It was mentioned that the main character, Lindsay, read a book about Ted Bundy while in high school, and it was this book that sparked her interest in becoming a detective.
"
In high school she read a book about the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy.
— Episode: Evil Was Watching
Episode: Evil Was Watching
It was mentioned that the main character, Lindsay, read a book about Ted Bundy while in high school, and it was this book that sparked her interest in becoming a detective.
"
In high school she read a book about the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy.
And I was fascinated by the book and terrified at the same time.
And I just decided that that's what I wanted to do for a living. I wanted to catch people like him.
The hosts repeatedly highlighted the book as a seminal true‑crime account of Ted Bundy, noting its detailed month‑by‑month narrative and the author’s personal connection to the killer. Karen Kilgariff, who wrote the foreword for the anniversary edition, called it a timeless page‑turner and urged listeners to get a copy, while Georgia Hardstark praised its chilling insider perspective. Although both admitted it was unsettling enough to give them nightmares, they still presented it as essential listening for true‑crime fans.
Highly Recommended
Episode: 434 - How Many Last Names Are There?
Lindsay stumbled across the book in the school library, which was about Ted Bundy. It's described as legendary.
"
So legendary.
Episode: MFM Minisode 379
It was mentioned that the black and white photos in the middle of the book were always the first thing to be seen, and that a listener's first encounter with Ann Rule's book was through a cousin's copy.
"
I just recently become acquainted with her books remember the black and white photos that were always in the middle turn to those immediately first I wouldn't know what was going on in the story
that's how I saw that picture in the John Wayne Gacy book that my cousin Marty had that haunted me forever and landed me here on the podcast my favorite murder
Episode: 381 - Joein' It Up
It was mentioned in the context of the Rita Curran case, suggesting that Ted Bundy may have been involved in her murder, due to similarities between Rita and his victims.
"
She points out that Rita Curran resembles Ted Bundy's girlfriend, Diane Edwards, as do many of his victims.
Episode: DUBBED: 221 - Symbolic Violins
It was mentioned as a book that someone enjoyed reading while having a bit of 'me time' during the early stages of the pandemic and quarantine.
"
I enjoyed some me time with a cup of coffee and a few chapters of The Stranger Beside Me.
Episode: 344 - Hypothetical Rearview Mirror
The book was re-released and Karen wrote the foreword. It was a true crime book about Ted Bundy that she read and loved when she was younger.
"
I had an incredible, huge honor this year that I just want to mention the re-release of the book, The Stranger Beside Me by Anne Rule.
I wrote the foreword to it.
And I'm really proud of that.
if you want to get a copy of the new Stranger Beside Me re-release.
Also that book, if you haven't read it, truly is a page turner unlike any other. It really is a beautiful, it just stands the test of time. It's such a beautiful book.
Episode: 297 - Lick the Difference!
It was described as very detailed and good, particularly in the way it presented the Ted Bundy case in a month-by-month manner.
"
Right now I'm reading a Ted Bundy book that I've never read before that is so detailed and so good.
And then you read another account and you're like, oh, I only know Ann rules account.
So Ann rules in there. These are the guys that interviewed him once he was in jail.
But it's not like that. Is it like a study of a sociopath kind of a thing or psychopath?
Well, it's just this story kind of really detailed so far. I'm only half. I just began. But it's it really is just like almost like month by month how it all went down and just the way like the different things that went on.
Episode: MFM Minisode 131 - The Worst
It was described as a disturbing book about a person, Ted Bundy, who is also the most disturbing person. The speaker was having nightmares after reading it.
"
I'm reading A Stranger Beside Me or The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule right now.
Don't read The Stranger Beside Me. I am having nightmares.
The most disturbing book about a person who. Is the most disturbing person.
Episode: 158 - Burn Day
It was mentioned that a friend had recently read it and was upset with the author for being fooled by Ted Bundy's charm, highlighting how effective his manipulative behaviour was.
"
She's so mad at Anne Rule for falling for Ted Bundy's act.
But I was like, but that's how good he was. That's how evil it is and whatever.
I think it's because he was able to fool Anne fucking Ruel.
Episode: MFM Minisode 204: Live From The Fan Cult
It was mentioned that the author's mother had read this book, which revealed the truth of the father's involvement in a police lineup with Ted Bundy.
"
My dad didn't find out the truth until Ann Rule published her book and my mom read it.
Episode: MFM Minisode 59
It was discussed as being a disturbing book about a disturbing person, namely Ted Bundy, who the author interviewed and didn't sense was a danger.
"
I'm reading A Stranger Beside Me or The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule right now.
Don't read The Stranger Beside Me.
I am having nightmares. I had a fucking I had a job interview with Ted Bundy the other night.
It's the most disturbing book about a person who is the most disturbing person.
But Anne Rule had all... Rules! She rules. But she also had every tool in the book to look at him and go, something's not right. And she didn't sense it.
Episode: 108 - King Of Police
It was described as being very good, but also dated, and the author was said to have deserved to live longer to update the book.
"
After a 20 year hiatus, I am again reading Stranger Beside Me.
I keep saying, stop reading this, Georgia. Stop reading this, Georgia. And I can't put it down. It's so good. It's so good. And it's also so dated. And Anne Rule, like, she should never have died because she just needs to keep updating this book.
Episode: 106 - Courage Shoulders
It was mentioned in passing as a book one of the speakers had recently purchased.
"
Oh, I just bought a stranger beside me.
Episode: MFM Minisode 131 - The Worst
It was mentioned that one of the hosts was reading it and found it to be quite disturbing, specifically due to the subject matter of the book.
"
I'm reading 'A Stranger Beside Me' or 'The Stranger Beside Me' by Ann Rule right now.
Don't read 'The Stranger Beside Me'. I am having nightmares.
The most disturbing book about a person who...is the most disturbing person.
Episode: 158 - Burn Day
It was mentioned that a friend had recently read it and was angry at the author for falling for Ted Bundy's act, highlighting Bundy's manipulative nature.
"
She's so mad at Anne Rule for falling for Ted Bundy's act.
But I was like, but that's how good he was. That's how evil it is and whatever.
Episode: MFM Minisode 59
It was described as the most disturbing book about a disturbing person, specifically Ted Bundy, and the narrator was having nightmares after reading it.
"
I'm reading A Stranger Beside Me or The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule right now.
Don't read The Stranger Beside Me.
I am having nightmares. I had a fucking I had a job interview with Ted Bundy the other night.
It's the most disturbing book about a person who is the most disturbing person.
But Anne Rule had all... Rules! She rules. But she also had every tool in the book to look at him and go, something's not right. And she didn't sense it.
Episode: 106 - Courage Shoulders
It was mentioned that Georgia Hardstark had recently purchased this book, Stranger Beside Me.
"
Oh, I just bought a stranger beside me.
Episode: 61 - Live at The Neptune
It was discussed as one of the speaker's favorite true crime books, written by a former crime reporter who knew Ted Bundy personally, which made the content even more chilling.
"
She churned it out for years and years. God bless her soul. And her story I wish I hear if this if I had all the time in the world and I could really fucking here's what I would do. I would now clear the stage. I would put on an Anne Rule costume and I would do a one woman show called 'The Stranger Beside Me'.
So if you don't know Anne Rule was a crime writer who in the 70s had been a cop and had become like a crime beat reporter among other things. I think she still worked in the police department also in some other ways. But she also volunteered as a suicide prevention hotline. And that is where she met the amazing Mr. Ted Bundy.
She worked side by side with him on the night shift at a suicide hotline. And she he was a close friend and she used to like to say if she was 10 years younger or her daughters were 15 years older. She thought he was the perfect man.
When I was reading 'A Stranger Beside Me', this I couldn't stop reading this chapter over and over because it's so fucking fucked up.
She like talks about it where she calls and says this is crazy and I mean it's probably not him but I right the thing is that he does have a gold Volkswagen.
The hosts noted that Ann Rule authored the book, which detailed her personal friendship with serial killer Ted Bundy and was regarded as a classic true‑crime work. They highlighted the unique perspective the title offered on the infamous case. The discussion was brief and factual, without strong endorsement.
Episode: True Crime Vault: A Tangled Web
The host mentioned Ann Rule's classic truecrime hardcover that details her friendship with Ted Bundy.
"
Rule is the daughter of legendary true crime author Ann Rule, who wrote the book The Stranger Beside Me about her friendship with Ted Bundy.
Episode: Bad Romance: Tangled Web (Revisited)
The narrator mentioned that Ann Rule authored the book TheStrangerBesideMe, which recounts her friendship with TedBundy.
"
Rule is the daughter of legendary true crime author Ann Rule, who wrote the book The Stranger Beside Me, about her friendship with Ted Bundy.
It was briefly mentioned as a book that Sandra London read, which was about Ann Rule's relationship with Ted Bundy. It was brought up in the context of Sandra's interest in the psychology and stories of serial killers.
"
She'd read a book by Ann Rule called The Stranger Beside Me. It was about Rule's relationship with Ted Bundy.
— Episode: Episode 75
Episode: Episode 75
It was briefly mentioned as a book that Sandra London read, which was about Ann Rule's relationship with Ted Bundy. It was brought up in the context of Sandra's interest in the psychology and stories of serial killers.
"
She'd read a book by Ann Rule called The Stranger Beside Me. It was about Rule's relationship with Ted Bundy.
The podcast hosts enjoyed watching the Netflix series, which is based on a book, and gave it a high rating. They found the British-based show entertaining and binged all eight episodes over two days.
"
It's called The Stranger.
— Episode: Tues Part 1: A Celebrity Messaged Lunchb...
Episode: Tues Part 1: A Celebrity Messaged Lunchbox + Tuesd...
The podcast hosts enjoyed watching the Netflix series, which is based on a book, and gave it a high rating. They found the British-based show entertaining and binged all eight episodes over two days.
"
It's called The Stranger.
It's on Netflix.
It came out a few years ago.
It's based on a book.
We're going four out of five baseball caps because well, it's British and it wasn't American.
Episode: Best Bits: JUST THE BITS
It was a British TV series on Netflix, based on a book. The show, watched in two days, received a 4 out of 5 rating and was praised for its captivating plot involving a web of secrets and a family man's quest for truth.
"
It's based on a book.
A web of secrets since family man Adam Price onto a desperate quest to discover the truth about the people closest to him. Now all from a stranger.
The hosts said the book illuminated the paradox of Ted Bundy's attractive appearance masking his serial murders, highlighting how a seemingly charming man could be a deadly predator.
"
The Stranger Beside Me actually illuminated this whole world of the good looking guy that you would be happy for your daughter to date is actually killing women who look like his first real love.
— Episode: Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan: IDEN...
Episode: Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan: IDENTIFIED - G...
The hosts said the book illuminated the paradox of Ted Bundy's attractive appearance masking his serial murders, highlighting how a seemingly charming man could be a deadly predator.
"
The Stranger Beside Me actually illuminated this whole world of the good looking guy that you would be happy for your daughter to date is actually killing women who look like his first real love.
Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.
