First Lady of Murder: Ann Rule's Life, Legacy, and the Serial Killer She Called Friend

by Cathy Scott

Ann Rule became America’s queen of true crime by doing what few writers stepping past headlines, police reports, and courtroom drama to ask the deeper question. Why?

In First Lady of Murder, acclaimed true crime author Cathy Scott turns that same investigative eye on Rule herself, revealing the complicated, driven, fiercely human woman behind The Stranger Beside Me, Small Sacrifices, and a body of work that changed crime writing forever. Drawing on years of research, interviews, and Scott’s own friendship with Rule, this deeply reported biography traces Ann’s journey from a sheriff’s granddaughter and would-be police officer to one of the most influential crime writers of her time.

But this is more than the story of a literary career. It is the story of ambition, loyalty, rivalry, heartbreak, reinvention, and the personal cost of building a public identity around the darkest acts human beings can commit. Rich with new detail and hard-won insight, First Lady of Murder offers the most intimate portrait yet of a woman millions of listeners thought they knew. They did not know the whole story. Until now.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime

291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 9, 2026

About the author

Cathy Scott, a Los Angeles Times bestselling author, investigative veteran journalist and blogger for Psychology Today, has written twelve books. Her work has appeared in New York Times Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Reuters and Las Vegas Sun. Best known for penning The Killing of Tupac Shakur and Murder of a Mafia Daughter, she taught journalism for five years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her latest books are The Millionaire’s Wife and Freeway Rick Ross: The Untold Autobiography, which won a best non-fiction award in 2014. Recent TV appearances include The Dr. Oz Show, Dateline NBC, the Today Show, Vanity Fair’s crime series. She lives in a renovated miner's cabin in the mountains of San Diego County with her three rescued dogs.

Reviews

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a thorough and even-handed biography of Ann Rule’s life and times, I felt. I was a huge fan of Ann’s and even corresponded with her a couple of times, and got a couple of books signed by mail. She was friendly to her fans and I admired her work a lot. There were a few surprises in the book that I didn’t expect, but it really didn’t change my regard for her.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
I have been a huge fan of Ann Rule’s books for a very long time. However, I didn’t really know much about the author herself until I read this book. Although some sections were repeated more than once in different sections, this author provides so much insight into the life, career, and relationships of Ann Rule. I really enjoyed reading this book. This is the first book I have read by this author and it was a good experience.

[Koren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a major Ann Rule fan. For years I knew I was getting an Ann Rule book for Christmas. So, I was excited to see a bio of one of my favorite authors. The book was interesting, but not a lot that I didn't already know. A lot of time is spent on her relationship and book about Ted Bundy and just when you think she is past that story, a few chapters later she is back to Ted Bundy and telling the same story. I don't think I've ever read a book that was as repetitive as this one. And the e-book version has a lot of typos. My biggest surprise was that her children are seldom mentioned, except Michael, who was her caretaker at the end. Her daughter Leslie is an author in her own right and I have read several of her books, but she is only mentioned one time in the book and that was to say she was born. Her other daughter is also barely mentioned and one of her sons had an addiction and died but no details are given about that. It just seemed like this book perseverated on the Bundy story and left out a lot of other things.

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Lady of Murder by Cathy Scott – A Must-Read for Ann Rule Fans

As a longtime fan of Ann Rule and someone who has read all of her books, I thoroughly enjoyed First Lady of Murder by Cathy Scott. This fascinating biography gives readers an in-depth look at Ann Rule’s life, career, and the passion she brought to true crime writing.
Cathy Scott captures the warmth, compassion, and professionalism that made Ann Rule my favourite author. Learning about the stories behind her books and the impact she had on victims’ families and readers was both moving and inspiring.
A must-read for any Ann Rule fan. I loved every page and appreciated the chance to learn more about the remarkable woman behind some of the best true crime books ever written

[Gina Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathy Scott has written the definitive book on the fascinating and complex true-crime author Ann Rule. Exhaustively researched, with visual and psychological details that vividly tell the story behind the stories.

[Janette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kindle. 2 stars because it was poorly put together as a book. Too much repetition of facts. Otherwise it would have been 3 stars.