Madness Under the Royal Palms: Love and Death Behind the Gates of Palm Beach

by Laurence Leamer

It was a difficult assignment, but someone had to do it. In an act of journalistic subterfuge worthy of Dian Fossey, Laurence Leamer went "undercover" for 15 years to spy on the wealthy denizens of the idyllic isle of Palm Beach, Florida. With admirable stoicism, Leamer endured dozens of rounds of golf, hours of relentless sun-tanning, and countless cocktail-fueled confessions about the inherent difficulties of being filthy rich. His subjects freely discuss their rampant sex lives, their annoyance at being saddled with spouses and children, and the various corrupt means by which they accumulated their piles of money. Naturally, the reader is left with the impression that no amount of wealth can ever purchase happiness, unless you happen to define happiness as a permanent vacation on a tropical island where a parade of virtual slaves waits to diligently service your every whim.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, True Crime, Biography, Crime, Historical, Memoir

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Laurence Leamer is an award-winning journalist and historian who has written eighteen books including five New York Times bestsellers. He has worked in a factory in France, a coal mine in West Virginia and as a Peace Corps volunteer in a remote village in Nepal two days from a road. He has written two novels and an off Broadway play but is primarily known for his nonfiction. His most recent book, Capote's Women, is being made into an eight-part series starring Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Calista Flockhart, and Demi Moore.

Reviews

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The reason you don't like me is because i don't wear red pants, I told him, equally candidly. My wife's name isn't Muffy, and I don't have paintings of sailboats on my walls."

Madness Under the Royal Palms: Love and Death Behind the Gates of Palm Beach
by Laurence Leamer


I GUESS one could call this a Guilty Pleasure type book. And every once in awhile it's nice to read a that type of book. This would certainly qualify as a book that will not change your life as it is a peek inside the secret lives of the high society of Palm Beach. I really enjoyed this book.

Madness certainly describes it. I don’t mean to imply this is not a dark book as it really is. It’s focus is on high society and the Palm Beach crowd. Many dark stories abound. I don’t shock easily but I was pretty shocked by some of the content In this book.

What’s really funny is I read this while on vacation in..you guessed it..Palm Beach. I happen to love the whole Bocha/Delray/Palm Beach area but cannot really say I love the people in this book.

There are so many empty almost soulless characters that it is really kind of sad. Maybe it does have more depth then I am giving it credit for. It certainly shows that money is not the way to happiness.

I have spent time in Palm Beach and met some really good people there so if you choose to read this don’t make the mistake of thinking that everybody who lives there are like some of the characters portrayed in this book.

But even though I like Palm Beach I’ve always found it to be almost unreal looking. It is visually stunning but it’s a bubble. I do prefer Delray Beach which is just as lovely but way more down to earth.

Regardless, this is a book one can read at the beach, on vacation etc. The book is packed full of gossip and stories, most of them pretty dark actually about many of the “One Percent”..or at least the one percent in Palm Beach. It is a real eye-opener.

As I said, this is not a book that will change your life but it is interesting reading for a couple of hours.

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although i can't say I was surprised by the content of this book, I did find it hard to put down. No it doesn't surprise me that the ultra-wealthy have no class, morals, compassion or care for anyone other than themselves, they've always been as such. Never ONCE have I met someone with money who doesn't TRY to make me feel inferior or unworthy of their company. Emphasis on "try" of course, because I certainly don't envy their lives, their cars, their clothing, their homes. Give me my middle class up-bringing in a loving home built by immigrant parents, who both worked their tails off to survive and provide for their family. Give me the love and presence of both parents, religion, respect and discipline that is forever ingrained in me til death; values that I now instill in my own children and hopefully, they will instill in their own. This world of excess, self-indulgence, and a sense of entitlement undeserving, falls apart eventually. They create their own downfalls, and I haven't the least bit of sympathy for any of them. The need to have more and more and more, no matter the cost, homes bigger than most neighborhoods, cars that cost the amount it would take to feed a third world country. Philanthropists??? Are we suppose to be appeased by their donations to charities? It's just another way to filter their fortunes, and receive taxable deductions. It makes me angry to know that these people are celebrated, worshipped and placed on pedestals, when the more worthy, hard-working citizens go unnoticed. America's Rich and Shameless.

[Bianca · Rating 1 out of 5]

A Quote from Madness..."Palm Beach is full of people pierced by sorrows brought on by the pursuit of money. It sets wives against husbands, children against stepmothers, the young against the old, and the healthy against the infirm."

this is one of the worst books I've ever ready, probably because it's all true. But beyond that, it was just painfully boring and on a topic that I have absolutely NO interest in...

I didn't know what this book was about before I read it for book club or I would never have picked it up. I have no interest in the Palm Beach society, nor have I ever, nor will I ever. This book just revealed what is probably already known, at least to many. That the self proclaimed "upper crust" of Palm Beach society are a bunch of low class, sleazy, morally lacking, prejudiced, racists on the planet. Their focus on money and the happiness it can bring is disgusting and I hope I never have the misfortune to meet or have to interact with any of these people.

I am so sad that I wasted my precious time on this book. These are very painful hours that I'll never get back. BLEH!

[Leslie Zampetti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leamer's book is interesting enough to finish, but he's not a contender for Dominick Dunne's title. Dunne is still the master of the celebutante true crime genre. Leamer obviously spent many years living in Palm Beach and one can understand his reluctance to portray friends and acquaintances in a harsh light - but all too often, his gossipy stories of hangers-on and trophy wives read like a schoolgirl's attempt to join the popular clique by spreading tales about the class slut. Perhaps we're just tired of reading about the bad behavior of the privileged class these days.... one can only hope Leamer mines his material for another, more interesting book, given the final story about a gallery owner who tried to rescue his mentally challenged companion and his dogs from a devastating house fire. Then again, Leamer does make the point many times that few of these people are particularly interesting, witty, or charming in themselves.

[Mallika]

What a trip to read in 2025 — the Diddy/Mar-a-Lago/Trump anecdote underscores that there have only ever been three or so news stories in the world.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75⭐
Read for #GarbAugust2025.

[Bailey Caskey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a difficult time NOT finishing books, no matter how bad. But life is too short to waste on bad books. The intro to this book lead me to believe I was going to embark on exciting tale about a mysterious culture and intriguing characters (much like that of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). However, it instantly fell short with its boring, tediously detailed writing (each chapter is basically a biography of each character). It also fell short with it's subject matter. The real people being written about were not only boring, but self-centered, materialistic, & down right awful people. Its really hard to get motivated to read about people I don't give a hoot about (and at points, detest). So, I finally had to throw in the towel and I think my life is better for it.

[Gracey · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

Holy crackers but this book is terrible. Leamer is a horrible writer and somehow manages to make what should be very interesting subject matter dull and confusing. I understand that Leamer is very well-traveled, but just because you're well-traveled doesn't make you a good writer and therefore doesn't mean you should write about your adventures.

Seriously, this book is so very poorly written. The author jumps all over the place and never gets it together. It was so bad I couldn't even finish.

[S · Rating 1 out of 5]

couldn't get through it, and this was on audiobook, too! basically a long "who's who" of palm beach circa 1997, if you care. i didn't. he teases you with the idea that someone is going to die, and it'll be this great murder mystery, but the murder took too long to happen. i was halfway through the audio book and no one had died yet, it was just vignettes about rich people spending money and stabbing each other in the back.

[Tiffany · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sooo boring. Could barely get through this book.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book about a bunch of spoiled rich people. Not a big fan.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written expose on how the pursuit of money and status for the sake of money and status has the power to make people live a principle-less, disturbing life.

[Sharman Egan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful (not just the topic but the writing). I made it to pg 67, only because I'm waiting on some other books and needed something to read.

[Writemoves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do not watch or have any real interest in shows that start with 'The Housewives of..."as I find most celebrities or rich people to be shallow and lead uninteresting lives. Leamer's book confirms that but also documents the many tragedies and scandals often brought on by the rich and greedy themselves. The general theme of the book revolves around money. How to get it? How to spend it? How to keep it? The extent on how rich people will protect their wealth often leads to violence and vulgar behavior.

Donald Trump figures in the book. He upset the staid manners and culture in Palm Springs with his hotels and appearance in Palm Springs. There are a number of stories, mostly sad ones. There also was an anecdote about Wayne Newton, namely about his personal appearance that was amusing.

For those pursuing the lifestyle of the rich and famous, this book is an eye opener and full of cautionary tales.

[Andrea Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a cross between non-fiction and biography revealing the lives of the ultra wealthy living in Palm Beach. The importance of being a WASP has not ceased, even though there are many more residents of Jewish descent. Trump is not a welcome addition. Gay men have developed a unique position in this society. Bernie Madoff decimated a significant number of the residents.

Overwhelmingly, it's always about the money, and if you don't have it, you're nothing. Having money doesn't make you happy, either. Children grow up spoiled and bad mannered. There is no sense of purpose. I am always astounded by the lives of people like this; they are always more interesting than fictional characters.

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to keep reminding myself this is not fiction, it was just that exciting but also shocking and very very sad. The lifestyles of the "rich and famous" are indeed nauseating. On the other hand, the ways they spend their money and overwhelmingly ignore the impoverished and downtrodden... these are instructive while very disturbing. There are some who do patronize various charities and sponsorships, basically as tax-write offs, but there does seem almost always to be a catch. Barring the violence that erupts mid-book, the stories of the these people are sad enough. I will remember these people for a very long time, for their misplaced values and calculating ways.

[Samantha Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed this book to read during a vacation on Sanibel Island in Florida. I bought this book on whim from The Strand in NYC in it's lovely true crime section. This is one of my first dips into the true crime pool and I was highly impressed. Leader paints the picture of high society and class games before he really reveals the dark truth of wealth- pain. His writing is entertaining and seemingly honest, which made it a quick, but satisfying read. One of the books that I actually told my grandma about, and trust me that is high praise in itself.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of those books that evokes empathy for a set of people I would usually loath. I actually found this book able to humanize people who on the surface don't really deserve it. I'm sure most people read this book for the gossip, but I actually found this book to be immensely sad with it's tragic tales of people who supposedly have it all but really have nothing. However you feel about the book and it's subjects it's definitely interesting and a look into a sub culture very few know anything about.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by an anthropologist, this is a kind of choppy “history” of West Palm Beach” heavily peppered with stories of individuals. There are some interesting themes: trophy wives, country club culture, Wasps vs. Jews, widows assisted by “Walkers”, recognition pursued by newcomers. Although written in 2009, there is an emphasis on Trump an Mar-a-lago and how he overturned the old order with his money and garish taste.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a book about a true crime. It is actually a book about the elite, rich people living in Palm Beach. Needless to say, it is far different from my life. I wouldn't mind having more money, but I definitely do not envy the "the people of Palm Beach". Their lives as described in this book are for the most part quite sad. It is eye-opening in that there are so many wealthy people who do not seem enjoy their lives. I am far better off than they are.

[Lauretta Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having done a great deal of work with members of Palm Beach Society, this was both a fascinating and depressing read. It strips away the façade of glamour and glitter to show that money is not the answer to everything, and in fact, may bring more problems than solutions. Overall, it is a sad tale, but good read.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first 7 chapters of this book, then quit it. The writing style is okay, but the first 7 chapters are all biographies of the personalities of the rich, white denizens of Palm Beach with some historical context. I'm sure Laurence Leamer is building towards something, but I can't be bothered to keep reading and find out what.

[Leta Parks · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting story with fascinating yet repulsive characters. There were so many factual errors and the editing was so poor that it diminished my enjoyment of the story. I expected much better from a professional journalist

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Structure was confusing, I keep forgetting who was who. Would love to be able to do this kind Of anthropological new-journalistic study of a slice of society.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the gossip in spite of myself

[Randy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most rich are disgusting.

[Suzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast read and fun, with photos. Perfect for chilly Florida days.

[Anna Borngen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It's a fun salacious read without any real drama or mystery. I would classify it more as gossip than true crime.

[Glenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing book. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

[Emg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A guilty pleasure of mine - the rich behaving naughtily.