15 Stephen Michaud Books

Published: December 30, 2021

Stephen Michaud is the author or co-author of more than a dozen books. This list includes his highest rated writings dealing with true crime, murderers and serial killers.

Most of the books he's written are about Ted Bundy and murder. He's also wrote a book about JFK and one about a hikers journey to Everest.

Books by Stephen Michaud

1. Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer: The Death Row Interviews

Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer

Written with: Hugh Aynesworth

Published: 1989

Pages: 299

As we know, Ted Bundy killed over 35 women and probably many more. This is one of the most famous books about Ted Bundy since so much of it is taped and in his own words. Instead of continually asking questions and getting nowhere, Michaud and Aynesworth decided to start playing a game where Bundy could answer in the third person. This would give them a "bird's eye view" of the murders, and Bundy could feel as if it wasn't him. Bundy had stated he didn’t feel any guilt, but it seems as this gave him another way of his not being the killer.

Something exciting is that although Bundy makes himself out to be this amazing person, it seems as if his intellect stopped at around the age of 12, so that is why the strategy worked out so well. Interestingly enough, the only murder he refused to discuss was Kimberly Leach, who was 12 years old and in the 7th grade. Since they were both mentally the same age, this might have been for that.

2. Wanted for Murder

Wanted for Murder

Written with: Hugh Aynesworth

Published: October 2nd, 1990

Pages: 237

Since the beginning of time, people have been fascinated by murder. Crimes of passion, cold-blooded killings, and tales of suspense capture our attention and keep us turning pages long into the night. In his new book, wanted for murder, Stephen Michaud takes a look at some of history's most notorious murderers and asks the question: why did they do it?

In this book, Michaud and Aynesworth look at the cases of 35 murders. Drawing on interviews with criminals and experts alike, Michaud provides insights into the minds of killers and offers a closer look at what drove them to commit such heinous crimes. If you're looking for a page-turning read that will keep you up at night, then this is the book for you!

3. If You Love Me, You Will Do My Will: The Stranger-Than-Fiction Saga of a Trappist Monk, a Texas Widow, and Her Half-Billion-Dollar Fortune

If You Love Me, You Will Do My Will

Written with: Hugh Aynesworth

Published: 1991

Pages: 384

This strange story starts with Sarita Kenedy East, who owned as much land in Texas as the state of Rhode Island. However, she was the last of her family line, and she disliked living on a farm and anything related to ranching. In what seems as if it should be a cowboy western, being that it involves oil, cattle, and the state of Texas, this is also the story of murder and greed.

As she was elderly, she was waiting out her time when a Trappist Monk named Brother Leo came calling to her. He had been ordered to find a new location for a monastery and for someone rich to pay for it. Being incredibly sophisticated, he became her confident and dear friend. He talked his way into becoming her trustee and thought he had it all figured out. Not being particularly interested in the land, Sarita didn't realize millions upon millions of dollars of oil under her feet. However, her family, friends, corporations she worked with, and even the Vatican Church were to get involved.

4. Murderers Among Us: Unsolved Homicides, Mysterious Deaths & Killers at Large

Murderers Among Us

Written with: Hugh Aynesworth

Published: 1991

Pages: 352

In any city, town, or suburb, there are murderers among us. These individuals have committed heinous crimes and often gotten away with them. Some of these killers are mysteries, their identities unknown to the public and law enforcement alike. Others have been caught and convicted but still haunt our memories long after they've been locked up. Regardless of how they were apprehended, all of these murderers pose a threat to society. They must be brought to justice. But how?

This book will show you how it is done and how these evil people can be caught or escape justice. It includes photographs and more so that you might even be able to solve some of the crimes! The scary part is not the ones that are locked up, but the ones that might still be out there, and no one knows who they are or where they are and what they are doing.

5. The Evil That Men Do: F.B.I. Profiler Roy Hazelwood's Journey into the Minds of Sexual Predators

The Evil That Men Do

Written with: Roy Hazelwood

Published: 1999

Pages: 262

Roy Hazelwood is usually compared with John E. Douglas in the world of exposing sex crimes and serial killers. He spent twenty-two years in the F.B.I. and sixteen of them specifically in the Bureau's Behavioral Science Unit. Because of this, he saw just about every conceivable crime, in every possible way, that could be and was committed during his service. This book goes into numerous ones, including the "Ken and Barbie" killings, the Atlanta Child Murders, and others.

Other parts of the book explore crimes of autoerotic asphyxiation and different strange ways to kill or die. Something unique about this book is that you also learn about Roy Hazelwood as a person and how he conducted himself throughout his career. If not for him and others like Douglas with their ability to profile and get inside the minds of these monsters, many of them would still be roaming free among the rest of us.

6. The Vengeful Heart and Other Stories: A True Crime Casebook

Vengeful Heart

Written with: Hugh Aynesworth

Published: 2000

Pages: 144

Although a short read, this book contains information on twelve murder stories and gives you a quick primer on how they happen and what you can expect from the more gruesome and more prolonged books relating to true crime.

This book examines the motives, the actions, and the punishments for these criminals using Michaud and Aynesworth's years of research and investigative reporting.

7. Dark Dreams: Sexual Violence, Homicide, and the Criminal Mind

Dark Dreams: Sexual Violence, Homicide, and the Criminal Mind

Written with: Roy Hazelwood

Published: October 13th, 2002

Pages: 288

Are murderers born or made? This has been a question that has plagued philosophers, scientists, and criminal justice professionals for centuries. In his latest book, Dark Dreams: Sexual Violence, Homicide, and the Criminal Mind" Stephen Michaud takes an in-depth look at the nature vs. nurture debate as it relates to murder.

Some of these cases are utterly baffling and don't make any sense when they are first discovered, but as they dig deeper, more comes to light. Drawing on case studies and interviews with both murderers and experts in the field, Michaud paints a compelling picture of the role environment and upbringing play in shaping one's propensity for violence. The results are chilling but ultimately enlightening. You will learn more about profiling and how sometimes it is best to trust your guy while other times it can take a total wrong turn.

8. Beyond Cruel: The Chilling True Story of America's Most Sadistic Killer

Beyond Cruel

Published: 2007

Pages: 320

James Mitchell "Mike" DeBardeleben, Jr., seemed like your average small-time criminal since he would mostly get busted for using counterfeit bills across the U.S. As a young adult, he was constantly in and out of trouble and being kicked out of schools and the Air Force, DeBardeleben's life was constantly in chaos. He was also married numerous times and had a horrible childhood.

After he was arrested for using the fake money, the Secret Service realized that he was much more than that. He was a rapist, kidnapper, and suspected serial killer who kept photos of women raped and murdered. After defending himself in court, he would be sentenced to 375 years in prison.

9. The Devil’s Right-Hand Man

The Devil’s Right-Hand Man

Written with: Debbie M. Price

Published: October 2nd, 2007

Pages: 281

Convicted of killing two people and then stating he had killed almost 50 others, was Robert Charles Browne indeed the Devil's right-hand man? The two murders he was convicted for include Heather Dawn Church, who was 13 years old. The second murder was of Rocio Delpilar Sperry, 15 years old. However, her body was never found, so there are questions about whether he committed the crime. He was given a double-life sentence for those crimes.

Now, if the story had ended there, it would still be horrible. And yet it gets even more horrific if you take into account his killing so many other people through his lifetime. Strangely enough, while in prison, he wrote a letter that stated, "Seven sacred virgins entombed side by side, those less worthy are scattered wide, the is you 1, the other team 48." This letter was supposed to be his admission of the other murders, yet no one could find their bodies or prove he killed them. The questions remain and may forever.

10. Whisper of Fear

Whisper of Fear

Written with: Rhonda B. Saunders

Published: November 4th, 2008

Pages: 352

Especially in today's world of paparazzi and "influencers" who post about themselves constantly on social media, stalking is very different. Instead of just writing the usual crime, rape, or serial murder book, this one focuses on the crime of stalking a victim. District Attorney Rhonda Saunders was the founder of the Stalking and Threat Assessment Team in Los Angeles and related some of the stories in this book.

Michaud and Saunders go into cases of famous people who have been stalked, such as Steven Spielberg, Blythe Danner, Madonna, and others. Even though these seem like the most interesting, since we think we know them, some of the everyday people's stories are even scarier since they could easily be one of us. With almost 1,500,000 people stalked in the U.S.A. each year, you'll want to read this and make sure you are safe too! Saunders was instrumental in starting anti-stalking laws in California, which have now been introduced into other states.

11. The Only Living Witness: The True Story of Serial Sex Killer Ted Bundy

The Only Living Witness

Written with: Hugh Aynesworth

Published: 1983 (Updated in 1989)

Pages: 332

Everyone knows about Ted Bundy and the horrible murders he committed for many years. The question is, how did this man get away with it for so long? Part of it was his ability to be handsome, easy-going, intelligent, and so much more. A member of the Republican party, he was highly involved with it in his home state of Washington in the Northwest of the U.S.A.

Regarded as one of, if not the best, of all the books on Bundy, you will want to read this one. It delves deeply into his history, why he did what he did, and how he did it. The murders are gruesome and horrifying, and you will want to lock your doors after reading them. He freely admits he didn't feel any guilt torturing and killing his victims, and you can see that when you read this book. There is a Netflix documentary titled Confessions of a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes.

12. Terrible Secrets: Ted Bundy on Serial Murder

Terrible Secrets

Written with: Robert D. Keppel

Published: 2011

Pages: 211

Dr. Robert Keppel is probably one of the most influential people searching for Ted Bundy and his conviction. Being a police officer and working for about fifteen years to find him, his knowledge is extraordinary. However, the most exciting part of the book is Keppel's and Bundy's continued correspondence over the years until Bundy was executed.

Helping to bring this horrifying case to life, Keppel and Michaud include photos and drawings of the scenes, a very concise timeline, and the writing is factual and linear without being tedious or redundant. Knowing that Dr. Keppel was a part of the case since the first day makes it incredibly interesting and powerful.

13. Lethal Shadow: The Chilling True-Crime Story of a Sadistic Sex Slayer

Lethal Shadow

Published: May 1st, 1994

Pages: 350

Take a look inside the life of killer James Mitchell DeBardeleben. He was originally arrested for the petty crime of passing fake money, but the police learned about other crimes he committed.

This book takes you back to his childhood, offers more insight into his crimes, and what happened during the trail.

14. JFK: Breaking the News: A Reporter's Eyewitness Account of the Assassination and Its Aftermath

JFK: Breaking the News

Written with: Hugh Aynesworth

Published: November 22nd, 2003

Pages: 263

This book, written alongside journalist Hugh Aynesworth, gives you a firsthand account of what happened to JFK. Aynesworth was the only journalist to see the assassination, the arrest of Oswald, and then his murder.

It’s an account of this story like no other.

15. Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest

Left for Dead

Written with: Beck Weathers

Published: April 25th, 2000

Pages: 304

On the crisp cool morning in 1996, Beck Weathers and his team started their final climb to the summit of Mount Everest. Little did they know, a storm was in route that would soon hit the mountain and make for one of the deadliest days on the mountain.

Weathers recounts his story including how he got down the mountain, the impact to his body, and others on his team (and others) that lost their life that day on Everest.