Getting shot in the chest as a rookie ATF agent, bartering for machine guns, throttling down the highway at 100 miles per hour, and responding to a full-scale, bloody riot between the Hells Angels and their rivals, the Mongols—these are just a few of the high-adrenaline experiences Jay Dobyns recounts in this action-packed, hard to imagine, but true story of how he infiltrated the legendary Hells Angels.
Dobyns leaves no stone of his harrowing journey unturned. At runs and clubhouses, between rides and riots, Dobyns befriends bad-ass bikers, meth-fueled "old ladies," gun fetishists, psycho-killer ex-cons, and even some of the "Filthy Few"—the elite of the Hells Angels who've committed extreme violence on behalf of their club. Eventually, at parties staged behind heavily armed security, he meets legendary club members such as Chuck Zito, Johnny Angel, and the godfather of all bikers, Ralph "Sonny" Barger. To blend in with them, he gets full-arm ink; to win their respect, he vows to prove himself a stone-cold killer.
Hardest of all is leading a double life, which has him torn between his devotion to his wife and children and his pledge to become the first federal agent ever to be "fully patched" into the Angels' near-impregnable ranks. His act is so convincing that he comes within a hairsbreadth of losing himself. Eventually, he realizes that just as he's been infiltrating the Hells Angels, they've been infiltrating him. And just as they're not all bad, he's not all good.
Reminiscent of Donnie Brasco's uncovering of the true Mafia, this is an eye-opening portrait of the world of bikers—the most in-depth since Hunter Thompson's seminal work—one that fully describes the seductive lure criminal camaraderie has for men who would otherwise be powerless outsiders. Here is all the nihilism, hate, and intimidation, but also the freedom—and, yes, brotherhood—of the only truly American form of organized crime.
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"This book is SO great, I can't put it down. What a great look into the world of a crime filled motorcycle gang. Jay was a very brave man, and his detail of the story he is able to re-tell is amazing. If you have ever wondered what goes on inside the Hells Angels, this book is a good indication. "
— Annastasia (5 out of 5 stars)
A high-velocity trip into a frightening American underworld told in rapid-fire, hard-boiled prose.
— Evan Wright, author of the national bestseller Generation Kill" I could not put this book down! The way it's written, and the point of view Jay had as PD and almost loosing himself during the whole time he was infiltrating is just addicting! I would totally recommend this book. "
— Amber, 2/1/2014" I had a hard time reading this book in spots, but not because of the subject matter. The writing wasn't always clear, and I wound up having to reread far too many passages to get the proper meaning sometimes. It was also hard to keep a lot of the people mentioned in the book straight after awhile, especially when they were mentioned again later. The subject matter was interesting, though. "
— Shanrina, 1/26/2014" I liked the idea of this book better than the book itself. The first 100 pages whiz by and then it stalls a bit. Also to spend nearly two years of your life collecting evidence on criminals and having the charges against them dropped or reduced has to be infuriating. I think I'll read Hunter S Thompson's book on the Hells Angels for more history. "
— Kassie, 1/18/2014" This book is a must for anyone interested in motorcycles. It is about an undercover FBI agent who attempts to infiltrate the worlds largest outlaw motorcycle gang. The Hells Angels. "
— Arthur, 1/17/2014" I was expecting this book to be full of interesting information but difficult to read; I expected it to be a major slog. Mr. Dobyns, however, chose an excellent writer with whom to partner, and the result is fantastic. "
— Miramira, 1/9/2014" this gave me my motorcycle gang fix while i was waiting for the new season of sons of anarchy, but the book kind of lost me though because i thought the whole undercover mission was pointless. "
— Maura, 1/7/2014" I couldn't put it down. I read it on my nook but like it so much I plan on buying a copy for my bookshelf. "
— Beth, 1/3/2014" This was OK. "Under and Alone" is a similar, better book. "
— Adam, 12/27/2013" Definitely worth reading. An honest look into a world not known to most. "
— Cristy, 11/29/2013" A real cool look into being a one percenter. "
— Chad, 10/26/2013" Okay, not sure it would be a repeat... "
— Megan, 10/25/2013" something that Rob picked up that I never would have... better than I thought - interesting b/c such a different life "
— Kristinpuryear, 6/15/2013" The best part of this book? When the guy playing Big Lou the Wiseguy who actually is New Jersey mob tells Bird, "Made guys really don't give a midnight f*ck about Hells Angels or whatever they are." I feel a bit the same. "
— Melissa, 3/1/2013" I couldn't put this book down!!! "
— Cody, 2/14/2013" This book was an amazing journey. It was interesting to read that the deeper he got the more he wanted to be with the Hells Angels and not his family & what he did to overcome it. "
— Danielle, 1/3/2013" Very easy read. The accounts were not one sided, as you would expect, and truthful. The account gives the pros and cons of Dobyns's mission and the after effects. "
— Michael, 11/7/2012" page-turner! great book...quick read; perfect for out of town/plane ride; very interesting look into UC police work, and biker outlaws... good stuff. "
— Partha, 9/19/2012" I don't care about bikers, don't care about undercover cops or government agents, but I couldn't put it down. "
— Mia, 8/8/2012" All I can say is "Wow." This is an amazing story. It's amazing what UC's have to go through to get their man. After reading this book all I can say is that I have nothing but respect for them. A definite must read for anyone who's ever been curious about the Hell's Angels. "
— Christian, 6/25/2012" Quick read. Edge of your seat the whole time. "
— Ryan, 1/12/2012" At times gripping; at other times, it made me think that the lives of an undercover cop and Hells Angels were actually relatively boring. Unnecessarily vulgar and violent, but the author was actually brutally honest with his own experience. "
— Rob, 12/19/2011" A real cool look into being a one percenter. "
— Chad, 5/23/2011" This is a non-fiction book about an undercover cop, so it was pretty graphic. "
— Heather, 4/24/2011" Enjoyed this book. Jay Dobyns gives a true life account of the lives of Outlaw Motorcycle gangs. He lived as one, becoming one and still trying to develop a case against them. He really sheds light on the ups and downs of an undercover cop. "
— Michelle, 3/20/2011" If Dobyns operations notes were anything like how he wrote this book, it was easy to see how the case got tossed from court. His thoughts were scattered and characters popped in and out with no introduction. It was actually a pretty benign story, but UC operations are always fascinating. "
— Mike, 3/19/2011" My 2nd Kindle read - good and disturbing work on undercover activities and what it does to the person. To be good in that field you must blend in, become what you eventually will put away (legally), what happes if you become too good? Walking a very fine line between legal and criminal. "
— Bebe, 3/9/2011" The second fascinating book I've read recently. This one, about an FBI agent who infiltrated the Hells Angels, held my attention the whole way through. "
— Christine, 3/7/2011" This book is voyeurism at it's best...that's why I loved it. "
— Heather, 3/2/2011" I couldn't help myself! I had to "review" it! Very intriguing story!!! It was almost like I knew what was going to happen on the next page! "
— Jenna, 2/21/2011" I tried to like this book. But after more than half way through, I gave up. I did think Jay Dobyns was hot. But that is about all I got from this book. I picked it up and put it down again way too many times and well...time to move on to something else. "
— Chelsea, 2/13/2011Jay Dobyns is a highly decorated agent who has worked for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) for more than twenty years. For his work on Operation Black Biscuit, he was awarded the ATF Distinguished Service Medal and also a prestigious Top Cops award from the National Association of Police Officers.
Nils Johnson-Shelton is the author of the international bestseller No Angel: My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels. He is also the author of the Full Fathom Five series for tweens, Otherworld Chronicles. He lives in Brooklyn with his family.
Tanya Eby is a novelist and an audiobook narrator who has earned several AudioFile Earphones Awards and been nominated for the Audie Award. She has a BA degree in English language and literature and an MFA in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine.