As is often the case when life is too good to be true, things take a turn for the worse. A Mexican drug cartel, the Baja Cartel (or BC, Ben and Chon are very big on acronyms) kidnap O and the price for her safe return is high. The need to accumulate cash to recover O causes the pair to engage in activities that they would not ordinarily pursue (apart from the fact that their bread and butter enterprise is illegal).

Despite the rather somber subject of the novel, author Winslow manages to insert more than a little humor throughout the caper. From the obvious overuse of acronyms to Shakespearean references, Winslow deals with a serious subject in a lighthearted manner. His dialogue is pitch perfect. He switches from prose to poetry to little mini plays with ease. No person, group or institution escapes his seemingly humorous attacks.

Because the pace of the story is so quick, it is easy to miss the underlying importance of the author’s message. What appears all sweetness and light is actually quite the reverse. Ben has taken all of the violence and dishonesty that he can out of his business and leave what remains to be dealt with by Chon. Ben was born into and has remained in a comfortable life style and chooses to ignore those pieces of reality that don’t conform to his view.

Savages  is a quick read that probably ought not to be read quickly. Mr. Winslow has considerable information which, though delivered in a light hearted manner, deserves serious consideration. From the war on drugs to government malfeasance to abuse of the environment, there is much to be learned with the pages of this valuable book. 

--Andy Plonka