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Thursday, December 19, 2019

#ATBR2019 Review: Lying In Wait by Ann Rule @jessmapreviews

Lying In Wait 
by Ann Rule

Thank you Gallery for these copies.


Publisher: Gallery Books
Publish Date: November 19, 2019
Paperback
336 Pages
Series: Crime Files #17


Ann Rule presents a collection of fascinating and disturbing true-crime stories—drawn from her real-life personal files—in this seventeenth volume in the #1 New York Times bestselling Crime Files series.


In this gripping collection of investigative accounts from her private archives, “America’s best true-crime writer” (Kirkus Reviews) exposes the most frightening aspect of the murderous mind: the waiting game. Trusted family members or strangers, these cold-blooded killers select their unsuspecting prey, wait for the perfect moment to strike, then turn normality into homicidal mayhem in a matter of moments. Ann Rule will have you seeing the people and places around you with heightened caution as you read these shattering cases, including:

• New mothers murdered, their infants kidnapped, in an atrocious baby-selling scheme
• The man who kept his criminal past hidden from his wife—and his wife from his mistress—until he coldly disposed of one of them
• The beautiful daughter of a State Department official ran away from the privileged world she knew and hitched a ride with a man she didn’t . . . with fatal consequences
• For months, a vicious, rage-filled serial rapist eluded police and terrorized Seattle’s women—when would he strike next, and how far would his violence escalate?
• A criminal known for his Houdini-like escapes is serving time for murder in a botched robbery—now the convict is being served dinner in a civilian’s home, where he has one more trick up his sleeve
• A long-lost relative who came home to visit, leaving a bloody trail through Washington and Oregon; no one realized how dangerous he and his ladylove were—until it was far too late. . . .

With her ability to translate the most complex cases into storytelling “as dramatic and chilling as a bedroom window shattering at night” (The New York Times), Rule expertly analyzes the thoughts and deeds of the
sociopath, in this seventeenth essential Crime Files volume.


My Review:



True Crime is always so fascinating to me because while I read a shit ton of thriller and horror books, they don't really bother me much since I know they're fiction.  But the crimes actual humans make seem even that more insane because of the capacity people have to do such heinous things.

Now, admittedly, this is my first Ann Rule book.  I have a couple I need to read by her that I think I'll enjoy more.  Case files like these are still fascinating but now I'm in the short stories portion of true crime and like with most collections, I don't quite get that satisfaction.  Things felt a bit tedious and repetitive here and I found my attention waning quite a few times.

The crimes here are absolutely terrible.  How people can meticulously plan their evil is weirdly impressive while also incomprehensible.  To do this to children no less.... it's just plan wicked.  And to also see the legal side be so blase about it at times.  Like what?  One thing I found interesting was Rule stating that while she has written about these types of stories many times over, they're still no less harrowing and she does find herself reacting in her real life - depressive episodes and such.

While this collection didn't quite interest me like I had hoped it would, I do find these types of reads very interesting.  I think I'll stick with a book focused on one particular case over a collection of various ones.

★★

Jessica's Review:



As a true crime fan, I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve only picked up one book by Ann Rule (THE STRANGER BESIDE ME) and I loved it. I feel like every true crime fan needs to pick up those classics, but I was excited to read some cases I hadn’t heard of before.
This is a collection of different cases and they all have one thing in common, criminals, family, and friends waiting for the right opportunity to strike. It will keep you looking over your shoulder in public and you’ll find yourself doubting what you think you know about those closest to you.
While there were some good ones, I found myself kind of bored with the collection. It was slower moving and I found myself wanting to skim ahead to see how each crime and invention ended. Some felt a little choppy and all over, so the flow of a couple stories felt off.
Despite those couple issues, I did learn about cases and stories I hadn’t head of before. So I really liked that! Overall, if you like Ann Rule and true crime, you’ll more than likely find this intriguing!
3 stars

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