What do you think?
Rate this book
Crime Files #10
Worth More Dead and Other True Cases
Why would a man kill his lover's husband and then his wife, the woman who fought successfully to have him paroled from prison? Why would he risk arrest by kidnapping the child of another woman who adored him? Because they were...Worth More DeadA cold case reopened -- and solved -- with dogged police work and new evidence. One of the shocking true crimes of passion and greed from Ann Rule's Crime Files.Former Marine sergeant and judo instructor Roland Pitre Jr. claimed it was all an elaborate plan to win back his wife's love -- it wasn't supposed to end with her dead body in the trunk of a car. Nearly twenty years later, he acknowledged that he had hired someone to kill his estranged wife in 1988, though his alleged excuse for why a monstrous "mistake" happened is as shocking and convoluted as the crime itself. Eventually, he was charged with first-degree murder in the long-unsolved death of Cheryl Pitre, after a mysterious witness betrayed Pitre to save his own skin. Tracing back the dark and bloody path of Pitre's life, two generations of detectives found a chain of brutal and terrifying crimes by a man who manipulated the courts and prisons to walk free.
Hardcover
First published December 1, 2005
178 people are currently reading
2189 people want to read
About the author
Ann Rule
141 books4,512 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 26, 2020
I had high hopes for this book because I’ve loved everything else I’ve read by Ann Rule but this one just fell flat for me. I didn’t feel invested in any of the cases and that made it a drag to get through because I didn’t particularly care what happened. I know that sounds terrible because these are real crimes that people suffered through but usually Rule has such a way of bringing murder cases to life with her writing and I felt that was missing from this book.
March 24, 2018
Ann tells s good true crime story. These are shorter stories that pack a wallop of a punch. They may not be well publicized murder tales but they’ll stay with me for quite awhile in the recesses of my mind. Murder and mayhem, sometimes it’s hard to believe all the evidence in these cases by you know they’re one hundred percent true.
January 2, 2018
I really enjoyed the first story and wish Rule had stopped there. I didn't enjoy the other stories as much.
Worth More Dead (5 stars)-This was the longest story in this collection. I often wondered why Rule didn't make this a stand alone story. The other stories didn't really fit. This story was very long and very good I thought though. We follow Roland Pitrie who first came to law enforcement's attention when he claimed his ex-lover talked him into hiring someone to murder her husband. I am still of two minds about the first case. Pitrie seemed to have some weird hold on women. I wonder if he talked her into it or not. Either way, the woman and his ex friend in question are both found not guilty and Pitrie is sent to jail. When he gets out, he gets back with his ex-wife Cheryl. Of course, it's not long before Pitrie decides to be done with Cheryl as well. When Cheryl goes missing and then is found dead, even though police suspect Pitrie there is nothing they can do. I did love looking at this story since Pitrie fools a lot of people along the way. Eventually he is caught and arrested about something else, but you get to read enough to find out that he was behind his ex's murder as well.
It's Really Weird Looking at My Own Grave (5 stars)-Rule provides insight into a serial killer. One of the victims gets away and is instrumental in making sure he is eventually captured and locked away. In the end, two women ended up surviving the man's attacks, it still leaves lasting scars on both of them though.
Old Man's Darling (3 stars)-Didn't really like this one. I don't know if you would call it karma or not. An older man has an affair with a younger woman who refuses to let go. This ends up in a police shoot out.
All For Nothing (4 stars)-A really sad story about a woman who doesn't want to continue a relationship, but is murdered when the jealous man figures she has moved on. The man, Bill Pawlyk ended up going to prison, and asked for clemency cause of the "good works" he did while in jail. I don't know how long one has or should go to jail for taking a life, but I don't think that one should try to get out after 15 years (Pawlyk did) and not be held accountable for longer than than. Pawlyk ended up not just killing his ex-lover but another man who arrived at the home before he did. I think the laying in wait part is what gets me. That is premeditated to me and he definitely should not be seen any mercy.
A Desperate Housewife (4 stars)-Looks at the life of Carolyn and Robert Durall. A sad story showing that a controlling man who though he didn't particularly want to be married to his wife, wasn't about to let her go either.
Worth More Dead (5 stars)-This was the longest story in this collection. I often wondered why Rule didn't make this a stand alone story. The other stories didn't really fit. This story was very long and very good I thought though. We follow Roland Pitrie who first came to law enforcement's attention when he claimed his ex-lover talked him into hiring someone to murder her husband. I am still of two minds about the first case. Pitrie seemed to have some weird hold on women. I wonder if he talked her into it or not. Either way, the woman and his ex friend in question are both found not guilty and Pitrie is sent to jail. When he gets out, he gets back with his ex-wife Cheryl. Of course, it's not long before Pitrie decides to be done with Cheryl as well. When Cheryl goes missing and then is found dead, even though police suspect Pitrie there is nothing they can do. I did love looking at this story since Pitrie fools a lot of people along the way. Eventually he is caught and arrested about something else, but you get to read enough to find out that he was behind his ex's murder as well.
It's Really Weird Looking at My Own Grave (5 stars)-Rule provides insight into a serial killer. One of the victims gets away and is instrumental in making sure he is eventually captured and locked away. In the end, two women ended up surviving the man's attacks, it still leaves lasting scars on both of them though.
Old Man's Darling (3 stars)-Didn't really like this one. I don't know if you would call it karma or not. An older man has an affair with a younger woman who refuses to let go. This ends up in a police shoot out.
All For Nothing (4 stars)-A really sad story about a woman who doesn't want to continue a relationship, but is murdered when the jealous man figures she has moved on. The man, Bill Pawlyk ended up going to prison, and asked for clemency cause of the "good works" he did while in jail. I don't know how long one has or should go to jail for taking a life, but I don't think that one should try to get out after 15 years (Pawlyk did) and not be held accountable for longer than than. Pawlyk ended up not just killing his ex-lover but another man who arrived at the home before he did. I think the laying in wait part is what gets me. That is premeditated to me and he definitely should not be seen any mercy.
A Desperate Housewife (4 stars)-Looks at the life of Carolyn and Robert Durall. A sad story showing that a controlling man who though he didn't particularly want to be married to his wife, wasn't about to let her go either.
February 26, 2020
This Ann Rule collection of cases is well written and presented. If you read true crime, Ann Rule is at the top of the list, and this book will not disappoint.
July 31, 2012
I love Ann Rule's books. They're morbid,fascinating and tragic. All of her books are great reads, but I can't read them for too long without having to move to a happier genre, since they can get quite depressing.
October 22, 2022
I think I need a break from Ann Rule for awhile.
I can’t take one more story of some poor woman (or to be fair, man) duped into getting married young to some psycho and that turns them into their servant and cheats on them constantly.
Then when they realize they don’t have to live like this anymore and try to get a divorce in their 30’s thé psycho ineptly kills them. It’s all so sordid and sad and there’s no happy ending in true crime. When the murderer goes to jail the victim is still gone.
I can’t take one more story of some poor woman (or to be fair, man) duped into getting married young to some psycho and that turns them into their servant and cheats on them constantly.
Then when they realize they don’t have to live like this anymore and try to get a divorce in their 30’s thé psycho ineptly kills them. It’s all so sordid and sad and there’s no happy ending in true crime. When the murderer goes to jail the victim is still gone.
May 23, 2023
I must admit this is the first true crime book I’ve read, so not a lot to base the 5 star review on. But I thought it was well written and intriguing.
January 6, 2017
*"Worth More Dead": the bizarre and appalling career of Roland Pitre, who never liked to get his own hands dirty, but who conspired to kill his lover's husband (then turned state's evidence to testify against her, even though there doesn't really seem to be convincing evidence that she was the person conspiring with him), then conspired to kill his ex-wife, then hatched a grotesque plot to kidnap his teenage stepson and hold him for ransom, keeping him imprisoned in a tiny secret room Pitre built in the basement bathroom of his girlfriend's house. (Rule doesn't think the teenage boy was ever going to make it out of that plot alive, and I agree with her.)
*"'It's Really Weird Looking at My Own Grave'": Timberlane WA 1979: one girl was raped and murdered; two others were raped and escaped with their lives. The surviving victims were able to identify William Gene Scribner as their rapist. When the police were processing the murder scene, they found evidence from one of the survivors. Scribner had taken both of the later (surviving) victims to the site of the murder to rape them.
*"Old Man's Darling": Denver CO 2003: Teresa Perez, 40, murdered her lover, Justyn Rosen, 80 (no, not a typo, eighty) because he would not leave his wife for her. Since she chose to shoot him in the parking lot of a police sub-station (and shot a police officer for trying to intervene), she committed suicide by cop.
*"All for Nothing": Issaquah WA 1989: Don't put it all on women. Hell hath no fury like a person scorned. Successful business man loses his shit and murders a woman he was dating (he much more seriously than she) and a man who may or may not have been having an affair with her. (The male victim was a popular Seattle news personality, Larry Sturholm, and Rule bends over backwards to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I dunno. When you are going to the Cayman Islands without your wife of twenty-two years, and you are taking with you a woman whom your wife has never heard of, and you somehow omit to mention to your wife that this other woman is going, letting your wife drop you off at the airport and then renting a car to go pick up your friend . . . I think it's not unreasonable to say your motives are less than pure.) Pawlyk, who'd never met Larry Sturholm before he killed him, stabbed each of his victims more than 100 times, then tried to commit suicide himself--but couldn't bring himself either to cut deeply enough or to actually take a lethal quantity of sleeping pills.
*"A Desperate Housewife": Renton WA 1998: Every Woman's Nightmare, next verse, same as the first. Woman trapped in emotionally abusive marriage with a controlling, fault-finding, obsessively jealous spouse, asks for a divorce and gets killed for it. (Her (female) friends begged her not to talk to Bob alone; she told them she was sure Bob would never hurt her. Prosecutors think she was beaten to death with a baseball bat.) Bob Durall, like Steve Sherer (from Empty Promises and Other True Cases), hid his victim's body, then faked concern for his "missing" wife--but didn't fake it particularly well. At his trial, having insisted on testifying in his own defense, he told a story so implausible that I'm sure his attorney wanted to commit seppuku on the spot.
*"'It's Really Weird Looking at My Own Grave'": Timberlane WA 1979: one girl was raped and murdered; two others were raped and escaped with their lives. The surviving victims were able to identify William Gene Scribner as their rapist. When the police were processing the murder scene, they found evidence from one of the survivors. Scribner had taken both of the later (surviving) victims to the site of the murder to rape them.
*"Old Man's Darling": Denver CO 2003: Teresa Perez, 40, murdered her lover, Justyn Rosen, 80 (no, not a typo, eighty) because he would not leave his wife for her. Since she chose to shoot him in the parking lot of a police sub-station (and shot a police officer for trying to intervene), she committed suicide by cop.
*"All for Nothing": Issaquah WA 1989: Don't put it all on women. Hell hath no fury like a person scorned. Successful business man loses his shit and murders a woman he was dating (he much more seriously than she) and a man who may or may not have been having an affair with her. (The male victim was a popular Seattle news personality, Larry Sturholm, and Rule bends over backwards to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I dunno. When you are going to the Cayman Islands without your wife of twenty-two years, and you are taking with you a woman whom your wife has never heard of, and you somehow omit to mention to your wife that this other woman is going, letting your wife drop you off at the airport and then renting a car to go pick up your friend . . . I think it's not unreasonable to say your motives are less than pure.) Pawlyk, who'd never met Larry Sturholm before he killed him, stabbed each of his victims more than 100 times, then tried to commit suicide himself--but couldn't bring himself either to cut deeply enough or to actually take a lethal quantity of sleeping pills.
*"A Desperate Housewife": Renton WA 1998: Every Woman's Nightmare, next verse, same as the first. Woman trapped in emotionally abusive marriage with a controlling, fault-finding, obsessively jealous spouse, asks for a divorce and gets killed for it. (Her (female) friends begged her not to talk to Bob alone; she told them she was sure Bob would never hurt her. Prosecutors think she was beaten to death with a baseball bat.) Bob Durall, like Steve Sherer (from Empty Promises and Other True Cases), hid his victim's body, then faked concern for his "missing" wife--but didn't fake it particularly well. At his trial, having insisted on testifying in his own defense, he told a story so implausible that I'm sure his attorney wanted to commit seppuku on the spot.
July 4, 2010
Another not super well-written book, but interesting enough (in the way that the trashy cover makes it look) to keep you going. Three tragic stories in this one. Spouse murder, and brutally done. I realized part-way through the first story that I'd already read this one. She has a few words she overuses and it gets distracting: barrage, myriad, etc. The vocab starts to wear you out, but the stories are like a train wreck. I just can't stop reading non-fiction crime.
August 29, 2011
I always enjoy true stories, no matter how gruesome and frustrating. It's amazing what some people can get by with, if only for a few to many, many years. I am always overwhelmed with the ones who are involved in these cases, and the special bond they have with the departed ones they are so tirelessly trying to find justice for. They literally end up knowing these people better than their closest friends and family at times.
December 19, 2020
The Crime Files #10 compiles riveting and chilling true cases that seem to be related under the headline "Worth More Dead". Every case is unique on its own way and develops a simple and easy to follow prose that make this a quick and worthwhile read. This is no bedside reading (for some readers that is) but it is indeed pure and unbiased. Rule makes a huge effort in being impartial throughout the whole series and she seriously accomplishes this. She is a wonderful writer that certainly knows the perks of keeping the reader focused.
Worth More Dead R: 3/5
An unbearably long case that gives the title to the collection focuses on the crime of the murder of Cheryl Pitre under the hands of Roland Pitre. Rule develops Pitre's character focusing on his ability to manipulate everyone around him. We get to witness justice being made with a lot of lingering throughout the years, that can only be blamed towards Pitre's snake like behavior. Also, we get to hate Roland Pitre on our own and not by Ann Rule's influence, which is certainly appreciated.
It's Really Weird Looking at My Own Grave R: 4/5
A good witness is key to an investigation. When the chips are down, no one is fully expected to keep a crystal-like memory in the facts that were to destroy their life. The panic and shock burdens the capacity of thought and most notably the ability to memorize stuff. This was not the case for William Scribner's victims. With their wit and their fast thinking, they were able to not only escape murder but also served as a vital part in solving their own cases. It was amazing to witness two young women fleeing danger using what was purest and natural in them, given the circumstances.
Old Man's Darling R: 5/5
Homicides done by a woman are difficult to find. It's easy to exclude a woman as a human uncapable of being a benefactor of crime and hard to comprehend that they are just as capable as any other man of conceiving serious crime. The case of Randy Yoder's murder is not only unbelievable to the unbeknownst acquaintances of the murdered, but also scarily common. A crime driven by obsession and possession. Completely dominating the victim to their own need and benefit, destroying every faculty and becoming a master, are two of many thoughts that might've been the inciters in this terrible crime. The description of the crime in this story is particularly good, and I love me a good crime story.
All For Nothing R: 4/5
This was a multiple murder that affected Rule's own acquaintance. The description of the crime scene and nature of the crime is beautiful in itself and once again, this is a story that is characterized by jealousy and the desire of possessing the victim. This seems to be the main impulsive force in every crime that implies a personal relationship between the executor and the victim but this doesn't mean that it can be easily predicted. Great story that invites to a lot of insight on the reader's part. The reading of this story is rich and accomplishes it's purpose.
A Desperate Housewife R: 4/5
The last story of the book serves as a swift conclusion a work full of despair and human suffering. I believe this story was chosen to conclude the book simply because Carolyn Durall appeared to have a nice life, with nice pleasures and a nice family. No one ever noticed the rotten core of the Durall family that was brought in by the instability of the narcissistic husband Bob Durall. Carolyn certainly deserved better, given the circumstances that she never did anything wrong to harm her family or specifically her husband. She never could even begin to consider the thought of being killed by her own husband. All she ever did was try to save her marriage with desperate measures and received the dawn of her life.
It's clear that the criminal mind is fascinating in it's own way. The causes and specific stimuli that drive a human towards murder will never be fully understood, but when human obsession is on the recipe, we may have certain clues to ascertain the causes that triggered this sort of response. Every criminal listed in this book could have certain narcissistic traits (I'm no psychologist, for the record) that incited them to prioritize their needs before anyone else's, not even considering rational thought. What the rational mind would've done in this sort of situations is exclusively focused on analytical thought, a characteristic that this criminals possessed on some stages of their modus operandi but that they completely abandoned on their decision making, ultimately condemning themselves to sentence. They tried to subdue their victim like a puppet and the feeling of possession grew so great to them that they ended up deserting even their own instincts, being unable to recognize themselves. They were dangerous in the free roaming of society but luckily the investigator and police work was thorough. It is no wonder that everyone that reads this book is in some measure aroused by satisfaction for the fact that these criminals are behind bars never to be seen in society ever again. The isolation from society and free will is the worst punishment of all, but the weight of loosing human life is much stronger.
Ann Rule mentions: "The ripples that spread out from violent crime always wash over innocent people" and I believe she's a distributor of those ripples.
Worth More Dead R: 3/5
An unbearably long case that gives the title to the collection focuses on the crime of the murder of Cheryl Pitre under the hands of Roland Pitre. Rule develops Pitre's character focusing on his ability to manipulate everyone around him. We get to witness justice being made with a lot of lingering throughout the years, that can only be blamed towards Pitre's snake like behavior. Also, we get to hate Roland Pitre on our own and not by Ann Rule's influence, which is certainly appreciated.
It's Really Weird Looking at My Own Grave R: 4/5
A good witness is key to an investigation. When the chips are down, no one is fully expected to keep a crystal-like memory in the facts that were to destroy their life. The panic and shock burdens the capacity of thought and most notably the ability to memorize stuff. This was not the case for William Scribner's victims. With their wit and their fast thinking, they were able to not only escape murder but also served as a vital part in solving their own cases. It was amazing to witness two young women fleeing danger using what was purest and natural in them, given the circumstances.
Old Man's Darling R: 5/5
Homicides done by a woman are difficult to find. It's easy to exclude a woman as a human uncapable of being a benefactor of crime and hard to comprehend that they are just as capable as any other man of conceiving serious crime. The case of Randy Yoder's murder is not only unbelievable to the unbeknownst acquaintances of the murdered, but also scarily common. A crime driven by obsession and possession. Completely dominating the victim to their own need and benefit, destroying every faculty and becoming a master, are two of many thoughts that might've been the inciters in this terrible crime. The description of the crime in this story is particularly good, and I love me a good crime story.
All For Nothing R: 4/5
This was a multiple murder that affected Rule's own acquaintance. The description of the crime scene and nature of the crime is beautiful in itself and once again, this is a story that is characterized by jealousy and the desire of possessing the victim. This seems to be the main impulsive force in every crime that implies a personal relationship between the executor and the victim but this doesn't mean that it can be easily predicted. Great story that invites to a lot of insight on the reader's part. The reading of this story is rich and accomplishes it's purpose.
A Desperate Housewife R: 4/5
The last story of the book serves as a swift conclusion a work full of despair and human suffering. I believe this story was chosen to conclude the book simply because Carolyn Durall appeared to have a nice life, with nice pleasures and a nice family. No one ever noticed the rotten core of the Durall family that was brought in by the instability of the narcissistic husband Bob Durall. Carolyn certainly deserved better, given the circumstances that she never did anything wrong to harm her family or specifically her husband. She never could even begin to consider the thought of being killed by her own husband. All she ever did was try to save her marriage with desperate measures and received the dawn of her life.
It's clear that the criminal mind is fascinating in it's own way. The causes and specific stimuli that drive a human towards murder will never be fully understood, but when human obsession is on the recipe, we may have certain clues to ascertain the causes that triggered this sort of response. Every criminal listed in this book could have certain narcissistic traits (I'm no psychologist, for the record) that incited them to prioritize their needs before anyone else's, not even considering rational thought. What the rational mind would've done in this sort of situations is exclusively focused on analytical thought, a characteristic that this criminals possessed on some stages of their modus operandi but that they completely abandoned on their decision making, ultimately condemning themselves to sentence. They tried to subdue their victim like a puppet and the feeling of possession grew so great to them that they ended up deserting even their own instincts, being unable to recognize themselves. They were dangerous in the free roaming of society but luckily the investigator and police work was thorough. It is no wonder that everyone that reads this book is in some measure aroused by satisfaction for the fact that these criminals are behind bars never to be seen in society ever again. The isolation from society and free will is the worst punishment of all, but the weight of loosing human life is much stronger.
Ann Rule mentions: "The ripples that spread out from violent crime always wash over innocent people" and I believe she's a distributor of those ripples.
November 17, 2008
Ms. Rule does an excellent job of telling true crime stories in a way that is detailed, but not glorifying the events.
May 20, 2011
A collection of true crime stories that she has researched over the past years, about 5 cases that were very interesting to her.
January 29, 2016
Very well put together. Passed book on to a friend
May 22, 2009
Love all of her books.
June 28, 2017
I bought this book way back in August of 2011 on a sale from a famous bookstore chain. I think there are more of these books I bought on sale or from a second-hand store that I have not gotten to read. This one was on another shelf that was covered by the used notebooks and books of my nephews. I am not sure if anyone has ever read all the books in his/her shelf. I am sure, there is either a few of those books that have been just sitting on there and have escaped attention. Hopefully, like every other bookworm, I will be able to read all of them.
This is my first foray into Ann Rule. Yes, I am into mysteries and crime novels but I have not read Ann Rule before. I guess, this is why I bought this one. This is a collection of true crimes. This volume is comprised of five stories. The common theme of course is that the victims were worth more dead than alive to whoever killed them. The stories in this collection are:
Worth More Dead is a story of a husband who killed two women, planned to kill his second wife and kidnapped his step-son for money.
It's Really Weird Looking at My Own Grave is about a serial rapist and killer who believed that if his victims were dead, no one can identify him and charge him of the crime.
Old Man's Darling is about a woman who grew-up without the love of a father and sought that love from rich and older men. When the last man he dated did not want to divorce his wife and decided to leave her, she'd rather kill him than not have him at all.
All for Nothing is about a guy who killed two people because of jealousy and a blow to his pride.
A Desperate Housewife is about a dedicated wife, a model employee and co-worker who was killed by her cheating husband because she wanted to get out of a lifeless marriage.
These are all stories of gruesome murders. Some are planned with great cunning and some were done out of desperation. One thing is for sure, only sick minds, devoid of any conscience can carry out these deeds. These were all written with great detail necessary to understanding each case, the persons involved and the reason(s) for the horrible act. Thankfully, all the victims of all these cases got justice because all the culprits were found guilty and sentenced. Though for some, justice was not immediate but at least it was served and the criminal would not be able to walk free again.
Of the five, I think the worst and the most disturbing was the last case--A Desperate Housewife. It was through the concerns and efforts of friends, office mates and neighbors who reported the wife was missing and may have been killed by the husband that mobilized the police. If not for the victim's friends, it would have not been known that she was missing since the husband did not report it. He was covering his tracks and the crime while the community were busy trying to locate the missing wife.
Truly, Ann Rule is a master. She narrated and chronicled each story with precision and made sure that the most important element for each story was in there. I only wished these were not real stories because they are too horrible to contemplate to be true. But then, we can never know what drives a person to desperation and end another life.
I give this book 4/5 hunting knives. I want to read more of Ann Rule. I want to read her fiction stories. I think I could not stomach more real crime stories. I think I'd stick to fictional ones. At least, I wouldn't have to think about the real person who was the victim of the real crime and the viciousness of the soulless being who perfected the deed. May all the victims of these stories rest in peace.
The mass of women and women experience broken relationships, jealousy, wounded pride, and despair over lost love. It is never easy for any of us. Only a tiny percentage of humans react with unbelievable violence.
- Ann Rule, Worth More Dead and Other True Cases -
This is my first foray into Ann Rule. Yes, I am into mysteries and crime novels but I have not read Ann Rule before. I guess, this is why I bought this one. This is a collection of true crimes. This volume is comprised of five stories. The common theme of course is that the victims were worth more dead than alive to whoever killed them. The stories in this collection are:
Worth More Dead is a story of a husband who killed two women, planned to kill his second wife and kidnapped his step-son for money.
It's Really Weird Looking at My Own Grave is about a serial rapist and killer who believed that if his victims were dead, no one can identify him and charge him of the crime.
Old Man's Darling is about a woman who grew-up without the love of a father and sought that love from rich and older men. When the last man he dated did not want to divorce his wife and decided to leave her, she'd rather kill him than not have him at all.
All for Nothing is about a guy who killed two people because of jealousy and a blow to his pride.
A Desperate Housewife is about a dedicated wife, a model employee and co-worker who was killed by her cheating husband because she wanted to get out of a lifeless marriage.
These are all stories of gruesome murders. Some are planned with great cunning and some were done out of desperation. One thing is for sure, only sick minds, devoid of any conscience can carry out these deeds. These were all written with great detail necessary to understanding each case, the persons involved and the reason(s) for the horrible act. Thankfully, all the victims of all these cases got justice because all the culprits were found guilty and sentenced. Though for some, justice was not immediate but at least it was served and the criminal would not be able to walk free again.
Of the five, I think the worst and the most disturbing was the last case--A Desperate Housewife. It was through the concerns and efforts of friends, office mates and neighbors who reported the wife was missing and may have been killed by the husband that mobilized the police. If not for the victim's friends, it would have not been known that she was missing since the husband did not report it. He was covering his tracks and the crime while the community were busy trying to locate the missing wife.
Truly, Ann Rule is a master. She narrated and chronicled each story with precision and made sure that the most important element for each story was in there. I only wished these were not real stories because they are too horrible to contemplate to be true. But then, we can never know what drives a person to desperation and end another life.
I give this book 4/5 hunting knives. I want to read more of Ann Rule. I want to read her fiction stories. I think I could not stomach more real crime stories. I think I'd stick to fictional ones. At least, I wouldn't have to think about the real person who was the victim of the real crime and the viciousness of the soulless being who perfected the deed. May all the victims of these stories rest in peace.
The mass of women and women experience broken relationships, jealousy, wounded pride, and despair over lost love. It is never easy for any of us. Only a tiny percentage of humans react with unbelievable violence.
- Ann Rule, Worth More Dead and Other True Cases -
April 21, 2021
The novel consists of 5 true crime stories. It gives insights into the psyche and behavioral tendencies of a sadistic sociopath, people who feel no grief or compassion when someone suffers or dies.
1) Worth More Dead -- The story of former marine sergeant, Roland Pitre Jr who hires someone to kill his paramour's husband, then schemes to kill his ex-wife and lastly, conceives a plan to kidnap his stepson for money.
2) It's Really Weird Looking at My Own Grave -- The true story of a serial rapist and killer, William Gene Scribner. He was convicted when two of his victims who survived the assault through their clever thinking, made his identification.
3) Old Man's Darling -- The crime story of Teresa Perez who murdered her rich married lover as he refused to divorce his wife for her. She was selfishly obsessed and possessive about him and just wasn’t prepared to let him dump her.
4) All For Nothing -- Bill Pawlyk, a high ranking naval officer and a successful businessman who had never met Larry Sturholm a performer of funny news segments on TV, kills him out of jealousy and stabs Debra Sweiger a highly trained nurse as he was besotted with her.
5) A Desperate Housewife -- Carolyn Durall who loved life and was a well-liked friendly co-worker, was murdered by her husband Bob Durall, a computer expert. Bob controlled every aspect of her life. She felt trapped in a lifeless marriage, sought divorce and got killed for it.
JUSTICE DONE.
1) Worth More Dead -- The story of former marine sergeant, Roland Pitre Jr who hires someone to kill his paramour's husband, then schemes to kill his ex-wife and lastly, conceives a plan to kidnap his stepson for money.
2) It's Really Weird Looking at My Own Grave -- The true story of a serial rapist and killer, William Gene Scribner. He was convicted when two of his victims who survived the assault through their clever thinking, made his identification.
3) Old Man's Darling -- The crime story of Teresa Perez who murdered her rich married lover as he refused to divorce his wife for her. She was selfishly obsessed and possessive about him and just wasn’t prepared to let him dump her.
4) All For Nothing -- Bill Pawlyk, a high ranking naval officer and a successful businessman who had never met Larry Sturholm a performer of funny news segments on TV, kills him out of jealousy and stabs Debra Sweiger a highly trained nurse as he was besotted with her.
5) A Desperate Housewife -- Carolyn Durall who loved life and was a well-liked friendly co-worker, was murdered by her husband Bob Durall, a computer expert. Bob controlled every aspect of her life. She felt trapped in a lifeless marriage, sought divorce and got killed for it.
JUSTICE DONE.
June 3, 2022
3.5 stars
Roland Petri was sent to jail after a complicated trial. There was a lot of his said, she said, but at the end of the day, Roland’s mistress had a murdered husband. Luckily for Roland (and unluckily for his ex wife), he had a sweet and innocent ex wife Cheryl waiting in the wings. He won her back, and used her to help get him out of prison early. Unfortunately, the fairytale was short lived and only one of them would come out of the marriage unscathed.
I might be wrong, but this didn’t feel quite as long as the normal book length case file’s main story, but it was still a heartbreaking and interesting read. In addition, the very last tale about a wife and mother who seemed capable of doing it all, really stuck with me. I wanted so badly to be able to change her story.
As always, some of Rule’s language is outdated and certain statements do sound like victim blaming, but I do think timing has to be kept in mind. Authors’ need to be viewed through the world they lived in, not necessarily ours. Overall, a good, but not super amazing addition to the series.
Roland Petri was sent to jail after a complicated trial. There was a lot of his said, she said, but at the end of the day, Roland’s mistress had a murdered husband. Luckily for Roland (and unluckily for his ex wife), he had a sweet and innocent ex wife Cheryl waiting in the wings. He won her back, and used her to help get him out of prison early. Unfortunately, the fairytale was short lived and only one of them would come out of the marriage unscathed.
I might be wrong, but this didn’t feel quite as long as the normal book length case file’s main story, but it was still a heartbreaking and interesting read. In addition, the very last tale about a wife and mother who seemed capable of doing it all, really stuck with me. I wanted so badly to be able to change her story.
As always, some of Rule’s language is outdated and certain statements do sound like victim blaming, but I do think timing has to be kept in mind. Authors’ need to be viewed through the world they lived in, not necessarily ours. Overall, a good, but not super amazing addition to the series.
February 6, 2020
Im a huge fan of true crime and I love Ann Rule (have read a gaggle of her books) but this one was a little bit of a let down. I'm usually able to breeze through quickly and think "My God... This really happened?", but with this one, I was left.... Well... Sort of bored. The last crime tale "A Desperate Housewife" was the best of the bunch but was more sad than anything else.
I still recommend reading all the Ann Rule books you can get your hands on though. She was (R.I.P) a phenomenal writer. Her books read like a fictional tale. That's why they are usually so hard to believe that they are true.
I still recommend reading all the Ann Rule books you can get your hands on though. She was (R.I.P) a phenomenal writer. Her books read like a fictional tale. That's why they are usually so hard to believe that they are true.
December 19, 2025
Fine example of Ann following cases, trying to make sense of the brutality, and ultimately giving us the inside scoop on the bad guy (or gal). Her research can be exhaustive, her affinity with the investigators is very clear, and her empathy for the victims is legendary. She’s no Truman Capote and no one will ever be, but her books are perfect for what they strive to be: close examinations of awful criminals.
June 23, 2018
This is a collection of short true-crime stories + one longer 200 page story. All are about people who were worth more dead to spouses or family members, as the title suggests. The longer story is one crazy, convoluted story that I would never have believed if it had been anyone but Ann Rule. She truly found some crazy stories for this book. I think I prefer the longer stories the best though.
November 3, 2018
Are you worth more dead than alive? Do you think your spouse could murder you, then make it appear as a suicide or mysterious circumstances? Another great collection of true murder cases spotlighted by Ann Rule. Jealous or controlling husbands, homicidal stalkers, and the old saying "If I can't have you, no one can" play huge roles in these cases.
January 9, 2023
The longest story in this book was great, and I wish that this book would have focused solely on that case. There could have been a lot more said about the court case, the forensics, and the back stories. I really prefer single case books, but at least she picks interesting ones for these crime files that she does.
April 6, 2024
3 great stories!
As always, Ann Rule tells stories like no other. I had recently tried a few true crime books by other authors and struggled to get through them even though the stories were interesting. With Ann, I can read her books in a few days because the story flows so well and keeps you glued to the book.
As always, Ann Rule tells stories like no other. I had recently tried a few true crime books by other authors and struggled to get through them even though the stories were interesting. With Ann, I can read her books in a few days because the story flows so well and keeps you glued to the book.
February 15, 2022
I truly find Ann Rule's writing interesting and fascinating. She is a very talented writer of true crime. She brings life to her subjects and is a voice for those who can no longer tell their stories. True crime at its finest.
December 15, 2017
I don't normally care for short stories but I'm glad I read these.
January 31, 2019
Sad stories, but love Ann Rules's writing
June 2, 2019
God I love how Ann Rule writes.
Read
August 7, 2019love her books so sorry she has passed .will miss her writing and deep concern for the victims and there families..deep respect for law enforcement and.respect to witnesses
August 16, 2019
Ann Rule always writes good true crime stories.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews