The Border

By: Don Winslow

Narrated by: Ray Porter

The explosive, highly anticipated conclusion to the epic Cartel trilogy from the New York Times best-selling author of The Force.

The war has come home.

For over 40 years, Art Keller has been on the front lines of America’s longest conflict: the War on Drugs. His obsession with defeating the godfather of the Sinaloa Cartel - Adán Barrera - has cost him people he loves, even taken a piece of his soul.

Now Keller is elevated to the highest ranks of the DEA, only to find that in destroying one monster he has created 30 more that are wreaking chaos in his beloved Mexico. But not just there.

Fighting to end the heroin epidemic scourging America, Keller finds himself surrounded by an incoming administration that’s in bed with the very drug traffickers that Keller is trying to bring down.

From the slums of Guatemala to the marbled corridors of Washington, DC, Winslow follows a new generation of narcos, cops, addicts, politicians and mere children fleeing the violence for the chance of a life in a new country.

A shattering tale of vengeance, corruption and justice, The Border is an unflinching portrait of modern America, a story of - and for - our time.

©2019 Don Winslow (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"The year’s best thriller." (Sunday Times, Books of the Year)

"One of the great literary achievements of the century so far." (Daily Telegraph)

Section through a drug sphere

@donwinslow if one was to visualise the drug problem as a solid sphere and slice a few sections through the sphere, what you would see under the microscope are the three books from Don _ #ThePowerOfDog, The #Cartel and The #Border. More than a story..it’s an EPIC🙏

an absolute masterpiece and the best performer

I literally walk my last few weeks with Ray Porter reading incessantly in my ears this amazing trilogy. I couldn't put down the earphones. These books are a tale of war, an extended lesson of history, a picture of violence of horror, despair, degradation, corruption, sadness, but also of hope, love attempts at redemption. A gigantic fresco which in bright colours describes the history of a quite senseless "war on drugs" which very few people have dared to pose the right fundamental questions.
I'm surely going to read it again, this time on "real" books, for is practically impossible take all the stories, the lives and retains all of them as this total masterpiece deserves (and I mean all the three books togeter: The Power of the dog; The Cartel, and the insuperable final The border).
A note on Ray Porter: if I were Don Winslow (or John Connolly Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, Robert Littelor Dennis Lehane, for that matter - to cite my favourite authors) after listening THIS PERFORMANCE, I would never, NEVER, accept anyone else reading my books on audiobooks. Astounding. Listening to Ray Porter you're practically watching a movie in Dolby theater with a 4k high definition colours.

Wow!

Loooooong.
But so well written and so well read that I couldn't stop listening. I constantly wondered if this wasn't a documentary after all.
And the not so well hidden reference to a certain real estate mogul and president joke made me both fear and hope it was true...

The trilogy that beats them all

So sad to have this trilogy come to an end, or is it? This novel wraps up the story of Art Keller and his own war on drugs, and the tragedy of it all. A perfect book? Not unless you’ve read the first two - then it’s sublime, heart wrenching and beautifully written and narrated. Amazing.

Outstanding

Captivating story
The reader is beyond excellent
Highly recommended, as are all Don Winslow’s books.

should be required reading for anyone

who wants to know about the failure of 50 years of war on drugs! a monumental series!!!

WOW!

Definitely the best book in the series. The complexity of several story lines is amazing. Although not without a clear political agenda by the author.

End of an epic story

Amazing story. Had me yearning for doing chores so I could listen. Wholeheartedly recommend!

Ever since I stumbled over "Power of the dog" I've been enthralled by the insight Winslow offers into the Mexican drug trade and the counter moves from the DEA.

This book combines the political games in Washington (complete with a Trump character) with the horrifying front line details of the sicarios of the cartels. I usually don't care for political drama, but the author keeps it interesting without becoming too complicated.

Reads like a movie, just like the other books in the series. It can be read as a stand alone as well.

When will we learn?!?

I read the three books after each other. I suggest readers todo the same. Great story line! I truly was fascinated by the overall knowledge of the author.
The three novels have convinced me even more that we use an incredible amount of energy to win a war that is similar to the failed war on alcohol just decades ago. Waisted energy. When will we learn?!?
I wish the world would legalize drugs so we could stop the madness we are in for such a long time.

A tough book on drug wars

If one liked the two first chapters of the trilogy (The power of the dog & The cartel) he will not be disappointed by the this third episode. Sharply written , but a bit repetitive, the book is at times too long and needs a good editor. However ,if you "get into it", you will become addicted.