Ann Rule Reading Order
4 series · 38 books · Born 1935
Ann Rule was a prominent American author known for her compelling true crime narratives. With a remarkable career spanning from 1980 to 2014, she produced 38 works across four series, including her well-regarded "Crime Files," along with standalone novels, nonfiction, and anthologies. Rule's most notable work remains "The Stranger Beside Me," a captivating exploration of the mind of serial killer Ted Bundy.
Anthologies Series
Complete1 book (1997–1997)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Plot Thickens 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
Crime Files Series
Complete17 books (1993–2014)
Start with A Rose for Her Grave and Other True Cases, the first of 17 books in the Crime Files series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  A Rose for Her Grave and Other True Cases 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  You Belong to Me and Other True Crime Cases 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  A Fever in the Heart and Other True Cases 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | In the Name of Love and Other True Cases 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The End of the Dream 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  A Rage to Kill and Other True Cases 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Empty Promises and Other True Cases 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 | Last Dance, Last Chance 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Kiss Me, Kill Me and Other True Cases 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 | Worth More Dead and Other True Cases 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  No Regrets and Other True Cases 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Smoke, Mirrors, and Murder and Other True Cases 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Mortal Danger and Other True Cases 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 | But I Trusted You and Other True Cases 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  Don't Look Behind You 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  Fatal Friends, Deadly Neighbors and Other True Cases 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  Lying in Wait and Other True Cases 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Complete19 books (1980–2013)
Start with The Stranger Beside Me, the first of 19 books in the Non-Fiction series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Stranger Beside Me 1980Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  Lust Killer 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  The Want-Ad Killer 1983Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Mind Games 1984Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  The I-5 Killer 1984Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Small Sacrifices 1987Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  If You Really Loved Me 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 | Everything She Ever Wanted 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Dead By Sunset 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  Bitter Harvest 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  And Never Let Her Go 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Jerry Harris Case 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Every Breath You Take 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Heart Full of Lies 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  Without Pity 2003Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  Green River, Running Red 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  Too Late to Say Goodbye 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  In the Still of the Night 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  Practice to Deceive 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete1 book (1981–1981)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Possession 1981Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Ann Rule written?
- Ann Rule has written 38 books across 4 series. Their published works span from 1980 to 2014.
- What is the first book in each Ann Rule series?
- Here are the first books in Ann Rule's series: Crime Files: A Rose for Her Grave and Other True Cases; Non-Fiction: The Stranger Beside Me.
- What order should I read Ann Rule's books?
- We recommend reading Ann Rule's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Ann Rule's series complete?
- Ann Rule has 4 completed series.