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heather_g's review against another edition
4.0
Not sure why i like true crime so much, but it's highly fascinating.
ashezbookz's review against another edition
3.0
First case is always the longest - this one had a few MYSTERY stories .. the boat, I can't with that one it was like.. what just happened .. I love ann rule though
sireno8's review against another edition
3.0
Ann Rule's true crime writing is always a satisfying read. The reader is offered a possible glimpse at the psyche of a killer but also gleans knowledge of police and legal procedure as well as a little regional social history. The Crime Files are as informative as they are entertaining. The only reason I didn't rate this one higher is the cases included here just aren't larger scale cases.
jamikrut's review against another edition
3.0
outdated collection of true crime. these people were born in the 50s!
leighannsherwin's review
4.0
Overall I really enjoyed this book. The shorter stories are easy to read and you don't have to wait so long for a conclusion, but there were a few things that bothered me and caused me to give this book four not five stars. But first the good parts. I found the book easy reading, each story drew me in and I was eager to find out what happened to the people involved. The case of the Spellbound was the main reason I decided to read this book, as it takes place at sea. Though unsolved it is a haunting story and no matter how I looked at it, things didn't make much sense. One said this happened the other said something different and no one is truly sure what exactly happened on the open sea. While frustrating that the story wasn't solved, it gave the Spellbound a ghost ship quality and leaves readers to make up their own minds. The case of Lorraine Millroy was heartbreaking and truly fit the title of the book, and then three stories that take place in dark places, the woods, and a secluded path in a park, with creepy sociopaths lurking close by ready to take their victims by surprise. There are stories of courage as some victims fight back and manage to survive their ordeals and outrage over a story of a criminal who manages to get out of prison only to commit yet another more violent crimes, and sadness over the still unsolved case of the Cowden family who vanished while camping though Rule does present a valid theory of what their fate might've been and who was responsible for it. But as I said while it was not a bad read there were some things that bothered me. The first and longest story that shares it's title with the book, while a interesting case didn't leave me feeling good and I considering skipping it. From page one Rule seemed determined to paint Teresa Leonard as a horrible person, a liar, a sociopath. While she could very well be, there was no reason to portray her this way yet. No crime had been committed the story hadn't even begun really. The reason I enjoy Ann Rule's stories is that she lets the case unfold and allows readers to draw their conclusions based on evidence, and interviews. But in this story it was like being hit over the head with Teresa bad/evil, Chuck eccentric but a really good guy. There was very little done to redeem Teresa, I mean she had to have some good qualities about her as she did have a group of close friends who supported her. As for Chuck he was no angel either though she tried to make him out to be that way. Besides that I found the story of Frank Monohan to be a bit dragged out, though it was well detailed I was a bit bored by it at times, though truth be told I was up late reading it and I could've just been really tired. But on average I would still say it's a book worth reading for any fans of Ann Rule or true crime.
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