to what he suspects. The book is valuable both as a good read, although I found it understandably less compelling than Blackhawk Down, and as an explanatory record of recent historical events.
Rating:
Summary: It took guts to bring Escobar down
Review: I was born in Bogota Colombia and moved to the U.S when I was 10. My father was born in Medellin and he came to the U.S when he was 16. He witnessed a great deal of bloodshed as a boy. We rarely go back to Colombia. It's such a beautiful country but that is tainted by the lawlessness that permeates their society. "Killing Pablo" was a testiment to how messed up Colombia is but it is also a great story depicting some incredible heroism. It took a great deal of cunning and guts to bring Escobar down especially since he was so feared and so powerful. It is amazing how many loyal fans he had.
Rating:
Summary: Better than fiction.
Review: Pablo Escobar, through humble roots, managed to become the most feared and powerful man in Colombia through his notorious drug business. This book documents the efforts of the U.S. and Colombian governments to capture Pablo, and Pablo's efforts to evade and subdue those forces. A truly marvelous book that documents the greatest criminal investigation ever. I would have normally never considered reading a book like this. I tend to find non-fiction dry and uninteresting. This was the exact opposite of what I expected. Written by the same author of Black Hawk Down (which I consider the best war movie ever), he expertly weaves a great tale, dealing with the micro and macro events in this interesting saga. This is a true page-turner and I would highly recommend it to anyone. To further continue raving about the book, I would have to give away details, and that wouldn't do this book any justice.
Rating:
Summary: Very interesting reading
Review: This book tells the tail of how the drug war's, in late eighties and early ninety, of Colombia turned into a manhunt and were death had been the only option.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Story, Poor Writing
Review: The story is tremendously interesting, but the author writes very poorly. He jumps around and does have a clear stream of thought sometimes. Things in the book never happen in chronological order. The story itself is fasnicating, so I say it is worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Mark Bowden Has Done His Homework
Review: Mark Bowden is a terrific writer. However, in "Killing Pablo" he also shows us his remarkable research skills. Colombia is a difficult subject. To that end, Bowden displays a sophisticated understanding of the Colombian war on drugs. His sources are impeccable and his knowledge of behind the scene decisions demonstrates his deep contacts in the Colombian and U.S. governments.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most intriguing stories ever told.
Review: "Killing Pablo" reads like a novel. Bowden does an amazing job with a controversial and bloody time in Columbia's history. Whether you enjoy action, politics, or an intense drama - you will be captivated by Bowden's latest offering. It has quickly become one of my favorite books.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging
Review: Current history piece that reads like a novel. Really keeps your attention, but also educates on a situation and culture of which most Americans know little.
| 
