In the Still of the Night

By: Ann Rule

Narrated by: Barbara Caruso

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's Summary

From true crime legend Ann Rules comes this riveting story of a young woman whose life ended too soon - and a determined mother’s 11-year crusade to clear her daughter’s name.

It was nine days before Christmas 1998, and 32-year-old Ronda Reynolds was getting ready to travel from Seattle to Spokane to visit her mother and brother and grandmother before the holidays. Ronda’s second marriage was dissolving after less than a year, her career as a pioneering female Washington State Trooper had ended, but she was optimistic about starting over again. "I’m actually looking forward to getting on with my life," she told her mother earlier the night before. "I just need a few days with you guys." Barb Thompson, Ronda’s mother, who had met her daughter’s second husband only once before, was just happy that Ronda was coming home.

At 6:20 that morning, Ron Reynolds called 911 and told the dispatcher his wife was dead. She had committed suicide, he said, although he hadn’t heard the gunshot and he didn’t know if she had a pulse. EMTs arrived, detectives arrived, the coroner’s deputy arrived, and a postmortem was conducted. Lewis County Coroner Terry Wilson, who neither visited the death scene nor attended the autopsy, declared the manner of Ronda’s death as "undetermined." Over the next eleven years, Coroner Wilson would change that manner of death from "undetermined" to "suicide", back to "undetermined" - and then back to "suicide" again.

But Barb Thompson never for one moment believed her daughter committed suicide.

©2011 Anne Rule (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

Can I receive a half credit refund? I paid for a whole story and only got half, struggling through the 29 parts of this book only to arrive at the last part to listen to "Maybe this person murdered the victim, bur maybe it was that person." What's with that?

I have read or listened to several of Ann Rule's books. I thought that Green River, Running Red was very well written. Ms. Rule cleverly switched back and forth between a narration of the victim's histories and a detailed biography of the killer. This device kept the reader engaged, telling bits and pieces of the killer's twisted background, while telling the sad stories of the many, many victims.

This book plodded on, turgidly recounting over and over the greed and coldness of the victim's husband and presumed killer. Only toward the end did the focus shift, and I will not go there and spoil it for other potential readers. I read on, eagerly waiting to learn the killer's identity, judgment and punishment. But this was not to be. The book ended with speculation, plus a dark hint that Ms. Rule was in possession of information that she could not yet reveal.

Other authors have had the integrity to abandon a project that could not be resolved. Ms. Rule should not have written this book, and I should get a half credit refund. :)

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

Never a dissapointment!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you like true crime novels, Ann Rule is the best. She developes the characters to the extent that you can see and sense them. They become your neighbors and friends. You walk with them through their difficulties and root for their success.

What other book might you compare In the Still of the Night to and why?

Truman Copote's "In Cold Blood"

Which character – as performed by Barbara Caruso – was your favorite?

Barbara. The Mother who wanted justice for her daughter and found the people and resources to see it through.

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

Made me angry. We watch weekly as crimes are solved through technology on our televison and wonder why in this narrative, the police were so incompetent.

Any additional comments?

Could not stop listening. Ann Rule draws you into the lives of these people and you just want to finish the book to see what happened.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Disappointed

I chose this book because I have always liked Ann Rule's books but I was really disappointed with this one. It seems unfocused with the story having a seemingly linear flow - very flat and I am sorry to say, told in a boring way. I fall asleep, awake and feel Iike I have missed nothing relevant to the story. The story is also filled with a lot of unnecessary details. I am trying continue listening out of respect to the victims.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Good book, poor narrator choice

Maybe it's just me, but the mismatch of voice and oral interpretation with the content was frequently distracting, to the point that several times I wanted to turn it off. (And I would have, if not for the subject and needing to know how the case played out.) Listening was not enjoyable, as I had to consciously focus on what was being said and try to ignore how it was being said. As for the book itself--not Rule's best but not her worst, either, and well worth reading. Ronda Reynolds' story needed to be told and I'm glad Rule told it. She deserves justice and her mom is truly a compelling and inspirational subject.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Not as bad as people are saying...

I thought it was a really interesting look into the details of a crime, the people involved, and the ensuing investigation (or lack thereof). The ending was quite a bit more sloppy than the rest of the story though.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

unfinished stories are not satisfying

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

no as i was not happy the ending was incomplete.

Has In the Still of the Night turned you off from other books in this genre?

no not at all. i like true crime. this is one of the few books that i did not care for.

Which scene was your favorite?

it is not the kind of book that you have a favorite scene. if there was a trial and someone was found guilty or not guilty i would say that would be my favorite scene.

Could you see In the Still of the Night being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

no.

Any additional comments?

there are plenty of sloved crimes out there. i would like to hear about those crimes. i would like a book about sarah johnson or maybe sharee miller.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Heartbreaking...

Ann Rule is still a great author, but there was quite a bit of redundancy in this book. Barbara Caruso is awesome! We would listen to her read anything!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Still of the Night-ok

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Worth my time as it killed time while on a long drive.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Eh.

What three words best describe Barbara Caruso’s voice?

Average, average, average.

Was In the Still of the Night worth the listening time?

To kill time.

Any additional comments?

This was not nearly as good as other Ann Rule books.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Justice Sought

As soon as I am done reviewing this book I am gonna go straight to the Internet and see if any thing has change, since its now halfway through 2018. I would like to see Justice for Ronda (I never knew her, but am a mom and grandmother).

Barbara Thompson sounds like amazing person. If I had known that somebody like Ms Thompson was driving back-and-forth across I90, several times every year, I would have opened my doors (as I live in Moses Lake) and offer some sort of support, refreshments or just a quite location with a great view. I truly hope that she found that kind of support from strangers, in her travels.


The writing of this book and the audio version are very well done. My only possible criticism might be that it did not surprise me to find out that Ann Rule and Barb had become really good friends. That is because the feeling from the very beginning was that the writer considered Barbara to be in the complete-right, the whole time, without presenting an reserved judgement until more uncertainties became evident. I am sure (now, as a peanut gallery observer) that that is and was the case. I just fear that such obvious bias at the start could taint opinions (if that matters much). Rule's books are usually pretty great and this one is no exception. Moreover, the reading performance was very well done.

The story of Ronda Reynolds is a beautiful journey, for no other reason than, my daughters, granddaughters, I and others like us, now have the pleasure of knowing these strong and positive female role models. Despite the pridefulness and selfishness of disturbed individuals, Ronda will REMAIN a powerful force for those of us gals still reaching for our dreams.


Thank you, Ladies ♡

More questions than answers.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It should not have been written. Ann Rule really disappoints all the way around. From the story, there is no resolution. I suspect that this book was written due to the friendship between author and victims mother. I do believe she was murdered but Ronda was let down in the very beginning by a blotched investigation/inquest/police/coroner/etc. It leaves you feeling empty not knowing and we never will.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Eh.

Did Barbara Caruso do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

No not at all.

Was In the Still of the Night worth the listening time?

No I am trying to finish out of respect for Ronda.

Any additional comments?

Ann Rule is the queen of true crime. Audible should offer MANY of her other wonderful books.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

A story with no ending

very disappointing ; interesting story but with a very unusual end!!!!! There was no conclusion to the tale with no Ending the story just finished.

This is as per usual her very best work

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Again this book is audible and lets me get to do my running around and listening to my IPOD and even can put them on my Windows Nokia Lumia. I am thankful somebody invented Audiobooks as my diabetes has started affecting my eyesight and was hindered to reading the so now as I say I am thankful for the invention of Audiobooks, I would wait as long as necessary to wait for Ann Rule's books. P.s a little note nobody else captures my attention at all times, edge of your seat stuff .......thank you

What was one of the most memorable moments of In the Still of the Night?

I Haven't started this yet but will write a comment here when finished

What about Barbara Caruso’s performance did you like?

again not read yet

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

again TBA

Any additional comments?

TBA

0 of 4 people found this review helpful