My thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance copy of this look at one of the largest drug trafficking groups in history, set in pastel scenery of Miami during one of the wildest times in American history.

There have been a few eras in America that some would consider happy, golden times to be a bad guy. Prohibition era Chicago, listening to hot jazz and sipping bootleg hooch. Havana in the 50's when the mob controlled the government, the gambling, and everything else. The 60 and 70s in gritty New York with Asian gangs rising, the Irish gangs shooting, and the others hanging one to what they had. However the craziest, the most violent, the most fortune making and most corrupt time was probably Florida in the early 80's when cocaine was king. The rich wanted it, the cops looked the other way, and boats, planes, and anything that could get to Florida was loaded with it. One thing all this different crimes eras have in common is that T. J. English has written very good books about them. And this one is no exception. The Last Kilo: Willy Falcon and the Cocaine Empire That Seduced America looks at one of the largest group of drug traffickers, their lows, their highs and the high they brought to America.

The book starts with an interesting forward discussing how many true crime books are written. The sources are usually the authorities, which means that their story is probably not as truthful or real, as the cops, the federal authorities and prosecutors have their own version of the truth. On the other hand many of the people who have turned state's evidence are not to be trusted either as they can't admit to certain things, and also have a story to keep to. English discusses this, and makes for very interesting reading, and how he creates his books. From there we are dropped right into the story of Willy Falcon, who is facing a little bit of karma for his criminal enterprises. Willy Falcon was the son of Cuban exiles who had to flee Cuba because of Castro. As Falcon grew older, he joined an anti-Castro groups to fight for Cuba's freedom, and to support other anti-communist forces. Soon he was involved with selling cocaine to raise money for weapons for Contras. Falcon soon had a diverse group of friends and contacts, from drug smugglers, to arms merchants and even more government officials. All willing to look the other way for the right price. Falcon and his fellow traffickers called themselves Los Muchachos, and were soon at the forefront of the very dangerous and very deadly drug trade. However being successful comes with a price, and a target that many are willing to take a crack at.

T. J. English is so very good at writing about bad people. English not only can write he can research and even better is a great listener. English gets the stories that criminals don't want to share, nor that authorities ever want made to the people they supposedly serve. There are few decent people in this book. The amount of people willing to look away for a few dollars is staggering. English covers it all from the shores of Cuba, to speedboat races, kidnappings and more. English adds some thrills to the story but really gets to the fact that while being a drug trafficker might be exciting, weekends in gambling towns, big parties, there is a lot of risk and even more the penalties can be quite confining or deadly. A very exciting and riveting read.

I have enjoyed many of English's books on the underworld, and can't recommend this one enough. This would be a good jumping on point for new readers. For those who wish Miami Vice was a a documentary, and for a look at a vanished era when Florida was probably less corrupt than it is today, this is the perfect book.

Many thanks to William Morrow Publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of prolific writer T.J. English’s new book The Last Kilo: Willy Falcon and the Cocaine Empire that Seduced America. There are several books by English that are on my to be read shelf, so I feel grateful that I was able to read this new book. Furthermore, I had some familiarity with Willy Falcon’s story from the Netflix documentary Cocaine Cowboys. However, as English lets readers know in the beginning of the book, he wrote this book with Willy Falcon’s collaboration and did not rely on the testimony of people who collaborated with the government as witnesses, in the ways that the Netflix documentary was created. This provides a unique perspective that may have some bias in the details. Nevertheless, English’s writing, detailed research, and ability to capture the scene of late 70s and 1980s Miami, specifically the Little Havana area, helps to add to the intrigue and action of Willy Falcon’s story (as well as his partner Sal Magluta and the other members of their gang, Los Muchachos). Just like other true crime and non-fiction books, English helps to contextualize the history and social scene of cocaine use in America in the 70s and 80s. He provides a quick history, and then pivots to explore how many Cubans ended up in Miami in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I actually didn’t know about the Mariel Boatlift, a time when Cuba and America entered into an agreement to allow refugees to flee Cuba. As English explains, Castro was playing a game with the US, and released inmates and other criminals from Cuba’s prisons, sending them to the US. I wondered if this is possibly the source of some current anxieties over refugees from other Latin American countries. Although Willy and Sal arrived much earlier, their experiences fleeing Castro’s Cuba helps to shed light on the kinds of threats and violence they experienced as young children with their families. Furthermore, it makes their story of American success, using the front of several businesses to become possibly the largest cocaine smugglers in the US, more incredible. I was also amazed to learn that Los Muchachos got their start smuggling cocaine as part of the anti-Castro groups that emerged after the Bay of Pigs failures in the 1960s. That is, it sounded like Willy and Sal took on an existing role of drugs for weapons that predated the Iran-Contra affairs by at least a decade, and may have been going on for some time. In fact, I found Willy and Sal’s story of success incredible considering that neither of them graduated high school, yet they became successful business men and popular within their communities. I think their story also kind of sheds light on how some minority groups and immigrants don’t have the same kinds of advantages and opportunities that other citizens might have. Most don’t turn to illegal activities, but Willy and Sal saw this as their main opportunity to make money and continue to fight to liberate Cuba from communism. Their efforts and experiences raise some important questions about the nature of battling communism. While I don’t agree that bringing drugs into America and feeding addicts is the right way to battle dictatorships and ideologies we disagree with, I can see how their decisions to deal drugs were largely motivated by their patriotism and efforts to return Cuba to its pre-revolution days. English is persistent in showing readers that Willy and Sal regularly donated money to the cause whenever they were asked. I was actually surprised that they could still find the funds to support the liberation efforts even when they were being detained and had limited access to their funds. I also loved reading about some of the other traffickers that have shown up in other Netflix series, especially the Narcos series. I didn’t realize that Willy and Sal were that close with Escobar and some of the Sinaloa Cartel. It seemed kind of incredible to see how Los Muchachos had to navigate the relationships between different distributors of cocaine in Columbia, working with different cartels and trying to import the goods to America. It also showed how ingenious they were in subverting the DEA’s means of halting smuggling.
The Last Kilo is an exciting and fun read. Although the days of crime were action filled and entertaining, the last sections when Los Muchachos begins to fall apart was also compelling to read. English shifts from a crime story to more of a legal tale, exploring the various indictments against Willy, Sal, and many of their compatriots in Los Muchachos. It was amazing to read about the long stint that Willy and Sal spent in prison despite not being convicted of a crime. Furthermore, it was incredible to see the ways they were able to maneuver around the charges, and eventually find a plea deal to reduce their time in prison. Although English had access to Willy’s accounts, I felt like sometimes this book may have overlooked some of the crimes or the cost of addiction. Other books focusing on drug crimes often give the perspective of the victims of drugs—especially the addicts, and there’s not much about the cost of addiction in 80s. One of the pilots that Willy and Sal worked with did become addicted to a early form of crack, and Willy learns about the cost of crack, but he also seems somewhat indifferent to it, like his smuggling was not really resulting in all of the crack addiction, crime, and punishment that was a result of the failed war on drugs. If anything, Willy seems kind of oblivious to his role in furthering this dark period of American society that we are still dealing with. The book always seemed to go back to the idea of fighting for Cuba’s independence and using drugs as a means to subvert Castro’s Cuba, despite not really seeing where the money or weapons went.
I really enjoyed reading English’s book, and I look forward to reading some of his other true crime books. Although I haven’t read too many books about drug smuggling empires, I think that this one ranks with Mark Bowden’s Killing Pablo, one of my favorite and one of the more exciting books I’ve read. The one aspect of The Last Kilo that I felt could be better is the dialogue in the book. Some of the dialogue seemed a little stilted and didn’t quite have the sound that major drug smugglers might sound like—or maybe my ideas about their discussions may be more influenced by popular media like television shows and movies. Specifically, whenever Willy and Sal would talk to other dealers, it seemed like they were always kind of understanding. English also mentioned that they didn’t really engage in violence and often were forgiving of mistakes and issues. However, he does raise questions about the deaths of witnesses that occur while Willy and Sal are awaiting trial. English never directly implicates Willy and Sal, but it seems like they may have had a hand in some of these deaths. Regardless, this was a really fascinating story that covers a range of issues from crime and drugs, to immigration and American opportunities, as well as foreign policy and covert missions to combat communism. A really entertaining and compelling read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

T. J. English, a master of true crime storytelling, delivers a riveting account of the cocaine-fueled underworld of 1980s Miami in “The Last Kilo: Willy Falcon and the Cocaine Empire That Seduced America.” This book plunges readers into the glitzy yet perilous world of Los Muchachos, one of the most successful cocaine trafficking organizations in history.

At the heart of this saga is Willy Falcon, a Cuban exile who rose from humble beginnings to become a kingpin in the drug trade. English meticulously chronicles Falcon’s journey, from his early days in the anti-Castro movement to his reign over a multi-billion-dollar cocaine empire.

English’s writing is both gripping and insightful, providing a detailed look at the mechanics of the drug trade and the socio-political landscape that allowed it to flourish.

The book excels in its vivid depiction of the characters and their environment. English brings to life the vibrant, chaotic streets of Miami, the opulent lifestyles of the drug lords, and the relentless pursuit by law enforcement.

One of the standout aspects of “The Last Kilo” is its exploration of the broader impact of the cocaine trade. English delves into how the influx of drugs and money transformed Miami, influencing everything from politics to popular culture.

For audiobook enthusiasts, the narration of “The Last Kilo” enhances the experience, with the narrator’s delivery capturing the intensity and drama of the story. The audiobook format brings an additional dimension to English’s already compelling prose.

“The Last Kilo” is a masterfully crafted true crime narrative that offers a deep dive into one of the most fascinating and turbulent periods in American history. T. J. English’s meticulous research and storytelling prowess make this book a must-read for fans of the genre and anyone interested in the dark underbelly of the American Dream.

In 2021, Netflix released the six-part miniseries <i>Cocaine Cowboys</i>. The episodes detailed the lives of Cuban emigrants Willy Falcon and Sal Magluta who, while living in the pastel-colored, open-collared fantasy world of <i>Miami Vice</i>, became two of history’s most prolific cocaine traffickers, bringing in thousands of tons from Colombia to the United States by way of ships, planes, and trucks.

T.J. English, author of <i>The Last Kilo: Willy Falcon and the Cocaine Empire That Seduced America</i>, was not impressed. In a potshot toward the end of his latest book, he sneers at Netflix’s “mostly . . . calcified reporting” that “trafficked [heh] in cocaine-era tropes and stereotypes that had become standardized almost to the point of cliché.”

A full three years after Netflix’s unworthy attempt, English takes up the very same subject — a pair of very boring, pretty stupid sellers of illegal drugs — to show the world how it’s done.

I haven’t seen the Netflix series, so English’s critique may be well founded, though one has to ask whether there is much more to expect from narco-true-crime television than eye candy about nose candy. But given English’s loftier hopes for media treatment of this stimulant, imagine my surprise that he nevertheless relied on <i>Cocaine Cowboys</i> as his source for at least two interviews, “calcified reporting” and all.

I am beginning to see overlong introductions to modern nonfiction as unnecessary, if not annoying. They often depart tangentially from the book’s subject in a manner that pads the volume and strokes the author’s ego. Like it or not, the <i>Last Kilo</i> reader will be treated to English’s philosophy on reporting on these couple of narco idiots.

In plain English, it can be described as “interview plus.” There is much grandstanding about how “[i]t is time that this story be told from the point of view of those who lived it,” rather than the “snitches” who “cooperated with the government.” This means that Falcon and Magluta talk to the author and the author scratches it down, thanks the narco idiots for their time and wisdom, and prints their babble in a widely distributed book.

Well, just Falcon. Magluta, who has the rare distinction of being even dumber than Falcon, is still in federal prison. (According to English, “criminals [who] are buried away in prison” cannot be interviewed “unless it is . . . beneficial to the government.” This must have been a relief to the author although Richard Behar’s recent <i>Madoff: The Final Word</i>, in which Behar interviewed Madoff in prison several times with no apparent “benefi[t] to the government,” calls this into question.) And the omission of Magluta had the effect one would expect, as, for example, Falcon self-servingly swore that he wanted to “retire” from drug trafficking when the silent Magluta wanted to continue.

Government informants provide invaluable information. Criminal organizations tend to be populated with criminals. The best information about the operation of these organizations comes, therefore, from criminals. This principle deserves to live in perpetuity alongside Franklin’s line about death and taxes.

English’s substitute disappoints. <i>The Last Kilo</i> is loaded with entire conversations between Falcon, Magluta, and others that took place three to four decades ago and were presumably relayed to English by Falcon. The conspirators were mostly Cuban, Colombian, and Mexican, so they probably spoke in Spanish. But the quotations provided in the book are in English. All of the characters sound the same, and their words are over the top. Mine eyes can only roll so much.

With his credibility reeling from quotes of dubious authenticity, English continues with wild missteps. He describes Janet Reno as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and adds some color, calling her “a local legend, the only woman U.S. attorney in the country.” There is just one problem: Janet Reno was never a U.S. Attorney anywhere. Bizarrely, English writes that Reno hired one Falcon-Magluta federal prosecutor for his internship. The notes reflect that English interviewed that prosecutor for the book. Since no prosecutor could make that error, English seems neither to have had his manuscript fact-checked nor to have run his draft by his sources.

English paints as “highly anecdotal” and “totally without scientific or biological merit” the concept that children experience withdrawal symptoms from substances used by their mothers during pregnancy. The term “crack babies” is unkind, but it was a heuristic for a problem that is real — and a problem that caused a very real fear in the 1980s in the United States. Prenatal substance exposure has been shown to lead to devastating long-term consequences, including delays in learning, language skills, and development, as well as difficulties with behavioral and emotional regulation. English’s determination to screen his readers from the provenance of the term is outrageous. It leaves no doubt as to who he thinks the good guys are.

This latter shortcoming is of a piece with an obsession with romanticizing a years-long course of conduct that had a ruinous effect on poor neighborhoods in the United States. Black communities, fed up with catastrophe wrought by the crack epidemic, demanded change. As Michael Javen Fortner aptly illustrated in <i>Black Silent Majority</i>, they contributed directly to state and federal laws that drastically increased punishments for drug possession and distribution. Now, the perverse concept inanely called “harm reduction” demands that society abet mental illness, homelessness, and addiction on public streets. The quiet, law-abiding citizens are always the losers in these stories.

On the cover of this book is a powerboat. Falcon and Magluta, like many blockheads who cannot resist loud and fast things, raced boats. Their races, for some reason, were meticulously cataloged in <i>The Last Kilo</i>, an apparent exception to English’s prejudice against “cocaine-era tropes and stereotypes.” <i>The Last Kilo</i> is no more serious than Falcon and Magluta’s delusional, self-aggrandizing rationalization that selling cocaine would help them take down Fidel Castro.

This book has a morality problem. T.J. English's The Last Kilo tells the story of Willy Falcon and his drug associates as they bring literal tons of cocaine into the United States over decades. Inevitably, the War on Drugs catches up to them and their empire falls. This has all the makings of a true crime thriller. However, the book was not interesting to me but rather disgusting.

Let me start by saying the War on Drugs is controversial to put it mildly. I come in on one side of the fence, but I can also acknowledge that you could argue coherently one side or the other with ample evidence to prove your point. English, in this book, takes numerous shots at the U.S. government for their actions in this time period. This, by itself, is not a problem. It does become a huge problem because he refuses throughout the book to criticize Falcon and his associates and even goes so far as to absolve them. Multiple times English will point out that Falcon was removed from the actual crime on the streets and that the violence was carried about by street level criminals. Yes, he is reporting Falcon's perspective, but he does not challenge it at all like he does when discussing the War on Drugs. You can't help as a reader notice when the author turns off their willingness to challenge a point of view. It reads like English is writing off Falcon and his people as just, "boys being boys." You can't bring drugs to a country and then say, "well it's not my fault people are killing each other over it."

Now, maybe you might not see the above problem as a bad thing. Even if you don't, there is another consequence of this. By not challenging Falcon's and other's viewpoints, every character in the book is flat and uninteresting. I was bored because it is a list of events instead of story with people who are multidimensional. For example, Falcon started his criminal career by performing drug trafficking jobs to help Cuban exiles fight Fidel Castro. Falcon almost immediately switches to going into business for himself but giving lip service that he was still supporting the cause. Why didn't Falcon give all his money to forces trying to free Cuba from Castro? Was it only about the money? Did he ever regret it? Was he under family pressures? None of these questions are meaningfully explored. Falcon just did it. And then the narrative is off to the next thing that happened. If English isn't interested in the real Falcon, then why should I care? Ultimately, I didn't.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and William Morrow.)

From true-crime legend T. J. English, the epic, behind-the-scenes saga of “Los Muchachos,” one of the most successful cocaine trafficking organizations in American history—a story of glitz, glamour, and organized crime set against 1980’s Miami.

Despite what Scarface might lead one to believe, violence was not the dominant characteristic of the cocaine business. It was corruption: the dirty cops, agents, lawyers, judges, and politicians who made the drug world go round. And no one managed that carousel of dangerous players better than Willy Falcon.

A thrilling, engaging and multi-decade journey through the lives of the “Cocaine Cowboys” and their expansive operation. The book was very detailed and kept me interested without being overwhelmed by too many characters. The author had a nice pacing though I felt the late 90’s part did seem to drag a bit near the end.

The Last Kilo by T.J. English is a far-reaching account of “Los Muchachos,” arguably one of the most profitable cocaine trafficking organizations in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s. The principals in the organization were Willy Falcon, his brother Tavy and his partner Sal Malgudo. All three were Cuban exiles who began the syndicate in Miami as part of the anti-Castro movement. It evolved into an international organization earning more than one-hundred million dollars per annum.

Through interviews with Willy Falcon and many of his henchmen, T.J. English can provide an insider’s look at the intricacies of Los Muchachos as “the boys” work intersected with other major narcos of the era such as Pablo Escobar and Manuel Noriega. Eventually the deleterious effects of cocaine consumption – delusions of grandeur, psychological addiction and financial ruin – not to mention violence, led to the War on Drugs. Law enforcement agencies from several branches of the federal and state government brought down and imprisoned Willy Falcon and his crew curtailing their reign over cocaine distribution in the United States.

This is a fascinating story giving proof to the adage that truth is stranger than fiction. Despite a lot of detail, the narrative is strong and easy to read. However, that’s all there is in The Last Kilo, a narrative that avoids analysis (could Falcon have been a legitimate businessman?) as well as consequences. Though the injurious effects of cocaine use are alluded to (as a partial explanation for the War on Drugs) they are never directly addressed. Nor was the syndicate’s greed and the desire to “sit on top of the world” that led to thousands of dead, families being torn apart, financial distress, violence and the general mass destruction that followed. One is left with the impression that T.J. English genuinely likes his subject, and it is impossible to square the “nice guy” of the book with the harsh realities of the cocaine trade.


Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for this review.

This book reads like fiction. I really enjoyed the story. It was as compelling as any mystery/thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

As someone who grew up during the Miami Vice and Scarface era, I was instantly drawn to The Last Kilo by T. J. English. This book offers a gritty, unfiltered look at the true story behind one of America’s most notorious cocaine trafficking organizations, Los Muchachos, led by Willy Falcon. Unlike the Hollywood portrayals of the drug trade that focus on violence and flashy lifestyles, English’s narrative digs deeper, revealing a world where corruption was the real currency and everyone—from A-list celebrities to law enforcement—was caught in the web.

Willy Falcon’s story is as much about the American Dream as it is about crime. A Cuban exile who escaped Castro’s regime, Falcon began his journey as a teenager involved in the anti-Castro movement. His path into the drug trade was fueled by a desire to support the Contras in Central America, a goal that quickly evolved into building a massive cocaine empire. Falcon and his associates, known as Los Muchachos, turned the U.S. cocaine trade into a billion-dollar enterprise in the 1980s and early 90s. Their power and influence were unmatched, and they lived as glamorous as they were dangerous, with powerboat racing championships and wild nights at the Mutiny nightclub.

But what makes The Last Kilo stand out is its focus on the corruption that fueled the cocaine business. English doesn’t shy away from exposing the dirty cops, compromised agents, and shady politicians who kept the wheels turning. The book reveals the murky connections between the U.S. government's anti-communist agenda and the drug trade, showing how the War on Drugs was entangled with the very activities it sought to combat.

The narrative is complex, weaving together personal interviews with Willy Falcon and his inner circle and a broader historical context that includes the rise and fall of Miami as the epicenter of the cocaine trade. Yet, despite the intricate details, the book remains highly readable, pulling you into a world where glamour and grit coexist uncomfortably. English does an excellent job of humanizing the people involved, showing their motivations, flaws, and the inevitable consequences of their choices.

No one emerges from this story unscathed, which makes it so compelling. It’s a reminder that the glitz and glamour of the drug trade were fleeting, leaving behind a legacy of addiction, broken lives, and a country still grappling with the consequences.

The Last Kilo is a must-read for anyone interested in true crime, the history of the cocaine trade, or the darker side of the American Dream. T. J. English masterfully captures the rise and fall of Willy Falcon and Los Muchachos, offering a gripping, insightful look at a chapter of American history that resonates today. If you’ve ever been captivated by the world of Scarface, this book will show you the real story behind the legend.

This book roars off as the reader starts the first chapter. Page after page after page of the exploits of two pieces of human debris, Willy and Sal, lying to themselves that they will save their sick love of some mythical place they call Cuba as they make millions pouring poison into the U.S.

This book, made available through NetGalley.com, I originally thought I was giving a 5 star Goodreads review. But as I went through the well written narrative with info never available, I realized the writer musta had some deal with Willy that the book would be a sympathetic, heroic view of dirt bags. I thought at some point the writer would double back and write of the thousands dead due to Willy and Sal's greed. Maybe a mention of the families forever torn apart? The financial distress caused by pushing junk across America? The slums resulting of addiction? Anything? Nope. Nothing.

English writes at times that we should have tears as FINALLY Willy and Sal and their trash associates see any kind of punishment for the deadly deeds extremely well notated throughout the book. I was cheering...sorta. The duo should've been hung in a public square.

No doubt this is a very well done biography of Willy and Sal. Impressively detailed with footnotes and bibliography.
But, a more complete tale would've been any...just any...look at the mass destruction they caused that will forever be felt by American families and our country...all so they could make money.

Something else steamed me about English writings, especially at the end, was his giving indications that what Willy and Sal did built Miami. Let's forget Munroe, Flagler, Merrick, etc. English gives no mention. With that view, English could've written of the more honest downfall of Dade County greatly aided by Willy and Sal, their Cuba delusions and greed.

Just to note: This is a long book. My view is this should be read with the understanding that the reader is reading of a couple of the worst villains America has ever had the disgrace to have on soil and ignoring the glamorizing.

Bottom line: I don't recommend this book. 4 out of ten points.

I've long been a fan of T. J. English's accounts of organized crime, so I jumped at the chance to read The Last Kilo. It's a thorough and fascinating account of 80s cocaine trafficking told from the viewpoint of Los Muchachos, one of the most successful smuggling organizations. As a child of that time period who grew up watching "Miami Vice," it was fascinating to read a more realistic version of events. Sure, there's glitz and glamor, but there's also the grit of Cuban exiles trying to make good and take back their country; the wheeling and dealing of high-powered criminals; and corruption everywhere. Nobody comes out of this book looking good, really. It's interesting how the government's "War on Drugs" went hand in hand with encouraging Cuban expatriates to fight communism using any means possible--even when the end result was tons of cocaine flowing into the US.

A complex but highly readable book.

Would put this back on TBR pile, tried several times and just couldn’t connect with writing. It needed more to bring the story to the reader.

Willy Falcon, a young Cuban, flees the Castro regime and lands in Miami where he becomes involved in smuggling operations to help the Cuban Liberation movement. In a very short time, he founds and runs what becomes one of the major cocaine distribution networks in the U.S. Based on extensive and unprecedented interviews with Falcon and other of his associated, T J English once again brings us an inside look at a criminal operation from a perspective that is neutral, informative and fascinating. The Los Muchachos syndicate that Falcon founded was not a violent crime gang but a smartly run business that succeeded in large part due to strategically managed corruption. This is a great read.

Earlier in the year I finally watched Narcos on Netflix. Then a month ago I picked up the Che Guevara biography trying to learn more about Cuba. I had never heard of Willy Falcon but the intersection of drug kingpins and Cuba was exactly the natural next book for me to read. There are enough reoccurring characters from Narcos in this book that it made the connection to the American side of drug trafficking a great rabbit hole to dig into.

When I finally put the book down I sat there and thought about how quick life really is. They spent more time in jail than they did running the trade business. They lived during a period that will never exist again and they are part of American history for better or worse that defined generations of tv, books and video games.

None of their "success" could have been possible without friends, family and the strong Cuban community. Which I would say is a redeeming quality of their lives, it shows how important it is to have family and friends in order to thrive in society; Something the internet age allows us to forgo. I appreciate that the author purposely only interviewed and told stories from those who stood strong and didn't snitch once all the cards fell.

If you enjoyed Narcos, wanted to know more about Pablo Escobar and the Cali Cartel's dealings in the USA as well as the politics of Cuban exiles in America during the Fidel administration this book covers a lot of history missed on other mediums and I highly recommend this book.

From true-crime legend T. J. English, The Last Kilo is a magnificent behind-the-scenes story of one of the most successful cocaine trafficking organizations in American history. The author was granted unprecedented access to the inner workings of Los Muchachos, sitting down with Willy Falcon and his associates for many lengthy interviews and revealing never-before-understood details about their lives, the world of drug trafficking, and the rise and fall of a true cocaine empire. The saga centers around two Cuban exiles, Willy Falcon and his best friend Sal Magluta. As young teenagers, they become active in the anti-Castro movement by smuggling cocaine into the U.S. to raise money to buy arms for the Contras in Central America. As their smuggling ‘businesses’ grew and the money kept pouring in, the need to recruit others grew, and they became famously known as “Los Muchachos.” Together, they built an extraordinary international organization from the ground up. I highly recommend this book.

Very good read!!! I was truly invested in this amazing story… From start to finish chefs kiss & I will recommend this to everyone.

T.J. English has written a really relatable book about the cocaine trade in the United States during the late 1970’s through the early 1990’s. The story centers around immigrant brothers from Cuban who get lured into the trade, initially as a way to help fight Cuba and Castro, and then continue as their ability to handle the smuggling proves easy and outrageously lucrative. When the money starts to really roll in, the lure of the life becomes to intoxicating to abandon. Their group, headed by Willy Falcon and called Los Mucachos are more like an extended family, working like a well-oiled corporation, even with built in retreats. The enterprise makes them all rich and their lust for the high life became too great an elixir to stop. Just think money, women, planes, games - a basic free-for-all that seemed to never end.

As the deals became bigger and their schemes became more audacious, they paid off more law enforcement and worked on brilliant strategies to hide the money, using Panama, the Caribbean, and even wall boards to stash all the cash. They created an international network and worked with other drug syndicates to increase the flow into the States. Willy Falcon was a powerful leader and played hard.

Clearly the life of crime doesn’t last forever. As family members got kidnapped and killed and law enforcement eventually figured it out, the good times came to an end. Fascinating read into a world I knew nothing about.

The Last Kilo
T.J. English

I have always been fascinated by true-crime stories, and the Last Kilo is a fine example of the genre. It traces the history of a Cuban-American named Augusto Guillermo “Willie” Falcon, and his associated known as Los Muchachos.

=== The Good Stuff ===
* Falcon is a fascinating character. He dabbles as an intelligence operative, seeking to help overthrow the Castro regime in Cuba, and manages to become a very successful cocaine smuggler. With no business training at all, he develops a very profitable organization, which if legit, was on its way to being Fourtune-500 level.
* T.J. English gives us a cross-section of Falcon’s life. We see him as a swash-buckling daredevil, risking his life to rise to the top of the drug hierarchy, as well as an executive of a large business with all its financial and organizational challenges. Wrapped around that is a family life, and a group of loyal friends called the Muchachos.
* The text moves by quickly, and while there is quite a bit of detail included, it does not get in the way of the narrative. English does a nice job of capturing the complexities of his subject, and the internal conflicts as he juggles his lifestyle against his family commitments.
* The book is complete, it that it captures the whole saga of Los Muchachos, from their humble beginnings, through the “sitting at the top of the world” phases, and ending as the authorities finally catch up to the gang.

=== The Not-So-Good Stuff ===
* English seems to genuinely like his subject. That is always a danger for a biographer, and it is sometimes difficult to square the “nice guy” that comes across in the book with the harsh realities of dealing with cocaine drug kings like Pablo Escobar.
* I would have liked to see a bit more analysis of Falcon’s abilities. The obvious question to me, whenever I read of large criminal organizations, is could the leaders have been legitimate businessmen? Would the talents that let you build a billion-dollar cocaine business (in 1980’s dollars) have allowed you to be the next Jeff Bezos?

=== Summary ===
The book was an easy read, and contained enough material to hold my interest. The story is fascinating, and you can’t help but be amazed at the antics of Falcon and his gang. My only concern was the story seemed to avoid some of the harsher aspects of the business and paint Los Muchachos as heroic.

This was an excellent book, the second I've read by T. J. English. A fascinating saga of the two guys who were the two linchpins for cocaine distribution in the US, beginning in the early 1980s. Run by a Cuban American group based in Miami. Compelling and intriguing. The author obtained exclusive access to one of the two guys, as well as some others in his family and cartel. So much loyalty until the Feds began closing in, and then, thinking they had nothing to lose, many became snitches. Didn't turn out well for many, as the tentacles of the cartel ran deep and wide.

Author is also and engaging and wonderful speaker.