Every Breath You Take: A True Story of Obsession, Revenge, and Murder

by Ann Rule

Book Overview

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."... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743202961
• ISBN13: 9780743202961
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 1.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Loved this book!

As a long-time reader of Ann Rule, I am pleased to say that this is her best book yet. While reading this unbelievable story, you will feel like you personally know the characters. Of all of Rule's protagonists, Allen Blackthorne is the most intriguing. He had everything anyone could want, and really nothing to gain by killing his ex-wife, but just couldn't allow her to slip away from his grasp. Well researched and written!

I Could Not Put This Book Down!!!

First Let me tell you how I happened to begin reading the book! I was in Line For a Book Signing(Dean Koontz) when I passed The Anne Rule Book "Every Breath You Take". I had heard a little bit about it on the News. Since the Line Was Long, I began to read the book and I was Instantly HOOKED! By The Time Dean had signed my books, I was already on page 64. In fact, I was so into the book that I wouldnt have minded if the line moved slower, The Book is that good! Even though I hadnt planned on buying any books that day, I HAD To Finish this book! So I purchased the book and read the whole thing in one night! Anne Rule has a way of really digging into the personalities of these people and bringing them to life. She does more then just state the facts of a case, she makes you get to know the various players involved and by doing that, it actually helps you understand the case and why the events happened the way they did. For example, The Ex-Husband is a Monster and there isnt a punishment strong enough for him. But, because Anne explains his family background and the Hell that he went through during his childhood, at least the reader has an understanding of why he is the way he is. I am going to start reading Anne's previous books(I have seen many of the movies based on her books but have never actually read one of her books until now). Do yourself a favor and BUY this book, your in for a good read!

The True Crime Phenom Continues

What can I say folks. I started reading true crime at the age of thirteen and Ann's "stranger beside me" was one of my first. If you read Ann Rule at all... then in between her books you just dont know what to do with yourself except jones for another. She continues in her tradional EXCELLENT style. Ann's compassion for victims and their families and her attention to detail never cease to amaze me. She works tirelessly to please people like me out there and to accurately depict victims and their families. this is someone not just out to get a quick book. This is the one of the few authors who I will always support. She just never lets me down with her books. As much as I love her, I hope she never has to write a book about me. Not only is Ann a wonderful author, but a tremendous lady. One who deserves all of the ions of fans she has out there. The story is completely compelling, it's so unreal to believe that people like Allen Blackthorne exist in this world but they do. By reading Ann, I feel like I try to educate myself. I highly recommend this book to all. Even if you have never read Ann's books before, you wont want to put this one down. As with all of her books, I wish her much success. She is truly the elite of the genre. Much luck and success.ann marie bonfiglioambler pa

Missouri Fan

After waiting a year for Every Breath You Take..., I finished the book in two days. Now I am waiting for the next Ann Rule book. I am always amazed at how Ann weaves the twisted personalities of her subjects. I feel the pain of the victims. I am a reader who wants the detail that Ann gives. I want to know what the people are thinking. Her writing makes the story come alive. I found Every Breath...much easier to relate to than Never Let Her Go..., as the victims were people I would find next door. I experienced the ups and downs of Sheila. I rooted for the law enforcement personnel to find the clues which would lead to the arrest of Allen. Ann Rule is a writer who immerses herself in the lives of her subjects. I highly recommend Every Breath You Take... I will now begin the wait for the next Ann Rule story.

One of the best in True Crime genre

Some people are defensive about their addiction to the True Crime genre. This book is perfect justification for the need to know that some of us possess as part of our make up. "Every Breath You Take", Ann Rule's latest stands out as an illustration of the phrase, "Truth is stranger than fiction." This tale of twisted obsession which manifests itself in behavior that no normal person would pursue, would be rejected as unbelievable in a work of fiction. Yet the incontrovertible facts are there on every page. Many people will remember the sensational headlines from Florida, "Death of a Lovely Young Mother", Sheila Bellush. She was murdered in the presence of her young quadruplets and their older sister, on arriving home from school, found them tracking Sheila's blood through the house! More shocking to detectives who arrived on the scene, was that Stevie, the older daughter, provided them with a suspect,Allan Blackthorne, her own father and Sheila's ex husband. Although he was in Texas with an alibi, Stevie said that he would have hired someone to do it. Since this crime crossed state lines, it became a federal case. The convictions would depend on everything from diligent law enforcement to an alert gardener, who spotted the man who killed Sheila as a suspicious stranger and took down his license plate. From the interesting family histories to the legal machinations of those accused, the documentation in this book is phenomenal. As someone who has camped in courtrooms for weeks to observe and report the proceedings, the authenticity of the account of the trial rings true. I felt like I was sitting in the San Antonio courtroom while reading about the trial. The preponderance of factual testimony by those involved kept me riveted. Sheila Bellush's premonition of her own murder led her to tell her sister"...find Ann Rule and ask her to write my story." her spirit must surely be resting more securely and peacefully after the author's effort on her behalf.