Dancing with the Devil: Confessions of an Undercover Agent

by Louis Diaz

IN AMERICAN GANGSTER , THE FEDS TOOK DOWN INFAMOUS HEROIN DEALER FRANK LUCAS. BUT THE KINGPIN BEHIND LUCAS’S CRIMINAL REIGN, LEROY “NICKY” BARNES, REMAINED “MR. UNTOUCHABLE.” UNTIL ONE UNDERCOVER AGENT PROVED TOUGH ENOUGH—OR CRAZY ENOUGH—TO INFILTRATE HIS DOMAIN AND NAIL THE MOST DANGEROUS DRUG CZAR IN AMERICAN HISTORY.Growing up in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where physical violence was a daily reality at home, at school, and on the streets, Louis Diaz had what it took to survive—and to one day become what he vowed to a man of uncompromising principles who is “compassionate on the inside, fierce on the outside.” These were the qualities, along with his street fighter’s steely nerves and hair-trigger temper, that drove Diaz from his savage beginnings and early forays in organized crime to become one of the DEA’s bravest undercover agents—the man who was instrumental in tak­ing down some of the nation’s and the world’s most notorious crime rings.In an unforgettable and utterly engaging first-person narrative, Diaz tells his gritty, colorful, painful, and even humorous life story—a story with all the raw emotional power and bare-knuckle action of Wiseguy or Serpico . From his headline-making cases of Nicky Barnes and the Medellín cartel . . . to his account of outwitting a key villain linked to the record-breaking heist known as The Great English Train Robbery . . . to his all-out confrontations with murderous gunrunners and drug dealers on the mean streets of New York . . . to leading commando raids on clan-destine cocaine labs inside the Bolivian jungles, Dancing with the Devil is an explosive memoir that stands as a classic of true-crime literature.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 7, 2010

About the author

Louis Diaz was an American Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent who was largely responsible for the arrest and conviction of New York drug kingpin Nicky Barnes. He was also instrumental in dismantling "The Council," Barnes's drug trafficking organization. As an undercover agent, he also brought down members of the Medellin Cartel. Diaz was also an author and actor.

Reviews

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5, really. Diaz and his ghost writer wrote this in a bigger than life, hard boiled style that rubs me the wrong way. Diaz comes off as a holier than thou tough guy asshole with some serious personality problems and while I don't like to dog too much on law enforcement, probably should have never been given a gun and a badge. The author is obviously prejudiced against anyone that doesn't have his violent, adrenaline fueled point of view (unless you're a woman). He also obviously hates southerners and let's you know all about it - something I take great offense to.
Perhaps it's just that I disagree with the whole premise of our country's failed drug policy and implementation there of. Diaz seems to have had no problem going into a country not his own, and leading a squad to blindly fire into a drug lab, then waxing poetic in the next chapter about the sanctity of life. Is it smart policy to skirt another country's laws to try to enforce our own at the risk of the populations life and limb (and stolen property)?
Regardless of my views, this book was a pretty fast, easy and occasionally interesting read, however poor the narrative style, so there's that. On to something better I hope.....

[Eli Pollack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about an undercover agent. Although it touts bringing down Nicki Barnes (who, not from NYC, will know that name?) the book is much more than that. From NYC to LA to Bolivia Diaz was there.

How he got to be an undercover operative, his childhood and teen years were in many ways the most important part of the story. But it is hard not to be interested in drug dealers making hundreds of millions a month or year, back when that was real money.

Short read and very interesting but I'm not sure why I'd recommend it as the writing is OK and I surely didn't feel uplifted by the narrative. I read it after a friend said Diaz was his little league baseball coach.

[Ian Hallam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read and a very detailed account of Louis Diaz from his youth through college, Army and then to become firstly a ATF agent and then in later years transferring to the DEA. Finally after a long career as an undercover agent he carved another career as an actor.
The book is very detailed and pulls the reader along so you can find the outcome of one of his undercover assignments or other recollections he makes.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was honestly pretty good- much more engaging than I thought it would be. Wasn’t a big fan of the writing style, but the stories made up for it

[Lynn Learie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had seen. a documentary on this drug heist, so was interested in reading the book. Found the book to be
more about the lead character filling his boots. Let’s say. documentary was far better.

[Elizabeth Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't a 5 star purely because of personal opinions that shouldn't really matter.
This book was great - thought some things seem a little far fetched.
There were spots that I would get bored in and would skim through but it would pick right back up.
I enjoyed his dry humor and how he described most things as a synonym to ejaculation.
Though once the end happened and it was about his acting career I lost interest.
I don't want to spoil anything, but I did get sad towards the end.

Either way - this was a good book and I would definitely recommend it.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was decent. A quick read, and very interesting watching everything unfold during the agent's undercover stints, but the book should have ended after the gigantic operation. I appreciate them sticking to the timeline, but it ended on a rather anticlimactic note..

[Anthony Marra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have much to say but one of the best True crimes books

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

For someone aspiring to join federal law enforcement, this shed a little light on the job. Not a bad read. Quick.

[Ko · Rating 4 out of 5]

If u enjoy books about undercover work this is a very good read.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. I felt it kind of dragged on a bit and it was easier for me to read fast, but I find I haven't really retained much other than the ending.

[Julie Euber]

Author was on Snap Judgement

[Dustin O'Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy read. I was captivated from the beginning.

[MaryAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book club selection - not one I would pick otherwise.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one brave man. I'm not sure how he will adjust to life without all his 'adventures'. While reading the book, all I kept thinking is "what does his wife think about the work he does?".

[Scollina]

Another vacation book in the pile.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have been 3.5 if option was there. Not bad, quick read.

[Erin pelerine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read... Nothing new.

[Maha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some things in this book were so hard to believe that it felt more like a really fun collection of action-packed short stories than a serious description of one man's very real experiences. It is still a good book and an interesting read.