If you’re looking for a book to introduce you to the life and crimes of one of America’s most infamous serial killers, this book isn’t it. Though it’s not clear from the blurb, the author states in the book’s introduction that this is actually the third part of a trilogy, a series doing a deep-dive into the minutiae of the Bundy case. You could pick up enough from this one to get a sense of what Bundy was doing and when, but you really need to read the earlier books or one of the (many) other books on Bundy’s crimes to get the full context and background.
What this book does is introduce to the record a few interesting snippets the author has gleaned from extensive research into the archives of law enforcement agencies. There are previously unpublished interviews with people close to Bundy and some of his victims, and an account from a credible witness who very likely had a close escape.
After all this time - it’s been more than 30 years since Ted Bundy was put to death for his crimes - there is little new to discover about the case which the numerous researchers who’ve written about it haven’t already covered, and I would say there’s nothing really here which gives any further insight into Bundy’s state of mind even though there’s information I hadn’t seen before.
The author is obviously extremely knowledgeable about the case, and indeed I’d highly recommend his The Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive History, to anyone interested in the Bundy case. Though this one is as well-written and researched as any of his other material, I would say it’s for Bundy completists, and those with only a casual interest in the case may not find it of much interest. I’ll give it four stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.