Jay Dobyns was an undercover cop for the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. This book is about his efforts in 2001-2003 to infiltrate the infamous Hells Angels, and specifically their Arizona clubs. It’s a fascinating book that offers an inside look into the underside of organized crime — or at least the kind of organized crime as practiced by the Hells Angels.

I’m still not sure how I feel about this book. I’m amazed at Dobyns and his partners courage to do what they did. Growing up in the junkyard, I brushed up against a few Hells Angels, and they were an unpredictable bunch. One minute they were just good old boys who wanted to fix up their ride, the next they were … well, they were Hells Angels. We never had any problems with them, and they tended to be pretty good customers. But it was pretty clear you didn’t argue with them about our return policy.

Anyway, Dobyns describes the decay of his life, his personality, and in many ways his soul as he becomes more and more self-identified with his targets. He describes how he began to enjoy his company with the Hells Angels more than his own suburban family. His marriage falls apart. His kids become afraid of him. It’s a sad tale in many, many ways.

So as I said, I’m not sure how I feel about the book. I enjoyed the stories and the insights, and Dobyns transparency is commendable. But it’s not a book you read if you want a boost in your confidence in the human race. It is a great book, though, if you want to understand the Hells Angels and motorcycle gangs in general. And if you prefer true crime over the fictional garbage most authors publish today, then this book is for you.

Warning, if you read this book, it is filled with profanity, violence, drugs, and sexual exploitation. This is not a book to read if you can’t tolerate the primal instincts of the Hells Angels.