American Kingpin
"Filled with unforgettable characters and capped by an astonishing climax, American Kingpin might be dismissed as too outrageous for fiction. But it's all too real."
I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of true crime, but this book was amazing. In 2011, Ross Ulbricht set out with the goal of pushing his libertarian views by selling drugs on the dark web, outside the watchful eye of law enforcement. What he ended up creating was a multi-billion dollar marketplace called the Silk Road, where anyone could sell anything – drugs, weapons, illegal software, forged passports, etc. Eventually law enforcement did become aware of the site and thus began the manhunt for the mastermind behind it – a man who had branded himself as the Dread Pirate Roberts. The investigative reporting done by Nick Bilton was phenomenal. It was reported that he dug through over two billion words and countless images to piece together a tale that often seems too far-fetched to be believed. He recreates the story in a way that is full of fascinating details and very entertaining to read. This is one of my most recommended books and I’ve never had a disappointed reader.