Product Description

These are the stories that you don't read in the papers or see on "Crimewatch" - and if they do appear they only skim the surface of what really happened. A senior detective and undercover agent in the Drug Squad and Regional Crime Squad - Britain's equivalent of the FBI - has broken ranks to reveal the stark truth behind the headlines. Duncan MacLaughlin, 40 years-old and a police officer all his life, is one of the elite. SAS-trained for special missions, his expertise is in surveillance and undercover work that could have got him killed at any moment. The dangerous tightrope he walked included cases involving master criminal Kenneth Noye, kidnap victim Julie Dart and the slaying of PC Keith Blakelock. He also penetrated international drug cartels and nailed the ruthless barons who control them.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #104158 in Books
• Published on: 2002-10-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

About the Author
William Hall is a celebrated writer, broadcaster, film critic and show business journalist. His published works include biographies of celebrities such as James Dean, Norman Wisdom, Frankie Howard and the legendary stunt man and celebrity body guard Nosher Powell as well as Raising Caine, the critically acclaimed biography of Michael Caine.

Customer Reviews

An insight
A friend of mine was reading this book, and I read a chapter of it, and loved it. I bought it from amazon, who delivered it early...thanks! I finished the book in two sittings. The author lays the book out so it can be read easily, very easy flowing whilst providing the insight into one of the most elite police forces in the world, the Metropolitan. His story goes back to the pre-PACE world and shows the changes that came into effect from it. The book also shows the different attitudes that had to be adopted from political correctness, and also the rules and the stance that police officers had to take, sometimes even making the evidence fit. I enjoyed this book, my only drawback about this book is this, the author does a fantastic job about writing not only about his 20+ years in the force and an opener into his childhood, but his retirement and exit from the force is narrowed to just one page. This leaves the question to be asked, will there be a sequel? A must read.

Solid view of life as a Met detective
This is the autobiography of a detective in London’s Met, detectives being known in certain circles as ‘the filth’.
Like the author I spent some time in the Met, following the same route in via the Police Cadets although my career was much shorter and a lot less exciting. I mention this because the bits where I have similar experiences are absolutely spot on and spookily familiar, so I have few doubts about the accuracy of the rest of the book.
I enjoyed this but it felt a little short. There is a great build up from the author’s childhood into the cadets and then into the Met mainstream where he eventually makes it to detective. Although he provides some interesting and honest views about life in ‘the filth’, this element of the book seems almost rushed and I am sure there was a lot more he could have told.
Some readers may be shocked that the Police are not as pure as they may wish but I am sure that those same readers are glad that the thin blue line is also manned by intelligence and dedicated officers like Duncan MacLaughlin.
Honest and interesting reading.

Superb!
For those who love crime genre, this is a must read! A book about the life of a Scotland Yard undercover cop written from the heart. In his tale, Maclaughlin brings the pages alive, revealing aspect of modern day crime and methods to fight such. Written with obvious honesty, the author reveals the lows and the highs and openly admits to taking short cuts and the unscrupulous ploys he undertook to nail those from the criminal fraternity. An easy to read, funny, shocking, frightening and thrilling book, which lifts the lid on modern policing. Whether a lawyer or a criminal, a cop or an armchair sleuth, this is one for your collection. I could not put it down. I'm left asking just one question, will there be a follow up?