Book Review: Code Name: Papa: My Extraordinary Life While Hiding in Plain Sight by John Murray And Sharon Murray ISBN: 978-1-4808-1946-7

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I live my entire life just a little “messed up.”  I actually read book two first. I think no matter what order you read the two books that are out so far, Code Name: Papa: My Extraordinary Life While Hiding in Plain Sight by John Murray And Sharon Murray is the kind of book you just can’t put down.  I actually read it straight through with a few pauses for the required potty breaks and, “Didn’t I eat yesterday?”

All while I was reading this real life thriller and reading about how with just one phone call the original Papa could make problems just go away, things like AWOL charges and those nasty customs checks just went away.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had real life Papas who could take care of those civilian problems like trying to get Social Security Disability started and being denied every time? Or, things like trying to make sense of that DNA match that indicates the man you grew up thinking was your father, was not.  But, I digress.

If you love a good spy novel, this is it, but this is the real deal. This stuff really happened.

In Code Name: Papa we learn about an elite group of heros who usually won, but sometimes lost.  This makes the story even more exciting and more believable.

By now, you must know we love the Code Name: Papa series and understand there will soon be at least one more. How wonderful.  This is the first book in the series and definitely the place to start. But, I warn you, once you do you won’t put it down until you are done.

A word of warning: This book does contain the Lord’s Name in Vain multiple times. Our readers want to know this.  

We were sent a complimentary copy of this book.  We are under no obligation to write any review, positive or negative.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

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In The Secret Service Book Review

In the Secret Service

Jerry and Carolynn Parr

The book In the Secret Service with Jerry Parr is an informative book in two parts.  In the first part of the book, Parr tells about how he got to the Secret Service.  He tells us about his life growing up and his time in the Air Force.

In the first part, Parr treats his readers to some inside views of the different presidents, vice presidents, and others he helped protect.  He also gives us a pretty good idea of what life is like as a secret service agent.

Parr tells his readers about the differences in how protectees interacted with their agents and their families.  We learn who tried to make holidays and special occasions away from home and family a little more bearable and which protectees seemed to be oblivious to the situation.

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Parr tells us about his interactions with protectees such as Yasir Arafat and Anwar El Sadat. 

We are given some insight into what it was like to protect Jimmy Carterwho did not want to disappoint the people who wanted to see him and would often put himself in harm’s way.

Parr also describes in detail the day Ronald Reagan was shot.  He tells of previous encounters with the would-be assassin, John Hinckley, Jr.   He gives readers details about what happened inside the limo and what decisions were made and why.

We hear that Parr’s wife Carolyn was working across the street from where the assassination attempt took place.  Readers learn what she went through as she and her coworkers tried to ascertain what happened to her husband Jerry.

Nowhere in this book does it appear to this poor redneck that Parr is trying to toot his own horn or embellish.  If anything, he seems to downplay his role in the entire incident.

The second part of the book gives us insight into Parr’s life after the Secret Service.  It tells of his ministry and his walk with God.  Don’t get me wrong, the adventure is not over when he retires from the service. 

In fact, Parr has an adventure that is on the action adventure level of the Secret Service without the backup of SWAT teams, police, and dozens of other agents.

Parr tells us how a tiny woman takes on a heavily armed detachment of armed men in a third world country, and wins.

This book is worlds different from Standing Next to History
by Joseph Petro.  Petro gives his readers a fascinating account of his life in the secret service.  

Petro took over the Presidential Protection Detail (PPD) sometime after Jerry Parr left it.

The two books, In the Secret Service and Standing Next to History, complement one another without much duplication of information.  


One of these books was written by the father of a little girl whose “Daddy works at the airport.” Find out which one.

Book Review Policy

Our policy on book or other product reviews is to give our readers/viewers our honest opinion of the book or product.

From time to time, publishers and or manufacturers or other product representatives will give us a copy of their product free for the purpose of writing a review.  

In this case, we were given the book by the publisher Tyndale through their Tyndale Rewards Program.  No review, positive or otherwise, was required.

We are under no obligation to write a positive review.

There have been occasions when we have written a negative review after having been given a product.

We often provide links to products on Amazon.com where our readers/viewers can make a purchase and help support the continued operation of this blog.

We strongly encourage you to check out your local library. Many libraries now offer free electronic borrowing.

We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html   Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

We obtained this product from the publisher, Tyndale. Tyndale made this available through their Tyndale Rewards Program. This did not influence our opinion or review in anyway.

Please e-mail us at: David E. McClendon, Sr.

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