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Blood Games: A True Account of Family Murder Kindle Edition

by Jerry Bledsoe (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,164 ratings
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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
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  1. Print length
    579 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Diversion Books
  5. Publication date
    May 18, 2014
  6. File size
    5559 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A devastating and profoundly disturbing portrait.

-- "Publishers Weekly"

In Mr. Bledsoe's hands, a megaload of inert facts becomes a human story of hurricane force.

-- "Raleigh (NC) News & Observer"

Haunting...Addictive, chilling, and a masterpiece of reportage...Powerfully demonstrates that every heart is capable of darkness.

-- "Patricia Cornwell, #1 New York Times bestselling author"

A powerful account...Mr. Bledsoe goes straight to the bigger issues.

-- "New York Times Book Review"

About the Author

Kevin Stillwell is an actor that has voiced a number of audiobooks, including Careless Love, Last Train to Memphis, The First Assassin, The Millionaire Affair, and others. His film and television credits include Looper and Drop Dead Diva.



Jerry Bledsoe is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Bitter Blood and others. Among the many publications in which his work has appeared are Esquire and the New York Times. Bledsoe lives in North Carolina and Virginia.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07NDRJQBX
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Diversion Books (May 18, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 18, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5559 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 579 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 1,164 ratings

About the author

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Jerry Bledsoe

Jerry Bledsoe

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Jerry Bledsoe was born in Danville, VA, in 1941, and grew up in Thomasville, N.C. After three years in the Army he became a newspaper reporter and for more than 20 years was a feature columnist in Greensboro and Charlotte. He was a contributing editor to Esquire when he began writing books. His seventh book, Bitter Blood, became a New York Times #1 bestseller and was made into a CBS mini-series. He and his wife, Linda, live near Asheboro, NC.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
1,164 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Xen
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent. Well written by a master of this genre
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2014
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I really like this author he led me through the background of these three, their characters, their families, friends, their considerable academic abilities and influences of which Dungeons and Dragons largely plus alcohol and drugs became their life and surely taught them how to kill. They lost touch with reality and should be a wake up call to all parents, true friends and teachers. This game targets the addictive personality, the teens and younger who feel different, want to be in control, or like Bart become the Master and lost so lost to a world of his dictates, to his addictions, detached from reality, empathy and truth. I could not stay away from this book for long and became addicted myself. Well researched not sensationalised thoughtful and clear.
2 people found this helpful
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katrig
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book A Real Page Turner
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2021
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Blood Games.
Jerry Bledsoe did an awesome job telling the story in a very concise and uncomplicated way. This is one fantastic true crime read and It is extremely professionally written and professionally researched and very hard to put down.
I first read this story about two and half years ago and it was a tragedy what happened to this family, but the story was told well. What a vile son Chris was to plot his own family's murder for money! I Still think his sister may have been involved as I do not believe she didn't hear anything.
A Particularly good book for true crime buffs. I highly recommend.
I am an ARC Reviewer on Goodread and BookSirens and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
One person found this helpful
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arobinson
5.0 out of 5 stars a real page turner!
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
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The case was presented in a straight forward concise way beginning with the crime itself all the way through to the conclusion with the trial and sentencing. The investigation was particularly interesting given that they had very little to go on initially.
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JB
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Story
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2024
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You could skip to the trial for the jest of this story. The author filled the pages with so much worthless trivia that I found myself perusing throughout the book. It's not necessary to know the life story of every character involved. With that said the story was incredible, to know your own child plotted to kill his family.
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jll
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
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Jerry Bledsoe is the best at writing books that can’t be put down until you finish! Urge you to buy this one as well as his other books. You won’t be disappointed.
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Karen W
4.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking Story
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2022
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This book was interesting. At times it was confusing because the writer went into a lot of detail. The story line was very sad.
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Somersales
5.0 out of 5 stars very detailed & precise
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2014
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I had read this book years ago when it first came out because I remember Mr. Bledsoe doing the research when the VonStein murder happened...at the time I was working in the court system in Washington, NC & familiar with most of the participants in law enforcement. Since I realized it was the 28th anniversary this year of the murder, I decided to reread the book...the author did a wonderful job of recreating and detailing the horror that this small community experienced when this murder was committed. I still remember it well...it's one of those experiences that you never forget. When reading the book, it's like reading a gory dark fiction story, except that it was all true. For readers of horror nonfiction, you don't want to miss this one....it has all the requirements to keep you reading nonstop into the night....the dysfunctional families, the drug use,large inheritance, Dungeons & Dragons, greed, the I-want-it-now generation, and the macabre finding of the the most important piece of evidence..the map. One ends this book really believing in the concept of Karma...don't miss it.
5 people found this helpful
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P. Mckay
4.0 out of 5 stars Provides a good story & a different set of data
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2018
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I’ve read McGuinnes’s book of this true murder story & honestly didn’t think there was much more to know. I bought this because I was still interested in the case after all this time & wanted to see it from perhaps a different angle. Glad I did. McGuinnes’s book focused mostly on giving specific background info on Bonnie & her family members. This book provided lots of background info on the other 2 accused young men (Neil & Bart) charged w/the murder, fleshing out both the story & providing more details about the crime itself. To get a decent picture of this crime, I’d recommend reading both books & also doing a google search to follow up on the participants (Chris & Neil were both released from prison after serving their sentences. Bart is still imprisioned as he took a not guilty position). It’s still a haunting case & I don’t think the real story & truth will ever emerge.
25 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Sheronda
5.0 out of 5 stars Une formidable enquête
Reviewed in France on July 7, 2022
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Cet auteur est incroyable .Tous les personnages de l'intrigue sont minutieusement disséqués , et cela rend le livre passionnant .On est vraiment au coeur de l'enquête ,et tout se met en place comme dans un puzzle géant ,pour le plus grand plaisir du lecteur .J'ai ADORÉ !!!
One person found this helpful
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neroli
4.0 out of 5 stars Review.
Reviewed in Australia on April 22, 2024
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Well written. A tale of such unbelievable actions of young men. All bright and just stepped into a dark web leading to absolute dark events
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5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Reviewed in Canada on February 13, 2015
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I enjoyed Blood Games and the writing style of Jerry Bledsoe. The author includes background information about the people and their relationships which gives more depth and understanding of all the those involved. I enjoyed a number of books by this author and have not been disappointed.
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karen hodgson
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2015
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This is a great true crime book, similar to Savage Son by Corey Mitchell. It is my 3rd Jerry Bledsoe book and they have all been great. What a vile son to plot his own family's murder for money! Still think his sister may have been involved don't believe she didn't hear anything
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L. C.
3.0 out of 5 stars Old Crime, Another Account
Reviewed in Canada on September 10, 2020
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I realized when I started this book that I'd read another account of the same murder - probably Joe McGinniss' book - not surprising since the crime was a very high-profile one at the time. I read this account, having forgotten many of the details and found it a solid and well-done description of the crime. The only thing that doesn't really hold up after all this time is the role of the "games" referred to in the title. I don't think Bledsoe makes too much of the game as motivation, but reading about it now makes me realize how times have changed because the game seems like far too trivial a thing to have provoked such a horrendous crime. And yet, at the time, many people thought this was plausible. All in all, it's a good solid account of a well-known crime.
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