GTA 5 By the Book mission

Completing "Three's Company" unlocks a phone call from Agent Haines that comes about 2 - 3 minutes (real time) after you finish the mission. He will call either Trevor or Michael depending on who you are controlling at the time. If you answer the phone, the mission begins immediately when you hang up the phone - "By The Book" will appear and you'll get your first objective. You can make a quick trip by using the SWITCH to change to the character you are not currently play as out of Michael and Trevor. The initial cut scene at the start of the mission will differ depending on which character arrived first.

Trevor relieves himself as Michael arrives

Michael and Trevor enter together to find Agent Haines and Norton saying goodbye to a man named Devin Watson. After he leaves, Haines then pulls out Mr. K and hooks him up to an ECG monitor and lays out an assortment of interrogation instruments. As with previously, K insists that he knows nothing and is just a home electronics guy. He then speaks of a man in Rockford Hills that works at the consulate and that is all he knows. Haines sends Michael and Dave to target the individual while Trevor remains behind to gather intelligence from Mr K.

After the cut scene you take control of Michael. Get in the car with Dave and follow the yellow route to the destination marker in Rockford Hills. off Caesar Place. Upon arrival, it becomes immediately obvious that the man inside the target is the wrong one as he isn't Azerbaijani. SWITCH back to Trevor to get more intel.

In order to get 100% for this mission, all four torture devices must be used without Mr. K going into Cardiac Arrest (if he does, however, he can be "revived" with an adrenaline shot, but doing so will make you miss out on 100%). Start with the wrench. Pick it and use it as indicated on the screen. After being hit, Mr. K is asked by Haines about a man called Tahir Kerimov. K admits that he installed Kerimov's home theater and that he lives in Chumash. Haines then passes this via the phone to Agent Norton and you automatically switch back to Michael.

Trevor pulling out Mr. K's tooth

Michael and Dave are in a coffee shop when you switch back. Follow the yellow route to the Great Ocean Highway to Chumash. On the way, Norton and Michael will talk about the old days. When you arrive at the destination, park in the car park outside Robs Liquor. Michael and Dave take the sniper position on a hillock overlooking a row of beachfront houses. However, you need a description of the target. SWITCH back to Trevor.

Pick a different torture device, this time pick the Jerrycan to Waterboard Mr. K. When you finish, he describes him as having an average build, average height, and middle-aged. Steve relays that with "he's probably dark skinned too".

Pick yet another torture device, such as the electrified clips, and spark then (just for fun). Then clip them both on to Mr. K to electrocute him and he tells them that he is a bearded man.

SWITCH back to Michael and survet the beach houses for a bearded man. However, a lot of men in the houses have beards. SWITCH back to Trevor to obtain more information.

Mr. K remembers that Tahir chain smokes. Although good intel, Agent Haines wants more so Trevor needs to toture him again (for the last time). Pick the last remaining tool yet to have been used, the vice clamp, and follow the on screen controls to pull out one of Mr. K's teeth. Rotate the control sticks to pluck it out. Mr. K now remembers that as well as being a chain smoker, he smokes Redwood cigarettes and is also left-handed.

Michael identifies Tahir Kerimov

SWITCH back to Michael, and with all the information you need, find the target. Kill him with a head shot.

The scene automatically switches back to the warehouse where Steve is rushing off to a racquetball game and asks Trevor to deal with Mr. K stating he has "outlived his usefulness". However, Trevor helps him into his truck and takes him to the airport. Get in the truck and follow the yellow line to the Los Santos Airport and on arrival it triggers a cut scene as Trevor lets Mr. K go.

By The Book is a storyline mission in GTA V played as protagonists Michael De Santa and Trevor Philips. This mission starts when Michael or Trevor (whichever protagonist is being played at the moment) receives a call from Steve Haines asking him to meet the other protagonist at a warehouse off Dutch London in Banning. The two protagonists enter the warehouse and see Steve Haines along with Dave Norton and Devin Weston. Devin is seen leaving after which Kerimov is revealed.

Kerimov is made to sit on a chair and is taped to it. He is introduced to Michael and Trevor by Dave. Haines tells Michael and Dave to drive to Rockford Hills and find the man Kerimov is talking about. When Michael and Dave arrive at the house, they find out that it cannot be the guy they’re looking for. Dave calls up Steve and lets him know. Trevor now begins to torture Ferdinand Kerimov for the right information.

Trevor can do the following to torture Kerimov:

  • Waterboarding

  • Beating him with a wrench.

  • Electrical shocks from a car battery.

  • Extracting a tooth using pliers.

While torturing Kerimov, the player has to be careful with Kerimov’s heart rate. If it exceeds 200bpm Kerimov will die and the mission will end in failure. Haines will then ask Kerimov about a man named Tahir Javan and Kerimov reveals that he lives in Chumash on the western highway. Michael and Dave leave their coffee break and go to the house. They see a party with multiple people, many looking like Azerbaijani, with beards.

As Trevor tortures Kerimov without successfully keeping him alive, he reveals more details about the target which are as follows.

  • A man of average height and weight (the player is able to kill Javan at this point to complete the mission early)

  • Has a beard

  • Is a chain smoker

  • Smokes Redwood Cigarettes

  • Is left-handed

Michael finds and assassinates the target after which Steve Haines instructs Trevor to get rid of Kerimov. Trevor drives Kerimov to the airport and lets him go.

By The Book Information

Name of MissionBy The BookProtagonist(s)Michael De Santa Trevor PhilipsLocation

  • Dutch London Warehouse, Banning
  • Caesars Place, Rockford Hills
  • Cool Beans, San Andreas Avenue, Del Perro
  • The Jetty, Chumash
TargetInterrogate and torture Ferdinand Kerimov for information on Tahir JavanTime of the DayIn-game time

Mission Objectives

  • Go to the warehouse. (Michael or Trevor)

  • Go to the house. (Michael)

  • Go to the house. (Michael)

  • Find the target. (Michael)

  • Go to the airport. (Trevor)

Gold Medal Objective

  • Don't Stop Me Now - Complete without Mr K's heart stopping

  • Electrocutioner - Electrocute Mr K

  • The Tooth Hurts - Pull out Mr K's tooth

  • Wrenched - Hit Mr K with the wrench

  • It's Legal! - Use waterboarding on Mr K

Deaths and Destruction

  • Tahir Javan, an Azerbaijani terrorist, is killed by Michael.

Rewards

  • Devin Weston as an actor in Director Mode

After Mission

After this mission, Michael returns home and lands in an argument with Amanda which is interrupted by Fabien, her yoga instructor. Trevor visits Franklin at his house in Strawberry and meets Lamar and Denise as well. Trevor, Lamar and Franklin leave together to take care of something related to Stretch.

Mission Video Walkthrough

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Trivia

  • The name of this mission comes from a quote Trevor may use while he is waterboarding Kerimov: "Always by the book, that's my vibe.".

  • Because of the nature of this mission, it has been heavily criticized by various media outlets, and is viewed as one of the most controversial missions in the series.

  • The gold medal objective for waterboarding Kerimov called "It's Legal!" is a reference to the CIA using waterboarding as a form of interrogation and infamously denying that it was torture.

  • When Kerimov leaves the warehouse, he appears to drag his leg, regardless of where he was hit with the wrench.

FAQs about By The Book Mission

Q. Who is the target in By The Book in GTA 5?

A. Tahir Javan is the target to be assassinated in the By The Book mission in GTA 5.

Q. What mission number is By The Book in GTA 5?

A. By The Book is mission number 24 in GTA 5.

Q. What is GTA 5 By The Book?

A. By The Book is a storyline mission in GTA 5 played as protagonists Michael De Santa and Trevor Philips. This became a very controversial mission due to its nature.

How do you get gold in GTA 5 by the book?

First thing's first, get in the car and drive over to Rockford Hills to begin the first torture sequence. ... By the Book..

Should I take out Dr Friedlander or let him go?

Kill Him - Friedlander will drop $2023 and an internet news article will confirm his death. Leave Him - The internet news article mentioning his death will still appear. However, after some time, Friedlander will send Michael an e-mail, saying that they should both forget about what happened and move forward.

What is the hardest mission in GTA 5 story mode?

1/10 "The Big Score" Is The Hardest Mission In GTA V There are two ways of doing "The Big Score." Both methods involve a lot of ammunition and skilled driving. It's the biggest heist the characters complete, leaving them all with a generous cut. After a few preparations, players can begin the final heist.