If You Really Loved Me

By: Ann Rule

Narrated by: Ann Rule

In 1985, 32-year-old David Brown seemed to have it all. A computer genius with a million-dollar business, married for the fifth time - most recently to a 23-year-old beauty, Linda, the mother of his new-born baby - he was the living emobodiment of a rich playboy. But the signs of the dream life's dark underside were already emerging - especially in Brown's penchant for divorcing his young wives as soon as they matured to full womanhood. The darkness came into full, violent bloom the night Linda was found shot to death in her own bed. Shockingly, Brown's 14-year-old stepdaughter Cinnamon confessed, earning a prison sentence for the murder in a case that rocked California's Orange County community. But even after the verdict was in, officials in the District Attorney's office suspected that all the facts were yet to be revealed. What their further investigations uncovered was a trail of lechery, deceit and betrayal - a trail that began and ended with David Brown. Filled with horrifying findings from the author's exclusive access to the details of the investigation, If You Really Loved Me is Ann Rule's most compelling work yet - a chilling true crime masterpiece!

©1991 Ann Rule (P)2012 Simon & Schuster Audio

Where's The Rest?

A Story This Complex Needs about 75k More Words! And it could have done w out the sound effects. Sigh...

narration was terrible

good story by Ann rule as always but TERRIBLE narration. It sounded like she was reading a word problem or a grocery list, not a story. I never realized how important a good narrator was before this audiobook. Such a bummer because I do love Ann rule's books.

Intriguing true crime story, great narration...

What made the experience of listening to If You Really Loved Me the most enjoyable?

Ann Rule may not have a "model" voice, but I thoroughly enjoyed her storytelling. I found her easier to listen to than most professionals that I've listened to through the years. Her storytelling, written and spoken, are spot on.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Cinnamon Brown. My heart breaks for her and the psychological abuse that was heaped onto her as a child and young adult.

Have you listened to any of Ann Rule’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I haven't, but I would not hesitate to purchase one if the storyline interested me.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reactions, but I'm not moved to tears easily. I can't imagine there would be much to laugh about in this book.

Any additional comments?

Thoroughly enjoyed the entire book. It was a pleasure.

ok

it was good but a little short. The reading was a little dull, but that Ann rule for you .

very delightful

I never get tired of reading her books please thank you keep writing love you

Hate music!

Wish there was a way to disable. Really distracting and I couldn’t finish as it is.

Book was quick

I was hoping for a more in depth story. I'd have liked more background. This story was only two hours. :(

very intriguing

Would you listen to If You Really Loved Me again? Why?

yes because it's amazing how deceptive your loved ones can be

What did you like best about this story?

the details that were provided

Short impactful listen

Ann Rule did an amazing job narrating her own novel. This is a short but compelling story of manipulation and murder.

Leave the narration to the pros

This is a short book offered for free on Audible. Since I have read other Anne Rule books and like the way she writes, I was quick to pick this one up. The story, as usual, was well researched and well written, but the narrator was not good. I am always leery of authors who read their own works. Most are just not good narrators, and Ms. Rule is not an exception. Even great authors of amazing books just don’t have what it takes to narrate their own stuff. It seems wrong, I know, but it is true in most cases. Of course there are exceptions, but they are usually authors who are also actors or somehow involved with speaking as their life’s work, and even then it can be iffy. So I didn’t really enjoy listening to this one, if one can be said to enjoy any of Anne Rule’s books, as they are of the true crime genre.

Dear authors, stick to the thing you do best, which is writing, and leave the narration to the professionals.