The Last Cowboy: The True Story of One of DEA's Most Decorated Undercover Agents

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BUY THIS BOOK! I've known Tim Sellers for almost 20 years and have had the honor and downright pleasure to have worked with him on numerous occasions. Through "high five's" and "tears" Tim was and remains the truest form of "Old School" narcotics agent I've ever met. Tim's adherence to traditional law enforcement values and the "Old Code" is THE EXAMPLE for all agents and law enforcers to follow. This book (the first of what I hope will become a set of works) is the definitive example of the evolution of the "on the ground" law enforcement world today. This book is exactly the kind of book that Tim would write. His accounts of "daring do" and "grave digger humor" along with the associated apparent, and real, frustration with the "administrivia" involved in a powerful bureaucracy is exactly what you encounter in the world of narcotics enforcement. Tim delivers his accounts very naturally, possessing that exceedingly rare quality of "writing just like you talk". I could hear his rusty voice as I read and vividly remembered the "times in the sun" as well as the "times in the doghouse" that one experiences in a law enforcement career. This book is a gift for the new and aging law enforcer as well as anyone with a penchant for excitement and adventure. Mind you, I am not a good reader. I struggle with fleeting attention, boredom and the blurry vision that accompanies old age, but I read this book in one setting! I don't believe that I've ever done that before. The book makes a logical progression through daily operations and encounters to the big reveal, Tim's encounter with the terrorist threat (not going to ruin the book by detailing anything here folks). I can assure the reader, this book is the actual account, not some overblown, self indulgent, "I love me" book written by a guy that never left the office. Tim lived it, caused it, fixed it and in the end blessed us by bringing it to us for our pleasure.

The Last Cowboy is a worthy inspiration for anyone in the security field. I gave the book four stars instead of five because I think there could have been more quantity in the narrative; more detail, in depth would have been appropriate. Tim Sellers is recognized for physically tackling a fully armed suicide bomber in Afghanistan; and Sellers physically prevented the bomber from activating the detonation button. This live bomb was six pounds of explosives; a heroic event on the heels of a similar preceeding event that had just killed Americans nearby. Sellers did this physical interception against orders; he disobeyed a direct command by engaging the suicide bomber, thus saving many lives. Also, there's excellent insight into the Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995. Sellers also brokered a real deal from Mexico involving hundreds of kilos of cocaine; and there were subsequent arrests, with successful prosecutions. The Kindle e-book, with the audible mode, makes this type of narrative a very easy literary experience.

Lately, I have been picking up every book I can on undercover operations in anticipation of writing a crime thriller that focuses on undercover operations. I have read some solid ones in the form of Chemical Cowboys (which focuses on the DEA's first efforts to combat the ecstasy trade) and No Angel (which details ATF Special Agent Jay Dobyns's nearly two-year undercover operation aimed at infiltrating and bringing down the Hells Angels). I went looking for more and saw that Tim Sellers's The Last Cowboy was pretty highly rated on Amazon. I figured it would be a good book to pick up for research.Well, as it turns out, it's hit and miss.Focusing on the positives first, The Last Cowboy serves to confirm what I had read in other books about undercover operations. When you see the same things across several books, it serves as a good sign for research that you're on the right track. I also found the chapter about his being a responder for the Oklahoma City Bombing to be interesting, as well, as that was not a perspective I expected to read.Now, the negatives.First and foremost, it's clear that Tim Sellers is literate. It's also clear that he is not a writer. The book is full of informal voice that, while appropriate for personal conversation, are not good for writing a book. While an informal tone can be appreciated if executed properly, he ended up writing it as if he was speaking directly to the reader. Some may appreciate this, but I've found that most autobiographical pieces shy away from this. No Angel would be a good example of what the standard is for an autobiography. I would definitely have recommended a co-writer who is an author by trade to tighten this up.I also did not like how short the book was. We got a brief look at his time as an El Paso patrolman (arguably the longest part of the book), a quick look into his time as an ATF agent, and then his time as a DEA agent. If you are going to market the book as a peek inside a DEA agent's career, it would make sense to go into more detail as to his time in DEA. Instead, we got one UC operation, jumped right to OKC, and then jumped right to his twilight years.Finally (and this is more of a personal gripe than anything else), he ends the book by lamenting "political correctness" in law enforcement, as well as looking back at the past through rose colored glasses. I find that those who complain about "political correctness" often (but not always) are seeking an intellectual free pass to express controversial viewpoints. It's a buzzword that has been abused far too often.As far as the days of law enforcement passed, to my knowledge, Sellers was not a LEO who abused his power and who did right by people, which is to be commended. Having said that, looking back in the history of law enforcement, I would much rather be closer to where we are now than to where we used to be. Too many LEOs in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and even through the 1990s abused the power of their badges to further deepen societal fault lines. Today, we are still dealing with the ramifications of officers who abused their power decades ago. I would rather err towards where we are today than take off the leash and hope for the best.Overall, it's not a book I would widespread recommend. It's not the worst book I have ever read, but I do have my points of contention. This is a shame because, even with my reservations, Sellers strikes me as a nice guy who has lived a full and interesting life. I'm sure there is more to this story that could make a great book. Unfortunately, it's clear he could have used a little help in crafting it.

As retired law enforcement I found the book to be great. It was hard to put down as I wanted to finish the story of each section. For those that are not law enforcement, I recommend the book as a way to see an inside perspective from an officers point of view. They simply want to do the job right. Great book! I ordered several for my friends. This man had a great career.

Great book. I got to meet Tim as a narcotics seminar a few yes are ago. The things he talked about were prophetic. Everything he predicted is coming true. He is a pretty cool guy and a great speaker and writer.

It looks like alot of people loved this book. But one reader hit the nail right on the head. Besides it being very expensive for such a short book, it doesn't seem professionally written. The stories about the DEA operations that the reader, Me, is looking for, are overshadowed by the author's personal and religious feelings and opinions. After reading 30 pages, I just gave up. Not worth the read, to me. I know that he had a dangerous life, but it just doesn't transfer to paper.

Very interesting reading.It,s too bad we couldn,t still have people like them out there.