Step into the world of Ann Rule — the woman who reshaped true crime.
In the first-ever biography The Rule of Crime and Me, veteran journalist Anne Jaeger opens the door to her extraordinary 31-year friendship with iconic author Ann Rule. During this special conversation for the Lake Oswego Library’s Third Tuesday Author Series, Jaeger reveals never-before-told stories that illuminate Rule’s remarkable path from small-town Michigan girl to New York Times bestselling legend.
Discover how Ann Rule’s childhood—spent inside a jail where her relatives worked—sparked her earliest fascination with criminal behavior, including a chilling encounter with a killer before she was even old enough to understand it. Learn how she navigated life as a single mother of four while crafting a literary career that would redefine a genre, inspire millions of readers, and earn her the enduring title: The Queen of True Crime.
With warmth, candor, and insider insight, Anne Jaeger brings listeners behind the scenes of a life lived on the edge of darkness and light—where compassion, curiosity, and courage turned real-world tragedy into groundbreaking storytelling. Join us for an intimate look at Ann Rule, the woman behind the legend.
Anne Jaeger: A Journalist Shaped by Four Decades of Crime, Courage, and Unforgettable Storytelling
For forty years, Anne Jaeger has stood at the crossroads of journalism and true crime, her reporting career unfolding alongside a remarkable thirty–year friendship with bestselling author Ann Rule. Together, Jaeger and Rule chased stories that delved into the darkest corners of human behavior—interviewing the infamous, investigating the unthinkable, and reflecting on their own early-life brushes with sociopaths that foreshadowed the careers they would later build.
Their bond was forged in 1984 at one of the nation’s most shocking trials: the case of Diane Downs, the Oregon mother whose attempt to murder her own children stunned the country. Jaeger’s groundbreaking half-hour television documentary on Downs earned Ann Rule’s highest praise—she called it “the seminal personality profile” of a murderous mother, a model of psychological depth culled from unflinching reporting.
Jaeger’s deep immersion in the case extended far beyond the newsroom. When Rule’s account, Small Sacrifices, was adapted into a Peabody Award–winning film starring Farrah Fawcett, Jaeger stepped onto the Hollywood set to play herself, bringing her real-life reporting to the screen.
A familiar face in Portland since 1988, Jaeger has served as a reporter, anchor, and media personality across multiple stations. Her storytelling flair extended into lifestyle television as well, earning an Emmy for her popular garden show on KOIN6 and KGW8. Today, she continues to connect with audiences as a regular contributor on KGW’s Hello Rose City, bringing curiosity, insight, and warmth to every segment.
Anne Jaeger’s career is a testament to fearless journalism, enduring friendship, and a lifelong commitment to uncovering the human stories behind the headlines.
This program is offered by Lake Oswego Public Library in cooperation with the Lake Theater & Café. Admission is free and no ticket is required (though food and drink purchase are encouraged to offset the cost to the Lake Theater). Doors open at 6:30, the presentation begins at 7:00.
The Lake Theater & Café is located at 106 North State Street in Lake Oswego. For more information, contact Alicia Yokoyama at
YXlva295YW1hIHwgbGFrZW9zd2VnbyAhIGNpdHk= or 503-534-4228. This presentation is supported by the Friends of the Lake Oswego Public Library.
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