Reddit reviews The Golden Horse: A Novel About Triumph and Tragedy Building the Panama Railroad

Almost everything written by Juan David Morgan, who makes novels based on real historic characters. Maybe his books are available on Amazon? EDIT: found em!

• Caballo De Oro - The Golden Horse: The Golden Horse by Juan David Morgan is a sweeping saga, painting a vivid, personal portrayal of the events that transpired as a result of the rivalry between New York shipping magnates, William Aspinwall and Cornelius Vanderbilt, and the enormous personal cost that was borne by the people involved in the construction of the Panama Railroad--the first transcontinental train in the Americas--built during the California Gold Rush.Thousands of people died during the construction, succumbing to tropical diseases and natural disasters. Despite the danger, the lust of gold fever and the challenge of conquering the wilderness drove the men through the perils of torturous journeys, cutthroat competition, ruthless outlaws, savage jungles, the ferocious extremes of the tropical frontier, and violent cultural clashes, but not without the thrill of romantic adventures, the wonder of human inventiveness, and rugged determination to succeed. About the Panama Railway and the California Gold Rush. Most of the people that went to California from the US East Coast went through "The Panama Route" which was the fastest and cheapest. This was before the USTranscontinental Railroad. Amazon English Paperback
  
  
  
• Entre el Honor y la Espada - Between Honor and blade: Londres, 1685. El capitán Morgan inicia el juicio que busca limpiar su nombre tras ser difamado por una publicación que narra sus aventuras en América. Los testimonios se suceden y gracias a ellos descubrimos cómo sus incursiones consolidaron la conquista de Jamaica y alcanzaron su punto culminante en la toma de Panamá. El líder de los corsarios ingleses acumula riquezas, reconocimiento y mujeres conforme sobrevienen sus victorias, pero el éxito no siempre va ligado al honor y sus tácticas son cuestionadas por muchos. Sir Henry Morgan no solo enfrentó las inclemencias de la guerra, sino que tuvo que lidiar con los vaivenes de la política inglesa, que por un lado hacía tratados de paz con España y, por el otro, permitía los ataques en el Caribe para apoderarse de los ricos tesoros españoles. Una extraordinaria novela histórica basada en hechos reales que retrata a un controvertido personaje y a la vez nos lleva a un cautivador recorrido por los puertos y ciudades del Caribe. Talks about the pirate/corsair Henry Morgan, the author's ancestor, who "sacked" Panama City at the height of the Age of Pirates. Amazon Spanish hardcover
  
  Also there's the book "Ardientes Fulgores de Gloria" (Shining Beacons of Glory) that narrates the separation of Panama from Colombia. The intrigue involved is worthy of a Tom Clancy novel.
  
  Finally, in 1989, USA invaded Panama. There are several documentaries about it, I believe Netflix had a few. Abner Benahim has one called "Invasion" that I haven't watched yet. Another one, "Panama Deception" even won an Oscar for best documentary in 1989!
  
  There are also several books about it, but I remember none in particular.