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Tacoma Confidential: A True Story of Murder, Suicide, and a Police Chief's Secret Life Kindle Edition

by Paul LaRosa (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 126 ratings
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The explosive best-selling true crime classic about a series of events that will boggle your mind, written by an Emmy-Award winning producer. An American tragedy in every sense of the word.

Gig Harbor, Washington, a quiet Tacoma suburb, knew little of tragedy and scandal-until April 26, 2003. On that day, David Brame, distraught over his impending divorce, shot his wife to death in a busy public parking lot. Then, with the couple's two children only feet away, he turned the gun on himself. It was a horrific event, but Tacoma residents had special reason to be shocked. Brame was, after all, the chief of police.

But as the investigation unfolded, a bizarre and depraved side of Brame and his marriage came to light. Here, in chilling detail, is the full story of one of Gig Harbor's most violent and disturbing crimes.
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  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Berkley
  5. Publication date
    January 3, 2006
  6. Reading age
    18 years and up
  7. File size
    694 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
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  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

LaRosa, a journalist and TV producer who was won two Emmy Awards, does a fine job detailing the tragic chain of events that led to the 2003 murder of Crystal Brame at the hands of her estranged husband, David Brame, the chief of police of Tacoma, Wash., who immediately killed himself. That this murder-suicide came as a shock to the local citizens was a testament both to the timidity of the press and the mishandling of David Brame's growing instability and violence by city government, including fellow members of the police force. The essential sadness of the tale comes through in LaRosa's careful prose, though he leaves some important ambiguities unresolved, perhaps by necessity. Some readers might have preferred more of an emphasis on the local politics that contributed to the enabling of Chief Brame's domestic violence, but this is a solid summary of the depressing basics of the case. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

  • "(LaRosa) does a fine job detailing the tragic chain of events that led to the 2003 murder of Crystal Brame at the hands of her estranged husband." -- Publisher's Weekly"
  • "A finely documented book that shows as many sides as many sides of the case as a kaleidoscope. Does absolute power corrupt? You be the judge!" -- Ann Rule, author of 'Green River, Running Red'"
  • "A well-crafted and engaging new true-crime paperback." -- Seattle Weekly"
  • "A true crime book that's both sensational and quality journalism." -- Associated Press

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002DMZ9UE
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (January 3, 2006)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 3, 2006
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 694 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 126 ratings

About the author

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Paul LaRosa

Paul LaRosa

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My bio is below but what I want to say is: thank you so much to all the readers out there who buy my books and take the time to write and post honest reviews. You're the best. I appreciate your support and welcome your opinions--all your opinions.

Onto the bio:

Paul LaRosa is a four-time Emmy Award winning journalist and a writer and producer at the CBS News broadcast “48 Hours.” He has also won 2 Du Ponts, 3 Gracie Awards, a Peabody and 2 Edward R. Murrow Awards. Basically, every major award granted in television journalism.

He was one of the producers on the acclaimed CBS News documentary “9/11” which was seen by 40 million viewers when it first aired on CBS six months after the collapse of the World Trade Center Towers. He's been a staff producer at "48 Hours" on CBS for more than 20 years.

He was formerly a reporter at The New York Daily News and has written for The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Newsday and other publications. He is also the author of four true crime books and a memoir released in spring, 2012.

He also writes a frequent blog which can be found on the Substack platform. On social media, he can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @paullarosa.

A resident of Park Slope, Brooklyn, he is married to Susan Glauberman and they have two children. Paul attended Fordham University and was later a Revson Fellow at Columbia University.

Paul’s memoir “Leaving Story Avenue, my journey from the projects to the front page,” has drawn great critical reviews from, among others, Sam Roberts of The New York Times, and Ken Auletta of The New Yorkers.

In his free time, he swims, plays guitar, reads Tarot cards, and is an amateur historian of The Beatles.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
126 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

zachs mema
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good, but so sad
Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2012
Verified Purchase
I just finished this book tonight, and couldn't put it down. I consider myself a true crime snob, as I would like to see all books written as well as Ann Rule writes. David was a sociopath, plain and simple. He beat Crystal down so low, that she had no place to go but up. She is the hero in this book. She left him, and that should have been the happy ending. So sad to say it's not. I do have one big problem with this author. He kept on wondering why Crystal stopped when she saw David even though she was deathy afraid of him. He thinks like a man, which he is, and not a mother. If this would have been me, and I saw my psycho soon to be ex with my children, I would have stopped also. What kind of mother would she have been if her children saw her pass them and not check on them? She loved her children with all of her heart, and checking on them was in her nature. For this author to doubt or wonder why she stopped, is like blaming the victim for just showing up. All in all this was written well, but totally heart wrenching. May she be at peace, and her beautiful children thrive with her parents and sister.
2 people found this helpful
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Zach
4.0 out of 5 stars Crazy
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2024
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Tacoma Confidential: A True Story of Murder, Suicide, and a Police Chief's Secret Life is an essential read for any Puget Sound resident. This gripping narrative unfolds a crazy and shocking story that seems almost implausible in this region. The book, expertly written, manages to captivate the reader with its well-paced storytelling while delivering a tale that is both tragic and startling.

What makes this book particularly intriguing is its ability to unravel a narrative that feels like it belongs to another world, one that doesn't seem possible in the (formerly) peaceful Pacific Northwest. The author skillfully navigates through the layers of the story, keeping the reader engaged and invested in the shocking revelations.

The shocking and sad elements of the narrative add depth to the storytelling, leaving a lasting impact on the reader. The author's ability to balance the various emotions in the book contributes to its overall poignancy.

In summary, Tacoma Confidential is not just a true crime story; it's a poignant exploration of a police chief's secret life, woven together with impeccable storytelling. A must-read for Puget Sound residents, this book leaves an indelible mark, making it an essential addition to any bookshelf
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Shanna McQueen
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2007
Verified Purchase
Thank you, once again, to my online review comrades. You directed me to another great true crime read. While the story was a bit slow initially, I found myself almost unable to set it aside later. In fact, I was disappointed when the book ended. If you are searching for an interesting and somewhat different true crime story, this book will not disappoint! I really enjoyed the author comments also. Some authors only present facts, but I actually respect those authors who are willing to offer their own commentary. After all, Mr. LaRosa did the research, interviewed countless persons, and visited the crime scene. He is entitled to an opinion.

It is interesting to me that so many people had an instant dislike for David Brame, yet so many others did not. It is also probably no mystery that most of the persons who immediately disliked David Brame were women. Even the most observant of men often do not have the same instinctive feelings about other men that women do.

I do not understand David Brame's family. While I understand that he was a son and a brother, the evidence is the evidence. He did have long standing sexual problems and a history or inappropriate sexual behavior that were revealed after his death. The Brame's can criticize and point the finger at Crystal Brame (who has obvious mental and emotional difficulties of her own), but in the end it was David Brame who left an obituary column on the kitchen table for his wife, took his service revolver, and for reasons no one will ever quite understand, shot his wife and then himself. There is strong evidence that David Brame acted in a selfish manner throughout his life and displayed a glaring lack of empathy, both professionally and personally. If there are any doubts about how selfish he truly was, one has only to look at how he murdered the mother of his children - in front of his own children. His actions effectively robbed the children of a mother, a father, and normal childhood free from trauma.

As the author notes, it is a mystery as to why Crystal followed her husband into a public parking lot that became a crime scene. While I do not doubt the claims of ongoing domestic violence, Crystal did present as emotionally unstable and chaotic. Perhaps she only wanted to speak with David Brame briefly about exchanging the children later. Perhaps she wanted to discuss something more substantive. Either way, her credibility was damaged when she chose to follow a man she claimed she had long feared into a parking lot and parked near him to talk. Her mother suggests Crystal may have been going to buy cough syrup. I seriously doubt it. These are the ramblings of a mother blinded to reality by the love for her own child... much like Beverly Brame claims that Crystal "...pushed David too far." The marriage is a testament to the tragedy that often unfolds when two insecure, damaged indviduals unite and try to meet their unreasonable needs through another person.
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