• The End of the Dream: The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up and Other True Cases

  • Ann Rule's Crime Files, Book 5
  • By: Ann Rule
  • Narrated by: Laural Merlington
  • Length: 14 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (238 ratings)

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The End of the Dream: The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up and Other True Cases  By  cover art

The End of the Dream: The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up and Other True Cases

By: Ann Rule
Narrated by: Laural Merlington
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Publisher's summary

An explosive account of lethal greed and twisted desire from the files of America's number-one true-crime writer, Ann Rule.

They were best friends, four talented and charismatic young men who lived charmed lives among the evergreens of Washington state: Kevin, the artist; Steve, the sculptor; Scott, the nature lover and unabashed ladies' man; and Mark, the musician and poet. With their stunning good looks, whip-sharp minds, athletic bodies - and no lack of women who adored them - none of them seemed slated for disaster.

But few knew the reality behind the leafy screen that surrounded Seven Cedars, Scott's woodland dream home - a tree house equipped with every luxury. From this idyllic enclave, some of these trusted friends would become the quarry for a vigilant Seattle police detective and an FBI special agent, who unmasked clues to disturbing secrets that spawned murder, suicide, million-dollar bank robberies, drug-dealing, and heartbreaking betrayal. When the end came in a violent standoff, the ringleader of the foursome - the fugitive dubbed "Hollywood" for his ingenious disguises and flawless getaways; the persuasive talker who turned his friends into accomplices - faced a final chapter no one could have predicted. In a blast of automatic gunfire, the highest and lowest motives of the human heart were, at last, revealed.

Along with four other true-crime tales, The End of the Dream is a masterful and compelling tour of the criminal mind from Ann Rule.

©1998 Ann Rule (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about The End of the Dream: The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up and Other True Cases

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

BORING for Ann Rule

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The other reviews were spot on!. this is one boring case that she chose to write about. Good boy with good looks and no brain making idiotic decisions about his life. End of story. No murder or mystery.

Has The End of the Dream: The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up and Other True Cases turned you off from other books in this genre?

no

How could the performance have been better?

pick a more interesting case.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

waiting for more the entire time

Any additional comments?

Don't buy

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

The Ann Rule Imposter

Must be an imposter writing under Ann Rule's name. Surely, she wouldn't bore us with a so-called "book-length" first story and then further insult us with a couple short ones. Come on, Ann, and grab your good name for yourself. No doubt, this book should not be in your Library - unless it's a giveaway.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

The End Of Ann

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Laural Merlington drives me crazy, she has ruined the listening experience of Ann Rule.

If you’ve listened to books by Ann Rule before, how does this one compare?

All of her new short story cheapies she is throwing together, ahhhhhhhh.

What three words best describe Laural Merlington’s voice?

Make me cringe

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Maybe the bank robber story but that is only because I watched the 20/20 episode on these guys years ago, sad story.

Any additional comments?

I am over Ann Rules hastily done garbage. If Merlington is narrating I am not buying.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not all murder

This was a little different for Ann Rule. This story was split into one large section and several small stories. The first story goes into great detail of studying the lives, history and past of a group of young men who eventually become notorious bank robbers. For many of us, the are still the most memorable no matter what side of the country you live on. She delves into how these boys turned me lived seemingly normal lives but failed to connect to the lives around them. She looks for the "why"
There are several short stories that are honestly not as impressive and run together. One is about a peeping Tom who rapes and murders. There is limited history given as to motivation. What is given feels rushed. There are a few other short stories but they all ran together and 12 hours after reading, I cannot remember them distinctly enough to write a summary.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

This Can't Be Ann Rule!

I was a huge fan of Ann Rule but this book is terrible.
I haven't even finished the first story. It just drags on and on.
Ann Rule was a wonderful writer though but everyone misses the mark at times.
Laural Merlington has grown on me as a narrator. I had to get used to her but she's good.

This was so boring that I'm not going to finish it and will be returning it.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Boring

Not the usual Ann Rule "stuff"
Won't be wasting money or credits on her stuff again . I don't usually write reviews but the narrator was monotoned so it was a good source to help me fall asleep😔

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Entertaining!

If you could sum up The End of the Dream: The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up and Other True Cases in three words, what would they be?

Eventually your bad behavior does catch up with you, no matter how below the radar one tries to be.

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

Yes. Ann Rule keep you hooked by keeping the cold hard facts front and center...

What about Laural Merlington’s performance did you like?

Easy to listen to.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The bank robberies and how they progressed getting bolder each time.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Boring, slow story!!!!

What would have made The End of the Dream: The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up and Other True Cases better?

A different narrator, less background and more story! Super slow...

What do you think your next listen will be?

something NOT by this author

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Her voices are almost comical and make the story seem less serious

What character would you cut from The End of the Dream: The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up and Other True Cases?

Thev whole first story.

Any additional comments?

The story was too long with many needless details, made me fall asleep.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Not my favorite anne rule

The first 18 chapters were all about the charecters growing up. I kept wondering she was ever going to talk about the actual crime! I was getting bored and frustrated. After that it got better, but still not her best in my opion.



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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

pretty good for the most part.

a little slower than some of her other books and the reader sounded robotic at times, but pretty good overall.

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1 person found this helpful