The Stranger Beside Me - Ann Rule

America experiences the phenomenen of serial killers more often than most, and an ex-policeman by the name of Ann Rule was taking a more than passing interest in one particular man. Since she'd given up the job of being a policewoman in the 1950's, she'd married, had four children and was by 1971 was working on the helplines at Seattle's Crisis Clinic as a volunteer. She had a fledgling career as a freelance writer and was making a new circle of friends, due to her impending divorce. She loved law, and she loved to discuss it alongside her co-worker during the late evening stints. The guy was a 24 year old law student with a reputation verging on ...  Read the complete review

Having been a true-crime enthusiast for many years, I?ve most likely read all of the books written about Ted Bundy. The Stranger Beside Me is all but unique among Bundy books. Author Ann Rule, an ex-cop, knew Bundy himself, before and after he was exposed as a habitual sex killer. The book is perhaps a little long to be read in a single sitting, but I?m sure many readers did just that anyway, so gripping is the story. Like a great many fictional stories, this real-life tale begins near the end. We join Bundy, now a fugitive from the law in 3 states, as he steps from a bus in his final killing ground, Florida, in 1978. In addition to ...  Read the complete review

Ann Rule is a true crime writer. Having an interest in crime and detective fiction I thought I?d read something factual this time. This book is a true account of Ted Bundy. The twist is Ann Rule actually knew him. She was writing on the savage murders that were happening without knowing she was a friend of the murderer. ?As the years passed, I learned that the stranger at the very vortex of an ever-spreading police probe was not a stranger at all; he was my friend.? When I first opened the book I noticed the print was quite small. This would make it a long book to read. I then thought it maybe long winded and I may lose interest. I was wrong though! ...  Read the complete review

Without doubt this is one of Ann Rules best books. Being an avid reader of true crime I have come across a wide variety of writers who display very varied abilities. Ann Rule always researches her material well and is an expert at capturing the atmosphere. As the writer of A stranger Beside Me she had one major advantage over everyone else that has written anything on Ted Bundy,( one of America’s most prolific serial killers,) in that she actually knew him, and worked beside him in a tiny office for some time, hence the books title. Anne is able to offer a great insight into Ted Bundy not only as a serial killer and at one time ...  Read the complete review

‘A Stranger Beside Me’ is a true-life crime story with an amazing a twist that probably would not ring true in a fictional murder novel. As an ex-police woman and now crime reporter, Ann Rule tells the story of how she was involved in the case tracking down a mass murderer. Whilst working for a volunteer ‘Samaritan’ type helpline, she befriends a handsome and charming man who is working alongside her. This friend is called Ted Bundy and turns out to be the very man that is being sought – a man who has brutally murdered at least 38 young women. The book deals magnificently with the emotions that Ann Rule felt as she struggled to ...  Read the complete review