Top Ten Favorite Books by Ann Rule
I was saving
this blog post for the month of October, when Ann celebrates her birthday, but
having learned of the challenges she’s facing, I changed my mind and decided to
post it now, to show my support for this very great lady.
I first read Ann
back in the 1980’s. Small Sacrifices
was my first venture into her books. I had the absolute joy of meeting her at a
Northwest Women’s show, years ago, where she signed a few books for me. They
are some of my most treasured possessions today. Here is a list of some of my
favorites by this talented author.
A Fever in the Heart: This one took
place in Yakima and was so full of twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down. It
deeply saddened, and angered me, that a man as kind as Morris Blankenbaker
could be betrayed, and then killed by someone who claimed to be his friend.
…And Never Let Her Go: I found this
book intriguing. It boggles my mind how someone could have so much going for
them, and still perpetuate such heinous acts of violence. How heartbreaking for
the family of his victim, Ann Marie Fahey.
A Rose For Her Grave: I believe this
is the second book by Ann that I read. Like the first, it had me on the edge of
my seat and turning pages as fast as I could read them. The killer’s cold and deceptive
behavior both shocked and frightened me. My heart aches for the children he
left motherless.
Dead by Sunset: This one made me cringe at how
close the killer came to getting away with murder. The fact that he would do
harm to innocent people to cover his crimes shows just how cold and calculating
he is.
The Green River Killer: I am so glad
they finally caught the man who committed these terrible crimes. I have
tremendous respect for the detectives never gave up. My heart breaks for the
families of the victims, there were so many of them.
The I-5 Killer: This one was a little bit hard
to read. I remember it so vividly. The composite sketches all were all over the
news. I was relieved when they caught the killer. Surprisingly, he had the
potential to become someone great had he not succumbed to his deviant behavior.
Ann Rule’s Omnibus: This one is precious to me. It’s
an anthology of cases from her first three crime files books combined into one
hard cover. It was also out of print. I emailed Ann to see where I might get a
copy. She sent me a signed copy, free of charge. If that doesn’t show what a
kind and generous woman she is, I don’t know what does.
Small Sacrifices: The first Ann Rule book I ever
took the time to read. I couldn’t put it down. What a tragic story, I really
felt for those kids. I was shocked that a mother could do that kind of thing to
her own children.
Smoke, Mirror’s, and Murder: I really like
this one because Ann shows just how easy it is to get tangled up with a violent
partner. She goes on to tell how to get away from someone who is abusive. The
whole premise of the book seems to be a voice for abused women. I can’t help
but respect her for being that voice.
The Stranger Beside Me: This is
probably Ann’s most famous book. I’ve read it several times over. It makes me
wonder how some people can do such horrible things. How can some people be such
chameleons? Ann seemed to be close with this notorious killer, and that must
have made it terribly difficult for her to write it.
There you have
it, my favorites from this gifted writer. I love how Ann writes with such
compassion and empathy for the victims. That’s
probably why she’s one of my favorite authors. Join me next month when I post
my favorite classics in literature.
