Special Agent

by Candice Delong

A retired FBI agent reveals the dangers and rewards of being a woman on the front lines of the world's most powerful law enforcement agency.

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

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 2001

Reviews

[Bill Kerwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, gotta confess. I'm addicted to true crime shows, I love the ID Network's "Deadly Women"--at least I loved it before the soap opera addicts took over the production--and I just had to get me some more Candice DeLong.

In her brief interviews on "Deadly Women", DeLong impressed me as a smart, strong woman with a realistic assessment of (and a withering contempt for) most killers, yet who can still recognize the few instances when relatively normal individuals may--through cicumstances and personal weakness--be hurtled into a maelstron of violent crime.

"Special Agent" is her "as-told-to" account of her experiences as an FBI agent from the '80's through her retirement in 2000. It is a competent job that often succeeds in capturing the personality of this determined woman who is nevertheless frank about her mistakes and possesses a healthy sense of humor.

The book begins with an absorbing account of her previous career as a head nurse in a psychiatric ward, where she began to develop her insights into the murderous mind. The account of her early years in the Bureau is also interesting, for it shows her confronting male chauvinism and sex discrimination in a matter-of-fact way that earns her the respect of her colleagues. The best part of the book, however, is the description of her education as a profiler and her involvement in various murder investigations that allow her to demonstrate this skill.

I did not, however, find all of the book equally interesting. It is by its nature episodic and it deals with a number of cases--the original Tylenol murders, FALN terrorists, the Unabomber--that are not of particular interest to me. Also, the passages involving her personal life are, although winningly frank and sincere, not always successfully integrated into the larger narrative, and the book ends with a dry treatise of cautionary advice for parents and children that appears to be cobbled from a previous series of lectures and should more properly be presented in an appendix.

I enjoyed the book, and I believe that, provided you are interested in strong women--and murder--you will enjoy it as well. You might want to skim a few chapters, though.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly felt like it was catered to me. I love learning about the BAU, true crime, watching Criminal Minds, Mindhunter, etc., but I'd always wondered how agents can be so level-headed and confident in catching these criminals. I'd also especially been curious about how women did this, with that added layer of doubt from their peers.

This book provided incredible insight from a heroic woman (one of many over the years), who was able to overcome all of this and pursue a highly successful career in the FBI. Not only does it detail exhilarating cases, it provides solid commentary on sexism in all aspects of life, not just within law enforcement. Despite having been published in 2002, Candice DeLong's observations and experiences reign true to this day (unfortunately...). I admired her outlook throughout all this though, recognizing that she was being discriminated against, but being rational enough to deal with it in beneficial ways rather than just complaining.

Another aspect of this book that I truly appreciated was the safety advice it provides. It details statistics and reasoning on how to best handle certain situations, but still communicates the most effective solution: prevention. It reminds women to live cautiously, for one "insignificant" mistake could cost you your life.

Overall, I loved hearing from DeLong's perspective, about her time in law-enforcement, but also about her life and outlook on it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been on a non-fiction kick lately and this was the latest in my to-read pile.

Some memoirs are disorganized and boring (Bossypants) but some are eloquent, detailed, exciting, and keep me turning the page. This one fits the latter to a T.

Ms. Delong's story is not so amazing that you put her on a pedestal to ooh and aah over. Instead, her normal upbringing, matter-of-fact relay of the events in her life, and subtle humorous comments, make you feel that you know her like a good friend.

I admire the strength she had to overcome the struggles she went through being in one of the first waves of female agents the FBI hired. She describes the obstacles not as major hurdles in her life, but instead as everyday, petty troubles like I'm sure they were not. Regardless, she allows the reader to feel that anyone can deal with such trifles and they should.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Balanced, appealing overview of a lady agent working for the FBI from 1980-2000 when there were few female agents. Her background as a psychiatric nurse adds a different and colorful perspective to her law enforcement profession. Interesting chapter on her involvement in the investigation and arrest of the Unabomber. Her story also as a single mom of a son gives a decidedly human side to the book. I also liked her humor and funny stories. Enjoyable read.

[Amanda]

I enjoyed this book. Felt like reading a real life story of the show Criminal Minds.

[Kristina Skinner · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very interesting to hear the author’s account of a woman in the FBI. She broke through several barriers and made a huge impact. Her cases were a shocking look into the reality of agents. It may be slightly outdated compared to the FBI currently. The language and details were troubling, but accurate to the field of work. It’s hard to sugar-coat criminality.

[Sheridan Fanelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Does it hurt to give it a 3 star? Yes because I think Candice is the shit. I found it interesting, inspiring, yet surprisingly normal and even mundane in the daily life aspect of things. I expected to be immersed in some more action packed cases though I found it important to be hearing about the domestic side of her life while her career was unfolding. Not every day is going to be a thrill ride but I sort of want it to be.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting but more importantly i hope this is an acceptable biography for my leadership paper source 😭

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved! What a delight. She's such a badass (her reading her own audiobook...book alone may have been more boring)

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a recommendation from one of our local librarians, and I liked it a lot. I only gave it four stars because it was a surface read; lots of general information about both the author's life and the FBI without going into detail (I like detail). I probably shouldn't have expected any significant detail with respect to the FBI (and I understand why), but even so I think it could have gone deeper without giving away anything.

[T.M. Carper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by a female former FBI special agent, it's a eye-opening glimpse into what life in the FBI is really like. DeLong's voice keeps the story moving and far from dull. She also touches on some famous cases she worked on.

[Petra wonders if AI going to kill search engines? · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. For anyone wanting a life of adventure and danger, this would appear to be it.

[Justin B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gelesen in der deutschen Sprache. Ein Arbeitskolleg hat mir das Buch geliehen, weil ich aus Amerika stamme, und er wollte wissen, was ich davon halte. Ein Fall spielte sogar zum Teil in meiner Heimat aus - der des Unabombers. Bevor ich das Buch gelesen habe, muss ich gestehen, dass ich nich wusste, dass der Typ schon längst erfasst wurde. Eigentlich war das Buch grausam und fürchteregend. Es ist nicht zu fassen wie viele kranke Menschen es in der Welt gibt, die brutalste Handlungen gegen ihre Mitmenschen begehen. Ich kann es kaum glauben. Es stellt sich die Frage: Wieso sind die US-Amerikaner eigentlich so verdammt gewaltgeil?

I read this in German. A colleague of mein lent it to me because I come from the States and he wanted to know what I think. One case played out partially in my hometown - the one with the Unabomber. Before reading the book, I have to admit, I didn't even know that the guy had already been caught a long time ago. The book was horrible and frightening. It is hard to believe how many sick people live in our world, who are prepared to do the most brutal things to their fellow humans. I could hardly believe it. It begs the question: Why do Americans actually love violence so much?

[Grada (BoekenTrol) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why would I rate a book that was once on my wishlist a meager 6/10 stars? The book, a memoir, with a (sub)title that suggests a lot of interesting stories about the career of a woman in the FBI, back in the days when women were a minority in that organization.

Well, there are a few reasons.
First of all it didn't really feel like a memoir. Despite Candice telling her story in the first person and bringing in a few morsels of her personal life, it was more a book about (types of) cases she worked as an agent.
The second reason follows from that. She writes she has encountered difficulties due to her being female, but apart from some superficial remarks and general descriptions, I don't feel in het words that she's had tough times as a result of it. Too bad, because that was what the book was all about. At least I thought so.

And lastly, from time to time the book was very patronizing. Especially in the last chapter. Won't give away spoilers, but had my son still been a small child, that would have got me fuming.

So all in all: interesting cases, but not such a great book. I wonder if the approval by the Bureau made it this bland?

[Constance Nicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a solid 5/5 for me until the last chapter. The story was well told and absolutely captivating...that is until the last chapter. Chapter 17 came across as a self righteous PSA that didn’t fit with the rest of the story. Chapter 16 ends with the tale of SA DeLong’s experience with the UNABomber. You would think that the end of the book would talk about her transition into retirement and what she’s doing now, instead it becomes a “Here’s what to do if you are getting raped” guide that derails the storyline. It didn’t fit the book. Up until then I was loving her voice as an author and I still respect everything SA did in her career but I can’t give this book as a whole 5 stars. However if you only read through chapter 16 then definitely 5/5.

[M. Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really interesting and informative read. It gave a detailed, well-presented look into the process of becoming a Special Agent, the inner workings and culture of the FBI, and specifically some of the difficulties women experienced towards the beginning of their entrance into Special Agent circles and perhaps still today. I never lost interest; Candice DeLong certainly had a remarkable career and it was fascinating and chilling to read about the details of so many cases she was involved with. Her stories about both her professional and personal life also added needed bits of humor and lightness to cut the darkness of the cases she describes. Her account has definitely provided me with much food for thought as I consider a career in forensic science!

[Brenna Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have found Candice Delong through her podcast, Killer Psyche, and as soon as I realized she wrote a book, I purchased it. It took me a long time to finish this book but only because I am more of a fictional reader. This book was so very good, but the very last chapter, The Shark Fence, was probably the most important chapter I have ever read. As a woman, as a mother...I feel the information in this last chapter was pertinent to living a safe life. I wish this last chapter was its own pull away book that I could pass out to all the people I know. Regardless if you are female or a parent the information is so important...as she says "...it is up to us as citizens, as a society...to decide who should be swimming freely in our midst."

[Lynxie Brat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the Reader's Digest Nonfiction Best Sellers version of this book. What I read, I pretty much liked...though like others have mentioned I was disappointed that there wasn't more detail on the cases she assisted/solved...but that's ok. I plan on reading the unabridged version as soon as I can...though it will be a bit tough since my local library doesn't have it and I don't have a job at the moment.

Anyways...I can't remember what show it was, but it was some true crime show that I 1st saw Candice Delong several years ago. I liked her personality; professional, concise, compassionate, but tough too.

[Tiffany Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every woman must read this book! I can’t say enough good things about this author. I’ve devoured both of her podcasts and find her so intriguing with the amount of courage and intelligence she has gained after navigating her two professions. She is so admirable, so interesting, a great storyteller and a downright icon for women! I am so impressed with all the sexism and bullying she endured as a female FBI agent. Some of the stories are repeats from her podcast, but in greater detail in the book so I didn’t mind learning it then again. My favorite part was the ending with her real world allocations for protecting yourself and her advice for how NOT to become a victim.

[Ampersand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to be an FBI agent when I grow up. Agent Delong painted a clear expectation of what being an agent and it’s not all sunshine, rainbows, and catching bad guys. This was a realistic introduction into what it takes to gain the skillset of catching the bad guys without it seeming like it is impossible to learn, especially as a woman. I’m grateful of how she showed her growth and even her mistakes throughout her career. At the end she wrote 4 pages on a run down of what you need to do as a woman to be able to protect yourself from terrible people and how to have your children be protected. Overall I may just read it again for the inspiration. 10/10

[Lora Shouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Special Agent author Candice DeLong tells some stories from her years as one of the first female FBI agents. She also adds a few stories from her time as a psychiatric nurse, the job she held before joining the FBI.

Some of the stories are exciting, a few are funny, and many are not what you would expect – for example, the hunt for the Unabomber. All are interesting, however.

Note that this is an abridged version of the book.

The book was read by the author, who did a credible job.

I found this book on Scribd.

[Janiera A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I brought this book after enjoying Delong's shows Deadly Women and Facing Evil. I really liked her strong personality and wanted to know more about her time in the FBI. The book was a fast paced read that didn't come across as your typical boring memoir. Toward the end of the book things were being repeated which did slow down the pace of the book and I found myself scanning certain parts. (that is my only reason for 4 stars).

The book contains a lot of good information that you can use when trying NOT to become a victim. However, Delong does not come across as a no-it-all. She also talks about her most difficult moments against the Good-ol-Boy network with sass and relatable laughs. She is someone I would really like to meet and chat with because her experience is a true crime lovers dream come true. If you like Deadly Women then you'll find this 10x more fascinating.

[Bonnie Kernene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Candice Delong and her time in the FBI. I got this book because I have seen her on several TV shows and enjoy listening to her. This book was no disappointment. I really enjoyed this book, with her tales of criminal cases and how they were solved. She also threw in some personal history as well, letting the reader get to know her on a personal level as well. It was an easy and fun read and I do recommend it to those who like biographies and those who like true crime.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent look at the developing roll of women in the FBI and law enforcement. Exciting and informative, Candice's Story covers many areas of crime - including terrorists, drug, mafia, abductions, and sex crimes. Her story is fascinating! She also devotes much of her book and the last chapter in particular to educating women how to protect themselves and parents how to protect their children from victimization. Detailed account of the Unabomber also.

Biography
Women

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's a woman who has SUFFERED. The patriarchy in all its cruel forms. But she rose above it and then became one of the most relevant figures in true crime there is. I saw her on Dr. Phil and some murderous women show on Netflix (can't remember the title) and her compassionate blue eyes that have still seen so much always get me. Her writing is engaging, her stories are unique, you just have to love her story and her as a person!

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I was inspired to read it as I've seen Candace DeLong on Deadly Women and enjoy her insights and candor on the show. I was surprised by the interesting details about what it was like to be a woman in the FBI and how it changed throughout and beyond Candace's career there.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the abridged audiobook (about 6 hours) where she recounts what life was like as a female FBI agent in the 80’s. I especially enjoyed her discussion of early character profiling that the FBI developed (think Mindhunter TV show) as well as her experience tracking and catching the unabomber.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this author’s journey, breaking gender barrier’s, a woman leading the way. The cases she gets involved in take a toll, and I appreciated her honesty. Not a huge biography reader, but this was interesting and written in a way I found enjoyable.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

She did a show on Investigate/Discovery, so I figured her book might be interesting. Sure enough, it was. Quite a remarkable career - from psychiatric ward nurse to FBI profiler, and among the first women who became FBI special agents.

[Sarah Foad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool short read from the perspective of a badass female FBI agent. She talks about her efforts to combat toxic masculinity at work and the incredible crime fighting she did in 20 years in law enforcement.