The Rise of the Sicario

About the Book

The plush, green colored, rolling hills surrounding Santa Clara del Cobre provided a mystical backdrop to the small town located in the western state of Michoacán, Mexico. The state, with a stretch of coastline along the sky-blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, derived its name from the ancient Nahuatl language used by the Aztecs, which means “place of the fisherman.” Rich copper mines have provided most of the town’s sustenance for several centuries and even now more than eighty percent of its inhabitants make their living as coppersmiths. As one strolls through the village, the incessant hammering of the orange-colored metal is deafening. The town grudgingly, through time, has clung to its colonial look. Most of the houses and buildings are painted a vibrant white and roofed in ornate red tiles.

About the Author

“Mike Vigil rose from undercover agent to head of DEA’s international operations, responsible for all offices worldwide. He led a global drug enforcement operation that rivaled the Marshall Plan after World War II, and during his 31-year DEA career he was stationed in Mexico and Colombia. He often worked solo in cartel strongholds, putting his life at risk by dealing directly with the world’s largest drug kingpins. Vigil was always fascinated by the game of cat-and-mouse, and his exploits have been dramatized in numerous books, including Kings of Cocaine and The Last Narco. He is one of the most authoritative sources for international journalists, and now writes his own narco thrillers. As one of the DEA’s most decorated agents, he has received a key to the city of Shanghai, a sword from the president of the Dominican Republic, and the King’s Robe from an interior minister of Afghanistan. But one of his favorite accolades of all is a narcocorrido tribute from famous Mexican musician Alberto Angel, the ballad elevating Mike’s fame to rival those of the international drug lords he pursued.” Sally Denton is an investigative reporter and author. Her books include The Bluegrass Conspiracy and The Money and the Power.