If I Can't Have You

Susan Powell, Her Mysterious Disappearance, and the Murder of Her Children

By: Gregg Olsen, Rebecca Morris

Narrated by: Laural Merlington, Kevin Pierce

Best-selling author Gregg Olsen and co-author Rebecca Morris investigate one of the 21st Century's most puzzling disappearances and how it resulted in the murder of two children by their father.

Every once in a great while a genuine murder mystery unfolds before the eyes of the American public. The tragic story of Susan Powell and her murdered boys, Charlie and Braden, is the only case that rivals the Jon Benet Ramsey saga in the annals of true crime. When the pretty, blonde Utah mother went missing in December of 2009 the media was swept up in the story - with lenses and microphones trained on Susan's husband, Josh. He said he had no idea what happened to his young wife, and that he and the boys had been camping in the middle of a snowstorm.

Over the next three years bombshell by bombshell, the story would reveal more shocking secrets. Josh's father, Steve, who was sexually obsessed with Susan, would ultimately be convicted of unspeakable perversion. Josh's brother, Michael, would commit suicide. And in the most stunning event of them all, Josh Powell would murder his two little boys and kill himself with brutality beyond belief.

©2014 gregg olsen and rebecca morris (P)2014 gregg olsen

The Coward and the Angels

If you could sum up If I Can't Have You: in three words, what would they be?

Disturbing, Criminal,Unthinkable. A crime against humanity an unforgivable act.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

I really enjoyed Kevin's very factual voice sort of like the old Dragnet show but not as dry.

What does Laural Merlington and Kevin Pierce bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I enjoyed the Laural reading the alternative pieces such as the emails and letters. Kevin brings a excellent voice for delivery facts.

If you could give If I Can't Have You: a new subtitle, what would it be?

Guilt and Betrayal.

Any additional comments?

A few years ago I read Ann Rules take on the case included in her Fatal Friends, Deadly Neighbors Crime Cases Volume 16. This book here is a needed improvement over that other fine book.

With new updates on the case and a seedier perspective on the case will be enjoyed by anyone new or old to the case.

Kevin Pierce always nails it!

I love listening to anything Kevin Pierce narrates. So far, all the books I've chosen because he narrates have been great!
The story of Susan and her boys was told in a great way through this book.

Well done

A very sad story but extremely well told. The narrator does a great job and sucks you in where you can't turn it off.

Excellent Account of Unbelievably Digusting Evil

May Susan and her two sons RIP. The narrators and the authors present and very organized and detailed account of a very self-centered and sick individual and the numerous, direct and indirect, victims of a person filled with hate.

Incredible and incredibly infuriating

What made the experience of listening to If I Can't Have You: the most enjoyable?

Enjoyable seems a strange word to use in describing a true story like this. Horrifying, sickening, depressing? All of the above. Enjoyable? Hmmm. I will say that it certainly keeps your interest and you won't want to stop listening, even as you know that things aren't going to end well. But this is true crime and that goes with the territory.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Chuck Cox, the father of the (first) victim. He and his wife were the only people who fully understood what they were dealing with right from the start and saw through Josh Powell's mask of sanity. He tried to warn everyone, including (especially) the police, and no one listened until it was too late.

Have you listened to any of Laural Merlington and Kevin Pierce ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Never heard anything by Laural Merlington before, but Kevin Pierce is the King of True Crime Audiobooks. I can't tell you how many of them I've listened to but they're all excellent. One of my favorite readers.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Unfortunately, while everyone has a high-level intellectual understanding that psychopaths DO actually exist in this world, the vast majority of people refuse to acknowledge blatant sociopathy and/or psychopathy even when it's staring them in the face and screaming at the top of its lungs. We're all just too invested in the sadly false notion that everyone, deep down, is a genuinely good person. When we're confronted by true irredeemable evil we go into denial and refuse to see it.

Any additional comments?

This is one of the best true crime books I've ever read/listened to but also one of the most infuriating. It goes from tragedy to outrage to horror to silence and sadness and darkness. So, listener beware: This does not end well for anyone.