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And Then Came the Blues: My Story of Survival on Both Sides of the Badge / A Memoir
After being shot ten times by her fiancé and left for dead, Katrina Brownlee miraculously survived and became a decorated NYPD detective, a mentor, and founder of a nonprofit support group for at-risk women.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, in the United States, an average of twenty-four people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner, and one in three women have experienced some form of domestic violence. One of those women was Katrina Brownlee, who as a twenty-two-year-old mother of two experienced hell at the hands of her then-fiancé. He was a law enforcement officer—a group two to four times more likely than the general population to be abusive, and who are known for protecting their own. During his dangerous outbursts, Brownlee would call the police for help, only to see the cops turn their backs on her when her abuser flashed his badge. On a cold January morning in 1993, her fiancé shot her ten times and left her for dead.
Brownlee could have been just one more of the eleven females killed per minute worldwide by a loved one. Instead, miraculously, she survived. Through hard work, faith, and perseverance, she recovered from her injuries and found a path through her trauma. She decided to become a police officer to help others in her situation, to be the “good cop” who had not been there for her when she had needed saving.
In 2021, she retired from a highly decorated twenty-year career with the NYPD. As the founder of a support group for at-risk young women, Young Ladies of Our Future, Brownlee decided that the time had come to tell her story—the whole story—of self-empowerment, of healing generational trauma, and of turning pain into hope for herself and her community.
“And Then Came the Blues is a gripping memoir of resilience, justice, and redemption. I was incredibly moved by Katrina Brownlee’s unflinching honesty and inspired by her tenacity. She has written a riveting tale that reminds us that triumph after trauma is possible.”—Bernice L. McFadden, author of Sugar
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, in the United States, an average of twenty-four people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner, and one in three women have experienced some form of domestic violence. One of those women was Katrina Brownlee, who as a twenty-two-year-old mother of two experienced hell at the hands of her then-fiancé. He was a law enforcement officer—a group two to four times more likely than the general population to be abusive, and who are known for protecting their own. During his dangerous outbursts, Brownlee would call the police for help, only to see the cops turn their backs on her when her abuser flashed his badge. On a cold January morning in 1993, her fiancé shot her ten times and left her for dead.
Brownlee could have been just one more of the eleven females killed per minute worldwide by a loved one. Instead, miraculously, she survived. Through hard work, faith, and perseverance, she recovered from her injuries and found a path through her trauma. She decided to become a police officer to help others in her situation, to be the “good cop” who had not been there for her when she had needed saving.
In 2021, she retired from a highly decorated twenty-year career with the NYPD. As the founder of a support group for at-risk young women, Young Ladies of Our Future, Brownlee decided that the time had come to tell her story—the whole story—of self-empowerment, of healing generational trauma, and of turning pain into hope for herself and her community.
“And Then Came the Blues is a gripping memoir of resilience, justice, and redemption. I was incredibly moved by Katrina Brownlee’s unflinching honesty and inspired by her tenacity. She has written a riveting tale that reminds us that triumph after trauma is possible.”—Bernice L. McFadden, author of Sugar
- GenresNonfiction
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Published August 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 20, 2025
Katrina Brownlee had a very difficult youth and young adulthood. Her story is almost as difficult to read as it was for her to live. Yet, she persevered, and the reader is honored and encouraged to share this experience with her. After almost being killed by her ex-fiancé, she regained her footing and completed a 20-year career in the New York City police department.
Prior to the memoir being published, Brownlee’s story was told on an episode of 48 Hours. I appreciated her courage all the more after watching the video. Readers will grow in compassion after both watching the video and reading the memoir. A remarkably strong, resilient woman.
Prior to the memoir being published, Brownlee’s story was told on an episode of 48 Hours. I appreciated her courage all the more after watching the video. Readers will grow in compassion after both watching the video and reading the memoir. A remarkably strong, resilient woman.
July 22, 2025
Truly one of the most tense, haunting, and amazing stories you will find. You'll lose count wondering how she lived through all this. The story is involving and it written to be as intimate as a one on one conversation with Trina. You finish the book with a tremendous amount of respect for this stronger than strong superhero.
Her childhood gave her more trauma than any young child needs to experience. Her saving grace was her grandmother who became her mother figure in her life, but that, too, was no Ozzie and Harriet perfection. It's unimaginable to even grasp how she lived from the abuse of the ex with whom she had children, stayed, and was shot multiple times, left to die. Thankfully, she survived. She survived and was determined to stand tall and tell her story from experiencing overwhelming experiences from both sides of the badge.
You will also be given an honest, detailed better understanding of the world found behind the badge in the real world. I cannot express the amount of admiration I feel for Trina, nor my gratitude for sharing her story.
Worthy of countless stars and very much worth the short time you will spend reading.
Her childhood gave her more trauma than any young child needs to experience. Her saving grace was her grandmother who became her mother figure in her life, but that, too, was no Ozzie and Harriet perfection. It's unimaginable to even grasp how she lived from the abuse of the ex with whom she had children, stayed, and was shot multiple times, left to die. Thankfully, she survived. She survived and was determined to stand tall and tell her story from experiencing overwhelming experiences from both sides of the badge.
You will also be given an honest, detailed better understanding of the world found behind the badge in the real world. I cannot express the amount of admiration I feel for Trina, nor my gratitude for sharing her story.
Worthy of countless stars and very much worth the short time you will spend reading.
June 24, 2025
This book kept my attention from start to finish. I admired Katrina's strength and what she accomplished regardless (or in spite of) her upbringing, her abuse from family, family friends, boyfriends and her ex-fiancé. This story reveals a lot about the justice system and it's lack of justice served to those outside the Wall of Blue. It was disappointing to see how the system failed Katrina, and it was even worse to see how it continued to do so with a very light sentence for the man who shot her ten (10) times delivered by a judge who I hope is no longer a sitting judge. There are definitely heart-wrenching parts to this story but keep in mind that Katrina didn't let her story end on a tragic note.
August 12, 2025
Truly one of the most heartbreaking memoirs I’ve ever read, but also the most hopeful. Katrina is SO strong.
It feels wrong giving her story a rating, but I can’t give it any less than five stars to make her story be heard
It feels wrong giving her story a rating, but I can’t give it any less than five stars to make her story be heard
July 23, 2025
This is a difficult book to read. It is hard to read the terrible experiences she goes through. Amazingly she is able to break the cycle and reach out to help others.
August 15, 2025
Breathtaking, heartbreaking, beautiful. I have no words except bravo 👏👏👏
August 18, 2025
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October 22, 2025
"History is written by the victors, but it's victims who write the memoirs".
I read this book with my sister and the unnecessary details early on were driving her up the walls. Perhaps Katrina followed the saying if you want to tell the story of a woman you tell me about her mother and grandmother. Yet I'll add her having not kept a journal did make me pause. Katrina is pretty but after like the 10th account of a man falling in love with her I was like 🙄 anotha one. However guys do love a wayward beauty. I'm so glad she gained a purpose.
Overall I really liked the book, learned some things, and felt renewed hope in forgiveness.
I read this book with my sister and the unnecessary details early on were driving her up the walls. Perhaps Katrina followed the saying if you want to tell the story of a woman you tell me about her mother and grandmother. Yet I'll add her having not kept a journal did make me pause. Katrina is pretty but after like the 10th account of a man falling in love with her I was like 🙄 anotha one. However guys do love a wayward beauty. I'm so glad she gained a purpose.
Overall I really liked the book, learned some things, and felt renewed hope in forgiveness.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews