The Executioner's Men: Los Zetas, Rogue Soldiers, Criminal Entrepreneurs, and the Shadow State They Created

by George W. Grayson, Clyde N. Wilson (Editor)

A new generation of ruthless pragmatists carves a parallel state across Mexico and Central America. Most powerful among them is Los Zetas , ruled over by Heriberto Lazcano, known as The Executioner. Lazcano and his men have forced a tectonic shift among drug trafficking organizations in the Americas, forever altering how criminal business is conducted in the Western Hemisphere. This narrative brings an unprecedented level of detail in describing how Los Zetas became Mexico's most diabolical criminal organization. Criminals control networks of police, politician, and businessmen spanning the American continent. The Mexican government is losing its "war on drugs," despite the military, technical, and intelligence resources provided by its northern neighbor. Subcontracted street gangs operate in hundreds of US cities, purchasing weapons, delivering product, executing targeted foes, and bribing the US Border Patrol. Despite suffering severe losses that would cripple any major corporation, Los Zetas continues to operate internationally in criminal markets. Many of the poor and destitute across the region cooperate with Los Zetas, sometimes for money, often because of coercion.

Genres: History, True Crime

296 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

George Wallace Grayson, Jr. was an FPRI Associate Scholar and the Class of 1938 Professor of Government at the College of William & Mary. He was a senior associate at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, a board member of the Center for Immigration Studies, and a lifetime member of the NAACP. Grayson lectured regularly at the U.S. Department of State, at the National Defense University, and at universities throughout the United States and Mexico.

Reviews

[Sylvia Longmire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very excited to get started on this book for several different reasons. First, it was written by two colleagues of mine, professor and TCO expert Dr. George Grayson from the College of William & Mary, and journalist and author of This Is For The Mara Salvatrucha, Sam Logan. I've read most of the material written by both authors, so I knew it would contain a lot of good information.

Second, this is the first authoritative book ever written solely about Los Zetas, the most vicious, bloodthirsty, and ambitious TCO in Mexico. Of course, much has been written about Los Zetas over the years, but never this much, and never in this much detail.

It's obvious from the start that Grayson and Logan have done their homework. There's plenty of history about how Los Zetas were first recruited in the late 1990s, and joined the Gulf cartel as Osiel Cárdenas Guillen's private army. The authors cover how Los Zetas are organized, financed, armed, and trained, and these sections contain information that is a researcher's dream. The Executioner's Men also discusses the expansion of Los Zetas into Central America, as well as their operations in the United States - of particular interest and importance to my work.

One of my favorite parts is the chapter on Dual Sovereignty - how Los Zetas (and other TCOs in general) are operating as a state parallel to the Mexican state. The chart (one of many helpful charts and tables) in that chapter that outlines side by side all the state functions that both execute is quite eye-opening.

The book does have some down sides. First, it's not a page-turner; but then again, I don't think it's designed to be. I really hated it when my own book was criticized for things I never intended to do with it, because I believe a book should be reviewed with its purpose in mind. That being said, it's a great source of information for anyone who needs a solid source to cite for research. Unfortunately, that's the result of the book containing an overload of facts, figures, and names - my second dislike.

For anyone who has read Grayson's Mexico: Narco-Violence and a Failed State?, this should come as no surprise. I'm familiar enough with both authors' work to know who wrote what sections. Logan's narrative is awesome, and I highly recommend you check out his first work on MS-13; it's really good, and a great inside look at how the world's most dangerous gang operates. I just wish Logan's narrative sections had been interspersed throughout this book more frequently to break up the deluge of narco names and stories of arrests and killings.

Bottom line, if you do any work or research related to Mexico's drug war, this needs to be in your book collection. I read it with my page marker Post-Its because I knew I'd come across information I could use in my writing post haste. It's not light summer reading to take to the beach, but again, remember - it's not designed to be. The Executioner's Men is an immensely valuable source of solid information on Los Zetas, and anyone who seeks to know more about this brutal organization should crack this book open sooner rather than later.

[Gerardo Herrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book is dated, it was written in 2012, most of the information about the Zetas is very applicable to today’s cartel crisis in Mexico. The Zetas no longer exist, becoming the Cartel del Noreste. This book explains the inner workings of the most violent drug cartel in history.

[Amar Pai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Update 10/11/12: Wow, they got Z-3!

With Zetas Decimated, Sinaloa Cartel has Won the War

Is the US Government Facilitating the Sinaloa Cartel's Activities?:

[Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

An OK book about the rise of Los Zetas probably the most violent of the Mexican cartels. This book describes how they initially started as muscle for another cartel before branching off and going out on their own. It describes how Los Zetas are more disciplined than the other cartels, many are former army or police, and how they have been taking over territory. The author focused a little too much on statistics with lots of charts showing crimes, members murders leadership etc.

[Steve Iman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important book for those struggling to develop an understanding of what's at stake in Mexico's travails. Quite readable though hardly a page turner. Much recommended.

[Michael Mcclanahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. Very well documented, well researched, and worth casually reading. Probably very helpful if one was doing a research paper on this information.

[Hal Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ton of good detail but clinically written.