Under and Alone: The True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America's Most Violent Outlaw Motorcycle Gang: Queen, William: 8601405121929: Amazon.com: Books

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Under and Alone: The True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America's Most Violent Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Hardcover – April 5, 2005

by William Queen (Author)

4.6 2,249 ratings

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In 1998, William Queen was a veteran law enforcement agent with a lifelong love of motorcycles and a lack of patience with paperwork. When a “confidential informant” made contact with his boss at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, offering to take an agent inside the San Fernando chapter of the Mongols (the scourge of Southern California, and one of the most dangerous gangs in America), Queen jumped at the chance, not realizing that he was kicking-starting the most extensive undercover operation inside an outlaw motorcycle gang in the history of American law enforcement.

Nor did Queen suspect that he would penetrate the gang so successfully that he would become a fully “patched-in” member, eventually rising through their ranks to the office of treasurer, where he had unprecedented access to evidence of their criminal activity. After Queen spent twenty-eight months as “Billy St. John,” the bearded, beer-swilling, Harley-riding gang-banger, the truth of his identity became blurry, even to himself.

During his initial “prospecting” phase, Queen was at the mercy of crank-fueled criminal psychopaths who sought to have him test his mettle and prove his fealty by any means necessary, from selling (and doing) drugs, to arms trafficking, stealing motorcycles, driving getaway cars, and, in one shocking instance, stitching up the face of a Mongol “ol’ lady” after a particularly brutal beating at the hands of her boyfriend.

Yet despite the constant criminality of the gang, for whom planning cop killings and gang rapes were business as usual, Queen also came to see the genuine camaraderie they shared. When his lengthy undercover work totally isolated Queen from family, his friends, and ATF colleagues, the Mongols felt like the only family he had left. “I had no doubt these guys genuinely loved Billy St. John and would have laid down their lives for him. But they wouldn’t hesitate to murder Billy Queen.”

From Queen’s first sleight of hand with a line of methamphetamine in front of him and a knife at his throat, to the fearsome face-off with their decades-old enemy, the Hell’s Angels (a brawl that left three bikers dead), to the heartbreaking scene of a father ostracized at Parents’ Night because his deranged-outlaw appearance precluded any interaction with regular citizens, Under and Alone is a breathless, adrenaline-charged read that puts you on the street with some of the most dangerous men in America and with the law enforcement agents who risk everything to bring them in.

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Print length

270 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Random House
Publication date

April 5, 2005
Dimensions

6.47 x 1.04 x 9.49 inches
ISBN-10

1400060842
ISBN-13

978-1400060849
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Under and Alone: The True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America's Most Violent Outlaw Motorcycle Gang

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Customer reviews

2,249 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and hard to put down. They praise the writing quality as well-crafted and authentic. The crime story provides an intriguing look into the lives of outlaw motorcycle gangs. Readers appreciate the insights and background information provided. Overall, the book provides an eye-opening depiction of the undercover life of an undercover agent.

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Readability Writing quality Crime story Intensity Insight Look Pacing Character development

319 customers mention "Readability"319 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it riveting, entertaining, and a good read with a nice pace. The author does a great job telling the story of tense moments, providing meticulous detail. The book gives a feel for day-to-day life in the gang and is a fun story of an ATF agent who infiltrated the most violent motorcycle club.

"...Agent Queen does a great job telling the story of the tense moments being introduced to the gang by a confidential informant, the harrowing months..." Read more

"...Under and Alone is an adrenaline-filled read and a real page turner...." Read more

"...aren’t but he is very brave for what he did and this book is well worth reading." Read more

"...What makes "Under and Alone" such a good read is that the action never lets up ... it is nothing but a continuous series of battles: the battle to..." Read more

91 customers mention "Writing quality"88 positive3 negative

Customers find the book well-written and engaging. They appreciate the author's honest and authentic tone. The book describes well the comradery and human side of some Mongols. It is easy to read and captures readers attention. Readers find it an honest, gritty view of the police force and its importance.

"...The writing in this book is quite excellent. Agent Queen was able to write the story so that you felt the same highs and the crushing blows that..." Read more

"This was well written and really portrays just how some mc’s are...." Read more

"...William is a fantastic writer and you can feel his every emotion as he goes through the roller coaster ride of being a brother in the Mongol Nation." Read more

"I really loved this book. Mr. Queen has an excellent writing style, and he produced a very compelling account of his time as an undercover officer..." Read more

61 customers mention "Crime story"61 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's fascinating look into the lives of outlaw motorcycle gangs. They find it riveting and enjoyable to read about true crime drama. The book demystifies the world of outlaw bikers and is well-written. Readers praise the author's ability to profile the motorcycle gangster mentality. They describe it as one of the best undercover assignments ever and a fun read for anyone interested in true crime.

"...The story he presents demonstrates the wonton and unnecessary violence that characterized the people with whom he interacted, and the very real..." Read more

"...harrowing elements of the book is the author's ability to profile the motorcycle gangster mentality...." Read more

"...This is the riveting story of an undercover agent who risks his life not once, but every day, in an attempt to infiltrate the most dangerous..." Read more

"...One thing that I believe this book does very well is demystify the world of the outlaw biker...." Read more

51 customers mention "Intensity"51 positive0 negative

Customers find the book intense and engaging from start to finish. They say it puts them right in the action and is a gripping page-turner that holds their attention. The book provides a feel for everyday life in the gang.

"...Under and Alone is an adrenaline-filled read and a real page turner...." Read more

"...The first chapter of this book was such an effective teaser that it actually fooled me into believing the book was ghost-written due to the author..." Read more

"...Things the book does really well: Give a feel for day to day life in the gang, outline historical background to the Mongols/Hells Angels feud, give..." Read more

"Finished in a day and a half! Couldn’t put it down. Intense from start to finish. Was recommended for fans of certain Motorcycle Club tv series" Read more

49 customers mention "Insight"49 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and interesting. They appreciate the background information and descriptions that allow them to follow the investigation. The book brings awareness of a violent culture among us, and it's a great way to experience this world. It keeps readers interested by sticking to major events and detailing what he was trying to do and how he felt.

"...The book is an excellent account of the operation from the planning steps right through the trials of the various motorcycle gang members...." Read more

"...The book describes well the comraderie and human side of some of the Mongols as well as those of Mr. Queen...." Read more

"...' to Treasurere and then Vice President of the local chapter is fascinating and well written...." Read more

"...It was a good read though, with a nice pace, and not overly loaded with boring details and more about living the life of an undercover cop..." Read more

34 customers mention "Look"27 positive7 negative

Customers find the book engaging and eye-opening. They appreciate the gritty view of the police force and motorcycle clubs from both a police and undercover perspective. The book provides an honest depiction of the life of an undercover officer. It includes cool pictures of the main bikers and Queen himself.

"...An honest,gritty view of the importance of the police force and the tough demands it makes of its best members. Read this...." Read more

"...His book gives a view of motorcycle clubs from both the angle of being a police office and being a biker, a view that the public doesn't see...." Read more

"...Billy gives you a great perspective about realizing he's a cop, but a human first and how the two lead to mixed feelings about who he is and what he..." Read more

"...Other than feeling that the story was somewhat exaggerated to make this mini-crooks look like the worst people in the world this is an entertaining..." Read more

24 customers mention "Pacing"24 positive0 negative

Customers find the book has an engaging pacing. They mention it's a fast-paced read with events unfolding at an accelerated pace. Readers appreciate the flow of the writing and the action never slows down.

"...What makes "Under and Alone" such a good read is that the action never lets up ... it is nothing but a continuous series of battles: the battle to..." Read more

"...It was a good read though, with a nice pace, and not overly loaded with boring details and more about living the life of an undercover cop..." Read more

"...He just texted me today - he finished the book really quickly and enjoyed it. Update: I just read this book and...wow!..." Read more

"...than any even Hollywood could dream up and the events unfold at an increasingly breakneck pace...." Read more

15 customers mention "Character development"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters brave, courageous, and gutsy. They appreciate the story of personal sacrifice and the camaraderie among gang members. Readers describe the book as a first-rate nonfiction potboiler with heart.

"...This is a first-rate nonfiction potboiler with heart." Read more

"...gangs (officers, by-laws, the whole bit), and the camaraderie and loyalty among gang members who otherwise aren't really nice people...." Read more

"...they are both terrific examples of the sordid yet loving atmosphere of the brotherhood...." Read more

"...The last chapter wraps it up nicely. Brave ..yes. Courageous....yes. A little nuts?.... oh yeah..." Read more

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J. E. Nelson
Excellent Account of An Unsung Hero in Law Enforcement
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2009
Verified Purchase
In any civilized society, most individuals play a productive part in that society. Some people have a greater impact on society than others. However, sometimes it is easy to forget about the sacrifices one makes, especially when their sacrifices are as transparent as with the life of an undercover law enforcement officer.

Under and Alone is an excellent story about an undercover BATF agent named Billy Queen. Agent Queen, a Vietnam Veteran and a motorcycle enthusiast, has the opportunity to go undercover to try and infiltrate the Mongol Motorcycle gang. Agent Queen does so under the alias Billy St. John. The book is an excellent account of the operation from the planning steps right through the trials of the various motorcycle gang members. Agent Queen does a great job telling the story of the tense moments being introduced to the gang by a confidential informant, the harrowing months as a probationary member of the gang, the triumph of becoming a "full patch" member of the gang, and finally the mixed emotions of testifying against his friends in the gang. However, what I think made the book special was the glimpse it offers the public of the sacrifices law enforcement officers make. The life of Billy St. John/Agent Queen was at the mercy of the gang. When the gang said they were going to a rally, that meant Agent Queen went as well. In the end, this meant too much time away from his family. When he was with this kids, he wasn't the clean cut Agent Queen, he was the filthy biker Billy St. John.

Before I picked up this book, I really expected an action packed true crime story. I was quite surprised at the emotions involved in this story. The writing in this book is quite excellent. Agent Queen was able to write the story so that you felt the same highs and the crushing blows that Queen/St. John felt. The book was a easy read that I had a hard time putting down.

One of the great things I liked about the book is the fact that Agent Queen did not paint the Mongols as the scum of the earth. There were some that were portrayed in quite the negative light, but for the most part, he portrayed the Mongols as good people who walked on the opposite side of the law than he did. These men and women that he rode with were his friends. This is evidenced in a scene in the book where Agent Queen's mother dies. The reactions of the Mongols and fellow ATF agents shocked me.

I found the ending of the book quite anticlimactic. I do not fault Agent Queen with this. It is just sometimes the truth isn't that exciting.

If you want a great story about life as a law enforcement officer or you want to see the inside of a Motorcycle Gang, this is the book for you. Overall, I have to say this is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

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D. Scott
Queen's Integrity Makes Under and Alone Stand Out As A Classic In Its Genera
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2013
Verified Purchase
The life of an undercover agent is incredibly stressful and dangerous, a thankless job requiring unbelievable personal sacrifice. During his undercover career with the ATF William Queen lost his wife, saw his kids practically grow up without him, lost another girlfriend, and very nearly lost his life on numerous occasions. He lived an isolated life for two years while infiltrating the vicious Mongols motorcycle gang, during which time be bonded with them like family and brothers all the while enduring the draining emotional torture of knowing that eventually he would have to turn on them and send them to prison.

99% of motorcycle clubs are made up of law abiding citizens. ATF agent William Queen went after the self-proclaimed "One Percenters," the outlaw motorcycle gangs involved in the illegal gun trade, drug trafficking, extortion, car and motorcycle theft, rape, and murder. Undercover as Billy St. John, Queen infiltrated the San Fernando Valley chapter of the Mongols, eventually rising to the coveted status of full member. He even became club treasurer, enabling him to build evidence in the case. Eventually the operation developed into the most extensive undercover operation into a motorcycle gang in the history of American law enforcement. Queen's undercover work with the Mongols led to the indictments of 54 people, of which 53 were convicted.

Queen's background includes a stint in the Special Forces in Vietnam where he earned the Silver Star. He then became a Federal Agent with the ATF like his father and conducted undercover operations against Ku Klux Klan and Skinhead organizations. After the Mongols' investigation he was awarded the Federal Bar Association's Medal of Honor, but to tell his story Queen has paid the price by having to live in hiding under the Federal Witness Protection Program.

Under and Alone is an adrenaline-filled read and a real page turner. Besides just documenting the illegal activity of the gang, Queen lives in constant fear having to worry about being found out and probably murdered because of it. There are instances of him being stopped by unknowing regular police who very nearly blow his cover on a number of occasions. He has to keep a close eye on things around him in case he has to break cover himself to prevent a rape or murder, and uses his diplomatic skills many times to talk his way out of difficult situations. He fights with the Mongols, drinks with them, drives the getaway car, and bonds with them in a way neither he nor we expect. In one telling instance Queen's mother dies while he is on assignment, and his Mongol brothers are there for him in a way that his co-workers at the ATF never are.

Despite these unimaginably dangerous situations and conflicting emotions, William Queen maintains his integrity, a personal "line in the sand" that he will not cross. It is this integrity that makes Queen stand out as a Federal Agent and makes his account in Under and Alone stand out as a classic in its genera.

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Judy T
Well told
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2024
Verified Purchase
This was well written and really portrays just how some mc’s are. I don’t know if they are the same now as they were when the author was undercover, I really hope they aren’t but he is very brave for what he did and this book is well worth reading.

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Top reviews from other countries

Andrew T.
Great read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
Top seller will use again.

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A. Rambal
Good work
Reviewed in Spain on May 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
Not a must but I recommend it. Good read and entertaining.

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Cliente Amazon
awesome
Reviewed in Italy on July 22, 2018
Verified Purchase
I think this is a great story, a real one. I just loved every single page of this amazing book!!

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Steve Bregulla
livin "the life" ain't easy
Reviewed in Germany on October 18, 2015
Verified Purchase
i picked the book out of curiosity,because i wanted to see what the author said about the "real guys",who live the life because they chose it,to live
outside of society's rules,lies &"safety",anybody who has lived that way and survived,is aware of the danger this man put himself in,as well as his
family. i was really surprised at how honestly he wrote about the conflict,between those"brothers"that he was supposed to set up,and their authen
ticity,their true belief that he wasn't a snitch,and his fellow "colleagues"from ATF,who simply saw him as a number. i find it interesting to discover,
how many true-blooded and well-trained members of the "Force" actually can connect with the seemingly loose-life of the motorcycle outlaw,with it's
codes and rituals,maybe to those outsiders as crude,but to them it's the only way to be,somewhat like the last true american pioneers,i believe!

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fromthenorth
Amazing book!
Reviewed in Canada on January 15, 2013
Verified Purchase
I must say that this book is by far the best book I have ever read. First I will say that I dont read much and this book was very easy to read and follow. I couldn't put the book down, finished it in two nights.

I'm only just getting started with biker books but this one will be very hard to beat and I'm sure of it. I will say that once I was done reading I wanted more, the story is truly amazing.

If you like Biker books this is a must read!

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