Tangled Vines: Power, Privilege, and the Murdaugh Family Murders

by John Glatt

New York Times bestselling author John Glatt’s unputdownable account of the rise and fall of the prestigious Murdaugh family.

In South Carolina, the Murdaugh name means power. But when attorney Alex Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, on June 7th, 2021, the family was thrust into the national spotlight. The mystery deepened months later when Alex himself was discovered shot in the head on a roadside.

But as authorities scrambled for clues, dark secrets about this Southern legal dynasty came to light. The Murdaughs wouldn’t hesitate to wield their influence to protect one of their own. As bombshells of financial fraud were revealed and more suspicious deaths were linked to the Murdaughs, a new portrait of Alex Murdaugh a desperate man on the brink of ruin who would do anything, even murder his wife and son, to save his family’s reputation.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Audiobook, History, Biography, Mystery

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 8, 2023

About the author

English-born John Glatt is the author of Golden Boy Lost and Found, Secrets in the Cellar, Playing with Fire, and many other bestselling books of true crime. He has more than 30 years of experience as an investigative journalist in England and America. Glatt left school at 16 and worked a variety of jobs—including tea boy and messenger—before joining a small weekly newspaper. He freelanced at several English newspapers, then in 1981 moved to New York, where he joined the staff for News Limited and freelanced for publications including Newsweek and the New York Post. His first book, a biography of Bill Graham, was published in 1981, and he published For I Have Sinned, his first book of true crime, in 1998. He has appeared on television and radio programs all over the world, including ABC- 20/20Dateline NBC, Fox News, Current Affair, BBC World, and A&E Biography. He and his wife Gail divide their time between New York City, the Catskill Mountains and London.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/johnglatt

Reviews

[Bec (becbingesbooks) - sorry, behind with lots of catching up to do]

I read this by audio book and the content started off a bit dry, with so much family history dating back hundreds of years that I didn't really care for and didn't really add much to the story.

Once the history was finished, the story was very much along the lines of the Netflix documentary about the Murdaugh Family Murders. It didn't add much to it, went through the same various cases relating to the family and in a less engaging manner.

The last 10-15% seemed to have more information on the trial than what I recall having seen in the doco. That was done well, with good quotes and explanations on the trial itself (I could be wrong here and forgetting the end of the doco).

The narrator did a fine job - what I would expect from a true crime book.

All in all, if you like true crime and have not watched the Netflix documentary about this awful man, I'd recommend this audiobook. If you have seen the doco, I'd probably just give this one a miss.

I won't delve into the actual family and what I think of them, because it'll be an essay and a half and there are no words to describe how horrific things are and what people get away with in some of the U.S. States (from what I've heard).

Published: 8 August 2023.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glatt makes the story of fraud, corruption, entitlement and murder read like smooth fiction. It's so unbelievable the depths of deceit. I hope the lives deeply affected by these awful deeds may finally begin to heal.

[MAP · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read these ultra-contemporaneous, banged out minutes after the trial-type true crime books, but let’s be honest: there’s a reason the Murdaugh murders have fascinated so many.

The book backs all the way up to the first Murdaugh lawyer/solicitor, and follows through to Alex Murdaugh’s childhood, rise to prominence, his sons’ (yes both) apparent involvement in TWO different deaths, and finally the murder of his younger son and wife as his illegal financial dealings and rampant drug use come to light.

There are some parts that drag but it is also hard to see how to cut them out while still explaining just how Alex Murdaugh got to the place he got.

4 stars

[Jill H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just could not seem to stay interested in this fairly recent true crime story of Alex Murdaugh, his family, and how far he would go to keep his reputation. Of course I had heard about it as it was all over the news a few years ago and was a scandal which was complicated and almost unbelievable. If the reader is unfamiliar with it, the book might have held the attention but it was basically a repetition for me. But that does not mean that the writing wasn't well done and comprehensive

Murder, embezzlement, drugs, attempted suicide, booze. political corruption............it's all there and it is nasty. I am not going to detail the scandal/trial since it would be full of spoilers. Let me just say that if you are familiar with the Murdaugh crimes, you may feel the same way as I do. If you are unfamiliar with the Murdaugh crimes, read this book and I hope you enjoy it.

BTW, I am in the minority!!

[*TUDOR^QUEEN* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually that into true crime stories, but kept hearing about this nut job Alex Murdaugh in the news. He came from a generational family of successful lawyers from the South Carolina low country. I was watching when he got sentenced for the murders of his wife Maggie and youngest son Paul. Whenever I encounter one of his mug shots it gives me the chills.

This is a very good summation of the entire situation, from the history of the Murdaugh family and their entrenched power and influence over the decades, where various members played hard and fast with the law, but never paid...until now. The first section of the book covers the family background, building up to this current generation and their debauchery. The father Alex had an addiction to pills and proceeded to bilk huge amounts of monetary judgements he won for his clients into his own coffers. Alex and his wife Maggie let their sons drink while underage. Youngest son Paul would drink and drive. He was at the helm of the family boat when it crashed, killing teenage friend Mallory Beach. There were other questionable deaths swirling suspicion around this family such as their housekeeper falling down the stairs and a gay teenage classmate supposedly dying by hit and run, but the Murdaugh family had the prestige and power to seemingly skirt these issues- until the wall finally came crashing down with the violent shooting deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh.

This book is eminently readable and informative, closing at the arrest of patriarch Alex Murdaugh for the crime of double murder. It does not cover the trial and his ultimate conviction, but perhaps the final publication will include some of these details.

Thank you to the publisher St. Martin's Press who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

[Erin Clemence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: August 8, 2023

The Murdaugh family was associated in South Carolina with wealth and privilege. A family of lawyers, politicians and powerful men dating back over a century, they had their hand in every pot, and were the people you turned to when you needed a favour, but also the people you didn’t say “no” to. On June 7, 2021, Alex Murdaugh’s wife, Maggie, and adult son, Paul, were found shot to death on Murdaugh’s property. Fingers pointed at Alex, but the family influence ran so high that it was hard to secure evidence proving Alex’s part. However, investigators discovered other things in their search- including years and years of manipulation, corruption and money laundering.

“Tangled Vines: Power, Privilege and the Murdaugh Family Murders” is the newest release by true crime writer John Glatt. I read both “The Doomsday Mother: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell, and the End of an American Family” and “Golden Boy: A Murder Among the Manhattan Elite” and find his stories to be engaging and addictive. I always appreciate when someone with a despicably elitist, entitled and arrogant attitude is taken to task, and I can always trust Glatt to do just that.

I don’t know much about the Murdaugh family, or their influence, but this novel provided me with all of the background information I needed. Although the ARC I received does not have the outcome of the murder trial (as it had not happened yet- the published version should), I still found the story compelling.

There are a lot of characters at play here. Not only the entire Murtaugh clan (mostly the males) and their extended families, but any politician or legal official that had their hands in the Murtaugh pockets, as well as any clients they swindled. It’s quite the list to get through, and it is both overwhelming and daunting, but if you can muddle through even with just a basic understanding of the major players, “Vines” will keep you entangled (pun intended).

There’s something about a spoiled rich boy getting his come-uppance that just gets me right in the happy place. I felt the same way about “Golden Boy” although I feel terrible sorrow for the families who unfortunately found their way into the twisted, sordid lives of the Upper Class Sociopaths (that sounds like the name of a rock band…..but I digress….). Glatt’s novel is appealing to anyone who is familiar with the Murdaugh trials and to anyone who is simply learning about them for the first time. I am always on the lookout for Glatt’s digestible, generalizable true crime stories, and he continues to deliver!

[Joshua Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so glad I thought to look for this ARC since I am impatient and didn't want to wait until this finally came out. Unfortunately, this was all put together before the murder trial, but it looks like the published edition will have the result of the trial.

This was a well - researched and thorough look at the Murdaugh situation in South Carolina and the various side situations attached to it. Pat Conroy would fall over dead all over again if he read how the lowcountry was described by this author (mostly steamy and swampy). The facts are all there and put together well in a way that hasn't sensationalized anything or drawn too many conclusions.

The book really emphasizes how much money Alex Murdaugh stole, how he did it, and how many victims there were. He would have spent the rest of his life in prison just for all his insurance fraud and embezzling, but to also murder half his family on top of that reveals a truly awful person.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I heard about the Murdaugh family was though a mini series on Investigation Discovery in 2022. I've been following the story ever since, so most of what I listened to here was not new to me.

I do appreciate that the history of the family was expanded on, because that was what I wanted to know most about. It really does seem like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

If you haven't been following the case and haven't seen the documentaries (or just prefer reading to watching) this is a pretty good source for everything you need to know about the family, in chronological order.

I'm also looking forward to Mandy Matney's book on the subject later this year.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sort of followed this case in the national news and thought this book would just be a rehash of what I already knew. I was very wrong. Glatt spends a lot of time with the Murdaugh family history and the politics of the area they dominated for almost a hundred years. This information is crucial to understanding the privilege this family felt entitled to and for the most part, received.

Unless you consciously avoid news sites, podcasts, and social media, you are familiar with the basics of the case: Alex Murdaugh embezzled funds from personal injury cases he won to the tune of millions of dollars and also was convicted of murdering his wife and son. What this book clearly provides is the motive behind those murders and how Murdaugh assumed he would get away with all of his crimes. It paints an unflattering picture of the Murdaugh clan but especially Alex who was so desperate to cover his financial shenanigans, he resorted to murder.

I found this to be an informative book rich in background material about the Murdaugh family dynasty and how it all came tumbling down. The pacing is good and there isn't too much repetition of what I already knew about this case. Glatt's description of the good-old-boy network and how it allowed Alex and his family to escape justice for as long as they did is truly amazing. If you like true crime books, I think you'll enjoy this one.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this book for review. The publication date is August 8, 2023.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This has just made its way to the top of my list of the craziest story I've ever read. Heart shattering and a mind blowing story.

[Maine Colonial · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a free advance digital review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

This is a pre-publication review, so there may be changes in the published book. The version I read doesn’t include the murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, but there is an indication that the final published version will.

Much of the focus of the early part of the book is the history of the Murdaugh family as prosecutors and, at the same time, plaintiffs’ tort lawyers. I’m glad this is such a focus, because anyone who took any interest in this case already knows a lot about the events from the last few years, from housekeeper Gloria Satterfield’s death at the Murdaugh house, young Stephen Smith’s death on a rural road, Paul Murdaugh’s drunken boat driving causing the death of Mallory Beach, Alex Murdaugh being fired from his firm for embezzlement on a grand scale, his attempt to claim somebody tried to murder him and, finally, the murders of Alex’s wife Maggie and son Paul.

What we get from the history of earlier years is a much better sense of the extreme privilege, power, and utter corruption of this family. Author John Glatt includes story after story about the cynicism of the Murdaughs, who passed out favors as prosecutors and raked in money as tort lawyers, even going so far as to try to take everything from a local small businessman representing a woman who actually rear-ended him. Why and how would they do that? Person after person tells about how the Murdaughs knew absolutely everyone in their district, paid no attention to conflicts of interest, used a local law that would let them sue anybody with the slightest connection to their district, and could get juries to grant outrageously high damages because they knew the Murdaugh family and either liked or feared them—maybe both.

Despite being treated as if they were upstanding representatives of the law, there is evidence that the Murdaughs were active drug runners for decades; one of them being suspended for six months but escaping prison while a co-conspirator did time.

There is also much detail in the book about Alex’s embezzlement schemes; both how he set them up and who he scammed—from horribly injured poor clients, survivors of those killed in accidents (including Gloria Satterfield’s sons), right down to his own brother. Alex’s trial for financial misdeeds should be a doozy. Glatt also writes about the other men involved in Alex’s alleged drug-dealing and money-laundering activities, which I hadn’t previously known much about in detail. Again, another trial that should be eye-opening.

We all heard in the news coverage about how a teenage Paul was a habitual and nasty drunk. Maybe you wondered how his parents allowed him to get wasted and drive a car or boat. It turns out his father was at least as bad when he was a teenager and was just as indulged. Nobody ever thought there would be consequences for a Murdaugh, especially the Murdaughs—and while Maggie was unhappy living in tiny Hampton SC, she was more than happy to not work, leave the child-rearing mostly to Gloria Satterfield, spend loads of money, and fall right into the attitude that Murdaughs can do whatever they want.

When he reaches more contemporary events, Glatt skillfully contextualizes, so that the reader can see what might have triggered Alex’s actions. For example, certain court actions over Mallory Beach’s death, and the Satterfield sons’ learning that they hadn’t received money awarded in their wrongful-death lawsuit both happened very shortly before Alex took extreme actions to try to avoid having his embezzlement schemes revealed.

I came away from this book feeling I know quite a bit more of the Murdaugh family story and how generational power and corruption can change life for people far beyond the bounds of the family.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tangled Vines is a chronology of the family history of the wealthy, influential Murdaugh family of South Carolina, through the 20th century, leading to notoriety in the current day, for the crimes committed by former high powered attorney Alex Murdaugh and associates. Since not much time has passed since the sensational trial (2023), there will be more books coming out on the subject. This one has the essential information which came out at trial.
3.5

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I watched the Netflix documentary and thought I knew what had gone down with the Murdaughs and was not sure what else I could learn from this book. However, I am a fan of John Glatt’s work and so I was looking forward to this and he did not disappoint. A lot of this was already known, however I liked the spin that he took in providing the history of the family and their rise, not just their downfall. It helped provide some context as to how deep their roots and pockets went, as well as how certain family members could have gotten away with so much. Like I said, I did not learn a whole lot more about the tragic events themselves but they were still harrowing to read about vs. watch via a documentary, and all I can say is it is WILD how things were allowed to progress as far as they did, and extremely sad how so many unsuspecting folks trusted them with everything and got screwed. I definitely recommend this one if you are a true crime fan.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital copy to review.

[kristyn ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

reba said it best when she said “don’t trust your soul to no backwoods southern lawyer, ‘cause the judge in the town’s got bloodstains on his hands”

[Brendan (History Nerds United) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patience is a virtue. In the case of John Glatt's Tangled Vines, I would say some patience would have gone a long way.

Tangled Vines follows the very recent story of the Murdaugh family in South Carolina. The family story reads like fiction as they have ruled part of South Carolina for about 100 years as the leading lawyers in the region. They were powerful, crooked, and willing to crush anyone who got in their way. Ultimately, like all empires, they fell in spectacular fashion. There is no shortage of intrigue as embezzlement, drug trafficking, and murder are present in multiple instances.

The major problem with the book is that the subject is still too new and unfinished. Glatt's narrative reads like a recitation of facts rather than a full story. Also, it is missing major updates which happened recently. Someone is going to write a definitive account of the Murdaugh family and it will be a must read. Unfortunately, Glatt's feels too rushed to be that book.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press.)

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Tangled Vines, by John Glatt, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Alex Murdaugh and his family has been in the news a lot, mainly for bad things, murder, drugs, law suits, etc. Alex Murdaugh had it all, then lost it all, all his own faults, his son was no better. Such a sad tale about the rich and their egos.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book is filled with typos, and several of the presented “facts” do not match the evidence presented at trial.

[LindaPf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back just as the Murdaugh mother and son were murdered, I had discovered a local South Carolina podcast that was already talking about the possible coverup in a boating death caused by a Murdaugh son. The story already had all the hallmarks of a true crime mystery — prominent family, a legal system bought and paid for, little people like the girl in the boat, the housekeeper and a gay friend’s suspicious death. Week after week more suspicious facts were coming to light (Insurance fraud! Secret drug addictions! Possible drug running rings in the SC coastal islands! A phony attempt on Alex Murdaugh’s life! A suspicious hit-and-run death!). It initially seemed impossible that the father might be the main suspect. But, oh my, did that ever change. The case eventually received international coverage and multiple covers of People magazine. Prolific true crime author John Glatt has put all the facts together in a tale only a little less tangled than the kudzu vine it initially resembled.

Glatt has added the dubious history of the Murdaugh dynasty in the first few chapters, telling the stories of too many ancestral Murdaughs named Buster. When Alex (pronounced Ellick) is finally introduced, we already know he’s from a long line of entitled alcoholics and bullies. As a teenager and college student, Alex knew he always had a “get out of jail free” card due to his family’s outsized influence.

This book also extensively chronicles the misdeeds and alcoholism of the murdered son Paul, suspicions about older son Buster’s involvement in the hit-and-run death of his friend, Maggie and Alex’s laissez faire attitude towards their sons underage drinking and abuse, and so many instances of Alex committing fraud and illegally profiting off clients and his own firm. Some of this was reported in news coverage and Glatt builds a timeline of such corruption to the point that it’s no surprise someone would get murdered. The surprise is that the Murdaughs didn’t get away with all of it.

Unfortunately, the narrative is dry and Wikipedia-like. There are other true crime writers (Gregg Olsen comes to mind) who can weave a story with a foreknown guilty verdict into a more suspenseful narrative. Unless you’re a die hard “fan,” this book can become boring. And, it’s really not finished. The story of the trial and verdict are missing — I know this is an ARC, but the finished version needs a few more chapters before publication in a month. 3 stars for the extensive research only.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fair and interesting account of the Murdaugh saga. I have followed this case from the start and learned a few things myself, particularly about the family tree. That had always confused me.

I know a lot of people think this book is premature and I don't and also think there will be more story to tell eventually and I'll be interested in that too.

Thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

I definitely recommend. If true crime interests you at all, this case is a gold mine. The truth really can be stranger than fiction!

[Perri · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This really seemed to be stretching to fill the pages, and didn't reveal anything new or insightful that hasn't already been shared, i.e., no compelling interviews with people close to the situation, new revelations, etc. and it didn't even really do a good job of immersing us in what Hampton county feels like.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little disappointing, only because I have followed the news on this case and I didn’t learn anything new.

[Julie Young Buckler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lies

He was "a very nice man and very cordial." Many people felt this way about a man filled up with greed. He was born into wealth and was expected to continue in the family way. The only problem was, this heir took the wrong path to his financial kingdom. Not to mention that his hobby was opiates. This was his private matter, even if it was technically a serious problem. It was also a secret.
Like a sociopath, he promised clients wonderful wins, and managed to funnel the money to use as he pleased. Is it possible that his wife never knew about the criminality of the money she used?
A straightforward and well organized telling of the dramatic life of Alex Murdaugh and his family problems. It's interesting, the curveballs that life can throw; if young Paul had not crashed that boat while drunk, not causing an undeniably painful fatality, how much difference would that have made for Alex?This loss from the boat crash began the unraveling of a powerful family. One lie leads to the next.
Apparently, money doesn't buy happiness. Alex Murdaugh still chose drugs to get through his privileged life.
Very sad.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glatt has done it again! He has written another compelling true crime story about power, greed, white male privilege, and murder! I love this author's books, and this one did not disappoint!

If you haven't yet watched the Netflix series, wait and read this book first! It was meticulously researched and written, starting with the family history from over a hundred years ago. It details each generation and the downward spiral of the Murdaugh family dynasty.

This author also knows how to spin the story to maximize both emotional reaction and jaw-dropping disbelief. I was spitting mad several times over the course of my reading experience and jumping for joy by the end. I absolutely can not wait to see what this author comes out with next!

A gracious thank you to @StMartinsPress and @Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Aellirenn Czyta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nie mogłam się połapać początkowo, ale potem poszło. Autor dowiózł.

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very thorough but also very, VERY dry.

[Renée | apuzzledbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you just can’t make these things up. This is the true story of greed, entitlement, misuse of power going back generations and eventually murder.

The Murdaugh Murders is also featured on Netflix. I watched the show several months before the book came out and was shocked at the behavior of members of this family.

It’s a sad story of a family who believed they were above the law, and for many years got away with it. If you’re very familiar with the case, there seems to be a few inaccuracies, but it is a compelling read.

3.75/5 stars

[Stacy40pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tangled Vines: Power, Privilege, and the Murdaugh Family Murders by John Glatt ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A reconstruction of the rise and fall of the prestigious southern Murdaugh family.

Of course I had heard of the Murdaugh family before picking this one up, but I didn’t know the details. It was so interesting and unbelievable that it’s a true story. The ending unraveled fast, which I know is true to life. It was hard for me to track and wrap my head around all the financial crimes. I can’t imagine the investigators tracking all this and now i understand why the book is called tangled vines! I hope there’s a section added to the final version about the trials that have happened since. I may buy a copy.

“But few can rival the shocking events of summer 2021 and the unfolding saga of the Hampton, SC, Murdaugh family, a powerful legal dynasty featuring generations of prosecutors who’ve tried seemingly every case in a five-county area for nearly a century.”

Tangled Vines comes out 8/8.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I’ve followed the Murdaugh case for a while and watched most of the murder trial, I learned quite a bit from John Glatt’s book. This book provided so much history of the Murdaugh family to really help me understand the power they held over the lowcountry.
I saw another reader say that a family tree would be a helpful visual and I agree.

Going through the events chronologically, putting the pieces together to see what was happening publicly at each point when Big Red steals another family’s money, with social media posts woven in—that was fascinating to learn.

Overall I enjoyed reading but wondered at times if the book felt rushed? Perhaps too soon? I’d like to read the final published version as it sounds like it will include the trial and aftermath. I liked the book very much and felt that with more time, I likely would have given 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the free advance copy to review.

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Tangled Vines, John Glatt does an excellent job of delving into the Murdaugh family dynamic, giving us behind-the-scene details of this Southern Gothic "crime family." It begins with a history of the past 110 years or so of the Murdaugh family; it's a bit hard to follow, given that almost every male of the past several generations had been named either Randolph or Buster. But once we finally get to the current generation, we have a good understanding of the tight network of judges, lawyers, and law enforcement that enabled the Murdaugh family's stranglehold on the judicial system in their part of the South Carolina Lowcountry.

It's all a heady mix of murder, white-collar fraud, misappropriation of funds (almost $9 million dollars from personal injury clients), money laundering, forgery, drug manufacture and trafficking and more. It's hard to feel any kind of sympathy for the truly deplorable Murdaugh family. As one of Alex Murdaugh's victim said "I know Mr. Murdaugh as my attorney ... A very nice man and very cordial. I never had any issues and would communicate with him on a regular basis. Now here's the problem. He treated me that nice and he stole every dime I had from the injury I incurred."

Perhaps because the scope of all the crimes is so huge, it's hard to get a sense of wife Maggie's personality, and sons Paul and Buster - other than spoiled sons of parents who encouraged and abetted their violent fits of anger, underage drinking, vehicular manslaughter (Paul's drunken boat accident that killed Mallory Beach), the mysterious death of Steven Smith, and the mysterious death of Gloria Satterfield.

At four years old they cussed like sailors [...] and Maggie thought it was funny. [She] instilled in them from a very young age that they were better than anyone else because they were Murdaughs. The same rules didn't apply to you that apply to these other people. 'You're a Murdaugh! You're a Murdaugh.'

As the book was, for the most part completed in late 2022 and early 2023, the advance-reading copy did not include trial updates and developments. It is my understanding that the final version does contain trial information.

If you are looking for a great over-all examination of the Murdaugh family and their numerous crimes in the context of the Southern Lowcountry where they "ruled" for over a hundred years, you won't do better than Glatt's account. The book is a bit light on specific details on the actual murders of Paul and Maggie, and Paul's drunken boat accident is skimmed over, but then again there is so much crime, murder, corruption, fraud and the like that a true accounting could be almost endless. 4 stars.

I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Diane Merritt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whewwwwww a lot of I information, background and corruption of the Murdaugh family. Written less as a story more just giving facts which was what I guess the author was wanting to do I was looking more for a story about the family. Leads you through all that I wanted to read about never the less. Just fell flat for me overall.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.