David J. Holleman’s Blue Baja
chronicles the tale of a ruthless Mexican drug cartel, led by Luis
Huerta, a man whose rise to power and enforced control is paved with
many bodies, brutality, and complete disregard for human life. Holleman
artfully uses fiction to address the violent and disturbing headlines
with which we are commonly confronted as the drug wars in Mexico rage
on.
When
Luis decides to make his mark and take over the drug cartel in Tijuana,
he and his henchmen use unparalleled and shocking violence to exert
their control, leaving headless bodies in their wake. The cartel tips
off the police to the murders, which is picked up by the newspapers,
sending a message to any would-be usurpers that Huerta is not to be
tangled with; “No one had seen anything like this before over drugs.
The pictures rivaled something out of World War II, and the world could
only express shock and dismay.”
As
Huerta continues to enforce his power, he sends disturbing messages not
only to those who challenge him for power, but also to any law
enforcement officials who attempt to build a case against him or do not
accept his bribery. Throughout Blue Baja,
Huerta and his men go to extreme lengths to ascertain that they remain
in absolute and unchallenged power, disregarding the lives and humanity
of innocent women, children, and anyone else who gets caught in their
destructive mess.
Tensions mount as the Mexican Drug War escalates, reaching unprecedented levels of violence. Indeed, Blue Baja is
an incredibly timely work, giving readers a fictional representation of
similar events that have been splashed across news headlines.
Holleman’s depiction of Huerta and his men is deeply unsettling,
raising awareness about the tragic events that are occurring just beyond
the border and the human lives that have been irrevocably damaged and
taken by the avarice and cruelty of Huerta’s real-life counterparts.
For media inquiries or to request a review copy, please contact:
David J. Holleman
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