By Ann Rule
The writer of 8 big apple occasions bestsellers, Ann Rule first gained national acclaim with The Stranger Beside Me, approximately serial killer Ted Bundy. Her Crime documents volumes, in keeping with interesting case histories, have guaranteed her acceptance as our top-rated chronicler of crime. Now the previous Seattle policewoman brings us the terrible account of a charismatic guy loved via appealing and great girls who continuously gave him what he wanted...sex, cash, their very lives....
whilst legal professional Cheryl Keeton's brutally bludgeoned physique used to be present in her van within the quickly lane of an Oregon highway, her husband, Brad Cunningham, was once the most likely suspect. yet there has been no sturdy facts linking him to the crime. He married back, for the 5th time, and his lovely new spouse, a doctor named Sara, followed his 3 sons. all of them settled all the way down to relations lifestyles on a sumptuous property. yet progressively, their marriage grew to become a nightmare....
during this gripping account of Cheryl's homicide, Ann Rule takes us from Brad's afflicted boyhood to at least one of the main weird and wonderful trials in felony historical past, uncovering a number of marriages, monetary manipulations, infidelities, and enormous acts of harassment and revenge alongside the best way. useless through sundown is Ann Rule at her riveting best.
Amazon.com Review
Another chilling and creepy publication from the reigning queen of true-crime, Ann Rule, who additionally penned the riveting bestseller Small Sacrifices. the following, we stumble upon a charismatic con-artist accused of brutally bludgeoning his spouse and stick with his case via to its surprisingly redemptive end.
From Publishers Weekly
Brad Cunningham was once good-looking, awesome, a high-school hero in his local Seattle, a soccer megastar on the college of Washington. His family members historical past used to be strange, with a local American mom of whom he was once ashamed and an Anglo father who used to be contemptuous of ladies. As a youngster, Brad used to be violent along with his sisters and his mom. This development endured in his first, moment and 3rd marriages yet reached its apogee together with his fourth spouse, Cheryl Keeton, a hugely profitable legal professional via whom he fathered 3 sons. whilst their marriage collapsed and she or he sought custody in their kids, Brad, a financial institution government, threatened her; in September 1986, she used to be discovered bludgeoned to demise in her motor vehicle on an Oregon street. The case remained unresolved until eventually Cheryl Keeton's property filed a civil swimsuit for damages opposed to Brad in 1991. A legal trial in 1993, within which Brad used to be chanced on responsible of homicide and sentenced to at the least 22 years. Rule (Small Sacrifices) offers a perceptive personality research of a malignant, self-centered, charismatic con artist. It's a chilling, haunting portrait.
From Library Journal
Bradley Cunningham was once, to all appearances, a good-looking, captivating, and loving father, and worrying husband. in fact, he thought of his other halves and kids to be not anything greater than disposable possessions. Rule proves herself once more to be the grasp of the true-crime style during this account of abuse and homicide. The narrative follows Cunningham's formative years, enterprise dealings, affairs, and marriages and encompasses a examine his relationships along with his mom and dad, pals, and colleagues. Rule's writing is crisp and good paced, choked with info that supply the reader transparent perception into situations and atmosphere, in addition to purpose. not just is Cunningham printed as a grasp of manipulation and, eventually, homicide, yet with the further size of sociopath-one who's completely unfazed through his crimes. Rule, if attainable, has outdone herself.
From Booklist
Eight years after killing his divorced spouse in Portland, Oregon, Brad Cunningham was once eventually convicted of her homicide. The best-selling writer of The Stranger beside Me (1981) and every thing She Ever sought after (1992) tackles the case of the five-times-married Cunningham, whose loving character and demeanor replaced after every one marriage. even if Rule's remedy has a promising starting, her preliminary comment concerning the complete affair--that "the finish will be decades coming" --fittingly applies to the total chronicle. a part of the book's total challenge could be that, in comparison to, say, crafty serial killer Ted Bundy, the manipulative Cunningham, who killed just once, isn't really rather attention-grabbing, neither is his specific crime specified. Now if he had killed all 5 other halves, that may be fairly a narrative! nonetheless, Rule understands tips on how to pack a few punch into her narrative, and her identify at the disguise will garner the curiosity of true-crime aficionados. With a wide first printing, an writer journey of the foremost venues, and many advertising hoopla, Simon & Schuster is hoping on that. Sue-Ellen Beauregard --This textual content refers to an out of print or unavailable variation of this title.
Review
Walter Walker the hot York instances ebook assessment ...fascinating material....Ms. Rule admirably recounts this labyrintine tale....
Publishers Weekly Rule presents a perceptive personality research of a malignant, self-centered, charismatic con artist. It's a chilling, haunting portrait.
Dan Webster The Spokesman-Review (ID) The similarities with the O.J. case are compelling.
