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Dear Cousin: The Stalking of Susan Fensten

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Dear Cousin: The Stalking of Susan Fensten

Written by: Ventureland
Narrated by: Susan Fensten
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About this listen

Dear Cousin: The Stalking of Susan Fensten is the gripping true story of one woman's quest for long lost family. After the deaths of her sister and estranged father, Susan searches for relatives on an early online genealogy forum. When she meets cousins from her grandfather's other family, they're everything she'd hoped for—until it all goes to hell.

Susan’s dreams are shattered when she learns her relatives’ dangerous history, and she is bombarded with threatening messages and sexually explicit content. When dozens more people contact her, Susan realizes she's stumbled into a real-life horror movie.

As Susan desperately searches for the truth, she struggles to determine who's an ally and who wants her dead, and she falls down a digital rabbit hole of career criminals, predators, and sexual cultists in the Tri State area. But given the cyber law landscape in 2003, the police are unable to help Susan despite violent phone calls, and unwelcome visits.

Things change when a plot to abduct Susan and her boyfriend comes to light. The FBI steps in, and Susan is given hope when a skeptical agent takes on her case. What he discovers upends Susan's reality forever.

Twenty years after events took place, this real-life thriller from the dawn of the internet serves as a shocking cautionary tale about survival and perseverance against all odds. Hear Susan’s story in her own words, with contributions from expert guests, and the FBI Special Agent and Assistant US attorney on Susan’s case. This is the story of how one woman survived a two-year torture campaign when no one else would help.

Please be advised, this program contains graphic sexual imagery, and discussions of violence, and death. Some names have been changed to protect their subjects’ identities.

©2024 Ventureland, LLC (P)2024 Audible Originals, LLC.
True Crime
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Editorial Review

A cyberstalking tale that’s all in the family
Genealogy misadventures are a literary cottage industry—you know the ones: A DNA test reveals a beloved parent is not a biological relation, or is a serial killer. But what happened to Susan Fensten was murkier, creepier, and just plain weirder than that. Back in 2003, after her father’s death, Fensten went online looking for relatives who could shed light on his side of the family. When a distant cousin replied, she was thrilled. But it wasn’t long before other relations entered the picture, some combative, others deeply disturbing, and Susan found herself the victim of a terrifying stalking campaign that made her life a living hell. After the FBI got involved, what they found was so depraved they said it was “in a category by itself.” If you’ve heard of this case before, you may know Fensten’s chillingly titled memoir, You Have a Very Soft Voice, Susan. But this episodic production, in which those involved tell their story in an unpauseable documentary format, makes each wild twist feel larger than life. If you’re still thinking about the stalking cautionary tale of Baby Reindeer, this is your next listen. — Kat J., Audible Editor

What listeners say about Dear Cousin: The Stalking of Susan Fensten

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Crazy world we live in

Never expected this, very disturbing and spooky. Thank you to the author for sharing this story. Good to remember not to trust everyone so easily!

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Proud of the author

As a victim of abuse by someone I trusted I am so proud of her for having the courage to stand up to her abuser and write her story.

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The story 🤯

It’s really good to share your story for people to understand and be more careful there are things you don’t think of them BUT you SHOULD

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Horrifying

I think this is the stuff nightmares are made off! I love that the story was being told by Susan herself. It’s a real life horror story.

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Great twist

Loved it and the author narrating it!! 👍🏼👍🏼
Evil is every where
I would absolutely recommend

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Amazing!!!

This story was enthralling from start to finish. I’m so glad Susan narrated it too. She is a grave pioneer in advocacy and justice against cyber stalking. It is an empowering tale of bravery and resilience. Susan has encouraged me to keep fighting against my cyber stalkers too. Thank you 🥰😘♥️♥️

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Lies & deception - a victim’s brave truth

It was real, honest; heartbreaking, a very powerful true story of psychological abuse and trauma straight from the victims mouth, through her eyes and how a simple wish to connect to family turned destroyed an innocent woman’s life just because they wanted to - listen and learn 🫶🏼💙❤️

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True story of anonymous people who can create havoc on a single humans life

A victim who needs to stay strong, shared her experiences, and was failed so many times. Good read as she is able to stay strong and true to herself.

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lame sound effects

this is an awful book. hard to follow, bad sound effects and weird breaks.

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