The book about the woman who killed one child and tried killing the others is called "Small Sacrafices" and is very good. I also read "Stranger Beside Me" I find these books more scary than any fiction I have ever read, because these people are real. "Small Sacrafices" was made into a made-for-TV movie with Farrah Fawcett as the killer. Worth watching, it followed the book really well. There is another true crime writer, wrote one called "Serpentine", can anyone remember his name? That was a good read, as I remember.

I love Anne Rule Books. The only problem I have with them is that I don't want to stop reading them to do my necessary work.I don't read them I devour them. She is fantastic!

At the risk of sounding like one of my students "Ann Rule rules!" Small Sacrifices is the best true crime book I've ever read. Rule did an amazing job at getting inside the head of a very strange woman.

I've never read a book by Rule that wasn't wonderful.

Just recently read "Bitter Harvest". Hard to understand how a mother could do such a thing. Ann does a wonderful job of dissecting the psyche of the murderers she writes about.

Originally posted by Ricki Taylor -

Anyone read any books by Ann Rule? She writes about true crime. I've read a few of her books in the past (can't remember the titles off-hand, but I've got the books at home) and they have all been very good. I just ordered one called "Bitter Harvest" from Mystery Guild. It's supposed to be about a female physician who burned down her house with the children in it and poisoned her husband. I'd hate to have had her for a mother or wife. At any rate, although it bothers me that these are "true" events that Ann Rule writes about, and I feel horrible for the victims, I'm still drawn to her books. Anyone else?

I started reading Ann Rule books with Small Sacrifices about Diane Downs that shoots all three of her children, with one of them surviving. I have read every book that she has written from then to now, with the latest one being Bitter Harvest about another mother that tries to kill her three children with one of them surviving. I can't wait until her two news ones come out. A Rage To Kill in July,and And Never Let Her Go in September. I have read other authors but the best in my opinion is Ann Rule.

I LOVE ANN RULE. SHE HAS A WAY OF GETTING TO YOU SO YOU CAN'T PUT IT DOWN.DID ANYONE KNOW THAT WHEN ANN RULE FIRST STARTED WRITING SHE WROTE UNDER THE NAME OF ANDY SACK? HER FIRST TWO BOOKS WERE THE I-5 KILLER,AND THE LUST KILLER.I HAVE EVERY BOOK SHE HAS EVER WROTE AND CHERISH EVERY ONE.ALTHOUGH NOT TRUE CRIME,ANOTHER REAL GOOD AUTHOR IS PATRICIA CORNWELL.I CAN'T PUT HER BOOKS DOWN EITHER.

debbie,thanks for the info that ann rule was andy sack--i read those two books as well as every true crime book she has ever written--on Ann Rules website she has updates on some of her subjects--latest news,etc.

As Andy Stack she also wrote "The Want-Ad Killer"

I thoroughly enjoyed If You Really Loved Me, I always want to know how Cinnamon is doing these days but read Ann's website where she says Cinnamon just wants to live a quiet life And of course Small Sacrifices is the BEST!!!

I remember watching the TV movie about the life and crimes of Ted Bundy and I've always wanted to learn more about it so when I read Ann Rule's book it really surprised me because I learned so much and it scared the hell out of me, I mean it wasn't fiction at all, it had happened for real, I think she was brilliant to describe how his mind worked and how his life affected everyone who surrounded him, I've just bought Small Sacrifices and I just can't wait to read it. I plan to buy all her books!