{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "description": "I often look to the true crime genre for engaging narratives, detailed retellings of stories I'm perhaps only vaguely aware of and a simple interest in the genre. I wasn't aware if this case and I'm surprised I wasn't but it was overshadowed by other events of the time (as the author notes — namely the gross miscarriage of justice that was the trial of the officers that viciously beat Rodney King ). But this was a dull and tedious retelling of an otherwise deeply interesting and disturbing case. Ron Baker's murder was a tragedy, Duncan Martinez's release and clemency grant by Governor Newsom was clearly unwarranted and, well, all of this was delivered clinically and in a fashion that felt devoid of emotion where much was required. Nathan Blalock remains incarcerated following his conviction, while Martinez was released despite refusing a plea officer that was far too generous given his involvement and non-stop dissembling. The motivation for the killing as described are perplexing, but violence is often senseless. The author's connection to the King case and \"Los Angeles on the brink\" are — at best — tenuous. The author does little more than mention it as casting a shadow on the investigation and raising public suspicion of police officers (as well it did and should continue to do so). The author was one of the detectives on the case, so I imagine this as authoritative a retelling as we'll get, but I wish it hadn't been quite so clinical and overlong.",
  "path": "/reading/books/9780316365789/black-tunnel-white-magic",
  "publishedAt": "2025-05-06T00:00:00Z",
  "site": "at://did:plc:sttgf52vkk46f6yuknvqxvgh/site.standard.publication/self",
  "tags": [
    "crime",
    "nonfiction",
    "true crime"
  ],
  "title": "Black Tunnel White Magic"
}