Bad Karma

The True Story of a Mexico Trip from Hell

By: Paul Wilson

Narrated by: Joe Zieja

In the summer of 1978, 21-year-old Paul Wilson jumps at the chance to join two local icons on a dream surf trip to mainland Mexico, unaware their ultimate destination lies in the heart of the drug cartel country. Having no earthly idea of where he’ll get the money to pay his share and determined to prove his mettle, he does the only thing he can think of: He robs a supermarket. And, if karma didn’t already have enough reason to doom the trip, he soon learns one of his companions is a convicted killer on the run and the other an unscrupulous cad. Mishap and misfortune rule the days, and mere survival takes precedence over surfing.

Original photographs (including pre-kingpin El Chapo), and Wilson’s strong narrative style, combine to make this true story personal—in the tradition of Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, Motorcycle Diaries by Che Guevara, and Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas—except this tale had to wait for the statute of limitations to expire before it could be told.

Readers Favorite Silver Award winner for 2020!

©2019 Paul Adam Wilson (P)2021 Paul Adam Wilson

Critic reviews

"Bad Karma has instantly joined the pantheon of great adventure writing!” (Elizabeth Howard)

A must listen! Coming-of-age / buddy comedy adventure

I loved Paul Wilson's book, so I figured I'd give the audio version a try... and I’m so glad I did! The Narrator (Joe Zieja) does an incredible job of capturing the voice of each character. You’ll feel like you’re along for the ride start to finish.

Highly recommend! Touching moments w/ laugh out loud comedy.

GOOD THING THERE'S A STATUTE

GREAT FUN. SINCE I GREW UP JUST BEFORE THE AUTHOR IN THE SAME AREA AND COULD PICTURE
ALL HIS ROWDY ADVENTURES. HE PUSHED THE LIMITS WITH EVERYTHING HE DID WHILE I WAS QUIETLY
LIVING 'LEAGALLY' ON THE SIDELINES. THANKS FOR TAKING A CHANCE YOUR KIDS WON'T BELIEVE YOU
AND WRITING THE BOOK.

Awesome Book

This is a great book. Started to read the book, then decided to go to the Audible version because I knew I’d wouldn’t put it down. Audible let me listen while I did other things and the narration was good. It held my interest to the end.
To sum it up, the author could have lost his life and ended up saving his soul.

Jerry from Rick and Morty

goes on a fairly lame road trip. Gets one wave and blows it. Whines A LOT. Mumbles something about god.
The end.

Loved this book

Great adventure, told with self deprecating humor and by a young man w a conscience, albeit not a well developed one. Loved the humor and laughed out loud from time to time.