First published 2011
Ed Conlon works the drug beat for the NYPD, navigating a world where crackhead informants become crucial assets and high-speed chases punctuate the daily grind. He cultivates relationships with addicts who can provide intelligence, pursues dealers through the labyrinth of New York neighborhoods, and confronts the brutal mathematics of street-level drug enforcement. The work demands equal parts patience and split-second decision making. Conlon must balance the cultivation of sources with the dangers they represent, manage the adrenaline of pursuit with the methodical building of cases. Each day brings new challenges in an ongoing war against narcotics trafficking. The streets test his judgment, his courage, and his understanding of human nature. This account captures the authentic experience of a drugs cop, revealing both the tactical realities and emotional toll of pursuing criminals in America's largest city.
Genres: crime, non-fiction, police, true-crime
Vibes: fast-paced, gritty, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, real-life-drama
Setting: New York
Period: 21st-century
48 pages · Kindle Edition · Ebury Digital
Content warnings: drug-use