A #1 New York Times Best Seller, Ann Rule’s The Stranger Beside Me gives us a unique perspective into the hidden world of Ted Bundy. Rule gives a chilling and intimate description of her time at a crisis hotline alongside her co-worker, the then charming, sensitive and trustworthy Ted Bundy, and the devastating realization that he was a brutal killer hiding in plain sight. After multiple arrests and an escape from jail, Bundy would later confess to the murders of at least thirty-six women and soon after was executed for three cases. Rule, a certified instructor for police training seminars, prosecutors and forensic science organizations, delves into how this savage killer — a man she thought she knew — could have fooled so many, including a professional like herself.
Now includes updated afterword written by Leslie Rule, Ann Rule’s daughter.
“The most fascinating killer in modern American history…Ann Rule has an extraordinary angle that makes The Stranger Beside Me as dramatic and chilling as a bedroom window shattering at midnight.” – New York Times
“As dramatic and chilling as a bedroom window shattering at midnight.” — The New York Times” – From the Publisher
“A shattering story…carefully investigated, written with compassion but also with professional objectivity.” – Seattle Times
“Overwhelming.” – Houston Post
Review by Twinsie Tenise
Wow! This was a compelling first hand account from somone who may have known Ted Bundy better than anyone. Her name was Ann Rule and she would later learn she was best friends with a serial killer. They worked together at a call center, clicked and were instant best friends. He was so kind to her, unlike how he treated his victims. For some reason he deemed her safe and would continue to try and keep her safe throughout their time knowing one another. To be Ann, a young writer looking for their big break when the story of a lifetime falls right in your lap. The moral delima she must have faced as the dots began to connect. I thank Ann for sharing her story. I am a true crime junkie and when I learned through a podcast about this book, I had to read it. I ended up listening to the audiobook narrated by the author this morning. It was an intimate telling of their story in her words with correspondence from him. I am so happy she decided to narrated it because I feel like she is the only person capable of telling this story. I know she wrote the book but I appreciate that she also voiced the audio version. She outlived Ed by well over 20 years, after listening to this book I cannot even imagine all of the what ifs she lived with until her passing.