The Year of Dangerous Days

Riots, Refugees, and Cocaine in Miami 1980

By: Nicholas Griffin

Narrated by: Pete Simonelli

Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

In the tradition of The Wire, the “utterly absorbing” (The New York Times) story of the cinematic transformation of Miami, one of America’s bustling cities - rife with a drug epidemic, a burgeoning refugee crisis, and police brutality - from journalist and award-winning author Nicholas Griffin.

Miami, Florida, famed for its blue skies and sandy beaches, is one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations, with nearly 23 million tourists visiting annually. But few people have any idea how this unofficial capital of Latin America came to be.

The Year of Dangerous Days is “an engrossing, peek-between-your-fingers history of an American city on the edge” (Kirkus Reviews). With a cast that includes iconic characters such as Jimmy Carter, Fidel Castro, and Janet Reno, this slice of history is brought to life through intertwining personal stories. At the core, there’s Edna Buchanan, a reporter for the Miami Herald who breaks the story on the wrongful murder of a black man and the shocking police cover-up; Captain Marshall Frank, the hardboiled homicide detective tasked with investigating the murder; and Mayor Maurice Ferré, the charismatic politician who watches the case, and the city, fall apart.

On a roller coaster of national politics and international diplomacy, these three figures cross paths as their city explores one of the worst race riots in American history as more than 120,000 Cuban refugees land south of Miami, and as drug cartels flood the city with cocaine and infiltrate all levels of law enforcement. In a battle of wills, Buchanan has to keep up with the 150 percent murder rate increase; Captain Frank has to scrub and rebuild his homicide bureau; and Mayor Ferré must find a way to reconstruct his smoldering city. Against all odds, they persevere, and a stronger, more vibrant, Miami begins to emerge. But the foundation of this new Miami - partially built on corruption and drug money - will have severe ramifications for the rest of the country.

Deeply researched, “well-written” (New York Journal of Books), and covering many timely issues including police brutality, immigration, and the drug crisis, The Year of Dangerous Days is both a clarion call and a dramatic rebirth story of one of America’s most iconic cities.

©2020 Nicholas Griffin. All rights reserved. (P)2020 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Very Interesting

Really enticing especially if you live or have lived in Miami.
interesting about the riots and the cocaine

Gripping Narrative

This is a terrific book—grabs you like a great novel, but it’s non-fiction. I grew up in Miami and was a teenager in 1980, the year documented in this book, so I have a special interest in the subject, but it was riveting.

Fabulous book! It really describes what went on in Miami in the late 70s and 1980s

I moved here in the mid-70s and lived through everything described in this book. It was so fascinating to hear it in the big picture form and be able to see the way everything intertwined. Truly fabulous read. A must for anybody who grew up in Miami. Or for anyone who wants to understand its history

Outstanding! reads like a thriller.

Miami in 1980 was an appetizer for the future of America. Griffin's book capitures it brilliantly!

Miami native

I grew up in Miami in the late 70s and early 80s, this book is a gut wrenching read. It’s a story that deserves professional care from its author and in my opinion, it received such care with excellent writing and brutal honesty. I had an uncle in Miami PD and recall his stories about the 1980, ‘82 and ‘89 riots along with tales around the dinner table about narcotics trafficking and interdiction. We moved to West Palm Beach in the late 80s. Thank you for writing this book.

Forty Years Ago or Yesterday?

1980–A harrowing year in Miami’s history, brilliantly retold by Griffin from the viewpoint of Maurice Ferre, its forward looking mayor, Edna Buchanan, a crime reporting journalist, and those in the police force who had to deal with the crimes in a city in the midst of great turmoil.

Griffin obviously did careful research as he reports on the confluence of the tense race relations that followed an incident of police brutality (that could have been June, 2020), the Mariel boatlift with the influx of tens of thousands of Cubans into a city little prepared to care for them, and the cocaine drug trade.

Particularly poignant are the descriptions of the Marielitos’ passage and entry into Miami. Overall a very fair examination of deeply divisive issues--especially the Black race riots and their causes.

Pete Simonelli narrates in a voice both familiar and competent. A great listen.

A Must Read for Floridians as well as transplants

The author did well in telling the story of South Florida. It was read perfectly and I was able to listen to it in one shot during a 12-hour Summer road trip from Western NC to, you guessed it, Florida. It never got old, tiresome or felt forced.

The most gripping and direct book on Miami

This book provided me with a deeper understanding of the city I was born and raised in during a period in my life where I was growing up and learning how to survive. I have not stopped recommending this book to my friends that always ask me what makes Miami so different from other cities.

Well Research and Meticulous Account of 1980 Miami

I was sixteen at the time the events covered in the book took place and remember following them in the news where I lived. So I was very interested in wanting to know more about them. The writer does a very good job and I give him high marks for for the meticulous research he put into telling a very detailed account. It was fascinating how he weaved the riot, the Mariel boatlift, the cocaine trade, explosion of violence, and overall problems with Miami's economy into a vast tapestry showing how different events impacted each other and shaped modern Miami.

I have though two major disappointments which prevents me from leaving a five star review. One, that the writer failed to delve into detail what specifically happened to Arthur McDuffie the night he was murdered by police leaving it somewhat unclear as to who did what. Secondly, he seemed to glide over the riot itself and I would have liked to have seen a more comprehensive look at what happened each day and information on those who died. The riot was a major part of the events in question and deserved more coverage.

As to the narrator, they were okay and I have no major issues other than they came across as flat and monotone at times.

So, would I recommend this, yes. It is a fascinating look at an important piece of American history given 1980 was a pivotal year for the US. However, unless the reader is into history, they might find it dry.

Understanding Miami

Excellent history lesson that provides great insights into how Miami became the city it is today