Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy, Updated and Expanded Edition

This book was the epitome of my fears of reentering the dating scene as someone in their mid-twenties.
I know that the possibility of finding a serial killer is low, but clearly not that low, if Elizabeth found it.
It's easy to look down on Elizabeth and say that you don't understand why she stayed so long, but I think it was entirely human and something that we all do much too often: overlook things and try so hard to get this image of our perfect future that we have wanted since childhood.
While reading, I recognized how easy it would be to ignore red flags and trying to see past the negative personality traits of someone because you care deeply and just want this perfect life that you imagined yourself having. It would've been weirder if her mind went to serial killer immediately instead of infidelity or just seeing him as stringing her along (what would've been more plausible? Definitely cheating, yet that wasn't all that was happening, obviously). But Elizabeth didn't ignore nothing, she did everything that she could possibly do, and was told that he was clear and not guilty.
My ex was also a confusing, sometimes mean, red flag flying thief. When he said he didn't know if a relationship was for him and backed off, a day later he was then crying to me that he loved me so much. I stayed on that rollercoaster for no reason other than I cared for him, even if it wasn't in my best interest. So I understand Elizabeth in that instance.
Elizabeth and Molly are survivors, and I'm so glad that they are here to tell their stories. I've always believed that family and loved ones of these killers are victims in their own way, because they lost the person that they believed the individual to be. It's just a sad situation all around.

Content Warnings

lets_book's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

3.0

Oof. Disturbing to say the least, particularly when Liz mentions news stories of women disappearing or found murdered while she carries out her day-to-day life with Ted completely unaware that the perpetrator is her most intimate companion. To learn of Ted Bundy as one of the country’s most notorious serial killers is one thing, but to glean the same truth from the perspective of someone who once loved him is another matter entirely. It’s a gut-wrenching reminder how extremely difficult it is to leave an abusive situation, especially when a partner is violent and/or emotionally manipulative. There were moments throughout the book when it felt like I was reading a fictional horror, only to have the chilling realization that there were real victims and real survivors, one of whom gave us this chilling memoir.

Content Warnings

rachelunabridged's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark informative sad medium-paced

I don't feel comfortable giving this a rating because it feels too much like rating someone's trauma. But I will say it was a really interesting and terrifying read. So tragic to hear the kind of manipulation and gaslighting this woman went through. My heart went out to her and her daughter, and I was glad to hear at the end that they've been able to mostly put the whole thing behind them. Good for them!

Would recommend to people who are interested in true crime, serial killers, or Ted Bundy specifically.

Content Warnings

squaresunflowers's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

4.25

This was an exhilarating rush of conflicting emotions and dry retching (despite the evident absence of anything remotely gory, the recounts of Liz's experiences still left a very unpleasant taste in my mouth). To get the full picture, I got the updated publication containing Liz's afterthoughts. Reading her inner turmoils laid bare page after page, I felt nothing but deep sympathy.

On the flip side, not to romanticise Ted Bundy's motives/life, but any aspiring parent should use his story as a stern reminder to themselves too: please, please ensure that you provide your child(ren) a loving and complete childhood; else, you're just one of the many parents that contribute unwittingly to the vicious generational merry-go-round.

Content Warnings

agustdefault's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark medium-paced

liz was so deeply manipulated by that man and this was very hard to read. he had total control over her even before she had any suspicions. the afterword and mollys story really saved this book and my opinion of liz. if she hadnt added that my view of her would definitely be very different and im glad she has grown to realize who he truly was. mollys story was one of the most disturbing parts of the book and made me deeply uncomfortable reading it. i think the part that hit me the hardest was the section of pictures. it made it so much more real and humanized him in a way that i never could before. i hope molly and liz are both doing well

Content Warnings

brianna_moye's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

3.5

Content Warnings

juliarenae's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.25

Molly's reflection of life with Ted was truly heartbreaking and showed another side of Bundy. The reflection Liz has is powerful as the book shows the toxicity between the couple and the power Bundy had over Liz.

Content Warnings

More...