Book 3 of 2024
Summary
The Stranger Beside Me, is a crime novel that is also autobiographical in nature as the author knew Ted Bundy personally. The author Ann Rule gives first hand encounters, thoughts, and impressions of Ted Bundy as her friend and then as what we know him now to be as a prolific serial rapist and killer. If you get the privilege of listening to the audiobook edition the reader is treated to hearing the author herself read you her story. This story gives the reader an opportunity to be alongside a friend or acquaintance of a serial killer and be there on the sidelines as the realization hits them that someone they know so intimately is in fact not only capable of but convicted of horrific crimes.
Often we see news or perpetrators and we wonder how do people know these people? This book answers some of those questions and shows examples of how these perpetrators can contain different facets of their lives separately from one another… but here Ann provides insight into what occurs when the control starts to unravel.
Below is video of Ann Rule speaking about Ted Bundy. The entire video is a discussion where she is present the group is talking about serial killers and their prevalence in United States at this time (1984.)
Thoughts and Review
I picked this book up originally out of curiosity from comments in a True Crime Fans group. The book was mentioned during a discussion of how ridiculous it is that we (the people) are always asking, “how did no one think think there was something wrong with them?” (Referring to a perpetrator.) That discussion made me think of the not a book club that was featured in The Southern Guide to Slaying Vampires , that I had read last year.
Ann Rule writes and speaks in her own words her relationship with Ted Bundy and how she knew him. They were friends and volunteers together and they were reasonably close. She describes who he was as a person and what he meant to her. In the initial story it is easy to see how she thought and felt about Ted Bundy.
As the case begins to gather steam you get to hear the disbelief, in her own voice during recollection, of how baffling it seemed to her that Bundy was a suspect in the initial crimes. Then you get the treat of listening to that disbelief and doubt turn into apprehension, fear, and then horror as the realization hit. The process her mind went through drawing lines together was admirable while she maintained her distance but kept her friendship with Ted.
Although it was a short audiobook it was so enthralling that it was an easy listen. Hearing the author read her own book with such a sensitive subject manner was a real treat. You could read her own emotions as she read. The narration aspect brought a realism to general information and facts that we know about the Ted Bundy crimes and who he was. While listening you get the feel of her going back in time to recollect her thoughts and feelings at each stage of the story.
You hear more than just how much of a charismatic and handsome man he was in Ann’s view. You hear about how much a caring side he had, his difficult upbringing, and that secretive manner he had in speaking. You also heard about his intelligence, how determined he was to learn, and how confident he was in his own ability to escape the inevitable outcome. His difficult upbringing was never used to excuse his behaviour but rather to point out where exactly certain habits or traits were developed.
This was a great audiobook to take in for my own curiosity and a tie over to other contexts like the facts of Ted Bundy’s crimes, discussions, conversations, and other books that reference this exact book. It was a fantastic listen.
Recommendation
I would recommend this audiobook (and book) to any true crime fans. In my own opinion I do believe the audiobook was a better choice for me because I got to hear the author speaking her own words, her own experience, and her own thoughts. The book does go into some of the brutal nature of the crimes as well as interpretation of the societal fear that was taking place. If you are sensitive to the subject matter of Ted Bundy’s crimes I would not recommend. Happy Reading!