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  • No Angel

  • My Harrowing Undercover Journey to the Inner Circle of the Hells Angels
  • Written by: Jay Dobyns, Nils Johnson-Shelton
  • Narrated by: Mel Foster
  • Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (154 ratings)

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No Angel cover art

No Angel

Written by: Jay Dobyns, Nils Johnson-Shelton
Narrated by: Mel Foster
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Publisher's Summary

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

What the critics say

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

What listeners say about No Angel

Average Customer Ratings
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    5 out of 5 stars

Easy and interesting listen.

I enjoyed the story, and narrator for this book. His voice is easy to listen to and I didn’t struggle to understand anything he said. The story itself flowed nicely and I liked the way it was tied up for me.
Sometimes heartbreaking but always interesting.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting, learned a lot about the culture

I almost gave up on the book because the narrator is hard to get used to, and I couldn't keep the characters straight. By the end I enjoyed the narrator, but still couldn't keep the characters straight. I just gave up and enjoyed the story!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best Book Ever

I loved this book it was so detailed, honest, exhilarating and humanizing. Jay Bird and friends went through a terrorizing and real experience which they should be honored and praised for and its sad what occurred after it ended. I hope everyone enjoys this book as much as I did. God bless the Dobyns family!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Hated the ending

This book was a great listen but the ending was so disappointing. Had me sucked in and I was totally let down at the end.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!!

I really enjoyed the book but wish it was a different narrater, definitely worth the read though.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved the book!

It’s a fascinating experience from start to finish. I loved how raw and real Jay is with his emotions. I couldn’t imagine going through all of that.

Great book, highly recommend !

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    5 out of 5 stars
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This is a great book... dude!

Dude! This is perfectly narrated and kept my attention to the last sentence. I literally just sat there and binged the last 4 hours! Dude!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic ! it's like you are right there

5 star all around ! I didn't want this book to end you can picture the whole story

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing all around

Great story and one that was easy to listen to. There couldn’t have been a better narrator either. Perfect choice.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • Cal
  • 2021-11-05

Not bad

Story is interesting but predictable, the narration could have been much better. Very dry, not much inflection.

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