Every Breath You Take

A True Story of Obsession, Revenge, and Murder

By: Ann Rule

Narrated by: Blair Brown

Length: 5 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

"If anything ever happens to me, promise me that you will see that there is an investigation...And find Ann Rule and ask her to write my story," Sheila Blackthorne Bellush told her sister after she divorced multimillionaire Allen Blackthorne. Now, in perhaps the first book ever written at a victim's request, America's best selling true-crime writer, Ann Rule, untangles a horrific web of lies that culminated in Sheila's savage murder more than 10 years after she left Blackthorne.

When beautiful, blond Sheila married the charming, handsome Blackthorne, she was convinced she had found her perfect soul mate, and helped him reach his goal of living the privileged life of the country club set. But behind Allen's smooth facade, she discovered a violent, controlling sociopath - a liar, a scam artist, a sexual deviant. When she finally fled with their two young daughters, she was skeletally thin, bruised, and beaten.

Although Sheila recovered, remarried, and was starting a new life and family, she still felt she was doomed. Joyously pregnant, she and her new husband expecting quadruplets, Sheila still feared Blackthorne, who had sworn to her he would monitor her every move and "every breath you take." And, in fact, Blackthorne inevitably tracked her down, as did her killer, who left her in a pool of blood marked by the tiny footprints of her two-year-old toddlers. The questions remained: Could the authorities ever link Sheila's murder to Blackthorne himself? Was his true obsession high-stakes golf and his extravagant pink mansion - or was it to destroy Sheila?

Following a trail of deception from Oregon and Hawaii to Texas and Florida, Ann Rule gained complete access to Sheila's family, friends, and neighbors, as well as to the detectives and prosecutors on the case. With Every Breath You Take, Ann Rule has written a heart-pounding account of obsession, revenge, and murder that will enthrall readers from beginning to end.

©2002 Ann Rule, All Rights Reserved (P)2002 Simon & Schuster Inc., AUDIOWORKS Is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"As usual, Rule excels at painting psychologically perceptive portraits of all the characters in this stranger-than-fiction but nevertheless real-life drama." (Booklist)

Every Breath You Take by Ann Rule

Though this one was short, it was an interesting read. Fascinating how Ann Rule was chosen by the victim before her death to be the one to tell her story. Most interesting of all is having a look at someone with a layer of cruelty in his personality I'm tempted to describe as diabolical, who I can only imagine, possessed blinding charm? To be able to coerce and manipulate so many seemingly intelligent people and continue to have his way for so long! Creepy. In spite of feeling so sorry for "Jamie," I have to admit to cringing in horror at the thought of how he meted out corporal punishment and was able to blame and abandon a child who was as surely a victim as he was. Sheila seemed to have a knack for attracting "heartless" and "violent" into her sphere... A pretty good quick read for people who enjoy true crime.

As always, Ann Rule provides a great story

What made the experience of listening to Every Breath You Take the most enjoyable?

The full-length details of this story is my kind of book. I like the complete info that is given, Although the details were numerous, the writing makes it easy to follow. I like how she will 'remind' readers/listeners who each player is as the story goes. If a person is not spoke about for a while in the book, she will remind us who that person is, how they are related to the main character, etc.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Indeed. This was one Ann Rule story I was not familiar with.

Which character – as performed by Blair Brown – was your favorite?

Each character had its' own persona that was interesting and intriguing.The way they all weaved together was so odd.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

About a week after finishing this book, I ran across a true crime show on the ID channel - it happened to be this story!! It has interviews with one of the daughters and I wished I would've tuned in earlier - I literally only caught the last 5 minutes of.

Ann Rules

A true crime veteran, Ann Rule has done it again. If you have never read after Ann Rule, you are in for an informative, interesting, fact filled, authentic ride no matter the book you choose. If you have never read true crime, her books are about as good as the genre gets. I put four stars on this volume only because she might have covered the subject just as well in about 80% of the space. That is certainly a matter of taste and is not said to minimize her good work at all.

neller131

This book was wonderful; I had read it before by Dick Estell (The Radio Reader) but thoroughly enjoyed Blair Brown's narration of it. I especially thought having Ann Rule's intro and eppilog was a neat touch, because it helped me get to know her better. Even though it could be said that this book had an obvious end, it gave voice to everyone involved (especially Sheila) and, I think, some sort of closure for her family. This book was also unique in that the victim chose Ann before the book ever came out, as Ann explains in the beginning. I believe new insights are gained in reading this book.

I Love Ann Rule

What made the experience of listening to Every Breath You Take the most enjoyable?

It keep my mind thinking about what would come next.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Every Breath You Take?

How strong the two older kids were. I don't think I could be that strong.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Watch who you date and do a back ground check on some one before you get married.

OK, not one of her best.

I found "Bitter Harvest" infinitely better.......

sad and interesting story but poor writing

Would you try another book from Ann Rule and/or Blair Brown?

Ann Rule needs to stop writing with these hackneyed phrases like, "the other shoe was about to drop." Used about 10 times..... It's a great story but like all of Rule's books everything is black and white....

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Blair Brown?

She was great

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Every Breath You Take?

Always way too long in the courtroom and very Perry Mason-like.....More about the victim and her upbringing....

I was disappointed

I've read other Ann Rule books and found this one lacking. It wasn't suspenseful - it was obvious. If you are interested in this story, you are better off just reading the newspaper articles. It didn't help that the narrator read with as much expression as you might read a cereal box.

Abridged version of story

I wish I had realized that this was the abridged version before purchasing. As I listened, I kept thinking that it was rushed and lacking in detail compared to other books I have read by this author. Now I know why. Perhaps the full book is better...