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Summary: I Could Not Put This Book Down!!!
Review: First Let me tell you how I happened to begin reading the book! I was in Line For a Book Signing(Dean Koontz) when I passed The Anne Rule Book "Every Breath You Take". I had heard a little bit about it on the News. Since the Line Was Long, I began to read the book and I was Instantly HOOKED! By The Time Dean had signed my books, I was already on page 64. In fact, I was so into the book that I wouldnt have minded if the line moved slower, The Book is that good! Even though I hadnt planned on buying any books that day, I HAD To Finish this book! So I purchased the book and read the whole thing in one night! Anne Rule has a way of really digging into the personalities of these people and bringing them to life. She does more then just state the facts of a case, she makes you get to know the various players involved and by doing that, it actually helps you understand the case and why the events happened the way they did. For example, The Ex-Husband is a Monster and there isnt a punishment strong enough for him. But, because Anne explains his family background and the Hell that he went through during his childhood, at least the reader has an understanding of why he is the way he is. I am going to start reading Anne's previous books(I have seen many of the movies based on her books but have never actually read one of her books until now). Do yourself a favor and BUY this book, your in for a good read!
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Summary: Readers in Florida and Texas, and maybe Oregon...
Review: have been waiting for the "true crime" account of the murder of Sheila Bellush - a native of Oregon, whose brief adult life played out in San Antonio, where her husband led her, to Sarasota, Florida, where she fled to escape him. As in the topics of many of Rule's classic accounts, the centerpiece, the wealthy entrepreneur Allen Blackthorne, is revealed to be a narcissistic grifter, whose lifetime of lies, deceptions and emotional blackmail led him to commit a horrific crime. Never really having to pay for all the grief he caused the families he cheated, the women he abused, and the children he scarred, Blackthorne is unprepared for the consequences of his revenge on his third wife, Sheila Bellush, who has remarried and is trying to start over. If you live in the San Antonio or Sarasota areas, you followed the story of Sheila's bloody murder in the presence of her 4 toddlers with disbelief. As the confederates who plotted the kill were revealed in the media, it was with disbelief that you
recognized them for the heartless bumblers they were. Indeed, there is much speculation in Rule's book about how one so crafty and wealthy as Blackthorne spent so little to hire "the three stooges" to carry out his plot. But, as you walk away and wonder about what makes the murderers tick, you are also appalled at the ordinary people who knew that something bad was being planned for Sheila by her ex-husband, and who did nothing to stop the madness. Rule is at her best, although the trial phase is a little overlong. She places equal importance on explaining what led up to the crime, the crime itself, and always makes the law enforcement team come alive for the reader. She should be very successful with this story of murder for hire, as, once again, she's able to explain the "why's" behind the "what's" in contemporary modern tragedy. Bravo, Ann!
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Summary: Allen and Danny Are Not a Golfing Twosome Any More
Review: Ann Rule has done it again. She has fashioned a 446 page masterpiece. She gets closer and closer to "In Cold Blood"in the telling of a true crime and its ramifications. After reading this book, not a day goes by that I don't visualize the 4 quads crawling in their mother's blood in their Florida home. As for the foursome of Allen, Danny, Sammy, and Joey; may they all rot in prison for what they did to the Bellush family.
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Summary: True crime at its best!!
Review: Ann Rule is, in my opinion, the best true crime writer today. I love true crime and have read alot of different authors, but nobody is better! This is a scary story! Having been married to an abuser a long time ago, I shuddered each time I read about the abuse that Sheila suffered at the hands of her husband Allen. But the scarier part was that there were so many people that knew or suspected that Allen was plotting to kill his ex-wife and said nothing! I am looking forward to Ann Rule's next book.
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Summary: The True Crime Phenom Continues
Review: What can I say folks. I started reading true crime at the age of thirteen and Ann's "stranger beside me" was one of my first. If you read Ann Rule at all... then in between her books you just dont know what to do with yourself except jones for another. She continues in her tradional EXCELLENT style. Ann's compassion for victims and their families and her attention to detail never cease to amaze me. She works tirelessly to please people like me out there and to accurately depict victims and their families. this is someone not just out to get a quick book. This is the one of the few authors who I will always support. She just never lets me down with her books. As much as I love her, I hope she never has to write a book about me. Not only is Ann a wonderful author, but a tremendous lady. One who deserves all of the ions of fans she has out there. The story is completely compelling, it's so unreal to believe that people like Allen Blackthorne exist in this world but they do. By reading Ann, I feel like I try to educate myself. I highly recommend this book to all. Even if you have never read Ann's books before, you wont want to put this one down. As with all of her books, I wish her much success. She is truly the elite of the genre. Much luck and success.
ann marie bonfiglio
ambler pa
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Summary: Another fascinating book from Ann Rule
Review: Once again Ann Rule has shown herself to be the best author of true-crime. I just finished "Every Breath You Take" and am still astounded at how much research Ms. Rule has done to make this story so thorough and compelling. What I have always appreciated in Ann Rule's books is the objectivity with which she tells the story. I find that many true-crime authors interject their opinions into the story. Ann Rule presents the facts objectively, and lets the reader come to hiw own conclusions. I read "Every Breath You Take" in a single sitting, and it was fabulous. But, to tell the truth, I didn't expect anything else.
Thanks for another great book!
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Summary: Missouri Fan
Review: After waiting a year for Every Breath You Take..., I finished the book in two days. Now I am waiting for the next Ann Rule book. I am always amazed at how Ann weaves the twisted personalities of her subjects. I feel the pain of the victims. I am a reader who wants the detail that Ann gives. I want to know what the people are thinking. Her writing makes the story come alive. I found Every Breath...much easier to relate to than Never Let Her Go..., as the victims were people I would find next door. I experienced the ups and downs of Sheila. I rooted for the law enforcement personnel to find the clues which would lead to the arrest of Allen. Ann Rule is a writer who immerses herself in the lives of her subjects. I highly recommend Every Breath You Take... I will now begin the wait for the next Ann Rule story.
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Summary: One of the best in True Crime genre
Review: Some people are defensive about their addiction to the True Crime genre. This book is perfect justification for the need to know that some of us possess as part of our make up. "Every Breath You Take", Ann Rule's latest stands out as an illustration of the phrase, "Truth is stranger than fiction." This tale of twisted obsession which manifests itself in behavior that no normal person would pursue, would be rejected as unbelievable in a work of fiction. Yet the incontrovertible facts are there on every page. Many people will remember the sensational headlines from Florida, "Death of a Lovely Young Mother", Sheila Bellush. She was murdered in the presence of her young quadruplets and their older sister, on arriving home from school, found them tracking Sheila's blood through the house! More shocking to detectives who arrived on the scene, was that Stevie, the older daughter, provided them with a suspect,Allan Blackthorne, her own father and Sheila's ex husband. Although he was in Texas with an alibi, Stevie said that he would have hired someone to do it. Since this crime crossed state lines, it became a federal case. The convictions would depend on everything from diligent law enforcement to an alert gardener, who spotted the man who killed Sheila as a suspicious stranger and took down his license plate. From the interesting family histories to the legal machinations of those accused, the documentation in this book is phenomenal. As someone who has camped in courtrooms for weeks to observe and report the proceedings, the authenticity of the account of the trial rings true. I felt like I was sitting in the San Antonio courtroom while reading about the trial. The preponderance of factual testimony by those involved kept me riveted. Sheila Bellush's premonition of her own murder led her to tell her sister"...find Ann Rule and ask her to write my story." her spirit must surely be resting more securely and peacefully after the author's effort on her behalf.
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Summary: Ann Rule Hits the Bulls-Eye with This One
Review: BAM! Ms. Rule is back at us with a tight, suspenseful, white-knuckler tale that proves that truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction. Fans who were concerned about Ms. Rule's adequate, yet less exhilirating recent works will find that they are solidly back in Ms. Rule's court once again after they finish this fascinating story. Ms. Rule wrote this book on the request of the victim Sheila Bellush, who told her family to find Ms. Rule and beg her to write the tale of Sheila's life and death should she be murdered by her ex-husband, the abuser Allen Van Houte. Multi-millionaire Allen Van Houte is a classic sociopath; so skilled at wearing his "mask" that everyone who knows him thinks he's the epitome of a "real nice guy." However, in reality, he is a swindler, con man, domestic violence abuser, sexual molester of children, and finally a murderer. Ms. Rule's clever pen brings his true personality into the light. You feel as if Sheila Bellush is a close and trusted friend after reading this book. In addition, her noble widower Jamie, and the children involved really get into your heart. The emotional, physical, moral, and legal manipulations of Allen Van Houte are amazing to ponder; but those whose lives have been touched by domestic violence will not be surprised and may find reading this story to be cathartic, as Allen Van Houte gets his and then some in the end. A story not to be missed. Highly recommended for both Ann Rule fans and newbies alike.
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Summary: Ann Rule has done it again!
Review: She has gone and written a book that I found to be a real page turner and could not put down. I read this book plus all others that she has written in two days. I was not expecting this book to be released in Canada until January 8th. I was in the bookstore before Christmas looking for a true crime book to hold me over the holidays. A woman was standing in the true crime section as well looking for a book for her husband who is a true crime reader as well. I started talking to her about all the good books that I have read, and how Ann Rule is my favorite author. Just as I informed the woman of how I was waiting for her new release due out in January I happened to look at the end book shelves, and screamed "oh my god it's here!". The store was packed, and a few people did stop and stare. The woman who I had been talking too even asked me if I was okay. Of course I was, seeing Ann's new release just made my day! I purchased the book without even reading the back cover and inside flap....I did not have to....as it was written by Ann and she RULES!!! The only sad thing about Ann's writings is that she does not write books fast enough.
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