One of the scariest books I have ever read...

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	• The Stranger Beside Me (Revised and Updated): 20th Anniversary Ann Rule Signet, 2001 - 560 pages average customer review:based on 175 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Aptly titled and cautionary tale

"THE STRANGER BESIDE ME" is undoubtedly one of Ann's best books. It is a cautionary tale of how someone who appears to have everything going for him, as Bundy did, can have another, hidden and dark side altogether. Bundy appeared to be the all-American "golden boy" but in reality, he was a sexual sadist, sexual predator and necrophiliac dominated by dark and unmentionable compulsions which he felt compelled to act upon.

Rule's book is chilling because it shows that anyone can be "taken in" by these psychopathic (now called anti-social) personalities. In reality, Ted Bundy was nothing but a black hole. The appearance he made to all he came in contact with, including Ann Rule, was meant to fool people. His outward appearance was carefully thought out to reassure others and impress them that he was really "going places" in life and had everything going for him.

Rule's book is eerie because she shows that much of what Bundy did, while maintaining this "perfect" image to the outside world, was carefully thought out, especially the disappearance of Lynda Ann Healy, who has still never been found. The only earthly remnant of Lynda was part of her skull, which detectives found on Taylor Mountain. Bundy was a devious, cunning, and wicked man. Ann is lucky because she could easily have become one of his victims. She worked with him alone at nights and the realization of this must still haunt her today. She worked beside him and truly thought she knew him, but she didn't. Thus, the title "the stranger beside me" truly is an apt one. I think this should serve as a cautionary tale to many women who think they have met "Mr. Right." Perhaps women should heed the old adage "the jury is still out" when meeting someone new, especially after reading this book!

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One of the scariest books I have ever read...

This book, "The Stranger Beside Me" by Ann Rule, is truly terrifying. My husband works the night shift, and that's when I get most of my reading done. Even though Ted Bundy is dead, I wished my husband worked days more than once while reading this book so he would be home with me! Despite the fact that I was scared out of my mind, I still couldn't put this book down.

Ted Bundy confessed to murdering over 30 women in the most brutal fashion in the 1970's. Most of the women were college age, early twenties, stylish, with long dark hair parted in the middle. His youngest victim was [...]. Only a couple of his victims survived. He would stalk them as they were out walking, then pounce at an opportune time, such as when they were walking under a dark bridge or alley. Sometimes, he killed more than one girl a night, such as the Chi Omega sorority murders, when he left two for dead and severely injured two more before going to another house and bludgeoning another girl who also lived. That happened after he escaped from prison a second time and ran to Florida, where he was free for several months.

Ann Rule has a great writing style. It's detailed but moves along at a good pace, and flows very nicely. She gets the point across matter-of-factly of how horrific Bundy's crimes were without getting too grisly, which is something I appreciated.

I can't believe she actually knew Bundy while he was murdering these women, was friends with him. Of course, she didn't know he was a killer, but I can't imagine being in that situation. How did she feel about it? How did she accept it? How could someone so charming and so normal by day turn into such a madman at night? What was wrong with him? Nothing spectacular happened in his life that would give us an explanation. It's a mystery. He is one of the reasons I believe some people are just born with those bad inclinations, and people like Ted Bundy choose to act on them.

This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in true crime or horror stories, because this book is certainly horrifying.

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A very chilling story

This book is definitely Ann Rule at her best. What other true crime writer would have the opportunity (albiet unknowingly) to work beside a serial killer? I thought I knew the story of Ted Bundy before I read this book, but Ann has so many details and accounts of Ted that only someone close to him would know.

I was fortunate I was able to hear Ann speak at a dinner about her relationship with Ted. It's scary to think that someone she considered a friend could wear a mask so well that no one knew or even suspected Ted of the horrible things he did. The only one who didn't like him was her dog and they could never figure out why at the time.

I consider this book to be the only book on Ted Bundy worth reading. It grips you and you can't put it down until you're finished. And you wish it was only fiction.

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Brace Yourself!!!!!!

I could not put this book down. I read it in 5 days. Excellent!

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