UNDERCOVER AGENT: HOW ONE HONEST MAN TOOK ON THE DRUG MOB-AND THEN THE MOUNTIES. Mitchell, Leonard and Peter Rehak. Grades 10 and up Grades 10 and up Reviewed by John D. Crawford Volume 17 Number 1 1989 January This entertaining read describes an RCMP operation that successfully used an average citizen to go undercover and help carry out an operation that resulted in the arrest of a group of high-powered drug traffickers. The narrative opens like a Raymond Chandler novel but soon gets down to the more down-to-earth facts that come together in most criminal ventures. Several aspects of the story attract the reader's interest. In the first place, there is the sense that the criminals had enormous resources at their command-that there was. In fact, a great deal of power in the background, Perhaps, indeed, the Evil Empire is geographically closer than we think. For example, there is no suggestion in this book that the top people on the side of the criminals will ever be known, let alone apprehended. Conversely, the resources available to the police seem to be more limited. The lesson to be drawn here is that a successful war against the drug syndicates will require greater resources and commitment than we have seen in the past. I was a little less convinced that the undercover agent was shabbily treated by the RCMP. I would suggest that the nature of the agreement between that agent and the RCMP made a speedy and straightforward conclusion of their arrangement unlikely. While as an entertainment this book is an enjoyable read, its chief value lies in its insights into operations beyond the scope of readers' normal experience. This book can be recommended to those readers who are interested in a description of an anti-drug operation by the RCMP. John D. Crawford, Marigold School, Victoria B.C.