or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
41 used & new from $0.41

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Without A Badge: Undercover in the World's Deadliest Criminal Organization
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
 
  

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

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: trigger fish, stew phone, wiretap room, New York, Eddie Beach, Big Daddy (more...)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

Price: $24.00 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Wednesday, November 25? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
10 new from $2.98 31 used from $0.41

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
  Hardcover, April 30, 2003 $24.00 $2.98 $0.41
  Paperback, Import -- -- $1.45
  Mass Market Paperback, February 29, 2004 -- $3.95 $0.01
  Audio, CD, May 31, 2004 $26.99 $26.99 $51.30
  Audio, Download Offsite Link $14.17 or less with new Audible membership

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with Hot Shots and Heavy Hits: Tales of an Undercover Drug Agent by Paul E. Doyle

Without A Badge: Undercover in the World's Deadliest Criminal Organization + Hot Shots and Heavy Hits: Tales of an Undercover Drug Agent
  • This item: Without A Badge: Undercover in the World's Deadliest Criminal Organization by Jerry Speziale

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Hot Shots and Heavy Hits: Tales of an Undercover Drug Agent by Paul E. Doyle

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

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

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

by Paul E. Doyle
4.9 out of 5 stars (21)  $12.46
Cop Without a Badge: The Extraordinary Undercover Life of Kevin Maher

Cop Without a Badge: The Extraordinary Undercover Life of Kevin Maher

by Charles Kipps
2.5 out of 5 stars (38)  $10.20
Drug Lords: The Rise and Fall of the Cali Cartel

Drug Lords: The Rise and Fall of the Cali Cartel

by Ron Chepesiuk
3.2 out of 5 stars (8)  $10.04
The Last Undercover: The True Story of an FBI Agent's Dangerous Dance with Evil

The Last Undercover: The True Story of an FBI Agent's Dangerous Dance with Evil

by Bob Hamer
4.3 out of 5 stars (23)  $16.31
Drug Lord: The Life & Death of a Mexican Kingpin-A True Story

Drug Lord: The Life & Death of a Mexican Kingpin-A True Story

by Terrence E. Poppa
4.5 out of 5 stars (17)  $11.53
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An original member of the DEA's legendary Group 93, which was founded in 1990 to target the drug cartels based in Cali, Colombia, Speziale has an amazing life story to tell, and in a breathless narrative, he (with freelance writer Seal) nails the high points of his 20-year-long career. From his troubled youth in New Jersey through his incarnation as the suave "Geraldo Bartone" to infiltrate the Cali gangs, to a final bout with career burnout, Speziale provides a detailed insider look at the tough life of undercover cops and the relentless pressure of a job in which the "only way to bust the cartel is to become part of it." As Speziale is schooled in the ways of a drug lord by a confidential informant-who later tries to double-cross him-the authors show just how easy and dangerous it is to go to Guatemala, build an airstrip, set up a business and begin to do large drug deals for the Cali cartel. Unfortunately, the book is written in a faux tough-guy style, reminiscent of old Miami Vice episodes. Speziale has lived an interesting life, but phrases like "I felt that roller-coaster ride ratcheting up another level" don't raise his tale beyond that of a B-movie.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Review

Exciting and authentic! A great book. -- Joe Pistone

Speziale has an amazing life story to tell, and nails the high points of his 20-year-long career. -- Publishers Weekly

This harrowing autobiography provides a fascinating peek into a subculture few of us have ever seen before. -- Washington Post --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Kensington; 1ST edition (May 1, 2003)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0758204094
  • ISBN-13: 978-0758204097
  • Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #315,094 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

More About the Author

Jerry Speziale
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Visit Amazon's Jerry Speziale Page

Inside This Book (learn more)

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?


Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
 
(10)
(10)
(3)
(5)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for anyone who is interested in the war on drugs, May 11, 2003
By Darin Zaborski (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
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.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This cop turned author really eanred his pay., May 9, 2007
By Lance B. Hillsinger (San Luis Obispo) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
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.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional read., August 27, 2004
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.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Not well developed
This book can be summed up like this.....
this one time, we flew down to Brazil and busted some drug dealers. Read more
Published 3 months ago by UMLBB10

3.0 out of 5 stars A Veteran of Reagan's "War on Drugs."
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. Read more
Published 8 months ago by B. Wolinsky

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exciting Look Into the Undercover World of the Drug Cartel
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... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jennifer Chase

5.0 out of 5 stars without a badge
I have to say this is the best book written in a while. I admire Jerry Speziale. The author in this book details the sacrifice officers make when going undercover. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Madeline Urena

4.0 out of 5 stars Making a difference
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. Read more
Published on February 26, 2007 by Dwight

5.0 out of 5 stars best book ever
i dont like reading that much and it usually takes me a couple weeks to read this size book but i read it 3 days because once i started reading it i couldnt put it down. Read more
Published on December 29, 2004 by S. ROED

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   



So You'd Like to...


Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.