Breaking Blue

By: Timothy Egan

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

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

Fascinating Spokane history

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

Behind the scenes

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

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.

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.

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.

right prevails

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

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.

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.

Glad I Discovered Egan

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

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.