Empty Promises (Mass Market Paperback)

by Ann Rule (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Although the former police officer and FBI consultant is best known for full-length true-crime books, she is also a prolific writer of shorter articles, publishing more than a thousand of them over the past three decades. Many of her shorter pieces have been collected in the ongoing Crime Files series, of which this is volume seven. The ten pieces included here, some of them going back more than 25 years, tell the story of a man whose possessiveness allegedly led him to murder; of unrequited love that led to madness; of a couple of genuinely (almost comically) incompetent femme fatales; of a man who killed for the thrill of it; and other fascinating, unsettling tales. Rule brings the same respect for detail to her short work that is evident in the book-length accounts. She is able to look beyond "just the facts" and penetrate to the heart of the matter, to identify not only the who and the what, but the all-important why. The shortest article here is deeper, and tells us more about the nature of crime, than a whole stack of full-length books written by less talented competitors. Among the very small group of top-notch true-crime writers (Lawrence Schiller, Jack Olsen, and Joe McGinniss, when he gets it right), Rule just may be the best of the bunch. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
'The undisputed master crime writer of the Eighties and Nineties' John Saul 'Devastatingly accurate insight' NEW YORK TIMES --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (December 26, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671025333
• ISBN-13: 978-0671025335
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #196,518 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 7 in The Crime Files Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well delivered narrative, December 26, 2000

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

As expected from the files of true crime writer Ann Rule, EMPTY PROMISES is as frightening of an anthology a reader will find because the tales really happened. The premise behind the collection is not all relationships end in a happily ever after. Some end in violent death in which the killer betrayed the love and trust of their victim.

The ten stories, including the "novel" length title piece, of

EMPTY PROMISES all hinge on a glib predator taking advantage of love to the point that perhaps it is better to not have loved and lived than to love at all. Each tale is haunting because they can easily happen to family, friends, and readers. Although not for everyone, this book proves Ms Rule still rules the true crime genre.

Harriet Klausner

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rush to Print, December 31, 2000

By	Nancy Burke Smith "plainengl" (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews

I wait breathlessly for every book Ann Rule puts out, but I'll begin to breathe easier now. Her last few books, this one included, have not lived up to the earlier promise of such titles as "Small Sacrifices," "The Stranger Beside Me," and "If you really love me." Granted, the crimes in her latest books have not been as spectucular, the criminals not as incomprehensible as those in earlier books, but it does seem that the publishers are rushing her to put out books to satisfy readers like me--rather than giving Rule adequate time to find a criminal type and do what she does best -- explore his/her background and bring him/her to life for the reader. Too many of the stories in "Empty Promises" are empty of Rule's talent for sketching out the criminal character. Too many read no better than a newspaper account--they leave you wanting to know more rather than wanting to read more.

It makes me sad, but that's my take

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Classic by the best!!, January 19, 2001

By A Customer

I purchased this book from Von's supermarket(couldn't find it in a book store!) I was done reading it in four days. Ann Rule takes you through every phase of the victims life and make's you feel as if you are in the court room when the trials are taking place. I have read every last one of her books and this is yet another jewel from the best true crime writer. I would also recommend Dead by Sunset to those of you who have not read it yet. It will break your heart. Good job Ann.