Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The riveting true story of a remarkable woman who pursued her own brand of justice to avenge the kidnapping and murder of her daughter by a ruthless Mexican drug cartel--from a global investigative correspondent for The New York Times
Fear Is Just a Word begins on an international bridge between Mexico and the United States as a fifty-six-year-old woman named Miriam Rodr guez stalks one of the men she believes was involved in the murder of her daughter, Karen. He is her target #11, and a member of the drug cartel that has terrorized Miriam's once-quiet hometown of San Fernando, almost one hundred miles from the U.S. border. Having dyed her hair red as a disguise and staying just out of sight, Miriam orchestrates the arrest of this man, holding him until police come, and exacting her own version of justice.
Even though Miriam had paid ransom money she could not afford, in hopes of saving Karen, her daughter was never returned. Finally, with no other options, Miriam decided that "fear is just a word," and she began a bold campaign to track down Karen's killers, and then to create a community to help other victimized families pursue justice. This is one mother's extraordinary story, but Karen Rodr guez is just one of the many people who have disappeared. Fear Is Just a Word also charts the history of how cartels built their control in Mexico, over many years, escalating the use of violence as messaging and dominance, and how--for money, control, and intimidation--hundreds of victims have been kidnapped and murdered.
Propulsively readable, deeply researched, and brilliantly written, Fear Is Just a Word is an unforgettable and moving portrait of a woman, a town, and a country, and of what can happen when violent forces gain power in a nation, leaving people to seek justice on their own.
Synopsis
A riveting true story of a mother who fought back against the drug cartels in Mexico, pursuing her own brand of justice to avenge the kidnapping and murder of her daughter--from a global investigative correspondent for
The New York Times "A work of journalistic brilliance and rare humanity."--George Packer, author of Our Man
Fear Is Just a Word begins on an international bridge between Mexico and the United States, as fifty-six-year-old Miriam Rodr guez stalks one of the men she believes was involved in the murder of her daughter Karen. He is her target number eleven, a member of the drug cartel that has terrorized and controlled what was once Miriam's quiet hometown of San Fernando, Mexico, almost one hundred miles from the U.S. border. Having dyed her hair red as a disguise, Miriam watches, waits, and then orchestrates the arrest of this man, exacting her own version of justice.
Woven into this deeply researched, moving account is the story of how cartels built their power in Mexico, escalated the use of violence, and kidnapped and murdered tens of thousands. Karen was just one of the many people who disappeared, and Miriam, a brilliant, strategic, and fearless woman, begged for help from the authorities and paid ransom money she could not afford in hopes of saving her daughter. When that failed, she decided that "fear is just a word," and began a crusade to track down Karen's killers and to help other victimized families in their search for justice.
What do people do when their country and the peaceful town where they have grown up become unrecognizable, suddenly places of violence and fear? Azam Ahmed takes us into the grieving of a country and a family to tell the mesmerizing story of a brave and brilliant woman determined to find out what happened to her daughter, and to see that the criminals who murdered her were punished. Fear Is Just a Word is an unforgettable and moving portrait of a woman, a town, and a country, and of what can happen when violent forces leave people to seek justice on their own.