The Stranger Beside Me: The Shocking Inside Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy Paperback – November 6, 2018

I have only read two books by Ann Rule now, but I'm definitely a fan. I love her writing style and how she tells the good, the bad and the horrifying.I have long been fascinated by Ted Bundy. He was an extremely prolific murderer. But Ann made me see that, even more than that, he was a gifted, charismatic and honey billing of terrifying person. Because he seemed so normal. And looking back, there still weren't many real clues or warning signs for his friends or family. They never would have suspected anything. Even when it seems like it should have been completely obvious. He matched the description of the perpetrator. He had the same vehicle and the same name as the suspect. He lived or frequented the same area the crimes were committed. And they still could not fathom that it could be their Ted.

True crime stories are not my usual fare; I had read precisely one before this book. But THE STRANGER BESIDE ME was on sale, and while I had heard of Ted Bundy - who hasn't! - I realised I knew nothing beyond the fact that he was a notorious serial killer. It was an opportunity I couldn't afford to miss. I had also read many good things about Ann Rule, which turn out to be all true: THE STRANGER BESIDE ME is an amazing book.What makes this book extraordinary is that Ann Rule knew Bundy personally before he was accused of any crime. Starting in 1971, for three years, they manned the phones at the Seattle Crisis Clinic, where they took calls from depressed people. The Ted Bundy Ann Rule knew then was a nice man, whom she considered a friend, and she was stunned when she heard about the crimes, and there was a Ted Bundy she knew nothing about. I find it admirable how Ms. Rule managed to remain objective; it must have been extremely difficult to do. Leave your prejudices at the door; Ms. Rule was competent and qualified when it came to criminals, and I very much appreciated how honest and humble she was at admitting that she, like so many others, had been duped by a charismatic and consummate psychopath. And this makes for an exceptionally compelling read.Ms. Rule writes clearly, reports the facts without embellishing or judging. She also interviewed and interacted with countless people involved in the Ted Bundy investigation; she was also qualified to evaluate the case. THE STRANGER BESIDE ME is very, very well written, well structured, fast paced, and flows smoothly. I love how she could report those facts, relate the gory details without being sensationalistic, but not dispassionately. With a clinical eye, she describes the crimes, but she shows much compassion for the victims. The crimes are horrifying, but what I felt was not disgust but sadness and grief for those innocent women. At one point, I almost cried.With her insight and knowledge, we get an insider's look at how psychopaths operate, how they can so thoroughly fool people, even those close to them. Ted Bundy was handsome, incredibly cunning and "lucky" beyond belief, and also horribly perverted. Why women flocked to him even after he was accused of all those terrible crimes, after he admitted to the murders and worse, completely baffles me. What's most interesting is that Ann Rule had agreed to write the book about "the Ted killings" before he was caught, before she knew that the Ted she had worked and the sadistic serial killer were one and the same. And she does share how difficult it was.I most highly recommend this extraordinary book. It was originally written in 1980, updated a few times. There are pictures but no gruesome ones, and it's a big book, at 551 pages, every word relevant. It's a disturbing book and one that should be read.

This woman befriended a coworker. Had experienced a friendship no one else had. In her lifetime Ted Bundy reached out several times. This woman tells all of her.A time line is set up, victims introduced, crimes committed (not in vulgar detail), what the law enforcement performed, victims family updates.The time line takes you from birth throughout death via electric chair. Three jail escapes. Travel over the US. Quotes from interviews, quotes from letters wrote by Ted Bundy.This book is well written, my favorite chapter is one from Ann Rule. Her personal views on the young man she knew to the evil man he became. Ann talks about letters and calls from women she has recieved over the years, chilling read. Ann's daughter also writes a wonderful chapter at the end.

Real insight into Ted Bundy from a friend’s perspective. How hard it must have been to reconcile the man she knew with what he had done.

This book was phenomenal. I felt every emotion that Ann had through each page of the book. It was so interesting to read about the infamous Bundy through the eyes of someone who knew him as a friend. Not only does Ann give a personal angle to this story, she also dives into a detailed description of each victim, case, event, detective, etc. that occurred in relation to Bundy. I can’t imagine any book about him coming close to this one. With letters from Bundy, photographs, etc., this book absolutely blew me away. Highly recommend!