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Betty Broderick: Telling on myself
What do you do when you have struggled loyally for years beside your husband, living in financial hardship as you bring up your joint children virtually as a single mother, working toward the good times that you can see coming for all of you, only to discover that your husband is committing adultery and is planning to leave you? Worse, he aggressively denies his affair, denouncing you as crazy to your face and to everyone you know, while he schemes to walk off with everything you have worked so hard for as he is reborn into a new life with a star-struck younger woman, as pretty as you once were, who will enjoy everything you have invested in – your financial security, your home-life and even your children. Worse still, he is a notoriously hard-ball lawyer with every intention of crushing you in any way he can, of erasing you from his life, of reducing you to nothing, so that he can move on as if you never existed. Daniel T. Broderick III’s relentless harassment of his discarded wife, Betty, made her increasingly crazy as he and his girlfriend – then second wife – Linda Kolkena Broderick piled on the pressure, until one day, on November 5, 1989, at her wits’ end and believing herself to be acting in self-defense, she confronted them in the early hours of the morning and in a panic shot them both dead. A multitude of onlookers has absolved Betty for what she did. Many even admire her, especially if they have suffered similar fates to hers. One juror at her trial openly questioned why she had taken so long to kill Dan under such extreme provocation. Now, twenty-five years into a thirty-two year to life prison sentence for her second-degree murder of Dan and Linda Broderick, Betty has reluctantly decided to give her personal account of what led up to that fatal and fateful day, when all three of their futures came violently and abruptly to an end.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
March 22, 2016
Well written, but 25+ yrs later, Betty is still angry at her victims.
The book is written by Betty and details her story. I expected her to be eloquent as she is a highly intelligent woman. I also expected less angst against the two
Ppl she killed. Another expectation was the truth about what happened that night; her defense still does not totally add up. Still, it tells the story of a woman viciously mistreated by a narcissistic husband and his (apparently similarly narcissistic) brand new trophy wife. It's hard not to commiserate with Betty at some degree, but murder is never the answer.
The book is written by Betty and details her story. I expected her to be eloquent as she is a highly intelligent woman. I also expected less angst against the two
Ppl she killed. Another expectation was the truth about what happened that night; her defense still does not totally add up. Still, it tells the story of a woman viciously mistreated by a narcissistic husband and his (apparently similarly narcissistic) brand new trophy wife. It's hard not to commiserate with Betty at some degree, but murder is never the answer.
April 4, 2015
Truth
Very honest memoir by a woman who was driven to insanity by her ex-husband and continues to serve a questionable exception of jail time...she is 67 let her out to work with battered women.
Very honest memoir by a woman who was driven to insanity by her ex-husband and continues to serve a questionable exception of jail time...she is 67 let her out to work with battered women.
December 20, 2017
Betty Broderick’s story is one many of us have heard and are fascinated by. She’s been portrayed as a monster, crazy, and turned into a pariah to some, and a hero to others. She lived through something that many women fear as their biggest nightmare, her husband throwing them and their marriage away for a much younger woman. Movies and books have been written about her. What makes this one different from the rest is that it was written by Betty Broderick, herself. This book tells Betty’s story in her own voice, from her own unique point of view.
Honestly, in many ways,? I feel sorry for Betty. She spent decades married to someone who neglected and abused her, who treated her as an inconvenience. She tried so hard to keep their marriage together and stood by Dan through the lean, difficult years when they were barely able to make ends meet. When Dan left her for his younger girlfriend, he continued to abuse her emotionally and did everything he could to try to push her over the edge. He even took their children and used them as pawns to manipulate and hurt her further. That said, if Betty had been able to control her own temper and how she reacted to Dan’s manipulations, many of the problems she faced could have been avoided, or at least lessened. It would have been different if she’d killed holing in self defense, but that’s not what happened here. So, her children were were left with no father and their mother in prison for murdering him and his new wife, Linda. Even after so many years, you can tell how very angry Betty still is. As justifiable as her anger is, it’s not affecting Dan and Linda at all, or anyone, really, other than herself and her children. If she can find a way around that anger and accept responsibility for the part she played, she might have a better chance the next time she comes up for parole. In my opinion, she’s paid for her crimes and should be released. Maybe she can use her experiences to help women who are in similar situations as she was in. Maybe she’d be able to find a measure of peace.
Honestly, in many ways,? I feel sorry for Betty. She spent decades married to someone who neglected and abused her, who treated her as an inconvenience. She tried so hard to keep their marriage together and stood by Dan through the lean, difficult years when they were barely able to make ends meet. When Dan left her for his younger girlfriend, he continued to abuse her emotionally and did everything he could to try to push her over the edge. He even took their children and used them as pawns to manipulate and hurt her further. That said, if Betty had been able to control her own temper and how she reacted to Dan’s manipulations, many of the problems she faced could have been avoided, or at least lessened. It would have been different if she’d killed holing in self defense, but that’s not what happened here. So, her children were were left with no father and their mother in prison for murdering him and his new wife, Linda. Even after so many years, you can tell how very angry Betty still is. As justifiable as her anger is, it’s not affecting Dan and Linda at all, or anyone, really, other than herself and her children. If she can find a way around that anger and accept responsibility for the part she played, she might have a better chance the next time she comes up for parole. In my opinion, she’s paid for her crimes and should be released. Maybe she can use her experiences to help women who are in similar situations as she was in. Maybe she’d be able to find a measure of peace.
August 14, 2015
Like many I have followed this story for years. It is every woman’s fear that a husband will leave you for a bimbo. Up until I read Bella Stumbo’s book it was a seeming case of a perfect marriage, husband gets successful and bored and a new vibrant chick causes him to throw everything away. The Lifetime movie (obviously insight gotten from his side of the family) portrayed Dan as a hardworking man and Linda as a well-dressed classy chick and they were just trying to get on with their lives. After reading Stumbo’s book, those two turned out to be exactly what I thought. A sociopathic narcissist and a whore. You can tell even looking at pictures that he has dead eyes, no depth, and she was a flighty bimbo who just fell into a good situation. He has almost a sinister, evil presence, and I’m sure he was just awful as a husband. After reading Betty’s point of view, it is apparent she is still bitter. She made their relationship out to be horrible from the beginning, which is a wonder if it was so terrible, why they married in the first place. She even goes as far to say he might have been homosexual. Do I feel sorry for Betty? Yes and no. It was not a perfect marriage. He never showered her with gifts and was distant long before this chick came along, and Betty even admits that, there was no substance to the marriage. She admits herself there were red flags she should have noticed from the beginning. I feel sorry for Betty because had she had more self-esteem and support from loved ones, someone could have slapped her in the face and just told her to leave this jerk. It seems her own immediate family was a bunch of uncaring selfish people as well. She was a beautiful smart woman. So this is where my sympathy stops. She stayed in this toxicity and something like this happening was inevitable. She was not a victim, only to her own mind. She obviously felt she didn’t deserve a loving happy relationship, otherwise she would have left this cold-hearted brute. Instead of viewing his dissolution of the marriage as a blessing, she killed them. And her life is over. I say this because I’ve dated jerks like him, but I’ve been blessed enough to realize that their not being in my life is a gift. And had she left those two alone, time would have shown that their “happiness” could never be because he had no feelings, and the bimbo would have been replaced with newer, fresher meat. Also, its not fair what Betty did to her children. Those poor kids, she had them as things to try and save that marriage, and used them against him to try and ruin his new one. She conveniently left out a few of her evil ways in her book. If she did mention it, such as the Boston Crème Pie incident, it was brief and casually mentioned as if it meant nothing. She used her children against him as part of the game, which he won. And I truly hope they found their own happiness. I read this book in two nights, and if I didn’t have a full time job would have killed it (no pun intended) in one sitting. And I will continue to follow this story, probably for the rest of my days. But yes, I agree with other reviews that she probably isn’t telling the whole truth. I’m sure he left her in the most vicious, cruel way, and I’m sure he tried to serve her in public places for sheer humiliation. In which case I would have chased down the process server, signed those papers, and been rid of him once and for all. She held on by dragging him to court, for four long years, and could have saved herself a lot of aggravation by just cutting her losses and running as far away from that man as she could. And I’m sorry, there was no harassment, only from Betty. It is her who vandalized, left obscenities on the answering machine, and stole their wedding invitation. He just wanted to throw her away and be done with it. She couldn’t accept it, and it was a tragic ending for the entire family.
September 7, 2023
If you think you know the Betty Broderick story because you've seen the news coverage and the ensuing TV movie -- you don't. I followed this story for years and I was on the fence about whether I should waste my time reading what I thought would be a recap slanted heavily in Betty's favor. What I found instead was a poignant retelling of the life of a very average American woman with profoudly low self esteem. She worked for over 20 years to keep the family afloat, sewing her own clothes, living in basement apartments with no heating, being berated for spending the most paltry sum on anything without first obtaining permission, having to find her way to the hospital alone when she went into labor because Dan was out drinking and carousing with women. It was at the precise moment that his career took off and the money started rolling in that he began taking steps to replace her with his young secretary, Linda Kolkena. When I read stories behind some of the more damning pieces of evidence against Betty, such as those profanity-laced answering machine recordings, it changed my understanding of what went down. Betty has done an admirable job of laying out the facts of his atrocious treatment of her, while also assuming responsibility for her own crimes. Any sympathy I ever had for Linda Kolkena is gone. She was evil in her treatment of Betty. She wasn't a victim of Betty -- she was a victim of the karma that she brought on herself. Betty is a fine writer and I recommend this little-known book to anyone who's interested in the case.
August 2, 2020
Wow
This gave a totally different side to the murders. Here we have the ex-wife's view, and it is an eye opener. Dan was a crafty soul who knew how to destroy his enemies in the courtroom, and used these weapons against his former wife. Makes me wonder. As time went along, would he use these very same weapons against the new wife if he grew dissatisfied with her? I still wonder why he would be attracted to Linda. She had no social standing, and no education, no friends, ect. Would she have gotten tired of living under the Count DeMonay after years of being controlled by him? Sexual attraction only lasts so long. Methinks she would have found out what a conniving man she was married to, and realize that he was using her to destroy the mental health of his ex, and when he got done with that, who knows what he would have done to destroy Linda? Betty is a troubled soul. Dan knew how to push her buttons, and did it. Many questions. No answers.
This gave a totally different side to the murders. Here we have the ex-wife's view, and it is an eye opener. Dan was a crafty soul who knew how to destroy his enemies in the courtroom, and used these weapons against his former wife. Makes me wonder. As time went along, would he use these very same weapons against the new wife if he grew dissatisfied with her? I still wonder why he would be attracted to Linda. She had no social standing, and no education, no friends, ect. Would she have gotten tired of living under the Count DeMonay after years of being controlled by him? Sexual attraction only lasts so long. Methinks she would have found out what a conniving man she was married to, and realize that he was using her to destroy the mental health of his ex, and when he got done with that, who knows what he would have done to destroy Linda? Betty is a troubled soul. Dan knew how to push her buttons, and did it. Many questions. No answers.
April 19, 2015
Very enlightening!
Several people contributed to events that led to the murders -- not just the cruel, thankless ex-husband and his new spoiled wife, but also corrupt good-ole-boy-club judges and lawyers. This is more proof that you can't torture and provoke someone forever without backlash and people getting terribly hurt and negatively changing lives forever.
Several people contributed to events that led to the murders -- not just the cruel, thankless ex-husband and his new spoiled wife, but also corrupt good-ole-boy-club judges and lawyers. This is more proof that you can't torture and provoke someone forever without backlash and people getting terribly hurt and negatively changing lives forever.
June 19, 2021
There were so many things in this book that said so much about Dan Broderick, and so much about Betty Broderick. I don’t know why she married him, and I don’t know why he married her. I can’t help but wonder if Betty was always this way. She seems disconnected from reality. It’s like she lived in this bubble that most of us do not have the privilege to live in.
What she went through after financially supporting him for years and for him to try to leave her with less than a fraction of what she was entitled to is every woman’s worst nightmare. We are all afraid of getting left high and dry like Betty did (although $16k a month and a house isn’t high and dry you get my point). It’s a tale as old as time. She gave him years of her life that she dedicated to him, her family, and making it possible for him to become a doctor AND a lawyer. The world does not see her success though. They only see hers. This is wrong. It is so very wrong but two wrongs do not make a right.
There are so many things she said that contradicted this long held story she’s told about what happened the night she killed Dan and Linda. Reading the book and hearing her talk about it versus watching this tragic event on a lifetime made for tv movie or tv series of were distinctly different. Watching it on TV was emotional while reading the book was far more anticlimactic. I mean this is a murder we’re talking about right?
Every insane thing she did (cake smeared on clothes anyone?) she spoke about as if it wasn’t a big deal. While she acknowledges murdering Dan and Linda, it isn’t this acknowledgement of “Oh my goodness I can’t believe I did this.” It was made so clear through reading this book that she has a serious personality disorder (multiple if I understand correctly). Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a psychologist. However, it doesn’t take a shrink to tell you that Ted Bundy was a psychopath and I don’t need a degree to tell you that Betty has more than a few screws loose.
If you read this book it’s easy to see that when Betty admits to things she did, it’s always someone else’s fault. She has a completely distorted view of reality.
I’ve been this scorned woman and I just find it scary how many people agree with what she did. Yes he was a snake…. The worst kind of man if you believe her narrative. He had no love or respect for anyone other than himself. He robbed her of everything she was entitled to. That doesn’t give her the right to execute people. There’s always two sides…. She robbed everyone of hearing theirs.
At the end of the book she pretty much says what set her off. There was a letter from Dan’s attorney to her attorney and the district attorney said that this letter wasn’t something that should have sent Betty into a rage. That it wasn’t anything that bad. She sees it completely differently. The letter was in response to Betty’s request for custody among other things. The letter from his attorney responded saying that her attorney failed to address the constant harassment Dan and Linda were being subjected to and asked him/her to please speak with her and ask her to stop. It also mentioned that returning custody to her was to be a trial and was at Dan’s discretion. I personally didn’t think it was that bad, but by this point things had been contentious for years and all she could see is Dan still trying to control things. The reality is by this point he could’ve said “have the kids here by 5 pm on fridays” and she would’ve went into a tailspin. She was so far gone.
I would love to hear from people who knew her before the marriage fell apart. Was she always like this? Or did Dan and Linda drive her insane as so many say? Do people really think it’s ALL Dan and Linda though? No one holds Betty responsible?
Dan AND Linda antagonized and bullied her. There’s no denying it that. They knew she was unglued and continued to poke the bear. Betty meanwhile was unhinged and there doesn’t seem to be any acknowledgement on her part how her behavior enabled him to have even more of an upper hand than he already did due to his standing in the San Diego legal community.
Betty speaks of being denied for parole and says that there is no legal reason to deny her release. Well if you have no remorse after 25+ years…. That seems like a pretty good reason. I find it very telling that she can’t even FAKE remorse. To those that say she has served more than enough time….. I beg to differ. I don’t think there is enough time after you’ve taken someone’s life and in this case the lives of two people.
Dan was clearly a narcissist but the thing is…. So is Betty.
What she went through after financially supporting him for years and for him to try to leave her with less than a fraction of what she was entitled to is every woman’s worst nightmare. We are all afraid of getting left high and dry like Betty did (although $16k a month and a house isn’t high and dry you get my point). It’s a tale as old as time. She gave him years of her life that she dedicated to him, her family, and making it possible for him to become a doctor AND a lawyer. The world does not see her success though. They only see hers. This is wrong. It is so very wrong but two wrongs do not make a right.
There are so many things she said that contradicted this long held story she’s told about what happened the night she killed Dan and Linda. Reading the book and hearing her talk about it versus watching this tragic event on a lifetime made for tv movie or tv series of were distinctly different. Watching it on TV was emotional while reading the book was far more anticlimactic. I mean this is a murder we’re talking about right?
Every insane thing she did (cake smeared on clothes anyone?) she spoke about as if it wasn’t a big deal. While she acknowledges murdering Dan and Linda, it isn’t this acknowledgement of “Oh my goodness I can’t believe I did this.” It was made so clear through reading this book that she has a serious personality disorder (multiple if I understand correctly). Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a psychologist. However, it doesn’t take a shrink to tell you that Ted Bundy was a psychopath and I don’t need a degree to tell you that Betty has more than a few screws loose.
If you read this book it’s easy to see that when Betty admits to things she did, it’s always someone else’s fault. She has a completely distorted view of reality.
I’ve been this scorned woman and I just find it scary how many people agree with what she did. Yes he was a snake…. The worst kind of man if you believe her narrative. He had no love or respect for anyone other than himself. He robbed her of everything she was entitled to. That doesn’t give her the right to execute people. There’s always two sides…. She robbed everyone of hearing theirs.
At the end of the book she pretty much says what set her off. There was a letter from Dan’s attorney to her attorney and the district attorney said that this letter wasn’t something that should have sent Betty into a rage. That it wasn’t anything that bad. She sees it completely differently. The letter was in response to Betty’s request for custody among other things. The letter from his attorney responded saying that her attorney failed to address the constant harassment Dan and Linda were being subjected to and asked him/her to please speak with her and ask her to stop. It also mentioned that returning custody to her was to be a trial and was at Dan’s discretion. I personally didn’t think it was that bad, but by this point things had been contentious for years and all she could see is Dan still trying to control things. The reality is by this point he could’ve said “have the kids here by 5 pm on fridays” and she would’ve went into a tailspin. She was so far gone.
I would love to hear from people who knew her before the marriage fell apart. Was she always like this? Or did Dan and Linda drive her insane as so many say? Do people really think it’s ALL Dan and Linda though? No one holds Betty responsible?
Dan AND Linda antagonized and bullied her. There’s no denying it that. They knew she was unglued and continued to poke the bear. Betty meanwhile was unhinged and there doesn’t seem to be any acknowledgement on her part how her behavior enabled him to have even more of an upper hand than he already did due to his standing in the San Diego legal community.
Betty speaks of being denied for parole and says that there is no legal reason to deny her release. Well if you have no remorse after 25+ years…. That seems like a pretty good reason. I find it very telling that she can’t even FAKE remorse. To those that say she has served more than enough time….. I beg to differ. I don’t think there is enough time after you’ve taken someone’s life and in this case the lives of two people.
Dan was clearly a narcissist but the thing is…. So is Betty.
August 20, 2020
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. It's a tough one. I completely buy the fact that she was abused in many ways. And coercive abuse sends people crazy. But she is still in so much denial as to the gravity and enormity of what she's done. The incessant slating of Linda, after a quarter of a century, is hard to read.
It's also difficult to read how stuck this woman is. I personally think she's nuts. And that she's a murderer. And that she was horribly emotionally abused. But Betty, just as Dan couldn't have been the perfect person he wanted to be seen as, neither can you.
This doesn't contain anything new really. Except that in Betty's eyes Betty is a paragon of virtue in every possible way. She is beautiful, hilarious, kind, clever, never lies, never ever wants to hurt anyone, only ever did the right thing... And on and on.
The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between.
We don't know what Linda's interpretation would have been in her book, because Betty shot her in the face. Before she even got to 30. The least Betty could do now is let her be.
Also, Betty is no writer and this book suffers from a lack of editing and form. Lots of errors, including, weirdly, in what Betty says is a direct transcript from letters sent to her from Dan's firm. Pretty sure they'd have spelt professional properly. Not sure what that means but it doesn't add to a particularly convincing story from Betty.
It's also difficult to read how stuck this woman is. I personally think she's nuts. And that she's a murderer. And that she was horribly emotionally abused. But Betty, just as Dan couldn't have been the perfect person he wanted to be seen as, neither can you.
This doesn't contain anything new really. Except that in Betty's eyes Betty is a paragon of virtue in every possible way. She is beautiful, hilarious, kind, clever, never lies, never ever wants to hurt anyone, only ever did the right thing... And on and on.
The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between.
We don't know what Linda's interpretation would have been in her book, because Betty shot her in the face. Before she even got to 30. The least Betty could do now is let her be.
Also, Betty is no writer and this book suffers from a lack of editing and form. Lots of errors, including, weirdly, in what Betty says is a direct transcript from letters sent to her from Dan's firm. Pretty sure they'd have spelt professional properly. Not sure what that means but it doesn't add to a particularly convincing story from Betty.
July 27, 2020
I am about half way finished. This is a really fast read. What amazes me is that Betty plays the victim in every sense. From the wedding that was amazing but she didn’t want that type of wedding. Claiming her father whispered good riddance when he gave her away at the wedding. Now she goes on to explain how Dan showed up drunk and went out for drinks with her doctor while she gave birth alone. I have no clue if this is true or not but she continually blames others for everything. What also amazed me is that looking at other reviews, I do not understand how anyone that loves their children could write the way she does about their father. This must be extremely painful for the children to read about their father. She already killed the man. I can’t imagine putting the children through more trauma. She certainly does not seem the least bit sorry at this point.
June 12, 2018
Wow, I know we all know her story, but this one was written by Betty. I can't help but feel bad for her, regardless of what she done. Its sad how she worked so hard, and was just thrown away like trash. I guess I can see why she just snapped.
October 11, 2021
Hell hath no fury like Betty Broderick.
This book was a quick read. It was interesting to hear things from Betty's perspective. Of course, there is NO justification for killing anyone. I don't agree with or condone what Betty did, but I do sympathize with her a great deal. Betty and Dan were two people who were completely wrong for each other, and they should have never married. Dan Broderick was NOT a nice man, and he allegedly once told his brother that he knew shortly after marrying Betty that he had made a big mistake. And according to Betty herself, he told her that he had always hated her. Can you imagine being married to someone for nearly 20 years and them hating you the whole time?
I believe this union was a marriage of convenience for Dan. He used Betty. She was pregnant by him nine times and bore five of his children (one of whom died shortly after being born). And she supported him for several years while he completed his education and made his career as a lawyer. She worked at various jobs over the years such as teaching, babysitting (even with little ones of her own), retail work, and she eventually got a real estate license. She was the primary caregiver to their children while Dan was out socializing and networking.
If it's true that Dan always hated Betty, then I believe that the two of them coexisted together for several years because he was too busy getting his education and pursuing his career. Everything was more harmonious because they didn't always have to see each other. This arrangement seemed to work for a while--until Dan hired a pretty young secretary named Linda Kolkena. Dan and Linda had an affair for a few years before finally getting married in 1989, and they did this right under Betty's nose. I think it got to the point when Dan no longer tried to hide his infidelity from Betty.
I can understand the pain and devastation one feels after being betrayed and having his or her heartbroken. I have been betrayed and I've had my heart broken, too...more times than I care to mention. But fortunately for me, I met a wonderful man, married him, and we have been together for two decades (at the time of me writing this review). I have personally witnessed the pain and devastation that someone else went through when she divorced her husband. This person went through a very low period, and she frequently lashed out at everyone around her. But thankfully, I have never seen anyone do the crazy things that Betty did to Dan and Linda. She did things like stealing a key to Dan's house (from her daughter) and smearing a Boston cream pie all over his bedroom and clothing. Oh, and let's not forget about the time she drove her car into the front door of his home. Dan simply did not care about Betty, and he had no desire to comfort her or deal with her hysterics. He only cared about himself and his new trophy (his new narcissistic supply). As this heated situation progressed, he and Linda intentionally did things to hurt and provoke Betty.
Betty wrote about her childhood and upbringing. She described herself as being shy and feeling invisible (she was the middle child). She said she felt like an ugly duckling as a child, but once she reached her teens she suddenly blossomed overnight into this strikingly attractive girl. She wrote about being taller and blonder than her siblings (their father was Italian and their mother was Irish), and this made her feel as if she was different, but her height would later pay off when she did some modeling work. I was happy for her when I read this. She modeled twice a week for a Bonwit Teller (what was once a very upscale department store). At least there were some happy times in her life. And not only did she do modeling work, but she was also the neighborhood babysitter because she was known to be a nice, reliable girl who people trusted. She worked very hard all of her life. She was an educated, intelligent woman. And she never showed any signs of having violent tendencies in her life before her downfall (her divorce from Dan), so it's hard to fathom that she was capable of murdering anyone.
I think that Betty was a passing fancy for Dan. I would classify Dan as a narcissist. I think he saw her as this beautiful trophy that he wanted for himself when they first met, and he set his sights on her. I've heard that he was very cutthroat, and I believe that he was determined to make Betty his wife. She was a good catch. She had a lot going on when she was young, and Dan didn't want anyone else to have her. But once he had her, he no longer wanted her. I think he found out fairly soon in the marriage that they were not compatible. It's kind of like when you buy something on impulse, and you later regret doing that. You realize that it's not what you expected it to be. I believe they stayed together because it was convenient for him at the time. And I'm sure that Linda wasn't the first woman he'd had an affair with it.
I also got the impression that Betty did not have very supportive parents. Her father allegedly whispered in her her "good riddance" as he gave her away on her wedding day. She had no one to turn to when she was going through all of this turmoil and heartache. She didn't have a strong emotional support system. And she couldn't tell her friends about these personal issues. I have found out that this is the quickest way to lose friends. Most people don't want to hear about other people's problems. So, it seems like she had to deal with this all on her own. Betty simply did not want to accept that Dan didn't love her and that he had chosen another woman over her. She couldn't deal with it.
Betty was devastated over losing Dan and who could blame her for that? She felt cheated. She had been married to a man for nearly twenty years who had never loved her. She had given him everything--the best years of her life. She married him when she was very young and in her prime, and she had dedicated her life to him and their children. But of course, relationships cannot be forced, and the best solution for her would have been to go through with the divorce and to try to obtain custody of her children. They were probably the only people who really loved her, and she should have stayed strong for them. I know that's easier said than done. Personally, I don't believe she was going to stop until she killed Dan and Linda. And she did. Now she's in prison for the rest of her life. What a tragedy for everyone whose life has been affected by this--especially her children.
This book was a quick read. It was interesting to hear things from Betty's perspective. Of course, there is NO justification for killing anyone. I don't agree with or condone what Betty did, but I do sympathize with her a great deal. Betty and Dan were two people who were completely wrong for each other, and they should have never married. Dan Broderick was NOT a nice man, and he allegedly once told his brother that he knew shortly after marrying Betty that he had made a big mistake. And according to Betty herself, he told her that he had always hated her. Can you imagine being married to someone for nearly 20 years and them hating you the whole time?
I believe this union was a marriage of convenience for Dan. He used Betty. She was pregnant by him nine times and bore five of his children (one of whom died shortly after being born). And she supported him for several years while he completed his education and made his career as a lawyer. She worked at various jobs over the years such as teaching, babysitting (even with little ones of her own), retail work, and she eventually got a real estate license. She was the primary caregiver to their children while Dan was out socializing and networking.
If it's true that Dan always hated Betty, then I believe that the two of them coexisted together for several years because he was too busy getting his education and pursuing his career. Everything was more harmonious because they didn't always have to see each other. This arrangement seemed to work for a while--until Dan hired a pretty young secretary named Linda Kolkena. Dan and Linda had an affair for a few years before finally getting married in 1989, and they did this right under Betty's nose. I think it got to the point when Dan no longer tried to hide his infidelity from Betty.
I can understand the pain and devastation one feels after being betrayed and having his or her heartbroken. I have been betrayed and I've had my heart broken, too...more times than I care to mention. But fortunately for me, I met a wonderful man, married him, and we have been together for two decades (at the time of me writing this review). I have personally witnessed the pain and devastation that someone else went through when she divorced her husband. This person went through a very low period, and she frequently lashed out at everyone around her. But thankfully, I have never seen anyone do the crazy things that Betty did to Dan and Linda. She did things like stealing a key to Dan's house (from her daughter) and smearing a Boston cream pie all over his bedroom and clothing. Oh, and let's not forget about the time she drove her car into the front door of his home. Dan simply did not care about Betty, and he had no desire to comfort her or deal with her hysterics. He only cared about himself and his new trophy (his new narcissistic supply). As this heated situation progressed, he and Linda intentionally did things to hurt and provoke Betty.
Betty wrote about her childhood and upbringing. She described herself as being shy and feeling invisible (she was the middle child). She said she felt like an ugly duckling as a child, but once she reached her teens she suddenly blossomed overnight into this strikingly attractive girl. She wrote about being taller and blonder than her siblings (their father was Italian and their mother was Irish), and this made her feel as if she was different, but her height would later pay off when she did some modeling work. I was happy for her when I read this. She modeled twice a week for a Bonwit Teller (what was once a very upscale department store). At least there were some happy times in her life. And not only did she do modeling work, but she was also the neighborhood babysitter because she was known to be a nice, reliable girl who people trusted. She worked very hard all of her life. She was an educated, intelligent woman. And she never showed any signs of having violent tendencies in her life before her downfall (her divorce from Dan), so it's hard to fathom that she was capable of murdering anyone.
I think that Betty was a passing fancy for Dan. I would classify Dan as a narcissist. I think he saw her as this beautiful trophy that he wanted for himself when they first met, and he set his sights on her. I've heard that he was very cutthroat, and I believe that he was determined to make Betty his wife. She was a good catch. She had a lot going on when she was young, and Dan didn't want anyone else to have her. But once he had her, he no longer wanted her. I think he found out fairly soon in the marriage that they were not compatible. It's kind of like when you buy something on impulse, and you later regret doing that. You realize that it's not what you expected it to be. I believe they stayed together because it was convenient for him at the time. And I'm sure that Linda wasn't the first woman he'd had an affair with it.
I also got the impression that Betty did not have very supportive parents. Her father allegedly whispered in her her "good riddance" as he gave her away on her wedding day. She had no one to turn to when she was going through all of this turmoil and heartache. She didn't have a strong emotional support system. And she couldn't tell her friends about these personal issues. I have found out that this is the quickest way to lose friends. Most people don't want to hear about other people's problems. So, it seems like she had to deal with this all on her own. Betty simply did not want to accept that Dan didn't love her and that he had chosen another woman over her. She couldn't deal with it.
Betty was devastated over losing Dan and who could blame her for that? She felt cheated. She had been married to a man for nearly twenty years who had never loved her. She had given him everything--the best years of her life. She married him when she was very young and in her prime, and she had dedicated her life to him and their children. But of course, relationships cannot be forced, and the best solution for her would have been to go through with the divorce and to try to obtain custody of her children. They were probably the only people who really loved her, and she should have stayed strong for them. I know that's easier said than done. Personally, I don't believe she was going to stop until she killed Dan and Linda. And she did. Now she's in prison for the rest of her life. What a tragedy for everyone whose life has been affected by this--especially her children.
January 14, 2025
Free Betty!
April 14, 2015
Poor Betty, by Betty Broderick
I rated this a 3 (not a complete waste of time, but I won't re-read it or anything else the author writes)
If you don't know the story, Betty was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting deaths of her ex-husband and his new wife; this is her excuse (oh, sorry, she explains almost incessantly that this is the "reason, there's no excuse for killing two people" then continues her excuses) for that action.
If I could summarize, Dan Broderick was a high-powered lawyer in San Diego who was a control-freak Betty put through Med then Law School. He got older, she got older, he decided to trade her in on a newer model (been there, it sucks), but being leveraged out the wazoo and with Betty ignorant, he finagled all their assets around until he could use his influence and legal skills to leave her with crumbs.
Betty went kinda bat-shit. Not entirely sure her trolley was entirely on the tracks to start with but it seems he played with her head and outlawyered her lawyers to the point where she couldn't have been in her right mind, but that didn't make her insane.
I originally had this as a 2 - Waste of my time but no lingering hostility toward the author - until toward the end when she showed the letters that sent her over to Dan's and Linda's that night and that pushed it the not a waste of time category. Betty asks in the book (paraphrasing here) for the reader to read those and tell her whether they were threatening or not. Ms. Broderick, if you're reading this, those were NOT threatening letters, they were standard things lawyers send out all the time (and yours should've told you that). The first was a "the agreement you drew up didn't match what we discussed" and second was "if your client doesn't stop calling here and screaming and cussing, we're just gonna stop talking until she can behave."
Interesting look at what goes on in someone's mind, but she could've saved some electronic trees by limiting the self-serving "I'm not making excuses" and "Dan was such a controlling SOB" portions
I rated this a 3 (not a complete waste of time, but I won't re-read it or anything else the author writes)
If you don't know the story, Betty was convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting deaths of her ex-husband and his new wife; this is her excuse (oh, sorry, she explains almost incessantly that this is the "reason, there's no excuse for killing two people" then continues her excuses) for that action.
If I could summarize, Dan Broderick was a high-powered lawyer in San Diego who was a control-freak Betty put through Med then Law School. He got older, she got older, he decided to trade her in on a newer model (been there, it sucks), but being leveraged out the wazoo and with Betty ignorant, he finagled all their assets around until he could use his influence and legal skills to leave her with crumbs.
Betty went kinda bat-shit. Not entirely sure her trolley was entirely on the tracks to start with but it seems he played with her head and outlawyered her lawyers to the point where she couldn't have been in her right mind, but that didn't make her insane.
I originally had this as a 2 - Waste of my time but no lingering hostility toward the author - until toward the end when she showed the letters that sent her over to Dan's and Linda's that night and that pushed it the not a waste of time category. Betty asks in the book (paraphrasing here) for the reader to read those and tell her whether they were threatening or not. Ms. Broderick, if you're reading this, those were NOT threatening letters, they were standard things lawyers send out all the time (and yours should've told you that). The first was a "the agreement you drew up didn't match what we discussed" and second was "if your client doesn't stop calling here and screaming and cussing, we're just gonna stop talking until she can behave."
Interesting look at what goes on in someone's mind, but she could've saved some electronic trees by limiting the self-serving "I'm not making excuses" and "Dan was such a controlling SOB" portions
June 8, 2021
This book is everything I want in a novel. I know it’s not a novel, but still. The complexity in this memoir is everything. This. This captures humanity. The good, the bad, the confusing, the “I don’t know was it right?” The knowing objectively that murder is wrong, but then stepping into the subjective perception, experiences, and choices of another to think “shit, I might be capable of murder”
THAT IS WHAT I LOVE in a story. This book expresses true human experience in a way that is difficult to capture in fiction, but that more people need to step into.
The villain isn’t always a villain, and the hero isn’t always a hero. And true human experience no actions are always right or always wrong. I love a story that leaves me feeling conflicted about all parties involved and thinking “ I don’t know who is the victim or the victimizer, and I don’t know if I would have done anything different.”
I’m not condoning her action to murder, but I am saying DAMN. This book is needed so that others can take some personal reflection and realize they could be any character in her memoir, and that should scare you and humble you. Stop being so judgmental, you could become a Betty or a Dan. And that’s complex too, considering Dan wasn’t a peach and Betty on all accounts seemed average. Was she? I don’t really know, it’s her story from her perspective. But that uncertainty is what I love.
THAT IS WHAT I LOVE in a story. This book expresses true human experience in a way that is difficult to capture in fiction, but that more people need to step into.
The villain isn’t always a villain, and the hero isn’t always a hero. And true human experience no actions are always right or always wrong. I love a story that leaves me feeling conflicted about all parties involved and thinking “ I don’t know who is the victim or the victimizer, and I don’t know if I would have done anything different.”
I’m not condoning her action to murder, but I am saying DAMN. This book is needed so that others can take some personal reflection and realize they could be any character in her memoir, and that should scare you and humble you. Stop being so judgmental, you could become a Betty or a Dan. And that’s complex too, considering Dan wasn’t a peach and Betty on all accounts seemed average. Was she? I don’t really know, it’s her story from her perspective. But that uncertainty is what I love.
January 12, 2022
This is one strong lady.
I am a member on a Free Betty Group, i have signed a petition to free Betty. This poor woman was subject to coercive control/narcissism. She was gas lighted in order to keep control and manipulate. I feel for you Betty i really do and if the roles were reversed i bed DB would not be able to cope. Karma got him in the end, you can only poke a bear so many times until it hits back. I do not believe you are crazy or paroniod and believe the San Diego DA were criminal in some of the things they did to help Dan get his way, they should be ashamed of themselves. Why should you have to tell them what they want to hear, in order for them to release you.The mental torture you suffered was horrendous. I hope you get out one day Betty and i wished this had not happened to you and your children. I am spending lots of love your way 💗
I am a member on a Free Betty Group, i have signed a petition to free Betty. This poor woman was subject to coercive control/narcissism. She was gas lighted in order to keep control and manipulate. I feel for you Betty i really do and if the roles were reversed i bed DB would not be able to cope. Karma got him in the end, you can only poke a bear so many times until it hits back. I do not believe you are crazy or paroniod and believe the San Diego DA were criminal in some of the things they did to help Dan get his way, they should be ashamed of themselves. Why should you have to tell them what they want to hear, in order for them to release you.The mental torture you suffered was horrendous. I hope you get out one day Betty and i wished this had not happened to you and your children. I am spending lots of love your way 💗
January 31, 2022
Oh Betty!!
I have followed this case since the murders and I agree with the 2nd degree murder convictions, but I also feel like Betty should have been granted parole by now. If it were 1st degree, I could understand, but I believe her. I believe Betty because I have been in a relationship just like what she describes here with a narcissist. Lucky for me, I recognized what was happening and got out. I do not believe Betty is a "danger" to anyone. This was her story and I thought she told it well. I recommend this book to pretty much anyone who has followed this case, or if you're just hearing about it. It made me want to start a petition to let her get another parole hearing. Great read! I couldn't put it away and finished it in a day.
I have followed this case since the murders and I agree with the 2nd degree murder convictions, but I also feel like Betty should have been granted parole by now. If it were 1st degree, I could understand, but I believe her. I believe Betty because I have been in a relationship just like what she describes here with a narcissist. Lucky for me, I recognized what was happening and got out. I do not believe Betty is a "danger" to anyone. This was her story and I thought she told it well. I recommend this book to pretty much anyone who has followed this case, or if you're just hearing about it. It made me want to start a petition to let her get another parole hearing. Great read! I couldn't put it away and finished it in a day.
May 20, 2015
Great Story!
I remember reading about this story in the newspaper when it happened. It's even better reading Betty's view. It really doesn't seem like she got a fair deal, through the Legal System??
I remember reading about this story in the newspaper when it happened. It's even better reading Betty's view. It really doesn't seem like she got a fair deal, through the Legal System??
January 11, 2022
Flawed but probably a true account
I have read a lot about this case. I do believe that Betty was driven to what she did that early morning. I believe that she was a battered wife. I believe all of it but I don’t fully understand. She had a college degree. She had a teaching certificate from when they first got married. It is not like she had never worked. From what I read here, she was almost continually working. Why did she so depend on Dan for the money? She was depressed because she was not sleeping and sitting in that house stewing all day about Linda and Dan. Why did she not try to rebuild her life and totally cut Dan out of at least the money situation? That is what doesn’t make sense to me. I think I understand how Dan played with her emotions with the children. But she could have and should have made a choice to make a career for herself and rebuild her financials on her own. Thereby giving herself the independence and the light at the end of the tunnel that she needed.
I think something like a switch flipped in her that drove her down this path. She didn’t see that she could have cut him out of her financials. She didn’t have to depend on him for the mortgage payment. But she did. She was basically playing a victim here, which in many ways she was. But I don’t think that the abuse explains all of it. There is definitely an undercurrent of something in this account that isn’t fully explained.
It is also obvious she has a lot of anger towards both Dan and Linda still. And they have been dead for many years. She continually called Linda a whore throughout this account. This to me doesn’t lend itself to Betty being sorry and understanding she took a life. I think intellectually she might understand it, but emotionally, definitely not. Also she doesn’t seem to fully appreciate that she took the father away from his kids, however flawed he might have been.
Did Dan have a hand in his ultimate fate? Most definitely. Did Linda do things that stoked the already raging fire? Absolutely. Did Dan abuse Betty and gaslight her? Yes. Still Betty took two lives and ruined her kids lives for many years. She has not fully appreciated what she has done. The inappropriate humor in this account proves that. Do I think she needs to stay in jail? Yes. I think in the skewed views in her head could make her dangerous on the outside to whomever catches her wrath. If she shows more of an in-depth emotional understanding, I think she might be able to live outside the prison walls, but I am afraid that time is running out.
I have read a lot about this case. I do believe that Betty was driven to what she did that early morning. I believe that she was a battered wife. I believe all of it but I don’t fully understand. She had a college degree. She had a teaching certificate from when they first got married. It is not like she had never worked. From what I read here, she was almost continually working. Why did she so depend on Dan for the money? She was depressed because she was not sleeping and sitting in that house stewing all day about Linda and Dan. Why did she not try to rebuild her life and totally cut Dan out of at least the money situation? That is what doesn’t make sense to me. I think I understand how Dan played with her emotions with the children. But she could have and should have made a choice to make a career for herself and rebuild her financials on her own. Thereby giving herself the independence and the light at the end of the tunnel that she needed.
I think something like a switch flipped in her that drove her down this path. She didn’t see that she could have cut him out of her financials. She didn’t have to depend on him for the mortgage payment. But she did. She was basically playing a victim here, which in many ways she was. But I don’t think that the abuse explains all of it. There is definitely an undercurrent of something in this account that isn’t fully explained.
It is also obvious she has a lot of anger towards both Dan and Linda still. And they have been dead for many years. She continually called Linda a whore throughout this account. This to me doesn’t lend itself to Betty being sorry and understanding she took a life. I think intellectually she might understand it, but emotionally, definitely not. Also she doesn’t seem to fully appreciate that she took the father away from his kids, however flawed he might have been.
Did Dan have a hand in his ultimate fate? Most definitely. Did Linda do things that stoked the already raging fire? Absolutely. Did Dan abuse Betty and gaslight her? Yes. Still Betty took two lives and ruined her kids lives for many years. She has not fully appreciated what she has done. The inappropriate humor in this account proves that. Do I think she needs to stay in jail? Yes. I think in the skewed views in her head could make her dangerous on the outside to whomever catches her wrath. If she shows more of an in-depth emotional understanding, I think she might be able to live outside the prison walls, but I am afraid that time is running out.
December 29, 2020
Let me say this
There's no reason for murder Betty knows that but she has her excuses that just boiled over .... can you blame her ......
Betty grew up wanting to be left alone yet kind enough to parent and nurture the younger kids around her .... which lead to her wanting to run away from her less than perfect life to branch off to college where she was sidetracked by the ego-stical controlling doctor , despite his urgency for a wife she went off to finish school. if only she would've followed her mind and not her heart she wouldn't be in the 32 year to life situation:(
As the Irish saying goes, “When a thing starts out bad, it can only get worse,” and it did. Even after the marriage Betty footed the Bill for everything...... but atleast she had faith in Dan which he took for granted .....
Betty definitely lowered her standards getting w| this guy I don't think he really wanted a wife just a slave who he could get pregnant and use in more ways than one ...... I know killing isn't the answer but if Dan examined his own harsh treatment towards his wife maybe he would still be here using his second wife up the same way he used up Betty .... this should be a cautionary tale for WOMEN and MEN , because the wrong mate can do more harm than good ...
I wonder will Betty ever be free .... she's been in jail since before I was born . I think feminist should be helping free her or something so atleast her kids and grandchildren can atleast have one living parent ...... it’s so sad a female prosecutor was the one to bring her down and help make a negative movie about her but like Betty said this is all a political judicial game to them smh ......
you can’t change the past that’s true I believe they used Betty as an example and there’s still women out here like her I hope they’ll be smarter and leave before they be where Betty is :( ......
Definitely a good honest read her children are the real victims and she even reiterated that time and time again from the book she seems remorseful definitely in her own words .... I hope her children can forgive her she was just done wrong and controlled by a man and his ego ........
There's no reason for murder Betty knows that but she has her excuses that just boiled over .... can you blame her ......
Betty grew up wanting to be left alone yet kind enough to parent and nurture the younger kids around her .... which lead to her wanting to run away from her less than perfect life to branch off to college where she was sidetracked by the ego-stical controlling doctor , despite his urgency for a wife she went off to finish school. if only she would've followed her mind and not her heart she wouldn't be in the 32 year to life situation:(
As the Irish saying goes, “When a thing starts out bad, it can only get worse,” and it did. Even after the marriage Betty footed the Bill for everything...... but atleast she had faith in Dan which he took for granted .....
Betty definitely lowered her standards getting w| this guy I don't think he really wanted a wife just a slave who he could get pregnant and use in more ways than one ...... I know killing isn't the answer but if Dan examined his own harsh treatment towards his wife maybe he would still be here using his second wife up the same way he used up Betty .... this should be a cautionary tale for WOMEN and MEN , because the wrong mate can do more harm than good ...
I wonder will Betty ever be free .... she's been in jail since before I was born . I think feminist should be helping free her or something so atleast her kids and grandchildren can atleast have one living parent ...... it’s so sad a female prosecutor was the one to bring her down and help make a negative movie about her but like Betty said this is all a political judicial game to them smh ......
you can’t change the past that’s true I believe they used Betty as an example and there’s still women out here like her I hope they’ll be smarter and leave before they be where Betty is :( ......
Definitely a good honest read her children are the real victims and she even reiterated that time and time again from the book she seems remorseful definitely in her own words .... I hope her children can forgive her she was just done wrong and controlled by a man and his ego ........
May 4, 2017
I watched the TV movie based on this tragedy and read a number of books by a multitude of authors and truth be told Betty's book in my opinion, let those of us who were curious about her side, read it from her view. Wrong as it was to kill her ex and new wife, she did acknowledge it was wrong then and now. I thought it was real, accurate and no hold bar account of her marriage from beginning to end, the good, bad and truly ugly. I have no doubt that she could have walked away long before the end result but the ex.....truly taunted, emotionally abused Betty, and could have walked away as well. Shame on him for bad parenting in using his young children as pawns in whatever martial discord was going on starting when the marriage went to hell in a handbasket. Yes she also pulled her kids in the middle but he was the worst of the two. As adults all 3 adults including the new wife partook in this behavior when the affair blew wide open. All in all I loved the book and absolutely sympathize with Betty. It's sad that it ended with 2 people dead who were just as loved as the one who pulled the trigger but the only ones who suffered the most were the kids who didn't have a choice in who their mother and father would be. Fast forward pictures to me are worth a thousand words and when I saw her kids as adults with families of their own visiting their mom in prison it's obvious that they have come to terms with that very painful tragedy in their own way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2024
First, I wish this had been properly edited so I could have given it 5 stars, but it was written from prison so I kinda get it.
Betty was absolutely abused by her narcissistic husband, then ex-husband, Dan. I know this is only one side of the story and we’ll never get to hear his or Linda’s sides, but Betty was trying to move on. She had a boyfriend and all she wanted were her kids. I do think she let things bother her more than she ought to have, but it does seem Dan and Linda went to incredible lengths to be petty and to antagonize Betty. I don’t condone murder, but I certainly understand why Betty did what she did.
I also do think Betty has served her time and is not a threat to anyone who isn’t going to completely and relentlessly mindfuck her. This is just a woman who wanted the American dream, and then just to be a mother to her kids, and was emotionally and psychologically tormented and driven insane by the man she fatefully supported throughout his lengthy education and his new “younger model” from the office.
Betty was absolutely abused by her narcissistic husband, then ex-husband, Dan. I know this is only one side of the story and we’ll never get to hear his or Linda’s sides, but Betty was trying to move on. She had a boyfriend and all she wanted were her kids. I do think she let things bother her more than she ought to have, but it does seem Dan and Linda went to incredible lengths to be petty and to antagonize Betty. I don’t condone murder, but I certainly understand why Betty did what she did.
I also do think Betty has served her time and is not a threat to anyone who isn’t going to completely and relentlessly mindfuck her. This is just a woman who wanted the American dream, and then just to be a mother to her kids, and was emotionally and psychologically tormented and driven insane by the man she fatefully supported throughout his lengthy education and his new “younger model” from the office.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2026
Wow
I am glad I read this book. I think it was well written and easy to read. Betty wrote from her perception and point of view and anything else I would say about it would just be my opinion. I do believe that if I were in her shoes that I may have possibly snapped just the same. When someone messes with a mother's children, their whole livelihood disappears, if that mother actually enjoys being a mother that is. Betty got the raw end of the deal with her marriage and husband - and there was no winning the court battles when he was president of the Bar Association. Aside from giving up and running away, I don't know how else to handle what she went through, aside from unaliving myself. Its sad that she will spend her life in prison for events that were intended to make her go crazy and lose everything - when the man who killed my brother did a whole 4 years. Explain that to me...
I am glad I read this book. I think it was well written and easy to read. Betty wrote from her perception and point of view and anything else I would say about it would just be my opinion. I do believe that if I were in her shoes that I may have possibly snapped just the same. When someone messes with a mother's children, their whole livelihood disappears, if that mother actually enjoys being a mother that is. Betty got the raw end of the deal with her marriage and husband - and there was no winning the court battles when he was president of the Bar Association. Aside from giving up and running away, I don't know how else to handle what she went through, aside from unaliving myself. Its sad that she will spend her life in prison for events that were intended to make her go crazy and lose everything - when the man who killed my brother did a whole 4 years. Explain that to me...
December 27, 2025
This book was definitely enlightening.
It's clear on reading that Betty takes only superficial responsibility for the wrongness of what she did, and is still very very angry at Dan. If all you knew about the case was this book, you'd think Betty was a total victim who never had a prayer. But based on the statements of her own children, that wasn't the case. Her children testified at her trial and have done interviews since, where they firmly state that Betty was giving it back as good as she got it when it came to the contentious divorce of their parents.
However, despite all of that, I found Betty oddly likeable. She's funny and charismatic, no doubt about it. But it's hard to forget that she took two lives. All-in-all, this is an interesting read if you want to get into the mind of someone completely deluded by rage.
It's clear on reading that Betty takes only superficial responsibility for the wrongness of what she did, and is still very very angry at Dan. If all you knew about the case was this book, you'd think Betty was a total victim who never had a prayer. But based on the statements of her own children, that wasn't the case. Her children testified at her trial and have done interviews since, where they firmly state that Betty was giving it back as good as she got it when it came to the contentious divorce of their parents.
However, despite all of that, I found Betty oddly likeable. She's funny and charismatic, no doubt about it. But it's hard to forget that she took two lives. All-in-all, this is an interesting read if you want to get into the mind of someone completely deluded by rage.
April 30, 2022
Want to read a book by a double murderer who feels zero remorse and demonstrates zero insight for her actions? Killing two people and leaving her own children as orphans.
She lies and lies and keeps lying. She has told at least six different versions of the murders prior to this book. And in this book - she tells a seventh. Why believe anything that a murderer and pathological liar says?
Why give her any pity / empathy for killing two people in cold blood?
Also she made money on this book - so if you’re buying it - she makes money. Money for a murderess.
Thankfully I found a copy for a dollar on eBay.
I keep it in my bathroom under the sink in case I run out of toilet paper. That’s the only value I have for this book.
She lies and lies and keeps lying. She has told at least six different versions of the murders prior to this book. And in this book - she tells a seventh. Why believe anything that a murderer and pathological liar says?
Why give her any pity / empathy for killing two people in cold blood?
Also she made money on this book - so if you’re buying it - she makes money. Money for a murderess.
Thankfully I found a copy for a dollar on eBay.
I keep it in my bathroom under the sink in case I run out of toilet paper. That’s the only value I have for this book.
January 17, 2024
I believe this to be a heavily biased account of Betty's motivation to murder her ex-husband and his new bride; although, you may gain some insights into her ex-husband's habits such as his heavy drinking habit, and things like that.
She claims victimhood when Dan "sold their Coral Reef house without her consent." Yet, Betty leaves out the fact that she was being unreasonable and not cooperating with the sale once the couple had a reasonable and good faith offer. You cannot do that in a divorce. So, Dan had to go to court to receive a court order to sale the home. So, it was not sold from under her.
Betty uses the above and a few other misleading statement which is why it is a biased read, but you will gain insights into Dan's good and bad side as well, which is why I give it 3 stars.
She claims victimhood when Dan "sold their Coral Reef house without her consent." Yet, Betty leaves out the fact that she was being unreasonable and not cooperating with the sale once the couple had a reasonable and good faith offer. You cannot do that in a divorce. So, Dan had to go to court to receive a court order to sale the home. So, it was not sold from under her.
Betty uses the above and a few other misleading statement which is why it is a biased read, but you will gain insights into Dan's good and bad side as well, which is why I give it 3 stars.
October 13, 2020
Telling on Myself is a perfect title for this autobiography. Betty Broderick doesn't hold back on her thoughts and feelings about her life with Dan Broderick and what being married to him did to her. I think it's wrong that she will probably die in prison and I think the courts were unfair to her. But if remorse is taking full responsibility for her guilt, I'm not sure she does. Still, I think she's paid her debt to society.
Back to the book. I liked reading it, I thought she was very clear and while not completely sympathetic, understandable. I kept thinking of the title of a book I saw once, "Of Course You're Angry".
Back to the book. I liked reading it, I thought she was very clear and while not completely sympathetic, understandable. I kept thinking of the title of a book I saw once, "Of Course You're Angry".
July 6, 2020
I was obsessed with this case in 1989 and for years after. I have read many books on the subject, but when Dirty John season 2 started I looked to see what other books had been written about the murders. I was shocked to see that Betty had written one herself. The book was okay. Honestly, there is much more information in the book The Twelfth of Never. This is a one sided account of the story (though not inaccurate), that leaves out plenty of the story. In fact, though Betty is still clearly angry and unapologetic, she could have painted him in a far worse light.
August 11, 2020
Insightful but scattered
I feel sorry for Betty and her children most of all. I do believe she was abused and screwed over royally by Dan although I don't condone what she did. I believe people do snap and make disastrous decisions.
Her writing was all over the place so it was a little annoying to read. I get it though, she isn't a professional and probably couldn't afford an excellent editor. It was insightful and sad and I am glad I read her side of things. I think she really needed to get all that out.
I feel sorry for Betty and her children most of all. I do believe she was abused and screwed over royally by Dan although I don't condone what she did. I believe people do snap and make disastrous decisions.
Her writing was all over the place so it was a little annoying to read. I get it though, she isn't a professional and probably couldn't afford an excellent editor. It was insightful and sad and I am glad I read her side of things. I think she really needed to get all that out.
July 7, 2021
I recently watched the Dirty John series on Netflix that focuses on this true crime case, so I decided to look for books on the topic. While the story is told from a clearly biased point of view and is not professional writing, I was intrigued by her story and finished the book quickly. Although her crimes were inexcusable (and she admits this), I empathized with all the pain she had gone through for years and actually found that she came across as a very likable person who sadly was pushed to the edge emotionally.
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