The Stranger Beside Me cover art

The Stranger Beside Me

The Shocking True Story of Serial Killer Ted Bundy

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The Stranger Beside Me

By: Ann Rule
Narrated by: Lorelei King
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About this listen

Ann Rule was working on the biggest story of her career, tracking the trail of victims left by a brutal serial killer. Little did this future best-selling author know that the savage slayer she was hunting was the young man she counted among her closest friends.

Everyone's picture of a natural winner, Ted Bundy was a bright, charming, and handsome man with a promising future as an attorney. But on January 24, 1989 Bundy was executed for the murders of three young women - and had confessed to taking the lives of at least thirty-five more women from coast to coast. Ann Rule, who kept in constant contact with Bundy throughout the investigation, tells his story as no other person can, capturing the essence of his magnetic power, unholy compulsion, and demonic double life.

Available for the first time on audio, this shocking true story is an unforgettable listening experience. In an emotional reading, Rule tells us about Ted Bundy - the man she thought she really knew...the stranger beside her.

©2008 Ann Rule (P)2012 Simon & Schuster Murder True Crime Crime Scary Fiction

Critic Reviews

"As dramatic and chilling as a bedroom window shattering at midnight." ( The New York Times)
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The voices the narrator put on when qhptimg other people were sometimes a bit cringe, with the ones for females always sounding dumb and ditzy.

Good book, odd narration

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The author seemed genuine and the narrator amazing. Terribly sad story of madness and so many young lives lost.

Really well written and narrated.

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So well written and performed, I wanted to listen to something that would take my mind off the boring daily treadmill exercise and this exceeded my hopes! Didn’t want it to end, a really measured but gripping story. Highly recommended.
(One tiny tiny criticism: narrators don’t need to do every female vocalisation in a higher pitched, babyish, vulnerable pitch. That just becomes embarrassing, especially when it’s a female with a strong voice narrating.)

Gripping!

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I’ve always had a fascination with true crime, but this book has highlighted how much podcasts and Netflix specials skim the surface. Don’t get me wrong, they are great for an hour, but this book was such incredible insight into the personal experience of Ann Rule and the internal monologue that followed her as the case against her friend Ted escalated.

This is wonderfully written, and the narrator is clear, timeless and easy to listen to.

Gripping insight

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This is one of the best books I have ever listened to. I noticed some people were put off by the different voices the narrator used but I didn’t have an issue with it.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from a book written by someone who called Ted a friend. I think the book perfectly covers the Ted as a friend and Ted as a killer aspect and I think the way Ann tells the story is very well done. I went into the book assuming maybe Ted was more of an acquaintance and Ann was using his name to sell a book but I was mistaken. Clearly her and Ted had a genuine friendship and it was interesting to hear about the calls and letters between them even after he was arrested and then subsequently found guilty.

I don’t think this is the book for you if you want an in depth breakdown of each individual crime Ted has committed. I believe Ann has done heavy research, but this book is clearly written from a unique perspective and Ann’s relationship with Ted does drive the direction of the book. I believe the crimes are covered in as much detail as I would have expected and I think Ann did a great job respecting the victims in the way she told their stories.

The most hard hitting part of this book for me was how Ann was so open with her feelings and emotions through the whole thing. Obviously serial killers blend into society. They have friends and family. They go to the supermarket and they have their hair cut. They have to blend in to be able to get away with their crimes for so long. To find out someone you know so well has committed such horrific crimes must be difficult and I appreciate Ann for sharing her true feelings so openly, especially sharing how she did think Ted was innocent for such a long time.

I’m disappointed it took me so long to get this book, it had been on my wish list for so long and it absolutely did not let me down.

Incredible

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Compelling story, well researched, detailed and excellently narrated. Composed in a way that keeps the story flowing without stagnating.

Excellent narration

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skips on occasion, sometimes feels like a decent chunk is missing. not sure if that can be fixed.

I appreciate the updates added at the end, since the original publishing.

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Wow. What an incredible story, explained in a way I didn’t believe was possible. The depth of evil inside this man, the layers he created to hide it. To hear it spoken about, from such a personal perspective, provided an insight of disturbing proportion

Unbelievable

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Different voices for each person was a little weird but it is my first time listening to audible,
Some of the language by Ann Rule isn’t appropriate: when talking about people with disabilities.
I know this book is about Ted Bundy in Ann Rules life, but I thought it would be more about Bundy and less about Ann Rule. Probably reflects more on my lack of research for this book than the book itself.

First time with audible

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I found this book really well written great narration and a really detailed insight to Ted Bundy and how fragile life is - you never really know anyone
My heart breaks for those girls and their families

You never really know anyone

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