The Cyanide Canary

Rating:
Summary: Fairy Tale?
Review: As a resident of the rural region where the story line takes place, I was intrigued by the high drama which the cop, now turned adventure writer, put into his story. The goofiness extends to an effort by the author to quote exact conversations which occured between people during the incident in question. The author wasn't there....but to read his novel....you would think he had everyone wired and recorded. Perhaps those quoted have perfect memory of everything they said during the emergency? Let's get real.

The facts and the tragedy of the case are without argument. However...to read the author's version of his own perceived heroism...is a bit too much. I suspect his story gets better with each telling. It appears that the most troubling aspect of this case to Mr. Hilldorfer is that the local residents didn't bow and curtsey when he, as the big city cop, rode into town on his federal badge.

Out here we have a joke....the only difference between a fairy tale and a fisherman's tale is that the fisherman's story starts with "no sh__, guys...this really happened" instead of "Once Upon a Time".

Based upon his version of this tragedy,I think Mr. Hilldorfer needs to take up fishing.

Rating:
Summary: Tragic book provides factually detailed and great read!
Review: I bought this book for a friend for Christmas and found I had to go back and buy two more copies (one for myself and as another gift), because I started reading it before wrapping it and couldn't put it down. I won't call this tragic "story"--because the word story implies it is a work of fiction. However, the detailed endnotes based on sworn affidavit, deposition and trial testimony, as well as numerous citations to witness interviews show it is well researched recital of shockingly true facts. Written in the third person, it reads as easily as a fiction novel (including simplified medical, chemical and legal jargon), but it clearly is not. Given the monstrosity of the events, it is easy to understand how witnesses involved in the investigation and trial would easily remembered what they said and saw at the time the events occurred. This is a definite read for anyone interested in a well written and researched compelling story of finding justice in a small Idaho-company based town. The only people who might not want to read it now would be those who don't want to have their holiday preparations waylaid (because it will pull you into the story), or those who are still denying the facts of what happened.

Rating:
Summary: Libertarian Weighs In
Review: I'm a long time Idaho resident and libertarian. I am pretty cynical about help from the Federal government, but...

In Idaho, someone tried to get ahead by cutting corners in ways that impacted others. We have a perfect role for government to step in. This is a true tragedy. The story is almost over and then takes another twist that really had me sprinting to the end of the book.

As I promote free markets, people always ask what will keep big business from destroying the world. This is a great story about the difficulties, and ultimate triumph of the government's effort to make one citizen accountable for his actions.

Rating:
Summary: Tragic Story, Excellent Writing.
Review: In the coal mines of yesterday the miners took a canary with them into the mine. If the canary fell off of its perch the miners knew they were in trouble. In this true story, twenty year old Scott Dominguez didn't have a canary when he went into a 25,000 gallen storage tank that turned out to be filled with poisonous gasses. Shortly thereafter he was pulled from the tank unconscious. He was not managed to live through the night but was severly brain damaged. In effect Scott acted as the canary himself.

The tank had been used to store cyanide and phosphoric acid. When combined, these chemicals produce hydrogen cyanide, the gas used by the various states to execute 945 men and seven women in gas chambers. It has since been determined that the 7 to 15 minutes that it takes to kill a criminal is cruel and unsual punishment because the victuum suffers horrible pain for up to several minutes. Gas chambers have has been ruled unconstitutional.

This is a tragic story of a horrible environmental crime. The investigators took years to bring an uncaring business owner to justice finally gaining a 17 year sentence for the owner of the company.

Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: This book is a great look at how environmental crimes are view and prosecuted in the U.S.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful read!
Review: This is a super book! I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in environmental crimes.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book-Tragic Story
Review: This is an excellent book. The fact that it is a true story makes it even better. The investigators and lawyers truely poured their hearts into this case. It is written in a way that constantly make you want to find out what's going to happen next. You feel as if you are in the court room during the trial. It is such a sad story and your heart goes out to the injured person. I would highly recommend this book.