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American Desperado cover art

American Desperado

By: Jon Roberts, Evan Wright
Narrated by: Christina Rooney, Erik Davies, Johnathan McClain, Kimberley Farr, Kirby Heyborne, Mark Bramhall, Mark Deakins, Steve Kramer
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Publisher's Summary

American Desperado is possibly the most jaw-dropping, event-filled, adrenaline-soaked criminal autobiography ever written. Like a real-life Scarface Jon was born into the upper levels of the Gambino crime family and witnessed his first murder at age seven. He became a one-man juvenile crime wave before joining an assassination squad in Vietnam. He returned to New York at age 20 to become one of the city's top nightclub promoters, then journeyed to Miami where he became the de facto transportation chief of the Medellin Cartel, and along with a tech-wizard partner, created some of the most sophisticated smuggling technologies ever. With a hulking 6'6" bodyguard always at his side, and a rural fortress protected by mortars, tear-gas cannons, and a gold-fanged attack dog, Roberts was brutally effective at what he did. To law enforcement, he was known as the "Bearded Gringo," a spectre they could never touch. To United States senators and CIA officials, he was "the guy who can get things done". He eventually formed a clandestine alliance with the US government and in the end found personal late-life redemption.

©2011 Jon Roberts and Evan Wright (P)2011 Random House AudioGo LTD

What listeners say about American Desperado

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really good book but a little gruesome in parts

Really interesting book to listen to. It moves effortlessly through the very different stages of his life, with just the right level of detail to keep you coming back to hear what's next. Strangely likeable character due to his frankness, almost remorse and occasional humorous comment.Yet equally easy to dislike due to his extremely violent, inhumane approach to managing any given problem. I definitely recommend listening to this book but note it's probably not for the squeamish or faint of heart... This book would make a great movie!

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3 people found this helpful

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Very very interesting

For those who like true stories this is very interesting insight into how troubled childhoods lead to traumatised adults and gives immense insight into the formation of the mind sets of these people
It also enlightens the mind of how such a little good or inspirational moment in a persons life can alter perspective, mindset and ability to adapt to an alternate lifestyle even though deep down still having a permanent scaring of what has been learned at such a young age

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1 person found this helpful

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Tough Guy Story raw and Compelling

Brutal morbidly fascinating and sometimes funny the story of Jon Roberts life and career is nothing but entertaining and very hard to put down

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1 person found this helpful

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loved it

all the ways they evaded the FBI are really interesting and you get a really good insight into how evil this guy really was some of the stories are pretty brutal but all in all this was a pretty damn good book it will have you interested right to the end

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1 person found this helpful

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Awesome!! <br />

Couldn't turn it off, an absolute brutal but amazing story. I didn't want it to end

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1 person found this helpful

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A MUST READ

hands down the best audio book ive listened to, un-believable story! narrators do a fantastic job. a must read!

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Very engaging and interesting

A fantastic book which kept me coming back from start to finish. Tracking the numerous and varied periods in his life from Mafia to Cocaine Cowboy and the amazing people he met along the way. The different readers also help to keep things exciting.

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1 person found this helpful

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Fantastic!

Very entertaining right throughout, could not put the earphones out. finished this one much quicker than I usually do!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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It's ok

Only got half way, it's basically the story of someone who never took any responsibility for their actions and was struggling with some form of mental illness.
A jumbled, rambling ego stroke trying to justify why he was such a turd of human.

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Amazing

Brilliant, I will read this again soon. Love these books. Such a good story. Cheers

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