Code Name: Pale Horse

“Code Name: Pale Horse is nothing if not a spiritual quest… a glimmering light on our nation’s underbelly and the pitch-dark road ahead as forces of fascism spread amid the land.” –Hamilton Cain, Chapter 16“The world of an undercover cop has never been more compelling. Payne’s firsthand experience puts readers in the front row, observing the setbacks, triumphs, and inner workings of undercover operations. An enlightening, harrowing, and ultimately fulfilling read.” –Booklist”[A] tough-as-nails account… An eye-opening look at the small but eminently dangerous radical right-wing fringe out there in the shadows.” –Kirkus Reviews“In this gripping debut memoir… Payne nimbly juggles a pulse-pounding account of his undercover efforts with a poignant glimpse at the toll his work took on his wife and young daughter. Fans of Joseph Pistone’s Donnie Brasco should snap this up.” –Publishers Weekly“Code Name: Pale Horse offers an urgent and exciting look into the life of an FBI undercover agent, placing the reader deep inside Payne’s most dangerous and thrilling undercover situations, and showcasing both the hardships he endured and his steely mental resolve.” –Joe Pistone, New York Times bestselling author of Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia“A fascinating account of one man’s journey into the evil dregs of the criminal underworld. Ride along with Payne as he takes you through the kinds of challenging and dangerous assignments that most undercover agents would never even consider, delivering a masterful tour de force! Truly a captivating story from one of the top undercover agents in the Bureau. His story will simply astound you.” –Joaquin “Jack” Garcia, retired FBI agent and New York Times bestselling author of Making Jack Falcone“A fast-paced, riveting account of what white nationalist terror cells look like from the inside. Scott Payne’s first-hand experience and Michelle Shephard’s expert storytelling make a formidable combination.” –Spencer Ackerman, Pulitzer Prize and National Magazine Award-winning reporter and author of Reign of Terror: How The 9⁄11 Era Destabilized America and Produced Trump“Both exhilarating and frightening, this is former FBI agent Scott Payne’s account of discovering and ferreting out America’s Nazis, one of the largest and most insidious domestic terror groups in US history. The tradecraft on display is a true example of the undercover agent’s mantra, ‘Befriend and Betray.’ The book reads like a novel but, shockingly, is all true!” –Robert K. Wittman, founder of the FBI Art Crime Team and New York Times bestselling author of Priceless and The Devil’s Diary“I raced through it. When Payne lifts up the rock to show what’s underneath, you can’t look away. A gripping read.” –Linwood Barclay, New York Times bestselling author

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 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.