When Trust Leads to Murder (Empty Promises-Ann Rule)

Whenever I'm in a book store, I always find myself drawn to the true crime section. As some of my faithful readers know, I am a fan of books written about murder, serial killers, and crime. Yes...that's write...there is something wrong with my head. But, if you ever need to write a report on Ed Gacy or the Zodiac...you know who to find:)

One of my most recent trips to the true crime aisle was a winner. My favorite author, Ann Rule, had released her most recent case file book. For those of you not familiar with Ann Rule, she is the queen of crime. Formerly a police officer in the Seattle area, Rule now spends her time in courtrooms and jail cells. She delves into the lives of criminals and victims alike, always in search of the why, the who, the what, and the how. And, in most cases, she uncovers the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

In her latest crime file book Empty Promises: Ann Rule's Crime Files: Volume 7 , Rule features 10 different stories, all true and horrid in their own respect. Every one of her file books has a theme, and Empty Promises focuses on victims who love to easily and trust too much. As usual, there is one main story, and 9 shorter case files, included to help emphasize the theme.

Empty Promises
The main story in Ann Rule's book revolves around the lives of Jami Hagel Sherer and her husband Steven. Once a vivacious beauty, Jami was now a shell of her former self. She lacked all the self-confidence she once exuded, and found herself living in Steven's shadow...living for his every whim. Steven, a spoiled brat from a wealthy family, was mixed up in a world of drugs and sex, and he soon dragged Jami into the mix.

As sometimes happens in an abusive relationship, which this definitely qualified as, Jami was in the process of leaving her husband...when she suddenly and mysteriously disappeared. It was months before her car would be found. And her body never was. Was Jami Hagel Sherer dead? Who would have any reason to kill her? And would they be brought to justice with no body to confirm there even was a murder?

Bitter Lake
The second story in the case files was the most difficult for me to read. Although it was short, it was heart-wrenching. The case involved the death of a young mother, and her young son. A man had heard a man and woman arguing outside his window late one night, and when he looked out, he saw her running away. Unluckily for her, he caught her... As the story unfolds, we learn that the lead suspect is an ex-lover of the mother. When she tried to break up with him for good, he took matters into his own hands....

Young Love
And now a story that could happen to anyone. John and Leigh were high school sweethearts. Leigh went away to college. John couldn't let go, and started stalking Leigh at her school. The ending to this story is one that no one expecting...least of all me!

Love and Insurance
This case file involved a man who was kicked out of the armed forces for being homosexual (topical, eh?) He soon finds himself with a fan, who he decides to enlist in his cause against the Army. His new found friend lets him move in, and although their relationship is never clear, we assume they are lovers. Supposedly, his friend is being stalked by someone, and soon ends up dead. Was the stalker to blame? Or a the man who had recently taken out a large insurance policy on his life?

The Gentler Sex
This is actually two stories in one, both involving women who want their husbands dead. One achieves her goal, the other is not so lucky. Both have motives involving large sums of money. And both of their husbands are extremely trusting, and never see it coming....

The Conjugal Visit
Another one that was tough to read. The story starts off with two recently released convicts going out on a kidnapping spree. First though, they start a manhunt by killing a police officer. After taking two people hostage, releasing them, and taking three more hostage (including a 10-month-old), they are finally caught and put back into jail. Con men can be incredibly reformed when they want to be though, and one is soon allowed conjugal visits with his new fiance. What happens after that is not something the police would ever have expected....

Killers on the Road
Sometimes, a strange twist of fate is the only thing that allows a crime to become solved. In this story, that twist of fate was a very brave woman who managed to live after being shot 5 times...most of them direct hits to her head. Two killers began a killing spree, apparently for no reason. Both were 18, and seemed to be quiet young men. Their first victim may have never been found though, if it wasn't for the survival of the woman they thought they had left dead.

A Dangerous Mind
Can a family love and trust their own too much? This crime file addresses just such an issue. Arnold Brown had been committing crimes since the age of 16. Somehow, he managed to get off easy, even when one of those crimes was murder. And, like a loving family, his stood by him. Would they back him up when he took one of their own though?

To Kill and Kill Again
Most killers have motives. Most killers have a certain type of victim they choose to kill. They scariest killer, though, is one who kills at random. It doesn't matter who, why or where....they just kill, and often they don't know why. Two women disappeared within 6 months of each other. Neither disappearance had much to do with each other, but both bodies soon turned up. Later, two young boys were also found dead. Again, no relation to the first two murders. Could one young man have done all four crimes though?

The Stockholm Syndrome
Possibly the most interesting of the crime files, this one deals with mind control. A woman's husband is killed, but she tells the police that it was an accident. The man who held the gun that shot the fatal bullet was about to walk free. That is....until the woman's memory started coming back....

I found Empty Promises to be one of Ann Rule's most gripping novels. I hated to read each of the crimes, but I couldn't allow myself to put the book down. Rule gets down to the bottom of every murderer, every victim, every motive. It's scary how easily some women and men fall in love and trust so fast and so wholeheartedly....no matter what the consequences. For any true crime fan, Empty Promises is definitely a must read.