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Before He Wakes: A True Story of Money, Marriage, Sex and Murder
- Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell
- Length: 13 hrs and 19 mins
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, True Crime
Non-member price: $36.54
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Publisher's Summary
The true story of Barbara Stager, a devoted mother, loving wife, and dedicated church leader who committed an almost perfect crime.
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Russ left a damning piece of evidence behind that reveals the shocking nightmare truth about his wife.
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What listeners say about Before He Wakes: A True Story of Money, Marriage, Sex and Murder
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Performance
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- Anonymous User
- 26-06-2020
Fascinating story
I enjoyed the way the story unfolded - it kept me gripped until the end. I recommend this book.
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- Maite
- 14-07-2015
Great story & great reader
Story is well written & entertaining. The reader did a great job. I only wish he had more true crime novels. If you like true crime you won't be disappointed.
4 people found this helpful
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- Hilary
- 30-07-2015
Jerry Bledsoe is Amazing, as is Kevin Stillwell
Okay, so on the heels of my listen to Bitter Blood, this book wasn't as exceptional as I had hoped. Bitter Blood was phenomenal, so it was a hard act to follow.
Barbara Terry Ford Stager is either: a) unlucky to the 100th power, b) extremely mentally ill or c) a diabolical killer.
Mrs. Ford-Stager has two dead husbands, a penchant for spending FAR beyond her means (which highlighted her check kiting and embezzlement skills), a compulsive lying streak more incredible than Pinocchio, a sexual appetite more impressive than Ginger Lynn and a church lady charade/appearance. She is the ultimate oxymoron.
Her two unfortunate husbands, Larry Ford and Russell Stager had no idea what they were getting their hands on - a black widow in sheep's clothing. Or, was it pure coincidence that both her husbands died in bed thanks to the "business end of a 25 caliber gun"?
You decide.
I think Barbara is where she belongs, serving life in a North Carolina prison.
6 people found this helpful
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- deborah
- 19-06-2015
Wow!
This story had me glued to my headphones. I couldn't wait to hear what was going to happen next. Truly a sad commentary on the power of greed and its devastating results. Excellent narrator as well. Highly recommend this for all of the true crime fans out there.
6 people found this helpful
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- Douglas
- 15-06-2015
Church Lady Killer...
In gripping true crime style, Bledsoe tells the tale of Barbara Stager, a church-going, seemingly upright and righteous woman who just had one flaw: she liked to kill husbands... Stager was so convincing as her role as Church Lady that she nearly passed under the wire during investigations. Then a detective with a sharp eye, and enough cynicism to see past Stager's act, began to unravel the threads of her story.
12 people found this helpful
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- Bst
- 26-05-2016
Kept Me Listening!
I already knew a bit about this case so I was interested in knowing more. I couldn't have asked for a better listen! The story was well told and the presenter was clear, had a lot of expression, and really gave a picture to the words!! What a great choice this book was!
1 person found this helpful
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- inov8v
- 25-06-2015
bledsoe/stillwell are the dynamic duo of audible..
bledsoe/stillwell are the benchmark for the audio books i listen to...bledsoe is such a great writer and stillwell is so good at conveying the story without sounding as hokey as so many others...
3 people found this helpful
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- reelgold
- 13-07-2015
A solid true crime tale
Strong writing and fascinating characters make this a worthwhile read. However, as a resident of the Durham area, where the story takes place, I could not get used to the narrator's overcooked southern accent. Drove me to distraction.
4 people found this helpful
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- Susan
- 11-09-2019
Good story almost ruined by awful narrator
This narrator drove me nuts. He had a habit of putting emphasis on the wrong syllables over and over until I was ready
to scream! And his use of the word PO lice almost made me stop listening.
However, I didn't stop listening. Jerry Bledsoe is a superior crime writer. I really liked the book. It's very detailed which is what I like.
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- Evan
- 01-09-2019
Evan Review
Jerry does a great in describing this story. This story isnt just a story but true story that started within 15 miles if where i live. I strongly recommend the book.
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- Doug Yarbrough
- 14-06-2019
This is a very interesting story.
Interesting story. Jerry Bledsoe provides details. Narrator does a very good job. I enjoyed because this all happened fairly local to where I grew up.
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