crime and criminals

This book is one of the most definitive books on serial killer Ted Bundy, and for good reason: author Ann Rule actually knew and worked with him at a Seattle-based suicide & crisis hotline. Bundy seemed an unlikely murderer; friends knew him as a smart law student, a man with an interest in state politics, and a man with a longtime girlfriend. Like most people, Rule wasn't sure what to believe when Bundy was first arrested on kidnapping charges in Utah in 1975. She stayed neutral and wrote this book, and the result was a fascinating account that manages to walk the fine line between good taste and opportunism.

The Stranger Beside Me covers a lot of ground in its attempts to paint a clear picture of Ted Bundy. Countless acquaintances of Bundy are quoted or mentioned, and Ann Rule's past experience as a police officer gave her inside access to the investigations that most people could only dream about. She also manages to describe her strange relationship with Bundy without making herself sound overly important, thereby keeping her credibility above reproach. Bundy is revealed to be a hollow, warped, sadistic predator, not at all the cassanova that the press sometimes made him out to be. This book is fascinating on many levels, and Rule's careful research also shows.

For all these reasons, I couldn't give this book any less than five stars. The only real complaint that I have is that the book often has a wandering feel. The book isn't just about Bundy; it's also about Ann Rule and how she followed the case and later the trial, even sometimes speaking with Bundy or writing him letters in jail. As a result, the focus of this book often seems to waver. But it is hard to blame Rule for any of this because Bundy himself was a wanderer, committing his crimes in several western states (that we know of) before finally ending his criminal career in Florida. His crimes were numerous and terrible and his personality was very abnormal, resulting in a very complex and tragic story. Rule glosses over some of the worst details, but it's just as well; there is no way for anyone to fail to appreciate how awful Bundy was. True crime doesn't get much scarier than this.

Imagine one of your co-workers who you are close to. Imagine spending hours with this person and discussing your lives with them. Then imagine some years later you discover that your friend is a serial killer. This happened to Ann Rule, the famous true-crime writer, in 1971 when she worked at Seattle's crisis clinic. One evening her boss told her that she had a new co-employee -- Ted Bundy. To Ann, he was an intelligent, kind and handsome 24-year-old. Little did she know, in 1974, Ted would become a viscous murderer, who killed at least 30 young women in four years.

Ann Rule did an exceptional job on this book. She really focuses well on Ted's life, from his birth to being sentenced to death row. Also, she writes about each victim, staying away from the gruesome details of their death, but giving the reader a sense of their lives. If you're looking for a thorough and informative book about Ted Bundy, I strongly recommend "The Stranger Beside Me." It's the best book I've read about him.

too much about ted bundy, not enough about the victims. countless books have been written about this bundy parasite and nothing written about the victims except their death. ann seems to be honering bundy for some stupid reason. she almost tries to make excuses for him