Barkers & Bones: Portrait of an Undercover Narc

by Phil Ribera

This memoir takes you deep into the forbidding world of police narcotic investigations. Picking up where his first book, It's Only a Badge, left off, author Phil Ribera paints a vivid picture of his own terrifying journey undercover. From the first pages, you will be absorbed as the once-stellar police officer transforms himself into a street junkie. Watch his career soar as his personal life spins more and more out of control.

339 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 28, 2011

Reviews

[Perri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was harder to read than It's Only a Badge with more grey areas and complexities. Ribera leaves his job as a street cop to go undercover in narcotics. Where before he doing straight up police work, now the work gets murkier as he arrests prostitutes, grooms snitches and makes drug buys. Although I know this is valid, dangerous work, I can understand where undercover folk get confused, diluted and compromised. Ribera seems more hardened and is honest describing the growing gap from his wife and kids.

[Taryn Brenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

I read his first book and enjoyed it so I decided to try his second book and really enjoyed it too. He wrote about his almost self destruction as an UC narc officer.

[Glenda Stonecipher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really Good Cop Story

I really enjoyed these two books by Phil. I have a good friend who was an undercover vice/narc detective and he finally retired. Apparently, working undercover takes a lot out of you.

Another friend is married to a retired NYPD sergeant. I told her he could probably write a really good book like this one and she said everything was over and done with - he wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole.

God Bless you Phil and Thank You

[Catherine Philhower · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an awesome glimpse into the life of an undercover narcotics officer - upfront and honest about the job, the risks, and the effects on family life. I'm usually a nut for long-winded description, but I found that I enjoyed the spare story-telling style of this novelist.

[Luigib · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great portrayal of life as a narc. Phil does not hold back discussing the pressures and trade-offs of working in an ego-driven environment. Phil's style is smooth and captivating.