The Snakehead

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2024 CWA GOLD DAGGER FOR NON-FICTIONDescribed by Time as reminiscent of "The Godfather" mixed with "Chinatown," complete with intense gunfights, a merciless leader, and piles of cash, this gripping tale unfolds with the reassurance that it is all based on true events. Bestselling author Patrick Radden Keefe, known for "Empire of Pain," delves into the astonishing underground world led by an unlikely figure: a charismatic middle-aged grandmother. From her modest noodle shop in New York's Chinatown, she orchestrated a multimillion-dollar human smuggling enterprise.In "The Snakehead," Keefe uncovers the complexity behind Cheng Chui Ping, also known as Sister Ping, and her vast network. He narrates the FBI's decade-long pursuit that ultimately dismantled her operations. The book also examines the flawed, sometimes corrupt activities of the INS as they targeted desperate individuals willing to risk everything for a chance at life in America. Through this narrative, Keefe offers an insightful look into a generation of undocumented immigrants and the clandestine economy that both supports and takes advantage of them."The Snakehead" is a compelling true crime account that also serves as a poignant examination of the paradoxes within America's immigration system. As The Times remarks, it is "a powerful piece of reportage about the violent underworld of New York’s Chinatown."