Above Suspicion: An Undercover FBI Agent, an Illicit Affair, and a Murder of Passion Kindle Edition

Very well written account of a very sad story. Only due to the honor, integrity, and strong conscience of a good man, Mark Putnam, who made a tragic mistake, was the accidental killing solved and justice done. While Susan Smith had a hard life, instead of accepting the help offered from Kathy Putnam, she turned it down and betrayed her as well, while also spreading exaggerated and untrue stories to make herself seem important, telling people she was an FBI informant and putting herself and cases at risk, taking drugs, and attempting to blackmail Mark Putnam with a pregnancy that wasn't his. Smith was on a path of destruction from childhood and couldn't, or wouldn't, accept help and change her path.While Mark Putnam did kill Susan Smith, it wasn't premeditated, it was in the heat of the moment while being blackmailed, screamed at, and beaten on (and many who knew Susan said she was a fierce fighter), while already being under a lot of stress from his job, transferring to another state, trying to finish up cases in Pikeville so he and his family could start over in Florida, trying to heal his marriage, all after spending his first couple years as an FBI agent in an inhospitable, harsh environment with little support and training. Imo his supervisors failed him by putting him in a 2 man office in that particular environment, and didn't give him the advice they should have given any new agent when Putnam notified them that Smith was trying to get more personal than informants should. Sending an agebt like Poole there was another mistake. Putnam was what every FBI agent should be, and imo if he'd had better supervisors, he'd never have been in this position to begin with, and this killing would never have happened. It was a perfect storm, and it destroyed many lives.Yes, he took a life, and no one deserves to die, but it was an accident and he's served his time. Without him confessing, the DA wouldn't have been able to convict him. I don't believe anything or anyone could be harsher on him than he is himself. And to have his wife pass away while he was in jail is beyond sad. My heart breaks for his kids as well. I hope that Mark Putnam has learned to forgive himself, that he doesn't torment himself with guilt, that he and his children have gone on to lead happier lives, and that he's at peace.

Very interesting and well written book. I lived in Eastern Kentucky for a year, 20yrs ago. The author description of the people and area rung Very true to me. The people of Kentucky are wonderful. I do think the tag line an undercover fbi agent, an illicit affair and a murder of passion is misleading. Mark was not undercover. Poole was sometimes undercover. It's a sad story about a inexperienced fbi being sent to a small office in a mountain town with little to no supervision. It's also the story of a troubled local woman who long for more in life. It's the story of a life cut short and a family destroyed. It would also seem to be about a crime that may have been solved but could never been prosecuted except for a guilty conscience.

June 10, 2022A review by Anthony T. Riggio of the book Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly HahnThis is an auto-biographical book describing the conversion to the Roman Catholic church by Scott and Kimberly Hahn, two devoted and lifelong members of the Presbyterian Church.My wife, Micheline was reading this book and I inquired about it and she said it was an autobiographical book and that I might enjoy reading it, because I like biographical works and had a keen interest into why individuals convert to Catholicism. As a cradle Catholic, I learned about my religion right from the get go and having attended Catholic schools in the elementary and High School years. I believed I was sure in my religion. After meeting with others of the Protestant persuasion, I noticed how well versed in the Bible they were. I felt a bit of a deficiency as I only read the bible as an adult. This however, is not quite true, I attended Catholic Mass my whole life and after meeting my wife almost 60 years ago, I became a better Catholic and had a greater interest in my belief.After reading Rome Sweet Home, it piqued my interest in why people converted to Catholicism. This was particularly answered by the revelations of Scott and Limberly Hahn. I had heard about Scott Hahn from my bride and knew he was a devoted Catholic theologian. After reading this book I was more tuned into the why they converted.I learned things about my religion I took for granted and believed the doctrine and the reasons were taught to me and I learned my faith by induction and constant exposure. Contrary to what I heard from my Protestant brothers and sister, I realize that I was most certainly schooled in both the Old and New testaments. At Catholic Mass, we had the liturgy of the Word presented and it was outlined in two or three reading at every Mass. When I finally took a bible study(ies) I determined I was not the biblically illiterate I believed I was and reflected on my whole life of biblical exposure during the masses and certainly with my somewhat limited subsequent studies, I am beginning to catch up with my Protestant friends.But it still begs the question of what I missed that my Protestant friends were exposed to that I was unaware of. It was hinged on a couple of issues that were simple: Some Protestant are taught that Catholics are not even Christians. Absurd!!!What Catholics have that our fellow Christians don’t have are numerous: We have the Eucharist, not just symbolically, but in fact receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, at every Mass. We have the Sacraments. We have the Communion of Saints that we pray to for their intersession to help us in our struggles; We have the mother of God, that we call upon always in our prayers and she has always been a powerful force for bringing us closer to Christ; And we have the Holy Catholic Church which has been our guiding light and not relied on the whims of mans thinking as to what is the proper path to God. Catholics believe that Protestants belief in Jesus will get them acceptance to heaven but it’s the trip there that sanctifies us increasingly. Look how many Protestant denomination are born every day.This book will enlighten both Catholics and Protestants greatly. I enjoyed this work and unhesitatingly give it five Stars and give high recommendations.