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

Gregg Olsen details the 2009 disappearance of Susan Powell from her West Valley City home and the subsequent investigation into her husband, Josh Powell. The narrative follows Josh’s suspicious claims about a midnight camping trip in a snowstorm with his young sons, Charlie and Braden, while Susan remained missing. Olsen documents the interference of Josh’s father, Steven Powell, the family's history of obsession, and the failures of the legal system to protect the children. The account tracks the case through its conclusion in 2012, when Josh murdered his sons and killed himself in an intentional house fire during a supervised visit.

True crime readers study this case to understand the intersection of domestic control, psychological manipulation, and custodial law. It appeals to those interested in the mechanics of police work and the specific warning signs of familial violence. Readers finish the book with a factual timeline of the Utah investigation and a technical overview of how jurisdictional boundaries and social service protocols impacted the safety of the Powell children. It provides a sobering look at how a lack of physical evidence in a missing person case can paralyze child protective interventions.