First, I have to say I thought this book was going to be fiction. I had no idea that this was a true story account of the late 70's and early 80's in Coconut Grove Florida. I didn't understand before I started reading that The Mutiny was a real place and that the characters in the book were real people selling/doing drugs and living large during the early days of cocaine being imported into the US.

Way before Pablo Escobar stepped onto the seen in Miami there was a group of Cuban immigrants who imported and sold cocaine. They could be found any night of the week at the exclusive Mutiny Club. They did drugs, partied with prostitutes and threatened to kill each other. The story is told by waitresses, clients, drug dealers and cops who all hung out together at the Mutiny.

"Gomez was still convinced the Monkey would blow him away with a flick of his wrist. He imagined his head in a puddle of blood. But Morales rapidly tucked his semiautomatic back into his pants. His rival bolted, but Gomez didn't put away his revolver. 'Get the fuck out of here, Ricky!' he yelled to Morales, panting, almost hyperventilating. 'Try! If you even try to fucking come back...'"

"'You know who you talking to?' shot back Morales, snarling. 'Do. You. Know?' He pulled back his coat to reveal a giant grenade on his belt. It was practically the size of a Florida avocado. The Monkey flashed a deranged grin and took his time walking out the front of the Mutiny."

Soon most of Miami, Florida and the east coast knew what cocaine was and they were all doing it. With such a huge demand there was room for lots of drug lords and they all chose to spend their free time in The Mutiny. Eating, drinking, doing drugs and plotting against each other.

"They were Miami's ruling drug lords. With bullets flying everywhere there at all hours of the day, the town was increasingly being called Dodge City. And so these guys were it's "cocaine cowboys" the Latin masterminds of the era's go-go wonder drug: yeyo, perch, toot, snow, white pony. Cocaine. And The Mutiny was their favorite saloon."

The more drugs were sold and the more cocaine was used the more paranoid the drug lords began to get. Soon they were all thinking about killing each other and being killed. They jockeyed for position as the reigning drug king. It didn't help when the movie Scarface was based on them and The Mutiny. They all thought they were the lead character and vied for roles in the movie.

"'It was a crazy time,' said Mollie. 'I knew Rudy and Carlene as friends. Then all of a sudden you had to pick sides. You never knew if they'd open fire in the club. Things felt like they were just coming to a head between them.'"

The era of decadence went on for years before law enforcement stepped in and began turning drug kings, their families and body guards into informants. Soon they were all ratting on each other and getting arrested. By the early 80's a lot of The Mutiny's regulars were in jail. Some of them even together!

As The Mutiny lost it's high rollers it began to go down hill. Soon the place was in disrepair. Finally they had to file for bankruptcy and the federal government seized the property. It was a sad ending for a place that saw Friday night net profits of $60,000 at one time.

Hotel Scarface is a history lesson of how cocaine became popular in the US. It tells the story of a height of glory for the men who brought it here, the club they hung out in and then the demise of their way of life.

The first half of this book was excellent. I could have done without some of the details in the middle, but was glad I continued to read so I got to see how the story ended. It was crazy to think about how easy it was to bring cocaine into the US during that time!

I really wanted to love this book. I lived in the Miami area for many years. I used to drive/walk past the Mutiny often. I know the background a little, but I just found the style of writing did not capture me. I may try again, but at this time I cannot complete it. I did watch the whole Cocaine Cowboys on Netflix and it was engaging, so I thought this would be too, especially as a reader.

I’m always intrigued with learning about history..especially criminal elements of history. Hotel Scarface did not disappoint. A very fun, informative read.

Cocaine cartels, girls, cash, guns, public shoot outs, police informants, and an appearance or two from Pablo Escobar himself, what else could you want? Roben Farzad's Hotel Scarface is a wild romp through the history of one of Miami's most notorious hotels, Mutiny. In the early 1980's Mutiny was the home and fantasy playground to the world's most infamous drug traffickers. Cocaine's popularity was on the rise and this misfit band of Cuban and Colombian refugees rode it all the way to the top making millions of dollars, while enduring police surveillance, assassination attempts and indulging in all forms of illicit debauchery. The Mutiny's staff was there every moment to cater to their every desire, even while evading the not so occasional stray bullet. This hotel was the inspiration for Oliver Stones iconic movie classic, Scarface. Farzad's real accounts from the people who lived, and died, through this ruthless time in Miami's history is captivating. They say truth is better then fiction and this true tale delivers on all counts.

Hello Community. If you love mob movies think The Godfather, Casino, The Untouchables, and etc...then this is definitely the book for you. It starts out a little slow with a tab bit of action and as it gets going it really gets to going. I loved the old history and everything else he tied into this novel. Florida seemed like a happening place back then and gun violence was rampant and everyone wanted a piece of pie and took it. I was entertained reading this and I'm sure you all will be too.

DNF so will not be rating or reviewing. Thank you for the opportunity to read this title.

Hotel Scarface is a well written novel chronicling the vast amount of characters during the Miami drug scene of the late 70s and 80s. Centered on the Mutiny Hotel, the author tells the stories of the rise and fall of many of the key players involved in the introduction and smuggling of cocaine. The facts, which include the lavished lifestyle of these criminals, are incredible and over the top.

Pros
The author details a vast amount of interesting, entertaining, shocking, and humorous stories that will keep you glued to the book, while wanting more. The writer’s style is easy to read and gives you a sense that he conversing with you one on one. He provides a lot of information, so one will not need to know anything about the era prior to reading.

Cons
Since there are so many characters involved, it was extremely hard to accurately follow an individual’s storyline. Each chapter detailed numerous events, which could involve a large amount of participants. The author did provide a cast of characters at the beginning of the novel, which I suggest one refers too frequently while reading.

Recommendation
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in true crime, lifestyles in the 80s, fans of Scarface, and readers who like quirky and eccentric characters.

Miami. The jewel of the Sunshine State. The playground of the rich and famous. The city that cocaine built. The one-time murder capital of the US.

Hotel Scarface is the story of Miami in the 1970s and 80s. It was a time of redevelopment and growth, in no small part due to the influx of cocaine money. It was a time of decadence, crime, and insanity. It was a time of drug importers and sellers, movie stars and politicians, cops, some dedicated, others corrupt, lavish hotels with even more lavish parties, hookers, hangers on, killers, and those who made the city move. It was a time of debauchery and murder. It was Miami.

This story is an amazing reliving of Miami during its most turbulent time period. You will need a scorecard to keep up with all the players, and the many moving parts, but you will meet so many people that are indeed bigger than life. Hotel Scarface is well written and documents the events that not only built modern Miami, but lead to the movie Scarface and the popular TV series Miami Vice. You will be mesmerized by this story. And ask yourself many times—-Is this really true? It is. Highly recommended.

DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly, Samantha Cody, and Dub Walker thriller series

Anybody that grew up in the late 70s to early 90s should read this book. I found it very enlightening and also cut throat. Drugs are a business and if you cross over the line you pay.