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Summary: Tragedy
Review: After reading Ann Rule's Small Sacrifices I had to re-read it again. I could not believe this story was true. Above all I congradulate Ann Rule on excellent coverage of this tragic story. By the end of the book I have adopted Danny and Christie and feel the loss of Cheryl as if it were my own. I hope Diane never sees her children again and that she is never allowed into general population again for who knows what she is fully capable of ... after all this is a mother who tried to fulfill her own twisted obsession by killing her children.
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Summary: WONDERFUL!
Review: I've read this book three times now, and I don't doubt that there will be a fourth! Ann Rule did an excelent job telling this tale of a woman who's only purpose in life is to satisfy her own needs, regardless of anything or anyone else, namely her children. If you enjoy suspense, mystery, and a book that you just CANNOT put down then this book should be on your number 10 (in the number 1 slot) of books to read!
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Summary: Best True Crime book ever written
Review: Anne Rule is a writer of uncommon intelligence and insight. In "Small Sacrifices," she tells the mesmerizing story of Diane Downs, a beautiful, brillient, sociopath, who commits the ultimate evil when she shoots her three children to gain the love of a married man. Anne Rule's insight into the personality of Downs is as horrifying as it is disturbing. I literally could not put the book down. Never have I read or heard of such a selfish, self-centered woman as Diane Downs. She never confesses to shooting her children, but her conduct at the trial is sickening. She taps her foot and smiles while listening to "Hungry Like the Wolf," the song that was playing in her car while she slaughtered her children; she laughs when she should cry, she cries when it benefits her. One daughter is dead, one has lost the use of her arm and speech, and the little boy is paralyzed. None of this horror seems to penetrate Diane. She has no feelings for her children's suffering. The detail in this book is fasinating. Anne Rule describes every bit of evidence and presents it in such a way as to keep the reader of the edge of her seat. A must read for all true crime buffs.
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Summary: this story has not left my ind since adolesence
Review: My older sister read this when she was a senior in high school, since she read it I thought I would give it a try, not even knowing what it was about. Although it has haunted my mind for several years, now, I am not sorry I read it. Something about it stuck with me. Now many years later I find myself recommending it to family members .... I think this an unusual story that now as an adult I find an intriguing story. You will find yourself unable to put the book down.. Diane Downs, unlike anyone you have ever met... but yet you feel as if you've known her for a life time.
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Summary: Wasn't the best ever
Review: This book was ok, but I didn't think that this it was excellent. I found that in many parts it seemed to drag along and become very dull, but in others parts it was a fascinating book. It took me a long time to read it though because sometimes I just wasn't in the mood to sit and read a long list of evidence, but if you're into that type of novel go for it:}
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Summary: The best ever
Review: I read this book years ago, and went hunting for it here at amazon to see if others loved it as much as I did, and was not surprised to see that they did. As far as I am concerned, this is absolutely Rule's finest. Farrah Fawcett did justice to the role on TV, but I can't help wondering if the sociopathic Ms. Downes wasn't flattered by such a gorgeous sexual icon and brilliant actress playing her. I say this because when I saw her interviewed on Oprah I couldn't help but think that she was the epitome of what I think of as an egotist run-amok. Usually, murderers have a very low self-esteem, but she actualy seemed quite pleased with herself. An amazing woman - completely, it seems, without conscience. In any case, the story as Rule tells it is tightly woven and leads you on like a snake charmer. If you haven't read this one, and you like "true crime," you won't be disappointed.
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Summary: Rule's Rules
Review: Ms. Rule has written another haunting head scratcher. One must learn to bear with her as she lays down the "Rules" of the game: the geography of the city in which the crime was committed, its employment patterns, crops, weather and white collar to blue collar ratio. There is a method to this technique, and as one reads further the abandoned gas stations, monochrome trailer courts and barred storage sheds become stories within the story, unforgettable like the covers of pulp detective paperbacks. An unforgivable crime, a flimsy motive and a searing cross examination in the courtroom make this a book one doesn't need to read if sleep deprived. She is the best at what she does, and hers is the only "light" reading that I do. I cannot recommend this book enough.
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Summary: This book is an amazing look at a mother's love and lies.
Review: I think that Small Sacrifices is one of the best novels I have ever read, it tells a complex story of many personalities and weaves them together so at the end of the book you understand even if that understanding is an awful truth of child murder.
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Summary: ONE OF HER BEST!!!!!!
Review: THIS THE FIRST BOOK I HAD READ BY ANN RULE AFTER SEEING THE TV MOVIE. IAM NOW HOOKED ON THIS WONDERFUL AUTHOR. SHE MAKES YOU FEEL AS IF YOU ARE THERE AT THE CRIME SCENE. I WAIT WITH BADED BREATH FOR HER NEXT BOOK TO BE RELEASED IN AUG OF 1999... THANKS ANN!
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Summary: You will not be able to put this down..Ann Rule at her best
Review: From the opening pages, this story of lies, manipulation and murder will keep you turning pages until the wee hours of the morning. Rule's analization and representation of Diann Downs is right on the money. Rule did not miss a beat as she recounted the unbeleivable steps a woman would take to grab her man. One little girl died from a gunshot wound and never got to see what a normal life really was. The other two chidlren are permenenty damaged from the sycosis of their mother. Rule takes the story from the beginning and leads it to the end, where increadably, the children were orphaned. Downs finally gets incarcerated for the murder and attempted murder of her own flesh and blood. Not all stories end unhappily though. The two survivors were adopted by the DA who made it his goal to bring Diann Downs DOWN! Do not miss this book, It is one of Rule's finest and will impact your thoughts for years
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