Buccaneer: The Provocative Odyssey of Jack Reed, Adventurer, Drug Smuggler and Pilot Extraordinaire

by MayCay Beeler

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This is the stimulating, true account of the life of Jack Reed, an All-American boy turned drug smuggler; turned Robinson Crusoe, then infamous prison inmate. For the first time, Jack Reed discovers his extraordinary, tabooed journey as a high flying international cocaine smuggler and personal pilot for Carlos Lehder, partner to Pablo Escobar of the infamous Medellin Cartel. Reed flew drug runs for Lehder who handled transportation, while Columbian drug lord Escobar handled production and supply Lehder's cocaine transport empire was based at Norman's Cay, an out island 210 miles off the Florida coast in the Bahamas. Having gained notoriety in the late 70s as a staging point for drug smuggling, Norman's Cay was immortalised in "Blow", a 2001 motion picture starring Johnny Depp.… (more)

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Buccaneer – The Provocative Odyssey of Jack Reed; Adventurer, Drug Smuggler and Pilot Extraordinaire
By Jack Carlton Reed & MayCay Beeler
Reviewed by Christopher Madsen, November 23, 2015

I was introduced to Buccaneer as the book was being honored at the Reader’s Favorite Literary Awards in Miami, Florida. Drawn by the allure of reading a non-fictional, inside accounting of the exploits of a 1970s small craft pilot turned big time cocaine trafficker, I secured a copy with hopes for a real world version of the multitude of entertaining, yet unbelievable, Miami Vice style dramatizations. I found ever so much more! From page one, I was readily and steadily drawn into a story so exciting, dimensional and delightfully unexpected that all else went on hold and I was unable to put the book down until I had reached its end in a single sitting.
Exponentially beyond the swashbuckling, notorious drug cartel smuggling adventure that I had hoped for, biographer MayCay Beeler connects the reader intimately and emotionally to the very unique man who is the main character as he not only celebrates success, but also is challenged by circumstances few in mainstream society will ever be subjected to. Without giving anything away, I can say it is a story of adrenaline charged adventure, sizzling lust and love, meteoric adversity, and soulful contemplation.
I find it rare when a book can actually evoke an involuntary emotional response from me but Beeler’s storytelling was so powerful that I, a man, was, at times, literally brought to tears. Obviously the creation of this book was a labor of love, and Beeler’s passion to share the amazing life journey of Jack Carlton Reed shines through on every exciting and touching page. FIVE STARS
Christopher Madsen, multi award winning author (

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Christopher_Madsen | Dec 15, 2015 |

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Awards

American Book Fest Best Book Award (Finalist – True Crime – 2014)

Book Excellence Award (Finalist – True Crime – 2017)

Independent Publisher Book Awards (Silver – True Crime – 2016)

Readers' Favorite Book Awards (Honorable Mention – Non-Fiction Drama – 2016)

Readers' Favorite Book Awards (Finalist – Biography – 2015)

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This is the stimulating, true account of the life of Jack Reed, an All-American boy turned drug smuggler; turned Robinson Crusoe, then infamous prison inmate. For the first time, Jack Reed discovers his extraordinary, tabooed journey as a high flying international cocaine smuggler and personal pilot for Carlos Lehder, partner to Pablo Escobar of the infamous Medellin Cartel. Reed flew drug runs for Lehder who handled transportation, while Columbian drug lord Escobar handled production and supply Lehder's cocaine transport empire was based at Norman's Cay, an out island 210 miles off the Florida coast in the Bahamas. Having gained notoriety in the late 70s as a staging point for drug smuggling, Norman's Cay was immortalised in "Blow", a 2001 motion picture starring Johnny Depp.

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Have you ever had a feeling or nudge so strong you couldn't ignore it? Call it intuition, your gut, your inner voice of reason barking in your ear to take immediate action regarding something you couldn't possibly understand at the time? I have. And when I acted on it, it changed my life and that of an infamous prison inmate. This is our true story.

Buccaneer-The Provocative Odyssey of Jack Reed- Adventurer, Drug Smuggler, and Pilot Extraordinaire by Jack Carlton Reed and MayCay Beeler is the stunning true crime tale of a convicted Medellin Cartel cocaine pilot/smuggler. As best friend and codefendant of drug baron Carlos Lehder, associate of Pablo Escobar, Jack Reed becomes the victim of a tragic judicial sentencing mistake in a historic trial laden with hype. The media circus that follows contributes to the longest most publicized drug trial in U.S. history. Judicial misconduct runs rampant. What happens to this prison inmate will make you weep and smile in this award winning biography.

Fans of Netflix Narcos and cocaine cowboy movies will be surprised by this bold and honest account. Not what the media has led us to believe! Our readers sum it up: "Unforgiven by society as a hedonistic drug smuggler and daredevil, Jack Reed continues to raise his unbroken spirit above the realities of prison life. He finds an unlikely champion in MayCay Beeler, an award-winning television personality and record-breaking professional pilot. Their wings bring them together, entwine their lives in a final victory that spirals both Jack and MayCay into freedom, in every respect. There are many extraordinary lessons learned by reading this 5-star book."

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