Ann Rule brings her brilliantly informed understanding of the sociopath to this riveting true crime collection. Only Rule, who unknowingly worked alongside the smart and charming Ted Bundy-America's most notorious serial killer-could lend her razor-sharp insight into these cases of the spouse, lover, family member or a helpful stranger who is totally trusted-but whose lethally violent nature, though masterfully disguised, can and will kill.

Featured here is the case of a family man who appeared the picture of healthy living with his expertise in naturopathic healing. Luring a beautiful flight attendant into a passionate affair, he swept her away to a secluded home on the coast where his jealous rages escalated, ultimately leading to a brutal sex attack when she believed she would die. How this brave victim survived, never knowing her tormentor's whereabouts, and how he resurfaced, forcing a tragic end for all involved, makes this one of Ann Rule's most compelling narratives.

Other cases include that of the woman who masterminded her husband's murder to gain his inheritance . . . The monstrous sadist whose prison release damaged a presidential candidate's campaign and ended in a bitter double tragedy in a quiet neighbourhood 3,000 miles away . . .