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

Theodore Robert 'Ted' Bundy was one of the most prolific and ruthless serial killers in history. Aggravated sexual assaults, rapes and murders notwithstanding, his ferocity and cunning set him apart as an exceedingly sadistic killer of young women. He also indulged in necrophilia, which came to light much later. With his execution in 1989, people at large in the States were glad he was gone. But his crimes and modus operandi has led to much speculation from people around the world from all social strata. How did he do what he did, for so many years? And was he a textbook example of psychopathy and/or manic-depression?Ann Rule writes this book in a very balanced manner. She knew Ted as a nervous, polite and charming young man for many years; they worked together. This book is, however, about the other 'Ted', the man who wore many masks. This was Rule's first major success as far as I know. A must-read for those interested in forensic psychology, criminology and the banality of evil. Well researched and written fluidly...[PS: The book in the accompanying photograph is well recommended. I would humbly suggest other readers to read Rule's book first, and then follow it up with this one. Name's "Signature Killers" by Bob Keppel and others]

Ann Rule has a very understandable flair for writing; long before she wrote this book, she was working as a writer of true-crime stories. Her acquaintance with Bundy coupled with her gender gives the book a sharp, ironic tinge. Women were Bundy's demographic of choice, although Rule perhaps fell outside of the age-group or sociocultural categories he often zeroed in on. If you read this book followed by the Zac Efron starrer and the Netflix documentary, you will have weeks' worth of thoughts worth pondering.

I remember catching the name Ted Bundy while watching Mindhunter- a Netflix series on behavioural science-unit of the FBI and then heard about him again on the Infographics Show and my curiosity knew no bounds.But Ann’s writing gives the reader a detailed visual timeline of all things Bundy!A must read!

superb

It's amazing gives you chills even though you are just reading it and it's true crime novel. How Savage was Ted bundy and charismatic that even after murdering he had female fans wanting to die for him. Every detail is true in this novel as I myself matched the novel with Google and others sources of information on the website. I have researched a lot about this criminal and his crimes over the years and this one is an amazing crime-thriller novel to read.

Very well written. It is an insider's story so we get almost a first hand knowledge. Author is empathic & compassionate.

I read. A lot! And when I say a lot, I mean a great lot. I mostly read classics but this book was recommended by a friend and boy am i glad that i bought it!!!!!!!!!This is my first time reading an Ann Rule novel. But I have always known about Ted Bundy. I mean, I am obsessed with serial killers, or rather their psyche. I had read a lot about Ted Bundy on the internet. But it never seemed to fill my thirst. Then I found about Ann Rule. I just ordered it the minute I saw it. And, I am blown by the story-telling.Ann Rule is a great writer. She gives the book a personal touch,since she knew Ted, and yet she is so utterly Professional. A great book! Buy it! 110% worth it! :)

I was fascinated to read more about Bundy after watching the Netflix docuseries by Joe Berlinger, an Amazon docuseries starring TB’s ex girlfriend, Liz kendell/ Klepffer. I have also read a few more details and the original newspaper articles and the more I read , the more I realise what a monster TB was. The docuseries, movies do not bring out the horrors of his crimes because he did so much worse, but if you have a keen mind you will find bits and pieces of articles which lay down the true gore of his actions. Unfortunately, Ann Rule’s book is the first proper book I have read in TB, and honestly, Ann Rule other than that they worked together and perhaps he wrote letters to her in an effort to draw money from her, she is not convincing. Back in 70’s especially after the chi omega murders, there was no doubt that Bundy was a key suspect and there was kuch more to him then shown, yet Ann Ruke somehow naively thinks that she can get him to confess to her. Though she tries to be balanced in her view at leat in express words that she was being honest to him and would not do anything behind his back like go to authorities or share his correspondence with her to police unless he agreed, I really think that when the first edition of book was published in 1980, Ann Rule was trying to humanise him, and Bundy was not a human. The gruesome manner in which Kimberly Leavh was killed was enough to close any sympathy Bundy had up his sleeves. I am just glad that Bundy confessed in end even though in a desperate and manipulative effort to buy more time for himself , otherwise the likes of Ann Rule would have subtly tried to convince people that the evidence was not sufficient or the trial was biased or it was a media trial or that he would have confessed to Ann rule of the police had not cut off her connection to him or whatever. I specifically hated the oft where Ann rule mentions something on the lines of “Murderous as he was he would not steal at from someone who had low means…” or not steal a bicycle from a young girl. Yeah he would not steal from young girls but just brutalize sexually and kill them and then basically dump the bodies for rotting like he did to Kimberly Leavh and so many more. I just want to say shame on Ann Rule for trying to make an effort to humanise Bundy or insinuate that he didn’t get a proper trial in Florida.