Hot Shots and Heavy Hits: Tales of an Undercover Drug Agent [Hardcover]

Paul E. Doyle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 26, 2004

A riveting first-hand account of life as an undercover drug agent.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The author's memoir of his years as an undercover agent for the Drug Enforcement Agency functions to some degree as a history of the DEA. Doyle joined the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) in 1971 and one year later was transferred to the newly formed DEA. He spent his professional life on the streets of Boston, infiltrating the narcotics underworld, cultivating informants, and going up against some of the country's most dangerous drug dealers. It might not have been the most pleasant lifestyle, but it sure does make for exciting reading. Doyle tells his story as though he were writing a novel, packing it with dialogue, action scenes, and suspense. But this stuff actually happened. Many people write about the "war on drugs," but Doyle shows it to us in all its graphic detail. Students of American politics will also be fascinated by the author's chronicle of an agency in the making, as the DEA shifts from idealistic new enterprise to full-fledged bureaucracy. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"[A great read. The story is full of cinematic action, but is also filled with the heart and soul that most action movies can't come close to capturing on celluloid. And for a guy who never thought of himself as a writer, Doyle has a style that is clear and concise--and as honestly lyrical--as Hemingway's best prose."--The Boston Irish Emigrant

"Hot Shots and Heavy Hits is an excellent source for understanding the life work of a drug agent who was active from the 1970s through 2000. The extensive use of recreated narrative and descriptions of the settings, people, and learning/thinking experience make for exciting reading." --Criminal Justice Review

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Northeastern (May 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555536034
• ISBN-13: 978-1555536039
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #318,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #86 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Regional U.S. > New England

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Previous reviewer Steele, January 20, 2005

By 

R. Brogan (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hot Shots and Heavy Hits: Tales of an Undercover Drug Agent (Hardcover)

"However, one also becomes tempted to wonder if the author would perjure himself or frame a suspect if he felt it necessary. "

I fail to see the logic of the above statement by a prior reviewer. I think Paul Doyle did an excellent job in establishing himself as an extremely moral person in all aspects of his life. I worked with Paul in the years detailed in his book and can attest to this.
As a retired narcotics agent I found the book riveting. As in many professions peers tend to be over critical when reading accounts written by colleagues. I found no such temptation. This book which was actually written by the author and not a ghost writer or "collaborator" is factual and accurate. In no other "cop" book have I seen expressed so well the emotional and spiritual toal the job takes on one. For me it was like going down memory lane. I suggest Steele walk a mile in Doyle's shoes befor posting such a naive missive.





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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "On The Money", November 1, 2004

By 

L. Diaz "Louie Diaz" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hot Shots and Heavy Hits: Tales of an Undercover Drug Agent (Hardcover)

I am a retired DEA agent with twenty-eight years of distinguished and honorably awarded service;twenty years of which has been undercover. I also have struggled but never succeeded in writing my own memoirs. However, Paul Doyle has done it for me. His book,"Hot Shots and Heavy Hits," reveals with great accuracy and compassion the struggle,danger and heartaches that undercover drug agents suffer and endure during the course of there respected careers. A must read if you really want to know the real life of an undercover drug agent.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read., October 25, 2004

By 

John L. Kelly "mass.reader" (Walpole,Ma. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hot Shots and Heavy Hits: Tales of an Undercover Drug Agent (Hardcover)

The author Paul E Doyle has capltured the essence of the undercover agent. Mr. Doyle deals with the violence and treachery of the drug world but does not loose his compassion for those who are trapped in this life. I also like the fact that he did not loose sight of how important his family is to him. A great read for anyone,but a must read for anyone for any one who is contemplating a job in law enforcment.