Breaking Blue Audiobook By Timothy Egan cover art

Breaking Blue

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Breaking Blue

By: Timothy Egan
Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $20.00

Buy for $20.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

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 Freedom & Security Murder Politicians United States Exciting
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Breaking Blue

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    118
  • 4 Stars
    55
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    122
  • 4 Stars
    40
  • 3 Stars
    12
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    111
  • 4 Stars
    46
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating Spokane history

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One good cop many bad ones

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

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

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

right prevails

Timothy Egan is an outstanding storyteller. We learn what one gives up in the pursuit of truth.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Behind the scenes

A wonderfully detailed account of a long- forgotten, unsolved murder. I wonder, where is Tony today?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thought Provoking and Gritty Reality

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely riveting story of justice delayed…and maybe denied

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Glad I Discovered Egan

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

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent! Highly Recommended.

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.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

9 people found this helpful