Dead By Sunset was recommended by my cousin, Burl, telling me the victim was a partner in his brother Stan's law firm.
The book was written by the late Ann Rule, a true crime author and resident of the Seattle area. It is a page turner. A 400 plus page book that is almost impossible to put down.
It tells the story of the murder of Cheryl Keeton. She was found in a van on the Sunset Highway in Portland. Keeton worked at the Portland branch office of Garvey, Shubert, and Barer (Now, Foster Garvey). Though she was of humble beginnings, she was a brilliant attorney.
Her husband, Brad Cunningham, was equally brilliant. As the couple was going through a very nasty divorce, Cunningham is an immediate suspect. However, because, he was able to put on a calm demeanor and an arresting (no pun intended) charm, and his propensity to move to different locations, it took years before there could even be an arrest, let alone a conviction.
Cunningham had multiple marriages and a number of children, but it was the three sons of Cheryl Keeton that he really became the subject of a custody fight.
The book was eventually adapted to a mini-series.
The action takes place in the 80s and 90s, but except for the lack of smart phones and computers, it is still readable today.
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This book was nominated for the Anthoney Award in the Best Fact Crime category at the World Mystery Convention that year, as was my book, MAN OVERBOARD. Ann said, “Oh, Burl, I know you’re going to win.” I told her, of course that she would win. (She did, and she bought me a delightful dinner!)
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