First, I read a lot of true crime books. This is the best written and one of the most fascinating. It never skips a beat and ends up (inadvertently) being a detailed study in personality development and extremely destructive relationships that neither person will leave. That is a separate pathology that is not often discussed.
Second, I am a psychologist (ret.) who lived 15 miles from the scene of the crime in 2002. I was there doing an internship. Although I had already decided on my dissertation topic. I looked at how the profession of psychology handled sexual relationships with patients and recommended changes to that.
This story begins in the 70's with the eventual murder victim, Felix Polk, establishing a sexual relationship with his patient, Susan, a vulnerable young woman. That was not yet illegal but certainly unethical. He did this to feed the bottomless pit of his ego, which needed constant adoration. In spite of his eventually marrying her--another narcissist and a monster he created--this was the first in a series of tragedies that destroyed him, his children and his wife in the long run. The fascinating details provide an account of the slow destruction of this family and of anyone around these two very narcissistic people.
I object to the use of the word 'evil' to label a person whose early life, behavior, relationships, ego-strength (or weakness) and mental illness lead them to a place where they commit crimes that harm or kill others. They are disturbed, not evil. They are complicated. We are also beginning to understand the biological basis for even some personality disorders. The judicial systems in appropriately kills or gives life sentences to people with biological mental illness that they cannot control, but this story is not that.
As you read the book keep in mind that people with severe narcissism do sometimes create their own reality, and may appear or actually be psychotic. Like Susan, they feel entitled to and justified in anything they do and say. They have no empathy and use people as objects to shore up their low self-esteem, but it is never enough. Personality disorders are often described in clusters (A,B,C) but they overlap. People who think and behave like Susan are often narcissistic, borderline, paranoid and dependent. It may be helpful to read about those before reading the book. In one of the few clinical moments, the DA in this case read off the symptoms of delusional disorder, paranoid type which also seem to fit Susan to a T. But the facts of the case are the focus of this compelling narrative.
Sadly for this woman, her narcissism lead to her defending herself, consequently showing the jury and others how she operates. People with borderline disorder see others as either all bad or all good. As you will see, you are adored by them until you are not and then you are on their list of people who need to be destroyed by any means necessary. In addition to murdering her husband, Susan did it emotionally with two of her sons. I think Eli, lacking the ego strength and reality-testing to go against his mother was the most harmed by her. As a parent my heart breaks for all 3 sons. Thankfully there were others (in and outside the family) who stepped up to support them. I also commend the extremely patient judge, jury and dedicated DA. I see no grounds for an appeal but you decide.
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