This book was fascinating, but I think the subtitle needs some re-work. It's titled as though it's focusing on Scott infiltrating the white supremacist group, but more than half the book is about he life before that. I think context is great, but the balance felt off to me.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Scott Payne and Michelle Shephard’s riveting book Codename: Pale Horse: How I went Undercover to Expose America’s Nazis. The book is told primarily through Payne’s perspective as he goes undercover to expose members of The Base, an accelerationist white supremacy group that has gained some traction since the 2016 election of Donald Trump. I previously listened to Shephard’s podcast White Hot Hate about the Canadian connection to The Base, not realizing that Shephard was also the co-writer of this book. She also just released season 2 of her podcast, which will focus on Payne’s undercover work. As she notes in the podcast, Payne wasn’t able to tell his story until he retired, and the book details some of the cases that took their physical, psychological and emotional toll on Payne, eventually leading to his retirement. While this book doesn’t exclusively deal with the investigation and arrest of the members of The Base, Payne and Shephard provide some background into other cases that show the risks and challenges Payne face in dealing with other extremists and criminals. The book starts out with an Payne’s initial meeting in person with members of the Georgia cell of The Base, which was the closest cell to Payne, who lived in Tennessee at the time. I was drawn in by this chapter, since I have read (and listened to podcasts) about this group. Not that I’m looking to understand their motivations, there’s no way to understand hatred and racism, but it seems like these groups have both become more emboldened and yet remain on the peripheries of our society. In another book I’m reading about extremism, the author described these groups as like the descendants of Timothy McVeigh—people who ultimately want to bring about the destruction of America. As Payne notes, technology and social media have helped to facilitate an easier means of communicating and finding shared communities, but it also brings about the kind of operational security issues that allowed Payne and others like journalists to infiltrate these groups. I loved reading Payne’s descriptions and considerations about how to overcome these kinds of barriers, and even if they are deceptive, I can tell that Payne is fighting for a good cause and looking to protect society. He shares some of the terrifyingly violent and destructive messages that the members promoted about attacking perceived enemies and destroying infrastructure like water supplies or power grids. These are guys (and they are primarily guys) who are not just playing around. Furthermore, I found it disgusting how they revered people like Dylann Roof and Anders Breivik. Sadly certain forums and people who advocate for absolutism in first amendment allow this kind of false and dangerous worship. It was really shocking to read about how these members venerate racially motivated murderers. Payne’s book not only presents an exciting story while also detailing the dangers he encounters in collecting evidence and building his case against these members, but he also highlights the continued threat that these groups present.
As I mentioned, the book starts out with meeting the members of the base after some initial online recruiting and interviews. However, the book then goes back to detail Payne’s early life growing up in South Carolina. He comes from a caring and musical family, which aids his undercover work as a white supremacist member of the Ku Klux Klan later on. I was really surprised at the kind of trouble he got in during high school. It wasn’t malicious, but it definitely didn’t seem like someone who was bound for work in law enforcement. If anything, it made Payne seem more relatable. He has a funny story, though, about his early undercover work for one of the administrators at his school. Throughout the book, Payne has this kind of easy-going and jokey type tone that made the book both relatable, but it also showed how his personality probably allowed him to manage some of these stressful situations. One weird story was about how as a teen, he started listening to a band called Grim Reaper. I never heard of them and I thought it was a cool band name. Then he mentioned how he started to get more into Satanism, watching horror movies, which eventually led to him seeing a demon. It was a little weird. I don’t doubt his belief in what he saw, but from what I saw, the band Grim Reaper was not really that Satanic. It was just a weird story that stuck out to me. Scott eventually gets into law enforcement, which eventually leads to working in the FBI and working undercover. His burly appearance led to cases infiltrating the Outlaws biker gang. I honestly felt like this was the most exciting and stressful case he experienced. These guys were violent, into drugs, human trafficking, and other crimes. Scott doesn’t divulge too many operational details, but he does mention not cheating on his wife, despite opportunities, and not taking drugs. It was amazing to see his thinking and responses when he’s pushed to engage in criminal and dangerous activity. Another case has him infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan, and this one wasn’t as exciting, but it was interesting, especially since it helps to contextualize his later work with the more extreme accelerationist groups like The Base.
Despite being more extreme, Payne does paint the Base members as being similarly inept and clumsy, and too eager to engage in violence that will hasten the collapse of society. There’s some pretty weird rituals he’s forced to engage in that celebrate the Nordic heritage of these white supremacist groups. If it wasn’t for a goat sacrifice and talk of a white ethnostate, it would seem like just a bunch of weird guys who are hanging out and getting messed up. I was also a little surprised to learn that these guys were taking acid during this ceremony, which really seemed antithetical to their causes and beliefs of violence and destruction. Most people I know who have taken acid are a little wild and unpredictable, but generally feel more empathetic and connected to others. I don’t doubt that Payne knows about drugs, but it seemed like these guys were more into meth and coke than hallucinogens. Regardless, Payne’s participation draws him closer to the group while their suspicions grow that there is a leaker or informant among them. Payne also is able to avert some potential violent incidents with his undercover work, possibly saving lives. I was actually surprised to learn that some of the members who were arrested before their attacks lived in Delaware and that the guy who started the Base was from NJ. Another member was arrested for vandalizing a synagogue in NJ. However, I saw a recent article about how NJ’s biggest threat is hate groups. This was really surprising to learn, but I think it also emphasizes some of the important lessons from Payne’s book. He details how many of the members of these groups have jobs, interact with others, and can sometimes lead mundane lives, but technology and platforms that tolerate these extremists with the argument of absolute free speech allow them to not only promote their disgusting hate, but also seek to recruit others and spread disinformation. Code Name: Pale Horse is a quick and compelling read about a growing threat in American society. Scott Payne’s narration and story (along with Michelle Shephard’s writing) make the facts more entertaining and exciting. Definitely a recommended book for fans of true crime and those who want to learn more about growing threat of extremists and hate groups in America.

(Thank you, Netgalley, for the copy. Appreciate the chance to preview.)

A good read. Told in a relatable way, by a relatable guy, narrated in a way that was engaging. For a pretty intense topic, the way that it was framed and told really helped keep it palatable. Some pretty raw parts throughout, but the telling of the incidents were tempered by person that Scott Payne was-- and evolved to have been/become.
A large portion of the book was leading up to what the cover and title proclaims it to be, but the entire journey was a very worthwhile read. Tons of things to learn and to have been able to see a bit of from him and some of the work done over the years.. along with the toll it takes and the investment good officers put in. and, those going the extra mile to try to ensure a better world.

Very well done, very informational, and very relatable. Much like a friend or relative sharing some of the amazing things he did his career.

Scott Payne spent a lot of his FBI career working undercover operations. He infiltrated groups such as the Outlaws motorcycle gang and the Base, a neo-Nazi group.

I really enjoyed this memoir. I will say that it was slightly different than what I expected going into it. The title and blurb led me to believe the book would focus on his time with the neo-Nazi group. I was interested to read more about this group and their depraved thoughts and perhaps insights into combating these mindsets. And while we got some of that, over half of the book was Payne’s history with other undercover operations.

I still really enjoyed the peek into a world most of us know nothing about and probably glamorize more than we should. I left the book feeling even more appreciative of the men and women who are willing to risk their lives in order to make the country a better place for all.

This book releases on March 25, 2025. A big thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was fine. As someone who reads a lot of memoirs, this one wasn't the greatest, but it could have been a lot worse. The tone is very casual, and it feels as if the (named) ghost writer really wanted it to feel like Payne was telling the story to the reader. The title is misleading, as it is about his biggest infiltrations into criminal gangs, and not just white supremacist groups. This was an extremely fast read, and if you're looking to learn at all about how white supremacist groups (or criminal gangs) run, you're not learning anything here. It's a memoir for the uncle who doesn't read.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Code Name: Pale Horse by Scott Payne is nothing like my usual fantasy escapes. Instead of whisking me away to magical worlds, it drags me straight into the harsh reality of today, forcing me to confront the vile ideologies still thriving around us. It’s a sobering reminder of the twisted belief some hold—that they’ve lost their claim to America or no longer belong in it. It’s infuriating and heartbreaking all at once.
As a biracial person, I can’t comprehend the idea that diversity weakens a country. I wasn’t raised to believe in the concept of racial purity because it’s fundamentally false. Scott Payne’s account left me in awe—not just because of his ability to convincingly infiltrate white supremacist circles but also because of the sheer endurance required to do so. The mental and physical toll of managing operations, teaching classes, maintaining a family, and working undercover is unfathomable.
Reading this gave me a greater appreciation for the work of FBI agents like Payne. His story offers a rare glimpse into the complex, often harrowing world of undercover operations and the resilience it demands. This book is both an eye-opener and a powerful reminder of the work being done to combat hatred from within.
Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC

A fascinating and authentically written look behind the curtain of both undercover law enforcement and secretive criminal enterprises. Having followed the news about some of these cases that hit close to home I was captivated by the details provided here about the humans involved. This book serves as both a highlight reel of a remarkable career and a stark warning of the dangers facing the country today.

4 stars.

The cover information for the book is a bit misleading in that this covers the highlights of Payne’s career to date, not just his time infiltrating a neo-Nazi group; that part is less than half the book and while it is very interesting, I enjoyed his time spent with the Outlaws biker club just as much.

As to the neo-Nazis, the group was called The Base and he was with their Georgia outlet. They are “accelerationists” which means they don’t believe in a political solution to any of their complaints because the political system/system of government is corrupt. Society will collapse either on its own or due to a man made event so they should attempt to speed up that chaos. The Base specifically thinks that after sparking a race war they will then be involved with creating a white ethnostate. How they are going to do that with so few members is beyond me….maybe they have a great, super-secret recruiting plan or something. However, this appears to be the new thing…according to the book in 2021 90% of white nationalist groups are accelerationists.

I found the book both interesting and entertaining. Payne is not some golden boy plucked from the Ivy League and recruited to the FBI…he worked as a regular cop before he got interested. I think lots of guys who don’t always love to read might like this book.

fascinating look at the life of a brave undercover agent who worked to stop groups of neo-nazi extremists. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I have always found the idea of being an undercover agent fascinating. In this book, Payne provides a fascinating look at the life of an undercover agent and the evolution it will be taking on. Overall, the book was well written and enjoyable memoir to read about a job that is fascinating to me.

I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fascinating true story. I really enjoyed the pacing and how the chapters were divided. Each chapter focused on a different time in his career leading up to some of the biggest moments of his undercover career. I found myself fully engrossed in this book despite the content being harrowing and eye opening. I’ll be recommending this one for years to come.