This isn’t the type of nonfiction I usually gravitate toward, but it came highly recommended by a book group I’m part of, so I gave it a shot—and I’m glad I did. American Kingpin is an absolutely gripping, real-life story that feels almost too wild to believe. Nick Bilton masterfully tells the rise and fall of Ross Ulbricht and the Silk Road, presenting the facts with a narrative style that makes it read like a thriller.

The level of detail and research Bilton put into this book is staggering. It’s clear he did his homework, weaving together an incredible amount of information into a cohesive, well-paced story. It’s fascinating—and disturbing—to see how something like this could not only happen but thrive for so long. And reading it now, so soon after Ulbricht’s pardon, adds another layer of disbelief. That someone capable of building an empire like the Silk Road—an empire that exploited so much—could be pardoned feels almost as surreal as the story itself.

This was a fascinating and well-executed dive into a world I didn’t know much about. If you’re looking for a book that’s equal parts mind-boggling and entertaining, this one is worth your time.