Deep Cover: My Double Life as an Undercover Criminal

by Shane Doherty

Street kid turned undercover cop. 'This time he wasn't getting up. Neither were the two young women he'd just murdered. The two unarmed young police officers he cut down in a hail of 32 bullets and the fragments of a grenade, ending their promising lives so savagely, so senselessly. I felt empty. Cold. How had it come to this?' Shane grew up on a tough council estate in north Manchester where drugs and organised crime were rife. A life of crime would have been an easy path to take. So it went against everything that was expected of him when he joined the police. Working his way up the leagues, it wouldn't be long before Shane's talent caught the attention of the top. Then came the call that changed his an offer to join the undercover team as a Level One Officer. And it was easy to see why they wanted he wouldn't have to stray too far from what he already knew. He had all the attributes of a professional the athletic physique of a cage fighter, the talk, the walk. Streetwise and fearless, he'd be a match for the most hardened villain. So, he was given a new name, his DNA and fingerprints were removed from the national database, and so began the life of Michael Lydiate. In a distinguished career spanning 17years, Shane infiltrated some of the biggest gangland feuds while working as a double agent. But there would be a heavy price to pay for a life in the shadows, where any mistake could have lethal consequences...

Genres: Nonfiction, Crime, True Crime, Audiobook, Biography

320 pages, Hardcover

Published November 15, 2021

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating autobiography. I really enjoyed reading it, however, I do have to say that if you don't know Manchester well then it might be a bit of a tougher read. I felt that quite a bit of local knowledge was needed (particularly about the suburbs).

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant read, how he did what he did takes more than courage. Not only fought wars in the ‘field’ but with himself and his employers….the Police! A great read.

[Gary Thornton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quickly gripped to this book. An undercover officer based in and around the gangs of Greater Manchester. Similar vein to Donnie Brasco enjoy read which shows the true challenges an undercover officer faces with mental health

[Tony The Bookmark62 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to follow absolutely amazing book

[Filip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book providing insights into the life of Shay Doyle covering his success, pitfalls and challenges as an undercover policeman in the UK. Aside from the professional point of view, this book sheds light onto the psychological burden that this kind of job may pose on one's mental health. Overall, it is an outstanding autobiography and as a huge fan of true crime I could't put the book down.

[Tim Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this in Manchester airport yesterday and devoured it in the less than 24 hours. An amazing insight into both UK gangland and the many police units Shay worked in. Highly highly recommended.

[Bridie O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

tough read, i loved the voice of the narrator, relatable antihero

[Carl Sweeting · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book. A well written story of an undercover cop diving deep into the underbelly of society to root out the dangerous criminals that threaten the fabric of society. A cliche I know, but I couldn’t put this book down and read it in a couple of days, mainly because the story really resonated with me. His description of how the pitiful upper ranks in the Police treat the the genuine hard working foot soldiers with arrogance and contempt are bang on. Most senior officers are inept, egotistical, useless pen pushers interested in only one thing…….promotion, power and money. It’s a boys club where people shoved up through the ranks engage in daily, cringeworthy ass kissing and creeping to further their power with scant regard to the cops out on the streets doing a really difficult job day in day out, taking years off their lifespans because of the shift work and stress they deal with.
This book will be an embarrassment to senior officers in GMP who should hang their heads in shame, but they are no different to any other Police Force in this country but they won’t hang their heads in shame because their arrogance knows no bounds and their heads are in the clouds.

[Jood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shay Doyle (a pseudonym) was an undercover policeman for Greater Manchester Police. Not just any old undercover cop, but UC Level 1, infiltrating violent gangs in Manchester. In order to be successful he had to live the life of Mikey O'Brien, a tough no-nonsense, I'm doing-it-my-way, spit-in-your-face guy. Only this would work, and it did, providing police with the necessary information to take the villains down, but inevitably taking its toll on his personal life. Then police politics got in the way...

Written with the help of journalist Scott Hesketh, this is Doyle's personal account of the years he spent working undercover and what led him there. This is a fascinating, fast-paced, adrenalin filled account of those years. Doyle pulls no punches describing his roots, his years in the army, followed by years of clearing violent scum, such as the infamous Dale Cregan, off the streets of Manchester.

The GMP should be ashamed of themselves for treating Doyle the way they did.

[gerard2e · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m going to give you sone great advice for your life. Man or woman. Get someone to look at you the way the author looks at himself in the mirror everyday.

I have NEVER in my entire life read such an egotistical book by such a narcissist. It’s absolutely insufferable. The vast vast majority of the book is him telling us how great he is, how tough he is, how intelligent he is and how unique he is and how everyone is either threatened by his brilliance and wrong or they think he’s the second coming of Christ.

One if the worst books I ever read and it’s purely because of his insufferable ego. The crime portion is relatively interesting but it’s just sandwiched between vignettes on his brilliance.

Like how about just tell the story and we’ll get how brilliant you are without mentioning it twice a page.

Do not buy !!!!!

[Radu · Rating 2 out of 5]

No doubt on author's policing experience but the way he presents himself is appalling. He has no compassion to anyone whatsoever, putting his colleagues' efforts getting into police work down simply because ''they are not cut for it and that he is the best choice''. Throughout the book he rumbles about how he is better than everyone, street smart and that vulnerable people are just puppets in his eyes. It makes you wonder how this policing approach works in this case as he was trusted to protect members of the public!

If he was half the man compassion wise to police officers such as Neil Woods and Clive Driscoll maybe I would regard this book more.

[Steve Angelkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep Cover is a gripping and unfiltered account of life as an undercover operative, exposing the brutal realities of infiltrating Britain’s most dangerous criminal networks. Doyle, a former soldier turned elite covert officer, takes readers deep into the psychological and physical toll of living a double life, where any misstep could mean death.

One of the most striking themes in the book, is the institutional culture within the police force. Doyle’s experiences highlight how culture starts from the bottom of an organization, shaping the way officers operate and survive in high-risk environments. In an institution like the police service, where resilience is often mistaken for invulnerability, the book sheds light on the glaring lack of staff welfare for those exposed to acute stress and PTSD.

Doyle’s firsthand account reveals a system with little understanding of mental health, where officers are expected to endure trauma without adequate support.

The book is a compelling read, not just for its high-stakes narratives but for its raw honesty about the sacrifices made by those working in the shadows.

For anyone interested in true crime, policing, or the psychological impact of covert operations, Deep Cover is an essential read.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am putting five stars for this book, for a variety of reasons. The writing is good, the audible performance is brilliant too. I don’t know Manchester well, I’ve only been there once and it was still very easy to follow.

Spoiler territory:

It’s a very interesting account on what officers are out through in training, and parts of it were horrifying both the psychological and physical aspects. Shay shines a light on this and how the police deal with mental health and their officers after tough cases.

The admissions of this supposedly tough man that this was affecting him and how finally asking for help saved him is very moving. Shay went through hell, and was pretty abandoned for it, and does so well at describing the looming building nature of mental illness. As someone else with PTSD he describes it well. He does talk himself up a lot only to turn it on its head near the end and it’s a brilliant piece of writing.

The message of this book is to ask for help, because asking for help is what makes us tough. How we have to be more than one thing, and Shay is doing that.

[Simone Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book recommended in a magazine and thought it would be an interesting read and a different perspective.

Shay Doyle is an ex-soldier and former Level 1 undercover officer in Greater Manchester.

He very honestly tells his story from growing up on an estate surrounded by crime, to becoming a highly skilled operative, taking down some of the most notorious gangsters.

Unsurprisingly, his work had a hugely detrimental effect on his mental health, and relationships with friends and family. Sadly, he didn’t receive much support from the police and I hope this has now changed.

I found the book very candid, interesting and readable. It gives an insight into a world few of us know about.

I’m pleased that Shay got help and is now breaking down the stigma around mental health within the emergency services.

I would recommend this book if you’re interested in the true crime genre.

[Big Bertha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books grab me by the short and curlies from the opening pages and this one certainly did. It was a compelling read, more so because it isn't a thriller its a biography. One that gives real insight into the dirty world that undercover officers deliberately enter to gain information, the risks they take and the effect it can have on their mental state.

What really impressed me about this book was Doyles honesty, he didn't always get it right but neither did those that controlled him. A harrowing read and one that will stay with me. Thank you Mr Doyle, people like you make the world a better place.

[Estela Llanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I struggle to find books that keep me gripped, but I couldn't put this book down.
I felt all the emotions; sad & frustrated on the writers behalf on occasions, and also curious, intrigued and excited about the operations as an undercover, OCU team member and others job Shay did as part of his job in the force. A highly skilled professional that chose taking out criminals of the streets as his n1 mission!
Thank you to Shay for sharing his story, raising awareness about mental health & how asking for help & being vulnerable is a strength (and not a weakness).

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and insightful read, written by a dedicated and courageous police officer.
I would have given it 5 stars except that I got tired of the author's massive ego. There was no need to keep reiterating how good he is. The narrative does that adequately and in the lyrics of a Rohnan Keating song...'you say it best, when you say nothing at all'.
It was no surprise to me to hear of the jealousy and witch hunt directed at Shay by senior officers and the organisation.
Also, it is no surprise how the author's work and life affected him. I wish him well for the future.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so interesting and insightful into the world of an under cover operative. I thought the book was really well written and portrayed Shay's journey well; often gripping at times.
I have been left in awe of what an amazing, selfless job the police do.
I am grateful to have read this book, to understand what the police do to protect the public and wish Shay all the best for his future.
I would highly recommend this book if you like true crime.

[Naseem Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutley amazing book. Had great fun and an intense learning experience from this. Like other undercover books i've read,it shines a light into criminal underworld dealings and covert action conducted by police forces. The author is someone I would like to meet and just hear more from his experiences as an undercover officer. Thoroughly engaging and frighteningly intense. Would highly recommend.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well that was a wild ride! Just as stressful as I thought it would be but I also enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I was fascinated by the tactics, the way in which undercover work, manhunts and murder investigations are carried out.

I liked the way it was written, straightforward, like he's just talking to you. It let's the facts, and the stories, speak for themselves (though it is a memoir so it's just one side of the story but Doyle does self reflect).

[Paul Forrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young, driven man's story of life as an undercover policeman in Manchester's gangland scene, his experience in other police roles, and the devastating effect his experiences had on his mental health. One of the biggest causes of his deterioration was the behaviour of senior police officers, their self-serving and arrogant attitudes being not uncommon in hierarchies of all types, sadly.

The book contains lots of bad language but is highly recommended.

[Nick Carrington · Rating 2 out of 5]

What should be an interesting story spoilt by terrible writing. For every sentence containing actual content, there are three (written in expletive-laden "lad" language), reminding us how clever, street-wise and generally wonderful our hero is, and how exceptional his meteoric rise to the top of his incredibly dangerous profession has been, when he's not telling us how inadequate his management are. Very tiresome.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating insight into the work of undercover police officers from Shay Doyle. A very personal account of the time spent in policing and the toll on his mental health and personal life. It's honest, fast paced and filled with adrenaline. I can't believe the way he was treated by GMP and the force politics involved. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Dave B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book slightly spoilt by the animosity shown by the author towards his employers without them having recourse to respond with their side. Book shows the life UCs have to lead, which effects everything about their 'ordinary' life. I know a UC who lived in a caravan for 8 months with another opposite sex UC.

[Janna Addison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it so much. I would highly recommend anyone wanting to read it to do so through the audiobook. The man who reads it has a proper mancunian accent and puts on different voices for each person. I thought it was so well done and I felt like I was along for the journey. His story is a wild one.

[Nick Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

He tells it how it is, warts and all. A gread read from start to finish, highly recommended. Thank you for your service, despite being betrayed by those who should've had your back.

[Allen Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, explains a lot how much effort someone goes to pass off as an undercover and the sacrifices they take in order just to do the job, it’s just such shame that these efforts are not taking into consideration by Police superiors and how expendable everyone is to chiefs of Police.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book. While the author seems a bit self centered and confident in his own abilities I liked how he tackled the mental health aspects of his career. Being a short book, ota worth the read.

[TonyAntSonWil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating read. Even made more real because I know some of the places and know of the crimes this guy has investigated. Highly entertaining in a true crime way. Would highly recommend this to all.

[Ade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, probably one of the best books I've read. The guy's courage is unbelievable, it's hard to think that everyday there are guy's like him doing this job. The kind of book you won't want to put down.