This is an older case/story that’s been dusted off and updated and brought back for our reading pleasure. Originally published under a slightly different title, it relates a big case involving undercover ‘hippy cop’ Martyn Pritchard and the largest UK drug case. Follow along with Martyn as he’s transferred into the drug squad (DS) and learns the ropes of being an undercover copper, learning how to set up drug cases, gain the trust of informants, and figure out their motives for giving information. Their reason can be very important, as you’ll learn in the book.
Tricks of the Trade-- the undercover cops would stop getting hair cuts and being freshly shaved, and dress in their casual clothes, usually jeans and shirts...the more rumpled and worn, the better. Usually with a touch of patchouli for scent. They stopped smoking store-bought cigarettes and learned to roll their own, because that’s the kind of environment they were going into.

They managed to get themselves into and out of many crazy situations while they worked undercover, but were proud of the work they did and the many cases that they were responsible for making, including the famous one in this book that was record-breaking. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, authors Eddie Laxton & Martyn Pritchard, and the publisher for my fair review.

Mirror Books
Pub: Sept. 5th, 2018

The author definitely knows how to draw the reader in right from the beginning! A fascinating true crime story that I, to be honest, had not even heard of before getting this book. A bit long and repetitive at times but definitely worth the read.

Busted is an interesting tale of one policeman's time on the Drugs Squad in the 1970s when things were so much different from today.

Working undercover some of the stories are funny, others are scary and you wouldn't have wanted to swap roles.

The co author is an reporter and his contribution helps with the historical setting.

Overall an interesting read