New Review: Son Of Escobar, First Born by Roberto Sendoya Escobar

 Before I write my actual review of this book, for transparency's sake I will explain that I got tagged in a tweet by a journalist for the inews, Etan Smallman, who did an in-depth article countering claims that the author of "Son of Escobar" made. The link, if you're interested, is here: https://inews.co.uk/news/long-reads/pablo-escobar-son-phillip-witcomb-book-friends-claims-doubts-fiction-612281

This book is written by Pablo Escobar's eldest son, Roberto, who writes that he was found in a safe house after a deadly shoot-out. He was adopted by an MI6 agent, Phillip Witcomb, and his wife, who stayed in Colombia. The cover was working with a business called De La Rue, while covertly working with gangs, such as Escobar's, in order to keep track of the rise and fall of smuggling and money-laundering in the country. 

Roberto describes the rise and rise of Pablo Escobar, whose name is recognised worldwide. One of the most notorious drug lords to have ever existed, the book describes how his rise happened partly because of the facilitation of American and British governments, rather than in spite of their intervention. Roberto describes how he never knew he was adopted until the day he was dropped off at boarding school in England, (as a soon-to-be adoptive parent myself, I can tell you that that is categorically one of the worst ways you can tell your child you adopted them), and never knew he was Pablo's son until he was an adult. 

The book reads almost like a blockbuster movie. It's extremely compelling, suspenseful, and nail-biting in places. Whatever the disputes over the claims made in the book, it's definitely worth the read due to its brilliant telling. Maybe just take it with a pinch of salt.