Looking for Trouble

by Maurice Rudolph Hicks

Maurice grew up in the unforgiving streets of Baltimore City during a time when Baltimore was under siege by murderers, robbers, drug dealers, and burglars. He was an introvert who strategically avoided the fate of many of the inhabitants of his community. Many of them met their untimely demise by the age of sixteen. Maurice sought refuge by attending Sunday school at Gillis Memorial Baptist Church. He hungered for spiritual wisdom and an understanding of the conditions in which he lived. Maurice was in grave danger of falling into the vortex that was sucking the life out of inner-city youth. Drug dealers, robbers, burglars, and murderers encamped around him. They were anxious to provide him with unconventional wisdom regarding the streets. Unfortunately, he grew up in an environment that was critically short on positive role models. Despite these circumstances, Maurice received his second-most significant source of inspiration from an unlikely a person who spent most of his adult life in prison. Maurice spent his teenage years maneuvering through the dangerous minefields of death and destruction associated with the illegal drug trade in the city of Baltimore. Years later, in a twist of fate, he would become an undercover operative and immerse himself into the drug culture that he enormously despised. Maurice spent five years working as an undercover narcotics detective in the state of Maryland. He engaged in an intense war on drugs with the people on the street. He also found himself immersed in an enormous struggle against the enemy from within. Through his faith, Maurice defeated determined foes on both sides of the law. Against enormous odds, Maurice investigated and brought to justice some of Maryland's most elusive and dangerous criminals. Facing the most significant challenge in his career, he emerged as the lead investigator on the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.

490 pages, Hardcover

Published November 8, 2025

About the author

Winner of the International Impact Book Award

Amazon Best Seller


Former FBI Homicide Task Force Leader

Retired Police Lieutenant

Police Officer, Baltimore City

Police Officer, Prince George's County

Worked in:

Street Narcotics

Major Narcotics

Homicide

Robbery

Intelligence

Professor at The University of Maryland, Global Campus for 22 years

Graduatedfrom Johns Hopkins University

Master's Degree in Management

Private Investigator Las Vegas, Nevada

Private Investigator Maryland

Reviews

[Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maurice Hicks did not write a memoir, he accidentally wrote an action movie and forgot to tell Hollywood. From chasing down kingpins to navigating the wild politics behind the badge, LOOKING FOR TROUBLE is part thriller, part jaw-dropper, and part “Wait… this really happened?!”

Maurice’s storytelling puts you right there in the tension, sirens in the background, adrenaline in your veins, while also pulling back the curtain on the personal battles that never make the news. It’s raw, gripping, and somehow still full of heart.

This is more than just a cop story. It’s about resilience, purpose, and the irony of a man who spent his life avoiding trouble… only to stare it in the face every single day.

Maurice, the sky’s your starting point, keep soaring high, fave.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking For Trouble is a must read police thriller. Weaving together the authors real life law enforcement career, the havoc, murder and mayhem caused by a drug kingpin on the streets of Baltimore, and the one man always in the center of it all - Lieutenant Maurice Hicks. There comes a point in the book where you can’t put the book down, yet you don’t want it to end.

Three general themes continuously run throughout the book. The power of God and faith, drug gang violence, and the real life inner workings of the police department in Baltimore during the time period of the story.

The way in which the author weaves these themes together has the reader feeling like they are in the middle of an action thriller. Actually, Looking for Trouble is a very compelling memoir of Maurice Hicks and his career in law enforcement taking place on the streets of Baltimore while following one snarly drug kingpin.

Looking For Trouble is a very inspirational book. Quotes from the Bible are interjected in areas where Hicks could have taken a wrong turn like so many others in his path did. The book portrays the love, devotion and morals instilled in his upbringing from Hicks grandfather. This type of solid foundation, instilled generationally, shows the reader throughout Hicks life and career, how that solid foundation makes the difference in a man. Hicks is challenged throughout his career rise, and pulls on his never dying faith in God and upbringing.

Hicks takes you from his childhood roots on the deadly drug infested streets of Baltimore ( which most of his friends never survived ), through his military and law enforcement career rise. I found reading about Hick’s time in the different divisions of the police department, so sad, yet interesting in what an old school boys club he encounters throughout. If one is not involved intimately in those working dynamics, one would never know what goes on behind the scenes. For me it was quite enlightening. When I read how difficult those times were, I admired his perseverance and faith even more.

The book allows you to get to know the man Maurice Hicks at a deeper level. Where his roots were growing up, the everlasting influence his grandfather, and his faith had on him.

I found the book to be very inspiring with the Biblical quotes and other pertinent quotes. They seemed to speak to me at a time that I needed them too. I’m sure it will be the same with everyone that reads them. You never know where people are in their lives and what that little bit of inspiration can bring to them.

I loved the craftsmanship of the way Hicks wove the story from when he first started his career and his involvement with Barksdale and how Lt. Hick’s career and Barksdale’s followed along together for years!... Until his end.

Something tells me throughout the authors vast background in law enforcement there will be more stories from the “Lieutenant Hicks Series”!!

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for Trouble follows Maurice Hicks from his childhood in Baltimore through his early years in law enforcement. The book moves fast, almost breathless at times, as it shows a kid growing up in a rough world who somehow stays hopeful. It tracks his path from a paperboy with big dreams to a Marine and then to a police officer who ends up facing danger that feels unreal. The stories unfold with heat and sweat and fear and sometimes humor, and they paint a picture of a city that seems alive and angry and wounded all at once. What struck me most was the constant push and pull between survival and duty. The book never slows down. It grabs you at the start and keeps going.

The writing is blunt. It is raw in spots. It has a rhythm that feels like someone talking to you across a table late at night. The scenes inside the housing projects made my stomach knot. The tension builds so sharply that I kept catching my breath. At the same time, the author also slips in these little pieces of heart, small moments of gratitude or pride or humor that soften the edges. I liked that mix. It made the stories feel relatable. I found myself angry at the chaos around him, frustrated at the failures of systems that should have helped people, and surprised by how quickly small choices could turn dangerous. The book does not try to pretty anything up. It gives you the smoke and the noise and the fear straight up, and I respected that.

What stayed with me even more were the quieter reflections woven into the story. The author writes about the weight officers carry and the scars they collect along the way. He also writes about the people who shaped him, from family members to neighbors to teachers who saw more in him than he saw in himself. Those parts hit me hardest. They felt honest. They felt like memories he never stopped holding. I found myself thinking about how the environment shapes a person and how strength sometimes comes from the most unexpected places. The ideas here feel grounded. Nothing lofty. Nothing inflated. Just real life and the lessons scraped out of it.

I would recommend Looking for Trouble to readers who want a vivid, unfiltered look at police work, city life, and the long road a person walks to find purpose. It is a strong fit for people who enjoy memoirs that pull no punches and for readers curious about what it feels like to be inside the chaos instead of watching it from far away. The book is sharp, tense, and full of heart.

[Thanuja Shetty · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW – Looking for Trouble by Maurice Hicks ✨📚

Rating:5/5

Review:

👉 A powerful, real-life story of courage, faith, and survival.

👉From the very first page, Looking for Trouble pulled me in and never let go. Maurice Hicks tells his real-life story with the intensity of a crime thriller and the depth of a spiritual memoir. His journey from a quiet, introverted young man to a fearless, battle-tested Lieutenant in law enforcement is nothing short of inspiring 🥹🔥.

👉This isn’t just a story about crime — it’s a story about identity, transformation, and finding purpose in chaos. Hicks takes us into the most dangerous corners of Baltimore and Prince George’s County, where he faced murderers, drug dealers, and serial rapists head-on. But the most powerful part? The emotional and spiritual battles he fought behind the badge. 🙏

👉One of the most gripping moments is when Hicks, now leading an FBI Safe Streets Homicide Task Force, comes face-to-face with a drug kingpin he encountered years earlier as a rookie. Their paths crossing again felt like fate — and the suspense of tracking this violent criminal had me flipping pages nonstop. 😳💥

👉Throughout the book, Hicks shares the lessons and values passed down by his grandfather, and uses scripture as his compass through darkness. Those Bible quotes and reflections made the story so much more personal and meaningful. You really feel the weight of his choices, and the strength it took to keep going — physically, mentally, and spiritually.

👉What I loved most:
💬 The honesty. Hicks doesn’t sugarcoat the trauma, the fear, or the internal politics of law enforcement.
🕊 The faith. He shows how spiritual grounding can guide you through real-world darkness.
📖 The storytelling. It’s vivid, cinematic, and full of heart-pounding action balanced with deep introspection.

👉 If you love true crime, real-life police stories, faith-based inspiration, or simply want to read a memoir that stays with you long after you finish — this one is a must.

Happy reading 😁 😁

#bookreview

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently joined a book club, and this was our very first book! This book had me on the edge of my seat! From the encounters he had with the people of Baltimore to the personal life experiences he faced. I've felt like him in so many instances! The book was motivating, funny, inspiring, thrilling and a huge eye opener to the day and the life to an Officer, Marine, Dad, Professor and a Man in society fighting for his life to be the best he can be for his family and his community. I appreciate and applaud this gentleman for this book and definitely cannot wait for the next book. The book drew me in from the very beginning, the stories are insanely descriptive I tried not to laugh!! The character descriptions, the run ins with criminals, his early years and how he became an officer and marine is bizarre!! You never know where life may take you, but you must embrace change and fight for the life you want. Thank you, Maurice! This was a great way to kick off our book club. The stories of resilience alone told me the book club leader knew exactly what she was doing when she picked this book as our first read together. If you need motivation GET IT, If you are interested in becoming an officer or Marine GET IT, If you are juggling a demanding career and family GET IT , IF you need a stimulating new read GET IT !

[Mansi Ramwani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay… this book right here? It’s Insane. 😳

It’s called Looking for Trouble by Maurice Hicks — and yeah, the title is spot on.

Maurice is this super introverted guy who ends up in, like, the wildest career ever.

We’re talking undercover ops, FBI Task Force, chasing drug kingpins and literal murderers… and somehow staying alive through all of it.

He starts as a rookie cop, thinking he’s just doing a regular job… and ends up knee-deep in the most dangerous parts of Baltimore and DC.

But here’s the thing — it’s not just action. It’s also super personal. He’s dealing with trauma, identity, and all the heavy stuff that comes with trying to do the right thing in a messed-up system.

Honestly? It reads like a movie. A wild, gritty, emotional, can’t-look-away type of movie.

If you love true crime, cop stories, or just badass real-life heroes — this book’s for you.

Looking for Trouble? Yeah, it definitely found him.

[Rebecca Deng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read book by anyone because it's so good, and you will learn tons about what happen in and on the streets of law enforcement. Maurice Hicks is an amazing storyteller. While reading the book, I see a heart of a man who long for justice and work to make that true for everyone he have helped. I don't want to give out any of the stories in the book so get the book become it become a movie! You will walk away understanding the courage it takes to bring about transformation to our communities and oneself. This man who grow up in Baltimore's unforgiving streets is the educator we all need so grab this book for yourself or Christmas gift. After reading it, I got few copies to give as gift because this book will make you smile, cry, laugh and have restore hope for bettering our world.

[Lailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an inspiring and powerfully written story that captures both the darkness and resilience of life in Baltimore’s toughest neighbourhoods. The author’s storytelling is vivid and deeply personal, pulling the reader into Maurice’s world of danger, faith, and determination. What stands out most is the raw honesty and emotional depth - how a young man surrounded by crime and despair found strength through spirituality and purpose. The transformation from a boy struggling to survive the streets to an undercover detective fighting against the very world he escaped is nothing short of remarkable. The author weaves a narrative that’s not only gripping but also uplifting, showing that even in the bleakest circumstances, redemption and courage can prevail. A truly moving and masterfully told story.

[Regina Taymor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Riveting True-Life Journey from the Streets to Justice

This book is absolutely gripping from start to finish. Maurice’s story is a powerful testament to faith, courage, and determination in the face of overwhelming adversity. Growing up in one of America’s toughest cities, he could have easily become another statistic — but instead, he rose above the chaos and became a force for change. His transition from a boy surrounded by violence to an undercover detective battling the very demons he once escaped is both inspiring and unforgettable. A must-read for anyone who believes in redemption and resilience.

[Katherine Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir is powerful, sobering, and deeply personal. Maurice’s journey from the dangerous streets of Baltimore to becoming an undercover narcotics detective is told with honesty and moral clarity. What stood out most was the internal battle — faith, fear, and integrity tested just as much as his courage on the streets. The book doesn’t glorify violence or crime; it exposes the cost of it, both to communities and to the people fighting it from within. A compelling story of survival, purpose, and redemption.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maurice’s story is gripping, raw, and deeply human. The way he survives the violence of Baltimore’s streets, seeks refuge in faith, and ultimately becomes an undercover narcotics detective creates a powerful, cinematic arc. The contrast between the world that tried to consume him and the purpose he found through courage and conviction is incredible. This book delivers honesty, tension, and inspiration in equal measure. A standout read.

[Julius Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reads like a thriller, but every word is true. Hicks’s experiences in Baltimore’s most dangerous streets and his later role fighting the same drug culture are portrayed with incredible depth. The emotional and moral conflicts he faced kept me hooked. A must-read for anyone interested in law enforcement, inner-city life, or personal transformation.

[Thomas White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a personal family involvement in this experience I was totally captivated by the way Maurice was able to engage and involve us in each of his endeavors. I highly recommend this amazing book.