(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch)
I’ll admit that as a crime writer, I’m a sucker for ‘under the radar – dual life’ narratives, and Joe Moore’s, White Robes And Broken Badges, certainly hit the mark for me.
An ex-Army sniper with a valuable skill set, Mr. Moore found himself in a unique position of being accepted into – and being able to infiltrate, one of the most notorious organizations in America: the Ku Klux Klan. I won’t give away the key accomplishments of Mr. Moore’s years-long penetration into this secretive society, other than to say that several people’s lives were saved due to his efforts. And, that history could have been written very differently had he not intervened.
I learned a lot from this book: FBI protocols (of whom Mr. Moore was working undercover for), the Klan’s hierarchy and its ceremonies, as well as assessment and situational awareness techniques courtesy of Mr. Moore’s training as a sniper.
But what I enjoyed most about the book was the palpable tension that the author so beautifully crafted into the prose. During some of the dicier moments of the book, the ones where Moore literally found himself in situations where his cover could have been blown and his life abruptly ended, you can almost feel the sweat trickling down your back as your turn the pages.
I hope to read many more books from this author.
