Cartels And Combinations by Mike McPheters

Cartels And Combinations by Mike McPheters

When Mike called me a few weeks ago to ask me if I would be interested in reviewing his upcoming new fiction novel, I was very excited, as he had called me last year to ask my assistance in setting up a Fireside in my Stake here in Kennewick WA and to ask if I'd be interested in reviewing his first book Agent Bishop: True Stories From An FBI Agent Moonlighting As A Mormon Bishop. One interesting sidenote to mention is that a retired police officer in my ward, our SA Rep, also helped set that Fireside up since he worked with Mike when they both lived in Pendleton, Oregon and that Mike was Don's Bishop.
Anyway, Mike has hit a homerun with his first novel. This riveting novel is an eye-opener to the world of drug cartels and drug lords and how and why they do what they do. This novel is based on a true story.
Elena Guzman, almost 18 and about ready to go off to BYU-Idaho, isn't so gung-ho on her parents Mormon faith. While standing at a Youth Conference to bear her testimony, she feels a warm feeling as she shares her feelings. A few hours later, while her grandfather is sharing the family history with her, a drug cartel abucts her and whisks her away deep into Mexico. Elena learns how her Uncle Ruben and another relative, who work in the orchards and being treated by two white teen brothers. These brothers felt that the Mexicans should not be getting the jobs that the white people should be getting. The Mexicans could actually get paid more in the US than in Mexico and Ruben and Hector would work hard.
Elena's father, Enrique, is a DA and has been working very hard in convicting these drug traffikers and sending them to prison. Enrique's nephew, Tito, son of Ruben, takes over The Brotherhood, promising his father to run the business without shedding any blood. The competition is The Vultures, the head drug lord having been kicked out of The Brotherhood by the Crocodile, who dies, leaving Ruben to take over.

The reason Elena has been taken is due to El Gordo's three sons being in jail in San Diego, so Elena is being held in exchange for releasing his sons. Federico, one of The Brotherhood, has infiltrated into The Vultures, has promised to look after Elena and to help her escape.

Before Ruben dies, he has Tito attend a meeting with other drug lords and he, along with Ruben feel uncomfortable with all the secret oaths, signs and secret combinations that these evil men are doing because they are doing Satan's bidding. Tito had never committed any murders, as he felt that was wrong. Ruben's nephew Miguel had served his mission in Mexico and he invited Miguel and his companion to visit and have dinner and having them there was foreign to him, but he started reading parts of the Book of Mormon and had Tito read a few highlighted scriptures while he was on his deathbed. Tito's sister was so impressed with what the Missionaries had to say and how they acted, she became baptized.
How Enrique, his FBI friends and Tito are able to rescue Elena, is a surprising turn, so won't spoil the ending and aftermath for you. Mike has a great way of implementing very unique, but viable solutions to the drug trafficing and illegal immigration issues. We need to work together as a nation to train and educate the illegal immigrants in their countries.

This novel will make you look at issues with a better perspective, esp since this novel was written by one who knows his subject only too well.

I received this book from Cedar Fort, though indirectly from Mike.

Published by: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Date Published: November 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59955-487-7
239pp