Being an avid follower of true crime novels, I must commend The Stranger Beside Me for being a truly encompassing experience. This book is a “must read” for all true crime readers. For those of you who have not read it, you are in for a chilling narrative on Ted Bundy--the handsome intelligent, admired, intellectual, well-liked young man who was one of the most heinous serial killers of all time. Ann Rule’s personal encounters with Ted Bundy allow the reader to grasp the true inner workings of the serial killer himself. Rule reveals all of the problems and roadblocks that investigators surface against, and then confirm the reader with how they firmly overcome them. By doing so, she takes the reader through a number of murder investigations, providing the reader intense behind-the-scenes information.
Ted Bundy and Ann Rule were colleagues, working together at a Crisis Clinic in Seattle for years. After the disturbing murders began in Washington, during 1974-1978, Rule fairly suspected her Ted, to be “The Ted” investigators were examining, but could not bring herself to believe that this may possibly be true. What began as three alarming homicides in Washington, evolved into a man responsible for a killing spree in multiple states. Since Rule knew Ted, this furnished the story with an interesting perspective on the overall chronicle story. Rule could recount conversations she had with Bundy, before, and after, he was convicted with first degree murder charges. Even though Bundy never confessed to his killings, investigators discovered that he ultimately killed approximately thirty-six women, every six hours.
What I found somewhat of a let-down was that there was literally no attempt on Rule’s part to theorize what sparked Bundy to murder innocent victims with shimmering green eyes, bedazzling long brown hair, intelligent, feminine and muscular figure, those studying in school, and involved in extracurricular activities. I understand that Rule is not a psychologist or a profiler, but she had amazing access to the criminal, and I was hoping that she would ask Bundy questions that she just kept avoiding. Furthermore, I realize that this was because Bundy was her friend, and it was challenging for her to believe what was going on, let alone bombarding him with personal questions about his childhood, and his anger towards women. It is all surface—detailed descriptions of Ted, his family background, his interviews, his victims, all of the attacks on those victims, his numerous escapes from custody, and his trials. Since Rule refuses to face the facts without courage and boldness, she is unable to even consider the most essential question with respect to Bundy: Is he sick or is he evil? She does not let her closeness with Bundy enhance the story, for she is in partial denial about the reality of Bundy’s personality and his murderous career.
One of the most remarkable assets of Rule’s writing style is her ability to organize a complex set of events. Enhanced by interviews, police reports, and a boatload of biographical detail, the novel is written in a well-structured and easily digestible format. Rule may frequently slide up and down the chronological line, the material is knitted together smoothly, seldom requiring the reader to flip back to refresh their memory. Her narratives are honest, straightforward accounts of events as she knows them – no sensational embellishments to cloud the waters.
Overall, this is a very well-written and gripping novel, and even though it is a very frightening and distressing narrative story, it is also quite fascinating at the same time. Moreover, Rule’s personal story intertwines with Bundy, giving the readers an unsettling outlook of the toll these cases can take on those dedicated to exposing these crimes, and enlightening an all too naïve public to the evil that can lurk in anyone’s back yard. How could this well mannered, charismatic young man, be responsible for the deaths of so many young women?
Being an avid follower of true crime novels, I must commend The Stranger Beside Me for being a truly encompassing experience. This book is a “must read” for all true crime readers. For those of you who have not read it, you are in for a chilling narrative on Ted Bundy--the handsome intelligent, admired, intellectual, well-liked young man who was one of the most heinous serial killers of all time. Ann Rule’s personal encounters with Ted Bundy allow the reader to grasp the true inner workings of the serial killer himself. Rule reveals all of the problems and roadblocks that investigators surface against, and then confirm the reader with how they firmly overcome them. By doing so, she takes the reader through a number of murder investigations, providing the reader intense behind-the-scenes information.
ReplyDeleteTed Bundy and Ann Rule were colleagues, working together at a Crisis Clinic in Seattle for years. After the disturbing murders began in Washington, during 1974-1978, Rule fairly suspected her Ted, to be “The Ted” investigators were examining, but could not bring herself to believe that this may possibly be true. What began as three alarming homicides in Washington, evolved into a man responsible for a killing spree in multiple states. Since Rule knew Ted, this furnished the story with an interesting perspective on the overall chronicle story. Rule could recount conversations she had with Bundy, before, and after, he was convicted with first degree murder charges. Even though Bundy never confessed to his killings, investigators discovered that he ultimately killed approximately thirty-six women, every six hours.
What I found somewhat of a let-down was that there was literally no attempt on Rule’s part to theorize what sparked Bundy to murder innocent victims with shimmering green eyes, bedazzling long brown hair, intelligent, feminine and muscular figure, those studying in school, and involved in extracurricular activities. I understand that Rule is not a psychologist or a profiler, but she had amazing access to the criminal, and I was hoping that she would ask Bundy questions that she just kept avoiding. Furthermore, I realize that this was because Bundy was her friend, and it was challenging for her to believe what was going on, let alone bombarding him with personal questions about his childhood, and his anger towards women. It is all surface—detailed descriptions of Ted, his family background, his interviews, his victims, all of the attacks on those victims, his numerous escapes from custody, and his trials. Since Rule refuses to face the facts without courage and boldness, she is unable to even consider the most essential question with respect to Bundy: Is he sick or is he evil? She does not let her closeness with Bundy enhance the story, for she is in partial denial about the reality of Bundy’s personality and his murderous career.
One of the most remarkable assets of Rule’s writing style is her ability to organize a complex set of events. Enhanced by interviews, police reports, and a boatload of biographical detail, the novel is written in a well-structured and easily digestible format. Rule may frequently slide up and down the chronological line, the material is knitted together smoothly, seldom requiring the reader to flip back to refresh their memory. Her narratives are honest, straightforward accounts of events as she knows them – no sensational embellishments to cloud the waters.
Overall, this is a very well-written and gripping novel, and even though it is a very frightening and distressing narrative story, it is also quite fascinating at the same time. Moreover, Rule’s personal story intertwines with Bundy, giving the readers an unsettling outlook of the toll these cases can take on those dedicated to exposing these crimes, and enlightening an all too naïve public to the evil that can lurk in anyone’s back yard. How could this well mannered, charismatic young man, be responsible for the deaths of so many young women?