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Living With The Devil
As the principal of his own law firm and known as "Mr. Condo" to his Chicago condominium clients, Donnie Rudd was at the top of his game. Charming, offbeat, and eccentric, he appeared on his own television show and taught at a local college. But behind the public persona of a successful lawyer, Donnie Rudd's life was unraveling as police investigated the death of his second wife, the murder of a local woman, and claims of fraud by several clients.
The fascinating memoir by Donnie's step daughters describes the chaos of life with a sociopath as the allegations of infidelity, madness, and murder against Donnie interrupt their lives again and again. The sisters recount the riveting true story of events over a span of 40 years that will leave readers breathless and wondering how Rudd was able to evade accountability for so long. In the midst of the madness also lies a story of redemption and triumph as the family overcomes the dysfunction of their early tumultuous life.
Check out the Investigative Discovery Channel Documentary with Keith Morrison: Who is Donnie Rudd? It will give you more insight into the story.
Purchase book
www.livingwiththedevil.com
The fascinating memoir by Donnie's step daughters describes the chaos of life with a sociopath as the allegations of infidelity, madness, and murder against Donnie interrupt their lives again and again. The sisters recount the riveting true story of events over a span of 40 years that will leave readers breathless and wondering how Rudd was able to evade accountability for so long. In the midst of the madness also lies a story of redemption and triumph as the family overcomes the dysfunction of their early tumultuous life.
Check out the Investigative Discovery Channel Documentary with Keith Morrison: Who is Donnie Rudd? It will give you more insight into the story.
Purchase book
www.livingwiththedevil.com
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2016
27 people are currently reading
659 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 21, 2018
This is a fascinating true story of how one psychopath dominated, and in some cases decimated, the lives of those around him. It provides amazing insights into the mind of those with this particular personality disorder and helps one to understand how a normal unsuspecting person can find themselves ensnared in inexplicable insanity without realizing that they've been carefully cultivated into the web of drama, lies, and deceit. It was full of absolute WTF(?) moments and hard to put down!
May 25, 2016
Don't miss out on this fascinating true story. This story will keep you captivated and it will be difficult to put it down. You will finish the book wanting more.
February 18, 2018
This book was given to me by one of my students along with a note from his mom saying it was written by his grandmother. I immediately put it to the top of my "to read" pile and I am glad I did. Living with the Devil recounts growing up with a stepfather, Donnie Rudd, who lied, cheated, and allegedly killed his former wife (and perhaps others too). The authors, Lori and Cindy Hart, knew all along that something wasn't right with their new stepfather's behaviors, but they never could get their mom to permanently leave him. They ask throughout the book, is he a sociopath? Upon finishing, it certainly seems to me that he is.
The sisters detail odd and scary incidents they experienced as kids, teens, and young adults that all centered around Donnie Rudd. They detail his violent outbursts, his empty claims of illness, his outlandish lies (that somehow most people bought hook, line, and sinker), and his proximity to and believed involvement in more than one suspicious death.
The whole time reading this, I couldn't believe one man could get away with everything Donnie Rudd seemingly did. But, I guess that's the danger of true sociopaths-the charm. If you're a fan of true crime stories, Cindy and Lori Hart's memoir will captivate you. At 290 pages, I finished this book in 2 days. Perhaps the most important take away from this book is the strength of the kids (who then continued to support and help as they grew into adults) who did their best to support their mom throughout this chaotic relationship. I highly recommend this read. Scary, indeed, but fascinatingly so!
The sisters detail odd and scary incidents they experienced as kids, teens, and young adults that all centered around Donnie Rudd. They detail his violent outbursts, his empty claims of illness, his outlandish lies (that somehow most people bought hook, line, and sinker), and his proximity to and believed involvement in more than one suspicious death.
The whole time reading this, I couldn't believe one man could get away with everything Donnie Rudd seemingly did. But, I guess that's the danger of true sociopaths-the charm. If you're a fan of true crime stories, Cindy and Lori Hart's memoir will captivate you. At 290 pages, I finished this book in 2 days. Perhaps the most important take away from this book is the strength of the kids (who then continued to support and help as they grew into adults) who did their best to support their mom throughout this chaotic relationship. I highly recommend this read. Scary, indeed, but fascinatingly so!
April 5, 2017
Wow, what a ride! This book captured my interest from start to finish. The events took place nearby my house so that made it even more interesting to read. I did not know about the events surrounding these murders or anything about the prime suspect which made the story even more intriguing.
If you like true-crime books, then this is a good book to pick up. At times I read it with my mouth open in disbelief and at other times I almost had to laugh out loud at the ridiculous lies and deceit. It is a tragic story that is still unfolding in the courts. My hope is that justice will be served for all of the family members who experienced the loss of a loved one. There are some editing problems which I hope get corrected in a future edition, but the story was so fascinating (& tragic) that it was a 5 star read for me.
If you like true-crime books, then this is a good book to pick up. At times I read it with my mouth open in disbelief and at other times I almost had to laugh out loud at the ridiculous lies and deceit. It is a tragic story that is still unfolding in the courts. My hope is that justice will be served for all of the family members who experienced the loss of a loved one. There are some editing problems which I hope get corrected in a future edition, but the story was so fascinating (& tragic) that it was a 5 star read for me.
April 5, 2017
'Living With The Devil' is the intriguing true story of one mans' hold over an entire family. This book is written by sisters Lori and Cindy Hart and chronicles many years of their lives spent with their evil stepfather, Donnie Rudd. I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways.
March 1, 2024
Really good true story. Crazy life!
June 25, 2016
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I could not put this book down. Thank you to the authors for sharing your life story. I hope that the writing of this book was therapeutic after all you've endured. This story really hit home as I grew up in that area, went to school in Hoffman Estates. Your book was very well written. I hope many people read your story.
October 8, 2021
This was an engaging read. The authors did a nice job presenting the material. It's a true-crime story from the Chicago suburbs written from the perspective of people close to the action. You can tell that the authors did a lot of work to verify the information and fact-check their memories. With a quick google search, you can see how things ended for Mr. Condo.
February 7, 2017
I enjoyed this book. I love hearing about complicated relationships and family history
I did a few times wonder - what the? As in, how on earth you could get involved in some of his business ventures knowing what he was like....
I guess you had to be there to understand!
I did a few times wonder - what the? As in, how on earth you could get involved in some of his business ventures knowing what he was like....
I guess you had to be there to understand!
December 23, 2016
This is an always fascinating, at times chilling, memoir of the authors' lives. Lori and Cindy Hart were born into an "ordinary" American family, but this all changed when their mother moved in with the man she had been having an affair with. The authors describe their new, very unusual, living arrangements and refer to their stepfather as a sociopath, whose behaviour, which started off as being described as a little odd, gradually turns nasty and very frightening. They describe many incidents that took place when they were growing up, not directly attributing all of them to their stepfather, but the reader is left in no doubt as to whom they suspect the perpetrator to be. For example an incident is described when the hot water heater mysteriously had a hole poked through it, causing the basement to flood and become electrically charged. 2 of the children's bedrooms were in the basement.
In the book Lori and Cindy accuse their stepfather of the murders of 4 people - none of which he has been convicted of. There are also stories about his life as an attorney and deceptions they allege he carried out during this career. If this was not a memoir, I would say that the events described are unbelievable, however the events portrayed in the book seem very believable and disturbing.
I found Lori and Cindy's story a gripping and unsettling read about what it was like to live with a stepfather who was not "rational, logical or reasonable". It is a well written, and easy to follow book, that puts the facts as they see them; describing incidents that are needed to get their story across, but not going into unnecessary details. It shows how, despite all that was going on, the siblings stayed loyal to each other, giving support to each other (and their mother) as their stepfather's actions spiralled out of control.
For readers interested in (alleged) true crime stories of the modern day this is a "must read". The version of the book I read was published in March 2016, there are many internet references to the authors' stepfather dated later than this publication date.
In the book Lori and Cindy accuse their stepfather of the murders of 4 people - none of which he has been convicted of. There are also stories about his life as an attorney and deceptions they allege he carried out during this career. If this was not a memoir, I would say that the events described are unbelievable, however the events portrayed in the book seem very believable and disturbing.
I found Lori and Cindy's story a gripping and unsettling read about what it was like to live with a stepfather who was not "rational, logical or reasonable". It is a well written, and easy to follow book, that puts the facts as they see them; describing incidents that are needed to get their story across, but not going into unnecessary details. It shows how, despite all that was going on, the siblings stayed loyal to each other, giving support to each other (and their mother) as their stepfather's actions spiralled out of control.
For readers interested in (alleged) true crime stories of the modern day this is a "must read". The version of the book I read was published in March 2016, there are many internet references to the authors' stepfather dated later than this publication date.
August 12, 2016
For a self-published book that seemed to be only lightly edited, this was a highly enjoyable read. Sure there were some glaring typos, and I for sure would have made some different editorial decisions, but that didn't take away from the overall narrative of the memoir. I wish an actual publishing house would pick up the story, clean it up, and do it justice.
If any of you remember this story in the Tribune, you'll want to buy this book: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs...
I found out about the memoir through one of the sisters' comments on a Gawker article, believe it or not. She posted a link to the book site, and I was all BUY NOW and I am glad I did. Her stepdad, Donnie Rudd, is a real piece of work. Telling the story of living with Donnie Rudd and her mother, who was under Donnie's spell, is a fascinating read.
EDIT: The lovely authors of the book, Lori Hart and Cindi Mulligan, read this Goodreads review and sent me a new book! I had gotten an older version that was lightly edited and full of typos. They had realized that and had later gotten it thoroughly edited. What a wonderful gesture, and this review would not be complete without noting it.
If any of you remember this story in the Tribune, you'll want to buy this book: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs...
I found out about the memoir through one of the sisters' comments on a Gawker article, believe it or not. She posted a link to the book site, and I was all BUY NOW and I am glad I did. Her stepdad, Donnie Rudd, is a real piece of work. Telling the story of living with Donnie Rudd and her mother, who was under Donnie's spell, is a fascinating read.
EDIT: The lovely authors of the book, Lori Hart and Cindi Mulligan, read this Goodreads review and sent me a new book! I had gotten an older version that was lightly edited and full of typos. They had realized that and had later gotten it thoroughly edited. What a wonderful gesture, and this review would not be complete without noting it.
July 16, 2016
I couldn't put the book down. I had heard snippets of the story from others and they couldn't stop talking about it, so had to read it out of curiosity. The story is unlike anything you've read before, and even more so because it's true. The authors bring to life what must have been so difficult, but I thank them for having the courage to share their incredible family. The story is beyond compelling and could easily be a movie!
June 7, 2017
Heartbreaking and disturbing. The authors tell a chilling life story of living with a sociopath. So much more upsetting because bad things kept happening to these good people. So glad they could keep their heads above water.
September 28, 2017
Not even sure how I heard about this book, but I'm glad I did. Really interesting story about a completely dysfunctional person and his effect on his families and community.
Lori and Cindy, thank you for sharing your story. It could not have been easy to share such personal memories.
Lori and Cindy, thank you for sharing your story. It could not have been easy to share such personal memories.
February 9, 2026
This book was so captivating. Chilling and terrifying and just such an interesting story about deception. It was written by a friend of mines mom who I grew up with here in my home town. It’s a true story about her experience growing up. Definitely recommend it
June 28, 2016
My husband and I both read this book and neither of us could put it down! Reads like a novel but even more fascinating because it's true.
June 14, 2016
What an amazing story and so well written. The courage and love of this family
June 30, 2017
Very interesting non-fiction book based in the Chicago burbs. With pending trial set for this fall, its a great read, especially for Chicagoland readers.
December 22, 2018
Good!
This is a one of a kind story! Truth is stranger than fiction and this book proves it! A page turner indeed!
This is a one of a kind story! Truth is stranger than fiction and this book proves it! A page turner indeed!
July 9, 2024
I think the book would have been helped by an editor, or ghostwriter, or publisher. The writing is very clichéd, especially in the first few chapters. There are a bunch of repeated words. A lot of sentences could have been cut because they're repetitive or repeat emotions/feelings that had already been conveyed. Could have been 50-75 pages shorter, easy. The story does spool out a compelling drama, and the reader will be frustrated and angry that Donnie took advantage of so many people.
December 17, 2016
Excellent memoir and one where truth is much stranger than fiction. This book is extremely well written and the right balance of details and person feelings without dwelling on feeling sorry for herself and her siblings. How this man got away with what he did for so many years and is still in the news is mind blogging.
August 7, 2023
I cannot believe the things that happened in this story.....and it is true!
I love Lisa Gardner but this non-fiction story of intrigue, suspense, murder....is too much.
#realcrime #crimepodcast #truecrime #reallifecrime #murderinmybackyard
I love Lisa Gardner but this non-fiction story of intrigue, suspense, murder....is too much.
#realcrime #crimepodcast #truecrime #reallifecrime #murderinmybackyard
September 4, 2017
Fascinating story written by two sisters chronicling their mother's marriage to a deranged sociopath. It was a quick read and kept me hooked. I would need decades of therapy to undo the damage caused by this very sick man.
July 26, 2017
Chilling!
Read
October 15, 2022audio
September 29, 2023
Suspenseful, well written and hard to put down
March 17, 2017
The pages keep flying by- and the chapters present even crazier events than the previous ones. Definitely a page turner -would be amazing to watch on screen. The families have gone through immense dysfunctional behavior - and still seem to be strong individually and as siblings.
September 4, 2019
Interesting story of the family struggles to understand why their mother continued to stay with Donnie and what his next move would be. The question that kept the story intriguing was "did he kill his ex and then the second woman?" No one really knew what he was totally capable of. I was amazed that he got away with so much and that so many believed his lies. The only thing lacking for me in the story is that I would have loved to hear more from the other siblings (Rudd kids) perspective and definitely would have wanted to hear more from his twin brother's point of view. Despite all the manipulation and craziness, I was happy to read the Hart families although they will always carry emotional trauma over the loss of their mom came out okay.
August 3, 2017
Wow wow wow! This is a very quick read because you cannot put this book down! Each chapter was more fascinating than the last as the details of living with a sociopath were chronicled. It is amazing what this family endured at the hand of the scheming, manipulative and dangerous man. These children supported each other with love and courage and triumphed in the end by becoming successful and productive people despite every obstacle intentionally thrown at them. We read this book for book club and all or looking forward to the discussion on this memoir!
June 23, 2019
Whoa. Fascinating Story! Well Written, Suspenseful & True!
The life the author and her siblings and family lived reads like a thriller. The fact it’s true makes it that much more interesting. I can’t recommend it enough.
The life the author and her siblings and family lived reads like a thriller. The fact it’s true makes it that much more interesting. I can’t recommend it enough.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews