Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

In A Peek Under the Hood, Michael Pevarnik describes his leadership in DEA operations in Worcester, Massachusetts, utilizing informants, undercover agents, and surveillance to uncover and dismantle significant drug trafficking networks. Starting with informant Lanh, the investigation revealed drug transactions and firearm links, exposing cocaine routes and enabling federal investigations. Undercover agents facilitated deals with figures like Jose "Flaco" Garcia and identified high-level traffickers such as Rodolfo “Rudy” Matos and Julio Santana. Complications arose during operations, including coordination issues and undercover operation delays. Investigations at the Clarion Suites Hotel and the involvement of figures like Roberto "El Gordo" Portes expanded the scope. Despite setbacks, such as planned cocaine seizure delays and network complications, DEA raids led to arrests and significant drug seizures. The takedown of Portes’ organization is the icing on the successful disruption of a major heroin distribution network with ongoing operations targeting additional traffickers.

Michael Pevarnik does well in providing insight into his thoughts and feelings from the word go in his memoir A Peek Under the Hood, helping readers quickly understand the personal impact of a string of events. It is interesting to me how sophisticated the underground machinations of drug dealing really are because, as laypersons, we usually don't imagine the depth of any transaction beyond the trope of a dirty urban alley. Instead, we are shown things like an urban/suburban hybrid tree-lined street, imbuing it with a sense of normalcy and domesticity, juxtaposed with the illicit activities occurring there. Pervarnik is skilled in the art of conveying atmosphere and true-to-life details that are engrossing and genuinely authentic. I chuckled a little at some of the throwbacks to the time everything that Pervarnik details is going down, like: “If I’m not here when you’re ready to do a unit or more, just page me, and I’ll immediately fly back from California." The writing is straightforward with that rough edge rawness necessary for retelling a piece of personal history with so much grit, but within this is a polish that defines the content in a way that makes both Pevarnik's past work and prose shine. Very highly recommended.