Dear Cousin: The Stalking of Susan Fensten

By: Ventureland

Narrated by: Susan Fensten

Length: 4 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Dear Cousin: The Stalking of Susan Fensten is the gripping true story of one woman's quest for long lost family. After the deaths of her sister and estranged father, Susan searches for relatives on an early online genealogy forum. When she meets cousins from her grandfather's other family, they're everything she'd hoped for—until it all goes to hell.

Susan’s dreams are shattered when she learns her relatives’ dangerous history, and she is bombarded with threatening messages and sexually explicit content. When dozens more people contact her, Susan realizes she's stumbled into a real-life horror movie.

As Susan desperately searches for the truth, she struggles to determine who's an ally and who wants her dead, and she falls down a digital rabbit hole of career criminals, predators, and sexual cultists in the Tri State area. But given the cyber law landscape in 2003, the police are unable to help Susan despite violent phone calls, and unwelcome visits.

Things change when a plot to abduct Susan and her boyfriend comes to light. The FBI steps in, and Susan is given hope when a skeptical agent takes on her case. What he discovers upends Susan's reality forever.

Twenty years after events took place, this real-life thriller from the dawn of the internet serves as a shocking cautionary tale about survival and perseverance against all odds. Hear Susan’s story in her own words, with contributions from expert guests, and the FBI Special Agent and Assistant US attorney on Susan’s case. This is the story of how one woman survived a two-year torture campaign when no one else would help.

Please be advised, this program contains graphic sexual imagery, and discussions of violence, and death. Some names have been changed to protect their subjects’ identities.

©2024 Ventureland, LLC (P)2024 Audible Originals, LLC.

Shocking, humbling, and eye-opening

Susan’s voice and (true) story telling skill is wonderful. Her ability to express her anguish, confusion, and humor had me feeling every emotion she was.

I listen to audio books as I walk, and this story had me so enthralled I had to physically stop and go “oh my gosh! Wtf??” Several times. I could not stop listening and hoping for the best possible outcome for her.

Susan, thank you for your story and vulnerability. The ending of your book truly spoke volumes to the way victims feel and how we can overcome trauma moving forward. I really needed to hear it and felt myself tearing up the last chapter, then laughing at the end at how you thanked the actors. It was a great close out to an emotional journey.

Truly a magnificent listen!

Engaging and frightening

This story is so twisted you wonder how the author kept timeline straight. At one point I was sure it was just over the top fiction. Well acted and read. Chilling thoughts afterwards.

The cruelty of the people who have attacked ot others

The decision to send a message to the people involved an the details that were kept

Crazy story

I hate that the author endured such an experience, but she detailed an incredibly freaky story that kept me hooked until the end.

Unbelievable & Frightening

This true story of fear, betrayal and stalking will leave you wondering how the author survived her ordeal as it began with limited support from law enforcement agencies. The reader will feel emotions through the eyes of the author who I wish her well.

Wow! What a crazy story!

Very well written and narrated by the author Susan Fenston. A cautionary tale for everyone in our increasingly dangerous cyber connected world.

Predictable

It was fairly easy to figure out who was the stalker. There too many looney cousins. The harassment was grotesque and I am sure it was traumatizing for the victim. The actual cyber stalker was was not fully developed.

Shocking ending!

It was amazing to think back to the realities of the early days of the internet, and kudos to Susan for being a trailblazer in the world of cyber scams (although I’m sure she would love to have not been traumatized for years to do so)! Truly wish she had received more justice for the literal mind trauma she was (and I’m sure still is to some degree) subjected to! Hope that all involved have gotten the help needed to live healthier lives moving forward.

Terrifyjng

I liked that the author/victim narrated the story herself. It was probably as therapeutic for her to tell it as it is for us to heed the warning of trusting those we only know through keyboard communication. It’s a new world/new crime and in his wisdom, the judge set a precedent through sentencing. Great ending too, we only have one life to live. Step out of the shadows and live it.

Betrayal

Her cyber stalker nearly ruined her life. She was mercilessly tormented and sought help from the police, and eventually the FBI. She confided in her friend from the beginning, who in the end, plead guilty to being her stalker.