The godmother of true-crime books would have turned 90 years old today. Was Ann Rule’s prose the most beautifully Capotean thing you ever read? No. Did she make the wider market for true-crime stories and rule it with a prolific fist for decades? Hell yes she did. (Should Becky Ann Baker play her in a biopic? Ohhh yes — and Baker’s BET-CRP c.v. is impressive as it is, so keep an eye out for that soon.)
So, let’s celebrate with an Ann Rule open thread. What’s the first one you read? Have you not read any? Do you think she’s the sine qua non of the genre as we understand it today, or a hack — or both?
(And do you like to save money on used books? Because Exhibit B.’s got an Ann Rule-oween sale on! Enter code RULE22 at checkout to save on all her work, her daughter’s work, any cases out of the PNW, any genre classics, and more.) — SDB
The first Ann Rule I read was "Small Sacrifices." Oddly enough, I've never read "The Stranger Beside Me." I've read other Bundy books, like "Riverman," but not Stranger.
I think she falls in the midpoint as to writing quality. There are couple of things I really like about her work. First, she always made a point to try to center the victim(s), at least in the books I read, which in some books (Green River, Running Red) had to feel like a daunting task. Second, she didn't linger over the descriptions of the tortures/deaths of the victims, like others (looking straight at you, Darcy O'Brien).
So, yeah, I have a general affection for her and her books. In most cases, I think her shorter "files" were what I preferred, but I think "Small Sacrifices" is my favorite of her works.
I love Ann Rule's books. I have read all of her single-case books except The I-5 Killer. I am pretty sure the first one I read was The Stranger Beside Me when I was 13. I have reread it many times, and it's probably my favorite of her books. I also really loved Bitter Harvest, Small Sacrifices, and Dead by Sunset. I don't worry too much about prose quality when I read true crime. I think I may even enjoy the book more if it's tawdry and pulpy. Becky Ann Baker is a great choice to play her! (Jean Weir is my favorite character on Freaks & Geeks, too.)
Stranger Beside Me was the first I read and I remember it well because I made the mistake of reading it on a work trip while staying in a strange hotel. Scared the hell out of me going to bed at night.
Stranger Beside Me. And I was likely too young, but I ended up reading most of her books, so I would say yes, I like Ann Rule. No, she isn't the best writer but her books have stuck with me.
All the names sound similar but I think I've read most of them. The first I read was the one about Susan Smith? (Drove the kids in the lake?) Was it Small Sacrifices? She is the one who got me interested in true crime because for awhile, there wasn't a lot out there.
I've read all of her non-compilation books; can't remember the first one though. My favorite is And Never Let Her Go, with Small Sacrifices coming in second.
Like many of y'all, Small Sacrifices was my first Ann Rule and possibly my first true crime read ever (I was probably around 13)? It's also far and away my favorite of her books. I also liked And Never Let Her Go (there's a case I'm surprised hasn't gotten re-launched into the modern discourse given the politically connected parties involved...it has some real American Crime Story vibes) and Every Breath You Take. At some point I did begin to pick up on some of the less than stellar aspects of her prose, but I tend to forgive a lot when it comes to true crime (as Heather notes below).
On a related note, I've got a copy of Leslie Rule's (Ann's daughter) true crime debut, A Tangled Web, teed up to read. Has anybody else read it yet?
I also am devoted to Ann Rule. I’m pretty sure The Stranger Beside Me was my opening foray, and I never looked back. Not ashamed to admit I met her daughter at CrimeCon a couple of years ago, where I gushed like a fool. She was used to it. No, Rule wasn’t the best writer in the world, but I think she was a strong researcher and is always a compulsively good read. If you haven’t read And Never Let Her Go, please dig in. Also, could somebody please do her a favor and update her cover art?? At this point, it’s so bad it’s almost a cliche.
It's the anniversary of Ann Rule's birth
The first Ann Rule I read was "Small Sacrifices." Oddly enough, I've never read "The Stranger Beside Me." I've read other Bundy books, like "Riverman," but not Stranger.
I think she falls in the midpoint as to writing quality. There are couple of things I really like about her work. First, she always made a point to try to center the victim(s), at least in the books I read, which in some books (Green River, Running Red) had to feel like a daunting task. Second, she didn't linger over the descriptions of the tortures/deaths of the victims, like others (looking straight at you, Darcy O'Brien).
So, yeah, I have a general affection for her and her books. In most cases, I think her shorter "files" were what I preferred, but I think "Small Sacrifices" is my favorite of her works.
I love Ann Rule's books. I have read all of her single-case books except The I-5 Killer. I am pretty sure the first one I read was The Stranger Beside Me when I was 13. I have reread it many times, and it's probably my favorite of her books. I also really loved Bitter Harvest, Small Sacrifices, and Dead by Sunset. I don't worry too much about prose quality when I read true crime. I think I may even enjoy the book more if it's tawdry and pulpy. Becky Ann Baker is a great choice to play her! (Jean Weir is my favorite character on Freaks & Geeks, too.)
Stranger Beside Me was the first I read and I remember it well because I made the mistake of reading it on a work trip while staying in a strange hotel. Scared the hell out of me going to bed at night.
Related breaking news: PETER SCOLARI DIES AT 66. (Related because Peter Scolari and Becky Ann Baker were Hannah's beleaguered parents on Girls.)
Stranger Beside Me. And I was likely too young, but I ended up reading most of her books, so I would say yes, I like Ann Rule. No, she isn't the best writer but her books have stuck with me.
Eagerly reading the recommendations here. I have never read an Ann Rule book, but I will happily read whichever y'all think is the best one.
All the names sound similar but I think I've read most of them. The first I read was the one about Susan Smith? (Drove the kids in the lake?) Was it Small Sacrifices? She is the one who got me interested in true crime because for awhile, there wasn't a lot out there.
I've read all of her non-compilation books; can't remember the first one though. My favorite is And Never Let Her Go, with Small Sacrifices coming in second.
Like many of y'all, Small Sacrifices was my first Ann Rule and possibly my first true crime read ever (I was probably around 13)? It's also far and away my favorite of her books. I also liked And Never Let Her Go (there's a case I'm surprised hasn't gotten re-launched into the modern discourse given the politically connected parties involved...it has some real American Crime Story vibes) and Every Breath You Take. At some point I did begin to pick up on some of the less than stellar aspects of her prose, but I tend to forgive a lot when it comes to true crime (as Heather notes below).
On a related note, I've got a copy of Leslie Rule's (Ann's daughter) true crime debut, A Tangled Web, teed up to read. Has anybody else read it yet?
I also am devoted to Ann Rule. I’m pretty sure The Stranger Beside Me was my opening foray, and I never looked back. Not ashamed to admit I met her daughter at CrimeCon a couple of years ago, where I gushed like a fool. She was used to it. No, Rule wasn’t the best writer in the world, but I think she was a strong researcher and is always a compulsively good read. If you haven’t read And Never Let Her Go, please dig in. Also, could somebody please do her a favor and update her cover art?? At this point, it’s so bad it’s almost a cliche.