Then No One Can Have Her

by Caitlin Rother

She thought she had married her soul mate. But when Carol Kennedy could no longer tolerate her husband's reckless womanizing and out-of-control spending, the artist, therapist, and mother of two had to let him go. Just weeks after their divorce, Carol was found in her Arizona ranch home - bludgeoned to death with a golf club. Her ex, Steven DeMocker, was the prime suspect. Yet it took the authorities months to arrest him - and years to convict....

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Mystery

Audible Audio

First published October 27, 2015

About the author

New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored 14 books, ranging from narrative non-fiction crime to mystery and memoir. Her newest book is DEATH ON OCEAN BOULEVARD: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case (April 27, 2021). Her backlist includes HUNTING CHARLES MANSON; SECRETS, LIES, AND SHOELACES; LOVE GONE WRONG; DEAD RECKONING; THEN NO ONE CAN HAVE HER; I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU; NAKED ADDICTION; POISONED LOVE; BODY PARTS; TWISTED TRIANGLE; LOST GIRLS; WHERE HOPE BEGINS and MY LIFE, DELETED. A Pulitzer Prize nominee, Rother worked as an investigative reporter at daily newspapers for 19 years before quitting the news biz in 2006 to write books full-time. Her journalism has been published in Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and The Daily Beast. She has done more than 200 appearances as a crime commentator on TV, radio and podcasts, ranging from "20/20," "People Magazine Investigates," "Nancy Grace," and "Crime Watch Daily," to shows on HLN, Oxygen Network, Investigation Discovery, C-SPAN, XM Radio and PBS affiliates. She also works as a writing-research-promotions coach and consultant.

Reviews

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"even at 5,400 feet, summertime is sweltering in Arizona, and monsoon season always provides a welcome reprieve."

Then No One Can Have Her (Kindle Edition)
by Caitlin Rother

I became interested in this book after seeing the story on Dateline.

Once upon a time, True Crime was a steady food in my reading diet. I have tired of them in recent years. Or maybe not so much tired of them as weighted down by them. Most leave me depressed and sad. I have steadily cut them out of my genres.

This was the first true crime book in quite a long time I wanted to read.

It was astounding.

The reason this couple on dateline stuck out was the accused himself whose words were featured on Dateline. It was mentioned he was very intelligent and while he was speaking I could see he was. It was also such a long and baffling case. I wanted to see what lies beneath.

Well--what lies beneath is a heck of a writer who researched seemingly VERY LITTLE THING that happened. It was a nuanced and engrossing read and my only thing is I had to skim the evidence parts (some of them.) But that is because I am a bit put off by blood and violence sometimes.

The book jumps around alot which I originally did not like but soon adapted.

By the end, there was no doubt in my mind he did it. But the woman-Carole--seemed like such a beautiful person. This is why I have trouble with True Crime. This is not a happy book. To the contrary, it is a tragic and difficult story. But if you love True-crime and have an analytical mind and want a well written true-crime book that will make you think, this sure is that.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Caitlin Rother's writing, and her latest book, THEN NO ONE CAN HAVE HER is no exception. In fact, it is one of my favorite reads recently. Its got more twists and turns than anything I can remember reading in a long while. It almost reads like fiction, its so convoluted at times. The story is about Carol Kennedy, a much-loved mother and wife with a very full life. She has been having trouble with her ex-husband she just divorced. He's bouncing from trying to get her back, to scaring her by sneaking into her home while she's away. But she is finally done with him and his prolific womanizing. Then she is found dead in her home and things go into crazy time from there.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Caitlin Rother is a great true crime storyteller. I have read and reviewed Naked Addiction, I’ll Take Care of You, Lost Girls and Dead Reckoning. Each of those stories blew my away. I can’t say the same for this story. Steven DeMocker was sentenced to life in prison back in early 2014 for killing his ex-wife in 2008. Rother takes us through the case that depended heavily on circumstantial evidence.

Unlike the previous books I was familiar with this case having seen in covered on 48 hours last year. I think my prior knowledge limited my enjoyment of this story. I disliked Steven DeMocker from the moment I saw his face on the news and then seeing in again in the CBS program.

Rother does take us step by step and it almost as if we are right in the investigators back pockets. It does take them an awfully long time to charge and convict this man and so many mistakes are made. I think reading all these steps just aggravated more and more. I feel so sorry that a wife finally trying to break free out of an awful marriage was killed before even having a chance to start over. It was so hard for her to finally put herself first. Steven was unfaithful to her from the start and whenever she tried to leave him he pulled her back in. Money was his motivation and he was unethical there too. The games he played after her death over the life insurance money just made me sick. This family was truly destroyed.

The story didn’t blow me away, it made me angry. The author did stir up my emotions all over again so in that way this story is well told. My opinion of Steven DeMocker was set before I even started reading and nothing I read changed my mind. So for me there was no new real information to take away here but it is well written and well researched. If you are not familiar with this case Ms. Rother fills this book with details that could make it a compelling read for you.

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 3 out of 5]

True Crime Commemoration # 34
Setting 2008 Prescott, AZ

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there was a ten star rating because this is what I would rate this book.
Caitlin Rothers lays out a beautifully written story of love, greed, manipulation and murder. She has done it in a way that draws you in emotionally. This book soared straight to the top of my list of favorite reads!
This is a must read!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely recommend this book. I loved the way it was written about the profiles and not the court case. Even took it wherever I was just in case I got a moment to read about it.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her latest novel, Then No One Can Have Her, investigative journalist / author Caitlin Rother takes the reader behind the scenes of a riveting true crime thriller for an in depth look at a highly publicized murder case set in Prescott, Arizona.

On July 2, 2008, fifty-three year old artist / therapist Carol Kennedy was brutally murdered in her home. Suspected of committing the murder was Carol's ex-husband, Steven DeMocker, a successful investment stockbroker. This is a story of a narcissistic man's obsession and lethal bitterness towards his ex-wife, and an intricate web of lies, secrets, deceptions, a failed love, a divided family, and a shady and often inept investigative and legal process that took six years for the justice system to prevail.

Then No One Can Have Her is a riveting story that easily draws the reader in from the start, keeping them captivated as the author weaves a thoroughly intriguing and intricate recounting of a highly publicized murder case. I remember seeing this case profiled on the CBS investigative / mystery show 48 Hours in May 2014, so when I saw that the author was writing an in depth true crime novel based on this case, it peaked my interest and I knew that I had to read it.

The author provides the reader with a fascinating and richly detailed and in depth look into the back stories and lives of each participant; an extensive research of the investigative, legal and financial aspects of the case; and a sixteen page photo insert.

You can't help but get drawn into this complicated, fascinating, and multi-layered story, it is a gripping dark account of the intricate web of deceit wrought by Steven DeMocker, it is shocking and mind boggling that it took the justice system six years to convict him of the horrific slaughter of Carol Kennedy. After an extensive and determined investigation and pursuit of justice for the Kennedy/DeMocker family, the reader follows a haunting tale of one woman's tragic and senseless death, and the depth of greed and deception by an obsessive and narcissistic man that ensued until his conviction and sentence of life in prison without the possibility of a parole in 2014.

Then No One Can Have Her is a gripping and chilling account of murder, greed, and deception that is a must read for all true crime fans.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...

[Maryann MJS1228 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caitlin Rother is one of my all-time favorite true crime authors. Her next book could be a detailed expose of a car vandalism ring and I’d still hit the pre-order button. That’s because Rother knows how to blend reporting and public documents, minute details and sweeping overviews, and sympathy for the victims with insight into the perpetrator.

In this outing, Then No One Can Have Her, Rother tackles the murder of Carol Kennedy, artist, teacher and mother. Her ex-husband Steve DeMocker is immediately a suspect but the path to his arrest and trials is years long. He enjoys the sorts of trial delays usually associated with multi-millionaires and HLN fodder. His ability to manipulate people while he is behind bars would make Charles Manson envious. His skills of manipulation prior to imprisonment are even more impressive. To say he gets a little action is like saying Buffalo, NY gets a little snow. He shoots, he scores, and then gets the lucky ladies to run errands for him.

The police, prosecutors and court system of New Age nirvana Prescott, Arizona clearly were not ready for the likes of Steve DeMocker. The town seems more prepared to hold a symposium on healing crystals than to handle the rudiments of a murder investigation. Which is why people move there, I suppose. The open-armed naivety that inspired students and faculty to re-start Prescott College on their own after it went bankrupt allows DeMocker to work his magic.

Instead of making Carol Kennedy an angelic victim, Rother explores why an intelligent woman stays with a man her friends describe as one sick customer and the biggest Creep ever. She also reclaims neighbor Jim Knapp from the avalanche of innuendo DeMocker’s defense team inflicted. Rother even manages to make trust law interesting.

A great read for any true crime fan.

[Sharon Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes the heart of an investigative journalist and the skills of a great storyteller to write a mesmerizing true crime book. The writer must grab the reader's attention with the details and the storyteller must keep that attention with an unbelievably intriguing story. Author Caitlin Rother proves she has the grit to do this in her latest book, "Then No One Can Have Her."

Using the backdrop of the charming town of Prescott, Arizona, Rother takes her readers with her as she follows the story of a grisly murder involving the town's gentle yoga instructor/counselor Carol Kennedy and the cunning, narcissistic man who was convicted of that brutal killing, her ex-husband Steve DeMocker. Giving details of every step of the investigation into Carol's death, plus giving pertinent background information on all the players in this crime, Rother makes the story come alive with her flair for descriptive writing and presenting hardcore evidence.

I used to be a big fan of true crime, especially Ann Rule's spectacular books, but I had not read any really good ones until I found Caitlin Rother's books. Through Rother's words, you almost feel as if you are walking in the investigators' shoes as you hang on to the edge of your seat, and "Then No One Can Have Her" is no exception. I know the research and time spent on this type of book is mind-boggling, and Rother's dedication to presenting the facts while also entertaining the reader is evident in her writing. This is a well-written, well-presented book that true crime fans will thoroughly enjoy. I look forward to Rother's next spine-tingling story.

[3 no 7 · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Then No One Can Have Her” by Caitlin Rother is a true crime tale of love gone wrong, very wrong. The novel recounts the murder of Carol Kennedy, and Rother takes readers step-by-step through the progress of finding her murder. Her ex-husband, Steven DeMocker, of course is first on the list of suspects, but there are others as well. Kennedy’s family is devastated by her death, and immediately feels DeMocker is guilty. The couple’s children and DeMocker’s family do not share that opinion.

The investigation seems doomed from the start. DeMocker has an alibi, but not an air-tight one; in fact, it is riddled with inconsistencies. His less than perfect past also makes his situation worse. However, the various law enforcement agencies seem to stumble at every turn. The case is based on circumstantial evidence, but there is a general mishandling of evidence by everyone. The investigation into Kennedy’s murder drags on and on, and strains the family’s finances. It is six years before DeMocker is brought to trial.

The problematic aspect of true crime is that readers know “who did it” before reading. Rother makes up for that “lack of suspense” by expanding readers’ knowledge of the crime. The exploitation, the deception, and the misery that encompasses this situation are recounted in great detail. Rother draws readers into the story with details of each participant, both in the past and the present.

“Then No One Can Have Her” does not have a happy ending; there is really no “happily ever after” in true crime. . Steven DeMocker was sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife, but the others involved will never recover from the trauma he inflicted on them.

[Lady ♥ Belleza · Rating 4 out of 5]

In July 2008 Carol Kennedy was found dead in her home. At first glance the scene looked like an accident. Upon closer inspection it was determined the scene was staged and Carol had been murdered. The main suspect was her ex-husband Steve DeMocker, but there was no clear cut evidence he did it, no ‘smoking gun’. In fact several witnesses testified he had never been abusive. But he was.

Ms. Rother shows by her careful relating of events how abuse is not always physical. What I like about this book, is that through all the drama, the twists and turns and the “SMDH” moments, Ms. Rother never loses what this case is about, a woman who was brutally murdered. The detectives were committed to finding evidence of her killer and the prosecutor was committed to convicting him. Also Ms. Rother shows no bias in her writing, she is very much a just the facts writer. How she spins them into a lay-person readable format is magic, I guess. She also doesn’t insert herself into the narrative. I mention these three things because these are the things that turn me off from certain books/authors.

From start to finish I was gripped by this book. At times I put it down and read something else, but when I came back to it, I was able to pick up and keep reading, I never had to skim back, it was that compelling. I recommend this book.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty standard true crime fare (a woman is found dead, suspicion falls on her creepy ex-husband), but this one has enough bizarre side trips to keep a reader's attention. For example: the medical examiner transports the woman's body in the back of his pickup truck.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve just finished reading Then No One Can Have Her , and as I have read Caitlin Rother’s books before, and loved them, this one did not disappoint, except that Carol died.
What a long journey for justice in this case, and the author has documented so well, that you feel your living with these people on a daily basis. When you see pictures of this couple, you see what looks like a loving solid unit, and they called each other their soul mates. What you can’t see is Steven DeMocker sexual addiction and his multiple affairs, sometimes more than one woman at a time.
We look at this story through Caitlin’s eyes and all the research and hours of investigation she put to pull out all of the facts. We feel Steven’s daughter’s pain at what has happened to their mother, and then what their father asks of them. How do you deal with the fact that your father is accused of murdering your mother? Breaks my heart.
Wait until you see the lengths Steven goes to implicate another person, including putting his daughter in legal trouble, possible jail time. To say he is a “Me” person is putting it bluntly; he uses everyone, including his family, which included his parents. His retired father even had to go back to work to help pay his mounting legal fees.
Has justice been served, lets hope so, nothing will ever bring Carol back, and maybe he is satisfied with that, as the book title points out. We will never know what makes a person act like Steven does, but at least he is behind bars.
I received this book from the Author, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Denise Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The level of research of execution by Caitlin Rother is astonishing.

[Jael · Rating 3 out of 5]

TV shows like Snapped, 48 Hours, Lockup, and just about anything on Investigation ID are extremely addicting for me. True-crime novels are right up my alley. Although, I must confess that books by the late Ann Rule were always at the top of my list. But.....Caitlin Rother has become one of my favorites too.

Rother's latest book, Then No One Can Have Her, is a deep dive into the July 2008 murder of Carol Kennedy, a divorced mother of two. The obvious suspect was her ex-husband Steven DeMocker.

Why him? Isn't that a little too easy? Sometimes the most obvious answer is the correct one. I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying that Steve DeMocker is a murder. This book is a detailed, well-researched account of the events leading up to Carol's murder and the years after that it took to bring him to trial.

Read the rest of my review at: http://www.asiturnthepages.blogspot.c...

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good as far as true crime goes. The best aspect of this book is it's coverage of the complex position children are in when one parent is accused of killing the other parent. It seemed well researched but could have focused a bit more on the difficulties of gathering enough solid evidence to convict beyond a reasonable doubt.

[Merryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another well researched and well written true crime book from Caitlin Rother. Unfortunately as no-one from the accused family /defence team consented to be interviewed it is a bit understandably, one-sided.

[Alisi ☆ wants to read too many books ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. ^_^

[Leslie Jonsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent true crime work, but not quite as good as her previous works, possibly due to the lack of interviews with key players that she cited she was unable to get. Still a cut above the rest.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

No, Gregg Olsen, Rother is not the next Ann Rule. I did enjoy this, but she tends to get buried in the details that the reader doesn't need. I will try her again, but nor for awhile.

[Mrs. Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of Caitlin Rother’s true crime book Then No One Can Have Her is misleading insofar as it implies a murder committed out of jealousy or possessiveness, which motive is not even implied by its contents. It describes the killing of a widely-liked small town Arizona ex-wife and recounts in detail* the lengthy (and significantly incompetent) investigation and long-delayed trial[s] of the accused perpetrator. I found the case eerily reminiscent of the O.J. trial** - at one point it was seriously suggested that a friend’s personal drug use somehow led to the victim’s execution by cartel enforcers, and despite Prescott’s relative size, its residents came to feel the same way about this case’s non-stop media attention: “the whole scandal seemed to be just one more tedious, and albeit very long, chapter of the small-town drama and circus atmosphere that hung over this case.”Moreover, extraordinarily defective autopsy/lab work played an important part in the trial.***

What made it hard for me to stay engaged with the book was the gullibility and general ditziness of virtually the town’s entire post-pubescent female population. The ex-husband had numerous affairs, some quite durable and many known (by all parties, and the public) to be simultaneous. Among this cohort there was also a widespread confidence in value of dreams, yoga, etc. in predicting the future and revealing secrets about the past. To put it succinctly, not my kind of people.

Then No One Can Have Her was well-enough written and I enjoyed the parts about the trial[s]. However I can recommend it only with the warning that it is overlong and full of people that one wants to bawl out or beat up, depending on what kind of people one himself is.

* Lots and lots of detail.
** OJ’s is imprinted deep in my thinking as a template for crimes, investigations, trials and verdicts.
*** For those who are scratching their heads and wondering what’s all this OJ business, another quotation might resonate better: in explaining his conviction the perpetrator “repeatedly described the judge and jury as biased, corrupt and stupid, often characterizing the jurors as idiots.”

[HarryWales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am giving this the Full Monty because of the sheer doggedness that Caitlin Rother had to go through to complete this. Murder occurs in 2008; trial(s) concludes 2014. 2 trials and 3 judges presiding. No help from DeMocker family or 2 teams of defense. The only saving grace for Caitlin was Rich Robertson, the defense investigator. He helped her big time. The murder itself and the investigation and trial did not interest me near as much as the marriage itself. 90% of the reviewers of this book are female. It is an outrage the character assassination of Jim Knapp perpetrated by your typical lawyer Craig Williams, conveniently protected by American Bar Association as usual. There was no credible evidence, reasonable suspicion or probable cause to point the finger at a dead man, which is why Craig Williams did so. The dead man can't fight back.
So congrats to Ms. Rother for the sheer stamina of completing this project.
In conclusion - pet peeve - could you people stop referring to a non-fiction book as a novel. What are you? 3rd graders?

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very interesting

case, extremely compelling. I struggled as to whether I should give this book a four star rating, the only reason I didn't is because, again, just as with another book of this author's work, she tells the story by jumping around in time. I personally prefer reading as though I've never heard of a case (and I had not heard of this one) and getting the information via start to finish, as opposed to reading bits of trial information interposed within the beginning of the story. I can't get used to this style, much prefer Ann Rule style. However, I realize the complexity of this case, and recommend it to others regardless of my own personal preferences.

[Jocelyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I read from Caitlin Rother (the first one was Death on Ocean Boulevard) and I am not disappointed.

This book is about the true story of the murder of Carol Kennedy in Prescott, Arizona, in 2008. The book is well researched and well written. It is amazing to think that it took the State six years to convict Steve DeMocker for the murder of his ex-wife. This case was based on circumstantial evidence. I am looking forward to read the next book by Rother on the McStay family murders that is expected to be released in 2024. Caitlin Rother is a great storyteller. I give the book a four stars.

[Roxie Gallinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author is suppose to be the new Anne Rule, but there will never be another, right? Caitlin is not bad, don't get me wrong, but as the story continued, I felt that she was giving information that made the story start to get boring and made me feel like I didn't want to continue reading, which to me could have made the book shorter or put in other info. I will give the author another try, but to put her down as another Anne Rule just to me isn't a name you put on another writer, cause when it comes to writing True Crime, Anne Rule will always be the Queen.

[Marcia Calitri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narcissist

Caitlin is my new Ann Rule. She is sitting at the kitchen table telling a story. You hang on to every word. You know the victim, her family, her friends. Then the killer, her husband, his family, his friends. Then the story unfolds with police work, forensics, the attorneys, the judges, the trials. You shake your head in disbelief. How can this happen? It did happen. The world lost a special lady. No one wins.

[Koren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written true crime about a husband who murders his wife. In some ways it was a story done again and again. Husband kills wife that he is estranged from for insurance money to support his extravagant lifestyle, but there are some twists and turns here. For me it did get bogged down during the trial that was somewhat repetitive. At the end she explained that she was not able to interview some of the major players and had to take a lot from transcripts, but all in all an interesting story.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well-written account of the events surrounding the murder and trial. It had just the perfect amount of detail. It is pretty amazing that some friends and family members believed in his inosense despite all the overwhelming evidence pointing to his guilt. Recommended for true crime enthusiasts.

[Kim Gasparini · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book that should have been a newspaper series. It’s the same information rehashed several times, with very little new information added along the way.

If you cut the sheer repetition and filler, you’d be left with a book that is 20% of the original length. That may be a generous estimate.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caitlin Rother does it again!

Excellent book! A crime that got past me, and I was delighted to find this very well written, compelling story by an accomplished true crime author. Keywords: Arizona, DeMocker/Kennedy, money as a motive, brutal murder.