Customer Reviews

Without A Badge: Undercover in the World's Deadliest Criminal Organization

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From what seems like real danger in the begining while acting like a low life junkie ends up later looking like childs play. Later Mr. Bartone goes deep undercover and goes on to con and collect several thousand dollars in cash and drugs from key members of the Cali Cartel. Even though the situations that Speziale gets himself into are very dangerous you often find yourself laughing because he always finds a way to pin the drug bust on someone other than himself and even having the nerve to ask for retribution for his losses. Along the way he meets up with and learns from an interesting character named Paul Lir Alaxander who is as mysterious as he is savy when it comes to understanding the drug business. The book reads like a novel but the story is anything but fiction. If anyone takes the time to read this book it will be one of thier best reads ever.

This is a very compelling book. It is the true story of NYPD undercover officer on "loan" to the DEA. This cop turned author, literally wrote the book on wiretaps. He risked his life to make major drug busts. However, by pursuing the Columbia drug cartels so aggressively, he also risked the lives of many innocent (and some not so innocent)others. He does not hide this fact in his book and he should be applauded for his honesty.

If you, read a "true crime" book only now and again -- buy this book. If you read "true crime" regularly this will be one of your all-time favorites.

Jerry Speziale is a talented operative and his accomplishments in busting big-time drug smugglers can't be doubted. But the book put me off because of the tone. Speziale is really full of himself and has a massive ego. He seems more interested in trying to flash his bravado than in protecting the public. He did make great strides in worming his way into the workings of the Colombian drug cartels, but I wonder what it was worth. When you bust a major drug smuggling ring, another one will take its place. As long as there's a market for drugs, there will be people interested in smuggling them. As long as a country (like Colombia) is poor and has a high birthrate, there will be no shortage of criminals who will kill for pennies.

Watching THE WIRE changed me and made me more sympathetic in general. I read this book as a result of THE WIRE even though I am not that interested in true crime or drugs. I am still not that interested but I feel that I should know. It's very straightforward and nondepressing despite the overwhelming odds. It's one man's story simply told although the details are sensational. Sheriff Speziale of Passaic, New Jersey was groomed by a real drug dealer from Brazil who also groomed a Brazilian entertainer known as Xuxa - this detail is not mentioned in Without a Badge but this book is written in a very pedestrian manner despite the extraordinary events and people involved. He spent many hours, days, months away from his family life. He was at the forefront of modern surveillance tactics. He is a friend to Bernard Kerik. And he is still making a contribution to fighting crime. Sometimes the antidote to the hopelessness of the fight is as simple as doing your own part and cleaning up your work environment and infecting others with a work ethic.

This by far is one of the best books I have read in a while. I read it cover to cover in one day and I am a fairly slow and detailed reader. I could not put it down. Without A Badge takes you deep into the life of a narcotics investigator with such a zeal for cleaning up the streets that it is personally motivating. I am now reading for the second time. I can't wait until I see this one in the movie theater.

Jerry, obviously, was very sucessful in his efforts to impact the drug trade. However, in the book he was certainly not shy about taking the lion's share of the credit for all that was accomplished.

It appeared to me that in his recounting of the "facts", few others existed in other than a passing manner and in some cases, not at all. One noteable example of his failure to credit others involved is when he states that he lead the Vancouver, BC, Canada, DEA agents on the raid outside of Vancouver. Not without the involvement of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police he didn't.

If there was arresting to be done, Jerry didn't do it as the DEA does not have jurisdiction in British Columbia, nor anywhere else in Canada for that matter. Getting a warrent or a phone tap is a tougher job in Canada than in the USA and Jerry would not even be able to approach the courts to obtain one, let alone serve it or put a tap in place.

Good info, lots of credit to Jerry for his efforts, but way too much "me" and "I".

This book can be summed up like this.....
this one time, we flew down to Brazil and busted some drug dealers.
this one time, we flew down to Colombia and busted some drug dealers.
my unit was a bunch of misfits. man we were crazy.
this one time, we flew to Miami and busted some drug dealers.
I am the worlds expert on wire taps.
He runs through a bunch of busts he was part of but you never really feel ike you were there with him while reading because there isn't much detail given. He prefers to list all his accomplishments. When I read Under And Alone I really felt like I was going along with the writer during the story. This one never developed in that way.

I ENJOYED THIS BOOK VERY MUCH ESPECIALLY BEING A TRUE STORY OF A COP'S CAREER IN THE NYPD. I COULDN'T WAIT TO READ MORE EACH DAY. WHAT HE HAD TO GO THROUGH AS AN UNDERCOVER COP SETTING UP THE DRUG BUSTS COMING INTO THE USA.

STEVE FARAWELL

Must be made into a Movie. A beautiful narration and the book is serious, Funny and scary.Without A Badge: Undercover in the World's Deadliest Criminal Organization

Someone who thought that I'd really enjoy this book gave it to me. I was actually going to put it on my shelf for another time to read, but decided to open it to the first page. What a nice surprise. I was hooked from the first paragraph! It was difficult to put down. I do enjoy true crime, but I'm picky about my choices. I really enjoy books that are written with genuine honesty through the ups and downs of life. It gives a sense realism that rings true with straightforward writing. Great adventures and true stories are never easy when you live through them, and Speziale's story is truly exceptional.

Speziale puts his life on the line to pursue Columbian drug cartels away from his family for extended lengths of time. This story puts you there with him, that's why it's so captivating and even frightening at times. I'm glad that he wrote this book because so many times the general public doesn't understand the sacrifices and heroism that members of law enforcement make to fight crime.

If you enjoy true crime, this book will definitely be one of your favorites.

-Jennifer Chase, author of thriller "Compulsion"