Ann Rule’s 7th crime files book is a little heavy on the hyperbole, but there’s an important theme running through these true crime stories that women should pay attention to. There is a pattern of behavior we should be wary of in our intimate relationships. It may be subtle at first, then escalate until we find ourselves trapped in a cycle of damage and self-destruction. It may begin as a masquerade of devotion and protectiveness. But the demands escalate. The control tightens. The isolation is deliberate. And when we finally try to leave, it may be the last thing we do in life.

Audiobook version, competently read by Laural Merlington, borrowed from my public library.

I read this for the Scary Women Authors square in the 2016 Halloween Bingo.
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I am starting to wind down with my true crime kick. I think I need to mix it up a bit, because reading about cases like this so much is a bit much for me right now.

These volumes always have a longer story that Rule focuses on and then some shorter true crime stories. The long one in this one is "Empty Promises" that follows the disappearance of Jami Hagel Sherer. Rule gives us great insight into a woman who is abused and what a toll it takes on her and those around her over time. She also gives us insight into Jami's husband Steve that stands accused of being behind her disappearance. I have to say that this one had a lot of things that I wish that Rule had went more into such as why in the world so many people kept covering for Steve. What about the other women that Steve abused. There also seemed to be some allusion that possibly Steve's father's suicide may not have been one and that he may have been involved with it.

I did love the look at the police and lawyers in this one since it was more organic how they were introduced in this book in this one. Usually Rule just throws out facts about these people and I find it just boring.

The other stories in this volume really do get into love gone wrong. I thought that in each story there was a cautionary tale.

I thought that "Young Love," "Love and Insurance," and "The Gentler Sex" were the best of the shorter true crime stories.

"Young Love" revolves around a boyfriend that is not willing to let his high school girlfriend go when she moves on to college. I am glad that this one had a somewhat happy ending.

"Love and Insurance" as really sad to me. A man we follow in this one we find out has cried wolf too many times to be believed when he should have been. I thought the backstory on this one was weird as well.

"The Gentler Sex" was messed up. Reading about two women who plan one of the women's husband's death in order to get his insurance would have been sad if it wasn't for the parts where Rule gets into what their ideas were for on how to murder.

All together I think there were 10 stories, so definitely enough there and worth the price. ( )

Ann Rule is always interesting. This book focuses on people who trust "too soon", although I don't see how that fits with people who were kidnapped by virtual strangers, but the theme does run through much of the book. ( )