Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating case, disappointing book
Review: This is the first book of Ann Rule's that I have ever read (though I've seen a couple of TV movies based on her work)and I think it might be my last. While *And Never Let Her Go* is not terrible exactly, it never really comes together as a compelling, dramatic narrative. Given the material there was to work with here, that's really saying something. I first became aware of/interested in the case a few years back when there was an extended piece on it in the magazine Vanity Fair. As already mentioned, I had never read anything by Anne Rule before, but I'd definately heard of her, given what seems like the 50 or so titles under her name in most bookstores; every one of them a bestseller. So, although there were a couple of other books on this subject in the True Crime section, I figured I'd go with the one that I'd been led to believe was "the best." What a mistake! While Rule amasses an impressive amount of information about the personal lives/backgrounds of both the leading and supporting players in this real-life psychodrama, she doesn't weave it together in a way that really draws you in. Rather she seems content to simply pile fact upon fact and trust that this alone will keep the reader interested. Despite all the research she's done, there is a lot of gaps re: details surrounding the year-and-a-half police investigation and the trial itself. And the aforemnetioned information about the lives of the characters doesn't seem to have given her any insight into what made them tick. Instead, Rule falls back on pop-psychology cliches more appropriate to another facile "Wonderful Women who Love Horrible Men" yackfest on Oprah. Another problem with this book is its rather heavy-handed bias. Don't get me wrong, Thomas Capano was an evil, sick individual, who in the end got exactly what he deserved. Nonetheless, Rule's obvious emotional involvent with the family of Anne Marie Fahey (the murdered girl)ends up rendering her account weirdly out of balance. As a former reporter, Ms. Rule should know that no matter what her personal feelings, she needs to step back a little and let the story tell itself. Throughout the book, bad, or at the very least, questionable behaviour on the part of anyone Rule is sympathetic to is glossed over or excessivly alibied for. Everything always seems to be the result of Thomas Capano's diabolical manipulations and the viselike hold he seemed to have over scores of people. Yet all human beings have choices, and the resonsibility for living with the consequences of those choices - be they good or bad - is theirs and theirs alone. Just as an example, for a woman who was supposedly determined to extricate herself from an affair with a domineering, controlling man,Anne Marie Fahey did a very good job of sending out a lot of mixed signals to say the least. A lot of "normal" men would probably have been encouraged to continue with their wooing in similiar circumstances. After all, the human heart is volatile and complex thing; rarely the woman good/man bad scenario that seems to be Ms. Rule's worldview. Based on *And Never Let her Go* I doubt that I'll be searching out any more of Ann Rule's many titles. Although to be fair, she has obviously done very well for herself without my patronage thus far. Still, I wish now that I'd saved that old copy of Vanity Fair magazine, as that account of the case was far more interesting than this one.
Rating: 
Summary: And Never Put It Down...
Review: A fabulous addition to Ms. Rule's growing collection of true crime books. I couldn't put it down...now my husband's reading it and I probably won't see him with his nose out of the book for days. Oh, well. I must say Ms. Rule is a courageous woman. She writes with complete honesty about the most hideous people - not just the murderers but their family and cronies - you have to give her credit for daring to tread... This story too tragic to have been fiction. Poor Ann Marie. I really fell in love with her. We all know women like her - smart, sweet, vulnerable, beautiful but doesn't know it. I did feel sympathy for Debby MacIntyre. If you've read Women Who Run With the Wolves, you know that we still get into these 'Bluebeard' relationships and once you're in it's so hard to extricate yourself. As a friend of mine used to say, "A woman can love a pig. After all, they're so cute." Yes, women are trained to love, to be supportive, to stand by their man, blah-blah-blah. Which is why I of admired Kay Capano in this book, for insisting on keeping her indendence and identity as a nurse-practitioner, for extricating herself from the clutches of a true monster, for actually saying that she wasn't testifying on her ex's behalf, not 'standing by my man' - but strictly for her daughters. Most of all, for refusing to be in denial about her "vile" (her word!) ex-husband. Ann Rule's objective portrayal of Ann Marie's eating disorder was one of the best I have ever read anywhere. I have been in an eating disorders recovery group for years but have read no better depiction of what it's really like to go through it. It was consciousnesss-raising - especially the loss of control by one who so desperately feels she needs to be in control. I hated Capano for playing on that in Ann Marie. It was his meanest attempt to manipulate her. As for the Capanos - it was hard to tell why four such privileged men were so incredibly woman-hating. But there were a few clues if you read between the lines. For one thing, Louis Capano, Sr. - the father of the whole bunch - basically disowned his daughter, Marian simply because she was a female. Mrs. Capano, Sr. never worked outside the home - she was a sheltered person who didn't even "understand how the law works - why my son is considered guilty" when it was all over. Hello! I mean, this woman was either eleven ravioli to the dozen or deliberately kept in the dark by what I'd be willing to bet was a control-frreak husband. After all, Mrs. Capano lived in America most of her life. Without a clue as to its legal foundation? Did she never read a book or newspaper? Once again - she was probably considered as much "chattel" as her sons' wives and mistresses, sort of a beloved (maybe not even that, but you would never know, of course) 'pet' or 'house slave,' given all the luxuries and wifely status and weak enough to accept them in exchange for playing dumb. I think the Capano men simply felt they had the right to "own" women, that women were there purely for their needs, desires, vanities, not to be taken seriously as human beings. In fact, I have never read of any family of who had such contempt for women, including the mother, who blamed everything on Debby. Actually, Gerry was the ony one I liked. I felt sorry for him, but I think he had a good heart. Go know.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping and Connecting
Review: This gripping narrative on the killing of Anne Marie Fahey provides an emotionally connecting look at the victim. Ms. Fahey was attractive, talented, kind-hearted...yet troubled by emotional problems. Sadly, she never recognized the danger from her married ex-lover Tom Capano - an egotistical control freak and well-connected attorney for whom a legal restraining order might (or might not) have proved a deterrent. Author Ann Rule gives us a firm portrayal of the victim, her killer, their families, plus the politics of the city of Wilmington and the State of Delaware (where Fahey was the Governor's secretary). Ms. Rule also details the outstanding investigation by law enforcement, plus the lengthy trial, where even the killer's lawyers came to despise his controlling egotism. Some feel the author portrays Fahey and a second mistress too nicely - after all, both women maintained an affair with a man whom they knew to be married. Still, emotional insecurity has led many to foolhardy actions; in Fahey's case with results that turned tragic.
AND NEVER LET HER GO is longer and more connecting than most of Ms. Rule's true-crime narratives. The author seems captivated by Ms. Fahey and her family, and readers may experience similar emotions while enjoying this page-turning narrative.
Rating:
Summary: America's premier true-crime writer does it again
Review: Maybe Ann Rule's books should come with warning labels: "Readers may become addicted. Symptoms include the inability to put this volume down, dark circles under the eyes from staying up late, and an irresistible impulse to tell all one's friends about the book." Ann Rule is the premier true-crime writer in the country, and her works fly off bookstore shelves. Libraries have lengthy "on hold" lists. She takes a compelling story and with riveting, insightful prose, provides us with a wide cast of characters. Some evoke empathy from the reader, and some evoke outright horror. "...And Never Let Her Go" presents us with a trusting, affectionate, vivacious young woman who was murdered by her lover. The killer was a man who behind his facade as a successful, respected attorney, was coldhearted and utterly selfish. Like all of Rule's books, this one is well-researched and filled with extensive characterizations, not only of the victim and the killer but also of the people surrounding them. Rule has unequalled story-telling talents, and each of her books is a savory treat for her millions of readers.
Rating:
Summary: "And Never Let Her Go" Won't Let YOU Go!
Review: If it's a more complete picture of the case you want and not just a re-hash of Thomas Capano's infuriatingly long trial, this is the book. Ann Rule brings Anne Marie Fahey to life and shows her to be the complicated woman she was, something no other book on this subject does. With never-before-seen pictures and exclusive interviews, Rule paints the most accurate likenesses of everyone involved, something no writer can achieve by just sitting around in a courtroom all day. Rule also allows one of Capano's "other other women" (the one he tried to frame for the murder) to speak for herself, and we find she's not the simple-minded sex-fiend some have made her out to be. Rule has a keen eye, a good ear and a true gift for telling a story from more than one perspective. Bravo.
Rating:
Summary: I Couldn't Put It Down !
Review: Ann Rule is an excellent writer, no one could out-do her book about this case. She brings people in the book to life and includes a lot of detail. Very well-written. It will remain one of my favorites among Ann's books. Ann is able to write with feeling,emotion,clarity, and common sense....it is very human writing..... is why it's so wonderful to read her writing. She is a great reporter.
Rating:
Summary: Et ne jamais la laisser partir
Review: And never let her go is a very exciting true novel. The book tells us about the Thomas Capano's affair. Capano was really mad, and he had relations with a lot of women. He was very jealous and possessive. So when Anne Marie Fahey had a relation with another man, and she wanted to leave him, he was very angry and killed her. In the beginning it was hard to find the murderer but some proofs ascent to Tom Capano. The investigate is interesting and never boring..
I very enjoyed it !
Rating:
Summary: Very Detailed Account of Capano's & Fahey's lives
Review: Ann Rule has done a good job of opening up the lives of Tom Capano & Ann Marie Fahey. She gives enough info to let you get to know what might of made them both who they are, but not so much info that you lose interest. This is a very detailed book and doesn't skip over much in the way of relevant events. I don't feel she missed anything while writing this story. I highly recommend this book to true crime buffs.
Rating:
Summary: an excellent, indepth forensic saga...
Review: I have loved Ann Rule for years, and this to me, is probably the most powerful book she's written. Like Stephen King's "The Stand" - this is probably her quintessential work. I've read most of the books out there on this case, and this is the best one - because she opened the doors for us to see Anne Marie Fahey, up close and very personal. I found myself relating to her, not because of common experience, but from a place of empathy. Funny thing - I've reread this book several times, and keep hoping that Anne Marie will somehow get out of it alive. What a lovely woman she was - she was someone I could have been friends with, no doubt. None of the other books on this case do such an amazing job of characterization as Ann has done on Anne. Tom Capano - my God, he's a piece of work - somehow got under her skin and stayed there, even though Anne was in the process of extracating herself from him, bit by bit - and God bless Michael Scanlan - he gave her what she needed at the end of her life, that she so richly deserved during the rest of it. I am so sad for her that she didn't see her full purpose realized while she was alive - although she was close. I suspect she might have ended up in politics - a stone's through from her position with Governor Carper. She was, though, blessed with such a loving family, and friends. I hope they are all on the road to healing. Read this book - not for the awful things that Capano did - but to read about Anne Marie.
Rating: 
Summary: Prime Rule
Review: This book is a fine example of author Rule at the top of her form, offering a wealth of insight into all the characters involved. Capano is an odious narcissist who is, somehow, incredibly attractive to women. And poor Anne Marie is a well-rendered victim of both her own insecurities and of Capano. No one does it better than Rule when she manages to sink her teeth deep into the flesh of one of these true-crime tales. When she gets it wrong (which, fortunately, is only rarely) as in Every Breath You Take, the wheels come right off. And Never Let Her Go is a creepy, gripping narrative of an ego gone wild and the deadly resulting effects.
Recommended.
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