Jimmy the Wags: Street Adventures of a Private Eye

by James J. Wagner, Patrick W. Picciarelli, Patrick Picciarelli, et al.

Book Overview

After twenty-two years as a New York cop, Jimmy the Wags thought he's seen it all, but it wasn't until he retired and set up as a private eye that his real education began. Now, in his own inimitable... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688165117
• ISBN13: 9780688165116
• Release Date: April 1999
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

NYPD BLUE...

This is a book that all cop buffs will love. It is a series of war stories and observations garnered from the author's twenty-two year career with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Told in a voice that rings true, this no-holds barred, straightforward account of life in the NYPD from 1968 to 1990, a time of turbulence and changing policing philosophies, will grip the reader. The author lays it all out for the reader in an engaging manner-the good, the bad, and the ugly-keeping the reader turning the pages until the very last.

The best non-fiction NYPD Book I've ever read

I picked this book up in of all places an Eckards drugstore and expected something that would keep my interest yet not be very memorable. Instead what i got was one of the finest books I have ever read period. The reason this book works so well is because Wags has no ego. No stories are present in a way to make him a hero and honesty rings throughout the entire book. The other reviewers have already mentioned the layout of the book so I will only say that this book contains stories you will never forget. I work in NYC and it is extremely interesting to read about the City in to 70s and 80s when it was cesspool..it really makes one appreciate Guliani and the miracle he performed. If I had to draw a parallel to this book, I would compare it to the best of Wambaugh. Wags write about so many fascinating characters that each chapter is like a mini book unto itself. Very importantly, Wags finishes each story with an update on the individual and or event, so you are not left wondering what happened. All in all, the finest police writing I have ever read.

the ring of truth

This second book by the 'Wags' is a thrilling ride through the streets of lower Manhatten with the siren going full blast. Written in a no-nonsense style, here is a book about New York that you can really get your teeth into. If you know NYC, then you know that there is little, if any, exaggeration. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction, and every one of the weird situations and perverted personalities has the ring of truth. What a great adventure it was for me, who was a teenager on the streets of New York, to read what was really going on behind the scenes, the stories you never got to read. This isn't just a book about brutality in the streets. Wagner is a cop with a heart, and had a passion for his job. Although the tone is often nostalgic, it is never overly sentimental or mawkish. Here is a beautiful kaleidoscope of the city in all its rawness. Read it and see!

Jimmy The Wags has it all

Hearing about Jimmy The Wags, I thought that it would be just another P.I. life story. However, it was impossible to put the book down. Page after page of humor and excitement keeps the reader glued to the stories. Without a doubt, this book exceeds all expectations and leaves the reader satisfied with his purchase.

Pic cradles you in his arms, laughing all the way!

I read the book in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. I laughed, cried,said,"Oh my God," a few times and didn't want it to end. He grabs life by his teeth and savours every delicate morsel. You ain't seen nothin' yet!