If I Can't Have You: Susan Powell, Her Mysterious Disappearance, and the Murder of Her Children

IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU by Gregg Olsen and Rebecca Morris is the best book of Olsen's that I've read. In addition, it's the best book on the true crime case of Susan Powell on the market. As much as I love Ann Rule' s books, IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU surpasses the book which includes her version of this case by far.This is due to the authors having in depth access to the case through a connection with Susan's parents, Chuck and Judy Cox. Thereby an entire other dimension is given to this story's rendering and details.Having followed this case from the first day Susan was reported missing, tragedy is heaped upon tragedy in the storyline's unfolding. Olsen and Morris do a superb job of capturing the sadness, horror, and dismay of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Susan and the deaths of her two young sons, Braden and Charlie.One of the most tragic aspects of this case is that the Coxes made repeated attempts to warn both law enforcement and CPS that Susan's husband, Josh, (also the main suspect in her disappearance) could prove to be a danger to the children. It was a warning that went unheeded to their horrifying detriment.The moral of this part of the story is never, ever back a narcissist into a corner, because he will win at all costs. And Josh Powell proved to be a diagnosed narcissist through the child custody court case. He was totally underestimated except by those who were closest to Susan and her sons.Ultimately it comes to be known after her disappearance that Susan was in way over her head with the toxic, dysfunctional and sexually perverted Powell family system. Although she trusted her instincts to a degree, she was much to naive a young woman to recognize the depth of depravity surrounding her. This, by far, is one of the most horrific true crime cases I've ever read about.

This is a relatively well-written story about a young wife and mother who goes missing and presumed dead, though her body was never found, and the subsequent murder-suicide of her husband, who was a person of interest, and their two children. There is little doubt, in my mind, that the husband murdered her and was later aided by his brother and possibly his father in the cover-up of his crime.What stands out in this book is the quality of the police work, which I thought left a lot to be desired, and the fact that the children were left in the care and custody of the suspect, despite the fact that they there were signs that he was not providing a suitable home nor a suitable environment. Moreover, the suspect's father, with whom he was living for a time, had serious sexual issues of a disturbing nature, many centered around the children's mother.It is a sad story all around, and a bit unsatisfying, due to the fact that the reader does not know what exactly happened to this young wife and mother other than she was presumably murdered. It is also quite frustrating to know that the children were kept with their father. The book may have had a different ending, if the court had only done what would have been in the best interest of the children.

Gripping story which is very well written by Olsen. Before reading this I had only heard the headlines about this case. The book brings you into the community and the families and all the heartache.What is so shocking is the behavior of the Powell family. Maybe it's not so shocking as shameful of this dysfunctional evil family. They would not cooperate with police, they circled their wagons and kept quiet about what they knew but used the internet to smear the reputation of the missing woman. They cared nothing about Susan or where she was and only wanted to protect their brother Josh. The creepy narcissistic perverted father of Josh Powell, Steve Powell who was convicted on voyeurism for taking pictures of his young neighbors in the bathroom, is still refusing to say what he knows. The brother who committed suicide one year after Josh's murder suicide rampage, probably helped dispose of the body and he died keeping his secrets. Maybe if the Powells had cooperated, the children would not have been murdered as Josh would have been arrested before that horrible day. Some reviewers speak ill of the social worker who took the children to visit their father that fateful day, but she was doing what the court mandated. The judge and legal system should have listened to the many warnings given by Susan's father and the Cox family attorney.

I am a voracious reader of True Crime books, and I just don't understand all the great reviews on this. It was just sooo slow and repetitive, and really never told me any new information that hadn't been covered in the news. I rarely leave books unfinished, and I tried, I really tried not to with this one, but it just couldn't hold my interest, and life is too short to waste on anything you're not loving. I'd still like to read the whole story, just not in this particular book.

The job the authors have in telling this story is made harder by the flaws in the investigation of Susan Powell's disappearance (almost certainly murder). There's so much that is unknown, so much evidence that Josh Powell (and likely, at least one other member of his family) had time to destroy or hide.One thing that might have helped make the story clearer was a firmer timeline (especially in the period when Josh Powell was travelling around) and the authors being more specific about various theories in the case (for example, we are told the police took a pancake left at the home into evidence and there seems to be suggestions that Susan's last known meal may have been somehow poisoned by Josh, but the authors are very vague on this).I would consider this to be a book about Susan and Josh Powell's marriage and the impact her disappearance had on the Cox and Powell families. It isn't really a book about the investigation into Susan Powell's disappearance itself, as most of the context of the book seems to be from Susan's friends and family and they don't know much about what happened to her.

a true crime story. susan powell goes missing her husband is suspected of killing her. josh is a piece of nasty work. a horrible human being. the police try every method of trying to get the truth from him. but after a long fight for custody of his 2 children. he kills them both and then himself. susans mum and dad fight to this day to try and find her body so she can be laid to rest....gregg olsen has written an excellent story with a great deal to detail. a must read but a very sad story....

Not the best book I have read.I have read maybe hundreds of true crime books and this one seemed hard work to me.Although it is a terribly sad story,it isn't one that I found hard to put down.The author is all over the place,constantly switching to different times and era's throughout the book.I don't think I would buy another book written by them.

Very sad book but readable

Good book

Good book so sad what happened, unbelievable