In the Name of Love: Ann Rule's Crime Files Volume 4 (4)

Gives wonderful and meticulous detail. How does this author find all this stuff out about her subjects? Very gripping and tragic true crime story about a couple who seemingly had it all, wealth, love and the admiration of their friends. Then...everything changed in a single night with Jerry Harris' disappearnce. His beautiful, young wife Susan has to bear months of wondering and waiting for Jerry to hopefully walk in the door, but that is not to be. At first, it seems that the much younger Susan is very passive and that she is submissive to her husband. However, she becomes a dynamo and formidable woman after her husband's disappearance. She fights Jerry's best friend, Steve Bonilla tooth and nail, as Bonilla is trying to get a piece of Jerry and Susan's financial pie. This all ends with Jerry's murder in 1988 and things are never the same again. Just goes to show that you can't trust your best friend sometimes!! Beware. Great read from Ann Rule.

After seeing several "true crime" shows on the Brown Case I ordered Ann's book. I had been a fan of hers for several years but hadn't read this story yet. She brings the people involved in this case to life. What David Brown did to his family is unthinkable. He molested his wife's sister, he manipulated his 14 year old daughter into killing his wife and then sat back and enjoyed his freedom and the insurance money from the death of his wife. While he lounged in a nearly 1/2 a million dollar home, now married to his late wife's sister, his daughter sat in the Ventura School (a youth prison). If not for three men, who went above and beyond the call of duty, David Brown would never have been convicted. Kudos to Jay Newell, Jeoff Robinson and Fred McLean. And to Cinnamon Brown for breaking the silence. Ann Rule weaves a story so incredible and so vivid you will not be able to put the book down till you're done!Bravo, Ann, on another truly exceptional book.

Cinnamon D. Brown was a good kid and she deserved a break. Born to teenage parents, Cinnamon early on became a "daddy's girl." Her parents divorced when she was small and so her time spent with her father, David Brown was limited.David Brown was a ruthless, cruel, cold and calculating sociopath. He was married a total of six times (twice to the same woman) and appeared to be unable to sustain adult relationships. His wives were put to pasture before they hit 25 and it is his wife Linda who suffers most of all.David used psychological pressure on Cinnamon to kill Linda. Cinnamon, then 14, does so. She is arrested and serves time in a California Youth Authority center. Meanwhile, David is living the good life by marrying Linda's younger sister and making a good living in the computer industry.Fortunately, David's crimes are brought to light. Witnesses come forward and it is the "biker witness" who wins everybody's heart. Suffering from AIDS and wanting to do the right thing, this witness comes through like the cavalry. He is a good lesson that friends come in all forms.I was glad that Cinnamon was finally released from the CYA. She was a good kid who really needed a break. At last count, I read that she had recently married and had a child. I also read that she completed her degree. Cinnamon is truly a success story and I prayed for her release and for her happy life for years.

This is not only the story of an avaricious sociopath, it is also the story of a woman who, for almost eight years, experienced and survived adversity most of us cannot even begin to imagine. This woman lost almost everything that mattered to her, but not for a moment did she lose hope, courage, or the sense of right and wrong. The villains in this saga possessed none of these values, and to those who say that this book is not objective, I will tell them that it is hard to be objective when you are writing about the senseless murder of such an obviously kind and generous man that most of us would have been proud to know.

I too have read all of Ann Rules books, and I felt this was one of her best! I could not put it down! I cannot wait for her next book! Keep up the great work Ann!