The King of Sting: The Amazing True Story of a Modern American Outlaw

by Craig Glazer, Sal Manna

Craig Glazer was an ordinary college student when he planned and successfully executed his first fake sting to get back at some drug dealers who had robbed him. The rush he got from the experience led him and a crew of 11 accomplices to mastermind a two-year, 33-sting spree that stretched coast to coast, posing as everything from local police to IRS agents and hotel managers. Glazer and Donald Woodbeck, his partner in crime, sniffed out some of the most sought-after drug lords in the country for the FBI and DEA like bloodhounds. For a while, the plan worked—until Craig's world came crashing down.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Biography, Crime

304 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2008

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This guy is rather full of himself and spends the entire portion of the book that I could stomach making himself seem way better and cooler and "badder" than I'm sure he actually was

If this had been written "about" him instead of by him, it would probably have been a lot better.

[River Scott Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've finished listening to The Audiobook of The King Of The Sting and I rate it 3.5 stars 🌟

Craig Glazer is a criminal he sets up stings, arranging drug deals then turning up as FBI or The Police to con the dealers out of money, he realises his good at it and makes a career out of it along with a friend of his, but he also has a dream of being a movie star and turning his life if crime into a movie called outlaws.

This was a good story I found that Craig Glazer had a big ego he thought that his life of crime would make him a big movie star, despite repeatedly trying to pitch and sell his story as a movie it never really takes off but he keeps trying. It is a very interesting story and I do recommend it

[Mars G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating account, but very self-congratulatory. I would not consider this author to be humble. Indeed, he boasts almost proudly about his illegal activities.

But hey, if I wrote a book, I probably would too. It's interesting as an autobiography but not so much as a true crime novel which is what I was hoping for.

[Winter Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book and hope the finally make a movie.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glazer left Kansas for college in Arizona, got ripped off trying to buy marijuana, and took his inspiration from the movie “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” to get revenge. The sting on the drug dealers — accomplished by Glazer and Don Woodbeck and some friends, pretending to be police — launched his life of crime. The book details many of his early stings with quick, straightforward prose that reads like a novel. Glazer is quick to point out that he and Woodbeck stung only drug dealers and other criminals, and throughout he considers himself an “outlaw,” as distinguished from the criminals he dealt with.
The life he lived was violent, drug-soaked and more than a little dangerous, so when he had the chance to work on the side of law enforcement in Kansas, he took it. For him, it wasn’t about politics, it was about the thrill of the sting. But politics intervened anyway, and he was booted from the job.
This is America, though, so the next logical step was to go to Hollywood in search of a movie deal. The idea for “Outlaws” was optioned but the movie never got made, and after more crime, some prison time and finally legitimate business, Glazer is living in Kansas City and the owner of a comedy club.
The book is a fun ride and an interesting look at how a “good kid” ends up bad — and then finally turns things around for good. One can’t help but be just a little skeptical of Glazer’s insistence that he was a heroic, Butch-and-Sundance kind of outlaw, but we’re rooting for him just the same.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a lot like Catch Me If You Can. Glazer impersonates lots of different people and is often a hair's breath away from being caught by the government. If you like that kind of true crime novel or any kind of hero/outlaw, you love this book.

Glazer does a really good job of making you feel right there with him, sweat dripping down your neck, as he takes down drug dealers, fools the FBI, impersonates the DEA and runs for his life over and over. The true feat is that with every high of a sting gone well, you can feel the ominous weight of what must be eventual consequences for this modern day cowboy.

Though I felt like the book slowed down a bit towards the end, overall it was a really gripping and entertaining read.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone on here is complaining about how this guy is just talking about himself like it’s not his story. Get over it. I had never heard of this book or it’s origins; the storyline itself is very intriguing! The DEA begins, they don’t know what they’re doing because they’re a newer agency. This guy and a friend con some kids for their weed and money back in the 70’s/80’s, and slowly grow bolder until they eventually have the experience the DEA needs on their team.. He contemplates his morality in the story, more than once if I’m not mistaken. I was surprised at some of these ratings. I enjoyed reading this action adventure non-fiction and recommend it to anyone who doesn’t know the full story and enjoys crime/action reads.

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The true story about a Jewish kid from Kansas who, during his first year at Arizona State, goes on a nationwide spree of ripping off drug dealers after getting ripped off himself. He's finally caught after countless rip-offs and ends up working for the DEA as an undercover agent.

The first half of the book is great but slows down in the second half. Overall, I learned a lot about the legal process, drug deals, how to pack cocaine and plenty of other things. For the most part, pretty good.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting story about a guy who poses as an undercover cop setting up drug dealers in a sting operations. Ironic that he didnt get arrested until he was actually hired by the Kansas District Attorneys Office as a real undercover cop playing a drug dealer. This guy watched way too much television and lived in his own TV fantasy world. He is also a local guy from Kansas City and is the owner of one of the most well-known comedy clubs in KC, Stanford & Sons.

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't mind suspending disbelief when reading fiction,
but this book is suppose to be NON FICTION.

The basic facts of his ripping off drug dealers is probably true,
but he enhanced the details to make himself look better and
make the book more readable.

A con artist to the end.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book . I just wanted to hear Craig's story after hearing him talk about this book on the Johnny Dare Morning Show. I am glad I borrowed this book and did not pay to read Craig ramble on about himself. Can we say someone has a bad case of the Hey Look at Me's

[Marti Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty entertaining. The constant self-congratulation got a bit tedious, but it is quite a story, even if it's not all true, as the author claims.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book was amazing, the second half slowed down and was kinda hard to get through.

[Justine Carpenter-mauldin]

I bought this for Garrett a few Christmases ago, because he loves to read but has a phobia of library books. (They're filthy because you don't know where other readers have been reading them.)

[Durell Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book is good i think i might change proffesion to being cop

[RJ Stayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting true story. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.