Betrayal in Blue

The Shocking Memoir of the Scandal That Rocked the NYPD

By: Burl Barer, Frank C. Girardot Jr., Ken Eurell

Narrated by: Kevin Pierce, Burl Barer

NYPD officers Mike Dowd and Kenny Eurell knew there were two ways to get rich quick in Brooklyn's Lower East Side. You either became drug dealers, or you robbed drug dealers. They decided to do both.

Dowd and Eurell ran the most powerful gang in New York's dangerous 75th Precinct, the crack cocaine capitol of 1980s America. These "Cocaine Cops" formed a lucrative alliance with Adam Diaz, the kingpin of an ever-expanding Dominican drug cartel. Soon Mike and Ken were buying fancy cars no cop could afford, and treating their wives to levels of luxury not associated with a patrol officer's salary.

They were daring, dangerous and untouchable; then the biggest police scandal in New York history exploded into the headlines with the arrest of Mike, Ken, and their fellow crooked cops. Released on bail, Mike offered Ken a long shot at escape to Central America; a bizarre plan involving robbery, kidnapping, and murder, forcing Ken to choose between two forms of betrayal.

When you lie, you steal the truth. Once you have stolen the truth, you can justify stealing anything from anybody. Adapted from Ken Eurell's shocking personal memoir, plus hundreds of hours of exclusive interviews with the major players, including former international drug lord Adam Diaz, and Dori Eurell, revealing the truth behind what you won't see in the hit documentary The Seven Five.

©2016 Burl Barer, Frank C. Girardot Jr., Ken Eurell (P)2016 WildBlue Press

75

A peak of what is was to be a cop in the 80’s in crime filled East New York highly recommend

Awesome look into police corruption.

This book provides an awesome view into police corruption told by an insider.

It was very interesting and at times shocking to hear just how brazen the police officers eventually became when carrying out their crimes.

My only constructive feedback would be - the listener/reader is provided very high level detail about the crimes committed by these corrupt cops. I would have appreciated a more in depth description of some of the individual crimes.

What really brought the book together is the amazing narration provided by Kevin Pierce. If you enjoy the 'True Crime' genre and are a fan of Kevin Pierce- you can't go wrong with Betrayal in Blue.

I was voluntarily provides this free review copy by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Interesting Deep Dive into Police Corruption

With many true crime books you happily spend a few hours listening to the facts and details of the case, but find yourself at the end still trying to figure out exactly what made these people do the often heinous things they did. The authors of Betrayal in Blue certainly lay out all the facts, and the story itself is incredible, but they dig so deep and so honestly into the characters and the history of the NYPD and crime in New York that you come out really understanding the context, motives and environment the scandal occurred in. It helps that one of the authors was personally involved and the other authors are among the most respected writers in the genre. For instance, I thought one of the most surprising and interesting parts of the book was the storyline involving Ken Eurell's wife, Dori, and her love and loyalty to her husband through a situation that would destroy most couples. I'm not sure we could have gotten that aspect of the story with such candid, brutal and deeply personal honesty if both the actual participants and two professional reporters weren't all involved in telling the story.

It may be my unfamiliarity with New York in the 80's, but at times the deep background into New York police and criminal history felt just a little too detailed, especially in the beginning, and I faded a little bit from the story. But the writing was so good and the narration so seamless that it always pulled me back in. And I'm glad it did, because I would have missed the roller coaster ride that followed. I've felt the same thing when I read some of the best books in the genre -- like Wambaugh's "The Onion Field" -- and this book paid off patience and persistence in much the same way.

I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge, but this is a book I would have bought from the description, read with relish and been very glad I did. If you are interested in crime, the police, the history of New York -- or the winding paths that can lead otherwise normal people to follow other people off a cliff, this is a fascinating, comprehensive exploration of all of those themes. Maybe the background went a little too deep for me occasionally, but it also proved to be one of the best aspects of this story. It set the stage for --- and gave a real human context to -- the facts, events and participants in this brutal, personal story of crime and corruption. Check it out, and hang in there if you're wondering when the crazy stuff will happen --- it definitely does.

The struggle to keep a Soul behind the badge

This is a eye opening look into the struggle that goes on behind the badge. This was a very interesting book and it made me stop and think about a different type of challenge that faces the men and women who choose to be Police officers.

The axiom of "Power Corrupts" is still true. This book points out how that constant temptation along with the "Go along to get along" culture fostered the events that occurred back in the 1980's.

The story is ear catching and the narrator does a wonderful job of keeping the listener in the moment. I had no trouble following the story and the various personalities.

This was a very entertaining and thought provoking novel.

This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.

Intriguing Retelling of History

Any additional comments?

I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom. Kevin Pierce does an excellent job performing and retelling this intriguing part of America and NYC's history of corruption in our trusted Police Departments. I'm no expert in history, but he authors seemed to have done a great job of gathering research and interviews, and then putting it all in a page-turning narrative. If you love to learn about events in our history, I highly recommend this book, especially in the audiobook format.

5⭐️Shocking Look at the NYC Police. Dept Fabulous Read

Not to worry Frank, I was half in love with you at the introduction ❤️.The narration was excellent, this is very important, Kevin you made me feel as if I were there.
That this was a very scary story is without a doubt. Your attention to detail made it that much more realistic. We all know there are dreadful things that occur in all police departments, let alone one as big and diverse as NYC. Was I shocked? No, scared,yes.
I have a huge respect for all policemen, and when possible thank them for their service, which in most cases is taken for granted.
You took me on a completely different journey, one I have no experience in. It was told so well I could see it all clearly.
This is a book I highly recommend.
I have so many questions ( which is pure me) but, I will control mysel, and thank you for a fabulous read

Insightful and Informative on police corruption

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The nature and extent of corruption was eye-opening. I didn't realize the gravity of the situation until reading this.

What about Kevin Pierce and Burl Barer ’s performance did you like?

Kevin did a great job as usual. Burl was good too!

Any additional comments?

"This review copy audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost."

How Bad Cops Happen Everywhere

Kevin Pierce gives another captivating performance in his sad narrative of how bad cops betray good cops.

Tangled up in Blue

Betrayal in Blue is the other side of the harrowing story of police corruption in NYPD's 75th precinct during the late 1980's from the perspective of Ken Eurell. The strength of this book I found to be the history of police corruption that dates back to the formation of the NYPD and the first half of the book sets it up nicely, it may be a quick jaunt through history while also filling in the backstory of the 77th percinct issues of corruption, but I loved it. The second half of the book we get into the nitty gritty of the crimes committed by our group of rouge police officers which I found to be astonishing and surprising. The book finishes quickly and ties up loose ends quite nicely until it gets to the epilogue, this is where I felt the book went off the deep end a bit pushing the authors desire to make all drugs legal so cops would be less imcentivized to participate in corruption of this nature.

I will say that the sound quality was excellent and the narrator I felt was a perfect fit to tell this story, I felt like I was hearing this story told by a retired P.I. which I found very appropriate.

All in all I'd say this was a good and enjoyable read minus a few parts here and there where the writer seems to have inserted his beliefs into the book but it's few and far between.

Hello 80s!

wow a story about the crocked cops and law in New York City. coke runs freely, girls are easy lays, and money on the side is a given. this was a crazy story, ( real life story) in the 80-and early 90s time in NYC.

all I can say is wow.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.