Reading this book has raised for me the question of how far I can willingly extend my sympathy in the realm of literature, and I am going to make it a point to read more books in this genre in the future, although right now that resolution is looking a lot more like homework than it did before I started 'The Cartel.' What constitutes quality? I am going to think about what I can be enthusiastic here. Basically a non-stop series of revenge killings and power grabs, to me this book never stopped to consider the question, 'Why?' There is little to question, and little to invest in emotionally or intellectually. The world is governed by the iron-fast rules of family loyalty and the pursuit of opulent wealth. I don't see the artistry in the writing, maybe there is something I don't understand, and as a result, the book is a surprisingly painful read. There is non-stop action between what I would call the action scenes (bullets fly), the sex scenes (graphic), and the money scenes ('Carter stood up smoothly and put his hands in his $400 Armani slacks.') Ultimately, I think the reason I had such a strong reaction to this book wasn't the sex or the violence, but the storytelling.

The story deals with the struggle for power between fictional modern-day crime families.

Reading it made me anxious and a little bit upset. I read this book because my students were so into the series, but I had to force myself to finish it. They are on opposing teams, and when their worlds collide, the truth will be unveiled in an unpredictable ending. Young Carter and Miamor lead two different lifestyles. She is sleeping with the enemy, and when she finds out, she is torn between love and revenge. Unknowingly, she meets the son of Carter Diamond, and he immediately catches her heart. She is determined to get revenge from The Cartel. When her crew is hired to take down The Cartel, they get caught slipping, and Miamor loses her sister in the process. Miamor is a woman who uses her beauty to enhance her skill as a contract killer. When Young Carter learns of his father's death, he comes to town and is introduced to the legacy of The Cartel. The secret is his illegitimate son, Carter Jones. The most ruthless gangster Miami has ever seen, Carter Diamond leaves behind a wife, twin sons, a daughter, and a secret. The Diamond family is a force to be reckoned with, but all hell breaks loose when they lose their leader. The port of Miami brings in millions of dollars worth of cocaine every year, and The Cartel controls eighty percent of it.

The Cartel by Ashley Antoinette