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The Job: Fighting Crime From the Frontline
Charlie Bezzina was one of Victoria’s top homicide detectives.In his 17 years in the Homicide Squad, he investigated more than 300 suspicious deaths, including 150 murders – among them the crimes of serial killer Paul Denyer, the killing of Melbourne gangland figure Alphonse Gangitano, the Silk/Miller police murders, the baffling disappearances of former gameshow model Jacquie Ramchen and Sarah McDiarmid, and the death of former Test cricketer David Hookes.
This is the never-before-told story of Bezzina’s rise from a sheltered childhood in a Maltese family in Melbourne’s western suburbs, to a widely respected senior detective who served Victoria Police with distinction and unquestioned integrity for 37 years, culminating in his acrimonious and highly controversial departure from the force.
The Job is an explosive and intriguing account of what it takes to be a criminal investigator at the highest level.
This is the never-before-told story of Bezzina’s rise from a sheltered childhood in a Maltese family in Melbourne’s western suburbs, to a widely respected senior detective who served Victoria Police with distinction and unquestioned integrity for 37 years, culminating in his acrimonious and highly controversial departure from the force.
The Job is an explosive and intriguing account of what it takes to be a criminal investigator at the highest level.
349 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
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244 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 13, 2019
The Job.Fighting Crime From The Frontline.
By Charlie Bezzina with Ben Collins.
A police force is nothing without respect; and it won't have respect if it doesn't maintain it's integrity.
Undercover cops are actors.However the stakes are vastly different.If you make a mistake as an undercover operative,a director doesn't call"Cut";but a criminal might go BANG.
Once you're doing business with a reasonably high-level dealer,it's almost like a mutual respect develops between you (well,he respects you anyway) because you survive off each other;you know his potential to supply and he knows your potential to buy.So he is not going to burn you by selling you shit-quality drugs.
I had to be cautious, and I was never blasé about it.because I knew the type of people who occupied the drug world,and I knew there were consequences for anyone who betrayed them.I was swimming with sharks;mixing with the big crooks for big stakes and big money,and taking precautions was a big priority for me,especially considering that at the time I was a father of three kids under the age of 10.
I eventually became disillusioned with the Drug Squad because,from where I stood, our investigations were hindered by factors outside our control,including a lack of resources, dubious management decisions and dick pulling politics.
Our relationship with the 'Feds' has historically been strained, and that was certainly the case when I was in the Drug Squad.They had their information and investigations and we had ours,and we might even have been working on the same target,and at cross-purposes to each other.
The two most precious things to a human being are life and liberty.They are also the most precious things you can take away from someone.
I was always acutely aware of the enormity of what it meant to deprive a person of their liberty.
For some reason, Tuesday was the most common day for homicides,while winter was the quietest time, perhaps because fewer people braved the elements.
This was a very interesting book.It showed an enlightening insight to the work of a detective,however it became to graphic for me to continue reading,which was a pity because I was interested to know the circumstance that led to Charlie Bezzina leaving the police force,and his relationship with Police Commissioner Simon Overland.
Today 17/2/12, I saw Charlie Bezzina in Swan Hill,in the cafe where I was having lunch with my Mum,sister and brother.I approached Mr Bezzina and told him I had started reading his book. He was very jovial and replied " So your the one!"
I told him it was very interesting but I had to stop reading the book because I found it too scary. He said it was very scary living it!
I expressed my admiration of the job he had done while in the police force .
A very charming man!
By Charlie Bezzina with Ben Collins.
A police force is nothing without respect; and it won't have respect if it doesn't maintain it's integrity.
Undercover cops are actors.However the stakes are vastly different.If you make a mistake as an undercover operative,a director doesn't call"Cut";but a criminal might go BANG.
Once you're doing business with a reasonably high-level dealer,it's almost like a mutual respect develops between you (well,he respects you anyway) because you survive off each other;you know his potential to supply and he knows your potential to buy.So he is not going to burn you by selling you shit-quality drugs.
I had to be cautious, and I was never blasé about it.because I knew the type of people who occupied the drug world,and I knew there were consequences for anyone who betrayed them.I was swimming with sharks;mixing with the big crooks for big stakes and big money,and taking precautions was a big priority for me,especially considering that at the time I was a father of three kids under the age of 10.
I eventually became disillusioned with the Drug Squad because,from where I stood, our investigations were hindered by factors outside our control,including a lack of resources, dubious management decisions and dick pulling politics.
Our relationship with the 'Feds' has historically been strained, and that was certainly the case when I was in the Drug Squad.They had their information and investigations and we had ours,and we might even have been working on the same target,and at cross-purposes to each other.
The two most precious things to a human being are life and liberty.They are also the most precious things you can take away from someone.
I was always acutely aware of the enormity of what it meant to deprive a person of their liberty.
For some reason, Tuesday was the most common day for homicides,while winter was the quietest time, perhaps because fewer people braved the elements.
This was a very interesting book.It showed an enlightening insight to the work of a detective,however it became to graphic for me to continue reading,which was a pity because I was interested to know the circumstance that led to Charlie Bezzina leaving the police force,and his relationship with Police Commissioner Simon Overland.
Today 17/2/12, I saw Charlie Bezzina in Swan Hill,in the cafe where I was having lunch with my Mum,sister and brother.I approached Mr Bezzina and told him I had started reading his book. He was very jovial and replied " So your the one!"
I told him it was very interesting but I had to stop reading the book because I found it too scary. He said it was very scary living it!
I expressed my admiration of the job he had done while in the police force .
A very charming man!
Want to read
July 9, 2025Not a bad book, but a bit long. I just can't get into it at the moment, so putting it on the d-n-f shelf for now...
February 4, 2026
2.5 Stars
May 6, 2012
Charlie invites the reader into the history of his distinguished career within the Victorian Police Force, including his 17 years as one of the state's (if not Australia's) leading Homicide investigators. His recollections of his early days as a young constable, through to his final gut-wrenching decision to resign are not qyuite "warts-and-all", but one gets the impression that Charlie has left very little non-confidential material out of this book.
The final chapters deal with Charlie's treatment by Police Command, several of whom later found themselves the target of community scorn for their own behaviours and failed management styles. It was this treatment that eventually caused Charlie's resignation, as well as the loss of 80 years (and over 700 individual invetigations) worth of experience from the Homicide branch, as well as other branches as a result of a misguided attempt to stop the 'experience drain' of seasoned and experienced investigators. Ironically it was this policy that caused a far greater loss of experienced investigative personnel than anything else (retirement, etc).
This is an extremely well-written book by an accomplished and talented man, the loss of whom Victoria Police should be lamenting for at least the next 20 years.
Thank you for your years of service to the community Charlie.
The final chapters deal with Charlie's treatment by Police Command, several of whom later found themselves the target of community scorn for their own behaviours and failed management styles. It was this treatment that eventually caused Charlie's resignation, as well as the loss of 80 years (and over 700 individual invetigations) worth of experience from the Homicide branch, as well as other branches as a result of a misguided attempt to stop the 'experience drain' of seasoned and experienced investigators. Ironically it was this policy that caused a far greater loss of experienced investigative personnel than anything else (retirement, etc).
This is an extremely well-written book by an accomplished and talented man, the loss of whom Victoria Police should be lamenting for at least the next 20 years.
Thank you for your years of service to the community Charlie.
January 7, 2016
I enjoyed the book, written in an easy manner, I agree with some of the other reviews, you get the feeling that some things have been left out. But I guess it's expected in this situation. Enjoyed the read immensely.
October 23, 2018
Absolutely loved this book. So enthralling and detailed! I listened to Charlie Bezzina on a true crime podcast & loved this too. Great read, would recommend if you like true crime novels
September 13, 2025
Interesting hearing about some very famous cases first hand. Editing and writing could have been better. Didn't really understand why his reason for leaving the police force was such a big thing, but we all have our own limits I guess!
August 20, 2020
Incredible. This is my favourite book ever.
April 23, 2024
Enjoyed this book
December 26, 2025
good read
March 21, 2016
Superficial and poorly edited, if at all.
Interesting content and a quick easy read.
Interesting content and a quick easy read.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews