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A review by happilywilted
The Phantom Prince: My Life with Ted Bundy, Updated and Expanded Edition by Elizabeth Kendall
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
4.5
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.
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
Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Addiction
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
Minor: Abortion, Death, and Murder