Customer Reviews

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

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"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.





a

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.

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.

Doyle's book, Hot Shots and Heavy Hits, Tales of an Undercover Drug Agent, is an intense, real life drama that is hard to break away from. Free from exaggeration and melodrama, this non-fiction account of the author's experiences reads like a novel. A refreshing change from the stale mystery/crime genre, this book is both entertaining and educational. Impressed with the author's storytelling ability, I felt as though I was beside this humble federal agent in each of his undercover experiences. An incredible description of the evil drug underworld, this book opened my eyes to the real dangers of drugs, unlike any other book, article or presentation. Hot Shots and Heavy Hits provides insight to our country's debilitating drug war, but moreover, this book hammers home the importance of educating our children and remaining involved in their lives. I highly recommend this book to educators, counselors, parents, teens, college students and anyone else who may be tempted to test out drugs or who is involved in shaping the future leaders of tomorrow. Most of all, this book is a tremendous tribute to the brave, selfless men and women who dedicate their lives to fighting the drug war. I walked away from this book with a deeper appreciation of those who put their lives on the line each and everyday to protect our youth, and to make our country a better place in which to live.

Read this book at the advice of a friend and it is a must read for every caring American. Opened my eyes to the sacrifice some people are doing on our behalf and opened my eyes to a life most of us cant imagine. These folks do it for us and then in the end the Author takes us on a learning experience about where the drug money goes and who is behind it - the terrorist connection. He also lets you know the solution to cracking the incredible drug problem in this country lies in our families and not in Washington. Read it

Excellent. Didn't want to stop reading until I was finished the book.

I once read a marvelous quote by Anthony Boucher, the late great New York Times Book Review critic in which he described the sheer joy he felt when he discovered a new talented mystery writer. He said nothing gave him greater pleasure than finding that year's best debut. Among many other jobs and talents, Boucher also edited the True Crime Detective magazine, so perhaps it's befitting that it's Boucher who springs to mind when assessing Boston native Paul E.Doyle's true crime/memoir -- the sensational debut Hot Shots and Heavy Hits.

In Hot Shots and Heavy Hits, Paul Doyle (or his street pseudonym "Paulie Sullivan" or the pseudonymous moniker "Sully"), a retired DEA agent, chronicles his undercover narcotics agent experience in mostly Boston and New York City during the 1970's. Believe the passage from the introduction when Doyle prepares readers, "My purpose is to share the work of an undercover agent with you so that you may understand the heart and soul of what we do." Newcomer Doyle succeeds - actually, exceeds - his stated purpose in Hot Shots and Heavy Hits by writing a memoir that is deft and neat-handed and told with a prose that is absolutely stunning. Doyle's writing reads like a novel - dialogue is superb, action scenes are palpable, and the suspense is page-turning. Perhaps that what contributes most to the exceptionality of this book that I found so unputdownable - this ain't fiction, people! This is the brutally honest memoir of one man's - one special agent's -- undercover work in his fight against the problem of drugs during the 1970's.

Each chapter is a visceral account of Doyle's experiences; each cinematically episodic. Readers should prepare for a roller coaster of vignettes that are hilarious, frustrating, terrifying, gut-wrenchingly brutal, and at times so poignant, that Doyle had me in tears. Academics may pay particular attention to the professorial foreword, though I thought it was unnecessary and clumsy juxtaposed against Doyle's consummate narrative.

Hot Shots and Heavy Hits - true crime that reads like a novel (money says this writer has a fiction book or two in him!). Read this brutally honest memoir that is guaranteed to be unforgettable.

Intense,exciting,riveting, yet an honest portrayal of the complex life of a DEA agent.The stories are well told and fascinated me during my summer vacation read. I didn't want the book to end...I'm sure that Mr Doyle has many more stories to tell us in our ever ending quest to thwart drugs in our society.
My only question is , When is the movie coming out ?

I have three teenagers that will read this book this summer so that they can understand why it is important to say no to drugs.
The stories that portrayed the consequences of drug use by young innocent kids really hit home and I'm sure will better educate them to the perils of drugs.

Anybody thinking of a career in law enforcement should read this book...

This book is a great read. It is an intense account of an undercover drug agent's experiences during the 1970s, but it provides insight into the perils of drug use today. I found the story easy to follow, interesting and engaging at every turn. Hot Shots and Heavy Hits is better than any fictional crime novel, movie or TV show I have ever experienced. This is excellent beach reading without the fluff!

The author tells his story in a humble and honest voice- exposing his emotions and thought processes as he journeys through this seemingly terrifying land mine of a job.

The book goes into graphic detail of fights, deals, and killings that "Sully" and his partners experienced while working undercover. At points, they seemed like they were incapable of human feelings. Although Doyle plays a tough, "fearless" drug dealer who comes off as in-control and intimidating in many scenes, I really felt like I was seeing what it was like to be "in his shoes", as I got lost in the book.

Throughout the book he shows his life not only through his eyes but those of his dealers, "friends", his wife, daughters and parents. Doyle's life as an agent- and his narrative of it- portrays a constant battle between good and bad- light and darkness.

Hot Shots and Heavy Hits is a "true crime" book laced with feelings of compassion, love, and the strength of the human spirit.