In the world of literature, Ann Rule certainly rules the true crime genre as the undisputed queen. There are over 20 million copies of her more than 40 books on some America’s most notorious and ruthless killers. She is by far the most prolific writer of true crime.

As a former Seattle police officer, her familiarity with law enforcement as well as her investigative skills have often aided her writing the most powerful and descriptive literary arts of work on some of the most heinous crimes. Years of experience as a police officer and writer have given the ability tap in to psyches of the devious criminal minds that she has interviewed as part of her work.

Another thing that aids Mrs. Rule and is somewhat rare among authors is that she often develops deep and everlasting friendships with the families of the victims. During the trials of the perpetrators she is often there lending emotional support to the victim’s families. Often, she will include updates on the lives of the families in reprints.

Born in Lowell, Mich. on June 22, 1935, Mrs. Rule first began writing true crime articles for a magazine after a brief stint as a Seattle police officer. Although she was a former police officer, she adopted a male pen name, Andy Stack, so that readers could take her seriously. She continued to use Andy Stack with most of her earlier work to protect herself and her family but soon began using her real name, which appears on most of her recent work.

Her first book, Stranger Beside Me, which she started on while working at a suicide hotline in Seattle, hit extremely close to home. The book was about string of murders of young women in the Northwest. She began writing the book even though the crimes had not yet been solved. She had no idea the man who would eventually be charged and convicted of the murders would be a co-worker and close friend, Ted Bundy.

Although she normally tries to write about small, “sleeper” cases not quite known to the public so that the reader won’t know the ending before reading book all the way to through she has written about a few high-profile cases, as well, such as Diane Downs, who killed one of her children and tried to kill the other two in an attempt to win over her married lover. Many of her subjects have had movies made about them, such as The Deliberate Stranger in which Mark Harmon portrayed Ted Bundy.

A very thorough investigator as well as a writer, Ann Rule has spoken at many police seminars and she is an outspoken proponent of victims’ rights. She has also taught at many writers’ seminars.

With more than 20 million copies of her books in print, it is virtually impossible to visit a bookstore that does not have some of her work on their shelves. She is an absolute must-read for any fan of true crime and mystery.