Customer Reviews

No Regrets (Ann Rule's Crime Files, Vol. 11)

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This book consists of a lengthy main story that is a fascinating tale about the murder of a ship's pilot by his wife. It is followed by multiple separate but equally compelling stories that while tragic, are poignant and quite interesting.
Ann Rule continues to unfold stories with great attention to the backgrounds of the people in her novels and the locations relevant to their lives. She has a clear interest in why people do what they do and obvious respect for the justice system and crime victims. Her "way with a word" just gets better with time. This is a must have book for anyone that enjoys true crime stories.

I am big Ann Rule fan. I think I read about every one of her books possible. She is such a captivating author that if she wrotes novels, she would win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Her books always romanticize the setting whether it's Lopez Island, Seattle, Portland, and usually in the Pacific Northwest that is also where she calls home. She uses her intelligence and wit to write stories about common, ordinary people sometimes extraordinary, deranged, and dangerous like Rolf and Rose Neslund in the Sea Captain about a Norwegian American sea captain who lives on Lopez Island. Him and his wife have one of the most dysfunctional relationships ever just to clue you in but yet it's ROlf we have to feel sorry for because he is the victim of Rose's anger and hatred and jealousy over his money which she controls. There are other stories like a Very Bad Christmas about a father/husband who kills his wife and two young children. A story that never made national headlines. Or the two men who raped and kidnapped Kari Lindholm who survived the ordeal. Or the man who shot and killed a bank officer during a botched robbery. These stories happen a lot more than we expect but Ann puts perspective on the survivors, the victims, and even the criminals. We know that Ann does not treat the criminals lightly at all. She criticizes their crimes very well but she also makes the attempt to understand them and that's what make her a very special true crime author.

I love Ann Rule's books and will read anything she writes. I am sure she would agree that No Regrets is not her best work. But considering her productivity level (she says she write two books a year) I don't know that anyone could produce masterpieces like Small Sacrifices, The Stranger Beside Me, Bitter Harvest each time.

If you have never read one of Ann Rule's books, start with one of the above full-length works. Then you will know why we devotees keep reading.

I really like Ann Rule's books, because as an author, she makes sure the reader knows the character, emotions, and background of the people involved in the crime - both the victims and the perps. This book is no exception. The victim of the first, longer story in this book already was a legendary - and infamous - NW ship captain when things in his household took a deadly turn. But Ms. Rule does not dwell on the gore - she goes for the psychological elements and drama, so that what remains unsaid helps create an adequately gruesome picture in the reader's mind. This holds true as well in the shorter stories that round out the last third of the book. The pathetic short story Black Christmas is especially heart-rending, but all of the shorter stories - as well as the title story - will continue to haunt you long after you've finished the book.

Once again Ann Rule manages to show the gruesome facts of a case and put human faces to the victims. She shows great respect for the families and presents the facts plainly and completely. An excellent read, as always!

Ann Rule only enhances her reputation as the world's best true crime writer with her latest book, No Regrets. No other writer, true crime or otherwise, connects with her readers and draws us into the lives of the people she writes about like Ann. The pictures serve to give faces to the pictures Ann paints with her words. And her compassion shines through, as always, with each word she writes. We care because she cares. My only regret is that Ann can't write faster.

I have read most of Ann Rule's books, but somehow found this one less intriguing than her other books. I felt that the main story of the ship pilot could have been omitted. However, I will keep reading her books!

I've lost a lot of sleep over Ann Rule. Her latest book, like every one before it, caused me to stay up way too late at night reading "just one more page". But, No Regrets! If you like a book that grabs you from the first page and is hard to put down, get this or any Ann Rule book. Her Crime Files are a great mix of one long story and several short ones. The stories are short on gore and long on character study, so don't let the true crime tag scare you away. Ann is a compelling writer whose books are highly anticipated and never disappoint...easily the best true crime writer out there. So buy, read and enjoy!

There is a real good reason why Ann Rule has had such a long and successful career - she's very good at what she does. All of her books are impossible to put down and her style of writing draws you in and sticks with you. "No Regrets" is truly a page-turner. At our house, a new Ann Rule book is a mandatory buy so maybe we're a bit prejudiced. But when I tell you that a new book from her is an occasion for us (my wife and myself) or that we buy hard cover AND paperbacks of each book AND we pass them around to spread the word, it's true. I highly recommend "No Regrets" to anyone from the reader with a casual interest in true crime to a professional forensic scientist. This paperback would make a terrific, inexpensive gift.

The only bad part of being an Ann Rule fan is waiting for the next book.

I have been a fan of Ann Rule's for a while now, ever since I read her book GREEN RIVER RUNNING RED. Rule specializes in astute psychological portraits and depictions of both victim(s) and killer(s). She brings to life these individuals with great clarity. In particular, I found her second case in the book NO REGRETS, "It Ain't Hard Out There For the Pimps" to be heartbreaking. This tale concerns the brutal attack on an 18-year old Seattle prostitute by the name of Arden Lee, who met up with a man she knew only slightly for drinks. He took her to an abandoned house, where he broke open the cellar door and beat her unconscious. Naked and almost blinded from the attack, she somehow managed to get out of the cellar and crawl to a nearby apartment house for help. Rule brings to life the courage of this girl and her determination, as well as that of the hard-working detectives on the case, to bring the attacker to justice. Rule definitely has a great feeling for justice and her compassion for those less fortunate comes through in this tale and the other stories in the book.

The only suggestion I would have is to have more clarity with regard to dates; perhaps I missed something but I was not sure in some cases exactly when these crimes occurred. Perhaps a timeline in the book and some maps would be helpful, especially for those readers like myself who have not been to the Seattle area and are unfamiliar with the locale.