Jerry Bledsoe – författare

The New York Times–bestselling author of Bitter Blood weaves “a powerful account” of greed that led to an unspeakable crime (The New York Times Book Review).   As they slept in their North Carolina home, wealthy Lieth Von Stein and his wife Bonnie suffered a vicious assault with a knife and a baseball bat. Bonnie barely survived. Lieth did not. The crime seemed totally baffling until police followed a trail that led to the charming stepson, Chris Pritchard, and his brilliant, drug-using, Dungeons and Dragons–playing friends at North Carolina State University.   “Haunting . . . Addictive, chilling and a masterpiece of reportage,” Blood Games is the true story of depraved young minds and a son’s gruesome greed turned to horrifyingly tragedy (Patricia Cornwell). Jerry Bledsoe masterfully reconstructs the bloody crime and its aftermath as he takes us into the secret twisted hearts of three young murderers.   “Mr. Bledsoe goes straight to the bigger issues.” —The New York Times Book Review   “In Mr. Bledsoe’s hands, a mega-load of inert facts becomes a human story of hurricane force.” —The News & Observer   “Devastating . . . A brilliant account.” —Publishers Weekly

In this “true story that reads like a novel,” the #1 New York Times–bestselling author reveals the facts behind a notorious Southern murder case (Library Journal).   When North Carolina farmer Stuart Taylor died after a sudden illness, his forty-six-year-old fiancée, Velma Barfield, was overcome with grief. Taylor’s family grieved with her—until the autopsy revealed traces of arsenic poisoning. Turned over to the authorities by her own son, Velma stunned her family with more revelations. This wasn’t the first time she had committed cold-blooded murder, and she would eventually be tried by the “world’s deadliest prosecutor” and sentenced to death.   This book probes Velma’s stark descent into madness, her prescription drug addiction, and her effort to turn her life around through Christianity. From her harrowing childhood to the crimes that incited a national debate over the death penalty, to the final moments of her execution, Velma Barfield’s life of crime and punishment, revenge and redemption, this is crime reporting at its most gripping and profound.   “A painfully intimate, moving story about the life and death of the only woman executed in the U.S. between 1962–1998 . . . With graceful writing and thorough reporting, it makes the reader look hard at something dark and sad in the human soul . . . Breathes new life into the true crime genre.” —The News & Observer   “Undertakes to answer the questions about the justice system and the motives that drive women to kill.” —The Washington Post Book World   “An extraordinary piece of writing . . . The most chilling description of a legal execution that we are ever likely to get.” —Citizen-Times   “Taut and engrossing on the nature of justice and the death penalty as well as on guilt and responsibility.” —Booklist

New York Times–bestselling author: “In the art of true-crime reportage, Jerry Bledsoe is the best in the country . . . Before He Wakes has the suspense of a novel” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).   Barbara Stager was known as a devoted mother, loving wife, and dedicated church leader in her Durham, North Carolina, community. When she “accidentally” shot her husband, popular high school coach, Russ, the police were inclined to believe her—until they learned that ten years earlier, her first husband had died in a strangely similar way.   Sgt. Rick Buchanan’s relentless investigation into Stager’s life revealed a stunning vortex of compulsive lying, obsessive spending, and sexual promiscuity. With every new discovery, more of Barbara’s impeccable image unraveled. But the greatest shock—a damning piece of evidence Russ Stager left behind—revealed the nightmare truth about Barbara. With “the fine-toothed-comb reporting of [an] ace crime journalist,” this book takes us deep into a spellbinding case of double life, lethal lust, and almost perfect murder (Kirkus Reviews). “A shocking and well-written portrait of a dangerous woman.” —The New York Times “Mesmerizing.” —Ann Rule, New York Times–bestselling author of The Stranger Beside Me   “This account of manipulation, compulsive spending, lying, promiscuity, and murder is made even more chilling by the fact that appearances are often deceiving.” —Library Journal “A profile of evil . . . Fascinating.” —The Baltimore Sun “Jerry Bledsoe is the master of true crime, the conclusion to what Truman Capote began. . . . Another stunning success.” —Patricia Cornwell, New York Times–bestselling author of Chaos

She led an almost perfect life, and committed an almost perfect crime.Barbara Stager appeared to be a devoted mother, loving wife, and dedicated church leader in her Durham, North Carolina, community. When she "accidentally" shot her husband, popular high school coach Russ, the police were inclined to believe her—until they found out ten years earlier her first husband had died in a strangely similar way. Detective Rick Buchanan's relentless investigations into Stager's life revealed a stunning vortex of compulsive lying, obsessive spending, and sexual promiscuity.With every shocking new discovery, more of Barbara's impeccable image unraveled. But the greatest shock—a damning piece of evidence Russ Stager left behind—revealed the nightmare truth about Barbara. New York Times bestselling author Jerry Bledsoe takes us deep into one of the most spellbinding cases of double life, lethal lust, and almost perfect murder."Mesmerizing... Barbara Stager is yet another prime example of the fragile Southern female who will kill her men as quick as kiss them, and I loved every page about her. Bledsoe is one of a handful of natural-born true-crime writers." —Ann Rule"A profile of evil... fascinating, absorbing and gossipy." —Baltimore Sun"In the art of true-crime reportage, Jerry Bledsoe is the best in the country. Combining a journalist's sense of fact and detail with a storyteller's instinct for pace and plot, BEFORE HE WAKES has he suspense of a novel." —Atlanta Journal-Constitution"Jerry Bledsoe is one of the great chroniclers of true crime... the grand master of Southern madness and murder." —Sharyn McCrumb"Thanks to the fine-toothed-comb reporting of ace crime journalist Bledsoe, there's no mistaking for fiction this seemingly incredible tale of sex, greed, and murder." —Kirkus Reviews"The success of Bledsoe's book lies in his thorough reporting, objective writing, and thoughtful analysis of Barbara Stager's character." —Charlotte Observer"World-class reporting at its best... Barbara Stager is truly the church lady from hell, sweet, pious, loving and lethal." —Edna Buchanan"Fascinating... fast-paced suspense that puts me right in the courtroom and keeps me on the edge of my bench." —Margaret Maron"Jerry Bledsoe is the master of true crime, the conclusion to what Truman Capote began. Three cheers for another stunning success." —Patricia Cornwell

From the New York Times bestselling author of Bitter Blood comes the story of a greed so powerful it led to an unspeakable crime.Wealthy Lieth von Stein lay dead and his wife Bonnie near death in their North Carolina home after a vicious assault with knife and baseball bat as they slept. The crime seemed totally baffling until police followed a trail that led to the charming von Stein stepson, Chris Pritchard, and his brilliant, drug-using, Dungeons-&-Dragons playing friends at N.C. State University. Blood Games is the shattering true story of degraded young minds—and a son's gruesome greed turned horrifyingly real. Jerry Bledsoe masterfully reconstructs the bloody crime and its aftermath, as he takes us on a riveting journey into the secret twisted hearts of three young murderers."Haunting... addictive, chilling and a masterpiece of reportage... powerfully demonstrates that every heart is capable of darkness." —Patricia Cornwell"A powerful account... Mr. Bledsoe goes straight to the bigger issues." —New York Times Book Review"In Mr. Bledsoe's hands, a mega-load of inert facts becomes a human story of hurricane force." —Raleigh News & Observer"Devastating... a brilliant account." —Publishers Weekly