Worth More Dead: And Other True Cases Vol. 10

I must admit I was giddy when I saw this at the grocery store. I so love Ann's work, that I'd read just about anything she's written. This Crime File was a great one. The first story is the more detailed of the bunch and centers on a man that got away with quite a bit in his criminal lifetime. I think the last story however, was the most personal for Rule; you can feel her empathy through the pages. "Desperate Housewife" cronicles a woman's struggle to leave an unhappy marriage and her ultimate demise by the hands of her husband. I learn so much about the Seattle area in her books...I think I could probably visit one day and know my way around. If you're a true crime buff, you know Rule's work and certainly don't need to be told to buy this book. If you're new to the genre and want to read a master, here she is!

First, I am a fan of Ann Rule. I feel she handles her genre expertly. With the past few crime files books, however, I found myself becoming a little disappointed although I still enjoyed her books. I felt that too much time was spent on the detectives (yes, I am sure that her police background makes her partial) and I found that old cases were being written about without any new information added. Along came this book and I purchased it expecting to be entertained but not expecting the book to be up to Ms. Rule's usual standard. Well, this book surprised me. I thoroughly enjoyed the five stories in this volume and I will now look at the next in the crime files a bit differently and without skepticism. I feel like this is a worthy book and not one that the publisher was in a hurry to get "out there" in order to make a buck. Whether you are new to Ann's book or someone who has read everything she has written, you will enjoy this book.

Ann Rule doing what she does better than most anyone else. If you enjoy true crime you have to like this one. Another keeper.

Ann Rule's readers will rejoice that she has presented us with another riveting book, written with her unflagging compassion and in her inimitable style. Here are five cases from her files of the past twenty years. The cast of characters come to vivid life, as once more she speaks for the victims who have been cruelly silenced. Especially good are the portrayals of prosecutors and lawmen who are haunted by these unsolved crimes, even as decades pass, and who are unflagging in their efforts to secure justice for the mourning families. It's a bit of a jar when Rule points out that in 1988 there was no caller id, DNA testing was an emerging technology in its infancy, and home computers were not ubiquitous. I finished the book with a greater awareness of the many technical tools now available to criminal investigators, making their tasks far easier as they track down people like the twisted murderers in Rule's accounts. For many years, Ann Rule has been the unparalleled queen of the true-crime genre. Long may she reign!