Smoke, Mirrors, and Murder

Anne Rule's Crime Files, #12

Read by Laural Merlington

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About The Book

From #1 New York Times bestselling author and true crime icon Ann Rule, the cases in this collection grapple with murder, false identity, and much more.

In some murder cases, the truth behind the most tragic of crimes crystallizes with relative ease. Not so with these fascinating accounts drawn from the personal files of Ann Rule, America’s #1 bestselling true crime writer. What happens when the case itself becomes an intractable puzzle, when clues are shrouded in smoke and mirrors, and when criminals skillfully evade law enforcement in a maddening cat-and-mouse chase? Even the most devoted true crime fan won’t predict the outcome of these truly confounding cases until the conclusions are revealed in Rule’s marvelously insightful narrative:

- A “picture perfect” family is targeted for death by the least likely enemy, who plotted their demise from behind bars.

- A sexual predator hides behind multiple fake identities, eluding police for years while his past victims live in fear that he will hunt them down.

- A modest preacher’s wife confesses to shooting her husband after an argument—but there’s more to her shattering story than meets the eye.

These and other true cases are analyzed with stunning clarity in a page-turning collection you won't be able to put down.

About The Author

Leslie Rule
Ann Rule

Ann Rule (1931–2015) wrote thirty-five New York Times bestsellers, all of them still in print. Her first bestseller was The Stranger Beside Me, about her personal relationship with infamous serial killer Ted Bundy. A former Seattle police officer, she used her firsthand expertise in all her books. For more than three decades, she was a powerful advocate for victims of violent crime.

About The Reader

Photo Credit:
Laural Merlington

Laural Merlington has performed and directed for thirty years in regional theaters throughout the country. She has recorded over a hundred audiobooks, including many by Fern Michaels, and is the recipient of several AudioFile Magazine Earphone Awards. In addition to her extensive theater and voiceover work, Laural teaches college in her home state of Michigan.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio (February 24, 2026)
  • Runtime: 12 hours and 53 minutes
  • ISBN13: 9781668171271

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