The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story

by Ann Rule
The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story cover
Good Books rating 3.5
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  • ID: 2587
  • Added: 2025-10-15
  • Updated: 2025-10-15
  • Reviews: 4
Reviews
goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
concerning 2.00

The book portrays Christopher as elitist, violent, and lacking empathy, which may reinforce harmful stereotypes about autistic people. The reviewer finds the portrayal concerning and worries it could justify harmful treatment towards autistic individuals.

The reviewer expresses significant concern about the portrayal of Christopher in the book. They find his character to be elitist, violent, and lacking empathy, which they believe could reinforce harmful stereotypes about autistic people. The reviewer worries that this portrayal might lead some readers to assume that harmful treatment towards autistic individuals is acceptable or even deserved. They also note that the book does not provide a positive or nuanced representation of autistic people, which could be misleading for inexperienced readers. The extensive violence depicted in the book is particularly troubling, as it sends the message that being autistic is synonymous with being violent, which is not an accurate or fair representation.

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    The way the author chooses to portray Christopher makes me worry that some people will assume that harmful treatment toward autistic people is okay, or even deserved.

    Christopher is portrayed as elitist, violent, and lacking empathy.

    The extensive violence made me uncomfortable because it sends the message that this is what being autistic is like.

hardcover.app · Unknown · 2025-10-21
harrowing 2.50

The book provides a chilling and intimate look into the life of Ted Bundy, offering a unique perspective from someone who knew him personally. While it delves deep into Bundy's psychology and crimes, some readers may find the narrative slow and repetitive.

The Stranger Beside Me offers a deeply unsettling yet fascinating glimpse into the mind of one of America's most notorious serial killers, Ted Bundy. The author's personal connection to Bundy adds a layer of authenticity and intimacy that is both compelling and disturbing. The book meticulously explores Bundy's psychological makeup and the horrific crimes he committed, providing a chilling account of his dual nature. However, the narrative can feel slow at times, and some readers might find the repetitive details of Bundy's crimes overwhelming. Despite these drawbacks, the book is a significant contribution to the true crime genre, offering insights that are both harrowing and thought-provoking. For those interested in the psychology of serial killers, this book is a must-read, though it may not be suitable for those easily disturbed by graphic content.

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    The author's personal connection to Bundy adds a layer of authenticity and intimacy that is both compelling and disturbing.

    The book meticulously explores Bundy's psychological makeup and the horrific crimes he committed, providing a chilling account of his dual nature.

    The narrative can feel slow at times, and some readers might find the repetitive details of Bundy's crimes overwhelming.

librarything.com · Unknown · 2025-10-21
brilliant 4.50

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a compelling and thought-provoking novel narrated by a 15-year-old boy with Asperger's Syndrome. The story is both heartwarming and insightful, offering a unique perspective on autism and the challenges faced by those who live with it. The protagonist's journey is both emotional and inspiring, making it a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a heartfelt message.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is an incredible rollercoaster of a tale, written in the voice of a fifteen-year-old boy with Asperger’s Syndrome called Christopher Boone. After discovering his neighbour’s dog has been murdered, he sets off to find out who the murderer could be. On this quest, he discovers far more than he anticipated. Some people struggle to deal with Christopher because he can be so uncompromising, but the reviewer found him rather loveable. He is completely true to himself, brilliant, and driven by logic not emotion, much like his hero Sherlock Holmes. Without giving away the ending, Christopher manages to solve the mystery of the murdered dog in the most extraordinary way and becomes the unlikely hero of the story. Not only are his detective skills excellent, but he also manages to get brilliant marks in maths exams without a lot of revision. This is one of the most original and thought-provoking books the reviewer has read in the last year. It is one of those stories, like To Kill a Mockingbird, that the reviewer feels everyone should know about. It has had a great impact on them as it has made them think differently about people with autism and understand their ways of thinking and other talents are amazing and important. The reviewer would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery, moments of heartbreak but ultimately a happy ending and plenty of humour along the way.

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    It is one of those stories, like To Kill a Mockingbird, that I feel everyone should know about.

    He is also completely true to himself, brilliant and like his hero Sherlock Holmes, driven by logic not emotion.

    It has had a great impact on me as it has made me think differently about people with autism and understand their ways of thinking and other talents are amazing and important.

books.apple.com · Unknown · 2024-04-30
excellent 5.00

The reviewer was highly impressed with the stage adaptation of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time', praising the stellar performance of David Breeds as Christopher and the innovative staging and lighting. They found the entire production to be a heartfelt and creative showcase of theatre at its best, highly recommending it even to those who haven't read the novel.

The reviewer was thrilled to see the acclaimed National Theatre production of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' at the Manchester Opera House. They were particularly impressed with David Breeds' portrayal of Christopher, capturing the character's anxiety and vulnerability with remarkable skill. The reviewer also praised the entire cast, especially Rebecca Root as Siobbhan, for their excellent performances. The staging and lighting were highlighted as standout elements, effectively portraying Christopher's emotions and adding depth to the story. The reviewer found the production to be a fantastic representation of theatre, with incredible acting, fantastic lighting, and a heartfelt story. They highly recommend the show, even to those who haven't read the novel, and suggest waiting for the final bows for a potential surprise.

Quick quotes

    David Breeds was stellar as Christopher — his mannerisms captured his anxiety, and his nervous body movements made me believe he was fifteen.

    The entire cast was excellent.

    The most striking part of this play was definitely the staging and lighting.

    I genuinely could not recommend it enough, even if you haven’t read the novel, because I’m sure that you’ll have a great time figuring out the mysteries and joining Christopher in his journey.

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