slider728 reviewed Excellent Account of An Unsung Hero in Law Enforcement on 2/12/2009 + 44 more book reviews

In any civilized society, most individuals play a productive part in that society. Some people have a greater impact on society than others. However, sometimes it is easy to forget about the sacrifices one makes, especially when their sacrifices are as transparent as with the life of an undercover law enforcement officer.

Under and Alone is an excellent story about an undercover BATF agent named Billy Queen. Agent Queen, a Vietnam Veteran and a motorcycle enthusiast, has the opportunity to go undercover to try and infiltrate the Mongol Motorcycle gang. Agent Queen does so under the alias Billy St. John. The book is an excellent account of the operation from the planning steps right through the trials of the various motorcycle gang members. Agent Queen does a great job telling the story of the tense moments being introduced to the gang by a confidential informant, the harrowing months as a probationary member of the gang, the triumph of becoming a "full patch" member of the gang, and finally the mixed emotions of testifying against his friends in the gang. However, what I think made the book special was the glimpse it offers the public of the sacrifices law enforcement officers make. The life of Billy St. John/Agent Queen was at the mercy of the gang. When the gang said they were going to a rally, that meant Agent Queen went as well. In the end, this meant too much time away from his family. When he was with this kids, he wasn't the clean cut Agent Queen, he was the filthy biker Billy St. John.

Before I picked up this book, I really expected an action packed true crime story. I was quite surprised at the emotions involved in this story. The writing in this book is quite excellent. Agent Queen was able to write the story so that you felt the same highs and the crushing blows that Queen/St. John felt. The book was a easy read that I had a hard time putting down.

One of the great things I liked about the book is the fact that Agent Queen did not paint the Mongols as the scum of the earth. There were some that were portrayed in quite the negative light, but for the most part, he portrayed the Mongols as good people who walked on the opposite side of the law than he did. These men and women that he rode with were his friends. This is evidenced in a scene in the book where Agent Queen's mother dies. The reactions of the Mongols and fellow ATF agents shocked me.

I found the ending of the book quite anticlimactic. I do not fault Agent Queen with this. It is just sometimes the truth isn't that exciting.


If you want a great story about life as a law enforcement officer or you want to see the inside of a Motorcycle Gang, this is the book for you. Overall, I have to say this is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

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