Breaking Blue Audiobook By Timothy Egan cover art

Breaking Blue

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Breaking Blue

By: Timothy Egan
Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
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In 1935, the Spokane police regularly extorted sex, food, and money from the reluctant hobos (many of them displaced farmers who had fled the midwestern dust bowls), robbed dairies, and engaged in all manner of nefarious crimes, including murder. This history was suppressed until 1989, when former logger, Vietnam vet, and Spokane cop Tony Bamonte discovered a strange 1955 deathbed confession while researching a thesis on local law enforcement history.

Bamonte began to probe what had every appearance of widespread police crime and a massive cover-up whose highlight was the unsolved murder of Town Marshall George Conff. The fact that many of those involved - now in their 80s and 90s - were still alive made it imperative that Bamonte unravel this mystery. The result is Breaking Blue, a white-knuckle ride through institutional corruption and cover-up that vividly documents Depression-era Spokane and an extraordinary case that few believed would ever be brought to light.

©1992 Timothy Egan (P)2016 Brilliance Audio Americas Crime Freedom & Security Murder Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government True Crime Exciting
Engrossing Story • Masterful Storytelling • Riveting Narrative • Fascinating Backdrop • Great Writing
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A wonderfully detailed account of a long- forgotten, unsolved murder. I wonder, where is Tony today?

Behind the scenes

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The story revolves around two policemen, polar opposites. One Tony Bamonte is a man of a sure moral compass and great integrity. The other Clyde Ralstin is a cowardly cop killing murderer and thief. There are others in the cast of this story, notably, the chief of police of Spokane, Terry Magin, who is a weak, vindictive coward. This is a great story and book. It will make you angry, at the Spokane government and police, and proud of the lonely hero Tony Bamonte.

One good cop many bad ones

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I liked the story overall this author doesn’t fill the page with excessive details unrelated to the substance of his story. I have enjoyed all of his books, plain, simple and to the point.

Tony’s dogged determination to find an answer to a murder that everyone seemed to just forget about it.

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Moves on nicely. A good story well told. Gives you some insight into aspects of the real world and how things work. Or don’t.

Good

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Great narration and loved learning the history of the Spokane area, it was all new to me

Fascinating Spokane history

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As usual Tim Eagan masterfully tells a story that otherwise might never have reached further than the brief newscasts parts of the story created. A deep look into human behaviors- some horrid, others the power of conscience eventually winning out to illuminate the truth. I hope the Sheriff involved was able to move on to find some joy and peace in his later years.

Thought Provoking and Gritty Reality

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Great narration of a story/murder investigation that had lain dormant for far too long. A lone sheriff in a remote Washington town relentlessly pursued the truth about an unsolved 54 year old murder. Overcoming roadblocks set up by a collection of local police forces who were united in their desire to see him fail, he fought the law—and won. Timothy Egan seems incapable of writing a boring book. Every one of his works has kept me riveted until the final word. This book is no exception.

Absolutely riveting story of justice delayed…and maybe denied

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I moved to Spokane several years ago, so when someone suggested this to me, I grabbed it and was looking forward to getting a little of Spokane history while enjoying an entertaining book. I only made it about half way thru before I just found myself drifting and not looking forward to listening to it. I took a break for a few weeks and tried to get back into it, but I just wasn't excited by it.

This book just has a little to much facts and not enough entertaining drama in the writing style. It is a story of government corruption. Am I suppressed this exists? Should I be on the edge of my seat waiting to hear how someone in power took advantage of their position for personal gain, as if this was the first time I had even heard about that concept? This is a story of bad people being bad people, but that doesn't make it entertaining.

Sorry, but I just didn't like it.

I really tried, but couldn't get thru it

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He’s my new favorite for historical crime. I love a Twitter that does the research.

Glad I Discovered Egan

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Timothy Egan is a hell of a good writer and very smart guy. He wraps his thoroughly researched narratives inside the fascinating times and places in which those stories are set.

Breaking Blue is every bit as engrossing as two of his other books, The Big Burn and The Worst Hard Times.

Excellent! Highly Recommended.

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