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18th out of 190 books
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Every Breath You Take : A True Story of Obsession, Revenge, and Murder
by
Ann Rule
AMERICA'S #1 TRUE-CRIME WRITER FULFILLS A MURDER VICTIM'S DESPERATE PLEA -- WITH THIS SHATTERING "NEW YORK TIMES" BESTSELLER
""If anything ever happens to me...
find Ann Rule and ask her to write my story.""
In perhaps the first true-crime book written at the victim's request, Ann Rule untangles a web of lies and brutality that culminated in t
...moreMass Market Paperback, 681 pages
Published
January 14th 2002
by Pocket
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This poor woman,who became famous for a brief time,after having quads,and began the talk show circuit talking about having so many babies after taking a fertility drug,failing,and then seeing another doctor who ended up making her pregnant and all the babies surviving to full term,only after she had escaped an incredibly abusive ex-husband.She was Sheila B., who had 2 beautiful daughters with this Alan B., who were caught in the middle.
There are neighbors who get involved,and go against Sh...more
There are neighbors who get involved,and go against Sh...more
Perhaps I am beginning to suffer from Ann Rule fatigue, this is the third audiobook, I've blazed through in the same amount of weeks, but I didn't find this story overly compelling. Maybe it was because I already knew how it would end when I picked it up, it was a foregone conclusion. I'm still amazed that such seemingly smart people will do such dumb things like Allen "cartoonishly evil made-up last name" Blackthorne did by hiring men to beat up/kill his ex-wife and not expecting th...more
Every Breath You Take is the story of the life and death of Sheila Bellush and the road to bring those responsible for her murder to justice. Sheila had a tumultuous marriage to Allen Blackthorne. Violent and controlling, she finally found the courage to leave him. After her divorce to him he proceeded to create trouble for her and their two daughters Stevie and Daryl. Long after Sheila had married Jamie Bellush and they had quadruplets, Allen did his best to disrupt their lives. He used h...more
Lynne
added it
This book is about Revenge, lies, murder book about a young women Sheila who is married to Allen Blackthorne they had two children together Stevie, And Daryle. But Allen has many sides to him, That scare Sheila.
Her sister tries to get sheila away from Allen but Allen tells her he will kill her and take the kids. When finally Sheila gets away she will be stocked for the rest of her life.
Daryle and Stevie are acting up because they miss there dad, so Aheila and her new husband move to...more
Her sister tries to get sheila away from Allen but Allen tells her he will kill her and take the kids. When finally Sheila gets away she will be stocked for the rest of her life.
Daryle and Stevie are acting up because they miss there dad, so Aheila and her new husband move to...more
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I listened to the abridged version of the story as a book-on-tape. The suspense definitely made listening to it bearable; I've struggled listening to other books on tape because they didn't have much of a story. The writing left something to be desired, but the plot of the tale made up for it. They say life is stranger than fiction - and this story proved it. I was entranced from Allen Blackthorne's humble, troubled beginnings, to his rise to wealth through an invention found in Thailand, to wha...more
When I checked this book out from the library, I had no idea what it was about until I began reading it (I picked it because I love Ann Rule). When I began, I couldn't believe that it was about the Blackthorne/Bellush murder. I lived in the area where the plan was hatched, drove by the countryclub almost every day where he played golf, my husband was a firefighter in the suburbs where Allen Blackthorne lived and actually had been in his mansion to do a fireplan. Not only that, the actual murd...more
I loved this book and wanted to justice for her children so bad......the only down side, that I have noticed about this author, Ann Rule introduces way too many poeple to the story. I understand getting to know the people you are reading about but I really could careless about a sisters best friends aunts nephews great grandmother!...Other than that this was an awesome read.
This book was out of my normal reading zone, but started in a moment when I needed something to read and this was the only book available. I was fascinated by the police work, saddened by the death and destruction Allen Blackthorne left behind him, and disgusted by Blackthorne and his fourth wife. What a piece of work they were. All in all it was a quick, interesting read.
Leslie
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
those who love to read true-crime
Recommended to Leslie by:
message boards, etc.
Shelves:
read-in-2009
It's taking me sooooo long to read this book! Although I can't wait to finish it and see what happens, I wouldn't necessarily call it a page-turner. She includes so many details (which I remember she did the same in Small Sacrifices, but only in the beginning) and she describes so many of the police officials, etc., that it becomes a bit cumbersome to read at times.
Plus, it's so sad that I've been needing breaks from it too. So, I've been reading other books at the same time, to comb...more
Plus, it's so sad that I've been needing breaks from it too. So, I've been reading other books at the same time, to comb...more
Basically a good read if you like to follow true crime. However it's a novel that could and maybe should have been written with half as many pages. Rule gives far too many quotes and snippets from all sides of the families, legal teams and accused to make it a pleasure to read. It drags as we are burdened by a sea of facts,dates and her insights.
This book was written because the victim told her sister "if I end up dead because of my husband, take my story to Ann Rule" or something to that effect. This story isn't as unbelievably crazy like many of Ann's other works, but as always Ann brings every character vividly to life and puts you square in the homes of all the people involved.
Sticking with the true Ann Rule fashion, once again, she has outdone herself with this true story. I couldn't put this book down! I wish Ann Rule would write something new, but then, for that to happen, would mean, that someone has to be a victim, and I don't advocate that, but she is the best true-crime writer of this century!
This book was published a number of years back -- but it is still gripping and Rule draws out the details in such a compelling and artful way that you are able to actually experience the terror and manipulation of this bizarre but true story -- Ann sticks to the facts and provides an accurate account of this story
This book was a bit too detailed on the investigation. There were so many police officers and investigators mentioned that I had a hard time keeping them all straight! But all in all, it was a very enjoyable read and it held my interest all the way through to the end.
My advice to you: don't read true crime books where you share a name with the victim. *shudder*
This was a bit long in spots, but I got a little frustrated every time I had to set it down and get off the train or whatever, which is the mark of a well-written book.
This was a bit long in spots, but I got a little frustrated every time I had to set it down and get off the train or whatever, which is the mark of a well-written book.
This is the type of book that will make the reader become very emotionally envolved with the characters. At points it made me angry at some of the characters and cry at others. The saddest part about the whole story is that it's a true story. =(
I don't remember ever reading a true crime book before, and it took some getting used to. There was a lot of repetition and jumping around. But, all in all, it was a pretty interesting and engaging story, and the ending seemed morally appropriate.
Your standard Ann Rule book, thoroughly studied and documented. I did think it ran a bit long on covering and recovering the details of how horrendous their lives were. And the coverage ran just as long on the trial.
Terri Bush
added it
This book grabbed me from the beginning and I was drawn into the emotions of the characters as if I were present. Itbrought to life for me some the reality that there are truly horrific people in this world.
I'm not so much into true crime books, but this one is very good. Sad story, which is why I try to stay away from true crime, but very suspenseful and with a slightly happy ending.
Every time I read an Ann Rule true crime book, I find myself thinking, "This has been the worst one yet!" And of course by worst, I mean best. Rule's books offer truly horrific crimes impeccably chronicled, and this one is no exception.
This is a mystery based on fact. Lots of details and well written. The first half is info leading up to the murder of Sheila, the Florida mom with quadruplets. The second half is all of the investigations and people involved in proving who did it. Another one that I didn't finish though; got bogged down by the details in the second half.
Shelley
added it
Pretty book. Typical Ann Rule really...interesting way she catches the story, but then the story dies down a bit when getting into the legal jargon at the end...
this is so Sad that its a true story....I can't believe there care really people out there that would kill mother in front of her children..
so Sad...I am glad there is some help now for people that r in the type of situation
so Sad...I am glad there is some help now for people that r in the type of situation
The book was repetitive and dealt too much with the muder plot than the murder itself. Ann notes extensively the family history of the nurdered woman and the killer devoting several chapters - translating to many hours of book reading time - to the kind of parents the murderer had. I understand that her attempt was to show the ultimate motives for the murder, but it just took me way off track. She could have mentioned as she wrote about the murderer that his mother was abusive, father hated him,...more
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Sheila
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It's good that the story was written. I thought it was filled with too many details -too hard to keep up with. Very depressing. No hope.
Ann Rule rules the true crime book genre. I have enjoyed all her books. The sociologist in me is fascinated by why people do what they do.
This true-crime book was a slight departure from Rule's usual fare of serial killers. Instead, she covered the life history of Allen Blackthorne, an abusive, megalomaniac who hired people to kill his ex-wife. Her death left two teenage girls and four quadruplet toddlers without a mother.
Rule, again, does an outstanding job of giving us the family background which shaped the twisted psyche of a murderer. However, in her interest to cover all the details, Rule included much whic...more
Rule, again, does an outstanding job of giving us the family background which shaped the twisted psyche of a murderer. However, in her interest to cover all the details, Rule included much whic...more
"if I'm not here... find Ann Rule and her her write my story."
Years after reading this book that still gives me chills.
Years after reading this book that still gives me chills.
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Ann Rule is a popular American true crime writer. 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 ...more
More about Ann Rule...
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 ...more
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