FINAL ANALYSIS THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE SUSAN POLK MURDER CASE
CATHERINE CRIER WITH COLE THOMPSON
ISBN# 9780061148019/10:0061148016-Print/9780061192388/10:0061192384-E Book
March 2008
Harper, An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
10 E 53rd Street, New York, New York, 10022
Paperback/E Book
$7.99 Paperback/$19.95 E Book
374 pages-Paperback/N/A-E Book
True Crime
Rating: 5 Cups

Susan Bolling Polk was troubled as a child and well into her teenage years. Her IQ labeled her as a genius but that did not stop her from dropping out of school in ninth grade. When the school system ordered that she see Dr. Felix Polk for therapy, her mother agreed and that is when Susan's life truly changed. But it would not be for the better. Instead of getting the help she needed, she felt she was in love with Felix.

Frank Felix Polk was several years older than Susan when she began seeing him on a regular basis. He was married with two children but seemed to have a fascination with Susan. He was a Holocaust survivor and had his own issues that had never been dealt with, such as abandonment, after seeing his father taken away by Nazi's. According to records, he also had a fascination with his older teen sister, which possibly explained his fascination with Susan.

When Susan reached legal age, Felix left his wife of twenty years and married Susan, though her mother did not approve of the marriage from the beginning. Soon after their return to California from their honeymoon, things began to change. According to Susan, Felix would not let her leave the house or have friends and accused him of 'raping' her on numerous occasions throughout their twenty year marriage. They eventually had three sons, Adam, Eli and Gabriel, who would be subjected to constant fights and the delusions of their mother. In October 14, 2002, Susan felt she had suffered enough at Felix's hands and went to the guest house on their property 'just to talk'. But that wasn't all she would do that night. It was the next evening before her husband was discovered by their youngest son and Felix's murder was reported and Susan taken into custody for the crime. In 2006, Susan's case finally went to trial, with her representing herself instead of having an attorney. Two of her three sons, Adam and Gabriel testified against her and her third son, Eli, testified for her. The outcome of the trial is not unexpected, the drama in the courtroom and Susan's ever changing moods are what sealed her fate.

This was one of the most fascinating true crime reads I have read in a very long time. Not since 'Helter Skelter' have I been so drawn into a story. Ms. Crier takes the reader down a path of abuse, lies, and into the mind of a woman who has a hard time differentiating between what is real and what is fantasy. She presents the story in such a fashion that the reader can truly see that Susan was in desperate need of therapy all during her life. Ms. Crier's accounting of the courtroom proceedings is detailed and vivid. The emotions she brings forth from the reader is phenomenal. I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys reading true crime novels.

Liadan
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
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