vol seven of Ann Rule's Crime Files
Ann Rule RULES!! Another great book from a great author. Picture section in book...
Ann Rule writes very good true crime books, this one is very good although one can get "creeped" out, too
I love non-fiction. Ann Rule is my favorite non-fiction writer. Excellent book.
Ann Rule provides 8 true crime stories about love going bad.
From the Publisher
Expertyly analyzing a shocking, headline-making case, Rule unmasks the deadly motives inside a seemingly idyllic marriage: a beautiful young wife, a rising star in America's top-ranked computer corporation, and a prosperous husband, the scion of a family building business. With an adorable son and a gorgeous home, the couple seemed to have it all. But a furtive evil permeated their days and nights, dragging them into a murky world of drugs, sordid sex, and con operations. In this realm, one of them would prove to be a virtual innocent, the other a manipulator with no conscience. Sudden, violent death brought their charade of a fairy-tale romance to a tragic endwith a brutal crime taht might never have come to light were it not for the stubborn detectives and prosectors whose fight for justice spanned an entire decade.
Empty Promises recounts several other cases where the search for love brought only lies and betrayala cautionary primer, perhaps, for those who trust too much too soon. Powerful because they strike so close to home, the cases in Empty Promises will leave readers shaken by the realities of love gone terriblyand fatallywrong.
From The Critics
Publishers Weekly
The latest from respected true crime veteran Rule (And Never Let Her Go, etc.) walks readers through the tortured life and ugly murder of Sheila Bellush, a woman relentlessly pursued by her sexually obsessed ex-husband, Allen Van Houte. The crime scene is horrific: Bellush lies dead in the kitchen while her toddler quadruplets are left to walk naked through her blood. Bellush had long warned close friends that she feared her ex-husband's reprisals and went so far as to request "if I'm not here... find Ann Rule and have her write my story." Rule, in classic form, meticulously re-creates the prosaic lives of her characters, charting one woman's pleasantly humdrum existence undermined by a man bent on making a fortune though defaulting on bank loans and pedestrian cons, such as swindling family members. After he lured Bellush into his world of sexual play, she left him, and he hired a man to kill her. The subsequent fallout included a complex and lengthy inquiry by investigators. There are no surprises here for the reader, though some may enjoy Rule's examination of Van Houte's manipulative and predatory nature. Essentially, this account is too long for its limited subject matter.
Expertyly analyzing a shocking, headline-making case, Rule unmasks the deadly motives inside a seemingly idyllic marriage: a beautiful young wife, a rising star in America's top-ranked computer corporation, and a prosperous husband, the scion of a family building business. With an adorable son and a gorgeous home, the couple seemed to have it all. But a furtive evil permeated their days and nights, dragging them into a murky world of drugs, sordid sex, and con operations. In this realm, one of them would prove to be a virtual innocent, the other a manipulator with no conscience. Sudden, violent death brought their charade of a fairy-tale romance to a tragic endwith a brutal crime taht might never have come to light were it not for the stubborn detectives and prosectors whose fight for justice spanned an entire decade.
Empty Promises recounts several other cases where the search for love brought only lies and betrayala cautionary primer, perhaps, for those who trust too much too soon. Powerful because they strike so close to home, the cases in Empty Promises will leave readers shaken by the realities of love gone terriblyand fatallywrong.
From The Critics
Publishers Weekly
The latest from respected true crime veteran Rule (And Never Let Her Go, etc.) walks readers through the tortured life and ugly murder of Sheila Bellush, a woman relentlessly pursued by her sexually obsessed ex-husband, Allen Van Houte. The crime scene is horrific: Bellush lies dead in the kitchen while her toddler quadruplets are left to walk naked through her blood. Bellush had long warned close friends that she feared her ex-husband's reprisals and went so far as to request "if I'm not here... find Ann Rule and have her write my story." Rule, in classic form, meticulously re-creates the prosaic lives of her characters, charting one woman's pleasantly humdrum existence undermined by a man bent on making a fortune though defaulting on bank loans and pedestrian cons, such as swindling family members. After he lured Bellush into his world of sexual play, she left him, and he hired a man to kill her. The subsequent fallout included a complex and lengthy inquiry by investigators. There are no surprises here for the reader, though some may enjoy Rule's examination of Van Houte's manipulative and predatory nature. Essentially, this account is too long for its limited subject matter.
Ann Rule's Crime Files, Volume 7
From the back cover:
Expertly analyzing a shocking, headline-making case, Rule unmasks the deadly motives inside a seemingly idyllic marriage: a beautiful young wife, a rising star in America's top-ranked computer corporation, and a prosperous husband, the scion of a family building business. With an adorable son and a gorgeous home, the couple seemed to have it all. But a furtive evil permeated their days and nights, dragging them into a murky world of drugs, sordid sex, and con operations. In this realm, one of them would prove to be a virtual innocent, the other a manipulator with no conscience. Sudden, violent death brought their charade of a fairy-tale romance to a tragic end with a brutal crime that might never have come to light were it not for the stubborn detectives and prosecutors whose fight for justice spanned an entire decade.
From the back cover:
Expertly analyzing a shocking, headline-making case, Rule unmasks the deadly motives inside a seemingly idyllic marriage: a beautiful young wife, a rising star in America's top-ranked computer corporation, and a prosperous husband, the scion of a family building business. With an adorable son and a gorgeous home, the couple seemed to have it all. But a furtive evil permeated their days and nights, dragging them into a murky world of drugs, sordid sex, and con operations. In this realm, one of them would prove to be a virtual innocent, the other a manipulator with no conscience. Sudden, violent death brought their charade of a fairy-tale romance to a tragic end with a brutal crime that might never have come to light were it not for the stubborn detectives and prosecutors whose fight for justice spanned an entire decade.
Real life stories of love gone "terribly and fatally wrong!" Ann Rule's books are absolutely riveting and impossible to put down!
Good collection of true crime story. The title selection is the best of the bunch, all seem to center on abuse (both physical and mental).
Recounts several cases where the search for love brought only lies and betrayal - a cautionary primer, perhaps, for those who trust too much too soon.
Another well written book by Ann Rule...she is the best!
Another great Ann Rule book!
Expertly analyzing a shocking, headline-making case, Rule unmasks the deadly motives inside a seemingly idyllic marriage: a beautiful young wife, a rising star in America's top-ranked computer corporation, and a prosperous husband, the scion of a family building business. With an adorable son and a gorgeous home, the couple seemed to have it all. But a furtive evil permeated their days and nights, dragging them into a murkly world of drugs, sordid sex, and con operations.
Ann Rule always delivers!
This is a tragic book about what can happen when love goes horribly wrong. If you are a fan of Ann Rule or a good true crime story, this is a must read.
I love Ann Rule, If you love true crime this another one of her great books.
this was a good book
Ann Rule dissects the convuluted love affair that ended in violence. It's the story of the disappearance of Jami Hagel Sherer in the 90's in the Seattle area.
I loved this book another great book by author Rule!
Another great book by Ann Rule! I couldn't put it down. If you're a lover of true crime stories, this is a must read!
Rule is the best at true crime. Her true stories always fascinate me.
Incredible! Couldnt put the book down!
Another fascinating true crime by Ann Rule.
"...Rule unmasks the deadly motives inside a seemingly idyllic marriage...one of them would prove to be a virtual innocent, the other a manipulator with no cinscience."
"...Rule unmasks the deadly motives inside a seemingly idyllic marriage...one of them would prove to be a virtual innocent, the other a manipulator with no cinscience."
The writing and the research were typical Ann Rule, but I found it hard to work up much sympathy for the victim in this case. Rule always tells a good story, however.
I enjoy Ann Rule's books so much as she writes brilliantly about true life crimes, which hold one's interest every minute! One can't put her books down!!
The usual wonderfully written, can't put down Ann Rule!!!!
