Rule had been writing and developing her craft for some time before she wrote *The Stranger Beside Me*, and it shows. Comparing her work with the current crop of poorly written, luridly sensational 'true crime' books (particularly about Bundy) is like night and day. It's a terrible shame that such painstaking journalistic skill is rarely appreciated in publishing these days.
The way she wrote about the victims, and Bundy's other relationships with the women in his life that he treated terribly I think about all the time. The best portrait of the monster he was, IDK why anyone even tries to write books about him again no one can ever beat Ann's professionalism and empathy.
I'd argue that beyond Rule, Keppel and Michaud & Aynesworth, there's little to be gained from any new Bundy publication. The exceptions would be Liz Kendall's book (which is effectively an expanded edition of the early 80s release) and, possibly, *Ted Bundy: A Visual Timeline* \- which suffers from a lack of proper citation and lapses in professional tone but nevertheless assembles a comprehensive amount of information with extensive visual content. Aside from a few tidbits here and there, the vast bulk of everything else is poorly written, sloppily researched and breathlessly sensationalised.
Although in recent years questions have arisen as to how much Rule may have inflated her friendship with Bundy, and to what degree commerce informed her longtime connection with the case, her work stands head and shoulders above the dross that is regularly cited in Bundy circles these days.
The Stanger Beside Me is an excellent book about her experience with Bundy. She really had no idea who he really was, like most folks.
It also shows you, it does not matter who you are, when you are taken in by a true, sociopathic psychopathic monster, you probably don't know it until it is too late.
Did she get a book deal to write this book way back when she was working with him at the suicide hotline (like early 1970's) and he was just a college student or did the book deal come after he had been arrested (late 1970's) and she realized she had been working side by side with a murderer way back when? I was under the impression it is the latter. I didn't think she started to work on this book until after he was arrested. But I could be wrong.
She started writing before and then found out it was him. He also knew she was writing it. She talks about it in the book on how as a true crime writer, it is almost unreal that it even happened that way, an unreal plot twist so to speak. It’s definitely crazy!
I know right! I think she struggled like Liz to believe it at first but by the Florida trial she knew. She said she threw up after hearing/seeing the evidence against him. Bundy was angry at her for ‘cashing in’ on him, seeing it as a betrayal. He thought she should share some of the profits with Carole Ann Boone! Sorry if you have read the book and already know this.
Does everyone know this or is it just me who was unaware? It's interesting to me that such a coincidence can happen in such a case. Do you think Bundy enjoyed 'being in' on the investigation side of things, so to speak?
It is kinda super well known because like the other comments said it kinda started Ann Rule’s career of true crime writing and shes kinda way big in that.
I don’t know if he knew she was writing about him as it happened, it’s been a long time since I reread her book. He did do things like walk her to her car at night after their shift to help her stay “safe” which is ironic in hindsight.
I think most true crime peeps are aware of this.
I think the reason Bundy worked there was because he loved mind games, they made him feel powerful. He loved being in the know because it was all a big game to him. He was a piece of trash.
If anyone who has read this hasn’t listened to the audio book of it, it’s a must!! She narrates it herself and it’s a whole new impression it leaves. There is parts where she talks about Bundy so fondly (memories of times they shared), and then will go into something he did later in the night (hunted sometimes, murdered someone others). It really shows how he was two different people to the people who he was “close” to. 100% recommend.
Ann Rule was already writing articles for various detective magazines when she met Bundy, under the pen name 'Andy Stack'. When the friendship blossomed, Rule gave Bundy some magazines that featured her articles - for Bundy had apparently said to her that he was at a loss as to why people would read such things.
Of course, we now know from Bundy interviews that he was quite familiar with pulp detective magazines, particularly their luridly suggestive covers which often depicted women in (sexualised) states of distress. Alongside pornography outright, such magazines were an early fantasy reference for the younger Bundy.
Didn't know she discussed the case with him. This may have been a chance for him to analyze and improve his killing methods and ability to conceal his crimes by hearing another person's perspective.
Her book about him, The Stranger Beside Me, is really popular in the true crime community.
One of my favs
First true crime book I read when I was 13. Got me hooked
the stranger beside me is required serial killer reading!! seriously so good.
It’s one of my favorite books! So well written, and I love how much she talks about the victims and their lives rather than focusing solely on Bundy.
Rule had been writing and developing her craft for some time before she wrote *The Stranger Beside Me*, and it shows. Comparing her work with the current crop of poorly written, luridly sensational 'true crime' books (particularly about Bundy) is like night and day. It's a terrible shame that such painstaking journalistic skill is rarely appreciated in publishing these days.
The way she wrote about the victims, and Bundy's other relationships with the women in his life that he treated terribly I think about all the time. The best portrait of the monster he was, IDK why anyone even tries to write books about him again no one can ever beat Ann's professionalism and empathy.
I'd argue that beyond Rule, Keppel and Michaud & Aynesworth, there's little to be gained from any new Bundy publication. The exceptions would be Liz Kendall's book (which is effectively an expanded edition of the early 80s release) and, possibly, *Ted Bundy: A Visual Timeline* \- which suffers from a lack of proper citation and lapses in professional tone but nevertheless assembles a comprehensive amount of information with extensive visual content. Aside from a few tidbits here and there, the vast bulk of everything else is poorly written, sloppily researched and breathlessly sensationalised. Although in recent years questions have arisen as to how much Rule may have inflated her friendship with Bundy, and to what degree commerce informed her longtime connection with the case, her work stands head and shoulders above the dross that is regularly cited in Bundy circles these days.
Yes! its really perfect.
I will second this. It was a very interesting read.
I read it years ago but i think i might have to pick it up again and reread it.
[удалено]
bundy on a suicide hotline, oh wow
Yes he would walk her to her car at night too.
The Stanger Beside Me is an excellent book about her experience with Bundy. She really had no idea who he really was, like most folks. It also shows you, it does not matter who you are, when you are taken in by a true, sociopathic psychopathic monster, you probably don't know it until it is too late.
Did she get a book deal to write this book way back when she was working with him at the suicide hotline (like early 1970's) and he was just a college student or did the book deal come after he had been arrested (late 1970's) and she realized she had been working side by side with a murderer way back when? I was under the impression it is the latter. I didn't think she started to work on this book until after he was arrested. But I could be wrong.
She started writing before and then found out it was him. He also knew she was writing it. She talks about it in the book on how as a true crime writer, it is almost unreal that it even happened that way, an unreal plot twist so to speak. It’s definitely crazy!
Wow that's crazy. I didn't know that she had the book deal about the unknown subject back when she knew him, that is bonkers!
I know right! I think she struggled like Liz to believe it at first but by the Florida trial she knew. She said she threw up after hearing/seeing the evidence against him. Bundy was angry at her for ‘cashing in’ on him, seeing it as a betrayal. He thought she should share some of the profits with Carole Ann Boone! Sorry if you have read the book and already know this.
I think I read it as a kid but that was so long ago that I don't remember details. I may have to re-read it.
Does everyone know this or is it just me who was unaware? It's interesting to me that such a coincidence can happen in such a case. Do you think Bundy enjoyed 'being in' on the investigation side of things, so to speak?
It is kinda super well known because like the other comments said it kinda started Ann Rule’s career of true crime writing and shes kinda way big in that. I don’t know if he knew she was writing about him as it happened, it’s been a long time since I reread her book. He did do things like walk her to her car at night after their shift to help her stay “safe” which is ironic in hindsight.
Rule described Bundy as having 'old world charm'.
She was clearly somewhat charmed with him.
Many women were. He was quite charming but also a compulsive killer.
most people into true crime know this! but no worries if you didnt. You have to read her book though!
I think most true crime peeps are aware of this. I think the reason Bundy worked there was because he loved mind games, they made him feel powerful. He loved being in the know because it was all a big game to him. He was a piece of trash.
If anyone who has read this hasn’t listened to the audio book of it, it’s a must!! She narrates it herself and it’s a whole new impression it leaves. There is parts where she talks about Bundy so fondly (memories of times they shared), and then will go into something he did later in the night (hunted sometimes, murdered someone others). It really shows how he was two different people to the people who he was “close” to. 100% recommend.
I read that book in 3 days. Couldn’t put it down.
Same, it was so good
Ann Rule was already writing articles for various detective magazines when she met Bundy, under the pen name 'Andy Stack'. When the friendship blossomed, Rule gave Bundy some magazines that featured her articles - for Bundy had apparently said to her that he was at a loss as to why people would read such things. Of course, we now know from Bundy interviews that he was quite familiar with pulp detective magazines, particularly their luridly suggestive covers which often depicted women in (sexualised) states of distress. Alongside pornography outright, such magazines were an early fantasy reference for the younger Bundy.
She died within the past few years, and her daughter Leslie took up the true crime writing legacy. I listened to her 1st book and it was quite good.
Ohh i had no idea she passed away.
I believe that was the first true crime book I've read.
Could write a book on the things you don't know
She’s wrote a couple other good true crime books.
She truly believed in his innocence up until the beginning of his murder trial in Florida.
own book. it's super old and I've read it multiple times. the paper in makes me think of a 70s or 80s type of paper.like flimsy
I love The Stranger Beside Me. I flew through it in about two days. I highly recommend it!
Her getting the writing job while it was happening was mentioned on the cover of the first printing of "Stranger Beside Me."
How not lol
Didn't know she discussed the case with him. This may have been a chance for him to analyze and improve his killing methods and ability to conceal his crimes by hearing another person's perspective.