I never saw that anger, I never saw any anger at all. Ted’s treatment of me was the kind of old-world gallantry which he also showed toward other women I saw him with. He is capable of hiding his dangerous side. (from the book The Stranger beside me.)
During her career, Ann Rule has written about many true crimes. Never before has she written about someone she knows personally, which makes it even harder for her.
At what point in his life did Ted change or what triggered this change in behaviour? And why did she not see any signs? These among other questions happen to torment Ann Rule throughout those years. She’s torn between two sides, believing that he is really guilty of those horrible crimes and Ted who claims his innocence. It’s very devastating when you find out that you have been played and betrayed all along.
The first part of the book is very interesting and detailed written in the author’s usual fashion. Very informative up until the beginning of the trial. There the story lost its speed a bit, and the long part begins as trials are very often tiring to follow. But it doesn’t end there, the author has added an updated Epilogue which describes the last couple of years of Ted Bundy’s life in prison.
All in all a very insightful story, in my opinion very well researched. It’s despite the long part in the end worth reading.
