A Bobbies'Bobby, 20 Nov 2008
I found this book by chance after seeing an advert in a magazine.As a retired rural police officer and with family living in North yorkshire I thought it was worth a look.I was not to be disappointed.It actually features the village where my son lives and I was able to 'identify'some of the characters that the author had cunningly disguised.I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and was sorry when it ended.Knowing the locality helped but also knowing the job as well made this such a worth while read.I easily identified with all the situations that Mike found himself in and his descriptions were brilliant.This is definitely the best police memoirs book I have read.

Policing in the wilds of Yorkshire, 23 Aug 2008
Written in a conversational style the book takes you right into a year in the life of Mike Pannett who moved from the Met back to Yorkshire where he was born and bred. His narrative points up the difference between policing in the city and policing in the country. Many of the villains are respectful and wait to be searched rather than legging it when they see a police car. He has striking success in dealing with the drugs problem in the area and is soon respected and feared by the local villains. There are incidents both amusing and tragic to keep you reading, and the author's love of the countryside comes over well. I enjoyed it, whilst finding the dialogue a bit irritating as much of it is written how the locals speak and almost needed to be read aloud to be understood. That said the whole book was interesting and entertaining and a welcome addition to the many books about working lives.

Lovely book, marred by one thing, 22 Aug 2008
I too read the extracts in the Daily Mail, and thought it would be a good book to get. I read it quite quickly, thoroughly enjoying it. A real feelgood read.

What was wrong, then? Well, Mike is a Yorkshireman and obviously doesn't want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. So he left the book effectively unfinished, with a cliffhanger - not what you expect from a book such as this. Ironically, the vagaries of binding left eight blank pages at the end, which added insult to injury. No doubt Mike will bring out another book and be laughing all the way to the bank.

Loved it, 20 Aug 2008
Have just finished this book, and LOVED it. I found it kept my interest from start to finish. It was poignant-hilarious-interesting. I found out about the book from reading the extracts in the Daily Mail over the w/end. Am so pleased i went out and got the book. I am now going to pass it to my son who wants to join the Police. I hope a sequel is on the cards!!?

Now Then Lad, 17 Aug 2008
What a thoroughly enjoyable read!! I can't wait to set off on my travels in order to see for myself the breathtaking beauty of North Yorkshire as so exquisitely described in Mike Pallett's book. I'll definitely be spending half-term in this country.......
It's also a fascinating insight into the daily life of a country bobby with many an amusing tale. Well worth the money.....!If you enjoyed this book then I would heartily recommend "Shakespeare My Butt" by John Donoghue - also a serving police officer. It's a gem of a debut novel full of hilarious tales of British places, military life and the outrageous abuse of the 999 system. Not to be missed......!!!

A Bobbies'Bobby, 20 Nov 2008
I found this book by chance after seeing an advert in a magazine.As a retired rural police officer and with family living in North yorkshire I thought it was worth a look.I was not to be disappointed.It actually features the village where my son lives and I was able to 'identify'some of the characters that the author had cunningly disguised.I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and was sorry when it ended.Knowing the locality helped but also knowing the job as well made this such a worth while read.I easily identified with all the situations that Mike found himself in and his descriptions were brilliant.This is definitely the best police memoirs book I have read.

Policing in the wilds of Yorkshire, 23 Aug 2008
Written in a conversational style the book takes you right into a year in the life of Mike Pannett who moved from the Met back to Yorkshire where he was born and bred. His narrative points up the difference between policing in the city and policing in the country. Many of the villains are respectful and wait to be searched rather than legging it when they see a police car. He has striking success in dealing with the drugs problem in the area and is soon respected and feared by the local villains. There are incidents both amusing and tragic to keep you reading, and the author's love of the countryside comes over well. I enjoyed it, whilst finding the dialogue a bit irritating as much of it is written how the locals speak and almost needed to be read aloud to be understood. That said the whole book was interesting and entertaining and a welcome addition to the many books about working lives.

Lovely book, marred by one thing, 22 Aug 2008
I too read the extracts in the Daily Mail, and thought it would be a good book to get. I read it quite quickly, thoroughly enjoying it. A real feelgood read.

What was wrong, then? Well, Mike is a Yorkshireman and obviously doesn't want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. So he left the book effectively unfinished, with a cliffhanger - not what you expect from a book such as this. Ironically, the vagaries of binding left eight blank pages at the end, which added insult to injury. No doubt Mike will bring out another book and be laughing all the way to the bank.

Loved it, 20 Aug 2008
Have just finished this book, and LOVED it. I found it kept my interest from start to finish. It was poignant-hilarious-interesting. I found out about the book from reading the extracts in the Daily Mail over the w/end. Am so pleased i went out and got the book. I am now going to pass it to my son who wants to join the Police. I hope a sequel is on the cards!!?

Now Then Lad, 17 Aug 2008
What a thoroughly enjoyable read!! I can't wait to set off on my travels in order to see for myself the breathtaking beauty of North Yorkshire as so exquisitely described in Mike Pallett's book. I'll definitely be spending half-term in this country.......
It's also a fascinating insight into the daily life of a country bobby with many an amusing tale. Well worth the money.....!If you enjoyed this book then I would heartily recommend "Shakespeare My Butt" by John Donoghue - also a serving police officer. It's a gem of a debut novel full of hilarious tales of British places, military life and the outrageous abuse of the 999 system. Not to be missed......!!!

Slightly Sick, Slightly Harrowing...Slightly Funny !!! , 07 Aug 2008
This is my first PMC book and a great way to start!! Written like a real 'squaddie'. Be prepared to be shocked with some of the thoughts and stories of the writer...but be prepared to laugh as well !! Simon I shake your hand.

Gripping, unembellished, honest story, 02 Mar 2008
Excellent read and I finished it in three nights. An ex-SAS friend said that 'it looks honest, unlike many books'. I agreed 100%. I know Simon a little from Algeria in 2000, when he arranged the security for the oil company. Hopefully, there will be another book with more of his Legion days. Good luck, Mate!

Good, 04 Feb 2008
Interesting and well written. A lot of action. Some of it (and the tension built) happening in the head of the author (options, threats, worse scenarios...). There is humour. It is British. The time spent in the Legion is interestingly told.

The only annoying thing I found about the book is the French language(a lot of mistakes in the expressions used in the book).

Recommended.

PS: Do not make a mistake and read "Highway to Hell", "Making a Killing" and "Boys from Baghdad" in one go. All are very good. And...kind of similar. You will get confused at the end.

Badly written, 19 Jan 2008
A not particularly interesting account of life as a mercenary (oh yes you are!) in Iraq. Worse, the book is disjointed and, at an estimated cliche or weak joke every other sentence, soon becomes irritating to read. It seems like somebody's letters to their army mates.

very good read, 08 Oct 2007
This book had me hooked from page one. Exciting stuff and seems to be quite an honest account. I've read alot of books on Iraq now and this is good 'O'. not really getting political or high brow more sort of one mans adventure out there. the Legion fighting stories in Africa are good but would have liked more of it. Good book.

A Bobbies'Bobby, 20 Nov 2008
I found this book by chance after seeing an advert in a magazine.As a retired rural police officer and with family living in North yorkshire I thought it was worth a look.I was not to be disappointed.It actually features the village where my son lives and I was able to 'identify'some of the characters that the author had cunningly disguised.I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and was sorry when it ended.Knowing the locality helped but also knowing the job as well made this such a worth while read.I easily identified with all the situations that Mike found himself in and his descriptions were brilliant.This is definitely the best police memoirs book I have read.

Policing in the wilds of Yorkshire, 23 Aug 2008
Written in a conversational style the book takes you right into a year in the life of Mike Pannett who moved from the Met back to Yorkshire where he was born and bred. His narrative points up the difference between policing in the city and policing in the country. Many of the villains are respectful and wait to be searched rather than legging it when they see a police car. He has striking success in dealing with the drugs problem in the area and is soon respected and feared by the local villains. There are incidents both amusing and tragic to keep you reading, and the author's love of the countryside comes over well. I enjoyed it, whilst finding the dialogue a bit irritating as much of it is written how the locals speak and almost needed to be read aloud to be understood. That said the whole book was interesting and entertaining and a welcome addition to the many books about working lives.

Lovely book, marred by one thing, 22 Aug 2008
I too read the extracts in the Daily Mail, and thought it would be a good book to get. I read it quite quickly, thoroughly enjoying it. A real feelgood read.

What was wrong, then? Well, Mike is a Yorkshireman and obviously doesn't want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. So he left the book effectively unfinished, with a cliffhanger - not what you expect from a book such as this. Ironically, the vagaries of binding left eight blank pages at the end, which added insult to injury. No doubt Mike will bring out another book and be laughing all the way to the bank.

Loved it, 20 Aug 2008
Have just finished this book, and LOVED it. I found it kept my interest from start to finish. It was poignant-hilarious-interesting. I found out about the book from reading the extracts in the Daily Mail over the w/end. Am so pleased i went out and got the book. I am now going to pass it to my son who wants to join the Police. I hope a sequel is on the cards!!?

Now Then Lad, 17 Aug 2008
What a thoroughly enjoyable read!! I can't wait to set off on my travels in order to see for myself the breathtaking beauty of North Yorkshire as so exquisitely described in Mike Pallett's book. I'll definitely be spending half-term in this country.......
It's also a fascinating insight into the daily life of a country bobby with many an amusing tale. Well worth the money.....!If you enjoyed this book then I would heartily recommend "Shakespeare My Butt" by John Donoghue - also a serving police officer. It's a gem of a debut novel full of hilarious tales of British places, military life and the outrageous abuse of the 999 system. Not to be missed......!!!

Slightly Sick, Slightly Harrowing...Slightly Funny !!! , 07 Aug 2008
This is my first PMC book and a great way to start!! Written like a real 'squaddie'. Be prepared to be shocked with some of the thoughts and stories of the writer...but be prepared to laugh as well !! Simon I shake your hand.

Gripping, unembellished, honest story, 02 Mar 2008
Excellent read and I finished it in three nights. An ex-SAS friend said that 'it looks honest, unlike many books'. I agreed 100%. I know Simon a little from Algeria in 2000, when he arranged the security for the oil company. Hopefully, there will be another book with more of his Legion days. Good luck, Mate!

Good, 04 Feb 2008
Interesting and well written. A lot of action. Some of it (and the tension built) happening in the head of the author (options, threats, worse scenarios...). There is humour. It is British. The time spent in the Legion is interestingly told.

The only annoying thing I found about the book is the French language(a lot of mistakes in the expressions used in the book).

Recommended.

PS: Do not make a mistake and read "Highway to Hell", "Making a Killing" and "Boys from Baghdad" in one go. All are very good. And...kind of similar. You will get confused at the end.

Badly written, 19 Jan 2008
A not particularly interesting account of life as a mercenary (oh yes you are!) in Iraq. Worse, the book is disjointed and, at an estimated cliche or weak joke every other sentence, soon becomes irritating to read. It seems like somebody's letters to their army mates.

very good read, 08 Oct 2007
This book had me hooked from page one. Exciting stuff and seems to be quite an honest account. I've read alot of books on Iraq now and this is good 'O'. not really getting political or high brow more sort of one mans adventure out there. the Legion fighting stories in Africa are good but would have liked more of it. Good book.

Excellent insight into an unusual career path, 09 Apr 2008
When you consider what Brian Paddick has been through, what surprises most about this book is that the tone is not one of defensiveness, ranting anger, or recrimination. But then, as you get to know Brian Paddick as the story unfolds, you realise that actually this is entirely in keeping with his character - it is difficult to imagine a more honest, balanced, hard working, and above all fair bloke.

The style starts off in a fairly episodic style, and is a bit wooden, but when we get further into the police chapters it really takes off. The parts about his persecution by the press really do hold your attention vividly and it becomes 'un-put-downable'. Inevitably, the pace then slackens a bit, but it is still engrossing - the insights into policing and politics are thoughtfully presented and you can tell that Brian Paddick really did love his job and cared about public service. He also has quite a lot of insight into himself - he is prepared to admit errors of judgement for example, but he is also proud of what he achieved. No false modesty, but no egotism either. As I read on I found myself wondering what I would have done if I had faced the same dilemmas. I've never had to face those tests of character, but I don't think I would have had the guts and integrity that he showed and I ended up really admiring the way he has stuck by his values and beliefs. So Brian Paddick comes across as a rounded, humane, gifted and very likeable person. The Met, despite everything, does come out of it better than I anticipated - and I ended up with a lot more respect for the police than I expected [with some reservations]. Actually, it is the facts about the Daily Mail which really shock - if you're a Daily Mail reader, read this book - and hang your head in shame. Actually - even if you're not a DM reader I can recommend this book wholeheartedly. I learned a lot.

A Bobbies'Bobby, 20 Nov 2008
I found this book by chance after seeing an advert in a magazine.As a retired rural police officer and with family living in North yorkshire I thought it was worth a look.I was not to be disappointed.It actually features the village where my son lives and I was able to 'identify'some of the characters that the author had cunningly disguised.I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and was sorry when it ended.Knowing the locality helped but also knowing the job as well made this such a worth while read.I easily identified with all the situations that Mike found himself in and his descriptions were brilliant.This is definitely the best police memoirs book I have read.

Policing in the wilds of Yorkshire, 23 Aug 2008
Written in a conversational style the book takes you right into a year in the life of Mike Pannett who moved from the Met back to Yorkshire where he was born and bred. His narrative points up the difference between policing in the city and policing in the country. Many of the villains are respectful and wait to be searched rather than legging it when they see a police car. He has striking success in dealing with the drugs problem in the area and is soon respected and feared by the local villains. There are incidents both amusing and tragic to keep you reading, and the author's love of the countryside comes over well. I enjoyed it, whilst finding the dialogue a bit irritating as much of it is written how the locals speak and almost needed to be read aloud to be understood. That said the whole book was interesting and entertaining and a welcome addition to the many books about working lives.

Lovely book, marred by one thing, 22 Aug 2008
I too read the extracts in the Daily Mail, and thought it would be a good book to get. I read it quite quickly, thoroughly enjoying it. A real feelgood read.

What was wrong, then? Well, Mike is a Yorkshireman and obviously doesn't want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. So he left the book effectively unfinished, with a cliffhanger - not what you expect from a book such as this. Ironically, the vagaries of binding left eight blank pages at the end, which added insult to injury. No doubt Mike will bring out another book and be laughing all the way to the bank.

Loved it, 20 Aug 2008
Have just finished this book, and LOVED it. I found it kept my interest from start to finish. It was poignant-hilarious-interesting. I found out about the book from reading the extracts in the Daily Mail over the w/end. Am so pleased i went out and got the book. I am now going to pass it to my son who wants to join the Police. I hope a sequel is on the cards!!?

Now Then Lad, 17 Aug 2008
What a thoroughly enjoyable read!! I can't wait to set off on my travels in order to see for myself the breathtaking beauty of North Yorkshire as so exquisitely described in Mike Pallett's book. I'll definitely be spending half-term in this country.......
It's also a fascinating insight into the daily life of a country bobby with many an amusing tale. Well worth the money.....!If you enjoyed this book then I would heartily recommend "Shakespeare My Butt" by John Donoghue - also a serving police officer. It's a gem of a debut novel full of hilarious tales of British places, military life and the outrageous abuse of the 999 system. Not to be missed......!!!

Slightly Sick, Slightly Harrowing...Slightly Funny !!! , 07 Aug 2008
This is my first PMC book and a great way to start!! Written like a real 'squaddie'. Be prepared to be shocked with some of the thoughts and stories of the writer...but be prepared to laugh as well !! Simon I shake your hand.

Gripping, unembellished, honest story, 02 Mar 2008
Excellent read and I finished it in three nights. An ex-SAS friend said that 'it looks honest, unlike many books'. I agreed 100%. I know Simon a little from Algeria in 2000, when he arranged the security for the oil company. Hopefully, there will be another book with more of his Legion days. Good luck, Mate!

Good, 04 Feb 2008
Interesting and well written. A lot of action. Some of it (and the tension built) happening in the head of the author (options, threats, worse scenarios...). There is humour. It is British. The time spent in the Legion is interestingly told.

The only annoying thing I found about the book is the French language(a lot of mistakes in the expressions used in the book).

Recommended.

PS: Do not make a mistake and read "Highway to Hell", "Making a Killing" and "Boys from Baghdad" in one go. All are very good. And...kind of similar. You will get confused at the end.

Badly written, 19 Jan 2008
A not particularly interesting account of life as a mercenary (oh yes you are!) in Iraq. Worse, the book is disjointed and, at an estimated cliche or weak joke every other sentence, soon becomes irritating to read. It seems like somebody's letters to their army mates.

very good read, 08 Oct 2007
This book had me hooked from page one. Exciting stuff and seems to be quite an honest account. I've read alot of books on Iraq now and this is good 'O'. not really getting political or high brow more sort of one mans adventure out there. the Legion fighting stories in Africa are good but would have liked more of it. Good book.

Excellent insight into an unusual career path, 09 Apr 2008
When you consider what Brian Paddick has been through, what surprises most about this book is that the tone is not one of defensiveness, ranting anger, or recrimination. But then, as you get to know Brian Paddick as the story unfolds, you realise that actually this is entirely in keeping with his character - it is difficult to imagine a more honest, balanced, hard working, and above all fair bloke.

The style starts off in a fairly episodic style, and is a bit wooden, but when we get further into the police chapters it really takes off. The parts about his persecution by the press really do hold your attention vividly and it becomes 'un-put-downable'. Inevitably, the pace then slackens a bit, but it is still engrossing - the insights into policing and politics are thoughtfully presented and you can tell that Brian Paddick really did love his job and cared about public service. He also has quite a lot of insight into himself - he is prepared to admit errors of judgement for example, but he is also proud of what he achieved. No false modesty, but no egotism either. As I read on I found myself wondering what I would have done if I had faced the same dilemmas. I've never had to face those tests of character, but I don't think I would have had the guts and integrity that he showed and I ended up really admiring the way he has stuck by his values and beliefs. So Brian Paddick comes across as a rounded, humane, gifted and very likeable person. The Met, despite everything, does come out of it better than I anticipated - and I ended up with a lot more respect for the police than I expected [with some reservations]. Actually, it is the facts about the Daily Mail which really shock - if you're a Daily Mail reader, read this book - and hang your head in shame. Actually - even if you're not a DM reader I can recommend this book wholeheartedly. I learned a lot.

Great read, 28 May 2008
Having read many true crime books this is up there as one of the best.

A detectives fight to bring two bent and murderous cops to justice who were thought to be heros within the police department but the real truth was far it.

It is slow in places but stick with it as the tale that unfolds is straight out of the movies.

A Bobbies'Bobby, 20 Nov 2008
I found this book by chance after seeing an advert in a magazine.As a retired rural police officer and with family living in North yorkshire I thought it was worth a look.I was not to be disappointed.It actually features the village where my son lives and I was able to 'identify'some of the characters that the author had cunningly disguised.I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and was sorry when it ended.Knowing the locality helped but also knowing the job as well made this such a worth while read.I easily identified with all the situations that Mike found himself in and his descriptions were brilliant.This is definitely the best police memoirs book I have read.

Policing in the wilds of Yorkshire, 23 Aug 2008
Written in a conversational style the book takes you right into a year in the life of Mike Pannett who moved from the Met back to Yorkshire where he was born and bred. His narrative points up the difference between policing in the city and policing in the country. Many of the villains are respectful and wait to be searched rather than legging it when they see a police car. He has striking success in dealing with the drugs problem in the area and is soon respected and feared by the local villains. There are incidents both amusing and tragic to keep you reading, and the author's love of the countryside comes over well. I enjoyed it, whilst finding the dialogue a bit irritating as much of it is written how the locals speak and almost needed to be read aloud to be understood. That said the whole book was interesting and entertaining and a welcome addition to the many books about working lives.

Lovely book, marred by one thing, 22 Aug 2008
I too read the extracts in the Daily Mail, and thought it would be a good book to get. I read it quite quickly, thoroughly enjoying it. A real feelgood read.

What was wrong, then? Well, Mike is a Yorkshireman and obviously doesn't want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. So he left the book effectively unfinished, with a cliffhanger - not what you expect from a book such as this. Ironically, the vagaries of binding left eight blank pages at the end, which added insult to injury. No doubt Mike will bring out another book and be laughing all the way to the bank.

Loved it, 20 Aug 2008
Have just finished this book, and LOVED it. I found it kept my interest from start to finish. It was poignant-hilarious-interesting. I found out about the book from reading the extracts in the Daily Mail over the w/end. Am so pleased i went out and got the book. I am now going to pass it to my son who wants to join the Police. I hope a sequel is on the cards!!?

Now Then Lad, 17 Aug 2008
What a thoroughly enjoyable read!! I can't wait to set off on my travels in order to see for myself the breathtaking beauty of North Yorkshire as so exquisitely described in Mike Pallett's book. I'll definitely be spending half-term in this country.......
It's also a fascinating insight into the daily life of a country bobby with many an amusing tale. Well worth the money.....!If you enjoyed this book then I would heartily recommend "Shakespeare My Butt" by John Donoghue - also a serving police officer. It's a gem of a debut novel full of hilarious tales of British places, military life and the outrageous abuse of the 999 system. Not to be missed......!!!

Slightly Sick, Slightly Harrowing...Slightly Funny !!! , 07 Aug 2008
This is my first PMC book and a great way to start!! Written like a real 'squaddie'. Be prepared to be shocked with some of the thoughts and stories of the writer...but be prepared to laugh as well !! Simon I shake your hand.

Gripping, unembellished, honest story, 02 Mar 2008
Excellent read and I finished it in three nights. An ex-SAS friend said that 'it looks honest, unlike many books'. I agreed 100%. I know Simon a little from Algeria in 2000, when he arranged the security for the oil company. Hopefully, there will be another book with more of his Legion days. Good luck, Mate!

Good, 04 Feb 2008
Interesting and well written. A lot of action. Some of it (and the tension built) happening in the head of the author (options, threats, worse scenarios...). There is humour. It is British. The time spent in the Legion is interestingly told.

The only annoying thing I found about the book is the French language(a lot of mistakes in the expressions used in the book).

Recommended.

PS: Do not make a mistake and read "Highway to Hell", "Making a Killing" and "Boys from Baghdad" in one go. All are very good. And...kind of similar. You will get confused at the end.

Badly written, 19 Jan 2008
A not particularly interesting account of life as a mercenary (oh yes you are!) in Iraq. Worse, the book is disjointed and, at an estimated cliche or weak joke every other sentence, soon becomes irritating to read. It seems like somebody's letters to their army mates.

very good read, 08 Oct 2007
This book had me hooked from page one. Exciting stuff and seems to be quite an honest account. I've read alot of books on Iraq now and this is good 'O'. not really getting political or high brow more sort of one mans adventure out there. the Legion fighting stories in Africa are good but would have liked more of it. Good book.

Excellent insight into an unusual career path, 09 Apr 2008
When you consider what Brian Paddick has been through, what surprises most about this book is that the tone is not one of defensiveness, ranting anger, or recrimination. But then, as you get to know Brian Paddick as the story unfolds, you realise that actually this is entirely in keeping with his character - it is difficult to imagine a more honest, balanced, hard working, and above all fair bloke.

The style starts off in a fairly episodic style, and is a bit wooden, but when we get further into the police chapters it really takes off. The parts about his persecution by the press really do hold your attention vividly and it becomes 'un-put-downable'. Inevitably, the pace then slackens a bit, but it is still engrossing - the insights into policing and politics are thoughtfully presented and you can tell that Brian Paddick really did love his job and cared about public service. He also has quite a lot of insight into himself - he is prepared to admit errors of judgement for example, but he is also proud of what he achieved. No false modesty, but no egotism either. As I read on I found myself wondering what I would have done if I had faced the same dilemmas. I've never had to face those tests of character, but I don't think I would have had the guts and integrity that he showed and I ended up really admiring the way he has stuck by his values and beliefs. So Brian Paddick comes across as a rounded, humane, gifted and very likeable person. The Met, despite everything, does come out of it better than I anticipated - and I ended up with a lot more respect for the police than I expected [with some reservations]. Actually, it is the facts about the Daily Mail which really shock - if you're a Daily Mail reader, read this book - and hang your head in shame. Actually - even if you're not a DM reader I can recommend this book wholeheartedly. I learned a lot.

Great read, 28 May 2008
Having read many true crime books this is up there as one of the best.

A detectives fight to bring two bent and murderous cops to justice who were thought to be heros within the police department but the real truth was far it.

It is slow in places but stick with it as the tale that unfolds is straight out of the movies.

a great book-greater service, 01 Nov 2007
Amazon shipped me this book in the USA and it came damaged. They took my word on it and shipped me another copy no charge. This is what makes Amazon.co.UK and amazon.com great. Customer service is unparalleled and superb.

I'll be with you forever.

Refreshing and brilliantly researched , 15 Sep 2006
Most books I have read on Shanghai offer a glimpse into a debauched world of decadence and indulgence. This seems to be the Shanghai that has lingered since the Mao proclaimed victory in 1949 and changed China's path. Even today, Shanghai is viewed as a gleaming beacon by us in the west, though having lived there for 18 months, my overwhelming memory of Shanghai is the sheer graft of everyone who lives there.

Back then, as now, not all foreigners were upper-class entrepreneurs and philanthropists. It is fascinating to read about the lives of 'ordinary' people.

What Bickers does really well is paint a picture of Tinkler's evolution (or regression) as a man of the Empire. It is painstakingly researched, with Tinkler's own story deveeloping against the backdrop of a magnificent city in decline.

Insights into the peculiarities of extraterritoriality; how the Treaty of Nanjing (and subsequent treaties) eventually returned to haunt the Shanghai Municpal Council; the racial tensions between local Chinese, White Russians, Brits, Japanese and Americans, and the eventual disintegration of Shanghai are brilliantly explained and analyzed, running alongisde the story of a man who, in the end, is difficult to like. However, as Brits, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try!

MG

Not forgotten in Shanghai, 03 May 2004
This is a superbly researched, delightfully written personal history of an ordinary man in an extraordinary city. Although it tells the story of a British policeman who worked in Shanghai in the 1920s, it has a resonance today. As a British expat working in Shanghai for the last 18 months, I have felt exactly the same fascination and frustration with this Chinese city that looks Wrstern, but is not.

Dr Bickers' painstaking and patient research is also an excellent example of how to do this kind of history. It is a detective story - appropriately enough - about a detective, and he pieces together the evidence carefully. Where there are gaps - and there are many - in the documentation, his speculations seem spot on.

There are many more histories of this kind to be written, of ordinary people in extraordinary times and places. Look in your loft !

As a PS to the final chapter of the book, I went to the International Cemetery in Shanghai on 2 May to find Tinkler's memorial stone. It is still there, although hard to find buried in undergrowth.

Detailed historical biography and more, 10 Mar 2004
An interesting biography of Richard Maurice Tinkler, a British man who lived in the International Settlement in Shanghai from 1919 to 1939, also describing the city and contemporary life.

The book provides a detailed picture of Shanghai life between the wars, and the unique nature of the International Settlement and other Treaty Ports. Tinkler joined the Shanghai Municipal Police; its composition and workings are described in some detail in the book, as are the workings of the Shanghai Municipal Council. I could really picture the place and the people.

The book discusses the Treaty Ports, Shanghailanders, Tinkler and other expatriate workers ('labourers, farm workers, railwaymen, warehousemen, quarrymen' to quote the author) in the context of the British Empire, and thus goes beyond just a biography of Tinkler.

The author is an academic and the structure and style of the book is, in my opinion, an amalgam of a purely academic history treatise and a a popular story. The writing style is somewhat more academic than I would have preferred, but is still readable. The author quotes profusely and provides detailed statistics, both of which sometimes get in the way of the story, even if they might be interesting to students of history. I'm not sure I needed to know that in 1925 (was it?) there were 7,923 acres in the External Roads areas outside the Settlement, for example.

The author must have done a tremendous amount of research, and the book is obviously a labour of love. The detail makes it a good book for students of Empire, Shanghai and the inter war years, but it is also a good read for anyone interested in modern history. The writing style is not quite as fluid as I would have liked, but it's still a very good read.

A Bobbies'Bobby, 20 Nov 2008
I found this book by chance after seeing an advert in a magazine.As a retired rural police officer and with family living in North yorkshire I thought it was worth a look.I was not to be disappointed.It actually features the village where my son lives and I was able to 'identify'some of the characters that the author had cunningly disguised.I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and was sorry when it ended.Knowing the locality helped but also knowing the job as well made this such a worth while read.I easily identified with all the situations that Mike found himself in and his descriptions were brilliant.This is definitely the best police memoirs book I have read.

Policing in the wilds of Yorkshire, 23 Aug 2008
Written in a conversational style the book takes you right into a year in the life of Mike Pannett who moved from the Met back to Yorkshire where he was born and bred. His narrative points up the difference between policing in the city and policing in the country. Many of the villains are respectful and wait to be searched rather than legging it when they see a police car. He has striking success in dealing with the drugs problem in the area and is soon respected and feared by the local villains. There are incidents both amusing and tragic to keep you reading, and the author's love of the countryside comes over well. I enjoyed it, whilst finding the dialogue a bit irritating as much of it is written how the locals speak and almost needed to be read aloud to be understood. That said the whole book was interesting and entertaining and a welcome addition to the many books about working lives.

Lovely book, marred by one thing, 22 Aug 2008
I too read the extracts in the Daily Mail, and thought it would be a good book to get. I read it quite quickly, thoroughly enjoying it. A real feelgood read.

What was wrong, then? Well, Mike is a Yorkshireman and obviously doesn't want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. So he left the book effectively unfinished, with a cliffhanger - not what you expect from a book such as this. Ironically, the vagaries of binding left eight blank pages at the end, which added insult to injury. No doubt Mike will bring out another book and be laughing all the way to the bank.

Loved it, 20 Aug 2008
Have just finished this book, and LOVED it. I found it kept my interest from start to finish. It was poignant-hilarious-interesting. I found out about the book from reading the extracts in the Daily Mail over the w/end. Am so pleased i went out and got the book. I am now going to pass it to my son who wants to join the Police. I hope a sequel is on the cards!!?

Now Then Lad, 17 Aug 2008
What a thoroughly enjoyable read!! I can't wait to set off on my travels in order to see for myself the breathtaking beauty of North Yorkshire as so exquisitely described in Mike Pallett's book. I'll definitely be spending half-term in this country.......
It's also a fascinating insight into the daily life of a country bobby with many an amusing tale. Well worth the money.....!If you enjoyed this book then I would heartily recommend "Shakespeare My Butt" by John Donoghue - also a serving police officer. It's a gem of a debut novel full of hilarious tales of British places, military life and the outrageous abuse of the 999 system. Not to be missed......!!!

Slightly Sick, Slightly Harrowing...Slightly Funny !!! , 07 Aug 2008
This is my first PMC book and a great way to start!! Written like a real 'squaddie'. Be prepared to be shocked with some of the thoughts and stories of the writer...but be prepared to laugh as well !! Simon I shake your hand.

Gripping, unembellished, honest story, 02 Mar 2008
Excellent read and I finished it in three nights. An ex-SAS friend said that 'it looks honest, unlike many books'. I agreed 100%. I know Simon a little from Algeria in 2000, when he arranged the security for the oil company. Hopefully, there will be another book with more of his Legion days. Good luck, Mate!

Good, 04 Feb 2008
Interesting and well written. A lot of action. Some of it (and the tension built) happening in the head of the author (options, threats, worse scenarios...). There is humour. It is British. The time spent in the Legion is interestingly told.

The only annoying thing I found about the book is the French language(a lot of mistakes in the expressions used in the book).

Recommended.

PS: Do not make a mistake and read "Highway to Hell", "Making a Killing" and "Boys from Baghdad" in one go. All are very good. And...kind of similar. You will get confused at the end.

Badly written, 19 Jan 2008
A not particularly interesting account of life as a mercenary (oh yes you are!) in Iraq. Worse, the book is disjointed and, at an estimated cliche or weak joke every other sentence, soon becomes irritating to read. It seems like somebody's letters to their army mates.

very good read, 08 Oct 2007
This book had me hooked from page one. Exciting stuff and seems to be quite an honest account. I've read alot of books on Iraq now and this is good 'O'. not really getting political or high brow more sort of one mans adventure out there. the Legion fighting stories in Africa are good but would have liked more of it. Good book.

Excellent insight into an unusual career path, 09 Apr 2008
When you consider what Brian Paddick has been through, what surprises most about this book is that the tone is not one of defensiveness, ranting anger, or recrimination. But then, as you get to know Brian Paddick as the story unfolds, you realise that actually this is entirely in keeping with his character - it is difficult to imagine a more honest, balanced, hard working, and above all fair bloke.

The style starts off in a fairly episodic style, and is a bit wooden, but when we get further into the police chapters it really takes off. The parts about his persecution by the press really do hold your attention vividly and it becomes 'un-put-downable'. Inevitably, the pace then slackens a bit, but it is still engrossing - the insights into policing and politics are thoughtfully presented and you can tell that Brian Paddick really did love his job and cared about public service. He also has quite a lot of insight into himself - he is prepared to admit errors of judgement for example, but he is also proud of what he achieved. No false modesty, but no egotism either. As I read on I found myself wondering what I would have done if I had faced the same dilemmas. I've never had to face those tests of character, but I don't think I would have had the guts and integrity that he showed and I ended up really admiring the way he has stuck by his values and beliefs. So Brian Paddick comes across as a rounded, humane, gifted and very likeable person. The Met, despite everything, does come out of it better than I anticipated - and I ended up with a lot more respect for the police than I expected [with some reservations]. Actually, it is the facts about the Daily Mail which really shock - if you're a Daily Mail reader, read this book - and hang your head in shame. Actually - even if you're not a DM reader I can recommend this book wholeheartedly. I learned a lot.

Great read, 28 May 2008
Having read many true crime books this is up there as one of the best.

A detectives fight to bring two bent and murderous cops to justice who were thought to be heros within the police department but the real truth was far it.

It is slow in places but stick with it as the tale that unfolds is straight out of the movies.

a great book-greater service, 01 Nov 2007
Amazon shipped me this book in the USA and it came damaged. They took my word on it and shipped me another copy no charge. This is what makes Amazon.co.UK and amazon.com great. Customer service is unparalleled and superb.

I'll be with you forever.

Refreshing and brilliantly researched , 15 Sep 2006
Most books I have read on Shanghai offer a glimpse into a debauched world of decadence and indulgence. This seems to be the Shanghai that has lingered since the Mao proclaimed victory in 1949 and changed China's path. Even today, Shanghai is viewed as a gleaming beacon by us in the west, though having lived there for 18 months, my overwhelming memory of Shanghai is the sheer graft of everyone who lives there.

Back then, as now, not all foreigners were upper-class entrepreneurs and philanthropists. It is fascinating to read about the lives of 'ordinary' people.

What Bickers does really well is paint a picture of Tinkler's evolution (or regression) as a man of the Empire. It is painstakingly researched, with Tinkler's own story deveeloping against the backdrop of a magnificent city in decline.

Insights into the peculiarities of extraterritoriality; how the Treaty of Nanjing (and subsequent treaties) eventually returned to haunt the Shanghai Municpal Council; the racial tensions between local Chinese, White Russians, Brits, Japanese and Americans, and the eventual disintegration of Shanghai are brilliantly explained and analyzed, running alongisde the story of a man who, in the end, is difficult to like. However, as Brits, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try!

MG

Not forgotten in Shanghai, 03 May 2004
This is a superbly researched, delightfully written personal history of an ordinary man in an extraordinary city. Although it tells the story of a British policeman who worked in Shanghai in the 1920s, it has a resonance today. As a British expat working in Shanghai for the last 18 months, I have felt exactly the same fascination and frustration with this Chinese city that looks Wrstern, but is not.

Dr Bickers' painstaking and patient research is also an excellent example of how to do this kind of history. It is a detective story - appropriately enough - about a detective, and he pieces together the evidence carefully. Where there are gaps - and there are many - in the documentation, his speculations seem spot on.

There are many more histories of this kind to be written, of ordinary people in extraordinary times and places. Look in your loft !

As a PS to the final chapter of the book, I went to the International Cemetery in Shanghai on 2 May to find Tinkler's memorial stone. It is still there, although hard to find buried in undergrowth.

Detailed historical biography and more, 10 Mar 2004
An interesting biography of Richard Maurice Tinkler, a British man who lived in the International Settlement in Shanghai from 1919 to 1939, also describing the city and contemporary life.

The book provides a detailed picture of Shanghai life between the wars, and the unique nature of the International Settlement and other Treaty Ports. Tinkler joined the Shanghai Municipal Police; its composition and workings are described in some detail in the book, as are the workings of the Shanghai Municipal Council. I could really picture the place and the people.

The book discusses the Treaty Ports, Shanghailanders, Tinkler and other expatriate workers ('labourers, farm workers, railwaymen, warehousemen, quarrymen' to quote the author) in the context of the British Empire, and thus goes beyond just a biography of Tinkler.

The author is an academic and the structure and style of the book is, in my opinion, an amalgam of a purely academic history treatise and a a popular story. The writing style is somewhat more academic than I would have preferred, but is still readable. The author quotes profusely and provides detailed statistics, both of which sometimes get in the way of the story, even if they might be interesting to students of history. I'm not sure I needed to know that in 1925 (was it?) there were 7,923 acres in the External Roads areas outside the Settlement, for example.

The author must have done a tremendous amount of research, and the book is obviously a labour of love. The detail makes it a good book for students of Empire, Shanghai and the inter war years, but it is also a good read for anyone interested in modern history. The writing style is not quite as fluid as I would have liked, but it's still a very good read.

Atruly refreshing book, 16 May 2007
Having read the book ,I found the author so forthright by his descriptions in dealing with the villians he encountered .Indeed, refreshing would be more apt a description ; his choice of words painted a vivid picture of the underworld, his exploits in dealing with violent crime were masterful.
He tells it as it really was and once you pick it up you will not want to put it down until the last page .

The golden days of detection, 15 May 2007
Kirby was a detective in the Met during the hay days of the 70's when detectives detected and criminals actually lived in fear of getting caught. The good old days.
Here we have tales of how it was by someone who wore the uniform (or plain clothes!) with pride and who worked with elite teams to catch the bad guys. Kirby refers to the fact that there were `bad eggs' and some dodgy practices but these are stories of the good guys doing proper old-fashioned policing. The author has a relaxed and engaging style, making this very readable and very entertaining and this is recommended reading for those interested in the Police and/or elite detective units.
The shame is that old fashioned coppers like Kirby and his colleagues seem to be a thing of the past and I have no doubt whatsoever that we, the public, are worse off as a result. Thanks Dick, you obviously made a real difference at the time and I wish there were more like you today.

The Experiences of truly Competent Copper , 13 May 2007
This book will captivate you from beginning to end and is a candid down to earth example of how the art of coppering in days gone by was carried out with efficiency and expertise and just how the public expects good Policing should be - Effective - Compassionate but true craftsmanship which Dick Kirby gave in his Service with the Metropolitan Police. He was a truly great ambassador to Crime Fighting and his deeds were recognised by Judges, Police Commissioners and his Public and many others. His loyalty and standards were impeccable. I recommend this book to all who want to know what Policing is all about .

More good stuff from Dick Kirby, 12 May 2007
I read Dick Kirby's other books, "The Real Sweeney" and "Rough Justice" with great enjoyment, and so looked forward to You're Nicked" which continues in the same vein. He described how crimes are handled, in ways that would be quite unacceptable in today's quota-driven, managed-by-objective public service, and the author succeeds in getting his man whilst reminding the reader of the absolute imperative of moral integrity. There is plenty of swearing in the book - more than when DI Jack Regan apprehended villains in Thames Television's 70s' series "The Sweeney" - and for that reason I won't be encouraging my (young) children to pick it up. But for adults it is a great read. What will Kirby write next - can there be any anecdotes that Kirby hasn't yet regaled us with?

A Bobbies'Bobby, 20 Nov 2008
I found this book by chance after seeing an advert in a magazine.As a retired rural police officer and with family living in North yorkshire I thought it was worth a look.I was not to be disappointed.It actually features the village where my son lives and I was able to 'identify'some of the characters that the author had cunningly disguised.I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and was sorry when it ended.Knowing the locality helped but also knowing the job as well made this such a worth while read.I easily identified with all the situations that Mike found himself in and his descriptions were brilliant.This is definitely the best police memoirs book I have read.

Policing in the wilds of Yorkshire, 23 Aug 2008
Written in a conversational style the book takes you right into a year in the life of Mike Pannett who moved from the Met back to Yorkshire where he was born and bred. His narrative points up the difference between policing in the city and policing in the country. Many of the villains are respectful and wait to be searched rather than legging it when they see a police car. He has striking success in dealing with the drugs problem in the area and is soon respected and feared by the local villains. There are incidents both amusing and tragic to keep you reading, and the author's love of the countryside comes over well. I enjoyed it, whilst finding the dialogue a bit irritating as much of it is written how the locals speak and almost needed to be read aloud to be understood. That said the whole book was interesting and entertaining and a welcome addition to the many books about working lives.

Lovely book, marred by one thing, 22 Aug 2008
I too read the extracts in the Daily Mail, and thought it would be a good book to get. I read it quite quickly, thoroughly enjoying it. A real feelgood read.

What was wrong, then? Well, Mike is a Yorkshireman and obviously doesn't want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. So he left the book effectively unfinished, with a cliffhanger - not what you expect from a book such as this. Ironically, the vagaries of binding left eight blank pages at the end, which added insult to injury. No doubt Mike will bring out another book and be laughing all the way to the bank.

Loved it, 20 Aug 2008
Have just finished this book, and LOVED it. I found it kept my interest from start to finish. It was poignant-hilarious-interesting. I found out about the book from reading the extracts in the Daily Mail over the w/end. Am so pleased i went out and got the book. I am now going to pass it to my son who wants to join the Police. I hope a sequel is on the cards!!?

Now Then Lad, 17 Aug 2008
What a thoroughly enjoyable read!! I can't wait to set off on my travels in order to see for myself the breathtaking beauty of North Yorkshire as so exquisitely described in Mike Pallett's book. I'll definitely be spending half-term in this country.......
It's also a fascinating insight into the daily life of a country bobby with many an amusing tale. Well worth the money.....!If you enjoyed this book then I would heartily recommend "Shakespeare My Butt" by John Donoghue - also a serving police officer. It's a gem of a debut novel full of hilarious tales of British places, military life and the outrageous abuse of the 999 system. Not to be missed......!!!

Slightly Sick, Slightly Harrowing...Slightly Funny !!! , 07 Aug 2008
This is my first PMC book and a great way to start!! Written like a real 'squaddie'. Be prepared to be shocked with some of the thoughts and stories of the writer...but be prepared to laugh as well !! Simon I shake your hand.

Gripping, unembellished, honest story, 02 Mar 2008
Excellent read and I finished it in three nights. An ex-SAS friend said that 'it looks honest, unlike many books'. I agreed 100%. I know Simon a little from Algeria in 2000, when he arranged the security for the oil company. Hopefully, there will be another book with more of his Legion days. Good luck, Mate!

Good, 04 Feb 2008
Interesting and well written. A lot of action. Some of it (and the tension built) happening in the head of the author (options, threats, worse scenarios...). There is humour. It is British. The time spent in the Legion is interestingly told.

The only annoying thing I found about the book is the French language(a lot of mistakes in the expressions used in the book).

Recommended.

PS: Do not make a mistake and read "Highway to Hell", "Making a Killing" and "Boys from Baghdad" in one go. All are very good. And...kind of similar. You will get confused at the end.

Badly written, 19 Jan 2008
A not particularly interesting account of life as a mercenary (oh yes you are!) in Iraq. Worse, the book is disjointed and, at an estimated cliche or weak joke every other sentence, soon becomes irritating to read. It seems like somebody's letters to their army mates.

very good read, 08 Oct 2007
This book had me hooked from page one. Exciting stuff and seems to be quite an honest account. I've read alot of books on Iraq now and this is good 'O'. not really getting political or high brow more sort of one mans adventure out there. the Legion fighting stories in Africa are good but would have liked more of it. Good book.

Excellent insight into an unusual career path, 09 Apr 2008
When you consider what Brian Paddick has been through, what surprises most about this book is that the tone is not one of defensiveness, ranting anger, or recrimination. But then, as you get to know Brian Paddick as the story unfolds, you realise that actually this is entirely in keeping with his character - it is difficult to imagine a more honest, balanced, hard working, and above all fair bloke.

The style starts off in a fairly episodic style, and is a bit wooden, but when we get further into the police chapters it really takes off. The parts about his persecution by the press really do hold your attention vividly and it becomes 'un-put-downable'. Inevitably, the pace then slackens a bit, but it is still engrossing - the insights into policing and politics are thoughtfully presented and you can tell that Brian Paddick really did love his job and cared about public service. He also has quite a lot of insight into himself - he is prepared to admit errors of judgement for example, but he is also proud of what he achieved. No false modesty, but no egotism either. As I read on I found myself wondering what I would have done if I had faced the same dilemmas. I've never had to face those tests of character, but I don't think I would have had the guts and integrity that he showed and I ended up really admiring the way he has stuck by his values and beliefs. So Brian Paddick comes across as a rounded, humane, gifted and very likeable person. The Met, despite everything, does come out of it better than I anticipated - and I ended up with a lot more respect for the police than I expected [with some reservations]. Actually, it is the facts about the Daily Mail which really shock - if you're a Daily Mail reader, read this book - and hang your head in shame. Actually - even if you're not a DM reader I can recommend this book wholeheartedly. I learned a lot.

Great read, 28 May 2008
Having read many true crime books this is up there as one of the best.

A detectives fight to bring two bent and murderous cops to justice who were thought to be heros within the police department but the real truth was far it.

It is slow in places but stick with it as the tale that unfolds is straight out of the movies.

a great book-greater service, 01 Nov 2007
Amazon shipped me this book in the USA and it came damaged. They took my word on it and shipped me another copy no charge. This is what makes Amazon.co.UK and amazon.com great. Customer service is unparalleled and superb.

I'll be with you forever.

Refreshing and brilliantly researched , 15 Sep 2006
Most books I have read on Shanghai offer a glimpse into a debauched world of decadence and indulgence. This seems to be the Shanghai that has lingered since the Mao proclaimed victory in 1949 and changed China's path. Even today, Shanghai is viewed as a gleaming beacon by us in the west, though having lived there for 18 months, my overwhelming memory of Shanghai is the sheer graft of everyone who lives there.

Back then, as now, not all foreigners were upper-class entrepreneurs and philanthropists. It is fascinating to read about the lives of 'ordinary' people.

What Bickers does really well is paint a picture of Tinkler's evolution (or regression) as a man of the Empire. It is painstakingly researched, with Tinkler's own story deveeloping against the backdrop of a magnificent city in decline.

Insights into the peculiarities of extraterritoriality; how the Treaty of Nanjing (and subsequent treaties) eventually returned to haunt the Shanghai Municpal Council; the racial tensions between local Chinese, White Russians, Brits, Japanese and Americans, and the eventual disintegration of Shanghai are brilliantly explained and analyzed, running alongisde the story of a man who, in the end, is difficult to like. However, as Brits, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try!

MG

Not forgotten in Shanghai, 03 May 2004
This is a superbly researched, delightfully written personal history of an ordinary man in an extraordinary city. Although it tells the story of a British policeman who worked in Shanghai in the 1920s, it has a resonance today. As a British expat working in Shanghai for the last 18 months, I have felt exactly the same fascination and frustration with this Chinese city that looks Wrstern, but is not.

Dr Bickers' painstaking and patient research is also an excellent example of how to do this kind of history. It is a detective story - appropriately enough - about a detective, and he pieces together the evidence carefully. Where there are gaps - and there are many - in the documentation, his speculations seem spot on.

There are many more histories of this kind to be written, of ordinary people in extraordinary times and places. Look in your loft !

As a PS to the final chapter of the book, I went to the International Cemetery in Shanghai on 2 May to find Tinkler's memorial stone. It is still there, although hard to find buried in undergrowth.

Detailed historical biography and more, 10 Mar 2004
An interesting biography of Richard Maurice Tinkler, a British man who lived in the International Settlement in Shanghai from 1919 to 1939, also describing the city and contemporary life.

The book provides a detailed picture of Shanghai life between the wars, and the unique nature of the International Settlement and other Treaty Ports. Tinkler joined the Shanghai Municipal Police; its composition and workings are described in some detail in the book, as are the workings of the Shanghai Municipal Council. I could really picture the place and the people.

The book discusses the Treaty Ports, Shanghailanders, Tinkler and other expatriate workers ('labourers, farm workers, railwaymen, warehousemen, quarrymen' to quote the author) in the context of the British Empire, and thus goes beyond just a biography of Tinkler.

The author is an academic and the structure and style of the book is, in my opinion, an amalgam of a purely academic history treatise and a a popular story. The writing style is somewhat more academic than I would have preferred, but is still readable. The author quotes profusely and provides detailed statistics, both of which sometimes get in the way of the story, even if they might be interesting to students of history. I'm not sure I needed to know that in 1925 (was it?) there were 7,923 acres in the External Roads areas outside the Settlement, for example.

The author must have done a tremendous amount of research, and the book is obviously a labour of love. The detail makes it a good book for students of Empire, Shanghai and the inter war years, but it is also a good read for anyone interested in modern history. The writing style is not quite as fluid as I would have liked, but it's still a very good read.

Atruly refreshing book, 16 May 2007
Having read the book ,I found the author so forthright by his descriptions in dealing with the villians he encountered .Indeed, refreshing would be more apt a description ; his choice of words painted a vivid picture of the underworld, his exploits in dealing with violent crime were masterful.
He tells it as it really was and once you pick it up you will not want to put it down until the last page .

The golden days of detection, 15 May 2007
Kirby was a detective in the Met during the hay days of the 70's when detectives detected and criminals actually lived in fear of getting caught. The good old days.
Here we have tales of how it was by someone who wore the uniform (or plain clothes!) with pride and who worked with elite teams to catch the bad guys. Kirby refers to the fact that there were `bad eggs' and some dodgy practices but these are stories of the good guys doing proper old-fashioned policing. The author has a relaxed and engaging style, making this very readable and very entertaining and this is recommended reading for those interested in the Police and/or elite detective units.
The shame is that old fashioned coppers like Kirby and his colleagues seem to be a thing of the past and I have no doubt whatsoever that we, the public, are worse off as a result. Thanks Dick, you obviously made a real difference at the time and I wish there were more like you today.

The Experiences of truly Competent Copper , 13 May 2007
This book will captivate you from beginning to end and is a candid down to earth example of how the art of coppering in days gone by was carried out with efficiency and expertise and just how the public expects good Policing should be - Effective - Compassionate but true craftsmanship which Dick Kirby gave in his Service with the Metropolitan Police. He was a truly great ambassador to Crime Fighting and his deeds were recognised by Judges, Police Commissioners and his Public and many others. His loyalty and standards were impeccable. I recommend this book to all who want to know what Policing is all about .

More good stuff from Dick Kirby, 12 May 2007
I read Dick Kirby's other books, "The Real Sweeney" and "Rough Justice" with great enjoyment, and so looked forward to You're Nicked" which continues in the same vein. He described how crimes are handled, in ways that would be quite unacceptable in today's quota-driven, managed-by-objective public service, and the author succeeds in getting his man whilst reminding the reader of the absolute imperative of moral integrity. There is plenty of swearing in the book - more than when DI Jack Regan apprehended villains in Thames Television's 70s' series "The Sweeney" - and for that reason I won't be encouraging my (young) children to pick it up. But for adults it is a great read. What will Kirby write next - can there be any anecdotes that Kirby hasn't yet regaled us with?

The Father of Close Combat, 23 Jul 2006
The culmination of years of research by the late Peter Robins, the biography of W.E. Fairbairn, "the father of CQB" has been published.
Entitled " Fairbairn The Gentleman Warrior" this first volume covers his early life, the Shanghai years, up until the start of WW-2. A subsequent volume will cover the rest of the story of how he trained the Commandos, SOE, OSS etc.
Chapters include "The Shanghai School of Shooting" "USMC in Shanghai" "WEF Manuals" Also, lots of excerpts from Cavalcade, [Fairbairn's handwritten journal], a very detailed chapter on the Shanghai shooting school [including a comparison with Captain Tracy's methods.
Much also on the SMP training, including diagrams and photos of the assault/obstacle course.
Loads of cases of the SMP engaging bandits, kidnappers and drug runners in the alleys, brothels and opium-dens of "the World's most dangerous city"
The text is heavily illustrated with numerous photos, many never before published.
[Review by Dennis Martin]

A Bobbies'Bobby, 20 Nov 2008
I found this book by chance after seeing an advert in a magazine.As a retired rural police officer and with family living in North yorkshire I thought it was worth a look.I was not to be disappointed.It actually features the village where my son lives and I was able to 'identify'some of the characters that the author had cunningly disguised.I really enjoyed this book from start to finish and was sorry when it ended.Knowing the locality helped but also knowing the job as well made this such a worth while read.I easily identified with all the situations that Mike found himself in and his descriptions were brilliant.This is definitely the best police memoirs book I have read.

Policing in the wilds of Yorkshire, 23 Aug 2008
Written in a conversational style the book takes you right into a year in the life of Mike Pannett who moved from the Met back to Yorkshire where he was born and bred. His narrative points up the difference between policing in the city and policing in the country. Many of the villains are respectful and wait to be searched rather than legging it when they see a police car. He has striking success in dealing with the drugs problem in the area and is soon respected and feared by the local villains. There are incidents both amusing and tragic to keep you reading, and the author's love of the countryside comes over well. I enjoyed it, whilst finding the dialogue a bit irritating as much of it is written how the locals speak and almost needed to be read aloud to be understood. That said the whole book was interesting and entertaining and a welcome addition to the many books about working lives.

Lovely book, marred by one thing, 22 Aug 2008
I too read the extracts in the Daily Mail, and thought it would be a good book to get. I read it quite quickly, thoroughly enjoying it. A real feelgood read.

What was wrong, then? Well, Mike is a Yorkshireman and obviously doesn't want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. So he left the book effectively unfinished, with a cliffhanger - not what you expect from a book such as this. Ironically, the vagaries of binding left eight blank pages at the end, which added insult to injury. No doubt Mike will bring out another book and be laughing all the way to the bank.

Loved it, 20 Aug 2008
Have just finished this book, and LOVED it. I found it kept my interest from start to finish. It was poignant-hilarious-interesting. I found out about the book from reading the extracts in the Daily Mail over the w/end. Am so pleased i went out and got the book. I am now going to pass it to my son who wants to join the Police. I hope a sequel is on the cards!!?

Now Then Lad, 17 Aug 2008
What a thoroughly enjoyable read!! I can't wait to set off on my travels in order to see for myself the breathtaking beauty of North Yorkshire as so exquisitely described in Mike Pallett's book. I'll definitely be spending half-term in this country.......
It's also a fascinating insight into the daily life of a country bobby with many an amusing tale. Well worth the money.....!If you enjoyed this book then I would heartily recommend "Shakespeare My Butt" by John Donoghue - also a serving police officer. It's a gem of a debut novel full of hilarious tales of British places, military life and the outrageous abuse of the 999 system. Not to be missed......!!!

Slightly Sick, Slightly Harrowing...Slightly Funny !!! , 07 Aug 2008
This is my first PMC book and a great way to start!! Written like a real 'squaddie'. Be prepared to be shocked with some of the thoughts and stories of the writer...but be prepared to laugh as well !! Simon I shake your hand.

Gripping, unembellished, honest story, 02 Mar 2008
Excellent read and I finished it in three nights. An ex-SAS friend said that 'it looks honest, unlike many books'. I agreed 100%. I know Simon a little from Algeria in 2000, when he arranged the security for the oil company. Hopefully, there will be another book with more of his Legion days. Good luck, Mate!

Good, 04 Feb 2008
Interesting and well written. A lot of action. Some of it (and the tension built) happening in the head of the author (options, threats, worse scenarios...). There is humour. It is British. The time spent in the Legion is interestingly told.

The only annoying thing I found about the book is the French language(a lot of mistakes in the expressions used in the book).

Recommended.

PS: Do not make a mistake and read "Highway to Hell", "Making a Killing" and "Boys from Baghdad" in one go. All are very good. And...kind of similar. You will get confused at the end.

Badly written, 19 Jan 2008
A not particularly interesting account of life as a mercenary (oh yes you are!) in Iraq. Worse, the book is disjointed and, at an estimated cliche or weak joke every other sentence, soon becomes irritating to read. It seems like somebody's letters to their army mates.

very good read, 08 Oct 2007
This book had me hooked from page one. Exciting stuff and seems to be quite an honest account. I've read alot of books on Iraq now and this is good 'O'. not really getting political or high brow more sort of one mans adventure out there. the Legion fighting stories in Africa are good but would have liked more of it. Good book.

Excellent insight into an unusual career path, 09 Apr 2008
When you consider what Brian Paddick has been through, what surprises most about this book is that the tone is not one of defensiveness, ranting anger, or recrimination. But then, as you get to know Brian Paddick as the story unfolds, you realise that actually this is entirely in keeping with his character - it is difficult to imagine a more honest, balanced, hard working, and above all fair bloke.

The style starts off in a fairly episodic style, and is a bit wooden, but when we get further into the police chapters it really takes off. The parts about his persecution by the press really do hold your attention vividly and it becomes 'un-put-downable'. Inevitably, the pace then slackens a bit, but it is still engrossing - the insights into policing and politics are thoughtfully presented and you can tell that Brian Paddick really did love his job and cared about public service. He also has quite a lot of insight into himself - he is prepared to admit errors of judgement for example, but he is also proud of what he achieved. No false modesty, but no egotism either. As I read on I found myself wondering what I would have done if I had faced the same dilemmas. I've never had to face those tests of character, but I don't think I would have had the guts and integrity that he showed and I ended up really admiring the way he has stuck by his values and beliefs. So Brian Paddick comes across as a rounded, humane, gifted and very likeable person. The Met, despite everything, does come out of it better than I anticipated - and I ended up with a lot more respect for the police than I expected [with some reservations]. Actually, it is the facts about the Daily Mail which really shock - if you're a Daily Mail reader, read this book - and hang your head in shame. Actually - even if you're not a DM reader I can recommend this book wholeheartedly. I learned a lot.

Great read, 28 May 2008
Having read many true crime books this is up there as one of the best.

A detectives fight to bring two bent and murderous cops to justice who were thought to be heros within the police department but the real truth was far it.

It is slow in places but stick with it as the tale that unfolds is straight out of the movies.

a great book-greater service, 01 Nov 2007
Amazon shipped me this book in the USA and it came damaged. They took my word on it and shipped me another copy no charge. This is what makes Amazon.co.UK and amazon.com great. Customer service is unparalleled and superb.

I'll be with you forever.

Refreshing and brilliantly researched , 15 Sep 2006
Most books I have read on Shanghai offer a glimpse into a debauched world of decadence and indulgence. This seems to be the Shanghai that has lingered since the Mao proclaimed victory in 1949 and changed China's path. Even today, Shanghai is viewed as a gleaming beacon by us in the west, though having lived there for 18 months, my overwhelming memory of Shanghai is the sheer graft of everyone who lives there.

Back then, as now, not all foreigners were upper-class entrepreneurs and philanthropists. It is fascinating to read about the lives of 'ordinary' people.

What Bickers does really well is paint a picture of Tinkler's evolution (or regression) as a man of the Empire. It is painstakingly researched, with Tinkler's own story deveeloping against the backdrop of a magnificent city in decline.

Insights into the peculiarities of extraterritoriality; how the Treaty of Nanjing (and subsequent treaties) eventually returned to haunt the Shanghai Municpal Council; the racial tensions between local Chinese, White Russians, Brits, Japanese and Americans, and the eventual disintegration of Shanghai are brilliantly explained and analyzed, running alongisde the story of a man who, in the end, is difficult to like. However, as Brits, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try!

MG

Not forgotten in Shanghai, 03 May 2004
This is a superbly researched, delightfully written personal history of an ordinary man in an extraordinary city. Although it tells the story of a British policeman who worked in Shanghai in the 1920s, it has a resonance today. As a British expat working in Shanghai for the last 18 months, I have felt exactly the same fascination and frustration with this Chinese city that looks Wrstern, but is not.

Dr Bickers' painstaking and patient research is also an excellent example of how to do this kind of history. It is a detective story - appropriately enough - about a detective, and he pieces together the evidence carefully. Where there are gaps - and there are many - in the documentation, his speculations seem spot on.

There are many more histories of this kind to be written, of ordinary people in extraordinary times and places. Look in your loft !

As a PS to the final chapter of the book, I went to the International Cemetery in Shanghai on 2 May to find Tinkler's memorial stone. It is still there, although hard to find buried in undergrowth.

Detailed historical biography and more, 10 Mar 2004
An interesting biography of Richard Maurice Tinkler, a British man who lived in the International Settlement in Shanghai from 1919 to 1939, also describing the city and contemporary life.

The book provides a detailed picture of Shanghai life between the wars, and the unique nature of the International Settlement and other Treaty Ports. Tinkler joined the Shanghai Municipal Police; its composition and workings are described in some detail in the book, as are the workings of the Shanghai Municipal Council. I could really picture the place and the people.

The book discusses the Treaty Ports, Shanghailanders, Tinkler and other expatriate workers ('labourers, farm workers, railwaymen, warehousemen, quarrymen' to quote the author) in the context of the British Empire, and thus goes beyond just a biography of Tinkler.

The author is an academic and the structure and style of the book is, in my opinion, an amalgam of a purely academic history treatise and a a popular story. The writing style is somewhat more academic than I would have preferred, but is still readable. The author quotes profusely and provides detailed statistics, both of which sometimes get in the way of the story, even if they might be interesting to students of history. I'm not sure I needed to know that in 1925 (was it?) there were 7,923 acres in the External Roads areas outside the Settlement, for example.

The author must have done a tremendous amount of research, and the book is obviously a labour of love. The detail makes it a good book for students of Empire, Shanghai and the inter war years, but it is also a good read for anyone interested in modern history. The writing style is not quite as fluid as I would have liked, but it's still a very good read.

Atruly refreshing book, 16 May 2007
Having read the book ,I found the author so forthright by his descriptions in dealing with the villians he encountered .Indeed, refreshing would be more apt a description ; his choice of words painted a vivid picture of the underworld, his exploits in dealing with violent crime were masterful.
He tells it as it really was and once you pick it up you will not want to put it down until the last page .

The golden days of detection, 15 May 2007
Kirby was a detective in the Met during the hay days of the 70's when detectives detected and criminals actually lived in fear of getting caught. The good old days.
Here we have tales of how it was by someone who wore the uniform (or plain clothes!) with pride and who worked with elite teams to catch the bad guys. Kirby refers to the fact that there were `bad eggs' and some dodgy practices but these are stories of the good guys doing proper old-fashioned policing. The author has a relaxed and engaging style, making this very readable and very entertaining and this is recommended reading for those interested in the Police and/or elite detective units.
The shame is that old fashioned coppers like Kirby and his colleagues seem to be a thing of the past and I have no doubt whatsoever that we, the public, are worse off as a result. Thanks Dick, you obviously made a real difference at the time and I wish there were more like you today.

The Experiences of truly Competent Copper , 13 May 2007
This book will captivate you from beginning to end and is a candid down to earth example of how the art of coppering in days gone by was carried out with efficiency and expertise and just how the public expects good Policing should be - Effective - Compassionate but true craftsmanship which Dick Kirby gave in his Service with the Metropolitan Police. He was a truly great ambassador to Crime Fighting and his deeds were recognised by Judges, Police Commissioners and his Public and many others. His loyalty and standards were impeccable. I recommend this book to all who want to know what Policing is all about .

More good stuff from Dick Kirby, 12 May 2007
I read Dick Kirby's other books, "The Real Sweeney" and "Rough Justice" with great enjoyment, and so looked forward to You're Nicked" which continues in the same vein. He described how crimes are handled, in ways that would be quite unacceptable in today's quota-driven, managed-by-objective public service, and the author succeeds in getting his man whilst reminding the reader of the absolute imperative of moral integrity. There is plenty of swearing in the book - more than when DI Jack Regan apprehended villains in Thames Television's 70s' series "The Sweeney" - and for that reason I won't be encouraging my (young) children to pick it up. But for adults it is a great read. What will Kirby write next - can there be any anecdotes that Kirby hasn't yet regaled us with?

The Father of Close Combat, 23 Jul 2006
The culmination of years of research by the late Peter Robins, the biography of W.E. Fairbairn, "the father of CQB" has been published.
Entitled " Fairbairn The Gentleman Warrior" this first volume covers his early life, the Shanghai years, up until the start of WW-2. A subsequent volume will cover the rest of the story of how he trained the Commandos, SOE, OSS etc.
Chapters include "The Shanghai School of Shooting" "USMC in Shanghai" "WEF Manuals" Also, lots of excerpts from Cavalcade, [Fairbairn's handwritten journal], a very detailed chapter on the Shanghai shooting school [including a comparison with Captain Tracy's methods.
Much also on the SMP training, including diagrams and photos of the assault/obstacle course.
Loads of cases of the SMP engaging bandits, kidnappers and drug runners in the alleys, brothels and opium-dens of "the World's most dangerous city"
The text is heavily illustrated with numerous photos, many never before published.
[Review by Dennis Martin]

Decent enough, 16 Aug 2006
I agree with a previous reviewer that the book was, in the main, an easy and enjoyable read.

John Stevens' account of his early years in the force with lots of 'thief-taking' was not only interesting but also made him come across as a decent, old school, hard working cop.

However as the book goes on, and he become more senior, his old school beliefs do seem to have left him with some views that not only do not stand up to any form of intelligent analysis but also would be the types of comment expect a closed minded grumpy old man on the bus!

A Copper's Copper., 16 Mar 2006
'Not for the Faint-Hearted' should be mandatory reading for all senior police officers in the United Kingdom in the hope that some of John Stevens' leadership skills and detective ability might rub off on them. It would be a forlorn hope.

When Stevens retired as commissioner for the Metropolitan Police after 40 years police service he left a rudderless ship behind. No other commissioner has come even close to his ability. Can you imagine any senior officer walking into a bar in Ulster and telling ten of the provinces worst terrorists to "bugger off"? Stevens did.

Commended on no less than twenty-seven occasions for bravery and detective-work, Stevens has been showered with awards, was knighted and is now a Peer. This extremely well-written book describes in stunning style his meteoric success and how he dragged up an angry, resentful and, due to the MacPherson Report, thoroughly demoralised Metropolitan Police by their bootstraps, to regain their self-respect.

I began by suggesting that police chiefs should read this book, but they won't; the majority are too busy simperingly championing the causes of minority groups, in the hope of advancement and inclusion in the Honours List, instead of protecting the public at large. But young men and women in police forces all over the UK should read it and profit by it; it's the way coppering should be done and, given the right leadership, could be done again.

The best autobiographical true crime book I've read in a long time - and highly recommended.

Not for the faint hearted or not for the fair minded ?, 30 Dec 2005
An easy and at times humorous read, which reveals London’s ex-police chief as a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character. On the one hand he comes out as a very brave guy who at considerable risk to his own safety exposed how the RUC passed details of IRA suspects to Protestant para-militaries, who shot who they wanted outside the law. But when we get to racism, or terror suspects in London, his view of what’s fair and just seems to be very different.

Of the `ricin trial’ where all defendants but one were acquitted of plotting to use poisons, he says the police knew something nasty was being plotted `but we couldn’t prove it’. Oh dear. If it’s `true’ but you can’t prove it, it’s just not true – and that’s the law!

Stevens’ credibility is damaged when he gets the facts wrong about who defaced Churchill’s statue, about why Livingston’s invitation to Sheikh Al Qaradawi was controversial, and other issues where any Guardian reader could put