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Manhunters: How We Took Down Pablo Escobar, the World's Most Wanted Criminal
The explosive memoir of legendary DEA agents and the subject of the hit Netflix series Narcos, Steve Murphy and Javier F. Peña
In the decades they spent at the DEA, Javier Peña and Steve Murphy risked their lives hunting large and small drug traffickers. But their biggest challenge was the hunt for Pablo Escobar in Colombia. The partners, who began their careers as small-town cops, have been immortalized in Netflix’s Narcos, a fictional account of their hunt for Escobar. Now, for the first time ever, they tell the real story of how they brought down the world’s first narco-terrorist, the challenges they faced, and the innovative strategies they employed to successfully end the reign of terror of the world’s most wanted criminal.
Readers will go deep inside the inner workings of the Search Bloc, the joint Colombian-US task force that resulted in an intensive 18-month operation that tracked Escobar. Between July 1992 and December 1993, Steve and Javier lived on the edge, setting up camp in Medellin at the Carlos Holguin Military Academy. There, they lived and worked with the Colombian authorities, hunting down a man who was thought by many to be untouchable. Their firsthand experience coupled with stories from the DEA’s recently de-classified files on the search for Escobar forms the beating heart of Manhunters, an epic account of how two American agents risked everything to capture the world's most wanted man.
In the decades they spent at the DEA, Javier Peña and Steve Murphy risked their lives hunting large and small drug traffickers. But their biggest challenge was the hunt for Pablo Escobar in Colombia. The partners, who began their careers as small-town cops, have been immortalized in Netflix’s Narcos, a fictional account of their hunt for Escobar. Now, for the first time ever, they tell the real story of how they brought down the world’s first narco-terrorist, the challenges they faced, and the innovative strategies they employed to successfully end the reign of terror of the world’s most wanted criminal.
Readers will go deep inside the inner workings of the Search Bloc, the joint Colombian-US task force that resulted in an intensive 18-month operation that tracked Escobar. Between July 1992 and December 1993, Steve and Javier lived on the edge, setting up camp in Medellin at the Carlos Holguin Military Academy. There, they lived and worked with the Colombian authorities, hunting down a man who was thought by many to be untouchable. Their firsthand experience coupled with stories from the DEA’s recently de-classified files on the search for Escobar forms the beating heart of Manhunters, an epic account of how two American agents risked everything to capture the world's most wanted man.
10 pages, Audiobook
First published November 12, 2019
170 people are currently reading
3531 people want to read
About the author
Steve Murphy
117 books25 followersWith a television and radio career spanning more than forty-five years, Steve Murphy is among Atlantic Canada’s best known broadcasters. Over the course of his career, he anchored thousands of newscasts and interviewed some of the most influential and interesting people of our time. He stepped down as anchor and executive editor of CTV News at Six in December 2021 and is now a special correspondent and commentator for the station. His previous works include Live At Five: The Story Behind Its Success and Before the Camera: An Autobiography.
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November 14, 2019
Steve Murphy and Javier F. Peña's own version of their hunt for Pablo Escobar begged to be written after Netflix aired the hit series Narcos, their story of the hunt for Pablo Escobar. Although from what Murphy has said, as advisers they were able to keep the Narcos on the rails of accuracy. It’s such an amazing story the Netflix writers didn’t really need to do much enhancement..
Manhunters begins with Steve and Javier writing their alternative chapters of their early lives and then their beginnings in law enforcement. They also detailed their beginnings with DEA including their time in the academy. I snickered when both authors mentioned losing weight in the academy. That’s how I met my husband; I needed a scrawny, newly minted DEA agent for a UC visit to a weight doctor. I also patted myself on the back when Javier talked about the role players at FLETC as that is my current job, but at Quantico where the FBI/DEA academies are now located.
Peña and Murphy continued their separate stories on how both ended up in Colombia chasing after Pablo Escobar, one of the most vicious cartel leaders in the world during the 1980’s. Escobar almost single handle turned Colombia into a narco-terrorism state. It was only with the help of DEA and extremely brave Colombian politicians, military and law enforcement that he was defeated.
Not too far into the book, I wasn’t always sure just whose chapter I was reading until I read more from the content. I could no longer tell from the writer, it had melded and smoothed out, less distracting.
I am very impressed about Javier and Steve being so gracious in Manhunters. They tell their stories of sharing the same hardships the Colombian National Police (CNP) and military were undergoing. They claim no special credit, with Murphy even apologizing for the death picture he was in that went around the world that gave the wrong impression of what went down.
They give full credit to the entire DEA organization, the American Embassy in Bogotá, but mostly to the Colombian National Police Search Bloc unit and portions of the military. I do think skirted over some of the very real problems they faced with corruption. “The silver or the lead” is not a choice any of us will ever have to face.
Murphy and Peña are even forgiving of their superiors who manage to make some very bad decisions concerning the two agents.
The one agency Murphy and Peña held in utter contempt for their part in the hunt for Escobar was the CIA.
They also weren’t too sure about portions of the Colombian government as they kept trying to take Escobar into custody on his terms. Silver or lead also applied to government officials. The first time Escobar surrendered was just a few days after Murphy arrived in country and Escobar entered into the luxurious jail Escobar had built to his specification. You can still read the jaw-dropping disbelief in both Peña and Murphy’s chapters.
It wasn’t until after his escape from his own jail that the hunt for Escobar exploded and continued for 18 months. Besides the embassy and DEA, Seal team six and other military units were also in country. Not much cooperation with DEA.
Murphy and Peña tried their best to account for the thousands of deaths during Escobar’s reign; assassinations, car bombs, kidnappings. Oh yeah, lets not forget the downing of an Avianca flight. I think the numbers were just too incredibly overwhelming to always be accurate. Colombian cops were worth a $100 a pop, life was cheap for the sicarios, the young assassins from the desperate Medellin slums. They were a new breed of killer, first used by Escobar, then later utilized by Cartels from favas and slums throughout Mexico, Latin and South America. Steve and Javier’s death contracts were worth hundreds of thousands. However, the kidnapping, torture and death of Kiki Camarena in Mexico and then the US response seemed to serve as an object lesson to Escobar so he didn’t push too hard for their deaths.
The book also entailed some of Steve and Javier’s personal lives in Columbia. More so Steve since he was there with his intrepid wife, Connie. Not so much of Javier’s life, since he was a single guy in a country with stunning women.
Manhunters is a coherent, exciting and stunning telling of the hunt for Pablo Escobar. A story told by men who knew it best and represented the US in the best, most honorable ways.
When I worked as a Special Agent for a southern state’s narcotics bureau in the eighties I practically frothed at the mouth any time someone said drug use was a victim-less crime. Reading Manhunters you will understand why. If that doesn’t do it for you, ask me.
Thank you to NG for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Manhunters begins with Steve and Javier writing their alternative chapters of their early lives and then their beginnings in law enforcement. They also detailed their beginnings with DEA including their time in the academy. I snickered when both authors mentioned losing weight in the academy. That’s how I met my husband; I needed a scrawny, newly minted DEA agent for a UC visit to a weight doctor. I also patted myself on the back when Javier talked about the role players at FLETC as that is my current job, but at Quantico where the FBI/DEA academies are now located.
Peña and Murphy continued their separate stories on how both ended up in Colombia chasing after Pablo Escobar, one of the most vicious cartel leaders in the world during the 1980’s. Escobar almost single handle turned Colombia into a narco-terrorism state. It was only with the help of DEA and extremely brave Colombian politicians, military and law enforcement that he was defeated.
Not too far into the book, I wasn’t always sure just whose chapter I was reading until I read more from the content. I could no longer tell from the writer, it had melded and smoothed out, less distracting.
I am very impressed about Javier and Steve being so gracious in Manhunters. They tell their stories of sharing the same hardships the Colombian National Police (CNP) and military were undergoing. They claim no special credit, with Murphy even apologizing for the death picture he was in that went around the world that gave the wrong impression of what went down.
They give full credit to the entire DEA organization, the American Embassy in Bogotá, but mostly to the Colombian National Police Search Bloc unit and portions of the military. I do think skirted over some of the very real problems they faced with corruption. “The silver or the lead” is not a choice any of us will ever have to face.
Murphy and Peña are even forgiving of their superiors who manage to make some very bad decisions concerning the two agents.
The one agency Murphy and Peña held in utter contempt for their part in the hunt for Escobar was the CIA.
They also weren’t too sure about portions of the Colombian government as they kept trying to take Escobar into custody on his terms. Silver or lead also applied to government officials. The first time Escobar surrendered was just a few days after Murphy arrived in country and Escobar entered into the luxurious jail Escobar had built to his specification. You can still read the jaw-dropping disbelief in both Peña and Murphy’s chapters.
It wasn’t until after his escape from his own jail that the hunt for Escobar exploded and continued for 18 months. Besides the embassy and DEA, Seal team six and other military units were also in country. Not much cooperation with DEA.
Murphy and Peña tried their best to account for the thousands of deaths during Escobar’s reign; assassinations, car bombs, kidnappings. Oh yeah, lets not forget the downing of an Avianca flight. I think the numbers were just too incredibly overwhelming to always be accurate. Colombian cops were worth a $100 a pop, life was cheap for the sicarios, the young assassins from the desperate Medellin slums. They were a new breed of killer, first used by Escobar, then later utilized by Cartels from favas and slums throughout Mexico, Latin and South America. Steve and Javier’s death contracts were worth hundreds of thousands. However, the kidnapping, torture and death of Kiki Camarena in Mexico and then the US response seemed to serve as an object lesson to Escobar so he didn’t push too hard for their deaths.
The book also entailed some of Steve and Javier’s personal lives in Columbia. More so Steve since he was there with his intrepid wife, Connie. Not so much of Javier’s life, since he was a single guy in a country with stunning women.
Manhunters is a coherent, exciting and stunning telling of the hunt for Pablo Escobar. A story told by men who knew it best and represented the US in the best, most honorable ways.
When I worked as a Special Agent for a southern state’s narcotics bureau in the eighties I practically frothed at the mouth any time someone said drug use was a victim-less crime. Reading Manhunters you will understand why. If that doesn’t do it for you, ask me.
Thank you to NG for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 4, 2019
This book recounts the careers of DEA agents Steve Murphy and Javier Pena as they learn the job by just being put to work after their training. Eventually they work their way up to the more serious targets, until one day they are going after the big one, Pablo Escobar, when they get assigned to work in Columbia. They find the country in a state of turmoil with the drug lords and cartels killing people to try to prevent themselves from being extradited to the United States and put on trial for all of the crimes that they can be held accountable for there. Their answer is just to kill everyone with any power, thinking that will keep them safe. But it won’t prevent anything, it just adds more charges. The agents are working hand in hand with the Columbian National Police (CNP) and come to trust them to have their backs and vice versa when they follow the CNP into hidey holes going after Escobar. There is a price on the DEA agents' heads of several hundred thousand dollars each, so they are especially prime targets. A good story for anyone with an interest in this subject. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, authors Steve Murphy & Javier F. Pena, and the publisher.
First published on my WordPress blog as seen here:
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First published on my WordPress blog as seen here:
https://wordpress.com/post/bookblog20...
December 27, 2019
While the 2 DEA heroes in this book are definitely 5 star, the book was just a 3 star read for me. The writing and details felt rudimentary which made me feel like I was reading cliff notes of the events of that time. I wasn't able to get a real sense of the participants in this dark history of Columbia. All of the different agencies, however, deserve praise and thanks for the sacrifices they made to do their job.
November 13, 2019
Copy received from St Martin's Press for an honest review
I have grown up knowing the stories of the Colombian drug cartels, of Pablo Escobar, and I remember the news stories when he was killed.
We always hear the story of the criminal. It gets romanticised for movies, they get turned into "heroes" of sorts, and all their evil doings get pushed to the side.
We see the jackets with the big yellow letters on them across our TV screens, but we never hear about the people wearing them.
Manhunters gives us the story of the 2 DEA agents right in the middle of the hunt and capture of Escobar. Steve Murphy and Javier Pena tell their stories from joining law enforcement to the aftermath of the Escobar years.
It is like reading a fictional thriller - except everything happened, even when it seems over the top and can't possibly be true. Their story was the basis of the TV show Narcos, which I watched and loved, and whilst part of that were fictionalised, it gave me a better visual of things as I was reading.
True crime stories can come across as dry reading, however Manhunters was not like that. Javier and Steve's writing had me so interested and involved, so much so that I ate a very late dinner last night as I didn't want to stop reading.
I would love to read more stories like this
@DEANarcos
I have grown up knowing the stories of the Colombian drug cartels, of Pablo Escobar, and I remember the news stories when he was killed.
We always hear the story of the criminal. It gets romanticised for movies, they get turned into "heroes" of sorts, and all their evil doings get pushed to the side.
We see the jackets with the big yellow letters on them across our TV screens, but we never hear about the people wearing them.
Manhunters gives us the story of the 2 DEA agents right in the middle of the hunt and capture of Escobar. Steve Murphy and Javier Pena tell their stories from joining law enforcement to the aftermath of the Escobar years.
It is like reading a fictional thriller - except everything happened, even when it seems over the top and can't possibly be true. Their story was the basis of the TV show Narcos, which I watched and loved, and whilst part of that were fictionalised, it gave me a better visual of things as I was reading.
True crime stories can come across as dry reading, however Manhunters was not like that. Javier and Steve's writing had me so interested and involved, so much so that I ate a very late dinner last night as I didn't want to stop reading.
I would love to read more stories like this
@DEANarcos
August 27, 2021
this month, i have been obsessed with netflix’s narcos. a friend of mine (whose fault is me watching the show anyway ugh) said that this is a very good book to read afterwards, so i took her word for it.
even though the show is pretty accurate in relating the events of the hunt for escobar, it was still interesting to read about how things actually went down and observe the differences. i enjoyed it 😊. (3.5 ⭐️ i guess but rounded up)
even though the show is pretty accurate in relating the events of the hunt for escobar, it was still interesting to read about how things actually went down and observe the differences. i enjoyed it 😊. (3.5 ⭐️ i guess but rounded up)
December 28, 2020
Finished reading: December 27th 2020
"Escobar's savagery would end up spelling his own doom."
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
Read
May 5, 2023 I was the first surprised to find myself watching, let alone enjoying, Narcos. I have very little interest in 'cartel entertainment' or violent content, but I got instantly hooked on the show's explanation of post-war drug trafficking and its impact on/roots in the wider global economic and political context. I picked up the book hoping to learn more about this, as well as tell truth from Netflix fiction (my understanding from the book's epilogue is that the two DEA agents were first approached by Netflix to consult on the show, before they started working on the book).
I found the book and show to be great companion pieces. To me the latter does a much better job at laying out the intricate historical context, and honestly I learnt by looking up random historical figures and other events while watching it.
The book, however, does an excellent job at laying out the human cost of drug trafficking. It is sobering and, after three seasons of high suspense fiction, felt necessary. The first half recounts how Murphy and Peña each got to work for the DEA - so very little to do with the title, but it still tells useful stories about that line of work.
There's clearly a lot about their work in Colombia that the authors can't detail (and I found it helpful to have seen the show first) but even so, theirs is a compelling account of years with batshit crazy levels of every day stress and terror. I appreciated their constant reminder that the main credit should go to the Colombian Police, and that it wasn't a case of two American agents showing up to save the day. They're honest about not being writers; rather a writer compiled their stories and, yeah, that writer could have done a better job to make the book more compelling. It simply reads like interviews that were organized chronologically, rather than the high suspense, high impact content the cover might have you expect. All in all not what I was hoping to read but just as valuable.
I found the book and show to be great companion pieces. To me the latter does a much better job at laying out the intricate historical context, and honestly I learnt by looking up random historical figures and other events while watching it.
The book, however, does an excellent job at laying out the human cost of drug trafficking. It is sobering and, after three seasons of high suspense fiction, felt necessary. The first half recounts how Murphy and Peña each got to work for the DEA - so very little to do with the title, but it still tells useful stories about that line of work.
There's clearly a lot about their work in Colombia that the authors can't detail (and I found it helpful to have seen the show first) but even so, theirs is a compelling account of years with batshit crazy levels of every day stress and terror. I appreciated their constant reminder that the main credit should go to the Colombian Police, and that it wasn't a case of two American agents showing up to save the day. They're honest about not being writers; rather a writer compiled their stories and, yeah, that writer could have done a better job to make the book more compelling. It simply reads like interviews that were organized chronologically, rather than the high suspense, high impact content the cover might have you expect. All in all not what I was hoping to read but just as valuable.
December 11, 2021
Manhunters: How We Took Down Pablo Escobar...How
WE
Took Down Pablo Escobar...
I don't know if we read the same thing, but as far as I'm concerned, You. Didn't. Do. Shit.
I'm positive things went a tad differently in real life, I'm sure (or at least I hope) they had more of a role in taking down Escobar, but this was written in a way that lead me to believe they had nothing to do with it, or at least not enough to warrant a bloody book.
Let me set the book out for you so you get a better idea of what actually happens:
A real, real big chunk of this being dedicated just to how Javier and Steve joined the DEA → they're finally in Columbia on the Escobar case → Escobar puts himself in his own, self-managed, prison for a year, they don't do shit → He leaves the "prison"/holiday home → they follow leads but never actually find anything → dude gets shot down and neither have anything to do with it → The End.
...that's it.
As I said previously, I'm sure they did have a larger impact, but the way this was written made it seem like they were just the lil guys on the case, they did tidbits but were never actually the frontmen on the case, and they wanted all the credit at the end because they had bounties on them that never actually lead to anything and Steve, big man Steve, took pictures of the crime scene where Escobar was shot down even though he wasn't there when it happened.
Throughout this book, they talk about how they were "part of history", they "made history" and it honestly just made the whole thing so ingenuine. It didn't feel as though Escobar was explored enough, sure we were told some of the bad things he did, but he never actually felt like that much of a threat in this book so the payoff wasn't there. And yes, I do realise that this isn't fiction, but I still think it needs a lil something something to keep me invested, to make me care about what's happening.
To conclude, this was fine for the most part, it was just incredibly underwhelming and lackluster. Do better lads. (Can't believe they've made a bloody show from this smh)
I don't know if we read the same thing, but as far as I'm concerned, You. Didn't. Do. Shit.
I'm positive things went a tad differently in real life, I'm sure (or at least I hope) they had more of a role in taking down Escobar, but this was written in a way that lead me to believe they had nothing to do with it, or at least not enough to warrant a bloody book.
Let me set the book out for you so you get a better idea of what actually happens:
A real, real big chunk of this being dedicated just to how Javier and Steve joined the DEA → they're finally in Columbia on the Escobar case → Escobar puts himself in his own, self-managed, prison for a year, they don't do shit → He leaves the "prison"/holiday home → they follow leads but never actually find anything → dude gets shot down and neither have anything to do with it → The End.
...that's it.
As I said previously, I'm sure they did have a larger impact, but the way this was written made it seem like they were just the lil guys on the case, they did tidbits but were never actually the frontmen on the case, and they wanted all the credit at the end because they had bounties on them that never actually lead to anything and Steve, big man Steve, took pictures of the crime scene where Escobar was shot down even though he wasn't there when it happened.
Throughout this book, they talk about how they were "part of history", they "made history" and it honestly just made the whole thing so ingenuine. It didn't feel as though Escobar was explored enough, sure we were told some of the bad things he did, but he never actually felt like that much of a threat in this book so the payoff wasn't there. And yes, I do realise that this isn't fiction, but I still think it needs a lil something something to keep me invested, to make me care about what's happening.
To conclude, this was fine for the most part, it was just incredibly underwhelming and lackluster. Do better lads. (Can't believe they've made a bloody show from this smh)
November 13, 2020
When I read this book, the best way to summarize this book is with this statement:
--> "Steve and Javier shares their personal story of how they collaborated with Columbia National Police to take down Pablo Escobar."
First part of the book was boring. But why did I give a five star rating? It included sharing background information on Steve and Javier. This information is expected to be dull.
From second part to epilogue, the story takes off. Reader is able to picture the life of both agents living in Columbia chasing and looking for Pablo Escobar. Their life for 6 years consisted of endless action and work.
Understanding their personalities helped visualize the story.
Its time to watch Narcos 😉
--> "Steve and Javier shares their personal story of how they collaborated with Columbia National Police to take down Pablo Escobar."
First part of the book was boring. But why did I give a five star rating? It included sharing background information on Steve and Javier. This information is expected to be dull.
From second part to epilogue, the story takes off. Reader is able to picture the life of both agents living in Columbia chasing and looking for Pablo Escobar. Their life for 6 years consisted of endless action and work.
Understanding their personalities helped visualize the story.
Its time to watch Narcos 😉
December 26, 2025
A true story of the two American DEA agents who were involved in destroying the empire of Pablo Escobar.
An interesting read for those interested in this period of history.
An interesting read for those interested in this period of history.
January 25, 2022
It was a good book but there were times that I wish they would have went into more details about the events that happened. Felt like just when we were getting to the interesting, things I didn’t know before information the topic changed.
June 15, 2020
The backstory of the two very different DEA agents and how they ended up together is worth reading alone, never mind the twists and turns of trying to capture the elusive Escobar. They don't try to act like they were the entire operation, giving props to so many others around them. A thrilling and harrowing story.
November 8, 2019
Welcome back my fellow Book Dragons. It is once again Throwback Thursday. This week we go back to the 1980’s when Cocaine was King and Miami was his Palace. Our Gem this evening is powder white, it’s crystal’s catching the light, it’s veins of red seem to pulse and glitter with each facet. The longer we look at it the more enticing it becomes. Let us remove it from it’s box. It feels heavy and foreboding. The smell, oh what is that smell? Death my friends.. death is in the air around this Gem that so many are willing to risk everything for.
Our Gem Makers are two men, retired DEA agents. Steve Murphy and Javier F. Pena. They come from small town backgrounds. Both tell us their stories of how they started in law enforcement and ended up on the trail of the most notorious drug kingpin in recent history. Pablo Escobar. That is a name that should be familiar to all of us, if you are over the age of 18, surely you have heard of Pablo. Pablo who was considered a Robin Hood by some and Satan by others. Pablo was good at spreading his money around when it suited his purposes. For example, in poor neighborhoods when he wanted all eyes and ears watching out for him. He provided food and festivals, medicine and merchandise. Pablo would then turn those same neighborhoods into hell holes where the same families who had loved him, began to hate him. He turned their daughters into prostitutes and their sons into drug dealers and his soldiers. Their houses became safe houses. ‘Robin Hood’ demanded a steep price for his generosity.
Murphy and Pena go to great lengths to break down Escobar’s cartel, his associates and show us just how Columbia worked when Pablo was in full power. It was not pretty. Breathing wrong could get a person killed. People disappeared. In a raid on the Supreme Court over an extradition treaty with the United States that would allow members of cartels, actually any drug dealer to be extradited to stand trial in the U.S., 11 of 25 judges ended up dead, dozens of soldiers, several of Escobar’s men and another 10 people simply disappeared and have never been found. He ran for office and won. He assassinated politicians and their families. He kidnapped and tortured people. He would coax people to his house for parties and then they “disappeared”.
Escobar put hits on DEA agents. Pena was ordered to leave his apartment once taking only his gun because Escobar’s people had figured out the apartment he lived in. They did not play games. But in the end, they got him. I’m not going into detail. To do so would be to spoil the suspense. This book is gripping. Even if you have watched the show Narcos on Netflix, this book is better. There is more detail and you really get to know the agents. I loved it. If you are fan of true crime, which I am, I love watching bad guys get busted, you will love this book.
You can get it now on Amazon and by pre-ordering and save 48% off the hard back price of 28.99. It’s only $14.99, and a great Christmas gift for the true crime lover on your list!
Until tomorrow I remain, your humble Book Dragon, Drakon T. Longwitten
I received a copy from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press through Goodreads.
Our Gem Makers are two men, retired DEA agents. Steve Murphy and Javier F. Pena. They come from small town backgrounds. Both tell us their stories of how they started in law enforcement and ended up on the trail of the most notorious drug kingpin in recent history. Pablo Escobar. That is a name that should be familiar to all of us, if you are over the age of 18, surely you have heard of Pablo. Pablo who was considered a Robin Hood by some and Satan by others. Pablo was good at spreading his money around when it suited his purposes. For example, in poor neighborhoods when he wanted all eyes and ears watching out for him. He provided food and festivals, medicine and merchandise. Pablo would then turn those same neighborhoods into hell holes where the same families who had loved him, began to hate him. He turned their daughters into prostitutes and their sons into drug dealers and his soldiers. Their houses became safe houses. ‘Robin Hood’ demanded a steep price for his generosity.
Murphy and Pena go to great lengths to break down Escobar’s cartel, his associates and show us just how Columbia worked when Pablo was in full power. It was not pretty. Breathing wrong could get a person killed. People disappeared. In a raid on the Supreme Court over an extradition treaty with the United States that would allow members of cartels, actually any drug dealer to be extradited to stand trial in the U.S., 11 of 25 judges ended up dead, dozens of soldiers, several of Escobar’s men and another 10 people simply disappeared and have never been found. He ran for office and won. He assassinated politicians and their families. He kidnapped and tortured people. He would coax people to his house for parties and then they “disappeared”.
Escobar put hits on DEA agents. Pena was ordered to leave his apartment once taking only his gun because Escobar’s people had figured out the apartment he lived in. They did not play games. But in the end, they got him. I’m not going into detail. To do so would be to spoil the suspense. This book is gripping. Even if you have watched the show Narcos on Netflix, this book is better. There is more detail and you really get to know the agents. I loved it. If you are fan of true crime, which I am, I love watching bad guys get busted, you will love this book.
You can get it now on Amazon and by pre-ordering and save 48% off the hard back price of 28.99. It’s only $14.99, and a great Christmas gift for the true crime lover on your list!
Until tomorrow I remain, your humble Book Dragon, Drakon T. Longwitten
I received a copy from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press through Goodreads.
August 8, 2019
Excellent reading on the hunt for Pablo Escobar, told through the eyes of two DEA agents assigned to his case. The book switches back and forth between the two agents, Murphy and Pena. I have read other books about Escobar, but this one really resonated with me.
It starts with the background on both men, covering their early careers. This part alone was fascinating reading! Some of the exploits they relate were incredible.
The book then goes into how the authors found themselves in Columbia, and of the search for Escobar. It was quite the journey, from gathering evidence, to the initial capture, to his escape, and then the search beginning again. As the noose draws tighter around Escobar, the book becomes even more exciting. It had me on the edge of my seat.
The book also goes on to explain what happened after Escobar's demise. How the Cali Cartel swooped in and took over after Escobar's Medellin cartel was destroyed. The author's doubts about the success of the entire operation, considering the deaths of hundreds of police officers, the bombings, the kidnappings, and the death of untold numbers of civilians. They cover the strange things that happened in Columbian politics post-Escobar. As the author says, "You'd go crazy trying to make sense of things that happen in Columbia".
The author points out the fact that, even with the "War on Drugs" being prosecuted for over 40 years now, Columbia still produced a record level of coca in 2017. Enough to manufacture more than 1300 TONS of cocaine! They stress the need for education of school children about the danger of drug abuse.
One final thought. The author, relatively early in the book, tells about the DEA and the US Attorney's in Miami preparing an indictment against Raul Castro (Fidel's brother in Cuba), for distribution of hundreds of kilos of cocaine. And how the indictment was squashed, by "higher ups". And how they discovered that Ronald Reagan himself was the person who squashed it. Interesting, indeed! I would love to know more about this. But I understand the author's reluctance to pursue it. He might even amend his prior quoted statement to read, "You'd go crazy trying to make sense of things that happen in Washington, DC"!
An extremely interesting book. Highly recommended.
It starts with the background on both men, covering their early careers. This part alone was fascinating reading! Some of the exploits they relate were incredible.
The book then goes into how the authors found themselves in Columbia, and of the search for Escobar. It was quite the journey, from gathering evidence, to the initial capture, to his escape, and then the search beginning again. As the noose draws tighter around Escobar, the book becomes even more exciting. It had me on the edge of my seat.
The book also goes on to explain what happened after Escobar's demise. How the Cali Cartel swooped in and took over after Escobar's Medellin cartel was destroyed. The author's doubts about the success of the entire operation, considering the deaths of hundreds of police officers, the bombings, the kidnappings, and the death of untold numbers of civilians. They cover the strange things that happened in Columbian politics post-Escobar. As the author says, "You'd go crazy trying to make sense of things that happen in Columbia".
The author points out the fact that, even with the "War on Drugs" being prosecuted for over 40 years now, Columbia still produced a record level of coca in 2017. Enough to manufacture more than 1300 TONS of cocaine! They stress the need for education of school children about the danger of drug abuse.
One final thought. The author, relatively early in the book, tells about the DEA and the US Attorney's in Miami preparing an indictment against Raul Castro (Fidel's brother in Cuba), for distribution of hundreds of kilos of cocaine. And how the indictment was squashed, by "higher ups". And how they discovered that Ronald Reagan himself was the person who squashed it. Interesting, indeed! I would love to know more about this. But I understand the author's reluctance to pursue it. He might even amend his prior quoted statement to read, "You'd go crazy trying to make sense of things that happen in Washington, DC"!
An extremely interesting book. Highly recommended.
January 21, 2020
The real story from Season 1 & 2 of Narcos.
When I saw Manhunters on Net Galley, I definitely danced in my seat.
My husband and I love "Narcos" on Netflix and I've been dying to read more about Pena and Miller and their experiences with the Pablo Escobar crisis.
This book did not disappoint.
I enjoyed the format. Each chapter went back and forth between Pena and Miller. Their different perspectives and positions in the DEA and the case provided a more personal and bigger picture of their experiences.
The story is so miraculous. Miller and Pena surviving what they did and still walking around today is insane.
Before the show and the book, I didn't know much and Pablo Escobar and his crazy behavior. I was only like six when his terror reign ended.
I think it's so important to know this history.
There is a certain population who buy and use these drugs. They promote the use, but I wonder if they know the murders, torture, and political manipulation that happens behind the scenes. It probably doesn't make a difference to the addicts, but I think it might make some people think twice.
I really enjoyed Pena's closing remarks about the importance of drug enforcement. It made the book feel relevant today, and not just a history lesson.
I could not put this book down. Even though I understood the basics and who would live and die, it still kept me turning those pages.
The only difficult part of the book for me is that at times it felt a little repetitive and I had a hard time keeping track of other names mentioned occasionally through the book.
Fantastic book and will definitely recommend to friends and family.
Thanks to Net Galley, Steve Murphy, and Javier F. Pena for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
When I saw Manhunters on Net Galley, I definitely danced in my seat.
My husband and I love "Narcos" on Netflix and I've been dying to read more about Pena and Miller and their experiences with the Pablo Escobar crisis.
This book did not disappoint.
I enjoyed the format. Each chapter went back and forth between Pena and Miller. Their different perspectives and positions in the DEA and the case provided a more personal and bigger picture of their experiences.
The story is so miraculous. Miller and Pena surviving what they did and still walking around today is insane.
Before the show and the book, I didn't know much and Pablo Escobar and his crazy behavior. I was only like six when his terror reign ended.
I think it's so important to know this history.
There is a certain population who buy and use these drugs. They promote the use, but I wonder if they know the murders, torture, and political manipulation that happens behind the scenes. It probably doesn't make a difference to the addicts, but I think it might make some people think twice.
I really enjoyed Pena's closing remarks about the importance of drug enforcement. It made the book feel relevant today, and not just a history lesson.
I could not put this book down. Even though I understood the basics and who would live and die, it still kept me turning those pages.
The only difficult part of the book for me is that at times it felt a little repetitive and I had a hard time keeping track of other names mentioned occasionally through the book.
Fantastic book and will definitely recommend to friends and family.
Thanks to Net Galley, Steve Murphy, and Javier F. Pena for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2020
If you’re a fan of Narcos, or just true crime in general, this book is a definite must read.
I’m usually hesitant to pick up any kind of true crime/non-fiction crime novels, because a lot of them tend to focus heavily on technical details and get a bit too long and wordy to remain interesting to me. But, I’ve seen Narcos — the show based on these men’s work in Colombia — three times over, and as somebody who loves that show a lot (like, a lot a lot), I knew this was a must read as soon as I discovered it.
If you’ve seen the show, it’s a really easy book to follow. Personally, I enjoyed seeing what details Netflix chose to dramatize or leave out, and what they left true to reality while reading the book, but there was enough new information in it to keep me hooked the whole time. (Hello, who was going to tell me that Connie Murphy is a real life badass?) And even if you haven’t seen the show, it’s still a quick, entertaining read. Nothing too technical or complicated, since the book is entirely anecdotal, and it’s a fascinating look into the people and the culture behind one of history’s biggest anti-narco operations. I’m always more fascinated by the cultural impact of historical events like this, and Murphy and Peña’s anecdotes are equal parts funny, fascinating, and poignant. The show based on their work is great, and it’s even nicer to have a real record of their efforts as a team.
For sure a favorite read of the year thus far.
I’m usually hesitant to pick up any kind of true crime/non-fiction crime novels, because a lot of them tend to focus heavily on technical details and get a bit too long and wordy to remain interesting to me. But, I’ve seen Narcos — the show based on these men’s work in Colombia — three times over, and as somebody who loves that show a lot (like, a lot a lot), I knew this was a must read as soon as I discovered it.
If you’ve seen the show, it’s a really easy book to follow. Personally, I enjoyed seeing what details Netflix chose to dramatize or leave out, and what they left true to reality while reading the book, but there was enough new information in it to keep me hooked the whole time. (Hello, who was going to tell me that Connie Murphy is a real life badass?) And even if you haven’t seen the show, it’s still a quick, entertaining read. Nothing too technical or complicated, since the book is entirely anecdotal, and it’s a fascinating look into the people and the culture behind one of history’s biggest anti-narco operations. I’m always more fascinated by the cultural impact of historical events like this, and Murphy and Peña’s anecdotes are equal parts funny, fascinating, and poignant. The show based on their work is great, and it’s even nicer to have a real record of their efforts as a team.
For sure a favorite read of the year thus far.
July 11, 2019
I really wanted to love this book but it turned out just ok for me. Going from one author to the other each chapter didn't really work for me but may work for others. I remember Pablo Escobar and how much he intrigued the world years ago and thought this would translate into a great book but possibly too much time has passed for it to end up being a great page turner. It was well written about an engrossing subject matter but something just didn't work for me.
Thank you Netgalley, Steve Murphy; Javier F. Peña and St. Martin's Press for the ARC for my honest review.
Thank you Netgalley, Steve Murphy; Javier F. Peña and St. Martin's Press for the ARC for my honest review.
December 13, 2019
For decades the name Pablo Escobar was associated with drugs and death, not just in his native Colombia, but throughout South America and the United States. He was the undisputed boss of the drug cartels that ruled pretty much every aspect of life in Colombia and beyond.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, had Pablo Escobar as their number one target. His approach was ruthless, not a second thought was given before having cops and politicians killed if they impeded his business in any way.
Manhunters is the real life story of Steve Murphy and Javier E Pena, both of them starting out as small-town cops, as they spend years imbedded in the DEA's local office near the action city of Medellen. Their lives were literally at risk at every moment knowing how ruthless Escobar's tactics were. Slowly but surely their efforts start to pay dividends and in the end they were at the sharp end, seeing Escobar imprisoned. Amazingly though the prison was of Pablo's own design and was under his control. Eventually he escapes and the nightmare begins again.
Manhunters is also the basis for the true to life original series Narcos on Netflix, which portrays Murphy and Pena in the role they played in capturing Pablo Escobar, not once, but twice. The book is every bit as good as a bone fide thriller novel. The difference is that its for real.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, had Pablo Escobar as their number one target. His approach was ruthless, not a second thought was given before having cops and politicians killed if they impeded his business in any way.
Manhunters is the real life story of Steve Murphy and Javier E Pena, both of them starting out as small-town cops, as they spend years imbedded in the DEA's local office near the action city of Medellen. Their lives were literally at risk at every moment knowing how ruthless Escobar's tactics were. Slowly but surely their efforts start to pay dividends and in the end they were at the sharp end, seeing Escobar imprisoned. Amazingly though the prison was of Pablo's own design and was under his control. Eventually he escapes and the nightmare begins again.
Manhunters is also the basis for the true to life original series Narcos on Netflix, which portrays Murphy and Pena in the role they played in capturing Pablo Escobar, not once, but twice. The book is every bit as good as a bone fide thriller novel. The difference is that its for real.
November 13, 2019
Fans of the Netflix series Narcos will be enthralled with this true-life story by the two Escobar Manhunters in their own words.
Working up the Drug Enforcement Agency’s power structure in the 1980s as an undercover agent in Austin and tracking illegal shipments of cocaine in Miami. Javier and Steve, respectively, are soon tasked with rooting out the Medellin Cartel chief, Pedro Escobar, from the depths of Columbia. With hefty bounties on their heads and only the Columbian National Police as their backup, they succeed in finding Escobar. However, what happens after Escobar is extradited to America to face charges?
If you are not that familiar with the Escobar story and especially with how the drug trade worked in the US in the 1980s, Manhunters will be a fascinating look at a completely different and violent world coexisting with the 80s “Greed is Good” philosophy. If, however, you were living through it, there is nothing “never-before-published” within this book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Working up the Drug Enforcement Agency’s power structure in the 1980s as an undercover agent in Austin and tracking illegal shipments of cocaine in Miami. Javier and Steve, respectively, are soon tasked with rooting out the Medellin Cartel chief, Pedro Escobar, from the depths of Columbia. With hefty bounties on their heads and only the Columbian National Police as their backup, they succeed in finding Escobar. However, what happens after Escobar is extradited to America to face charges?
If you are not that familiar with the Escobar story and especially with how the drug trade worked in the US in the 1980s, Manhunters will be a fascinating look at a completely different and violent world coexisting with the 80s “Greed is Good” philosophy. If, however, you were living through it, there is nothing “never-before-published” within this book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 14, 2021
I love true crime stories, especially ones like this about cartels and how they are taken down. This story focuses on the careers of Steve Murphy and Javier Peña, how they got started and found their way to being DEA agents, going after drug traffickers and then ultimately ending up in Columbia taking down Pablo Escobar. It was a slow build but I was fascinated with how they got started. This is not a career for me personally but one I love to learn about. It was equally fascinating to learn how long it took to get Pablo and to see how many things had to fall into place to make it happen. It was not easy with that many people on his payroll, but the havoc he caused was immeasurable. This got a bit dry in parts but the audio is really good for these types of books and I recommend it that way to keep you engaged if you need it.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-galley to review.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-galley to review.
Want to read
December 8, 2019Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Manhunters
By: Steve Murphy, Javier F. Pena
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Manhunters is the story of how infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar was taken down. It is nothing short of amazing and fascinating. I was totally riveted from beginning to end. I love true stories that read like fiction. Sometimes reality eclipses any story you can possibly imagine. Pablo Escobar was THE guy, like the founder of a multi billionaire dollar industry, and nobody crossed him. He was the pivotal factor in the creation of the drug trade, especially cocaine, and his legacy lives on, unfortunately. Imagine the amount of people and time and resources it took to stop this guy. If you have any interest in the history and the origin of major drug trafficking, read this book. It is an informative, compelling and thought provoking look at an incredible operation.
Manhunters
By: Steve Murphy, Javier F. Pena
*REVIEW* 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Manhunters is the story of how infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar was taken down. It is nothing short of amazing and fascinating. I was totally riveted from beginning to end. I love true stories that read like fiction. Sometimes reality eclipses any story you can possibly imagine. Pablo Escobar was THE guy, like the founder of a multi billionaire dollar industry, and nobody crossed him. He was the pivotal factor in the creation of the drug trade, especially cocaine, and his legacy lives on, unfortunately. Imagine the amount of people and time and resources it took to stop this guy. If you have any interest in the history and the origin of major drug trafficking, read this book. It is an informative, compelling and thought provoking look at an incredible operation.
Read
September 1, 2021Not sure how to rate this, most likely a 3.5/5. It was definitely an exciting read although the first third was a bit slow, as it was largely a retelling the backgrounds of DEA agents Steve Murphy and Javier Pena. I suppose it's important to understand their backgrounds, it humanised their personas a lot more.
I was already familiar with the Narcos series, so already came in knowledge (albeit, dramaticised) of Pablo Escobar. This is important because otherwise you're lost. This is a memoir of the two agents, chapters usually alternating between Murphy and Pena. Don't expect a detailed overview of the drug trade or Escobar himself.
It was nice to see the inner workings and the gruelling lifestyle of the agents and more importantly, the contributions of the Colombian military/police.
I was already familiar with the Narcos series, so already came in knowledge (albeit, dramaticised) of Pablo Escobar. This is important because otherwise you're lost. This is a memoir of the two agents, chapters usually alternating between Murphy and Pena. Don't expect a detailed overview of the drug trade or Escobar himself.
It was nice to see the inner workings and the gruelling lifestyle of the agents and more importantly, the contributions of the Colombian military/police.
June 14, 2020
Thank you St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC.
I am always interested in reading true crime / Law Enforcement books especially when they bring down the worlds biggest targets. I found this a fascinating read into Columbia, the drug war and how Escobar was finally taken down. A great job by the LEA’s that worked tirelessly for this to happen and thank you to the agents for sharing their story. I cannot imagine the celebrations that occurred after all your hard work.
I am always interested in reading true crime / Law Enforcement books especially when they bring down the worlds biggest targets. I found this a fascinating read into Columbia, the drug war and how Escobar was finally taken down. A great job by the LEA’s that worked tirelessly for this to happen and thank you to the agents for sharing their story. I cannot imagine the celebrations that occurred after all your hard work.
November 14, 2024
This book really felt like these two guys sitting down and telling you their story. It was extremely accessible and easy to read. I definitely recommend picking up the book. If you are a fan of the show "Narcos" on Netflix, you get a lot more on the backstory of the two main characters, including how they got involved in law enforcement, their early days in the DEA, and, of course, one of the greatest manhunts of all time in the hunt for Pablo Escobar. This is a great read, but some phrases did get repetitive at times. Overall, I would highly recommend picking up this book. It did help me reach my reading goal for 2024: book 126 of the year.
July 30, 2019
Manhunters follows the thrilling true story of a hunt for a legendary crime lord. This book read like fiction thriller and was fast paced at times but every page kept me wanting more. I am so thankful I was given the chance to read this early. Excellent research and even better storytelling.
January 28, 2020
Oh this was so good!!!! the writing style was a little basic, e.g. not going into much detail, it was kinda like oh yeah and then there was a bomb attack! quite non-descriptive at times which is why I cant give it a five star. although, javier peña *chefs kiss*
December 4, 2025
I just love a narco story what can I say
Read after watching Narcos (currently watching Narcos: Mexico) and it really shows how much focus they put on casting.
No funny review here out of respect for the content and authors. Interesting read, but not one you could reread. Would recommend to any true crime lovers.
Read after watching Narcos (currently watching Narcos: Mexico) and it really shows how much focus they put on casting.
No funny review here out of respect for the content and authors. Interesting read, but not one you could reread. Would recommend to any true crime lovers.
April 17, 2022
3.67 stars
May 31, 2022
2.5 - Half the book was background stories for the two DEA agents: Murphy and Peña. "Narcos" may take a lot of liberties with the story telling, but it was far more entertaining than this recounting.
December 2, 2025
An excellent read. The retelling was gripping from start to finish.
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