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The Mastermind
- Drugs. Empire. Murder. Betrayal.
- Narrated by: Evan Ratliff
- Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
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Publisher's Summary
The incredible true story of the decade-long quest to bring down Paul Le Roux - the creator of a frighteningly powerful internet-enabled cartel who merged the ruthlessness of a drug lord with the technological savvy of a Silicon Valley entrepreneur.
"A tour de force of shoe-leather reporting - undertaken, amid threats and menacing, at considerable personal risk." (Los Angeles Times)
Named One of the Best Books of the Year by The New York Times Book Review • NPR • Evening Standard • Kirkus Reviews
It all started as an online prescription drug network, supplying hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of painkillers to American customers. It would not stop there. Before long, the business had turned into a sprawling multinational conglomerate engaged in almost every conceivable aspect of criminal mayhem. Yachts carrying $100 million in cocaine. Safe houses in Hong Kong filled with gold bars. Shipments of methamphetamine from North Korea. Weapons deals with Iran. Mercenary armies in Somalia. Teams of hit men in the Philippines. Encryption programs so advanced that the government could not break them. The man behind it all, pulling the strings from a laptop in Manila, was Paul Calder Le Roux - a reclusive programmer turned criminal genius who could only exist in the networked world of the 21st century, and the kind of self-made crime boss that American law enforcement had never imagined. For half a decade, DEA agents played a global game of cat-and-mouse with Le Roux as he left terror and chaos in his wake. Each time they came close, he would slip away. It would take relentless investigative work, and a shocking betrayal from within his organization, to catch him. And when he was finally caught, the story turned again, as Le Roux struck a deal to bring down his own organization and the people he had once employed.
Award-winning investigative journalist Evan Ratliff spent four years piecing together this intricate puzzle, chasing Le Roux's empire and his shadowy henchmen around the world, conducting hundreds of interviews and uncovering thousands of documents. The result is a riveting, unprecedented account of a crime boss built by and for the digital age.
Praise for The Mastermind
"The Mastermind is true crime at its most stark and vivid depiction. Evan Ratliff's work is well done from beginning to end, paralleling his investigative work with the work of the many federal agents developing the case against LeRoux." (San Francisco Book Review, five stars)
"A wholly engrossing story that joins the worlds of El Chapo and Edward Snowden; both disturbing and memorable." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)
What the critics say
“A true crime classic.” (Publishers Weekly)
“If truth is stranger than fiction, then The Mastermind is the truest book you’ll read this year. The only thing predictable about it is how quickly you’ll turn the pages.” (Noah Hawley, author of Before the Fall and creator of the TV series Fargo)
“As directors, we spend countless hours imagining heightened plots and memorable characters that will leave a lasting impression on audiences. The true tale of obsession, genius, intrigue, and vengeance detailed in The Mastermind is as gripping and cinematic as anything we could endeavor to conjure up.” (Joe and Anthony Russo, directors, Captain America and Avengers: Infinity War)
“This is a mesmerizing, absolutely bonkers story about a man as brilliant as he is villainous. You’ll find yourself sucked in, freaked out, and ultimately blown away by Ratliff's storytelling and tireless reporting. The Mastermind is a masterpiece.” (Nick Thompson, editor-in-chief, Wired)
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What listeners say about The Mastermind
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- jerome
- 2019-10-26
worthwhile
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, reccomend to all who enjoy true crime and conspiracy stories.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Dyno Saur
- 2020-07-19
Incredible story.
Unbelievable true story, engaging writing and very good narration make this a really enjoyable book ive listened twice.
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- Noah Kronberg
- 2020-08-12
brilliant
I was actually an employee of this man ... apparently. but only at the lowest levels possible. yet somehow I knew some of the stuff revealed here. to hear the rest of the story is simply mind blowing.
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- michael
- 2023-04-14
An Engaging and Thrilling Audiobook
From start to finish, it was a thrilling and captivating listen that had me hooked from the very first chapter. Evan Ratliff, did an excellent job of researching and telling the story of Paul Le Roux.
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- Skigirl
- 2023-07-15
Fascinating
A fascinating tale of intrigue across continents. Well researched and a great piece of investigative journalism researched by the tenacious author. While featuring a complex set of characters, it was easy to follow. Narrator also did a nice job.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2019-07-02
one of two versions.
Great book I read this one and Hunting Leroux and I suggest that you read both! This one I liked just a tad bit more but both great versions!
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1 person found this helpful
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- G. Wilm
- 2019-04-25
A terrific story needs a great reader
Evan Ratliff has performed a remarkable feat in The Mastermind . The book is thoroughly researched; the story is compelling, taut and suspenseful. If it weren’t true, it would be unbelievable. It is really great stuff. Therefore it was disappointing that Ratliff chose to read the work himself. His delivery was that of a student reading his essay aloud to the class: flat and uninspiring. Why do authors do this? Almost none of them, in my experience, have the skills and range of a professional actor. It’s a minor irritation and should not discourage anyone from enjoying this incredible tale.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 2019-10-14
Absolutely outstanding! listened a few times.
This book was just what i was looking for. Very well written and narrated. A phenomenal story of corruption. I gave it a few listens to make sure that i didnt miss anything. Would recommend this book to anyone. Good shit, Evan Ratliff.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mac
- 2022-09-22
Disappointing audiobook
Unfortunately the structure and narration of this book was poor. What could have been a great story was less than mediocre and once i was 3 hours in i skipped to the final chapter. The narration was the nail in the coffin for me. A Disappointed listener.
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