5 comments about The Stranger Returns.

1. I just finished reading this book today---The Stranger Returns--and I was just so mesmerized by it all! Then when I was telling a relative about it, he stated that his friends mother dated Ted Bundy in High school!! (The actual Ted Bundy who is in this book) I was shocked but he said that it was way before he had any problems and was put in jail. Such a small world!! The book kept me going and I didn't want to put it down! It was a rainy/snowy day here in Alaska and so it made for perfect reading while eating popcorn weather! I'm now going to order and start reading the book, "Skelter" also by Michael R. Perry....about Charles Manson.....I hope everyone else gets their blood pumping as I did!!!!!



2. Once you accept the premise of Ted Bundy surviving his execution then the book is a terrific read. I'm surprised it hasn't been made into a movie. It is a much better book than his follow-up, "Skelter". I think Perry got into Ted Bundy's personality much better than many of the non-fiction books on Bundy. The friend of a friend of mine actually narrowly missed being a Bundy victim---she was in Tacoma and was followed home by a guy. She got into her house, turned on the porch light and saw the guy's face through the window, but he left. She didn't see his face again until she saw Bundy on TV the night before he was executed.



3. It was so boring. The author is intellectually way below Bundy and it shows when he tries to portray him, he just can't get close to what Bundy was about. He writes about some all nice, positive people who are all-good (with good income and education, sure) who become poor victims of evil Ted (we sure must be sorry for such well-to-do folk, not some street people): extremely cheesy. After a few pages all I wanted is Bundy to come and take care of all main characters. I was wondering: is he going to start writing about Bundy at all? He didn't have much to say, may be that's why the book was mainly about the "professor" and his daughter. Sure, "professor" catches Bundy at the end. Come on--in real life he'd wet his pants from the thought of Ted. Lousy writing. The book contained juicy moments like about the father of the victim, "professor" apparently wanting to have sex with the mother of another victim (and vice versa, the daugher tells him "She wants you, Daddy") Isn't it truly perverted? The book allowed us to pick into most intimate details of "professor's" surviving daughter's life. Like discussing her period with "Daddy". Wow. I was wondering was it Bundy who was sick after that.



4. Despite the press hype, Ted Bundy was a lout. A chronic failed student and loser with girls whenever he seriously tried. As one surprisingly honest reporter put it, "He was not very intelligent, nor was he either well travelled or well read. He picked his nose during the interviews." So much for Ted Bundy in real time. Writing a 420 pg novel with a cockaroach running amok as the main character was certainly a challenge, but Michael Perry fufilled it very well. In doing so, he helps bring us all back to the reality of how squalid such serial killers as Bundy & Co. are.



5. Don't recommend. The author has a great premise and does some good work here and there. Other than that, it is a dull read and it seems like the author mixed some romance novel descriptions of some of the characters. He wasn't familiar enough with Bundy, because he made Bundy do things he WOULD NEVER have done in real life. Any reader of true crime/Bundy will instantly be bored with the long drawn out character buildups. Bundy lurks around in the background for awhile, but not enough story around how he got out of jail what he's thinking, his behavior, etc.

No comments about Ted Bundy: The killer next door.

3 comments about Ted Bundy: The FBI Files.

1. This book contains very little info and is not what you may think with tons of interesting documents. There is much blacked out on every page. Don't waste your money.



2. it appears that these are in fact... official FBI files, but all the interesting information has been blacked out... and so i say
   ...................WHAT IS THE POINT?



3. The very limited information in this book is probably available in the online (or hard copy)archives of the Salt Lake Tribune newspaper (Salt Lake City, Utah) and the Deseret News newspaper (Salt Lake City, Utah). Nothing useful or interesting in "The FBI Files" other than copies of articles from the above newspapers. The newspaper articles were primarily about his two jail escapes in Colorado. Who cares? Ted Bundy: The FBI Files

5 comments about The Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive History.

1. The Bundy Murders is an updated look at the infamous murders of Ted Bundy. This book has great detail on the last movements of the victims. The work does not have the usual 8 or 9 picture gallery "photos of the victims". Sullivan's focus is on the murdered girls as people and has lots of detail on them, their movements and the location in which the crime occurred.
   The book has great new information on potential victims that escaped with their lives. TBM gives much more insight on Ted's trolling methods and the ruses he used to ensnare victims. There are many references to witnesses not mentioned in other accounts.
   
   Ted had scrapes with law enforcement and other people who were very suspicious of Ted and his sneaky and wily ways. Sullivan captures these in his text. The image of Ted the "super-sneak" is slightly tarnished as the author shows that people did have their suspicions about the mighty Bundy before his eventual capture.
   
   The numbers tell the horrible story. For four years, Ted Bundy, the all-American boy, slaughtered our daughters. 36 women. A person every 45 days on average, fell to the warped psyche of the most horrific killer in American history. TBM does a first rate job of putting all the evidence and facts on view for everyone to see. Bundy killed 36 or so women and greatly impacted a few thousand more. All these people suffered to satisfy the twisted sexual and psychological needs of a warped human being.
   
   Read this book if you want to get more information on the case. Some of the older books done on the Bundy murders lacked the detail Kevin sullivan has been able to provide. Buy this book if you want that kind of detail.



2. Poorly researched. Poorly written--and by this I mean the prose itself is simply bad, a poor style, overwrought and emotional. It's like the overemotional, purple prose of Anne Rule's book, but even worse. Very little information that can't be found in other, better books. Leaves questions unanswered that the writer should have dealt with: why does he believe Bundy killed Carol Valenzuela? Also quite short: basically a superficial treatment of Bundy that certainly isn't worth the hefty price tag. A few pictures are interesting.
   
   The one indispensable book for persons interested in Ted Bundy remains "The Only Living Witness" by Stephen Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth. Get this one only if you want a complete Bundy catalog.



3. A note to readers from the author: Please note that the two negative reviews ARE NOT from verified purchasers, yet they chose to respond at Amazon. Additional background: Since January 24, 2009, I've been answering questions at the site Executed Today. Since that time, there have been over 1400 Q&A's, and it looks like the interest will continue there for some time. Recently, however, an individual has been commenting negatively and her attacks have become personal. Now, I believe, based on the usage of the English language, she is attempting to carry on her diatribe here as well. I do not mind a legitimate negative review, but untruthful, negative, and perhaps slanderous attacks I cannot abide. Just a word to the wise.
   
   Kevin M. Sullivan



4. To be fair, I'm sure that Mr. Sullivan worked assiduously to write "The Bundy Murders." However, I found very few new facts or insights offered about Bundy and his murders. The majority of this book seems to have been written before, especially if one has read the other Bundy books that are already available in wide circulation. Contrary to some reviews, I did not find the victims' lives to be presented any more or less personally and thoroughly than in the other Bundy books.
   
   Unfortunately, I found the author's prose and writing style to be very distracting, especially the rampant use of clichés and the misuse and abuse of semicolons. For $45, I would expect a well-written, 100% error-free book. More proofreading and editing is essential!
   
   I am well aware that Bundy was a sadistic, murderous psychopath, and I didn't constantly need to be reminded of this. Additionally, the author's continually referring to Bundy as "evil," "diabolical," a "madman," and a "monster" takes away from the legitimacy of the book. Not only are these words hackneyed, but also they reduce the complexity of Bundy's psychopathology and personality aberrations to a grade-school level vocabulary and understanding. In chapter 14, the excerpts of dialogue between Bundy and various investigators were not helpful to understanding Bundy or his case. They lack substance, and their inclusion for informational purposes is very questionable.
   
   Lest I sound like a complete curmudgeon, I found a few positive points in this book. Bundy's downward spiral (from the Healy abduction and murder in 1974 to his complete disintegration in Florida by 1978) is well illustrated. In my opinion, Dr. Tanay's psychiatric impressions of Bundy and his personality is the most useful part of the book. Also, it was nice to see a few photos of the Viewmont High Auditorium and the Fashion Place Mall.
   
   All in all, this book was very disappointing. It is not worth the hefty price. Those interested in Bundy would be advised first to check out the best books on Bundy: "The Only Living Witness," "Conversations With a Killer," and "The Riverman." I also strongly recommend visiting Executedtoday.com to follow the 13-monthlong discussion thread (about all things related to Bundy) between Mr. Sullivan and various people. I found this to be much, much more interesting, insightful, and useful than reading "The Bundy Murders."



5. I am Lorraine Fargo, briefly mentioned in Mr. Sullivan's account of Ted Bundy's murder of a close friend of mine, Roberta Kathleen Parks. I must admit that seeing my name in print after all these years was a bit of a shock to me, and rekindled all of the emotions we all felt, 36 years ago, when Kathy disappeared. I have not yet completed reading Mr. Sullivan's book, but from what I have read, it is very accurate, and the very readable style in which it is written makes it hard to put down.
   
   I have had the pleasure of communicating with Mr. Sullivan since I became aware of this book, and I can tell you that his intent is to deliver the facts in an insightful and sensitive way. I believe he has accomplished this and then some.
   
   Ted Bundy effected the lives of many, many people prior to his eventual capture and execution, and I am one of them. I'd like to thank you publically, Kevin, for your detailed and sensitive account of this horrific series of events that consumed the many loved ones, friends, and indeed, the entire nation for many years.
   
   Mr. Sullivan gives us a personal glimpse into the lives of Bundy's victims that earlier books failed to capture. If you are a true crime enthusiast or have a particular interest in Ted Bundy's criminal endeavors, this is a MUST READ. There are no other books in publication that offer the insight and details that Kevin Sullivan offers. READ THIS BOOK!
   
   Lorraine

No comments about Ted Bundy - The Campus Serial Killer (Biography).

5 comments about Ted Bundy : Conversations with a Killer.

1. 
   The latest book I read was entitled, "Conversations With A Killer", in which Bundy himself speaks, and he delved into the 'entity' that would dominate his being at times, and how that was the part of him that killed. Psychologically, he talked about how this entity came about and how it was nurtured. His disclosures were very informative.
   
   He was interviewed by two guys for this book. They did a good cop/bad cop routine, and the good cop allowed Bundy to speak in the third person. If he had spoken in the first person, that would have been tantamount to confession. Though already convicted, third person allowed him to avoid the stigma of confession, and so he was both willing and pleased to talk about himself.
   
   He described the serial murderer personality type, supposedly to the best of his indirect, researched knowledge. Everybody wants to know, 'What makes this guy tick?', and so he did his darnedest to explain just that. But then they switched over to the bad cop, as you'll recall, cops to the end, and this other guy was pushing for a number: "Okay, how many did you kill?". Bundy shut up. Wouldn't co-operate at all. At this point the book degenerates. It continues to be a neat read in the great sensationalist confectionary tabloid fodder tradition, but it stops being very informative.
   
   I wish they had kept up with the good cop half of their routine and maybe gotten further into this 'entity', but I suppose it all works out in the end because I think I have something to offer on the same subject, and will offer, with thanks to "Conversations"' shortcomings.
   
   Monstrous: The Autobiography of a Serial Killer but for the Grace of God



2. This book is a very frustrating read to say the least. Expecting a confession, Ted Bundy rambles with his little shenanigan of describing to the two writers, Stephen G. Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth in the third person in considerable detail what it "would be like" to be a serial killer. This confession of what he was eventually executed for in the electric chair sadly never comes. Ted Bundy was born on November 24, 1946. Bundy murdered numerous young women across the United States between 1974 and 1978. After a decade of vigorous denials, he eventually confessed (although not in this book) to 30 murders, although the actual total remains unknown. Estimates range from 29 to over 100, with the general estimate being 35. Generally, Bundy would bludgeon his victims, then strangle them to death. He also raped almost all his victims and engaged in necrophilia. Sex Crimes in History: Evolving Concepts of Sadism, Lust-Murder, and Necrophilia-from Ancient to Modern Times On January 23, 1989, the night before Bundy was executed at age 42 at Florida State Prison in Starke, Florida, Bundy gave a television interview to James Dobson, head of the Christian organization "Focus on Family" Where do you draw the line?: An exploration into media violence, pornography, and censorship During the interview, Bundy made repeated claims as to the pornographic "roots" of his crimes. He stated that, while pornography did not cause him to commit murder, the consumption of violent pornography helped "shape and mold" his violence into "behavior too terrible to describe." He alleged that he felt that violence in the media, "particularly sexualized violence" sent boys "down the road to being Ted Bundys." In the same interview, Bundy stated: "You are going to kill me, and that will protect society from me. But there are many, many more people who are addicted to pornography, and you are doing nothing about that." Bundy is interviewed in this book for over 150 hours, and throughout the pages denies that he ever killed anyone. Bundy gives a rambling tale of his early school days, his shoplifting, his drinking and feelings of inadequacy because he was a small man, but he points specifically at pornography as the start of all his problems. Interestingly enough, for a "cold-blooded, savage killer" to point at pornography as the start of his problems is supported in a book written by David E. Caton. Overcoming the addiction to pornography Caton supports Bundy's claim by stating: "The moral conscience of man becomes desensitized and seared from the use of pornography. Pictures which at one time were repulsive, obscene and vile become attractive to the porn user as his moral conscious erodes. By viewing soft core pornography, the porn user has opened the door for all wickedness and evil acts to become acceptable to him. The desire for harder porn becomes obsessive as the softer material appears less erotic to the porn user. Most often the porn user escalated his immoral behavior by indulging in hardcore porn, child porn, sadomasochistic porn, satan worship porn, and snuff (actual killing) films. The damage done through this escalation of immoral behavior is irreversible without Jesus Christ. The porn user has now become a prisoner to the spirit of bondage. Such bondage often leads the porn user to act out scenes in pornography, thus raping, molesting and even killing innocent people." Aside from detailing his earlier career as a "peeping tom", Bundy has this to say: "In a pornography shop you can find a variety of perversions in sexual conduct, from homosexuality, to abuse, to lesbianism, etc. People who market pornography are dealing with a special-interest group. It offers variety and different kinds of literature, and a certain percentage of it is devoted toward literature that explores situations where a man, in the context of sexual encounter, in one way or another, engages in some sort of violence toward a woman-or the victim." Annoyingly, Bundy gives an example of how, if one was to become a serial killer(in the 3rd person, of course), how the idea would come to him to hurt a woman would be as follows:" On one particular evening, when "he" had been drinking a great deal...and as he was passing a bar, he saw a woman leaving the bar and walk up a fairly dark street. And for no, uh, we'd say that, something seemed to seize him! I was going to say something crystallized, but that's another way of looking at it. But the urge to do something to that person seized him-in a way it had never affected him before. And it seized him strongly. And to the point where, uh, without giving it a great deal of thought, he searched around for some instrumentality to uh, uh, attack this woman with. He found a piece of two-by-four in a lot somewhere and proceeded to follow and track this girl". It's obvious to the reader who this "he" is. This gets irritating to the point that both Michaud and Aynesworth constantly remind Bundy of his evasiveness and that he deviates around a question if he doesn't like it. However, there is an important message Bundy sends to the public. Bundy states that the only thing that will stop a budding serial killer is to restrict or eliminate stimuli that could provoke that deadly behavior. Bundy explains: "The things that can be done to prevent persons from engaging in homocidal behavior on a massive scale are things which society has to correct on a massive scale. If society were able to restrict or otherwise eliminate the environmental stimuli that provoke or otherwise create this kind of individual, or the mores that contribute to his behavior, then it would go a long way toward eliminating that kind of behavior". This statement of Bundy's is supported in a book written by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society who claims that violent video games hardwire young people for shooting at humans and that the entertainment industry conditions the young in exactly the same way the military does. Grossman writes: "Some would claim that modern, ultraviolent movies and their video-game equivalents examined here serve as a form of sublimation that will make violence and war obsolete. "Sublimation" is a term coined by Sigmund Freud Sexuality and The Psychology of Love referring to the turning of unacceptable urges and desires toward something socially desirable:taking the dark, unacceptable drives of the id and diverting them toward the sublime. Thus someone with a desire to slice open bodies may become a surgeon, or someone with an unacceptable urge toward violence may channel it towards sports, the military, or law enforcement. But watching movies is not sublimation. The entertainment industry is not providing a socially acceptable channeling of energy. Indeed, very little energy is generally spent in the passive reception of tv and movies. And this hardly qualifies as a socially acceptable or desirable channel for energies. Unless it has become socially desirable to kill outside the authority of the law, or to murder innocent victims-which, in the twisted world of the entertainment industry, it has. If violence in tv and movies were a form of sublimation, and if it were at all effective, then per capita violence should be going down. Instead it has multiplied nearly seven times in the span of the same generation in which this supposed sublimation has become available". Clearly, Bundy has a point. There are two topics that Bundy explored that truly jump out at me in this book. First, if you didn't know that Ted Bundy had sodomized, decapitated, raped and murdered over 30 innocent women, you would get the sense that he was a very level headed, smart and sophisticated gentleman that couldn't be a savage, serial-killing degenerate. However, when Michaud and Ainsworth confront Bundy about if he had any remorse or guilt for what he had done, Bundy frightfully had this to say:"I don't feel guilty for anything. Guilt? It's this mechanism we use to control people. It's an illusion. it's a kind of social control mechanism-and it's very unhealthy. It does terrible things to our bodies. I feel sorry for people who feel guilt". Obviously, this man is very sick! Emotional Blackmail: When the People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation, and Guilt to Manipulate You Even more deranged, is his justification of a serial killer where he asserts: "Well, she or he (once again, Bundy talks in the 3rd person) would of hurt me if I hadn't hurt them. Well, there's so many people, they won't be missed. The victim was luring them or trying to arouse them, uh, in some way. They deserved it, you know, or uh, all sorts of things like that". Profilers: Leading Investigators Take You Inside The Criminal Mind Finally, this book, while being a let down because Bundy never admits as to his terrifying deeds, does give you a glimpse into how a charming, clean-cut, all-American boy and law student was truly a master manipulator and sadistic monstor. This book, despite lacking a confession, was an interesting read worthy of your time. It will give you a glimpse of what made this sociopath tick!



3. I have facinations with the minds of serial killers and a disticnt love for reading, learning, hearing, and or seeing ( not in rea life movie potrayals mostly) of what they have done, this book although i am not even finished yet, i read when the book arrived at my house at 5:00pm until 1 in the morning! i couldn't put it down, i didn't even want to go to school just so i could finish it! haha, but i did :)
   
   
   Ted bundy killed over 30 women in the 70's and he basically discribed what he did, but in 3rd person. He was not confessing, you can tell that this was what had happend. He also goes through what makes a killer want to do these things how they feel, there tactics everything down to the slightest detail. And you'll always find yourself laughing at the coy remarks he makes. It goes through letters he writes to the authors, tapes he makes of his thoughts and comments, and one on one interviews with the two authors and bundy. There is never a dull page, you'll find amazing facts you never knew, and will make you think more and more about what the life of this man was before he killed, and how it lead up to him actually doing it.
   
   This book is the best by far i have read about bundy.
   and i DEFFINATLY recommend it for anyone who has an intrest in ted, or just fascinated by the whole life and mind of a killer thing. i can't wait to go home and read the rest :)



4. It's well written, but I would recommend "The Only Living Witness", "The Stranger Beside Me", and "The Riverman" for a true crime reader. It doesn't give any more information than what has already been written.



5. They say not to judge a book by it's cover, but in a sense, we must. From the cover, this book looked strangely interesting: it didn't seem like a previously opinionated crime writer's account of Bundy; rather, it was Bundy himself speaking.
   
   The only problem is that what Bundy says in the book is pretty -- in short --boring. I don't want to give away what goes on in this book, but let's just say that the subtitle "conversations with a killer" does NOT fit well. Sure, it may be conversations WITH a killer, but barely about the KILLING that Bundy did.
   
   The authors spend their entire book arguing with Bundy to fess up to at least ONE murder and comment on it; or at least come up with ONE alibi for explanation. He does neither. Instead, Bundy gives a textbook version of what a serial killer would probably be like. If I wanted that, I could have opened my abnormal psychology book from my undergrad psych class.

5 comments about The Stranger Beside Me: The Twentieth Anniversary Edition.

1. I am going to give this book 2 stars for some effort, but because the book was not only faulty in some areas but also there was some very unnecessary information about Ann Rule's friendship with Bundy. The bottom line is who cares if she worked with him and was friends with the guy? That doesn't make her any more qualified to write about him then anyone else. Miss Rule adds to much conjecture and her own personal opinion.
   
   Miss Rule also plays hard and loose with some of the facts. For instance she states that James Dobson (who interviewed Bundy just hours before his execution) is an evangelist and preacher. That's simply not true, Dr. Dobson graduated with a PHD from USC in psychology and is a fully licensed psychologist in California. He worked as the head of the pediatrics division of USC for 14 years. She calls him an evangelist because he has a radio show called Focus on the Family and is a Christian man. To me this sounds of sour grapes that Miss Rule didn't get the interview with Bundy. She also states that Bundy and Dr. Dobson had been "corresponding for years." That is also not true. Ted Bundy had contacted James Dobson two years prior and wanted to schedule an interview.
   
   Finally Miss Rule states at least umpteen times that she had never seen anything strange in Bundy's personality or behavior when she was friends with him. This is so predictable, in that how many times do we have to hear that some creep who has killed people was "normal" and a very "nice guy?" The fact that Miss Rule didn't detect any abberation in Bundy's behavior is insignificant. Ann Rule says that she was completely shocked when Bundy began to confess, as if she still held to the belief that he was an innocent man being rail roaded until then, give me a break. I guess the only way that Miss Rule would have considered him weird or odd is if he was exposing himself while doing back flips.
   
   I was hoping to find more about Bundy's childhood and information into the investigation and trial. Ann Rule continues to give her opinion when it is not needed nor wanted. I don't care one iota that she knew him and I certainly don't think it is mysterious that she knew him. The guy had tons of friends and it is inevitable that someone would have written about their personal knowledge of one of the worst serial killers of the 20th century.
   
   If you are looking for insight into the investigation and why Bundy did this, don't waste your time with this book. It is too long, and Ann Rule spends way too much time talking about what she thinks and the times that she spoke with Bundy in her personal life. It's about as interesting and if I wrote about my conversations with my co-workers throughout the past year. It's boring.
   
   I would recommend "The only living witness" over this. Ann Rule used to write articles for detective magazines. Her writings are evident of that. Sorry to say but this reminded me of a trash novel.



2. I have been reading Ann Rule books for several years but never got around to reading The Stranger Beside Me. I owned the book, but kept putting it aside to read other books. After reading her Green River book, I decided to finally read the book about Ted Bundy.
   
   Now, to preface my rating, I must tell you that in 1974 I moved to Florida with my family just after my high school graduation. I worked for few years going to community college before enrolling at Univ of Fla in 1978. This was the year that Ted Bundy came to Florida, to FSU, just up the road. I had never heard of him until the murders and the trial, but by then I was a student at U of F. It was horrifying and yet for us college students, a bit surreal. We took it seriously but then we really didn't. We still propped open our dorm doors at night so people could get in without keys. We still walked alone around campus at night. We were stupid and even the horror of Ted Bundy did not shake us up. So this is probably why I bought this book and didn't really want to read it... it was real and I was so close to it. I could have been one of his victims, all of us in college during those times could have been his victim, and it is hard to swallow.
   
   The book I am rating as 5 stars even though I don't believe it is her best book. It was her first real book and since she herself was a main character, I can imagine how difficult it must have been to write. I give her big kudos for going through with it, knowing the kind of criticism she was going to receive. The books has its flaws but I think it was a story that needed to be told and the fact she was right there as a part of it makes it a great book. If you are a True Crime buff, like me, you need to read this book. The story is important, but also the lesson that we can be so close to evil and not know it is important. Ann Rule was an experienced investigator and cop and yet she didn't see the evil inside of him. That fact makes it easier to understand why family members of so many "killers" can't believe the truth, even when confronted with the facts. Sometimes we can't see evil, we are too close.



3. This is a very unique book in that the author actually knew Ted Bundy and had worked beside him. She is a former police officer turned nonfiction crime writer, and her books are very well researched and detailed without sensationalizing the crimes. They include enough biographical information on the victims that you truly identify with them, and the book is hard to put down. I read this book years ago and it permanently changed my awareness of my surroundings. Before I read this book, I would have offered to help Ted without a second thought and could have easily become a victim at the wrong time and place.
   
   With that said, I almost gave this book 4 stars instead of 5, which would have been a mistake. After recently rereading this book after many years, two things about it bothered me:
   
   1. The author's friendship with Ted just keeps showing through. Understandable, but it became a little frustrating about two-thirds through the book. Of course, this perspective is one of the things that makes this book so fascinating, so maybe that one is totally unfair to her. She doesn't sugar coat his actions, but her feelings are evident throughout the book.
   
   2. His last known victim, 12 year old Kimberly Leach, doesn't receive nearly enough attention IMHO. Bundy received another death sentence for her kidnapping/rape/murder, but this case gets minimal coverage in the book. The thought crept in that maybe it received less attention because, if possible, it shows Bundy in an even more unfavorable light than the others. His other known victims were at least a few years older. In any case, I felt Kimberly's case deserved much more attention than it received. As her case actually went to trial, there would have been ample material available for research, in addition to the author's police connections. Perhaps she was too weary of it all, but this case seems almost to have been mentioned only as an afterthought.
   
   Nontheless, this book should be a must-read. It is absolutely fascinating and has undoubtedly saved lives. Serial killers are clever, often attractive people who are good at mimicking normalcy, and unless you (and your children) have at least some awareness of their methods, you might be easy prey.
   
   I have no doubt that this book was an emotionally difficult one for the author to write because of her friendship with the killer. My hat's off to her for doing a fantastic job. This edition has an additional update which is also very informative. The book really is 5 stars all the way. Read it and share it with someone you love.



4. I have always wanted to know the story of what happened, and if you ever wanted to know about Ted Bundy, this is the best book. It actually scared me in a couple parts, but it was impossible to put down even though I already knew the ending. Good book!!



5. If you're a true crime aficionado then ths book is likely a must-read for you. As most people know by now, Ann Rule knew Bundy as a pleasant work colleague (at a suicide hotline, of all places) and friend before he was revealed to be a serial killer, and part of the book is devoted to her first-person interactions with him. The book helped propel Rule to fame as a true-crime writer. It's a well-detailed book and is free of a lot of the seeming hyperbole that characterizes some of Rule's other works - rather than constantly touting how "evil" Bundy is, Rule actually seems to downplay some of the awful aspects of his crimes. Because Rule shows that Bundy could act very pleasant and "normal" through her first-hand recountings, the book is especially chilling and sheds light on the behavior of psychopaths and how the killer got away with his crimes for so long, in a way that her other books do not. This is definitely one of Rule's more interesting and readable books, maybe in part because the Bundy story is more interesting, twisted and full of surprises than the average criminal's history.

5 comments about The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer.

1. I read another reviewer point out that the title of the book should be
   "How I tried to outwit Bundy, and lost". in my opinion, there couldn't be a better title. There are so many logical fallacies in the book that it really makes Keppel look quite unprofessional. He makes assertions and states as fact, information that is nothing more than suspicion speculation. Some of the information in this book has been proven completely inaccurate since its publishing date. All I ask is that a non-fiction writer present me with a review of the FACTS...NOT long winded, delusional, self promotion. One of the last things Robert Keppel writes is something about Ted being a truly insignicant creature. Well, the fact that you've written books about the guy would indicate otherwise, BOB!



2. Ted Bundy talking about Gary Ridgeway! How much better does it get? Manipulating, charming, no feelings for human life.....just a amazing book that you can see how these guys think. Also, gives you an understanding why they are what they are.



3. This book has about 24 chapters I believe and only about 4 good ones but the good ones are worth it. If you just skip around to avoid the information that you already know if you have read about either man. Start on Chapter 7.



4. This is a marvelous work. Let me get that out in the outset. The evolution of crime solving and the birth of profiling and computer-driven suspect elimination is thought-provoking and wonderful. We sort of take all the technology we see on CSI or profiling methods seen on Criminal Minds for granted but there was a time when those who even suggested such progressive methods were laughed at and sent to work in the sticks. Dr. Keppel takes us on a journey that begins with catching Ted Bundy, the Atlanta Child Murderer and then begins a long, long road to catching the Green River Killer. I realize the book was originally published before the Green River Killer was caught and that it has been updated to suit that but I think it could do with another round of editing. The idea of getting into the mind of a serial killer is fascinating. I can never figure out in my heart of hearts why they do it. What could make someone so detached to human life that taking it becomes such a great need? I thought a window into this question would be found by the actual interviews conducted by Dr Keppel and Sherrif Reichert but Bundy, in the end was just a babbler. I realize that, before the GRK was caught any possible thing sputtered by Bundy may have clicked with someone somewhere who could connect the dots better than any one with all of Bundy's musings but now that the GRK is behind bars, I think it would do to eliminate many of the ramblings that had nothing to do with the eventual kiler whatsoever or at least summarise them. Having to read about Bundy suggesting having a slasher movie festival and having cops take pictures of the guys going in and out, having cops stakeout the place where a body has been discovered waiting for the killer to come back sounds (and is) very intriguing the first time you hear. But after 60 pages of endless repeition and variation of these ideas, the reader gets a bit annoyed.
   But please don't let this turn you off the book. It is a viable textbook for catching serial killers and a window into the genius minds of those who catch them and the twisted minds of those who do these terrible, terrible things.



5. I believe Dr. Keppel milked this Bundy thing to way past the Florida execution, and I get the feeling that he was capitivated by Bundy or somewhat under his influence. But thank goodness we got Bundy off the streets and into hell. This wasn't the best true crime book by any means but had its interesting chapters and more insight into Bundy; but not much about the Green River killer who is now in prison. I liked the information on VICAP and happy to know that they are tracking these violent sociopaths/serial killers, and unfortunately, there's plenty out there in society. The book at least brought more awareness to the dangers that Bundy and others present to all of us, anytime, anywhere.

3 comments about "Happy New Year - ted" A Revolutionary Crime Theory Theodore Bundy and the Columbus Stocking Stranglings.

1. Did Ted Bundy commit murders that were never attributed to him? This book uses strong detail with even stronger evidence to make that exact case. It's obvious from the first paragraph that these guys have done their homework. This book is a must for the serious crime reader. You'll be hard pressed to put this down once you start reading it, so be prepared!



2. A unique glimpse into the mind of one of the most heartless serial killers in American history. Wilson and Keiss provide facts, educated speculation and a trunk load of research to create a entertaining read, and more importantly, shine new light on a horrible series of crimes more than three decades old.
   Was the Bundy body count underscored? Could he have been connected to an "unrelated" series of Murders in the small southern town of Columbus Georgia?
   Happy New Year -Ted may cause you to rethink the crimes and abilities of one of the most intelligent serial killers of our lifetime.
   
   Det. Dan Whitehurst. MNPD- Retired.



3. I just recived my book from Judybug_books... I am very pleased... It is a used signed first edition with dust cover... It is better then I could have gotten Brand New...I am sold on getting book ect from Judybug_books.. They are a wonderful Seller... Thanks Cynthia

5 comments about The Only Living Witness: The True Story of Serial Sex Killer Ted Bundy.

1. There were several different editions of this book published over the years, and this is probably the worst. The 1999 Authorlink edition has several annoying typos, and a word limit, which omits crucial pieces of information surrounding several murders (i.e. the Lynette Culver murder). Be forewarned this edition does not have any pictures in it: a disappointment to many biography readers. From what I've heard, the 1991 edition is probably the best. There was a 1983 edition (the first one published I believe) which contains the most pictures, but alas, that edition did not include the last minute execution confessions. It would be my opinion to hunt out the 1991 edition at a used bookstore.
   Onto the book itself: Steve Michaud and Huge Aynesworth got to interview Bundy extensively while on Death Row. Therefore unlike Ann Rule's book, there is little speculation as to what happened: Bundy confesses in third person what actually did happen in several murders. The writing is devoid of fluffy sentiment and melodrama, instead it gets down to the bare bones of the facts. While "The Stranger Beside Me" romanticizes and glosses over things, "The Only Living Witness" lets you see the monster up close, and even takes you inside his bizarre rationalization ("What's one less person on the face of the Earth anyway?" Bundy muses to Hugh). It's a chilling account, and by the end one is ready to pull the execution lever themselves.



2. I'm a fan of true crime and have long been meaning to read Ann Rule's "The Stranger Beside Me." However, after reading reviews of that book and hearing her writing skills were poor and objectivism non-existent, I decided to pick up this book instead. Very glad I did! The two authors were able to interview Ted Bundy and hear about his crimes straight from his mouth, so you get a very first-person look at the mind of a serial killer. They also interviewed everyone from his past, from childhood all the way up until days before his final arrest. It was an incredibly complete look at the evolution of this man and his crimes. Well-written and a tiny bit slow-paced, but the story was interesting enough that it didn't need to be jazzed up or sped through. The revised edition gives you updates on some final confessions and courtroom scenes that weren't in the original, and help bring closure, so I highly recommend this version. I was a little afraid that a book about mass murders would give me nightmares for months (the way Bugliosi's "Helter Skelter" did), but it was presented so matter-of-factly and almost sympathetically that it read more like a pyschological case study than a true-crime novel.



3. Ted Bundy's execution was one of the news events I remembered from my childhood for some reason. I had just turned 14 and remembered reading an article about him. He was my first serial killer memory, knowing that he was a monster, just a regular guy, and the chilling effect it had on the public at large. There are people like him out in the world, living among us, whose crimes are unreported and unknown.
   
   Ted was, for all intensive purposes, just a regular guy with a rather unremarkable life. He was born illegitimate to a teenage mother in a home for unwed mothers on the east coast. His mother, attempting to restart her life, moved to Washington state and would marry John Bundy, where they would have more children. There are, however, two stories floating around out there about Ted's discovery of the truth. There is one version where Ted discovered at age 14 that John Bundy was not his father when he had believed that he was. Another version says that he believed that his mother was his much older sister and that the people he believed were his parents were actually his grandparents. Despite which story was the truth, at age 14 the family secret came out, and Ted would shatter inside. He began his killing spree in the Pacific Northwest, continuing to Colorado (where he would escape from prison twice), finally ending up in Florida, where he would be apprehended and put to death at last.
   
   One thing that this book touched on was the fact that Ted experienced some kind of celebrity after his arrest. He had courtroom groupies (like a lot of famous murderers do), who giggle and jostle each other in court when he gives them a wink or a smile. He even married a former coworker who believed he was innocent with all her heart! They had a child together, his daughter is now in her mid twenties. Why do these women do this? They feel a sense of celebrity appeal, and also the trill of being with the ultimate of ultimate bad boys. Disturbing? It should be.
   
   This book details the horror of his crimes, down to the graphic details and making us cringe in repulsion. What causes a person to do this? What happened to an otherwise normal person that makes them explode into a monster? Was this monster always there or was he made? We all have that monster inside us, the one that can and will come out, but we control it somehow. Some people, however, do not. Ted truly was the monster, the beast, the horror.



4. This is a well-written and researched account of Ted Bundy's interviews given to the authors, who at one time assisted the defense lawyers in researching Bundy's crimes. Bundy, who refused to confess to the authors, spoke of the murders in the third person, as if he was trying to explain to the authors what kind of mentality would do these crimes and what actions and feelings the murderer would have.
   
   This fiction results in a devastating, chilling account from Bundy himself -- an obviously educated, intelligent and thoughtful person who also happened to be an uncontrollable mass murderer.
   
   I had trouble putting this one down.



5. "The Only Living Witness" is an excellent showcase into the mind of Ted Bundy but this book is the worst edition to have come out..I have the 1983 edition and not only does it have pictures,it's also more detailed when compared to this edition..The latest edition of 1999 omits so much of information that it ends up making the book incomplete..Plus the spelling mistakes are irritating..No pictures!!So many things were left out that I regret even buying this edition..
   
   Ted Bundy was a very complex man to understand and if you want to really get a more detailed picture of the man,I would suggest the 1983 edition..I have ordered but not yet received the 1991 edition and I heard it's even better than the 1983 version..