I have read quite a few of Ann Rules' books and this was one of her best. It's so convoluted that she draws you along wanting to know what is going on.

This case is very involved, spreads over several years and involves quite a few people close to the people closest to the crimes.

Rule does a very good job making the histories of the people, and the court case, interesting - areas that can fail in a true crime book.

I would put this one right up there with "Small Sacrifices". Highly recommended. ( )

Did not finish. Didn't get my attention. Just seemed like a spoiled girl ( )

I finished this Everything She Ever Wanted: A True Story of Obsessive Love, Murder, and Betrayal and Dead by Sunset: Perfect Husband, Perfect Killer? the other day. I am going to have to go back and buy some more Ann Rule novels since I ended up once again being fascinated by her True Crime story.

This novel starts with a marriage. Taking place in Atlanta in 1974 we have Pat Taylor marrying her new husband Tom Allanson and thrilled that she will finally start to belong to the elite Atlanta society life she craves. When Tom buying Pat a plantation so that they could have their own Tara she feels like everything in her life is finally going her way. However, things quickly change when Tom finds himself out of work and blackballed from getting new work due to his father Walter disapproving of Pat. With some very strange occurrences everything reaches a fever pitch and two people are left dead.

Ms. Rule seems to have a certain formula in her novels (which I like) that she usually starts off with the murders and "suspects" and then we work our way backwards from their childhoods, upbringings, and back to the present day of the murders. She follows that same formula here and also includes some pictures of Pat, Tom, and others who are depicted in this novel. I honestly don't have a problem with it since it does work. Though at times a bit of the backstory does drag on a bit I thought it was a very minor complaint and not enough to deduct a star since the entire novel does keep you reading well into the night.

I would definitely recommend to True Crime readers. ( )

Very solid true-crime retelling. Good writing, very engaging. I highly recommend -- but don't be surprised if it elevates your blood pressure: so much to make you angry, when it comes to the behaviour of certain people within the pages of this book! ( )

on Monday, January 05, 2004 I wrote on Bookcrossing about this book:


Currently Reading. Like it until now

Sunday February 1th 2004

Finished the book.
I think this is one of the better books by Ann Rule. Lots of details as always,but also a lot of questions up till the end.
Who committed the murders?
I felt angry a lot of times, o how much i despise that woman, Pat Taylor.She always wanted to be in the center of attention,so selfish.
This book I really recommend.

( )