Rating: 
Summary: Read till sunrise
Review: I first got interested in this story when I saw the made-for-TV movie by the same title. If you liked the movie, get the book, because Brad is so evil that the movie could not depict it in four hours. This very charismatic man could get just about any woman, no matter how attractive or intelligent, to do what he wanted: hand over tens of thousands of dollars for him to live on, become an exotic dancer, or divorce her husband for him. And once he got his hooks into someone, she was never, ever free. He knew how to stay one step ahead of the law always, and somehow as he was under enormous financial strain, he managed to stalk and torment several people at a time. His capacity for evil seemed boundless, and his case almost never went to trial. Reading it, I felt the fear these women must have felt, and the desperation that he'd never be caught.The author does a good job of taking the long, complex story of Brad, Cheryl, and the others in their lives, and telling it in a way that we can keep track of the dozens of characters. There are many true crime books that just lose me in the multitudes of characters, but this one is organized into sections so that each of the main people gets his/her story told in one thread. The timeline jumps around a little, but it is relatively easy reading. Just some minor problems: The book mentioned several times what a brilliant lawyer Cheryl was. She must have been, but I would have liked if this book gave more detail about her performance on the job. It seems like more detail was given to Brad's career (during the rare times he worked). Also, the book describes how Cheryl steals Brad from his third wife, and then during the civil trial, the prosecutor says, "...that wasn't what had happened at all." No matter who pursued who, she did in fact steal him. Besides those two minor inconsistencies, it was a great story and I'm ready to start reading another Ann Rule book tomorrow!
Rating: 
Summary: Dead By Susent: Perfect Husband, Perfect Killer? by Ann Rule
Review: I found the book to be quite riveting but I also found the insane review -- below -- riveting. The Neverland reader feels that the non-innocent "babe" basically got what she deserved -- well, thank god we don't all live in Neverland! Successful losers!, January 11, 2004
Reviewer: A reader from Neverland
I'm supposed to feel real sorry for a lady that stole her sorority sisters husband before they were married one year and the wife was pregnant!! Yeah, she's a real innocent babe! Most people that get treated for snake bites in the U.S. were fooling around with the snake to begin with...what did she expect! Ann Rule even attempts to justify her possible sleeping around because her husband was gone so often and she was so lonely and longing for closeness...yes, that's how "brilliant" people deal with marriage problems! --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition
Rating:
Summary: Dead By Susent: Perfect Husband, Perfect Killer? by Ann Rule
Review: I found the book to be quite riveting but I also found the insane review -- below -- riveting. The Neverland reader feels that the non-innocent "babe" basically got what she deserved -- well, thank god we don't all live in Neverland! Successful losers!, January 11, 2004
Reviewer: A reader from Neverland
I'm supposed to feel real sorry for a lady that stole her sorority sisters husband before they were married one year and the wife was pregnant!! Yeah, she's a real innocent babe! Most people that get treated for snake bites in the U.S. were fooling around with the snake to begin with...what did she expect! Ann Rule even attempts to justify her possible sleeping around because her husband was gone so often and she was so lonely and longing for closeness...yes, that's how "brilliant" people deal with marriage problems! --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely wonderful!!
Review: I have always been a tru crime "buff", so to speak and Ann Rule has always been my favorite author. I first read "The Stranger Beside Me" when I was in college and I thought it was one of the best books I have read. When "Dead By Sunset" came out, I knew I had to buy it. I was not disappointed. The book was extremely well written. I really felt sorry for those woman but kept wondering why they could be so duped by him. I truely felt sorry for Cheryl and all the troubles she endured, but I thought she was extremely stupid for meeting him alone that night even after she warned everyone he would kill her. The true victims in all of this is her three little boys, who will never know how much she loved them or what she endured for them. I am glad the book ended the way it did. Brad deserves everything he got and more. I recommend this book to anyone who loves true crime.
Rating:
Summary: Chilling and hypnotic
Review: I have an addiction - I pick up true crime paperbacks in airports (they make great plane reads.) Ann Rule's DEAD BY SUNSET is one of the most fascinating I've ever read...and among her very best. The profile of sociopath and "malignant narcissist", Brad Cunningham is so searing that it's chilling to think that there are others like him walking around...hiding their evil behind charm and intelligence. It's also a great tale of "justice will out". Excellent work, Ann.
Rating:
Summary: Hard to believe how psycho this guy was . . .
Review: I have read a lot of true crime books, and I'm a big fan of Ann Rule. What sets this book apart from your run-of-the-mill true crime book is the way the author makes you feel that you really know Cheryl and Sara and even the other wives. She really did her research on these women, as well as on Mr. Cunningham, the man to whom they were both married and who killed one of them. I've read this book several times, and each time I wonder, "How did this sicko manage to attract such intelligent, successful women?" That's the real mystery . . .
Rating:
Summary: Pure Evil!
Review: I hope that Cheryl's sons will grow up to remember what a brilliant and coragious woman their mother was. I also hope that Brad Cunningham will rot in his prison cell!!! The more I read about Brad's background and his marriages, the more I was convinced that he would be capable of murder - it's just too bad that so many children had to suffer because of his manipulation and temper! I don't understand, though, why Cheryl did not ask someone to accompany her to the gas station - she knew she was putting herself in harm's way! I just don't get that.
Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: I love true mysteries and dramas and dead by sunset was one of the best that have read I think that Ann Rule is a great auther and I would buy all of her books. I would like a list of her books if anyone has one. Thank you, Cindy
Rating:
Summary: Successful losers!
Review: I'm supposed to feel real sorry for a lady that stole her sorority sisters husband before they were married one year and the wife was pregnant!! Yeah, she's a real innocent babe! Most people that get treated for snake bites in the U.S. were fooling around with the snake to begin with...what did she expect! Ann Rule even attempts to justify her possible sleeping around because her husband was gone so often and she was so lonely and longing for closeness...yes, that's how "brilliant" people deal with marriage problems!
Rating:
Summary: sad story
Review: I've read most of Rule's books, and plan to read them all.
What gets me is how many men there are in this country who think nothing of offing the woman who is "in his way", for one reason or another and Ann has done her share of writing about these sociopaths. This guy, this creep is just one of the many who have committed crimes like this. How he attracted these women, a doctor, a lawyer, attractive intelligent women who became his victims just proves how a not very attractive man, if he has the "silver tongue", line of bull has no limitations. Deserved the death penalty. Good book, read it. It won't disappoint you.
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