The Girl for the Job: My strange, dangerous and totally unexpected life as an undercover cop

by Danni Brooke

The Girl for the Job is an exciting, intriguing and at times jaw-dropping memoir perfect for fans of true crime and dramas like Line of Duty.

For over a decade Danni Brooke was one of the most effective female undercover cops in the UK, deployed up and down the country to catch criminals. Whether she was busting organized crime gangs, catching pedophiles or disrupting drug supply lines, Danni was prepared to infiltrate the most dangerous situations, putting her life on the line for the job she loved. And since she was one of the only women within this elite unit she became known as ‘The Girl for the Job’.

For the first time Danni is ready to lift the lid on her secret life as a covert officer. She joined the Met and was recruited as an undercover cop early in her career. Playing the role of dumb Essex girl, she was so successful at taking down criminals she was seconded to forces around the country. Her personal life was less successful – pregnant at twenty-one, she had a disastrous relationship with the father of her child and had to fight for custody. A traumatic second pregnancy later in her career caused her to reassess her priorities.

‘Going undercover isn’t for everyone,’ says Danni, thirty-eight. ‘My life was full of danger every day and I couldn’t tell my friends or family what I did for a living. My mum didn’t even know! There were definitely times I was in too deep but somehow I always got away with it. Now I’m prepared to share the secrets of my double life for the first time.’

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

304 pages, Hardcover

Published May 2, 2023

Reviews

[Sue Lipscombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this book down. Read it in 24 hours!
If you like true stories, police procedural, or the criminal underworld, then this is worth a read!

[Dave B · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't actually see what the point of the book is. The author spent very little time in the Police. Did some undercover work which was low level, and most cops have done similar levels and then she did office jobs. The rest of the book is about her failed relationships and working on a low budget TV programme. Really poor.

[Han Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and enjoyable

[Chelsey Pryce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an audiobook and thought it was a really interesting and insightful look into the world of an undercover police officer.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely right up my street! I love these type of books and this was no exception! Absolutely brilliant read. I just love real life stories of police and being written by a female this was great!

I really loved reading Danni's story from her career as an undercover police officer and how it came about. The things she had to do in order to get to UC and then the dreadful situations she had to put herself in over the years to secure an arrest! It was absolutely perfectly written, such a fantastic read. So interesting and I really enjoyed how she included snippets from her personal life as well including relationships and her children.

I didn't know she had been on Hunted, it's not something I ever watched and I don't know why because I'd probably love it. Must look it up. Looking forward to more from Danni. Now she is not an undercover police officer any longer but she has her own business with her partner involving cyber security on a large scale so give it a few years and she will be ready for the next book! Brilliant!

[phillip McCarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read

A gave this a 3 star rating. Although I enjoyed the book I felt it changed in the later pages of Danni's life. Her relationships, her family, her work it became a promotional campaign for her works. I agreed with the prolouge and accepted her arguments that UK drugs policy doesn't work.

[Mancman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off strongly, with a real fly on the wall feel. Lots of revelations about undercover work, with a real mixture of scary and humorous stories.
It faded a little towards the end, with a lot getting crammed into a few chapters and losing engagement for me.

[Claire Atherton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this after loving ‘The Governor’ by Vanessa Frake as I thought it would be a similar vibe. I did enjoy the stories that Danni went into about being an undercover police officer but it did drag on in parts. Still a very interesting read !

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this a very interesting read and I didn’t want to put it down. Found the last few chapters about the authors personal life slightly boring but overall a good book

[Book Clubber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second memoir by an undercover police officer that I've read in as many months. My first was Behind the Badge written by Nick Kaldas, an Australian police officer who rose through the ranks to become a Deputy Commissioner and lead investigator in the Middle East. This one is by a woman from the UK. It charts her career from police recruit to undercover cop, then TV celebrity on the program Hunted, followed by private investigator and cyber spy. There was more in the book about Danni Brooke's personal relationships and experience of motherhood than I expected, which wasn't what I was here for but didn't dilute the story for me.
While I was able to put this book down without feeling any separation anxiety, I did look forward to returning to it each night, finishing it in just a few days.
Brooke's collection of stories from her time as a covert officer, infiltrating drug rings and crime gangs and catching pedophiles, was fascinating, shocking and, at times, even entertaining.
An easy read and illuminating insight into the life of a woman in pursuit of dangerous criminals.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't particular impressed by this book, even though I can see that others were. The focus was on buying drugs, pretending to be a prostitute/school girl and the rest on Danni's three main relationships, with these aspects being the basis for the whole story.

I imagine it was scary buying drugs and working in that world but after a while I felt like Danni herself did at the end of the book - another day, another drug buy, is this all there is?

There was some degree of redemption for the story as Danni began to realise that simply taking one drug supplier off the street is rather pointless, and can ruin the lives of those that are at the most desperate or unfortunate end of drug supply, while the big guys get away with it all.

I was also less than impressed by the second unplanned pregnancy - one is fair enough, but some serious negligence must have been going on for it to happen again.

Just not for me I guess.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid fan of 'Hunted,' I was eager to read Danni Brooke's memoir. It does not disappoint!

This book offers a captivating and in-depth look into covert police operations, providing a nuanced depiction of the complex strategies and daring actions required in high-stakes situations. Through vivid and compelling storytelling, Brooke adeptly conveys the challenges and perils of infiltrating gangs and manoeuvring through the intricate web of undercover work.

Moreover, the book thoughtfully explores the profound impact of these intense and secretive operations on the personal lives of those involved, shining a light on the sacrifices and hardships endured by those committed to this dangerous line of work. A well-deserved five-star read.

A highly recommended read for anyone looking for an engaging and interesting non-fiction read!

[Grace French · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has spent most of her life living a sheltered life in a rural community, it was enlightening to read about the life of an inner-city police officer, and about the lives of the people she encountered in that environment, without the filter of fictional prose to soften the edges.

[Nat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off promising. The story of a young girl, accepted into the cops and tapped on the shoulder for undercover work.

Ultimately her cop career was relatively short and also relatively uneventful. Her experiences on the TV shoe Hunted might have been worth expanding.

I give it a 2.5 ⭐️

[Marthe De Haan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting read, not just about her undercover work but also about juggling work with being a mother, following your heart even if it leads you to unexpected places and jumping at new and unexpected career opportunities.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book. You get to see what undercover police work is like “across the pond” as Europe says.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

First 3/4 was a bit interesting but nothing to exciting but the last 1/4 was about a tv show I’ve never heard of. I listened to this as an audio book, so was good enough as company on a walk.

[Abigail Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really interesting insights but a bit repetitive at times.

[Sally Hynes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn’t finish this, wasn’t a bit of me and normally love this type of book. Wasn’t written well

[Rebecca Fowkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book, I couldn't put it down and read it within a day. Definitely recommend reading it.

[Daniil Lanovyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed learning about the profession I had no clue about.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

My book selections for this years reading challenge have been average at best.
This is another one of those I’m afraid. Boring in places and drawn out. Listened as an audio book.

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me interested.

[Nicola Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this I actually did it on audio and I find this world very interesting .. if you like crime then it is maybe for you

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this book - all her stories were so interesting and gripping

[Cerys Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. So interesting to learn about the author.

[Emily Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this one as an audio book. Great narrator and really enjoyed the stories ! Worth a listen if you love real life crime type stories

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit disappointing. Started really well but I wasn’t looking for an autobiography and would have enjoyed a couple more stories of her time undercover rather than politics and her family.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25. Really interesting!