Before He Wakes: A True Story of Money, Marriage, Sex and Murder

Before He Wakes: A True Story of Money, Marriage, Sex and Murder

by Jerry Bledsoe

4.3 (1,922)

4.3 stars from 1,922 reviews. Top 81% of Biography Memoir books we track.


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Last checked: Jul 2, 2026

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Fans of these authors will like this...

  • Ann Rule
  • Patricia Cornwell
  • Michelle McNamara

Fans of these books will like this...

  • The Stranger Beside Me
  • I'll Be Gone in the Dark
  • In Cold Blood

Perfect for you if...

  • You're drawn to true crime stories where the killer hides in plain sight, beneath a carefully constructed facade of respectability.
  • You appreciate meticulously researched investigations that uncover layers of deception, compulsive behaviour, and psychological manipulation.
  • You've read Ann Rule or Patricia Cornwell and want that same unflinching, detail-rich portrait of a criminal mind.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You prefer true crime that stays light or focuses mainly on the legal procedure rather than the suspect's twisted psychology.
  • You're sensitive to detailed accounts of infidelity, sexual manipulation, and domestic betrayal woven throughout a narrative.
  • You want a conclusive moral resolution. This book shows you the evidence and the mystery without hand-holding.

About this book

Barbara Stager was regarded in her Durham, North Carolina community as a devoted mother, loving wife, and dedicated church leader. When she shot her husband Russ, a popular high school coach, police initially accepted her account of an accident. However, their investigation took a different turn when they discovered that her first husband had died ten years earlier under strangely similar circumstances. Sergeant Rick Buchanan's investigation into Stager's life uncovered a pattern of compulsive lying, obsessive spending, and sexual promiscuity that contradicted her public image. As the investigation deepened, evidence emerged that revealed a hidden side to Barbara's life. A crucial piece of evidence left behind by Russ Stager proved particularly significant to the case. This account examines a case involving double life, deception, and murder, drawing on detailed investigative reporting to piece together the events surrounding these deaths.

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Price History

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Free$7.78$15.56Apr '21Mar '23Jan '24Jul '26
$0.99$15.56

Currently on sale at $0.99 — 94% off peak. Price has dropped 37 times over the last 5 years. Goes on sale roughly every 50 days. Typically stays discounted for 15 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

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#2,044#205,581#409,118Sep '19Sep '23Feb '24Jun '26

Currently around #39K in the Kindle store — a steady mid-list seller. Sales have softened 289% recently.

Rating & Reviews

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3.5★4.3★5.0★May '23Nov '23Jan '24Dec '24RatingReviews

Currently 4.3★ from 1,922 reviews

Gaining approximately 13 new reviews per month. Rating has remained stable at 4.3 over the tracking period.

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Free$7.78$15.56Apr '21Mar '23Jan '24Jul '26PredictedJul '26

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This book is currently discounted at $0.99. It typically returns to around $15.56.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.

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Jerry Bledsoe

1 book on Vagrant Press

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