This is the sort of book I would never normally consider reading, especially since it has an endorsement quote from FHM on the front cover. However, it proved to be a serendipitous gift (from Ross Yarrow) and an enlightening one too. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the style is that of a page-turner, but the context is compelling: to read is to believe. The jail Young describes, and the biography of the prisoner (Thomas McFadden), would be hard to believe from the outside. However, all the reader encounters is apparently true. At least at the time of writing, the San Pedro prison in Bolivia was open for tourists to visit. McFadden gave tours. Guests could stay overnight. Marching Powder is an insight into corruption in South America: bribes (typically money or drugs) can buy you almost anything. Many prisoners appear to have a better life inside than they would outside. Marching Powder is also a testament to McFadden's courage and resourcefulness. Not an account for the faint-hearted, but fascinating. Not rated.
By Rusty Young