Book of the Month - March 2025
Code Name: Pale Horse
Scott Payne with Michelle Shepard - ISBN: 978-1668032909 - 2025
Author:
Scott Payne
Scott Payne is a retired FBI Special Agent who spent twenty-eight years in law enforcement investigating cases against drug trafficking organizations, human traffickers, outlaw motorcycle clubs, gangs, public corruption, and domestic terrorists. He was also a SWAT team operator and instructor for firearms, tactics, and undercover operations. He lives in the southeast with his wife, two daughters, and dogs.
Michelle Shephard
Michelle Shephard is an award-winning journalist, author, and filmmaker who covered terrorism, national security, and civil rights for two decades as a correspondent with The Toronto Star. Her career has taken her around the world, including multiple reporting trips to Somalia, Yemen, Pakistan, and Guantanamo Bay. She is based in Toronto, where she lives with her photojournalist husband, a dog named Parker, and their cat Deep Throat.
Brief Synopsis:
For readers of The MAGA Diaries and Hate in the Homeland, an eye-opening and crucial true story of one man risking his life to infiltrate the most dangerous neo-Nazi group in the United States.
When Scott Payne was growing up, he never envisioned a future that included what happened on Halloween night 2019. Out in the woods of Georgia, he tried desperately to save a goat from being sacrificed in a ritual by a group of neo-Nazis without revealing that he was actually an undercover agent.
Now, this retired FBI agent reveals how and why he infiltrated the rapidly growing American Nazi group, The Base. Known as the “Hillbilly Donnie Brasco,” Payne was guided through some of the most terrifying and risky assignments in the FBI’s history by his devotion to his family and his Christian faith.
Timely and unputdownable, Code Name: Pale Horse is an unflinching look at one of biggest threats in national security, as well as an inspiring memoir from an American hero.
Insights:
Should I read it or skip it?
Before diving into this review, I must disclose that I know Scott personally. He and his family exemplify integrity and strength, making it an honor to review his work. That said, I read extensively (35 books so far this year), and it’s a rare privilege to evaluate a book by someone I know. You can find my monthly book reviews at http://dannypricetx.me.
In Codename: Pale Horse, Scott and co-author Michelle Shepard deliver a compelling and gripping narrative from the first page. Drawing from Scott’s remarkable career, the story sheds light on the dark and dangerous world of undercover operations. Few people encounter humanity's darkest realities as Scott has, and he shares these experiences with unflinching honesty and refreshing candor, balanced by a sensitivity that makes the stories even more impactful.
The book also reveals the immense personal sacrifices Scott and his family made to protect others. Their courage and unwavering commitment shine through, offering a deeply human dimension to this extraordinary tale.
I appreciated the pacing of this book. Scott's attention to detail enhances the authenticity of the narrative. Readers will gain a new awareness of the threats posed by "acceleration" (as well as an understanding of it) and the hidden world of hate that most of us overlook. This is not just a thriller but also a wake-up call—a book that is as eye-opening as it is engaging.
If you appreciate stories that reveal the unseen battles fought for our safety, Codename: Pale Horse is a must-read. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
