Customer Reviews

The Stranger Returns

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Don't recommend. The author has a great premise and does some good work here and there. Other than that, it is a dull read and it seems like the author mixed some romance novel descriptions of some of the characters. He wasn't familiar enough with Bundy, because he made Bundy do things he WOULD NEVER have done in real life. Any reader of true crime/Bundy will instantly be bored with the long drawn out character buildups. Bundy lurks around in the background for awhile, but not enough story around how he got out of jail what he's thinking, his behavior, etc.

This is an exceptionally well written, chilling novel. The characters and plot are well fleshed-out, and the story line flows swiftly and relentlessly to its exciting conclusion. Once begun, it was nearly impossible to put down. Michael Perry has written an impressive first novel, and readers will eagerly look forward to his following novels.

Once you accept the premise of Ted Bundy surviving his execution then the book is a terrific read. I'm surprised it hasn't been made into a movie. It is a much better book than his follow-up, "Skelter". I think Perry got into Ted Bundy's personality much better than many of the non-fiction books on Bundy. The friend of a friend of mine actually narrowly missed being a Bundy victim---she was in Tacoma and was followed home by a guy. She got into her house, turned on the porch light and saw the guy's face through the window, but he left. She didn't see his face again until she saw Bundy on TV the night before he was executed.

It was so boring. The author is intellectually way below Bundy and it shows when he tries to portray him, he just can't get close to what Bundy was about. He writes about some all nice, positive people who are all-good (with good income and education, sure) who become poor victims of evil Ted (we sure must be sorry for such well-to-do folk, not some street people): extremely cheesy. After a few pages all I wanted is Bundy to come and take care of all main characters. I was wondering: is he going to start writing about Bundy at all? He didn't have much to say, may be that's why the book was mainly about the "professor" and his daughter. Sure, "professor" catches Bundy at the end. Come on--in real life he'd wet his pants from the thought of Ted. Lousy writing. The book contained juicy moments like about the father of the victim, "professor" apparently wanting to have sex with the mother of another victim (and vice versa, the daugher tells him "She wants you, Daddy") Isn't it truly perverted? The book allowed us to pick into most intimate details of "professor's" surviving daughter's life. Like discussing her period with "Daddy". Wow. I was wondering was it Bundy who was sick after that.

I just finished reading this book today---The Stranger Returns--and I was just so mesmerized by it all! Then when I was telling a relative about it, he stated that his friends mother dated Ted Bundy in High school!! (The actual Ted Bundy who is in this book) I was shocked but he said that it was way before he had any problems and was put in jail. Such a small world!! The book kept me going and I didn't want to put it down! It was a rainy/snowy day here in Alaska and so it made for perfect reading while eating popcorn weather! I'm now going to order and start reading the book, "Skelter" also by Michael R. Perry....about Charles Manson.....I hope everyone else gets their blood pumping as I did!!!!!

Despite the press hype, Ted Bundy was a lout. A chronic failed student and loser with girls whenever he seriously tried. As one surprisingly honest reporter put it, "He was not very intelligent, nor was he either well travelled or well read. He picked his nose during the interviews." So much for Ted Bundy in real time. Writing a 420 pg novel with a cockaroach running amok as the main character was certainly a challenge, but Michael Perry fufilled it very well. In doing so, he helps bring us all back to the reality of how squalid such serial killers as Bundy & Co. are.