Every Breath You Take

A True Story of Obsession, Revenge, and Murder

By: Ann Rule

Narrated by: Blair Brown

"If anything ever happens to me, promise me that you will see that there is an investigation...And find Ann Rule and ask her to write my story," Sheila Blackthorne Bellush told her sister after she divorced multimillionaire Allen Blackthorne. Now, in perhaps the first book ever written at a victim's request, America's best selling true-crime writer, Ann Rule, untangles a horrific web of lies that culminated in Sheila's savage murder more than 10 years after she left Blackthorne.

When beautiful, blond Sheila married the charming, handsome Blackthorne, she was convinced she had found her perfect soul mate, and helped him reach his goal of living the privileged life of the country club set. But behind Allen's smooth facade, she discovered a violent, controlling sociopath - a liar, a scam artist, a sexual deviant. When she finally fled with their two young daughters, she was skeletally thin, bruised, and beaten.

Although Sheila recovered, remarried, and was starting a new life and family, she still felt she was doomed. Joyously pregnant, she and her new husband expecting quadruplets, Sheila still feared Blackthorne, who had sworn to her he would monitor her every move and "every breath you take." And, in fact, Blackthorne inevitably tracked her down, as did her killer, who left her in a pool of blood marked by the tiny footprints of her two-year-old toddlers. The questions remained: Could the authorities ever link Sheila's murder to Blackthorne himself? Was his true obsession high-stakes golf and his extravagant pink mansion - or was it to destroy Sheila?

Following a trail of deception from Oregon and Hawaii to Texas and Florida, Ann Rule gained complete access to Sheila's family, friends, and neighbors, as well as to the detectives and prosecutors on the case. With Every Breath You Take, Ann Rule has written a heart-pounding account of obsession, revenge, and murder that will enthrall readers from beginning to end.

©2002 Ann Rule, All Rights Reserved (P)2002 Simon & Schuster Inc., AUDIOWORKS Is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"As usual, Rule excels at painting psychologically perceptive portraits of all the characters in this stranger-than-fiction but nevertheless real-life drama." (Booklist)

Good book

Worth "reading". Well researched and presented. Did not like the "history" type style of the book.
But fans of the crime genre will like it.

Ms. Rule - typical...excellence, that is

I have read all Ms. Rule's books, and listened to this one, and have never been disappointed. She combines meticulous research, interviews and case files and weaves a story that pulls you into the world of the participants and doesn't let you go. I always come away feeling that I have walked in each character's shoes and understand the five "W"s - who, what, where, when and - most importantly - why.
This audio book has the additional pleasure of Blair Brown as narrator which is a particular treat as she helps us empathize with the victims. This isn't the best Ann Rule book - read the "Killer Beside Me" about Ted Bundy - but it's a close second. A definite must for any true crime buff. Highly recommended!

Well worth it

As an insatiable devotee to "Forensic Files," "City Confidential," and "American Justice," I could not wait to download and listen to Rule's "Breath." Though I was somewhat familiar with the subject matter, I found Rule's telling, complete with details not covered within any of the aforementioned television programs, entertaining, educational, and interesting. Her grasp of the criminal mind, and her ability to present it for the layman, are what drive the content of "Breath," and render it difficult to abandon once started. I strongly recommend both of the Rule books available at this site, and would encourage Audible to aquire those works outstanding.

Can you say

The victim is the exwife of the antagonist, who very likely suffers from what is now called Reactive Attachment Disorder. The book details the background and investigation when a woman is killed. Starts a little slowly but it finishes effectively.

Gruesome and gripping

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It's well written and a very informative documentation of an heinous crime. Both sides of the events are stated and the listener receives a glimpse into the cause and effect of what came to pass.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Every Breath You Take?

The way the antagonists' wife fell apart as his court case depicted him for what he is.

Have you listened to any of Blair Brown’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, not yet.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

The obsessive and narcissitic nature of a person to the cost of everyone else, even his children.

Not Her Best Work....

I am a fan of Ms. Rule's. I am an even bigger fan of true crime stories. This story did not keep me interested enough in the characters, and offered too much insignificant information and background in the beginning.

Very good !!

If you like true crime stories then you found the right author. I love Ann Rule's books. She is one of my favorite authors.

the story master does it again!

Ann Rule knows how to tell a story. She amasses the facts and carefully organizes the details into a compelling, coherent tale that must be heard to the end. Even minor characters are memorable. Ann Rule's books are studies in human development and nature, what can go wrong in some people who still appear so attractive on the surface, and the extraordinary heroism of others, who also may appear ordinary. Her beat is the whole human circus. She is never sensationalizing or insensitive to human suffering, even when it ultimately produces monsters. The fascination is how hugely human beings can misread each other and how complex we are. Four stars only because it was an "open & shut case" compared to Green River, and no real surprises.

Always a winner with Ann Rule

This book was excellent as are this author's other books. Ann Rule weaves the tale in such a way that you can't stop reading or listening. There is a good mix of police investigation facts, court room drama, and best of all the delving into the personalities of the real life characters.

Incredible story written by an awesome writer!

Ann Rule has an incredible writing style that engages you from the start. Not many authors can do that, but her insight into each case plus her background in law enforcement give her a completely different view from any other writer.