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Crime Files #15
Don't Look Behind You and Other True Cases
I'll be watching you.
Walking home on a dark night, you hear footsteps coming up behind you. As they get closer, your heart pounds harder. Who is closing in with dangerous intent -- a total stranger? Or someone you know and trust? The answer is as simple as turning around, but don't look behind you...run.
Ann Rule, who shared her own nerve-jangling account of unknowingly befriending sadistic sociopath Ted Bundy in The Stranger Beside Me, chronicles other fateful encounters with the hidden predators among us in this riveting collection, fifteenth in the bestselling series drawn from her personal files.
First in line is a stunning case that spanned thirty years and took a determined detective to four states -- ending, finally, in Alaska -- where he unravelled not one but two murders.
A second case appears to begin and end with the hunt for the Green River Killer, focusing on a Washington State man who was once cleared as a suspect in that deadly chain of homicides. But the millionaire property owner believed he had successfully buried his own murderous past and the awful truth behind his young wife's disappearance. She vanished soon after she left for a day at the Seattle World's Fair, and her three small children grew up believing their mother had abandoned them. But one amazing witness remained -- the missing woman's best friend, who heard her last words in a frantic phone call -- "He's coming!" -- before the line went dead. Only since Robert Hansen's suicide has the monster within been revealed.
In another true story, a petite woman went to a tavern, looking only for conversation and fun. Instead, she met violent death in the form of a seven-foot man who had seemed shy and harmless. You'll feel a chill as you uncover these and numerous other cases of unfortunate victims who made one tragic mistake: trusting the wrong person -- even someone they'd known intimately, or thought they knew.
Walking home on a dark night, you hear footsteps coming up behind you. As they get closer, your heart pounds harder. Who is closing in with dangerous intent -- a total stranger? Or someone you know and trust? The answer is as simple as turning around, but don't look behind you...run.
Ann Rule, who shared her own nerve-jangling account of unknowingly befriending sadistic sociopath Ted Bundy in The Stranger Beside Me, chronicles other fateful encounters with the hidden predators among us in this riveting collection, fifteenth in the bestselling series drawn from her personal files.
First in line is a stunning case that spanned thirty years and took a determined detective to four states -- ending, finally, in Alaska -- where he unravelled not one but two murders.
A second case appears to begin and end with the hunt for the Green River Killer, focusing on a Washington State man who was once cleared as a suspect in that deadly chain of homicides. But the millionaire property owner believed he had successfully buried his own murderous past and the awful truth behind his young wife's disappearance. She vanished soon after she left for a day at the Seattle World's Fair, and her three small children grew up believing their mother had abandoned them. But one amazing witness remained -- the missing woman's best friend, who heard her last words in a frantic phone call -- "He's coming!" -- before the line went dead. Only since Robert Hansen's suicide has the monster within been revealed.
In another true story, a petite woman went to a tavern, looking only for conversation and fun. Instead, she met violent death in the form of a seven-foot man who had seemed shy and harmless. You'll feel a chill as you uncover these and numerous other cases of unfortunate victims who made one tragic mistake: trusting the wrong person -- even someone they'd known intimately, or thought they knew.
465 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
579 people are currently reading
4211 people want to read
About the author
Ann Rule
129 books4,472 followersAnn Rule was a popular American true crime writer. Raised in a law enforcement and criminal justice system environment, she grew up wanting to work in law enforcement herself. She was a former Seattle Policewoman and was well educated in psychology and criminology.
She came to prominence with her first book, The Stranger Beside Me, about the Ted Bundy murders. At the time she started researching the book, the murders were still unsolved. In the course of time, it became clear that the killer was Bundy, her friend and her colleague as a trained volunteer on the suicide hotline at the Seattle, Washington Crisis Clinic, giving her a unique distinction among true crime writers.
Rule won two Anthony Awards from Bouchercon, the mystery fans' organization. She was nominated three times for the Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America. She is highly regarded for creating the true crime genre as it exists today.
Ann Rule also wrote under the name Andy Stack . Her daughter is Goodreads author Leslie Rule.
She came to prominence with her first book, The Stranger Beside Me, about the Ted Bundy murders. At the time she started researching the book, the murders were still unsolved. In the course of time, it became clear that the killer was Bundy, her friend and her colleague as a trained volunteer on the suicide hotline at the Seattle, Washington Crisis Clinic, giving her a unique distinction among true crime writers.
Rule won two Anthony Awards from Bouchercon, the mystery fans' organization. She was nominated three times for the Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America. She is highly regarded for creating the true crime genre as it exists today.
Ann Rule also wrote under the name Andy Stack . Her daughter is Goodreads author Leslie Rule.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
December 24, 2023
Loved this book for unconventional reasons. Yes, it is true crime and I love true crime but Ann Rule's crime files are more than your standard serial killers. Everyone knows of Bundy, Manson, the Green River killer, Berkowitz, Dahmer etc. They have notoriety through the things that they did and the many books written about them, and Ann has written some of them.
But these crime files are of 'lesser' cases, no less grotesque or appalling, but one-off cases or little known. I love that Ann has written about them, they equally quench my like of true crime and bring forth a respect for those who have been victims.
If you are after in-depth analysis, it is not here. These are simple four stories of unknown cases that read factually and have some kind of ending. There are no long drawn-out court details, just what happened and a salute to victims that never should have been.
But these crime files are of 'lesser' cases, no less grotesque or appalling, but one-off cases or little known. I love that Ann has written about them, they equally quench my like of true crime and bring forth a respect for those who have been victims.
If you are after in-depth analysis, it is not here. These are simple four stories of unknown cases that read factually and have some kind of ending. There are no long drawn-out court details, just what happened and a salute to victims that never should have been.
October 18, 2021
I ended up really annoyed with this one. Honestly I thought that Rule just threw a bunch of stories together and the second story should have been cut from this in its entirety. It becomes a long meandering story about a man who in all probability killed his wife, but there was no resolution to the case. Some of the other stories in this volume I have read in other Rule books so I did feel a bit cheated after I got past the first two stories.
The first story in this one is about a man who I think based on the way the story is written, seemed to be harassing a young woman who was not interested in him romantically anymore. I definitely don't think that is a reason to murder him. But something else seemed to be going on in this story, and it didn't make any sense to me that he was murdered since the murderer didn't seem to get anything out of it besides the guy leaving her alone in the future. The story was honestly not that interesting and I found it really boring.
The second story is about a man who it appears murdered his wife after she filed for divorce. Then Rule follows the family through the years. I honestly think that a good portion of the story could have just been cut. There is no reason why this story needed to be as long as it was since we don't get any resolution to the case. And Rule even goes so far to say that a woman who is cleaning the home for sale may be a sensitive and can feel the anger in the house the deceased murderer lived in before he died.
The next few stories were short and not that great. I realized after the fact that one of the stories was one I had read in another volume and so I don't know why it got repeated in this volume again.
The first story in this one is about a man who I think based on the way the story is written, seemed to be harassing a young woman who was not interested in him romantically anymore. I definitely don't think that is a reason to murder him. But something else seemed to be going on in this story, and it didn't make any sense to me that he was murdered since the murderer didn't seem to get anything out of it besides the guy leaving her alone in the future. The story was honestly not that interesting and I found it really boring.
The second story is about a man who it appears murdered his wife after she filed for divorce. Then Rule follows the family through the years. I honestly think that a good portion of the story could have just been cut. There is no reason why this story needed to be as long as it was since we don't get any resolution to the case. And Rule even goes so far to say that a woman who is cleaning the home for sale may be a sensitive and can feel the anger in the house the deceased murderer lived in before he died.
The next few stories were short and not that great. I realized after the fact that one of the stories was one I had read in another volume and so I don't know why it got repeated in this volume again.
March 23, 2022
This is my favorite (thus far) on true crime files written by Ann Rule.
Three different cases - all very different from each other. Lots of intrigue.
First, a case that spanned thirty years and took a determined detective to four states -- ending in Alaska where it was proven the perp was involved in 2 homicides.
Second, this case is absolutely chilling involving a millionaire property and business owner believed he had successfully buried his own murderous past and the awful truth behind his young wife's disappearance. She vanished soon after she left for a day at the Seattle World's Fair, and her three small children grew up believing their mother had abandoned them. What a turn this case takes and the atrocious behavior of this man is nearly unbelievable to everyone he comes across.
Third, petite woman went to a tavern, looking only for conversation and fun. Instead, she met violent death and was found beaten to death and dumped in lake by a very unlikely suspect.
The epilogue of this book also gets worthy mention. Extremely informative.
Found/listened to the audiobook version from my local library. Well worth it.
Earns 5 Stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Three different cases - all very different from each other. Lots of intrigue.
First, a case that spanned thirty years and took a determined detective to four states -- ending in Alaska where it was proven the perp was involved in 2 homicides.
Second, this case is absolutely chilling involving a millionaire property and business owner believed he had successfully buried his own murderous past and the awful truth behind his young wife's disappearance. She vanished soon after she left for a day at the Seattle World's Fair, and her three small children grew up believing their mother had abandoned them. What a turn this case takes and the atrocious behavior of this man is nearly unbelievable to everyone he comes across.
Third, petite woman went to a tavern, looking only for conversation and fun. Instead, she met violent death and was found beaten to death and dumped in lake by a very unlikely suspect.
The epilogue of this book also gets worthy mention. Extremely informative.
Found/listened to the audiobook version from my local library. Well worth it.
Earns 5 Stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 24, 2023
Although this book contained an interesting collection of true crime stories, I didn’t feel as if they were suitable for this kind of novel. In every crime, it was obvious who the killer was from the very beginning; there was always an enormous amount of evidence pointing towards the guilty. Ann’s writing held no room for suspense, spoiling the ending very early on. I believe that this book is incredibly emotional and important, it just didn’t suit the style of book Ann was aiming for. In particular, the first two stories went on for too long about information that was not necessary to the cases. I just think this book would have worked better as a short fact book rather than a 461-page novel. One thing I loved throughout reading this was seeing how invested Ann is in her job, the cases she writes about as well as the people involved. Ann's passion truly shines through the pages, her love and care transparent.
January 21, 2012
I remember a time when I would tear through an Ann Rule like nobody's business. I don't know what has happened to her writing. This book felt like a chore to me and I was glad to see it end. Also, I don't care for her needlessly inserting herself into a story. In one of the stories, she mentions REPEATEDLY that her children attended school with the missing woman's children. This is NOT relevant, IMO, especially since she didn't know the missing woman, the children weren't friends, and she didn't even know anything about the missing woman's case until years later. I guess I just became less of a fan after reading The Stranger Beside Me and saw how hard she tried to make a story where there really wasn't one. I want to like her books, I do. But, she needs to write the stories and not insert herself into them.
April 17, 2012
I've read Ann Rule for decades. She has a great way of making even complicated true crime cases sound captivating. She connects with the victims and makes them very likeable.
For the past few true crime files, her passion for true crime seems to have diminished. It's almost like the author is going through the motions to fulfill a contract. She doesn't connect with the victims as well. There's not much background. The cases seem stale. Perhaps it's not Ms. Rule. Perhaps my reading interests have changed, and perhaps I'm only reading these out of duty and not out of curiosity. It's hard to tell, but I am more apt to think that Ms. Rule is starting to grow weary of her writing job, and her heart just isn't in it like it used to be. I'll take some responsibility for my interest level waning.
For example, when I used to read Ann Rule, I used to not be able to go to sleep because I'd be so creeped out. Reading this didn't really phase me. I didn't think about the cases after I put down the book. The cases presented didn't pique my interest to even look up one on the internet to find out other facts. They were very blah.
For the past few true crime files, her passion for true crime seems to have diminished. It's almost like the author is going through the motions to fulfill a contract. She doesn't connect with the victims as well. There's not much background. The cases seem stale. Perhaps it's not Ms. Rule. Perhaps my reading interests have changed, and perhaps I'm only reading these out of duty and not out of curiosity. It's hard to tell, but I am more apt to think that Ms. Rule is starting to grow weary of her writing job, and her heart just isn't in it like it used to be. I'll take some responsibility for my interest level waning.
For example, when I used to read Ann Rule, I used to not be able to go to sleep because I'd be so creeped out. Reading this didn't really phase me. I didn't think about the cases after I put down the book. The cases presented didn't pique my interest to even look up one on the internet to find out other facts. They were very blah.
December 9, 2011
I like her books but it just reminds me of all the crazy people out there and to keep an eye out for any suspicious characters when out in the public.
September 5, 2012
Kept me riveted to the end - classic Ann Rule - a definite page turner! Definitely a five star book!
February 7, 2017
*"North to Alaska": Puyallup WA 1978: The long-unsolved missing persons case of Joe Tarricone is solved when his bones are discovered buried in the backyard of a condemned house. A lengthy investigation eventually convicts his girlfriend Renee Curtiss and her adopted brother Nick Notaro (and their deceased mother) of murdering Tarricone, dismembering him and burying him.
*"Too Late for the Fair": Des Moines WA 1962: Rule is a clear, descriptive writer, but she isn't usually atmospheric. This case is the exception. She describes the atmosphere of Bob Hansen's house vividly. (This case also made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up because Hansen also makes a cameo appearance in Green River, Running Red, as the "lonely farmer" who abducted a call girl and kept her imprisoned for three days in his barn. He wasn't the serial killer, but this story acts like a kind of hypertext link, expanding the background of that incident in a way that completely changes the reader's interpretation of it. Hansen wasn't, as the FBI profilers more or less dismissed him as, an eccentric but ultimately harmless man. He was an abusive father, an abusive husband, and a murderer who was much much better at disposing of his victims than Gary Ridgway. Joann Hansen is still missing.)
*"The Case of the Deadly Giant": Echo Lake WA 1971: Paul Vinetti savagely murdered a woman because, he said, she made fun of him.
*"The Most Frightening Crime of All": Edmonds WA 1976 and Seattle WA 1980: two serial rapists (all the names have been changed). Rule's purpose is to educate women in how to keep themselves safe(r). Not blame-the-victim thinking, just strategies to reduce risk. This sort of didacticism I do not mind.
There is no case in this collection called "Don't Look Behind You."
*"Too Late for the Fair": Des Moines WA 1962: Rule is a clear, descriptive writer, but she isn't usually atmospheric. This case is the exception. She describes the atmosphere of Bob Hansen's house vividly. (This case also made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up because Hansen also makes a cameo appearance in Green River, Running Red, as the "lonely farmer" who abducted a call girl and kept her imprisoned for three days in his barn. He wasn't the serial killer, but this story acts like a kind of hypertext link, expanding the background of that incident in a way that completely changes the reader's interpretation of it. Hansen wasn't, as the FBI profilers more or less dismissed him as, an eccentric but ultimately harmless man. He was an abusive father, an abusive husband, and a murderer who was much much better at disposing of his victims than Gary Ridgway. Joann Hansen is still missing.)
*"The Case of the Deadly Giant": Echo Lake WA 1971: Paul Vinetti savagely murdered a woman because, he said, she made fun of him.
*"The Most Frightening Crime of All": Edmonds WA 1976 and Seattle WA 1980: two serial rapists (all the names have been changed). Rule's purpose is to educate women in how to keep themselves safe(r). Not blame-the-victim thinking, just strategies to reduce risk. This sort of didacticism I do not mind.
There is no case in this collection called "Don't Look Behind You."
March 4, 2024
I'm a newbie to Ann Rule overall, but I love how she writes true crime! Factual but emotional, with a healthy level of respect and dedication to the victims. I also like how she includes tips for avoiding victimization based on her experiences in LE and as an author.
February 1, 2024
It was chilling to read of evil people who do such bad things to others. Thank goodness we have dedicated investigators to solve these horrible crimes.
December 16, 2011
Ehh, you know. Just alright. Just alright.
I've read all Ann Rule's books, every one of them. Every Christmas a new one comes out and it's either in my stocking or I buy it at the airport for some fairly easy (although often disturbing) plane reading. The last few I've read just haven't held my interest - I'm not sure if the stories are less interesting, if her writing has changed (I don't think that's it), or if I'm just not that interested anymore, but, yeah. Just ok.
Now that I've finished it and can pass it over to my mom* I'm going back to Sookie Sackhouse.
* I originally bought this for my Kindle but returned it, which I've never done before. First of all, NO PICTURES. What good is a true crime story without pictures? I read a Kindle edition Ann Rule book last year and found the photo section buried at the back (when I had finished the book), but it was THERE. This year I paged through the entire thing on my Kindle (I KNOW) and they just weren't there. Added to that was when I went onto the Amazon page to see about how to return a Kindle edition, I noticed Amazon had charged me $10.25 for the Kindle edition, while the paperback was going for $7.99. WHAT. (Price set by publisher, it said). I'm sorry, but no. I'm not paying MORE for the Kindle edition and I'm ESPECIALLY not paying more for a version of a book that has LESS content than the less expensive option. More money for less content? Yeah, no thanks. Bug off, Simon & Schuster.
I've read all Ann Rule's books, every one of them. Every Christmas a new one comes out and it's either in my stocking or I buy it at the airport for some fairly easy (although often disturbing) plane reading. The last few I've read just haven't held my interest - I'm not sure if the stories are less interesting, if her writing has changed (I don't think that's it), or if I'm just not that interested anymore, but, yeah. Just ok.
Now that I've finished it and can pass it over to my mom* I'm going back to Sookie Sackhouse.
* I originally bought this for my Kindle but returned it, which I've never done before. First of all, NO PICTURES. What good is a true crime story without pictures? I read a Kindle edition Ann Rule book last year and found the photo section buried at the back (when I had finished the book), but it was THERE. This year I paged through the entire thing on my Kindle (I KNOW) and they just weren't there. Added to that was when I went onto the Amazon page to see about how to return a Kindle edition, I noticed Amazon had charged me $10.25 for the Kindle edition, while the paperback was going for $7.99. WHAT. (Price set by publisher, it said). I'm sorry, but no. I'm not paying MORE for the Kindle edition and I'm ESPECIALLY not paying more for a version of a book that has LESS content than the less expensive option. More money for less content? Yeah, no thanks. Bug off, Simon & Schuster.
July 6, 2012
Ann Rule's true crime books were first recommended to me by a friend who was serving as an assistant warden at Folsom State Prison in California. Tom told me that he felt Rule's books did an excellent job of portraying the criminal mindset. I came to like them because of the compassion she shows toward the victims of crimes--both those who are killed, and those who must find a way to survive their loss.
That being said, I struggled with this, the fifteenth volume of her Crime Files series. In large part, it felt like the author was injecting too much of herself into the accounts, particularly in the first case she described, "North to Alaska". It definitely didn't rise to the level of her earlier books. If you haven't read any of her work, check out All She Ever Wanted or Dead by Sunset, or one of her earlier Crime Files volumes.
That being said, I struggled with this, the fifteenth volume of her Crime Files series. In large part, it felt like the author was injecting too much of herself into the accounts, particularly in the first case she described, "North to Alaska". It definitely didn't rise to the level of her earlier books. If you haven't read any of her work, check out All She Ever Wanted or Dead by Sunset, or one of her earlier Crime Files volumes.
March 26, 2017
It's always wonderful when you discover an Ann Rule book on your TBR shelf that you haven't yet read. I miss Rule so much. She was truly one-of-a-kind, a true crime writer with a gift for telling engaging stories while striving to help the people she wrote about. She had a huge heart, and her compassion shone through her writing.
The main case profiled in this book is a cold case that was finally solved when a long-dead body emerged, but the one that got to me the most was the story of Joann Hansen, a lovely young mother who disappeared one day and who has yet to be found. Rule makes it pretty obvious what happened to her, and it's a heartbreaking story.
If you like true crime, you can't do better than Rule. She was a master. I'd confidently recommend any of her non-fiction without hesitation (I haven't tried her fiction yet.)
The main case profiled in this book is a cold case that was finally solved when a long-dead body emerged, but the one that got to me the most was the story of Joann Hansen, a lovely young mother who disappeared one day and who has yet to be found. Rule makes it pretty obvious what happened to her, and it's a heartbreaking story.
If you like true crime, you can't do better than Rule. She was a master. I'd confidently recommend any of her non-fiction without hesitation (I haven't tried her fiction yet.)
May 21, 2017
If you are familiar with Ann Rule’s Crime Files, you know that this is a compilation of cases. The first one is always very lengthy, normally about half of the book, and the rest are smaller. I can’t really give you a synopsis of the cases, I read this almost a month ago and kind of buzzed through it. What I will say is this, if you like Ann Rule’s writing, and her Crime Files, you will probably like this.
For those of you who feel (I’ve read the reviews) that she ‘phoned this in’, this was written rather recently, when her health was failing. I say this because the writing may not be up to her previous works, but still good and readable.
For those of you who feel (I’ve read the reviews) that she ‘phoned this in’, this was written rather recently, when her health was failing. I say this because the writing may not be up to her previous works, but still good and readable.
December 11, 2011
I love Ann Rule's books and have read all of them. She is an engaging true crime writer. My daughter thinks I have a dark side because true crime is my guilty pleasure! I haven't added all the true crime books I've read because there are simply too many and I've resold most of them over the years. Ann Rule is the best writer of all of them. She delves deep into the background of both the victims and perpetrators. This is what I find particularly interesting.
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October 6, 2013I believe that Ann Rule's book should be required reading for any young woman. Many of the women in Ann's book are young, inexperienced, and naive especially about men. If just one person is helped by reading these books it would be worth it because a person cannot be too careful about who they start a relationship with.
January 29, 2014
Another 2.5. I read it because my next door neighbor from Washington knew the women Renee who killed and helped her brother cut up her boyfriend. The man was missing for thirty years before the murder was solved. My neighbor knew her when she had moved onto a rich man who owned a bail bond business. It just goes to prove you never know.
April 22, 2018
“You are the very first line of your own defense, and you can save your own life.”
July 15, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded up
Listen, I would read Ann Rule's grocery lists. Her writing is like crack (or so I assume - I've never tried crack and don't plan to).
My main issues with this one were with the second story about Joan Ellen Hansen. First, it's unsolved, and that's not my personal cup of tea. I prefer to read closed cases, but I get that not everyone is like that. Second, one of Hansen's children transitions and Ann repeatedly deadnames her and misgenders her. On the one hand, I understand that the language for these topics was not as fleshed out at the time of writing, and that discussion of transgender people before and after transitioning can cause some difficulties in storytelling, especially for older generations who are not as familiar or comfortable with the concept. But on the other hand, it made me uncomfortable. Simple as that.
But given the "buts" above, I'm willing to grant a little grace and round up my review because again - I would read Ann Rule's grocery lists. She does a great job of taking a massive amount of information and boiling them into a coherent story for readers. And story is the right word - as one friend said to me, "she writes non-fiction with a fiction beat." Most likely won't be my last Ann Rule!
Listen, I would read Ann Rule's grocery lists. Her writing is like crack (or so I assume - I've never tried crack and don't plan to).
My main issues with this one were with the second story about Joan Ellen Hansen. First, it's unsolved, and that's not my personal cup of tea. I prefer to read closed cases, but I get that not everyone is like that. Second, one of Hansen's children transitions and Ann repeatedly deadnames her and misgenders her. On the one hand, I understand that the language for these topics was not as fleshed out at the time of writing, and that discussion of transgender people before and after transitioning can cause some difficulties in storytelling, especially for older generations who are not as familiar or comfortable with the concept. But on the other hand, it made me uncomfortable. Simple as that.
But given the "buts" above, I'm willing to grant a little grace and round up my review because again - I would read Ann Rule's grocery lists. She does a great job of taking a massive amount of information and boiling them into a coherent story for readers. And story is the right word - as one friend said to me, "she writes non-fiction with a fiction beat." Most likely won't be my last Ann Rule!
May 30, 2019
I didn't even read the first and longest story in this "Ann Rule's Crime Files" book, having been pretty familiar with it already from something I saw on TV. The rest of the book was okay, but not up to par for Ann Rule. I understand this was written towards the end of her life, so that may explain it being sub-par. I still enjoyed it somewhat, even though the 2nd longest story had no real resolution.
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August 23, 2017LOVED IT!
July 10, 2021
I really enjoy Ann Rule’s books. And I’ve read so many of them. However, I listened to this on Audible and was really distracted by the woman reading it. The stories are good and interesting. And I like that Ann speaks directly to her readers. But that woman who read this—her voice for men was a little weird. Overall, if you like true crime, you’ll like this. If you don’t, you won’t.
June 15, 2022
I actually couldn't read the last few chapters of this book because they were about rapists. I have found Rule's books fascinating. But reading about rapists was too much for me.
June 1, 2016
A part of me wishes that serial killers were more frequent than within-the-family homicides, because Ann Rule's novels on Gary Ridgway and Ted Bundy are her two best.
However, this is the dilemma in reading true crime. Is it really ever okay to ENJOY what you are reading? I gave the Bundy book 5 stars, but I'm sure that many might disagree.
I've read several of Ann's Crime Files books, and as soon as I read them I generally forget pretty quickly what the stories were even about. I think that happens when so many stories are packed into one book.
This book contains only four new stories, and the last two are so short that I find myself wishing they hadn't been tacked on at all. There is no time to get emotionally connected to the cases.
The first two, however, certainly held my interest. In particular, the second case: "Too Late for the Fair" about Bob Hansen, his "missing" wife Joann, and their bruised and battered kids (literally and metaphorically). It is no surprise that murder suspects usually have led pretty fucked up lives. Or, at least, more fucked up than the usual family. Bob Hansen was abused and carried this on to his wife and children. But his children, having lost their mom to their dad's violent ways at very young ages, do not grow up very well-adjusted. The lone girl, Kandy Kay, becomes addicted to heroin and eventually dies from an overdose. Nick becomes transgendered Nicole. Ty, the baby, grows up the most normal - surprising, considering that he gets the brunt of Bob's fists. He was too young to remember his mother but soldiers on today in hopes of recovering her body. Well into his 80s, Bob Hansen committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. By this time he had disinherited his children, grandchildren and even his lone best friend Marv. He gave his estate, valued at $5 million, to a couple in Costa Rica that he had known for quite some time. This was the most compelling case to me because of how much one woman's murder affected so many people, and how one man's cold-blooded heart dripped onto everyone he came in contact with until the poison set in. I sincerely hope that Ty is one day able to find his mother's remains.
If you did not know, Ann Rule accepts suggestions for her Crime Files books. You can contact her with a case suggestion through a form found at her website: annrules.com.
However, this is the dilemma in reading true crime. Is it really ever okay to ENJOY what you are reading? I gave the Bundy book 5 stars, but I'm sure that many might disagree.
I've read several of Ann's Crime Files books, and as soon as I read them I generally forget pretty quickly what the stories were even about. I think that happens when so many stories are packed into one book.
This book contains only four new stories, and the last two are so short that I find myself wishing they hadn't been tacked on at all. There is no time to get emotionally connected to the cases.
The first two, however, certainly held my interest. In particular, the second case: "Too Late for the Fair" about Bob Hansen, his "missing" wife Joann, and their bruised and battered kids (literally and metaphorically). It is no surprise that murder suspects usually have led pretty fucked up lives. Or, at least, more fucked up than the usual family. Bob Hansen was abused and carried this on to his wife and children. But his children, having lost their mom to their dad's violent ways at very young ages, do not grow up very well-adjusted. The lone girl, Kandy Kay, becomes addicted to heroin and eventually dies from an overdose. Nick becomes transgendered Nicole. Ty, the baby, grows up the most normal - surprising, considering that he gets the brunt of Bob's fists. He was too young to remember his mother but soldiers on today in hopes of recovering her body. Well into his 80s, Bob Hansen committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. By this time he had disinherited his children, grandchildren and even his lone best friend Marv. He gave his estate, valued at $5 million, to a couple in Costa Rica that he had known for quite some time. This was the most compelling case to me because of how much one woman's murder affected so many people, and how one man's cold-blooded heart dripped onto everyone he came in contact with until the poison set in. I sincerely hope that Ty is one day able to find his mother's remains.
If you did not know, Ann Rule accepts suggestions for her Crime Files books. You can contact her with a case suggestion through a form found at her website: annrules.com.
February 2, 2012
I read this about a month ago and it was my first Ann Rule in quite some time. It did make me remember why she's always been my favorite t.c. author. I have a few on my shelves that I've missed and I need to get those finished this year hopefully.
I should have reviewed this right away when I finished but that just wasn't possible this time and now I forget what exactly I wanted to say. I know I wanted to mention a few things because I checked a few of the pages. I'll have to let it go\ though.
I can say this, this book is no different IMO than any other of Rule's books. She's always on point, she has a way of turning an "ordinary" case into something interesting for most, if not all, t.c. readers.
I'd recommend it if you like Rule in general and/or if you like well written t.c. books. If you're not a t.c. reader and just want to see what all the hype is about because the author is well known I'd pass. True crime isn't for everyone.
The one story that really sticks with me from this book is the one with Curtiss and Notaro. I think what really got me is that Curtiss *looks* normal. She looks like any decent looking, middle-aged professional woman. And she's anything but. Their victim, Joe Tarricone, is featured in detail by Rule and you really feel you know him, the good and the bad. He's so lively and happy in his pictures which make what these monsters did all the more horrible.
Another story was about a "man" (I use that word loosely in relation to this scum) named Bob Hansen. I don't know how anyone as deplorable the people who do the things he do came to be. How does it happen? Society? Was he a "bad seed"? What is it? How can someone go through life like Curtiss, Notaro and Hansen?
If there was ever a time to thank God for so many different things at once it's after reading a t.c. book.
I should have reviewed this right away when I finished but that just wasn't possible this time and now I forget what exactly I wanted to say. I know I wanted to mention a few things because I checked a few of the pages. I'll have to let it go\ though.
I can say this, this book is no different IMO than any other of Rule's books. She's always on point, she has a way of turning an "ordinary" case into something interesting for most, if not all, t.c. readers.
I'd recommend it if you like Rule in general and/or if you like well written t.c. books. If you're not a t.c. reader and just want to see what all the hype is about because the author is well known I'd pass. True crime isn't for everyone.
The one story that really sticks with me from this book is the one with Curtiss and Notaro. I think what really got me is that Curtiss *looks* normal. She looks like any decent looking, middle-aged professional woman. And she's anything but. Their victim, Joe Tarricone, is featured in detail by Rule and you really feel you know him, the good and the bad. He's so lively and happy in his pictures which make what these monsters did all the more horrible.
Another story was about a "man" (I use that word loosely in relation to this scum) named Bob Hansen. I don't know how anyone as deplorable the people who do the things he do came to be. How does it happen? Society? Was he a "bad seed"? What is it? How can someone go through life like Curtiss, Notaro and Hansen?
If there was ever a time to thank God for so many different things at once it's after reading a t.c. book.
May 27, 2022
Ann Rule is the Queen of true crime, and her prose is very good, but this book is unbearable depressing. The first case a woman gets away with a murder in her 20’s and only a happenstance finding of the bones brings her to justice in her late 50’s.
The second case is even worse. A violent man kills his wife, everyone knows he did it but there’s no evidence and no body. The 3 kids grow up without a Mom, raised by a monster. They never find the body, there’s no justice, and besides the fact that as an old man his kids never talk to him and he has no friends he dies just living his life, 50 years later at 83.
I understand true Crime is not a narrative but to spend hours with these cases only to let the murderer just go on living their lives makes for a frustrating and unsatisfying read.
The second case is even worse. A violent man kills his wife, everyone knows he did it but there’s no evidence and no body. The 3 kids grow up without a Mom, raised by a monster. They never find the body, there’s no justice, and besides the fact that as an old man his kids never talk to him and he has no friends he dies just living his life, 50 years later at 83.
I understand true Crime is not a narrative but to spend hours with these cases only to let the murderer just go on living their lives makes for a frustrating and unsatisfying read.
April 25, 2016
I hate to say it about any of Ann Rule's books, especially since she has passed away recently, but I did not like this one much at all. It had nothing to do with the writing, as that was fine, it was just that the particular cases in this group of stories were not very interesting to me. I let the book sit, only partially read, for nearly two years due to boredom with it. I still have a small amount of her books that I have not read as yet, and I do plan to read those, hoping for just more intriguing cases.
December 12, 2011
Four creepy tales of abuse and murder. One story just creeped me out, one was too short to leave any real impression. The last one bothered me a lot and stirred up some unpleasant memories. Overall, not quite as good as other books in the series, but still better than most true crime books. Three and a half stars rounded up to four.
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Ann_Ru...
For the longer review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Ann_Ru...
January 16, 2012
I am not sure what is going on with Ann Rule lately. I have the found the last couple of books really lacking on something...perhaps she is losing her passion for the genre?? Or maybe when you write about demons for so long it becomes difficult to continue to write about them well. I will continue to stay a loyal fan, as I believe Ann Rule to be one of the best True Crime writers around...but I hope she comes out of the slump soon!
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