Ann Rule Books in Order

Ann Rule’s definitive account of her time working at a suicide hotline alongside Ted Bundy. While she viewed him as a kind, sensitive friend, he was secretly carrying out a cross-country killing spree. A chilling blend of memoir and investigative journalism.

The true story of Jerry Brudos, a polite family man and electronics expert who hid a dark obsession. Behind the facade of his suburban life, he was a fetishist and murderer who preyed on young women in Oregon.

In Ann Rule's only novel, a woman’s camping trip in the Cascades turns into a nightmare when her husband is killed and she is taken captive by a survivalist. To stay alive in the wilderness, she must play a dangerous psychological game with her captor.

The case of Harvey Carignan, a drifter who used newspaper want-ads to lure young women with offers of employment. Rule traces his long history of violence and the legal loopholes that allowed him to kill again.

A terrifying story of survival and psychological manipulation, exploring the dark corners of the human mind. This title delves into the power dynamics between predator and victim.

An account of Randall Woodfield, a handsome former football player drafted by the Green Bay Packers who became a serial predator. He terrorized the I-5 corridor, committing a string of robberies and murders while maintaining his charming public image.

The harrowing story of Diane Downs, who drove into an emergency room claiming a stranger had shot her three children. Rule unravels the twisted reality of a mother whose obsession with a lover led her to commit the unthinkable.

The case of David Brown, a manipulative computer genius who persuaded his teenage daughter to kill his wife. A shocking look at a master puppeteer who treated his family like pawns in a deadly game.

The story of Pat Taylor, a Southern belle who seemed to have it all, but whose path was strewn with mysterious illnesses and death. Rule exposes a cold-blooded sociopath who used poison and manipulation to maintain her lifestyle.

The first volume in the Crime Files series features the case of Randy Roth, a mechanic whose wives had a habit of dying in tragic accidents. It also includes other accounts of killers who hid behind a mask of normalcy.

This collection leads with the case of Tim Harris, a Florida highway patrolman who swore to protect but became a predator. Other cases explore the dark side of obsession and the fatal consequences of possessive love.

The story of Brad Cunningham, a charismatic and ambitious man who left a trail of battered women and financial ruin. When his wife, an attorney, was found dead, it sparked a high-stakes legal battle to prove he was the killer.

A collection focusing on crimes of passion, jealousy, and fatal attractions. The headline case involves a love triangle that turned deadly, showcasing how intense emotions can drive otherwise ordinary people to violence.

The tragic case of Debora Green, a brilliant doctor whose marriage and career crumbled, leading to a horrific house fire that killed two of her children. Rule examines the mental collapse that preceded the crime.

In this charity anthology, mystery and suspense writers each build a story around the same three required elements: a thick fog, a thick book, and a thick steak. The resulting tales were created to support Literacy Partners’ adult-literacy work.

Features the case of Jerry Harris, a wealthy businessman who vanished, leaving his wife to hunt for the truth. Rule uncovers a plot of betrayal by a trusted friend who coveted Harris's life and fortune.

The saga of Scott Scurlock, known as the "Hollywood Bandit," who lived a double life as a charismatic ecologist and a prolific bank robber. His spree ended in a violent shootout that shattered the lives of his friends.

A Crime Files anthology exploring the minds of killers who snap. The collection delves into the psychology of sudden violence, including the story of a bus driver whose secret life led to the abduction of a child.

The case of Thomas Capano, a politically powerful Delaware lawyer who murdered his secretary, Anne Marie Fahey. Rule details the massive investigation and the arrogance of a man who thought he was above the law.

A detailed account of the disappearance of Jerry Harris, a self-made millionaire whose vanishing exposed a web of greed and treachery. This case highlights the relentless determination of his wife to find answers.

A collection of cases where trust was met with betrayal. The stories focus on victims who believed the lies of those closest to them, leading to devastating and often fatal consequences.

The heartbreaking story of Sheila Bellush, a mother of quadruplets who was murdered in her Florida home. Rule traces the crime back to a bitter ex-husband and a hired hitman in a cross-country conspiracy.

This volume features the bizarre case of a doctor who poisoned his wife, among other stories. Rule explores how desperate individuals try to dance around the truth to escape justice.

The case of Liysa Northon, who claimed she killed her pilot husband in self-defense. Rule reconstructs the life of a woman who wove a complex tapestry of fabrications to justify a calculated murder.

A collection examining cold-blooded killers who show no remorse. The stories delve into the lack of conscience that allows certain individuals to commit brutal acts against friends and strangers alike.

Rule’s massive investigation into the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway. Having reported on the case for twenty years, she chronicles the lives of the many victims and the relentless police work that finally caught the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history.

Stories of romance turned lethal. This anthology looks at relationships that began with passion and ended in violence, highlighting the warning signs that were missed until it was too late.

A collection focusing on greed as a motive for murder. The central cases involve spouses and family members who decided that an insurance payout was more valuable than a human life.

This volume spotlights killers who refused to admit guilt or show sorrow. Rule examines the chilling mindset of criminals who justify their actions regardless of the evidence against them.

Accounts of con artists and manipulators who created false realities to entrap their victims. The stories reveal how easily intelligence and kindness can be exploited by those without a conscience.

The story of Jenn Corbin and Dolly Hearn, two women linked by their relationships with Bart Corbin. Rule uncovers how a double-murder mystery solved decades apart revealed a dentist's deadly pattern of control.

A collection about high-stakes risks and fatal outcomes. These files cover cases where victims found themselves in perilous situations, often unaware of the mortal danger lurking in their everyday lives.

Stories of ultimate betrayal by friends, lovers, and colleagues. Rule focuses on the shock and devastation that follows when a trusted companion turns out to be a killer.

The suspicious death of Ronda Reynolds, initially ruled a suicide. Rule follows the tireless crusade of Ronda's mother to prove her daughter was murdered, exposing flaws in the initial investigation.

A collection of hidden dangers and secret lives. The stories illustrate how the past can come back to haunt the present, and how predators often hide in plain sight.

This anthology examines the danger next door. The cases focus on community tragedies where the killer was a familiar face—a neighbor, a coworker, or a friend.

The murder of Russel Douglas on Whidbey Island. Rule untangles a bizarre web involving a beauty queen, her lover, and a disgruntled wife, showing how a small-town homicide investigation uncovered a complex conspiracy.

A collection focused on premeditated crimes and ambushes. Rule details cases where killers patiently stalked their victims or laid traps, highlighting the calculated nature of their malice.