You really have to watch that blurb thing. When I saw this book, first thing on Saturday morning in the bookshop at the Crime & Justice Festival(link is external) I have got to admit that the blurb didn't do it for me "I couldn't put it down - Great!" Mick Gatto. I mean, what on earth does Mick Gatto normally read - would our tastes even vaguely coincide?
But after seeing the author at one of the sessions early in the day, I bought the book, and I'm really glad I did. True Crime, memoir style, this is the story of a policeman, that really makes you realise what the police go through.
I will write a more detailed review of this when I get a minute, and I will write up something about the weekend at the Festival which was just fabulous.
From the Blurb:
For two years police detective Colin McLaren disappears off the face of the earth, surfacing in Griffith as a dodgy art dealer with a pretty girlfriend, and talks his way into the Mafia.
Opening Lines:
Antonia invited me for a stroll through the orange groves. The sun warmed our backs and I allowed Antonio to play host. My tape was on.
For two years police detective Colin McLaren disappears off the face of the earth, surfacing in Griffith as a dodgy art dealer with a pretty girlfriend and talks his way into the Mafia. For days, weeks, then months and years, Colin eats with them, sits in their homes and cuddles their kids, all the while climbing the N'Drangheta, finally befriending the Griffith Godfather, Antonio Romeo.
This is the world of listening devices, wire taps, and of trying to stay sane while doing deals to buy pure cocaine and tonnes of cannabis. In the meantime, the Mafiosi know they have a snitch and are leaving no stone unturned in their search for the traitor...