Let's Go for a Ride: The Wild Life of Maine’s Longest-Tenured Undercover Game Warden

by William Livezey, Daren Worcester (Contributor)

Let's Go for a Ride is the story of William (Bill) Livezey's thirty-year career in the Maine Warden Service. Heralded as "one of the best covert investigators in the country" by Maine Warden Service Lieutenant Dan Scott, Bill is the agency's longest-tenured undercover operative, having spent twenty years in the Special Investigations Unit.

"Let's go for a ride" is the universal bad-guy code for breaking the law. Among Maine's most sinister wildlife offenders, its utterance is prone to incite alcohol-fueled night hunting, high-speed car chases on winding country roads, drug dealing, arson, and attempted murder. The worst of the worst were Bill Livezey's bread and butter.

His success at putting the truly bad guys out of business was driven by his upbringing as one of them. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Bill's father was a successful businessman whose blind ambition sent him down the dark path of drug trafficking. It wasn't long before young Bill was tagging along and doing drugs with his dad. The aftermath of witnessing his father perish in a fiery standoff with police sent Bill spiraling out of control. He lashed out at law enforcement by dealing drugs, and he numbed the pain and confusion by doing them. Deep down, Bill knew his life was broken. When a high school football teammate invited him to attend a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting, he discovered his faith and a new path.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 15, 2022

Reviews

[JoAnn Plante · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, true-to-life story of a Maine game warden. This book contains actual events in the life and career of Bil Livezey. Although the names are changed for a number of reasons, the accounts are real. What a great read! Every story is gripping and suspenseful along with the author's sense of humor. It's a different side of a game warden's life. The reader can appreciate all that the warden's service does to protect wildlife and people. It is easy to just keep reading, even if the story ends, another story starts. A wonderful story to read, because it's true. Most people embellish their tales when telling a story. Bill Livezey gives accurate descriptions of the characters, the locations, and whatever action is happening. I really enjoy this book not only as an easy read but a book that represents a Maine game warden's life and why he sacrifices so much.

[Bertha · Rating 5 out of 5]

From a childhood of juvenile delinquency including drug use and a home of love and rage, Bill Livezey found Faith and a girl named Gail who became his wife - and then through hard work and focus he achieved his dream job of Game Warden in the State of Maine. His stories are heartbreaking and hilarious. Tales of pre-warden ride alongs with John Ford (who has authored a couple intriguing books about his own Maine Game Warden days) are just the beginning of a lifelong career living on the knife edge of exhilaration while capturing poachers and bad guys in the woods and fields and lakes snd streams of Maine. An outstanding read.

[Cassandra Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye-opening read of all the unethical hunting & fishing stories from a Game Warden perspective. Would recommend for any Mainer to read!

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was mildly entertained by some of the stories and characters the author wrote about in the book, but there were a few self aggrandizing comments (faith, awards, non-drinker) spread through the book that made him sound arrogant and pompous. There were even a few times that his stories sounded like they could not possibly be true. Having hunted for years (and knowing and even spending time with similar characters from the stories) and knowing law enforcement personnel, many of the circumstances left me thinking there was no way it would have gone down like he describes.

I believe Livezey makes his intentions clear in the last few chapters, turning the book into an opportunity to say "So there!" to a politician and the author of the article that ended his undercover career. These chapters sounded so childish and unprofessional I found myself skimming through them and pitying Livezey.

[Jesse Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story of a Maine Game Warden and his 20-year tenure of undercover operations. Prior to reading, I never knew the branch of law enforcement that dealt with fish and wildlife ran covert, undercover operations. Bills dedication to his job, the state of Maine, and his family are inspiring. What’s more inspiring is reading the story of redemption and Gods faithfulness of a fellow brother in Christ and fellow law enforcement officer. I’m inspired by Bill and his story and how his faith has impacted his work and family. Highly recommended.

[Lauren Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was going to be a 5ish star until I reached the last chapter. Without giving things away, he seemed to attack the newspaper for their story and in telling his side of it, it changed my opinion of the book and of him. If you don't agree with a story but don't use your last chapter to attack the news media. As many people that would buy the book also read print media.

[Andrew Laub · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.3/10