Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Well written and detailed account of many undercover operations and the transition of an officer from being a newbie and attending the training academy through to the end of his policing career. The second part included an accounting of the abuse of authority by senior officers subsequent to the narrator's work as an undercover agent.
The narrative as a whole is told chronologically and flows seamlessly from one situation to the next. Very organized and detailed sections help the reader follow and understand how this officer's career was stopped cold as the result of suspicions that were completely unsubstantiated and never proven. A conspiracy set in motion because of an anonymous letter to a paper, for which the author of said letter was never identified, but for which resulted in the ruination a career and an officer's good health based on an unproven, unsubstantiated suspicion.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book to read and review the. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I love true crime books and this one certainly did not disappoint. From the perspective of someone right in the thick of investigating some of the worst crimes imaginable, there is so much information in this book that even the most details-focused reader will come away satisfied. Football hooliganism is so shocking and alien to most of us that the insight offered through this book almost seems like fiction, except the authors put so much analysis into the text that you must keep reading.

4.5 rounded to 5

This was really a interesting memoir about an undercover police officer who was failed by the higher ups within the police and the cover up that ensued.

It talks about how Freemasonry affects the police force and the lengths at which some officers are bullied out or bullied into silence.

Even implies that the Masons encouraged the cover up of the Hillsborough Disaster.

A powerful insight to undercover police work. Then the failings of gmp and how the Mason Lodge undermined the chain of command, affecting the career and mental health of one individual. Not that one person adversely affected is acceptable. His long and arduous battle against discrimination and bias. How it affects not just the individual but their wider family members. Corrupt silence is Just as bad as the original offence. I wish Gary and his family every happiness and success in the future.

I quite enjoyed this book especially the first part about the authors experience of undercover work. I have great sympathy for the challenges he went through both in terms of getting what he deserved and highlighting the way he was treated and recovering his reputation, however the second half of the book rather dragged. I do not work for the police and have little knowledge of the procedures however I feel that the detail given is too much, I understand that this book is cathartic and that the author has done much for the public through his policing, but the second half could have been more concise. I enjoyed the last part with the happy ending and I wish the author the best of luck. A good read, but a little dry in places.

This is the story of Garry Rogers, an undercover police officer whose career was cut short by corruption within the service.
It’s a very matter of fact account but it is clear how deeply his mistreatment has cut and the toll it has taken on his mental health and marriage.
It is to Rogers’ credit that he was prepared to take on the brotherhood and fight his corner. Time and time again he had to challenge others’ accounts.
It is essentially the story of a life and how a few people who’ve got it in for you can effectively derail it.
It’s also a revelation if you believe that organisations such as the police force act morally and in the best interests of their employees!
Recommended for those who enjoy a personal account, passionately told and documented in detail.

Undercover Policing and the Corrupt Society Within is an excellent book by Keith Potter and former top undercover Policeman Garry Rogers. Despite coming from a rough part of Salford Garry's ambition is to join the Police,something he does at the age of 16 as a cadet. As his career progresses Garry becomes an Undercover Policeman , putting himself at great risk infiltrating football hooligan groups and gangs of violent robbers and drug dealers, some of them the kind of people not afraid to try to track down Undercover Officers to get revenge. Garry enjoys his job and hoovers up commendations for his bravery and dedication. Everything changes when his Boss,and mentor ,moves on and is replaced by an Officer who very soon proves to be a dirty Cop., and who very obviously has a big issue with Garry.
Frozen out of his job Garry begins a downward spiral as he's sidelined and his mental health declines rapidly. Determined to find out why he's being treated as a pariah Garry unearths evidence of all kinds of machinations and a personal vendetta against himself.
The second half of the book is about Garry's attempts to find out why he was subjected to such treatment ,including the blocking of commendations and the Queen's Police Medal that he was told he'd get.. Just as frustrating are his attempts to get the Authorities to investigate the case and actually do something about the situation , his frustrating dealings with a supposed top lawyer and ever-worsening mental health.
To say more would be to give too much of the book away but it's the story of a good man whose life was almost destroyed because the Police would rather throw him to the wolves than admit what they'd let go on and virtually covered up, a lesser man would have kept quiet and walked away.
This is a great book and a real eye-opener , not least as it exposes the perils of "Whistle blowing" ,even when what is being exposed is criminal and corrupt conduct by those tasked with upholding the law..
I'd really love to read another book by Garry,a more detailed account of the Undercover exploits he briefly tells of here.
A very well-written book by a man who wouldn't be fobbed off despite the indifference of those supposedly monitoring the Police, attempted cover-ups and slurs on his character. It's not a spoiler to say that he does eventually find out why certain people wanted him out of the way.. Another great True Crime book from Pen and Sword.

Thanks to Garry Rogers,Keith Potter, Pen and Sword True Crime and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.