The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Classic Story of Seduction and Murder

by Ann Rule

In 1971, while working the late-shift at a Seattle crisis clinic, true-crime writer Ann Rule struck up a friendship with a sensitive, charismatic young coworker: Ted Bundy. Three years later, eight young women disappeared in seven months, and Rule began tracking a brutal mass murderer. But she had no idea that the “Ted” the police were seeking was the same Ted who had become her close friend and confidant. As she put the evidence together, a terrifying picture emerged of the man she thought she knew—his magnetic power, his bleak compulsion, his double life, and, most of all, his string of helpless victims. Bundy eventually confessed to killing at least thirty-six women across the country.

Forty years after its initial publication, The Stranger Beside Me remains a gripping, intimate, and unforgettable true-crime classic, “as dramatic and chilling as a bedroom window shattering at midnight” (New York Times).

• ISBN10: 0393050297
• ISBN13: 9780393050295
• Publish Date: 10 October 2000 (first published 7 July 1981)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: WW Norton & Co
• Edition: Updated Twentieth Anniversary Edition
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 480
• Language: English

Reviews

[thebookdisciple]

Interesting perspective-Ann Rule, celebrated crime author, was actually a friend of Teds. So, the story is centered around her interactions with Ted and less on Ted's specific crimes. If you like unique perspectives on well known stories, you will enjoy this!

[Melanie]

My mom read this book years ago. She loved it and she has become a huge fan of Ann Rule since. Seeing that Lorelei King narrated this book (there are also copies with the author reading, which was what my library had), I decided I needed to try it.

This was a really great listen. I learned a lot more about Ted Bundy. Lorelei King did a great job with the narration. I'm sure this was a hard book to narrate. There are a couple of times in the book where the author lists the victims, their ages and whether they were alive or dead. That had to be hard.

The funny thing about this book, it is a combination memoir and documentary. The author knew Ted before there was even a search for the killer. She was investigating this book and even told Ted she was before he was a suspect. She includes a lot about how she feels and how those feelings change over the many years. If you're at all interested in true crime stories, I highly recommend this book.

I got this audio from Audible. There were a few places where the audio was messed up. Like when you get a CD from the library and the CD is a little damaged, which I found odd for an Audible recording. Other than that, I really loved this audio.