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Most
of the adult population remembers the Ted Bundy case, many remember
the chilling trial, and more than a few have watched the television
documentaries about Bundy that have appeared from time to time.
Ann Rule's story, THE STRANGER BESIDE ME, has been one of her most
popular true crime books to date, with at least three updated editions
being printed since the initial release.
For those who haven't read it, you're in for a chilling narrative
on Ted Bundy --- the handsome, intelligent, well-liked young man
who was one of the most heinous serial killers of all time. What
began as two disturbingly similar homicides in the state of Washington
would evolve into a nationwide hunt for the man responsible for
a killing spree in at least 5 states. When he was finally caught,
many people were in shock. How could this well mannered, charismatic
young man be responsible for the deaths of so many young women?
Although he was ultimately only convicted for 3 murders, police
are certain he was responsible for at least 30 more. And, sadly,
there's reason to believe the actual body count may have been well
over 100. Ann Rule, who was a crime reporter when they met, had
no clue that the biggest break in her career and the biggest story
of her life would involve her friend, Ted Bundy, who worked by her
side on the night shift at a local crisis clinic.
One of the 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, into a well-structured,
easily digestible book. Even though she 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. In THE STRANGER BESIDE ME in particular, her own personal
story intertwines with that of the criminal, giving readers an unsettling
perspective of the toll these cases can take on those dedicated
to exposing these crimes and enlightening an all too naive public
to the evil that can lurk in anyone's back yard.
Despite the fact that her last update to THE STRANGER BESIDE ME
in 1989 included an epilogue entitled "Final Chapter," as it turns
out, it wasn't. More than any other case, more than any other serial
killer she's reported about, Ted Bundy lives on in the minds of
the American public --- and in the troubled memories of Ann Rule.
Whether she's lecturing at a police seminar, touring for a book
release, or just grocery shopping, people continue to ask her about
Ted Bundy. To this day, she still receives mail from women all over
the country who are convinced they encountered him and were lucky
enough to live and tell about it.
With the 20th Anniversary Edition, Ann Rule has added yet another
epilogue to bring readers current with the status of the victims
that survived, the families of those who didn't, and a tragic reminder
of the one disappearance that Bundy was suspected of but denied
to his death. Eight-year-old Ann Marie Burr vanished from her home
in 1961. At the time, Ted Bundy was a 14-year-old boy, living on
the same block, delivering the Burr's newspaper each morning. She's
never been found.
--- Reviewed by Ann Bruns (BkPageWC@aol.com)
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