Forsaking All Others: The Real Betty Broderick Story

by Loretta Schwartz Nobel

Combining taut courtroom scenes with the most intimate drama, Loretta Schwartz Nobel explores, through exclusive prison interviews and stunning investigative revelations, the tortured psyche of a woman driven to the edge. Shortly before dawn on November 5, 1989, forty-two year old, San Diego matron, Betty Broderick entered her ex-husband's home and shot the powerful lawyer and his young bride as they lay in bed. Broderick's subsequent murder trial, which ended in a hung jury, was nothing if not controversial, inspiring national headlines and a top rated television movie. Although a 1991 re-trial resulted in a conviction on two counts of second degree murder, the jury again violently disagreed over whether Betty Broderick had committed a crime of passion or an act of cold blooded murder. Even now, despite years of media frenzy, few people know the real facts behind her harrowing ordeal. Loretta Schwartz Nobel, award winning journalist and author of The Baby Swap Conspiracy, gives us the untold story in a provocative, in-depth re-examination of the case including startling evidence barred from the re-trial. Here is a three dimensional portrait of a beautiful young woman who became a middle-aged, throw away wife, betrayed, then abandoned by her husband, systematically deprived of financial security, home, and custody of her four children, thrown into prisons and mental institutions and victimized by the unprecedented legal tactics of a husband who at the time was president of the San Diego Bar Association. The book is more than the chronicle of a toxic divorce or an American dream that self-destructed. It is every woman's nightmare, evoking primal emotions from greed to passion to rage, the hunger for redemption. Neither an apology for nor a vindication of Betty Broderick, Forsaking All Others is instead a singular glimpse into the heart and mind of an all too human being as well as an insightful depiction of the complex forces that both bind and separate the sexes.

Genres: True Crime

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 13, 2020

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad story of a tormented soul. There are lessons to be learned here about how one person full of greed and narcissism may destroy so many lives.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book on a story that has been told numerous times - most from the prosecutorial side. This book has comments by Betty herself, as the author visited her in prison and talked with her. Dan Broderick was a snake, a manipulator, and totally gaslighted Betty. He used his knowledge and connections in the San Diego legal community to push her over the edge. Not one attorney ever wanted to take her as a divorce client due to his influence. It seemed that the family court judge was extremely biased against her as well. To allow him to sell the house from under her, to take her kids away from her, and many other instances of his manipulation of the legal system to his benefit was truly heartbreaking. And Linda Kolkenna got involved with a married man with four kids and a wife to support. She was not the innocent she is made out to be. She went along with Dan on everything he did to Betty and she seemed to delight in it. Betty sacrificed her entire life to support him: first med school, then law school. He treated her like trash all the way so why would it be surprising that he wanted to throw her away? For someone as smart as Betty, she allowed herself to be dumbed down and finally lost all control. Murder is no way to solve anything, but I do understand why she did it.

[Donna Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A loving mother and wife whose husband stole her soul

I watched the movie about Betty Broderick and it broke my heart. A woman that wanted nothing more in life than to love and take care of her husband and children that she loved with all her being. However, the husband broke her in to a million pieces and for what? A new life with a new wife and because he had more money and power that he thought made him a real man. He drove her crazy both physically and mentally. He wore her down to the point of where she did the unspeakable. Maybe he wanted it that way. He had everything he wanted and playing games with his ex-wife must have been getting old. Perhaps he was hoping she would do to him what he couldn't do to himself.
I will continue to read more books about this sad, heartbreaking story of lives ruined by love and deceit.

[Valerie Tisler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking

I've read 2 of the books written on this case, watch the movie and then mini series....Betty isnot a threat to society, though she was up against insurmountable circumstances, it doesn't excuse killing 2 people who purposely tortured her. But both did, people do it every. single. day. Always will. Linda was already suffering the same mental abuse from Dan, she was just to young and concided to know any better. How another woman couldn't have compassion in this situation is startling.

[Sandra Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

What a heartwrencing story. To love so deeply and then to be mentally, physically and emotionally abusive is what drove her to this violent end. To be betrayed by flaunting your lover and then your replacement in your face would drive a lot of women to violence. A must read story🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Roxanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Badly Written

The author seems to need a few writing classes. This was so hard to read because of her writing style. It was so elementary. Another point, this is “The Real Betty Broderick Story” yet there is not enough background, not enough detail, and no emotion what so ever. My recommendation is to just skip this book.

[Shannon Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly written

I love hearing Betty's side. She was driven to kill my Dan, Linda, and the court system and this book makes that very clear. My heart breaks for Betty and her children m

[Rachelle Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

I’ve been following this story for so long. Such tragedy, such emotion and helplessness … so much sorrow and pain. Very well written - thank you.