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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The long beatification, June 6, 2005
Ann Rule's characters usually fall into three categories: (1) victim-saints; (2) virtuous, persevering law enforcement officials; (3) heartless, wicked sociopaths. But in "Dead by Sunset" the author fooled me. The last section of the book concerns the murderer's trial which Rule actually attended, and it's got the spit and sparkle of real life. The dialogue between the defendant, who was acting as his own lawyer (he had not gone to law school or passed the bar) and the rather acerbic judge, is priceless. The old saw about 'the lawyer who tries his own case has a fool for a defendant' is proven to be doubly true in the case of Brad Cunningham, who tended to ramble tediously on about the state of his finances even though he was on trial for murder. When Cunningham decided to take to the witness stand and cross-examine himself, he made himself fair game for the prosecution and a legal dilemma for the judge. Here is a sample of the defendant versus judge dialogue, after Judge Alexander repeatedly warns Cunningham about asking improper questions:
"'I'm walking just on the edge,' Brad countered defiantly.
"'And you're stumbling over...'
"Brad had always argued with anyone who did not agree with him. Stubbornly he was arguing now with Judge Alexander.
"'This is why we go to law school, Mr. Cunningham,' the judge said. 'It's a sophisticated concept.'"
The first 464 pages of this book are standard Ann Rule. A beautiful, brilliant attorney marries a psychopath and suffers dreadfully for her choice of mate. She bears him three beautiful, brilliant little boys while Brad runs through her money, accumulates girlfriends, and is never home when she and the boys need him (I definitely thought that was a plus, considering what he did when he was home). Finally, Cheryl can't bear his abuse any longer. She files for a divorce, and starts collecting evidence about his financial misdealing. She also wants full custody of the boys.
Oops. Cheryl is beaten to death in the first ten pages.
The next 454 pages don't dwell on the mystery of who killed her. Everyone knows who did her in, but there is very little physical evidence. Instead, the author dissects Brad's various marriages and affairs, with emphasis on his brutality toward Cheryl and his children. We learn everyone's life story. We are told over and over again how slender, frail, and beautiful Cheryl was, what a good mother she was, and how her brilliance as an attorney was beginning to be recognized by one and all. In the midst of all these repetitive eulogies, I couldn't help remembering poor Eliza's deathbed scene in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Ann Rule spends so much time cranking Cheryl up to heaven, that I was almost glad when she died. At least she was out of her misery.
By now, you might be asking yourself why I kept slogging through this book.
In spite of her long, relentless beatification of her victim, Ann Rule writes about a riveting case. Plus, the more I read about Brad's loathsome habits and personality in "Dead by Sunset," the more I wanted to see the s.o.b. get his just reward, even if it did take 528 pages and two trials.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Local Thriller, July 5, 2000
This book was one of the first true-crime novels I ever read. I picked it up at an airport (another reviewer mentioned the same thing - must be the thing to do) because it took place in Oregon. I was fascinated (and horrified) by the fact that these crimes took place in locales I drove by every day. It was like a car accident - I couldn't look away, hideous as it was, knowing that this man lived and killed in my beloved city.Ann Rule has a way with criminal stories - making them accessible to the average reader but including all the details fit to lure in those more familiar with the genre. She includes plenty of backstory and it's obvious she has spent countless hours interviewing and observing key players. I've added more of her books to my wish list. [An aside: Does Ms. Rule do a lot more writing of true-crime in the Pacific Northwest than in other areas or is it just location-bias on my part? If so, why? Does she like the area or does the PNW have a lot more murders and serial killings? Just a simple observation...]
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WHAT HAPPENS TO A DREAM DEFERRED?, September 3, 2000
Brad Cunningham was truly a killer Casanova. Married several times and the father of several children, he finally got caught when he married Cheryl Keeton.Brilliant and a successful lawyer, Cheryl was beguiled by the intelligent man of natual charm and quick wit. Three sons were born of their union, each one described as being highly intelligent like their mother. Cheryl adored the boys and would do anything and everything for them. She also accepted Brad's older children wholeheartedly. Unfortuately for all, Cheryl's sons never really got to know this because she was killed when they were quite small. Cheryl's dream of a happy life as Brad's wife ended with her death. Brad's dream of continuing to maintain a certain lifestyle at the expense of others would soon become a dream deferred. Cocky and confident that he had pulled off the untraceable murder, Brad set to work finding yet another willing wife. That cockiness was to prove his undoing when he served as his own counsel during his 1994 trial. Brad got what he deserved which is life behind bars. As for his hapless children and former wives, one can only hope and pray that their lives have worked out despite their many hardships caused by this killer Casanova.
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