Jonny: 1/26: Under and Alone by William Queen
ISBN: 1400060842, 262 pages
This is the true story of an ATF agent who worked undercover in southern California to infiltrate the Monguls, the most violent outlaw biker gang in America, between 1998 and 2000. His work resulted in 53 convictions for crimes ranging from murder to firearms and drug offences. Queen's undercover biker identity was so convincing that he was made a full-patch member of the gang, and even became the secretary-treasurer of his local chapter.
Queen is an able writer, and he does an excellent job of communicating his impression of the gang and numerous individual members' personalities. The reader is constantly aware of the danger hanging over the writer's head, and the numerous near-misses as he manages to avoid detection keep the book interesting. Queen also shares his thoughts and feelings about the experience, relating for example the pride and exuberance he felt when he was made a full member - not because he was suceeding in his law-enforcement mission, but because he had been accepted into the group he'd been on the periphery of for so long. Another interesting portion is where Queen relates how the bikers expressed their sincere love and sympathy for him after his mother died, while not one of his ATF colleagues even offered cursory condolences.
This was an enjoyable book, though it may not have very broad appeal.
This is the true story of an ATF agent who worked undercover in southern California to infiltrate the Monguls, the most violent outlaw biker gang in America, between 1998 and 2000. His work resulted in 53 convictions for crimes ranging from murder to firearms and drug offences. Queen's undercover biker identity was so convincing that he was made a full-patch member of the gang, and even became the secretary-treasurer of his local chapter.
Queen is an able writer, and he does an excellent job of communicating his impression of the gang and numerous individual members' personalities. The reader is constantly aware of the danger hanging over the writer's head, and the numerous near-misses as he manages to avoid detection keep the book interesting. Queen also shares his thoughts and feelings about the experience, relating for example the pride and exuberance he felt when he was made a full member - not because he was suceeding in his law-enforcement mission, but because he had been accepted into the group he'd been on the periphery of for so long. Another interesting portion is where Queen relates how the bikers expressed their sincere love and sympathy for him after his mother died, while not one of his ATF colleagues even offered cursory condolences.
This was an enjoyable book, though it may not have very broad appeal.
posted by Anonymous at 3:58 PM
1 Comments:
Not very broad appeal, eh? You know not what sort of suckers you've mixed in with in this little challenge group, sir. Welcome to the chatter, anyway! I've never belonged to a motorcycle gang, I'm afraid, but I do know people who know people who used to ride around with shotguns holstered on their Harleys. The guy apparently was quite skilled and steering with one hand, too. My friend told me this fellow passed his DMV driving test that way, too. If you can believe that. Mongols and Hell's Angels had some ugly skirmishes just a couple years ago.
Hey, you're in Oakland? If you ever feel the urge to ice skate, come by the downtown rink on a Thursday night and you can meet my buddy John. Maybe he'll convince you to go on a little motorcycle trip with him. He convinced me, anyway. Ended up in South Dakota that way.
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