Although I read it 30 yeas ago, I wanted to revisit it.... Joseph Wambaugh's The Onion Field. The true story of two police officers crossing paths with two robbers back in the 60s.. It ranks up there with Truman Capote's In Cold Blood.

I don’t have the book in my collection and I don’t know if I ever read it but I should try to find it.

quote:

Originally posted by nhtagmember:
I don’t have the book in my collection and I don’t know if I ever read it but I should try to find it.

I had to order it from Books A Million online.

It was made into a movie that was really well done. Both suspects were sentenced to death but was vacated when California ruled the death penalty cruel and unusual. (go figure that)

Another great Wambaugh book is 'Lines and Shadows' About the San Diego Police 'BARF' squad, Border Alien Robbery Force. The Cops went out every night into the smuggling Canyons at the Border to protect the Border crossers from being victimized by the smugglers/bandits who preyed on them. IIRC they were in shootouts every week.

It was a spooky book and well written.

'Fire Lover' is another great Wambaugh book.

I was in high school when I read that book. It really left an impression on me about how disgusting people can be. I watched the movie on a VCR after reading it. While the movie was good, it had nowhere near the impact that the book provided.

used to read Wambaugh a lot when young

really opened my eyes to how some 'people' can be

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The Onion Field is excellent! I've read it a couple of times. Another really good one is Echoes in the Darkness about a murder along Philly's Main Line. I lived there when it actually happened.

I read that book in 1986, damn good read.

I remember throwing the book across the room several times while trying to read through the latter appeals phase. The endless legal bullshit, the dead witnesses, the whole process. That part was just too real and frustrating to read without wanting to hit somebody.

quote:

Originally posted by urbanwarrior238:
It was made into a movie that was really well done. Both suspects were sentenced to death but was vacated when California ruled the death penalty cruel and unusual. (go figure that)

....

I thought that after several hearings and back forth Powell stayed in prison until he died just not to long ago?

quote:

Originally posted by bdylan:
'Fire Lover' is another great Wambaugh book.

Just ordered it. Thanks brother.

quote:

Originally posted by Pistolria:
The Onion Field is excellent! I've read it a couple of times. Another really good one is Echoes in the Darkness about a murder along Philly's Main Line. I lived there when it actually happened.

Just ordered this one also. Thanks for the heads up.