BAD KARMA: The True Story of a Mexico Trip from Hell

In the summer of 1978, twenty-one-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 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, and Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto "Che" Guevara —except this tale had to wait for the statute of limitations to expire before it could be told.

“I adore Wilson's style of writing. It uses snappy humor and dialogue to draw you into the scenes he describes.
…it feels like Wilson captured lightning in a bottle! This gets an easy 5 out of 5 stars from me!” – OnlineBookclub.org

" So painfully true you wish it was fiction! A laugh-out-loud (to keep from crying) romp about what not to do bridging the gap into adulthood." – Discovery

“Could Not Put It Down. Loved it!! Descriptive, heartfelt and funny. So good!” – Wanda B. Weaver

“Bad Karma has instantly joined the pantheon of great adventure writing!” – Elizabeth Howard

“One of the funniest true stories I've ever read.” – Penny Pennell

"Fear and Loathing goes to Mexico" – Neil P. Reid

“This book should be a movie!” “…truth is often stranger than fiction.” – Lori

"Exhilarating, raw, PURE...A Story we all wish we'd lived through! The style of writing only adds to the epic tale here.” “…an important, succinct and easy read" – Kathleen S. Gray

“Inspiring and Authentic Story.” – Audra Krell

“Rockin’ good time!” – Donna Ellen

“Haven’t read a book this fun in 30 years.” – Tracy