Fever In The Heart by Ann Rule

 

In this compilation of true crime cases, Ann Rule covers several crimes in the Washington area.  The majority of the book covers the case of Morris Blankenbaker and Gabby Moore.   The two were both wrestling coaches in Yakima, Washington, Moore having coached Blakenbaker during his high school days.  Morris was married to Jerrilee, who he courted and won when she was only eighteen.  When Gabby's marriage to his wife fell apart, Morris agreed to let him stay for a while with him and Jerrilee.

That started the issue.  As the days rolled into weeks, Gabby fell in love with Jerrilee and set out to win her  She returned his feelings and soon, she asked Morris for a divorce and married Gabby instead.  But Gabby had issues that had ended his first marriage.  He was drinking more and more and Gabby was a vicious drunk.  Within a year, Jerrilee had left him and returned to Morris.  Gabby was determined to win her back and one night, Morris was shot and killed as he returned from work.

The police suspected Gabby but he had been in the hospital the night Morris died.  Had he paid someone?  Jerrilee didn't return to him as he expected as his drinking and violence had turned her love into fear and loathing.  So around Christmas, another body was found, that of Gabby Moore.  Had someone shot him for some unknown reason?  Had he paid someone to shoot him thinking it would be a flesh wound and bring Jerrilee back to him?  Rule covers the case.

The rest of the book covers several shorter cases in the area.  Rule was known as a true crime writer and many consider her one of the best.  She is best known for having worked with Ted Bundy never suspecting that he was murdering the entire time.  Her book about him shot her to prominence in the true crime world.  I prefer her books that focus on one case but she has lots of these compilations as well.  This book is recommended for true crime readers.