Show Notes
Who was Ann Rule beyond the pages of her bestselling true crime books? Retired Kansas City police detective Gary Jenkins welcomes investigative journalist and author Cathy Scott to Murder Blueprint to discuss The First Lady of Murder: Ann Rule's Life, Legacy and the Serial Killer She Called a Friend, her biography of the writer behind The Stranger Beside Me and Small Sacrifices.
Scott shares how she became friends with Rule and how that friendship led her to examine her life more deeply. From childhood summers at her grandfather’s jail to her relationship with Ted Bundy, the conversation explores the experiences that shaped Rule’s fascination with crime and her ability to get people talking.
Gary and Cathy discuss Rule’s reporting on Diane Downs, her growing attention to victims, and the challenges of writing about someone you know personally. Scott also examines disputes with fellow writers and the tension between Rule’s public reputation and her private personality.
The conversation closes with Susan Berman, daughter of Las Vegas mob figure David Berman, and her fatal friendship with Robert Durst.
In this episode: Ann Rule’s childhood exposure to jail inmates. Her friendship with Ted Bundy and the reporting behind The Stranger Beside Me. - The Diane Downs case and Small Sacrifices. - How reporters earn trust and uncover personal stories. Rule’s generosity, devoted readers, and professional conflicts. - Cathy Scott’s research into Susan Berman’s life and murder. Featured guest: Cathy Scott, author of The First Lady of Murder, The Killing of Tupac Shakur, and Murder of a Mafia Daughter.
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