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Impetuous: The Odyssey of a Solitary Man

Litlinks Review

Impetuous: The Odyssey of a Solitary Man by T.S. Aguilar offers a gritty and unflinching exploration of the global drug trade, delving into its capitalist underpinnings and humanizing the individuals within the network. Set in the 1990s, the narrative follows a resourceful street dealer whose innovative approach to smuggling is misunderstood, leading to betrayal by none other than Pablo Escobar. This event catapults the protagonist into a turbulent odyssey involving Colombian drug lords, a meticulously crafted plan, and the devastating rise of a multi-trillion-dollar drug empire.

What sets this book apart is its unique perspective. Aguilar depicts the drug lords and dealers not as caricatured villains but as individuals navigating the harsh realities of demand-driven economies. The novel challenges readers to reconsider traditional moral judgments, presenting its characters as ambitious, flawed, and deeply human.

The prose is sharp, and the pacing is relentless, keeping readers engaged while exploring heavy themes of power, consequence, and the societal structures enabling the drug trade. It’s a thought-provoking read that blends thriller elements with a stark examination of real-world issues. This book will appeal to fans of crime thrillers and those interested in socio-economic critiques. Its nuanced portrayal and gripping narrative ensure it leaves a lasting impression.

Impetuous provides an insight into our world getting flooded with illicit drugs by going back to the 1990s when a street dealer of drugs and fake emeralds had the idea how to improve the drug trade and avoid the detection of smuggled drugs and the confiscation of drug money. His idea is thoroughly misunderstood by Pablo Escobar who sets a trap that sends the protagonist to prison. Once busted out by the Second Generation of Colombian drug lords, the protagonist recuperates, presents his idea and detailed plan, and is sent on his odyssey to implement his plan. The devastating consequences of his success are felt to this day. The trade of illicit drugs has grown to a multi-trillion dollar business in the best of capitalist tradition. The story unfolds from the point of view of the criminals as regular people, not being judgemental, not being moralistic and condemning them but simply showing them as if they were running a perfectly legitimate business.
As one of the main characters at one point states succinctly, “If our merchandise (cocaine) was declared a regulated substance and permitted to be obtained by prescription, we would not be considered criminals but lauded as most successful beacons of capitalism.” And Pablo Escobar stated as far back as May 1990, “The economic system has a natural law: supply is determined by demand. When cocaine stops being consumed, when there’s no demand… that’s going to be the end of this business.”
Consequently, there is ample reason to look at the majority of these ‘criminals’ as regular people and not as the bloodthirsty monsters they are made out to be. The drug related killings reported in your country are not committed by the Colombian drug lords but the wholesalers, retailers and street dealers of drugs in your country. Without a question, the drug lords were involved in a lot of bloodshed as a result of the infighting between the cartels. But compare that to the present investigation in Colombia titled, “Who gave the order?” It concerns the more than 450,000 Colombian citizens killed by the death squads of the military under the auspices of General Montoya.

Author

 

Country of Origin

Canada

Published

Feb. 7 2023

Publisher

T.S.Aguilar

Language

English

Available Formats

ebook