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 found this a fantastic listen and I didn't want to stop. A lot of people have commented on the narrators voice, but I don't have a problem with it - its fitting for a story like this!

So gripping and interesting!

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The behind the scenes story was fascinating as you get a glimpse into the ordinary life of a serial killer. The narration was at times irritating due to the accents used, which seemed at odds with seriousness of the situation,

There was little acknowledgement of the victims they ended up just being a rolling credit of names by the end. However, it was a riveting podcast well worth the purchase price.

Insights into a serial killer - hard to stop listening

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Such an honest, thoughtful and open account of the relationship between Ann and Ted as it unfolded over so many years. What a strange and challenging experience for Ann. I like that Ann told the story with compassion for the victims and their families.

I think this book would be interesting to anyone interested in true crime, law, and psychology.

The narration is terrific.

Fascinating account of a difficult relationship

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Incredibly in depth telling of the Bundy story. Shout out to the narrator who I just assumed was Ann Rule until I checked.

Great account of Bundy and his crimes

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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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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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