Dead by Sunset Ann Rule (A Review)

In this book, Ann Rule, Queen of true crime, smoothly laid a detailed account of a mysterious crime put to justice after several years of its perpetration. Brad Cunningham was a man of charismatic persona: a well chiseled face with striking features, a body oozing masculinity, a sweet talking mouth and a sharp intellect. He was a flawless achiever both academically and professionally, the most sought-after man among ladies around him and often regarded as a catch of a lifetime. His magnetism attracted many brilliant women into his life. Since early adolescence, he started exhibiting chauvinistic characteristics which matured into cemented misogyny. He had two contrasting sides to his personality. An amicable, sophisticated, ethical, loving and delightfully pleasing side for public display and used as a bait to lure his preys, while the private self was exponentially disgusting and intensely blood-curdling. As the story unfolds one would find him as a malignant narcissist, who never missed an opportunity to demean his women and shatter their self-esteem into pieces. A manipulator who was best at projecting and a stalking predator. To one's much horror, he was also a sadist who enjoyed pain and suffering of others. A psychopath with personality disorder and a complete control freak who intimidated people to follow his lead. In late 1986, he bludgeoned his fourth wife to death and staged his horrendous crime as an accident and was getting away with as innocent until proven guilty. But with the meticulous efforts of lawyers and other law enforcement officials he was convicted and finally served lifelong incarceration.
The book was a little drag but riveting from beginning to end. And after reading about Brad's personality it is befitting to say that 'appearances are deceptive' and 'looks do kill.'