Dark Tide: Growing Up With Ted Bundy

by Edna Cowell Martin, Megan Atkinson

Including never-before-seen photos and handwritten letters from Bundy, Dark Tide’s message is as gut-wrenching as it is clear, asking the how well do we know those we trust most?Edna’s world turned upside down when her close cousin, Ted Bundy, was linked to the gruesome murders that had plagued her hometown of Seattle. Both devastating and dangerous, she reveals her journey of discovering the truth about her cousin who was more like a sibling, a man she loved, admired, and thought she knew so well. Edna delves into the unbelievable and chilling episodes she experienced, from confronting Ted and discovering a side of him she never suspected to waking to the FBI at her door after he escaped jail. Whether searching memories for signs she’d missed or detailing scenes of life under the radar in a world still fixated on her cousin, Edna’s account tells the Ted Bundy story from a critical, new someone who called him family.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Memoir, Audiobook, Biography, Biography Memoir, Crime

272 pages, Hardcover

Published July 23, 2024

Reviews

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to Dark Tide: Growing Up With Ted Bundy on audiobook. The authors are a sister and a cousin to Ted Bundy. The audiobook is narrated by Morgan Hallett.

A description of the book indicates that the hard copy has never before released photographs. The book and audiobook include never before released letters between Bundy and family members.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever wondered what it's like to be related to someone like Ted Bundy, you should read Dark Tide.

Yes, the book is mostly about Edna and not Ted, but I didn't mind that at all. I really enjoyed seeing her perspective, and felt her pain as she realised the cousin she loved and shared so many good memories with, was actually guilty.

We got to see how his conviction and execution affected her & the rest of the family, which isn't something that's talked about often. The book also shows that it's possible to create a somewhat normal life, despite it all.

I listened to the audiobook and referenced the ebook for the pictures. Sometimes letter transcriptions don't work as well on audio, but I didn't have a problem with that in Dark Tide (and I guess if I did I could just go look at the actual letters in the ebook).

I was away from home over the weekend and found myself thinking about this book during my trip, it really left a lasting impression on me. I'm so glad Edna decided to finally share her story, and I wish her and her family nothing but good times.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many times, when we read about violent crime the primary focus is on the perpetrator. The victims are described as those actually attacked and their families. The interesting thing about this book is it's written by a family member of the convicted and includes the perspectives of addition family members. They are also victims in unique ways. Much can be learned about the nature of such atrocities if more stories were bravely shared.

[*TUDOR^QUEEN* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been intrigued by the Ted Bundy case after seeing a documentary about it. I also read a very good book about this serial killer written by Ann Rule. This offering is unique in that it is the first memoir written by a Bundy relative- his cousin Edna with whom he lived for a time during his youth.

Edna was impacted greatly because she was attending college in Seattle, literally in the heart of one of Bundy's murder sprees- and he did visit her often during this time. As with all the friends and family Ted interacted with, they just couldn't believe he was capable of committing these murders...until something finally flipped the switch for them where it all clicked. The realization of this horror was a heavy and private weight, a secret that they kept close to the vest out of fear and shame.

I'm a bit guilty to say that I was a tad bored reading about Edna's life, since of course the main focus of interest is on the famous criminal. She did share letters back and forth between her and Ted while he was imprisoned, but they were far from riveting. Much of the book endlessly decried the hidden torment of being related to a serial killer, how to process and deal with that kind of PTSD, and the agonizing situations where she, her husband, and daughter decided to share that revelation. This is a good book to read if you've read a lot of the major books about Ted Bundy and are looking for another new kernel of information on the subject. If you want to read in great detail about the crimes themselves and how the trials progressed, I would suggest reading one of the major true crime books published over the decades.

Thank you to the publisher Post Hill Press / Permuted Press for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by a cousin of Ted Bundy’s, this is an excellent footnote to his story. I’m glad that the author decided to share her story after so many decades of staying quiet about it. She shares her private letters and photos, giving a unique perspective that’s been missing. Couldn’t put it down.

[Tim Pate · Rating 2 out of 5]

The constant insistence that the author and her family hate talking about Bundy, in a book she wrote, is a little much. A few too many strained allegories and non sequiturs. It’s really a book about the cousin of Bundy, with a few anecdotes about him sprinkled throughout but no real insight.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edna Cowell's life was happy & fairly idyllic at first. Growing up with her parents & a brother, Edna was also close with her cousin Ted Bundy. Intelligent & charismatic, Ted was more of a second sibling than a cousin to Edna, which is why when he was arrested for several murders, Edna struggled to believe it was true. It was surely a mistake that would be rectified. Over time, Edna came to realise that the man she thought she knew was only one part of the person & that he had a dark side. This is a memoir which asks: can we ever truly know another person?

This is a really fascinating read but if you want to know about the actual murders, this is not the book for that. There are a lot of books out there on Ted Bundy but this one really gives a different perspective. It must be so difficult to wrap your head around the fact that someone you grew up with, were close to, turns out to have committed heinous crimes whilst continuing to behave absolutely normal to you. That moment in the car with just the two of them when Edna realises that Ted is guilty after all & slowly turns to look at him & he is just smiling at her - truly chilling!

Written in an interesting yet informal voice, I felt as if I were having a chat with the author & became really invested in her story. I absolutely recommend this book.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Post Hill Press/Permuted Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Bill reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I have no guilt, remorse or regret over anything I’ve done. What’s done is done. The important thing to do is to learn from it in such a way that this new awareness becomes a part of my life here and now, or to put it another way, that I don’t make the same mistakes." This is one small portion of a letter written to his cousin Edna from Ted in 1986, while he was on death row in Florida. The exchanges are scattered throughout the book with a few tidbits about the times she spent with her five years younger relative.
Edna Cowell enjoyed time with the future serial killer and shared several good times with him. Isolated incidents of Ted's inner demons are disclosed. He reluctantly took a few hits of marijuana from the then college aged Edna and proceeded to dance frantically on the top of a table; not exactly behavior that I would classify as psychopathic. At another party, Ted slow danced with a friend and Edna saw his eyes turn from blue to black as he stared menacingly at his partner. A doggie sensed something sinister in Mr. Bundy and growled incessantly at Edna's houseguest.
I needed more on Ted here and less on Edna and her husband Don. The perfect couple with the wonderful daughter are just filler for what should have been a better uncovering of what made Ted tick.
Edna finally realized that her cousin was guilty while he was out on bail. After visiting a book store, she discovered Ted at a street corner waving his hands in the air while repeating to passers-by that he was Ted Bundy to a bewildered crowd. He was seeking everlasting fame and his execution in 1989 fulfilled that wish.
Dark Tide is my twenty-fourth book on Bundy and not one of the better ones.

[Leslie K Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bone-chilling exploration of deception, delusion and the personal trauma inflicted by the
action of others, Dark Tide is a poignant and gut-wrenching journey across the minefields of
perception, manipulation, and love. Suspenseful and absorbing from the start, with the drip,
drip. drip of shocking hints, to the glass eventually overflowing, Martin carries us into the
cognitive dissonance of the complex emotions, perceptions, and recollections experienced
as she copes with impact of her famous cousin’s inexplicable acts on the family that thought
they knew and loved him. A great, fascinating read. Highly recommended.

I received an advance reading copy (ARC) of this memoir.

Leslie K Simmons, author of Red Clay, Running Waters

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the Ted Bundy murders began in Washington State 50 years ago, the horror lives in the memories of so many people. And now we finally have a close family account of Ted Bundy - from his younger cousin. It's so sad, terrifying and I'm glad Edna has finally told her story.

Edna does a great job of sharing her life in the Seattle area in the 1960s and 1970s. Of the close community she found on Puget Sound at Far-A-Way where she met her future husband, horse-back riding and digging for clams on the beach, her happy family life, and her beloved cousin Ted who was more like a brother. How he visited her small college apartment usually bringing food and wine and good conversation. That time he asked Edna's brother and boyfriend to show him the bars near the campus where students congregated. And the night he got stoned and danced "spasmodic and agitated" on the coffee table. Yet, these were just small things that were minor blips on a lifetime of friendship and love.

The growing horror as Edna and her family learn about Ted is heartbreaking and palpable. "How does a mind process something like this, reassigning an adored cousin to one of the most well-known serial killers of the twentieth century?" Edna - or anyone placed in the same horrible situation - wants to believe that yes, the signs were there, they were just missed. But Edna shares another truth:

"Because the other answer is, I suspect, the one people are begging me to refute when they ask the question. It's the possibility no one wants, including myself. No. There were no signs. Nothing out of the ordinary. If that's true, it means Ted could be anyone. even those we'd never suspect. That means it's possible to have everyone fooled. No one wants that."

I strongly recommend Dark Tide. 5 stars and a Recommended Read.

I received an ARC from the Publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Cross-posted at my blog "I Love True Crime Books"

[Whitney Scheibel · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of true crime, Dark Tide immediately intrigued me. Having read extensively about murder, true crime, and serial killers, I found this book refreshingly different. Typically, books on serial killers delve into the details of their lives and crimes, but seldom focus on their families or loved ones. While there are countless books on the market detailing the horrific actions of Ted Bundy, this book offers a unique perspective by focusing on Edna and her life.

Dark Tide provides an intimate look into Edna's experiences and the challenges she faced being related to one of history's most notorious serial killers. Not only that we see the aftermath and how being related to a serial killer, such as Ted Bundy can affect a person for decades to come.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Edna’s life and appreciated this different viewpoint. The inclusion of personal pictures and letters added a heartfelt touch, giving the book a personal edge that sets it apart from other true crime narratives.

Thank you to the publisher Post Hill Press / Permuted Press for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley

[Juny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sinceramente, no me interesaban las memorias de la autora, prima de Ted Bundy, pero sí la información sobre Ted, ya que pienso escribir sobre él. A este respecto, no hay muchas sorpresas, pero sí nuevas grietas en la máscara. Aunque la autora no aporta muchas novedades sobre el célebre asesino en serie sexual, sí ofrece escenas que merecen ser recogidas en futuras obras sobre el personaje. Aquí van algunas de las más memorables.

SPOILERS!

Bailando con la oscuridad

Una de las escenas más inquietantes ocurre durante una velada aparentemente trivial. Ted baila con una amiga de la autora, la cabeza de ella apoyada en el pecho de él, la suave música flotando en el aire como un velo de normalidad. Pero en mitad del vals, algo parece romperse. La autora describe el instante exacto en que él, con la mandíbula apretada y la mirada repentinamente ajena —«negra como el carbón»—, se transforma. Por un segundo, él ya no está allí. Es otra persona. Una cara nueva. O tal vez lo que aparece es lo que siempre fue, solo que sin disfraz. Aunque Bundy vuelve en sí y se disculpa con una sonrisa perfectamente ensayada, la autora guarda esa mirada como una grieta visible en él y una temprana revelación que años después cobrará sentido.

El umbral

Otro pasaje ocurre cuando la autora, entonces una adolescente, llega sin avisar al apartamento de Ted. Intenta entrar, pero él la detiene con una frase que en aquel momento parecía inofensiva: «Será mejor que no entres». Se mostró incómodo, evasivo, excusándose torpemente por el desorden del lugar, cosa que encajaba con su obsesión por la apariencia. Pero con el tiempo, esa escena cobra sentido. Ahora sabemos que Bundy llegó a esconder restos de las mujeres, incluidas las cabezas de algunas, en su domicilio. Así, la imagen de la narradora, de pie en el umbral, ingenua y sonriente, mientras él le cierra el paso, pasa a ser una escena de horror latente. ¿Qué habría encontrado si hubiera cruzado esa puerta?

«Soy Ted Bundy»

Para mí, la escena más impactante y única del libro se produce cuando en 1975 la autora, tras meses de dudas y racionalizaciones desde que Ted fue acusado, decide reencontrarse con él. Sigue intentando convencerse de su inocencia, de que el Ted que ella conoció de niña no podía ser el monstruo descrito en los periódicos. Pero entonces, en plena calle, todo parece cambiar.

Después de comer con él, la autora lo ve alejarse. Cuando por fin lo encuentra, está rodeado por una multitud y, de repente, Ted empieza a girar sobre sí mismo, con los brazos extendidos, repitiendo en voz alta: «Soy Ted Bundy. Soy Ted Bundy. Soy Ted Bundy». En su voz hay algo delirante, algo de performance, algo que hiela la sangre de la autora. Esa frase rompe el último hilo de la negación. Ahí está, aparentemente sin más máscaras, la parte del hombre que disfruta de la atención, que se alimenta del miedo, que no tiene nada que ocultar, y la autora comprende por fin que su recuerdo familiar se ha esfumado.

De vuelta al coche, le ve sonreír. Una sonrisa que ya no es la del joven encantador que ella conoció, sino la del depredador sexual que era. La escena debería ser motivo para reescribir algunos libros sobre Ted.

Jeffy

Otra escena, menor pero interesante, es la del perro Jeffy, y tiene lugar ya cuando Ted ha comenzado su racha de asesinatos. Llega de visita a casa de la autora, y el perro —normalmente apacible— se vuelve loco. Ladridos frenéticos, colmillos al descubierto, ataques a los tobillos. Ni la presencia de la dueña ni el encierro bastan para calmarlo. Al contrario, se abalanza sobre la puerta como si quisiera atravesarla.

¿Qué olió Jeffy? ¿Detectó en Ted el rastro de la muerte? ¿Había tenido contacto con los cadáveres de sus víctimas y el perro percibía lo que los humanos no podían? ¿Si podía detectar eso, estaba defendiendo a su dueña? La autora confiesa que nunca volvió a ver a Jeffy comportarse así. Y su compañera, la dueña del perro, admitió años después que desde aquel día ya no se sentía cómoda en presencia de Ted. Puede que la ciencia aún no tenga palabras precisas para tales intuiciones animales, pero Jeffy, tal vez, dejó su veredicto.

Suicidio

Una de las ideas más inquietantes que se desprenden de la lectura del libro —y que ha sido sugerida por otros autores como Richard Larsen (1980)— es que Ted Bundy, en el fondo, quería morir, pero no por sus propias manos. Larsen expone este punto al narrar cómo Bundy, en un último acto inexplicable, rechaza un trato que le habría salvado la vida, es decir, cadena perpetua a cambio de declararse culpable. En lugar de aceptar, sabotea su única salida racional. Como si en su interior librara una batalla entre la autoconservación y la autodestrucción, y hubiera dejado ganar a esta última.

Aquí Martin aporta otra pieza a esta hipótesis suicida. Poco antes de su fuga, Bundy llama al hermano de la autora y le pregunta qué estados son los más duros con la pena de muerte. «Texas y Florida», le responde. Esa misma noche, Ted se fuga y acaba en Florida. Allí, sus crímenes se vuelven más brutales, erráticos, desesperados, un frenesí que contrasta con el control que solía ejercer en el pasado. Puede que su faceta asesina estuviera saciando su hambre tras años sin matar, o puede que, como sugiere Martin, Bundy pudo haber elegido deliberadamente ese destino para asegurarse una condena a muerte. Puede que ambas opciones sean válidas. Tal vez no estaba huyendo para empezar de nuevo. Tal vez huía hacia su ejecución.

En este contexto, la silla eléctrica, más que un castigo, fue una salida cuidadosamente orquestada, teatral, pública y final. El último acto de un narcisista que, incapaz de enfrentarse al olvido, eligió morir bajo los focos. Todo en ese desenlace sugiere que Ted Bundy fue el arquitecto de su propia muerte.

•

Hay más información nueva y nuevas escenas, incluidas las de su juventud con su familia y otras desde las memorias de la autora, pero he decidido elegir estas.

[Rachel Brower · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first quarter of this book is the author explaining her life growing up in an incredibly wealthy family. Very little is discussed about Ted. I'd skip to about 1/4 the way into the book to start learning anything of substance about Ted.

The information known about Ted's crimes and the women he chose isn't really discussed, at least not up to halfway into the book. The author discusses Ted casually stopping by her apartment as she was in college, and basic information about their gatherings. There is, again, very little information of substance about Ted.

I'd say this is a book about the cousin of Ted Bundy... About her life. There are sprinkles of Ted in the book, but this book is about her life. It is not about Ted. If I had known this fact, I wouldn't have picked up the book.

[Gia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book, and honestly, I couldn't put it down since I've started it. I was so excited to read it after stumbling accidentally upon a podcast episode about it on Spotify, a few days ago. I am glad that Edna decided to share her story with the world. I have found a lot of interesting information and made some connections with other books on the Ted Bundy subject.
Last, but not least, very well written, there were some parts that got my heart racing pretty bad (I know, the subject is heart racing enough)
I give it 5 stars, after taking a break from the true crime genre, this book really got me into it again.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book ... because who isn't fascinated by Ted Bundy? I've read most of the other books written about him, so I know the crimes that he committed and his "story". This was an interesting perspective. Edna is Ted's cousin, who spent a fair amount of time with him growing up. She paints a picture of an innocent man and seems to naively stand by him, at first convinced of his innocence and then by writing him letters to confess and agreeing to come meet him and listen to his confessions. I'm not sure how one person could be so naive?

There was a bit too much detail about Edna's life. Sorry, but we're all here for Ted Bundy. It is what it is ...

Thank you to NetGalley, Post Hill Press and Edna Cowell Martin for an advanced copy of this book.

[Courtney F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why aren’t more people talking about this book?????

[Dede loves books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this very much. Written by Ted's cousin Edna. I like how they included correspondence between the two throughout the years. Ted was an interesting psychopath. I "enjoyed" this book,

[AL Kepple · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's unusual to get the perspective of a family member of a serial killer. This book provides insight into what it's been like for a cousin of Ted Bundy, the emotional journey she has taken during the period of his crimes, and after his conviction and execution for those crimes.

It also provides insight into how people who enjoy true crime literature can appear to the family members touched by true crime events.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family bond is the strongest thing but what happens when your family member is a monster? This book is basically all about that exact thing. Since this is a true crime memoir it is all about our author Edna Martin as she comes out to describe her life and her own interactions with her cousin, non other than the notorious serial killer, Ted Bundy. I really liked how you could tell she struggled when his crimes came to light since she only saw him as her kind cousin not someone who should be feared or be locked up, however putting his crimes into focus really changed everything in her mind. It was very interesting to read about Ted as a child and to see him as an actual human instead of the monster he really was. It wasn't until after reading this book that I came to realise how charming that he was and how a lot of women were fooled by his charm, since even his own family was shocked at the realisation of who he was underneath. This book was written with all of the private perspectives that only family can have and also having the bonus footage of actual letters written by Ted Bundy himself was just the cherry on top that made this book shine. If you like true crime books but don't like all of the gore then this is the book for you because it focuses on Edna's relationship with Ted more than the crimes however they talked about in passing. It was a different twist on what I'm used to reading and it was very sad to see how the lives of families change after a loved on is convicted of a terrible crime and the aftermath that they face. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read this book. Very good job and not a single thing I would change or take away.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skimmed the book after getting bored about hearing unnecessary details about the cousin’s life that didn’t pertain to Ted. If you’re going to write a book about your serial killer cousin then write about the serial killer cousin. His early childhood could’ve been summed up a lot faster and focused more on her reaction of finding out and how the family processes that. I’m not trying to bash the authors, but you aren’t the main characters in this story. People are reading this book to learn more about Ted and what it’s like to find out your cousin is a murderer and this book doesn’t touch on that enough.

[Tracy Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having grown up in North Seattle in the 70s Ted Bundy was the terror my mum and her friend, Marilyn, whispered about. I remember he escaped once, then twice. He hung over my earliest memories. I was 6 when he was finally caught in Florida. To be so young and to somehow be aware of such scary stuff - I can only, in retrospect, imagine how scared the adults were.

I found Edna’s story illuminating, particularly her experiences over past Gig Harbor at her family’s beach house.

Touching, well written, and reminiscent of Elizabeth Kendall’s book.

[Elizabeth Ricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always taken an interest in Ted Bundy because Nancy Wilcox went to my high school. Then my children went to Viewmont High School, which is where Debra Kent was taken. (VHS still gives a Debbie Kent memorial scholarship every year.)

This book shows that not only were those he killed victims, but all those who knew and believed in Ted became his victims.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every once in a while I come across a book with some reviews based on the reviewer’s preconceived notions and whether those incorrect expectations were met rather than the book itself and I feel like I need to help balance that out with a review…this is one of those times.

This is not a book about Ted Bundy. Yes, his name is on the cover and yes, that’s probably why you picked it up but if you read the whole title, it’s about growing up around Ted Bundy. There are stretches that appear to deal solely with the author’s life because it is a book about her life. Each story bears some relevance, albeit some weakly, to the main story…as long as you remember that the story is about the author. Accusations of “main character syndrome” are outlandish when this book never claimed to be anything else.

In a similar vein, readers have expressed disappointment with the never before released photographs and correspondence. It’s not salacious. It’s family photos and letters between cousins trying to understand each other.

I also saw several comments online claiming certain events in the book never happened because they “don’t match what we know about Ted Bundy”, completely missing the point of this book. What the “true crime aficionados” fail to recognize is the Ted Bundy they think they know is the serial killer but what this book presents is another personality—one that initially had his family in disbelief and caused some to advocate for him to the bitter end. What you’re getting here is a side of Bundy that didn’t make the papers or the courtroom. A side that, especially if all you’ve consumed are documentaries and serial killer biographies, you know very little about.

All that being said, I found this book pretty fascinating. No, I cannot prove or refute any of the claims made but I choose to give the benefit of the doubt. Accusations of trying to “make a buck” off the name of an infamous murderer do not seem to align with the author’s desire to distance herself from it for a majority of her life. It is impossible for me to imagine what it would be like to find out someone you considered yourself to be that close to did such heinous things, before and after conviction and punishment. This is a story we don’t always get to hear without it being filtered through the news and documentary crews looking for a new grotesque angle to whet the appetites of the murder fans.

If you’re looking for new case facts, they will not be found here. She doesn’t have them and I suspect doesn’t want them. If you want crime scene photos or pictures indicating a budding thirst for blood, move along. If you want answers, move along. None of that is what this book is about and it’s not supposed to be. This is about what it’s like to find out your family member is a monster and if readers can’t respect the psychological upheaval of that, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate why the “true crime” genre appeals to you so much. I, for one, enjoyed hearing this person’s story.

[Mariann · Rating 1 out of 5]

A great biography—of the author's life...

Honestly, who the hell wants to know about Edna's life? Have you forgotten, darling, that readers buy your book not because of you and your immaculate persona, your idyllic family, daughter, boyfriend and circle of friends, about whom you speak only in superlatives, but because of the guy whose name you refer to in the title...?

I suppose it's damn good to have the sales money in your old age, and the media attention makes you feel good as well, and how great it is that you can climb up the back of the cousin you've been so ashamed of to the honey pot, but to write a book about someone with the person you want to be the title character as a third or fourth supporting character—or rather Ted occasionally pops in for a cameo or two—this is thus a deception of the reader in the most concrete way.

I was expecting to learn interesting facts about Ted's life before his arrest-his childhood, his teenage years, his early twenties-that I hadn't read anywhere else. Well, I don't need five fingers to count the number of such valuable curiosities I've found in this book, not to mention the promised and also never-before-seen photos... Well, there are more new-old photos in the articles and interviews before the book was published than in the book itself, despite the fact that there are a ton of photo in it—of Edna and her family and friends—and not a single photo that we didn't see in those articles.

The letters? Well, there are five or six of them from Ted, but in addition to these, we can inevitably and totally superfluously read letters from Edna to her own family and friends. Who cares...?

Dear Edna, a word of advice in retrospect: don't write a book about someone if you don't have enough material and/or memories about them. Ted is the public icon, he is the celebrity, not you, you are just another profiteer trying to pull a few chestnuts out of Ted's fire.

In all these respects, the book is worthless, boring trash, yet I won't leave the star rating field blank because that one star at least tarnishes the book's reputation. I freaking hate being scammed, and Edna's book is the biggest scam of my lifetime of book experiences—no author has ever scammed me like that, and I've read well over 1000 books in my life.

[Christy Chermak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author was doing an event at my favorite bookstore while I was in town so I bought a copy and read it.
This is obviously dark subject matter. Being born in the 80s, I of course know Bundys name but not many details around his nefarious murders. So for me, this was my first real introduction into any level of detail as to what that time looked like in American history. It was interesting to get that through a relatives perspective.

The book was very engaging, largely due to the content. It’s interesting how we are drawn to dark topics like this- the author addressed that as being a very human thing. I think I tend to agree- in stories like this there’s a part of our brain that can’t comprehend the evil so we’re drawn to try and figure it out. If we’re not careful that can slip into celebrity or trivializing a tragedy. (See also any current tragedies that have a Netflix docudrama 1 yr later) The author mentions moments where they encountered this in their context.

I appreciated how the authors fused in some big picture ideas on safety, trust, and how we all deal with traumatic events differently. I thought this was written very respectfully too- it did not linger on the gruesome details of the murders but moreso paid those the honor due, and focused mostly on the authors revelation that someone they loved was guilty of such awful things and the ripple effect that had for the rest of their life.
Reading this made it clear that a serial killer’s family ends end up harmed as well- and through this book can sense how simply sharing her story provided healing for the author. There is a “silent shame” she mentions that while understandable is not hers to bear. I hope sharing her story helps to release that.

For anyone that enjoys memoirs or true crime this would be a great and interesting read. I enjoyed getting to hear the co-authors speak and to read this while in Seattle. In some ways that made the story feel even more personal.

[Lisa Huettl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the days of Ted Bundy. I especially the day he was executed. That day I was out to lunch with my aunt, and news headlines were put out. My sweet, kind, loving aunt said something that was so unlike her. She said "I normally don't wish death on anyone, but I am glad he is dead". Her best friends daughter had been one of his admitted victims. She remembered how hard it had been when she was missing, worse when her body was found. She could never forgive him for what he did, to the victim, and her friend, their whole family. I had thought it must have been hard on all the victims' family, and on Ted's mom. I hadn't really thought about his extended family. I heard about this book and wanted to read it. I was curious. What I found was a beautifully written story of how hard it is that someone you love and treasure could become someone you don't recognize. How hard that is to live with, wondering how you couldn't see, and trying to hide who you are and who you are related to. How hard it was that through no fault of their own, they were drawn into something they never could have imagined. Edna's world was turned upside down. Not only hers, but others who knew the other Ted as well. And telling how while you hate what they did, you still somehow love that person because you remember the Ted you knew. It is not a sensationalized story but rather a heartfelt story of growing up close to someone who somehow turns out to be a monster. We all wonder how families of the victims get through these moments. This book tells how at least members of one family of the killer get through.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, apart from knowing he was an infamous serial killer in the 1970s, I didn't know much about Ted Bundy prior to reading this book. A few chapters in, I headed over to Wikipedia to read more about him.

Dark Tide: Growing Up with Ted Bundy is the first memoir published by a direct family member of Ted Bundy. After reading about Bundy on Wikipedia, I don't feel this memoir gave me more insight into the motivations behind this serial killer’s misdeeds as, admittedly, Edna herself couldn't provide any answers as to what drove him to commit those heinous crimes.

However, this book gives a deeper understanding into what it was like being related to one of the most notorious serial murderers in American history, and how it impacted the lives of Edna, her family and their close friends. It chronicles how they had to come to terms forming a connection between a well-loved and adored family member, and someone who horrifically ended the lives of countless women.

Through letters, photos, and memories shared by Ted Bundy's cousin in this memoir, the reader gets a more in-depth look at how his crimes also scarred those who were closest to him. I found the visuals of the handwritten letters between Ted and Edna, letters written by his mother, and photos of a younger Ted Bundy, compelling.

Personally, I feel that if you want to read a book describing the crimes and court cases of Ted Bundy, you'll find other literature detailing that to a greater extent. But this is definitely a page-turner that snagged my interest a few chapters in, getting a few intimate glimpses into seeing what life was like with him from a family member's perspective.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Post Hill Press / Permuted Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Eadie Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all the books about Ted Bundy but I really enjoyed this one. Dark Tide is about Ted's growing up and living with his cousin, Edna Cowell. She remembers having fun with him while living in Puget Sound, near Seattle Washington. She only recalls a couple of times that she saw Ted's dark side. One while he was dancing with a friend of Edna's she saw his pupil's turning black as he was smiling down looking at who he was dancing with. She also witnessed his smoking of pot which turned him into a wild, crazy person dancing on a coffee table. These times were scary and not typical of her cousin. Her father even wrote to the prosecutor to be kind to him while he was incarcerated. Bundy told her not to believe all they told her but never confessed to what he did. He escaped a few times and eventually ended up in Florida where he was finally executed on January 24, 1989. They kept the secret that they were related to Bundy for 50 years but finally they started to admit that they were related. Edna decided to finally tell her story and wrote Dark Tide. If you like true crime then you will love this book. It goes to show that you never get to know a person even after growing up with them. Even their daughter, Anna, lives with the knowledge that she has a serial killer as a relative. Highly recommended!

[Wendi Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another day, another Bundy book. This one had the benefit of being written by an actual member of his family. That’s something I’ve always wondered about, the serial killer’s families and how they dealt with the aftermath.

There’s no right answer, everyone deals with things differently and I really liked this one. This book showed me that building a happy life with the shadows over your head is still possible and family members can still thrive. The tales of Edna’s and Ted’s relationship being mixed in with Edna’s daily life is a breath of fresh air in a Bundy book. I felt that her life and all its adventures gives one of the most unbiased looks at this story. I’m glad she wrote it.

She portrays the good side of her cousin as well as the bad. There were signs occasionally that showed a glimpse that something was wrong with Ted, but they were fleeting enough that it’s easy to see why no one really knows another person.

This was well written and informative about things other than Ted and I recommend it highly.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Tide, written by Edna Cowell Martin, is the first book written by a family member of Ted Bundy. Edna shares her experiences growing up with Ted Bundy visiting her family during vacations, and her experiences living in Seattle and spending time with him only to later find out that he was committing violent crimes against women during this time. The author shares her journey of coming to terms with her cousin and what he has done, as well as the relationship that they had.
I greatly enjoyed this book, and how the author shared her journey. I think she was careful in how she shared, in that sharing her experiences did not take away from the experiences or trauma of the victims of their families. I feel like I learned things that I have not previously read about in other books about these cases, and also appreciated the letters and photos included in this book. I definitely recommend this one! Thank you to NetGalley and to the author and publisher of this book for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.