Men in Blue

Badge of Honor, Book 1

By: W. E. B. Griffin

Narrated by: Michael Russotto

Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

W.E.B. Griffin's best-selling series, The Corps and Brotherhood of War, have captured the pride and glory of the military community. Now he reveals a city police force with the same unique blend of realism, drama, and action. Here are the brave men and women behind the badge as you've never seen them before - their hopes and fears, their courage and heroism, sparked by a single, shocking event: The killing of a cop in the line of duty.

Top cops: listen to another Badge of Honor title.

©1988 W.E.B. Griffin (P)2011 Penguin Audio

nice try, but so many anachronisms....

Author needs to do MUCH better research. Can't seem to figure out which decade the story is set in. It really distracts from the story.

Good listen

I have read every book in the Badge of Honor Series loved them all. Griffith is one of my favorite authors

Men in Blue Badge of Honor

I don’t normally write reviews but I just have to say the story line was good. The reader was less than enjoyable. His reading was flat and unemotional. I did not enjoy this book

WEB Griffin - Great story in a coply fashion.

Great story! going to the next one now. looking forward to the series, while I drive.

Tremendous Cop story with Mystery and some Romance

Griffin AKA Butterworth is well known for his war stories. However, he hits a home run with this COP book. It is set within the Philadelphia Police Department. Griffin does a great job of explaining how the Police feel when one of their own is taken. However, he also shows how the family can be affected as well the public. He adds in a little Romance to go along with the Mystery and he has another book that I could not seem to put down once I started it. As a retired Police Officer/Deputy Sheriff from a small town/county in another state, I feel he must have put in some time in law enforcement to have done such a fantastic job.

Back to 1973

For people born prior to the 1960s, Men In Blue could be both nostalgic and disturbing. While most of the police officers were portrayed as dedicated public servants, the blatant racism, bigotry and sexism so prevalent in that decade was depressingly realistic.

The plot - which started with a gun battle in a Philly diner - was instantly engrossing and entertaining; it was like listening to an episode of Law and Order set in 1973. The author was exceptionally skilled at creating a large cast of unique characters, using a degree of detail that some might find annoying but I enjoyed.

Note: the author used many degrading slurs when referring to minorities, women and gays. Although that crude language was typical for the time period, his casual use of the N word and other horribly offensive language was still jarring.

Classic 80's Chauvinism

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Very rude dialogue of the 80's by the men in blue!
In this day and age, the old name calling is like getting a glass of ice water thrown at you while listening.
This story has tons of male chauvinistic viewpoints (gads were we that shallow in those days!)

Would you be willing to try another book from W. E. B. Griffin? Why or why not?

NOT for me, but if you want to re live the 80's this story is for you.
If you loved the pace of Dragnet, then this story has that type of timing, but it definitely shows the shallow attitude some people had in those days. Take off your happy glasses for this one!
This author certainly has a fan base, but this book doesn't even compel my curiosity to check it out. Since the material is so dated, it was difficult for me to guess the message the author intended. If it was how the 80's cops protected each other, then that point came across.

Have you listened to any of Michael Russotto’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was a 1st in series sale so I could try new author's and readers. Reader did a good job despite the material. I will check him out on another author to give him a 2nd chance.

Did Men in Blue inspire you to do anything?

I write this review even though I have 4 hrs to go. I am going to finish, but I don't see anything so far to compel me to buy book #2.
Note: I do use the new 1.25x speed to match the author's intent.

Any additional comments?

See Marcia Clark's Rachel Knight and Samantha Brinkman series for good listening entertainment.

Educational, but Boring

The story is very educational with a lot of knowledge about the police and how it works, but the massive info dumps common in nearly every chapter interrupted the plot. Would have been better if the information was marked for possible skipping, cut down or removed entirely.

Good read disappointing ending if you are looking for a happy ending

Really good sassy adult read. No happy ending for the romantic readers but a first class police crime novel
Outstanding reader. He does multiple voices very well

Multiple Reads!!

I never tire of going back to this series for a reread! The characters are great and I love the setting in the early books, 1970's Philadelphia. Growing up in the 70's, I like the setting because it reminds me how things were, especially never being able to get in touch with someone. Life before cell phones. There is a grittiness in the books that comes with the time and Griffin captures the feeling of big city 1970's turmoil. Michael Russotto is also one of my favorite narrators. Some of the characters have similar dialects by Russotto, but his voice is great for the setting and characters.

If you like Griffin's other books, you love this series.