Without Pity: Ann Rule's Most Dangerous Killers Mass Market Paperback – December 1, 2003

Anything Ann Rule is worth the read. Definitely buy it

"Without Pity" comes not without controversy. This selection of "old" Ann stories apparently covers crimes from seven previous volumes. This reviewer was free of worry because he has always concentrated on Ann's full length efforts and had not read any compilations. For the record, the back cover does refer to WP as an update of astonishing cases. (Back covers are not available for on line inspection). That stated, WP still represents first rate true crime. No plot synopses are listed here but all the stories are good, gritty and set reliably in the Pacific Northwest. The best is "Dead and On Tape" in which a cop is recorded committing a murder! "Without Pity" is an excellent example of the utility of reading amazon reviews before purchase. Those new to Ann may plunge in free of the swirl surrounding WP. As always, new readers may always proceed to early full length Ann choices like "The I-5 Killer", "The Want Ad Killer", "Lust Killer" and "The Stranger Beside Me"

I found the most interesting case in Ann Rule's book, Without Pity, to be the chapter entitled, the Lost Lady, about Marcia Moore's mysterious death. Author Jesse Stearn had previously written about this famous Yoga instructor and I never knew what happened to her until Ann Rule wrote her book. It was difficult to imagine that a person like her could have become addicted to a drug after spending a life promoting health. Revelation of her bad choices in men was also unexpected.

As always, Ann Rule brings true crime to a public that would not have received insights to crimes if it hadn't been for her experience and easy way of giving the reader the information needed to fully see a crime. She brings humanity to people that would not otherwise be seen as human. I highly recommend her books. Add this to you Ann Rule collection; don't have one? Start it now.

Love true crime but dislike the way she skips around with the story. Also, don't like that she always writes about old crimes in the Washington state area.

Ann Rule always delivers on true crime. She did her homework and I know I'm getting the full story. It may be too much detail for some, but I enjoy learning about the motive of the murderer, -the psychology without a lot of gore. She shows real respect for the victim, their families, and the detectives who work the cases.

Of Ann Rule's case file collections, I like "Without Pity" best. The twilight climax of "The Last Letter," and the quiet madness in "Stockholm Syndrome" creeped me out the most. So did the mysterious end of the pathetic, drugged-out "psychic" (she was on drugs writing a book about Cleopatra's beauty secrets and she was certain her husband was Lord Byron in a previous life) in "The Lonely Lady, " though Ann Rule appears to give the disparate opinions of psychics more weight than work and opinions of detectives. (Experts don't seem to believe the hole in the old skull was from a bullet or a weapon.)

I like to read about true crime. I am constantly amazed at what humans can do to each other...but I always feel good when the cases are solved and the killers are punished. Thank goodness for all the advanced technologies to assist in solving crimes.