Undercover

by Joe Carter

Twenty years undercover - one man's true story of life as an undercover cop. A must-read for fans of Donnie Brasco.

For over 20 years Joe Carter has worked for the police as an undercover cop on a number of highly sensitive, life or death missions. He has immersed himself in the murky criminal underbelly of London that has taken him into the dangerous world of drug smuggling, mafia and corruption.

His story is a gripping account of the secret, solitary work of an undercover officer and the many ‘sticky’ situations he found himself in, as well as the moving confession of the difficulty in reconciling his two identities with his family life. It’s a story of his beginnings from a being a young east end apprentice to the mean streets he walks today – it reveals the many highs and the painful lows of going undercover.

This book explores the resilience needed to lead a double life, the thrilling challenge of working with the biggest criminals in Britain, and maintaining a sense of justice through the many adventures he encounters.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook, Crime, Biography

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Suzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually love true crime but was disappointed by this book. I get that undercover police immerse themselves in their new identities, as " joe" did in his operations that are alluded to within this book. However some bits really began to irritate me- he drones on about his fellow undercover officer, emma , and how he feels towards her, and their relationship, hinting at more than just a working relationship yet in the next breath says he neglects his own wife and family. I felt this took away from the operation they were on. He also seems to enjoy the gangster lifestyle a bit too much, and I found him fairly arrogant so I couldn't warm to him at all. The book hints at some operations and I appreciate the secrecy of these however i found it to be a bit too vague , and more for blowing his own trumpet rather than the ins and outs of police work. I feel this is a harsh review but I didn't enjoy this one at all sorry!

[Louise Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at undercover work and how it relates to actual investigations, policing crime, and case reviews. A great reference for crime writers, and those interested to learn more about this lesser known topic that goes on invisibly around us on a daily basis to keep us safe.

[Lisa Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and surprisingly easy to read. Gives a stark insight into the life of an undercover police officer. Really makes you think about the risks they take and they extreme sacrifice that they make in order to go about their job. They must really love their job and must have such a high level of dedication. Would recommend to any fans of crime fiction - reading first-hand experiences of real-time crime is quite startling.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst I enjoyed reading this book I would liked to have read about more operations than was mentioned. It has made me stop and think what goes on and the things that these brave people have to get involved with to make this a better world, which we take so much for granted. Quite an intriguing read.

[Lisa-Jaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book of a cop undercover, but it did leave a few questions unanswered. I'd have liked to have known how his wife took to him living undercover with another woman; Emma his co-undercover partner. How did the last case he was working on pan out; what sentences did they receive. Was he at the Trial. How did he cope with that?

[Jen Surname · Rating 3 out of 5]

I persevered with this one in the hope it would improve, but it never really did. I actually enjoyed learning more about the early days in the career of this officer rather than the epically drawn out tale of working undercover with ‘Ray’ and his acquaintances.

There were minor irritations throughout that just built as the book went on. Like a snowball that eventually builds and builds and demolishes your house. What with Louis Vuitton bags and Henri Lloyd jackets and Acquascutum scarves and Hugo Boss suits and let’s not forget the Porsche Carrera Turbo... yawn. Enough already! I don’t give a monkey’s chuff about all of that, just tell the story!

The story itself was long and ultimately disappointing. Getting through it was a bit of a trial and I’m relieved it’s over.

As this is a review of the audiobook, I should add that the narrator was okay. Just okay. But when he put on a Manchester accent and pronounced ‘mither’ like it rhymes with ‘wither’, well, I was done. I won’t be rushing to recommend this to anyone.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book would be right up my street but I actually found it quite dull. It was mostly about drugs, illegal purchasing and criminal gangs - none of which I have any interest in. I also found it difficult to follow all the different people and non of the characters ever felt really developed. Throughout the book I became increasingly worried about Joe's real wife and daughter as they were barely mentioned except to say they were somewhere else hundreds of miles away. His undercover wife, Emma, on the other hand is sharing champagne, meals, a house and probably a bed with Joe. That didn't sit right with me.

[Daniel Esquivel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just ok, he does not elaborate on details on his work, and he is jumping from one case to another very lightly described. It seems to be a book about nothing in particular but it is a very easy read somehow.
So if you are looking for a break between serious books maybe this would do.

I bought this book because it has a reference to Joe Pistone (Donnie Brasco) on the cover (smart move) but it does not even come close to Pistone's story or even character.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping a brilliant account

I read this in one day. I loved hearing about life undercover in the uk. From my work background I have heard a lot of criminal law cases that have involved undercover work and this in depth account was interesting from a working and personal capacity.

[James Tidd · Rating 3 out of 5]

'I am an undercover cop. I am the guy you don't read about in the newspapers when they catch the bad guy. For twenty years I've helped keep the streets you walk on free from criminals..... by pretending to be one.

A fascinating account of how an undercover officer such as Joe Carter would work. Basically the officer has to live a different life to his or her normal life, they have to make friends and put actual trust in the criminals that he or she is actually out to catch. This is what Joe Carter has done for twenty years, it is most likely the hardest part of any undercover officer's work.

One other thing that enticed me to give it 3 stars, I never usually award 5 stars for a book unless it deserves it. This book could have had 3 or 4 operations in it instead of the solitary 1.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was surprisingly readable while on holiday this summer, however parts of it really annoyed me, particularly the ending. We had this very drawn out operation that takes up most of the book and goes into great detail about his closeness to Ray, but when it comes to the arrest it doesn't even mention how Ray responded to being arrested?! The author instead focuses on Pegg an almost unknown character and the elderly couple who were celebrating their anniversary.
It was a very unsatisfactory ending for me, especially as Ray had confronted him about being police right at the beginning, surely there was more to the story?

[Allen Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to listen to, does make you realise how much a undercover officer does sacrifice in order pull off a fake persona all to make the eventual arrest. It’s just a shame the pen pushers and the powers that be, folk who have probably never even been in the police, cut the operations and discard these officers like litter, without taking into consideration how much effort they have put in!

Did enjoy this book, not as good as other undercover story books as I’ve read but is defo worth a read!

[Angela Sandford · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt a bit disappointed with this book. It read more like a diary of accounts. I felt far more could have gone into describing Joe's character, and also the people he met.
The one particular undercover operation that did go into more detail, didn't actually conclude. I'd like to have known what sort of sentences Ray and his gang got, and a peek into how Joe coped with the trials.
I actually stopped reading the book for a while as I got so bored. It had the potential to be so much better.

[Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted this to be a lot better than I think it turned out to be. It’s a fairly mundane plod through what and undercover police officer might do for periods of time. Maybe we can’t be told what happened to the criminals involved but it would have been nice for the ending to have more about the result of the case rather than just arrests.
Easy read and doesn’t take long when you get into it but it’s not the latest great work of art

[peter.goldgmail.com · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit disappointing

I hate to give a low review but the storyline felt a bit fanciful and glamourised. Why the author felt the need to include all the designer labels and Mills & Boon descriptions of the air he breathed, the wind in the trees etc. I don't know but for me or felt a bit false. I've read other UC books that were far more detailed and realistic, with no elements of bragging.

I admire the work that was done though.

[Radcliff Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first autobiography of an undercover police officer that I have read, and it is an eye-opening insight into the nature of the work. That probably sounds like a statement of the obvious, but here we get right into the real nitty gritty of what undercover police officers really do. Telling you much about the book would spoil the joy of the reading journey for those yet to read Joe Carter's unflinching - and occasionally very funny - expose.

[Mrs H · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been so much better. It was vague and the interesting parts were just skirted over. I think this story would have been better if he told it to an experienced writer that could have asked him the questions that us as readers were desperate to have the answers too. I can't recommend this book as I threw it at the wall after reading the apparent ending.

[Nicola Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy listening to these type of books in the car they are easy to listen to and interesting this is another one where I get engrossed in the detail and can’t quite believe that people can go undercover like that and live that life .. worth a listen

[The Great White Shark · Rating 2 out of 5]

My gosh the author likes to praise himself and look down on others. What actual self-respecting police officer would call criminals and offenders (baddies and villains) what are you, five? I'm not reading a book written by a narcissist.

[Jamie Connors · Rating 3 out of 5]

What is real? There are portions of this book that start getting real interesting but then you remember you don’t really know who is who and what is what. The secrecy and vagueness is always at the back of your mind when trying to piece together everything.

[Stefennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would ... I got lost in the time frame of things that where happening and a lot of things weren't explained probably so I got lost and confused at times

[Ness · Rating 2 out of 5]

I stuck with it till the end but I couldn't really get into it....zzzz

[Deb Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading - an insight into real undercover operations, the living situation & lack of reference to his family had me guessing. I sense a follow up.

[David Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best written book but an absolutely fascinating insight into the world of undercover policing.

[Mac Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read.
It would have been good to hear what happened to the crooks after arrest.
Although that would compromise their anonymity.

[Allan carre · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

This was a very interesting book sad in parts but true to life someone must do these jobs lets hope their life at the end will be a happy one

[Newfad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look into the villainous cockney landscape infiltrated in depth here by this brave/crazy but cool copper.

[Mike Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a hotch-pitch. Too many sequences not fully explained. A true story without real people.

[Beth L · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF