Bayou of Pigs: The True Story of an Audacious Plot to Turn a Tropical Island into a Criminal Paradise [Hardcover]

Stewart Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 2008

The story of how a criminal Shangri-La almost happened

In 1981, a small but heavily armed force of misfits from the United States and Canada set off on an unlikely mission: to invade the impoverished Caribbean island of Dominica, overthrow its government in a coup d'etat, and install a new bought-off prime minister. For two years, the gangleaders recruited manpower, wooed investors, forged links with the mob, stockpiled weapons, and planned their assault. They called it Operation Red Dog. They were going to make millions. All that stood in their way were two federal agents from Louisiana on the biggest case of their lives. Bayou of Pigs tells a remarkable story of foreign military intervention, revolutionary politics, greed, treachery, stupidity, deceit, and one of the most outlandish crimes ever attempted: the theft of a nation.

Stewart Bell (Toronto, ON) is the author of Cold Terror (978-0-470-84056-6).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Stewart Bell has discovered a fascinating little known piece of history and spun it into an intriguing book that is well worth reading."
--Blackberry Books, Vancouver

"...sharply written narrative...Bayou of Pigs has something for everyone:
high drama mixed with Pythonesque turns, politics, steamy sexual innuendo
and plot twists that would put a smile on the face of John le Carre." --Toronto Star

"...an important contribution to the documented history of Dominica, as well as a fascinating read."
--Paul Crask, Author of Dominica: Bradt Travel Guide

"...a terrific account ... it often reads like a fantastical plot-driven
thriller. Which makes it all the spookier for being true."
--Winnipeg Free Press

"With Bayou of Pigs, [Bell] continues to cement his reputation as one of
Canada's leading investigative journalists ... fascinating book."
--The Vancouver Sun

"..an engaging and incredible account…extensively researched and well-written." (Washington Times, October 5, 2008)

From the Inside Flap

This is a true story about an idyllic tropical island and the mercenaries who set out to steal if for profit and adventure.

In 1981, a small but heavily armed force of misfits from the United States and Canada set off on a preposterous mission: invade an impoverished Caribbean country, overthrow its government in a coup d'??tat, install a puppet prime minister, and transform it into a crooks' paradise.

Their leader was a Texas soldier-of-fortune type named Mike Perdue. His lieutenant was a Canadian Nazi named Wolfgang Droege. Their destination: Dominica.

For two years they recruited fighting men, wooed investors, stockpiled weapons and forged links with the mob, leftist revolutionaries and militant Rastafarians. They called their invasion Operation Red Dog. They were going to make millions. People were going to die. An entire nation was going to suffer. All that stood in their way were two federal agents from New Orleans on the biggest cast of their lives.

Set in the Caribbean, Canada and the American South at the beginning of the end of the Cold War, and based on hundreds of pages of declassified US government documents, as well as exclusive interviews with those involved, Bayou of Pigs tells a remarkable tale of foreign military intervention, revolutionary politics, greed, treachery, stupidity, deceit and one of the most outlandish criminal stunts ever conceived: the theft of a nation.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470153822
• ISBN-13: 978-0470153826
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #666,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > History > Americas > Caribbean & West Indies > Dominica

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!!, January 4, 2011

By 

James Tolbert - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bayou of Pigs: The True Story of an Audacious Plot to Turn a Tropical Island into a Criminal Paradise (Hardcover)

Unbelievably good read.

Its rare to find books on the subject. That rarity coupled with the authors writing style makes this a must-have. The amazing thing about the book is how vast the conspiracy stretched - from New Orleans to Canada - from a mercenary in Houston to a future presidential candidate (or possibly two - I'll let you decide). All to overtake an island of about 60K people for profit.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well done, December 2, 2010

By 

Christine Blyden - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bayou of Pigs: The True Story of an Audacious Plot to Turn a Tropical Island into a Criminal Paradise (Hardcover)

I spent part of my childhood in Dominica, and still have much family there. The book shed light on the events that I remember hearing about on the radio as a child after leaving Dominica for the Virgin Islands. After I read it I sent a copy to my mother, who is from Dominica and grew up with some of the characters involved. Even she was not aware of the intricacies involved in the plot. Very well done!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Literary Nonfiction of the Caribbean, November 22, 2010

By 

William A. Cain "waci" (Columbia, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bayou of Pigs: The True Story of an Audacious Plot to Turn a Tropical Island into a Criminal Paradise (Hardcover)

The good guys were a handful of patriotic American and Dominican citizens - mostly informants and law enforcement types. The criminals were a gaggle of American, Dominican and Canadian creeps - would-be soldiers-of-fortune, Rastafarians and a few unusual politicians as well as their operatives. The story is literary nonfiction as good as it gets, in this case Bell's gripping journalistic account of a ludicrous scheme to turn the island of Dominica into a base for international criminal enterprise.

The story's timeline moves from the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s, while places oscillate to and from New Orleans, Houston, Toronto, Granada and Dominica. Action includes the communist takeover of Granada and a series of attempts by groups of Nazis, KKKs and drug dealers to take over the democratically elected government of Dominica. In the end, Granada and the American medical students are rescued, the Dominican government is protected, and ignorance is checked.

Were they not tragic, the scoundrels and their evil schemes would provide a series of belly laughs. Bell's style reveals their greed, their ignorance, and that tragedy as well as the heroism of a few honest men and women.