Very Special Agents

This is the first book written by an insider to tell the whole truth without self-protection, coverup, anger, or revenge. It's the firsr book to give a true and honest picture of ATF and, indeed, the larger federal law enforcement community. The facts are conveyed via exciting accounts of real cases and events within this agency, all documented thoroughly with a huge appendix giving sources.

While I've read reviews claiming this book is not well researched, anyone considering this purchase should know that 60 of its 384 pages consist of appendices documenting sources for everything stated by its author. It should be obvious that those dissing the book are probably gunlovers who simply don't like what the author says and proves. I'm an NRA member and a little truth doesn't bother me. I support the 2nd Amendment but I've also known gunlovers who happened to be idiots! Other than that, I found it the most objective treatment of federal law enforcement I've ever read -- including the turf wars between ATF and ther FBI which, frankly, make me sick. Exciting too. As for giving ATF too much praise, this is silly. The author details crimes committed by some ATF agents and illustrates how, for a long period of time, there was gross incompetence at the very highest levels of its management. But if facts frighten you, skip this one.

How many times have True Crime fans read a book where the FBI agent saves the nation from evil? Many books are writen by former G-Men who only speak of the great deeds their agencies have accomplished. This is what separates Mr. Moore's book from all the rest. He is not ashamed to admit that the agency he devoted his life to is an agency with its problems. He does not hide this from the reader. He supports the investigative stories with facts. Facts which are readily available to anyone wishing to take the time to write to Washington D.C. and request such documents via the Freedom of Information Act. What he informs the reader is the very truth which strong supporters of the NRA and FBI will choose not to believe. The NRA would rather have the American public believe that the ATF is nothing but a bunch of trigger happy "Jack Booted Thugs" who love to violate the Civil Rights of the citizens in this country. The ATF is a very small agency compared to the FBI and other federal agencies. The federal laws they are sworn to uphold place these agents in great physical harm everyday. Yet the NRA would want the public to believe that they are out to take away every citizens firearm. They do not make the laws, they enforce them. If the public has a problem with the laws they enforce, write to their congressperson. But they choose to blame the very agents who protect society from the ills of firearm traffickers, arsonist and bombings. Mr. Moore places the reader right there with the ATF agent when they are conducting undercover operations or digging up the remains of the people who perished in the Oklahoma City Bombing. This is a novel which applauds the great deeds of the ATF yet acknowleges it has its internal problems. It troubles me that others who choose to review this novel stated that it was poorly writen. It is extremely well written and perhaps those "reviewers" did not want to acknowledge the significant investigations that ATF has conducted. I strongly recommend this book to everyone interested in finding out about this agency which has been around for so very long. It is sad that the name ATF only came to surface when the raid in Waco made this agency a household word. Read the book, but keep an open mind when doing so. I do not think the authors intention is to have the reader love the agency, rather inform them of the history of this agency. It will move the reader when Mr. Moore tells of the tragedies which have happened to agents who were merely doing a job they loved. I believe it took a lot of guts for someone to write a factual book and be as open as Mr. Moore has done. If you hate the ATF, I dare you to purchase this book. I guarantee you will have a different perspective of what the ATF does and perhaps even respect them for what they do. It did not make the N.Y. Times Best Seller List, but it is by far the best True Crime books I have ever read. If you enjoy true crime, t

I just love true crime books and this is one of the best I ever read, mostly because the author provides a comprehensive appendix giving the sources for all the amazing facts he reveals. This book is an education for anybody interested in "the feds" and how they operate. The good ones and the bad ones.

Those who may see remarks by Lance Parker (above) might care to assess his bias by viewing his posts in the forum which caters to gunlovers like himself. It's safe to say that nothing short of a total condemnation of ATF would find favor with Mr. Parker. Rather shoddy of him to come here posing as an objective reader, but you find folks like that mingling among the legitimate firearms fraternity.