Read about another book on the list.The Stranger Beside Me, by Ann Rule
Get this—Ann Rule, the queen of true crime, befriended Ted Bundy before anyone would have guessed that he kidnapped and murdered at least 30 women, then had sex with their bodies. The two were coworkers and friends at a crisis hotline in 1971. The Bundy atrocities are already pretty unbelievable, but hearing Rule talk about her friendship with the serial killer (even after he was convicted) will give you goose bumps. It’s weird upon weird, real upon real, like having a dream within a dream. Rule tries to tell the story in an unbiased manor, to separate herself from what she was set to report on. But it’s impossible, and reading about her investment in the crime and her odd friendship with Bundy is addictive.
Also see: Randy Dotinga's five favorite historical true-crime books from the last decade; Errol Morris's five top tales of true crime; Ron Hansen's five best literary tales of real-life crimes; Sarah Weinman's seven best true crime books; and Ann Rule's five best list of true-crime books.
--Marshal Zeringue
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