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Countdown to Murder: Alex Murdaugh: Money, Murder & Deception in South Carolina
The South has always been steeped in mystery. Gunshots from duels fought for family honor still echo from the distant past. The same gray Spanish moss that swayed on moonlit nights throughout plantation grounds still move eerily on coastal breezes. It is in this fabled low country of South Carolina that the ever-changing tidal plain has begun to give up its secrets. A once powerful legal dynasty that covered five counties and spread throughout more like the deadly tendrils of the invasive kudzo vine was beginning to wither. It took the death of a beautiful 19-year-old girl named Mallory Beach to show the dark underbelly of a juggernaut family named Murdaugh.
Here is the incredible saga of five mysterious deaths, a score of insurance fraud cases that devasted countless families, drug running, and possible dealings in sex trafficking. It is almost impossible to believe. Yet the shots that rang out on a rainy summer evening on the sprawling Moselle hunting property took not only the lives of the wife and son of Alex Murdaugh but were the percussions for justice that finally demanded answers on other deaths that had been buried beneath the subterfuge.
Packed with photos, exclusive interviews, maps and trial transcripts, this is a comprehensive telling of the evidence, theories, victims and key players in this international thriller born of fact.
Dedicated to Stephen Smith, Gloria Satterfield, Mallory Beach, Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, and those who would not give up until Goliath had fallen.
Rebecca F. Pittman is a bestselling author of 16 titles. She is regularly featured on TV, radio and podcast programs. Her History and Haunting series of books spotlight the most famous landmarks in the world that just happen to be featured regularly on the most haunted lists. Her Countdown to Murder series began with the startling true crime saga out of St. Louis involving Pam a seemingly innocuous housewife who stands accused of killing her best friend, a stranger, and even her mother for profit. The story spawned the popular NBC mini-series, The Thing About Pam. Future books in the Countdown to Murder series will showcase the true crime cases of Harold Henthorn, Lizzie Borden, and others.
Visit her website at www.rebeccafpittmanbooks.com and sign up for her free newsletter.
Here is the incredible saga of five mysterious deaths, a score of insurance fraud cases that devasted countless families, drug running, and possible dealings in sex trafficking. It is almost impossible to believe. Yet the shots that rang out on a rainy summer evening on the sprawling Moselle hunting property took not only the lives of the wife and son of Alex Murdaugh but were the percussions for justice that finally demanded answers on other deaths that had been buried beneath the subterfuge.
Packed with photos, exclusive interviews, maps and trial transcripts, this is a comprehensive telling of the evidence, theories, victims and key players in this international thriller born of fact.
Dedicated to Stephen Smith, Gloria Satterfield, Mallory Beach, Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, and those who would not give up until Goliath had fallen.
Rebecca F. Pittman is a bestselling author of 16 titles. She is regularly featured on TV, radio and podcast programs. Her History and Haunting series of books spotlight the most famous landmarks in the world that just happen to be featured regularly on the most haunted lists. Her Countdown to Murder series began with the startling true crime saga out of St. Louis involving Pam a seemingly innocuous housewife who stands accused of killing her best friend, a stranger, and even her mother for profit. The story spawned the popular NBC mini-series, The Thing About Pam. Future books in the Countdown to Murder series will showcase the true crime cases of Harold Henthorn, Lizzie Borden, and others.
Visit her website at www.rebeccafpittmanbooks.com and sign up for her free newsletter.
707 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2023
47 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca F. Pittman
21 books12 followersRebecca Pittman grew up literally on a runway. Her mother was teaching fashion modeling before she was born.
Rebecca took to the catwalk at the age of 5 and was teaching modeling by the young age of 16. From there she began designing stage sets for fashion shows, upscale weddings and special events, along with pursuing her love of art and journalism.
She created Wonderland Productions and has been painting wall murals around the country for the past 33 years. In that time she published four books and has no intention of slowing down. Her first book, "How to Start a Faux Painting or Mural Business" went into a 2nd edition October, 2010. "Scrapbooking for Profit" was published in 2005.
Her journalistic interest took a sharp turn when she decided to write about the haunted location of The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, including the personal history of its ghosts. After living only 45 minutes away from the historical site for 33 years, her love of its history and her experiences there with things unexplained and paranormal led to her to write the book, The History and Haunting of the Stanley Hotel, released in July, 2011.
Ms. Pittman is currently researching The Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana. The plantation is touted as the most-haunted home in America. That book will be followed by The History and Haunting of the Tower of London and the paranormal goings-on in Salem. She is also working on a children's adventure book and a screenplay about Edgar A. Poe.
Rebecca makes her home in Loveland, Colorado where she indulges her love of golf, boating, the arts and travel. She is the proud mother of 4 sons and their extended families.
"Show me a good mystery and I will want to solve it. It's the puzzle that fascinates me ... the clues, and the answers that tumble into place like a combination lock giving up its hold."
Rebecca took to the catwalk at the age of 5 and was teaching modeling by the young age of 16. From there she began designing stage sets for fashion shows, upscale weddings and special events, along with pursuing her love of art and journalism.
She created Wonderland Productions and has been painting wall murals around the country for the past 33 years. In that time she published four books and has no intention of slowing down. Her first book, "How to Start a Faux Painting or Mural Business" went into a 2nd edition October, 2010. "Scrapbooking for Profit" was published in 2005.
Her journalistic interest took a sharp turn when she decided to write about the haunted location of The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, including the personal history of its ghosts. After living only 45 minutes away from the historical site for 33 years, her love of its history and her experiences there with things unexplained and paranormal led to her to write the book, The History and Haunting of the Stanley Hotel, released in July, 2011.
Ms. Pittman is currently researching The Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana. The plantation is touted as the most-haunted home in America. That book will be followed by The History and Haunting of the Tower of London and the paranormal goings-on in Salem. She is also working on a children's adventure book and a screenplay about Edgar A. Poe.
Rebecca makes her home in Loveland, Colorado where she indulges her love of golf, boating, the arts and travel. She is the proud mother of 4 sons and their extended families.
"Show me a good mystery and I will want to solve it. It's the puzzle that fascinates me ... the clues, and the answers that tumble into place like a combination lock giving up its hold."
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 11, 2023
Lengthy book about the Murdaughs and the trial of Alex. For someone that did not follow the trial, it is a great book with many details. Made me dislike Alex even more!
October 2, 2023
Interesting Story
Lots of typo errors and mistakes made in book. I have never read a book with this many errors. Story was very interesting though.
Lots of typo errors and mistakes made in book. I have never read a book with this many errors. Story was very interesting though.
January 1, 2025
Really good reporting and amount of detail.
VERY difficult to get past all the typos, misspellings, grammatical errors, etc. The English teacher in me was cringing!
Last chapter was a bit confusing and felt misplaced.
VERY difficult to get past all the typos, misspellings, grammatical errors, etc. The English teacher in me was cringing!
Last chapter was a bit confusing and felt misplaced.
September 18, 2023
I think I was looking for more insight into what made this man tick.
March 28, 2024
Good read!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews