Every Breath You Take: A True Story of Obsession, Revenge, and Murder
America’s #1 true-crime writer fulfills a murder victim’s desperate plea with this shattering New York Times bestseller.
“If anything ever happens to me…find Ann Rule and ask her to write my story.”
In perhaps the first true-crime book written at the victim's request, Ann Rule untangles a web of lies and brutality that culminated in the murder of Sheila Blackthorne Bellush—a woman Rule never met, but whose shocking story she now chronicles with compassion, exacting detail, and unvarnished candor.
Although happily ensconced in a loving second marriage, and a new family of quadruplets, Sheila never truly escaped the vicious enslavement of her ex-husband, multi-millionaire Allen Blackthorne, a handsome charmer— and a violent, controlling sociopath who subjected Sheila to unthinkable abuse in their marriage, and terrorized her for a decade after their divorce. When Sheila was slain in her home, in the presence of her four toddlers, authorities raced to link the crime to Blackthorne, the man who vowed to monitor Sheila's every move in his obsessive quest for power and revenge.
“If anything ever happens to me…find Ann Rule and ask her to write my story.”
In perhaps the first true-crime book written at the victim's request, Ann Rule untangles a web of lies and brutality that culminated in the murder of Sheila Blackthorne Bellush—a woman Rule never met, but whose shocking story she now chronicles with compassion, exacting detail, and unvarnished candor.
Although happily ensconced in a loving second marriage, and a new family of quadruplets, Sheila never truly escaped the vicious enslavement of her ex-husband, multi-millionaire Allen Blackthorne, a handsome charmer— and a violent, controlling sociopath who subjected Sheila to unthinkable abuse in their marriage, and terrorized her for a decade after their divorce. When Sheila was slain in her home, in the presence of her four toddlers, authorities raced to link the crime to Blackthorne, the man who vowed to monitor Sheila's every move in his obsessive quest for power and revenge.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
Disturbing on so many levels
As usual, Ann Rule does an excellent job of investigative research to retell this horrifying story. She paints San Antonio beautifully and with the same fervor details the terrifying life that Sheila Bellush suffered through until her violent death. It was sickening to read all the horrors this man got away with throughout his life and even more disturbing that he managed to find such a loyal wife to stand by him during investigation and trials, living a life of luxury while so many suffered from his actiins. A haunting read for sure, and one that was difficult to put down until finished.
As usual, Ann Rule does an excellent job of investigative research to retell this horrifying story. She paints San Antonio beautifully and with the same fervor details the terrifying life that Sheila Bellush suffered through until her violent death. It was sickening to read all the horrors this man got away with throughout his life and even more disturbing that he managed to find such a loyal wife to stand by him during investigation and trials, living a life of luxury while so many suffered from his actiins. A haunting read for sure, and one that was difficult to put down until finished.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.