Cops, Drugs, Lawyer X and Me

by Paul Dale, Vikki Petraitis

'How did a kid from the country who dreamed of joining the Victoria Police, end up on the wrong side of the bars? There are a lot of reasons, and I hope this story will help clarify some of them, not only for you, the reader, but for me too, because a lot of the time I am left shaking my head, wondering how things went so wrong.'Paul Dale knows he is tainted. After almost fifteen years as a cop, working in Homicide and rising to the rank of Detective Sergeant in the Victorian Drug Squad, he saw the worst of what people can do. But when he was accused and jailed firstly for drug offences and then for murder, Dale realised the murky world he was navigating was going to take him under too.Dale dealt with crims like Carl Williams, Terry Hodson and Tommy Ivanovic on the Melbourne streets. But when a burglary ended in Hodson's arrest, Dale's life started to unravel. He turned to Nicola Gobbo, a lawyer and friend he thought could the lawyer who became known as Lawyer X.Eventually exonerated of any crimes, Paul Dale's story reveals the shocking deals done at the highest levels of the Victorian Police Force and the damage wrought by Victoria Police's use of Lawyer X.

Genres: True Crime

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2020

Reviews

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truth is certainly stranger (and more convoluted) than fiction

[David Wasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This former detective had his life turned upside down by a police prosecution of him that relied entirely on the manifestly ridiculous lies of criminals of the worst kind. The waste of public money remains a scandal. My only disappointment as a reader was the lack of photos of the protaganists and locations.

[Margo Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts of this book were really hard to follow. There was a lot of receptiveness especially towards the end.

I understand that what happened to the author was terrible but this book was written with a lot of hatred and it was a struggle to read sometimes, especially with all the snide remarks throughout.

[Ian Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would have been a 5⭐ but for a few glaring omissions. 1) there is no index in the book, nor is their a list of recommended/further reading. 2) in the vast majority of similar books I've read/seen they all include some photographs of the People/events/places mentioned in the book. If a revised edition is ever published I hope to see both my gripes included

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

The product of a man who is still the prime suspect in the execution of the Hodson's. A police officer heavily involved with the major (now deceased) Melbourne gangland players and a Detective mentioned in many reports concerning missing drugs, and the sale of precursor chemicals. Don't believe a word he says unfortunately, it's simply waiting out for another of his days in court.

[Kimberley Kanages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vicki Petraitis nailed it again with putting this one together. I love her writing.

As for the book...

Whilst Dale believes he's 100% innocent of everything, in my honest opinion, they're app as guilty as each other. Pretty much every person mentioned in the book knew something, was involved in something, did something, failed to do something. From the bottom to the top.

[Aleisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many names of criminals April and detailed like the tv series. Hard to keep up with all the ins and outs....but whatever is true-if he had to go through all of that, would have been a lot on his mental health thats for sure!

[Nicole Armstrong · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whilst it was good to find out what happened in this true story, albeit a one-sided view, it was extremely frustrating to read and very poorly written. The witness statements are frustrating to take in and the book at times is quite repetitive.

[Jack Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astonishingly good read! Anyone who has the slightest interest in the goings on in the Lawyer X scandal, and the Melbourne gangland war, I urge you to read this! Dale pulls no punches in this eye opening account of what was one of the darkest periods of Victoria Police's history.

[Lisa Nania · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning the lengths police went to, the deals that were done and the cover ups. The financial and emotional toll over 10 years would be enough to kill most people......

[Simona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm staggered that this situation could happen. I can't stop shaking my head.

[Nathan Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book - exposes the power that the media have in painting anybody how they wish, and also the extent of involvement Vic Police had with the underworld figures.

[russell walldock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bland

Just another book.
Didn't hold me for long each time. I got there on the end. Not particularly satisfying.
Jog on I would suggest.