No Angel

My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels

By: Jay Dobyns, Nils Johnson-Shelton

Narrated by: Mel Foster

Getting shot in the chest as a rookie ATF agent, bartering for machine guns, throttling down the highway at 100 miles per hour, and responding to a full-scale, bloody riot between the Hells Angels and their rivals, the Mongols---these are just a few of the high-adrenaline experiences Jay Dobyns recounts in this action-packed, hard to imagine, but true story of how he infiltrated the legendary Hells Angels.

Dobyns leaves no stone of his harrowing journey unturned. At runs and clubhouses, between rides and riots, Dobyns befriends bad-ass bikers, meth-fueled "old ladies", gun fetishists, psycho-killer ex-cons, and even some of the "Filthy Few"---the elite of the Hells Angels who've committed extreme violence on behalf of their club.

Eventually, at parties staged behind heavily armed security, he meets legendary club members such as Chuck Zito, Johnny Angel, and the godfather of all bikers, Ralph "Sonny" Barger. To blend in with them, he gets full-arm ink; to win their respect, he vows to prove himself a stone-cold killer. Hardest of all is leading a double life, which has him torn between his devotion to his wife and children and his pledge to become the first federal agent ever to be "fully patched" into the Angels' near-impregnable ranks.

His act is so convincing that he comes within a hairsbreadth of losing himself. Eventually, he realizes that just as he's been infiltrating the Hells Angels, they've been infiltrating him. And just as they're not all bad, he's not all good.

Reminiscent of Donnie Brasco's uncovering of the true Mafia, this is an eye-opening portrait of the world of bikers - the most in-depth since Hunter Thompson's seminal work - one that fully describes the seductive lure criminal camaraderie has for men who would otherwise be powerless outsiders. Here is all the nihilism, hate, and intimidation, but also the freedom - and, yes, brotherhood---of the only truly American form of organized crime.

©2009 Jay Dobyns and Nils Johnson-Shelton (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A fascinating look at the Hells Angels and the price one man paid for infiltrating the gang." ( Booklist)

Great Read

I enjoyed this, it was interesting and entertaining. I loved the narrator he did a great job keeping me engaged.

Awesome

Absolutely love this book. I didn't want it to end and was literally hanging on every word Jay Dobyns is a legend.

A gritty telling of a great story.

Buy this book! An absolute must have in your collection. A glimpse into a world I almost fell into. The struggle within Jay Dobbins alone is worth the listen.

Great book.

No Angel is a over look of and hell Angel to show that even under covers can loose it.

R.I.P.

Good story.Rest in peace Dennis DenBesten.May God have mercy on your soul.Never be Forgotten.High Dessert Love

I enjoyed this story

I enjoyed this story.
The narration was excellent.
It was just the right length and it kept my interest after I got in to it.

The people I knew

I liked the honesty of Jay Dobbins. My personal experience with the Hells Angels has only been positive. Jay spoke of some of the people I knew in the book. I will always support 81!! I admire their brotherhood and loyalty. I always felt a realm of protection when they ran the streets of Mesa. I was never sexually assaulted or even disrespected by them.

no angle

A fun read that puts a human face on a dark subject

Good story

Good story. I wish it had a better ending tho it's a true story - true but good

awesome book

loved the book, great story. thanks for taking us to a world most of us will never know.