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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
An incredible, harrowing story from someone with a completely unique perspective.
This was really good but I wish Rule had shown more emotion about the betrayal of finding out her friend had really committed those horrible crimes. But maybe she couldn’t allow herself to really “go there”. She mentioned a couple of times being sickened by some of the things she saw and heard but it felt like she was telling rather than showing.
I can’t imagine being able to carry on cordial correspondence after being convinced of his guilt. Not that he would have given a damn, but it surprises me she didn’t tell him off to at least make herself feel a bit better.
I appreciated that Rule took the time to speak quite a bit about each known victim. You could tell she wanted to be respectful to the victims and their families. She showed compassion for Bundy’s romantic partners as well – recognizing that they were victims too. Considering this book came out decades ago, I was really pleased that she showed that compassion when it’s still so common today to blame abuse victims.
I can’t imagine being able to carry on cordial correspondence after being convinced of his guilt. Not that he would have given a damn, but it surprises me she didn’t tell him off to at least make herself feel a bit better.
I appreciated that Rule took the time to speak quite a bit about each known victim. You could tell she wanted to be respectful to the victims and their families. She showed compassion for Bundy’s romantic partners as well – recognizing that they were victims too. Considering this book came out decades ago, I was really pleased that she showed that compassion when it’s still so common today to blame abuse victims.
Ann Rule is a great writer, and even though I knew Ted Bundy’s story this book kept me hooked. It was interesting to hear Rule’s perspective and see how manipulative Bundy really was.
I went down the Ted Bundy rabbit hole and downloaded the audiobook after watching No Man of God. It filled in lots of gaps in my knowledge, and I really enjoyed the author’s firsthand knowledge of Bundy. The 3* are because at the end of the book I learned I had spent 3+ hours listening to the abridged version and the full version is 18 hours! Now I wonder what was deemed expendable.
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
I probably would have given this book a 5/5 if it wasn't SO. DAMN. REPETITIVE.
It just got to the point where I was annoyed, especially by the fourth or fifth (exaggerating, but still) epilogue. It's nice to have an insight on Ted Bundy as a person, but I feel like Ann was playing up her relationship with him. They worked along side each other for a few months off and on and then would see each other at Christmas parties. I mean it's not like they lived together or even dated. I know Ann Rule, at least for the book, says she knows him inside and out. But does she really, or is it just to tell a better story?
I knew the basics of the Ted Bundy case -- murdered a lot of women in the 70s in Washington (what the heck is up with my state and serial killers? is it the weather?) but that's really about it. Now I know pretty much everything about it. It's just a shame all of the facts were so convoluted. I might ready another Bundy-centric novel written by someone that never met Ted Bundy. I really didn't care how Ann Rule felt about Ted Bundy. And when she questioned his innocence after the Florida arrest that's when she lost all credibility for me, honestly. I stopped caring about what she had to say, which is unfortunate because there was about 200 more pages after that and 189 of them were filled with her thoughts and opinions. Really unnecessary.
I know this review pretty much seemed like I hated the book but I really didn't. The first half was excellent and kept me on the edge of my seat. It's just the second half, with all of those unnecessary updates and epilogues.
It just got to the point where I was annoyed, especially by the fourth or fifth (exaggerating, but still) epilogue. It's nice to have an insight on Ted Bundy as a person, but I feel like Ann was playing up her relationship with him. They worked along side each other for a few months off and on and then would see each other at Christmas parties. I mean it's not like they lived together or even dated. I know Ann Rule, at least for the book, says she knows him inside and out. But does she really, or is it just to tell a better story?
I knew the basics of the Ted Bundy case -- murdered a lot of women in the 70s in Washington (what the heck is up with my state and serial killers? is it the weather?) but that's really about it. Now I know pretty much everything about it. It's just a shame all of the facts were so convoluted. I might ready another Bundy-centric novel written by someone that never met Ted Bundy. I really didn't care how Ann Rule felt about Ted Bundy. And when she questioned his innocence after the Florida arrest that's when she lost all credibility for me, honestly. I stopped caring about what she had to say, which is unfortunate because there was about 200 more pages after that and 189 of them were filled with her thoughts and opinions. Really unnecessary.
I know this review pretty much seemed like I hated the book but I really didn't. The first half was excellent and kept me on the edge of my seat. It's just the second half, with all of those unnecessary updates and epilogues.
Solid 4/5. I found myself intrigued to the end, to find out more and more. I can't say there were any times I was "bored" by reading this. There are some court bits much later on that get a bit dry, but I still found those interesting. This book has many updates which glue you to the pages till the last words. I hadn't even realized the author had passed away in 2015. A shame. I'll have to pick up some of her other books.
You should read this because it's important to know that monsters often hide in plain sight. They can even be close friends. Be aware. Be on guard. Don't necessarily live in fear, but be aware and don't take silly risks like free lifts with men (even if you think they're good looking). If someone tries to grab you... Run. Scream. Fight. GET AWAY! If he says scream and you die... chances are you might die if you DON'T scream... Feel free to argue with me over that fact... but it's so true... that so many people get away from people like this because they made a lot of noise and risked the would be perpetrator getting caught.
I've been getting a bit interested in true crime for a few years and this book always comes up as a "must read". I started with podcasts, Gruesome/Morbid/Crimebeat etc. All good. This lead me to want to read something more in depth. I'm glad I did.
Ann Rule doesn't dwell or glorify the acts of murder. They are point blank stated. Facts laid out. This can be a bit underwhelming at times (startling in a few others where the details are very gruesome, but fact given), but I agree with the style and its presentation. They were horrific crimes and I think it's important people read about this stuff, so they know there are monsters in the world.
I found myself a bit overwhelmed early on and a bit throughout. There are just so many victims, investigators, places, names etc. But that is very much expected. I do like that a few times Ann Rule summed up some things for us... like so far here is a list of victims or potentials... etc. That was useful in following the trail of horrific carnage this sociopath of a man perpetrated.
I devoured the rest of this book this week... July 5th 58 pages, July 6th 91 pages, July 7th 132 pages, July 8 (today) the last 71 pages. At times I combated eye strain in my struggles to read more. I ended up taking more breaks, against my will, to keep on reading.
MY MAIN COMPLAINT about this book is how positively Ann Rule talks about him, and the sympathy she seemed to have for him for SO LONG, even after it was pretty obvious he was a serial killing sociopath. I just couldn't see how she could be fooled for so long. But I guess when it's a friend, it's hard to believe. There were some interjections about her life and what she was doing, but I didn't mind those, I found they added to the story and her relationship to him and how she knew him and what was going on in their respective lives etc.
This particular edition was frustrating to read from because the pages are so floppy. It's mostly conducive to reading it set on your lap or table. You can't really hold this edition with one hand, it flops too much.
You should read this because it's important to know that monsters often hide in plain sight. They can even be close friends. Be aware. Be on guard. Don't necessarily live in fear, but be aware and don't take silly risks like free lifts with men (even if you think they're good looking). If someone tries to grab you... Run. Scream. Fight. GET AWAY! If he says scream and you die... chances are you might die if you DON'T scream... Feel free to argue with me over that fact... but it's so true... that so many people get away from people like this because they made a lot of noise and risked the would be perpetrator getting caught.
I've been getting a bit interested in true crime for a few years and this book always comes up as a "must read". I started with podcasts, Gruesome/Morbid/Crimebeat etc. All good. This lead me to want to read something more in depth. I'm glad I did.
Ann Rule doesn't dwell or glorify the acts of murder. They are point blank stated. Facts laid out. This can be a bit underwhelming at times (startling in a few others where the details are very gruesome, but fact given), but I agree with the style and its presentation. They were horrific crimes and I think it's important people read about this stuff, so they know there are monsters in the world.
I found myself a bit overwhelmed early on and a bit throughout. There are just so many victims, investigators, places, names etc. But that is very much expected. I do like that a few times Ann Rule summed up some things for us... like so far here is a list of victims or potentials... etc. That was useful in following the trail of horrific carnage this sociopath of a man perpetrated.
I devoured the rest of this book this week... July 5th 58 pages, July 6th 91 pages, July 7th 132 pages, July 8 (today) the last 71 pages. At times I combated eye strain in my struggles to read more. I ended up taking more breaks, against my will, to keep on reading.
MY MAIN COMPLAINT about this book is how positively Ann Rule talks about him, and the sympathy she seemed to have for him for SO LONG, even after it was pretty obvious he was a serial killing sociopath. I just couldn't see how she could be fooled for so long. But I guess when it's a friend, it's hard to believe. There were some interjections about her life and what she was doing, but I didn't mind those, I found they added to the story and her relationship to him and how she knew him and what was going on in their respective lives etc.
This particular edition was frustrating to read from because the pages are so floppy. It's mostly conducive to reading it set on your lap or table. You can't really hold this edition with one hand, it flops too much.
dark
medium-paced
Interesting insight, but hated how he has been humanized here. Anne almost makes you feel sorry for this piece of shit
dark
informative
medium-paced