I’m actually literally at the same point you are in reading the Cartel trilogy, and I think I’d respectfully disagree. There haven’t been many characters at all this far who haven’t met with a grisly fate; when talking about the Drug cartels I feel that’s probably pretty accurate.

HOWEVER, I’d go so far as to say his characters are all pretty thin archetypes in general. I’ve been reminded of reading a high fantasy type novel: the plot is the main driver of the narrative. But despite the faults, I’ve found them very very readable and propulsive.