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

Length: 10 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Performances Lacking

I'm very familiar with the case of Susan Powell and her boys. My desire to listen for more information overrode the lackluster performances. Who Susan and her boys were and the history of their case deserve a better presentation.

Heartbreaking true story

This case has always haunted me since it happened. I’ve listened to podcasts and wanted to see if this book had any more information. It is very detailed. Susan, Charlie, and Brayden deserved so much more than that horrible monster. I hope someday she is found. Such a heartbreaking tragedy!

Great book

This book was excellent. Very suspenseful. The story line was intense but good. Another great book by Gregg Olsen

Well told story

I am so glad I listened to this entire story. Dateline and other broadcasts only have much time to tell the story of the painful life of Susan Cox. I hope she brought home to rest along side her children. Such a well told story.

Suspenseful, tragic true crime.

Prior to listening to “If I Can’t Have You”, I was largely unfamiliar with the Susan Powell case, I remembered some fragments from news coverage from when the case was new, but nothing more. Thankfully, authors Gregg Olsen and Rebecca Morris do not presume the reader/listener has any familiarity with the case, and instead provide a thorough account of the many twists and turns in the case. Events unfold in a suspenseful way, with an engaging, detailed narrative. Kevin Pierce - who is the primary narrator - has an excellent, authoritative voice, perfect for true crime. And Laural Merlington - who voices Susan’s journal entries and other recollections at the beginnings of chapters - adds a nice, sometimes haunting element.
The fact that “officially” much of this case remains unsolved (no confession, no body), will make aspects of it linger in your mind. It’s easy to apply hindsight and say that much of the tragedy and injustice in the case should have been preventable. But I suppose that’s the problem with hindsight.
All in all, this was a suspenseful, detailed account of an increasingly tragic, frustrating series of events. I received a free promo copy of this audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

Typical Olsen

Same style, same solid research, same trail of characters. Mr. Olson has this down to a science.

Tragedy

Would you listen to If I Can't Have You: again? Why?

I'm not sure....such a heartbreaking story

What was one of the most memorable moments of If I Can't Have You:?

What happened to the little boys...

What about Laural Merlington and Kevin Pierce ’s performance did you like?

An excellent narrative mix

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

A Husband's Greed

Any additional comments?

Such a tragic story, but compelling Kept waiting for a better outcome

if you enjoy any crime show, you'll enjoy this

Fascinating and tragic. Yet it also has important lessons about community, faith, domestic abuse, male dominance, and the shortcomings of our legal system. I'm glad I made the purchase. I think it's the first of many in this genre!

Sickening and raw. Josh personified evil.

Learned so much more than I knew about this devistating case. May Susan, Charlie and Braden rest in peace; and may Chuck and Judy find comfort in knowing that they are THE example of strength, love, courage. Every daughter should be blessed with parents like them.
As for Josh and Stephen ......not worth my breath.

Murder, perversion, insanity all wrapped up in one

Beautiful Susan Powell went missing in December of 2009. This was an amazing true story very well written by Gregg Olsen that tells the story of how Susan went missing after being so mentally abused by her husband Josh Powell. Many more details in this book that I didn't know happened. Josh swore he had nothing to do with her disappearance but as each bombshell was revealed there story got more sickening. How can people do the things they do to someone they are supposed to love is beyond me. The poor children Charlie and Braden paid the ultimate price for having a psychotic father and sickening grandfather.