Undercurrent

 Undercurrent

Reviewed By  Nan van Dissel       August 5, 2026

 

Author  Jason Somerville

Distributor:      Amazon
ISBN:                 9781923514928
Publisher:         Big Sky Publishing
Release Date:   3 August 2026  

Website:    https://www.amazon.com.au/Undercurrent-Hidden-Cost-Going-Undercover-ebook/dp/B0D57XCMHH 

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The Hidden Cost of Going Undercover

Most readers of the true crime genre will be aware of an undercover police sting which has solved a difficult case; the most highly publicized case being the solving of the 2003 disappearance of Daniel Morcombe in 2011.

 However, few readers would be aware of the actual mechanics behind these operations and the dangers undertaken by the officers in the role of undercover agent; a slight slip can expose their identity, putting not only themselves but their friends and family at the risk of unthinkable retribution. Jason Somerville in his page turning debut book “Undercurrent” gives the reader this insight.

Jason Somerville didn’t set out to be a policeman let alone an undercover agent, however in 1991 he started his training in the Queensland Police Service. Drawn to work in clandestine operations and understanding the dangers, in 1995 he joined the Covert Squad; a role which would require him to move between safe houses, lie to drug dealers and buy ever growing quantities of illegal drugs.

Understanding that the success of the operation depended on a fragile thread of trust extended to people whose loyalty belonged only to themselves, he took on the persona of Michael Bates drug dealer. Infiltrating drug syndicates generally required him to befriend small time dealers, gaining their confidence to move up the line; a small mistake or oversight could have catastrophic consequences. With a growing understanding of human behaviour, criminal methods and the nuances of policing, he started noticing his own personality subtly changing.

By the mid-1990s street deals were disappearing as dealers were becoming more cautious about how they sold heroin. There was now a greater separation between suppliers and the actual transaction; some used runners, so that they were never physically caught holding anything themselves. Through informers he started to gain a deeper understanding of the seedy underbelly of the city. 

After spending two years pretending to be Michael Bates, the author at times had difficulty deciding where Bates ended and he began; undercover work leaves marks. All readers will find Undercurrent a compelling, absorbing, and very insightful read. 

Biographies, Documentary, Non Fiction