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Devil in the Basement: White Supremacy, Satanic Ritual and My Family
“The most bizarre set of tragic events ever to occur…” – Fairmont Times
“Gritty… Fascinating.” – Robert Markowitz, New York Times essayist
“Alone and bitter, [the killer] fabricated a horrible revenge—on the world and himself.” – The West Virginian
“Charlotte Laws is a tsunami.” – Snatch Magazine
Reporters have called the crimes embedded within this story as “the most shocking in the history of West Virginia.” The bare bone facts made headlines across the nation in 1948, but no one ever researched the slew of scandalous, simmering, and heart-wrenching details, until now—until this book. Having worked as private eye (and even with the FBI), Charlotte Laws used her skills to track down anybody who had knowledge of the murders, satanic rituals, explosives, mobster dealings, love relationships, local Ku Klux Klan members, wife beatings, and familial ties which make this book a roller coaster of ecstasy and tragedy, of thrill and anger, of humor and passion.
Laws chose this story for one simple reason. It is about her family—her birth family. She was raised in Atlanta, Georgia as an adopted child and only learned the true identities of her natural parents in her late twenties. She met her half-siblings five years ago and was given a shadowy sketch of the sordid tale that involved her grandfather and some of her kin in Fairmont, West Virginia. She flew to the area twice and met with a slew of cousins, as well as other witnesses to the mind-boggling events of the past. She toured the location of the eerie rituals and observed bomb blast residue that has not been repaired to this day. She was shown a murder weapon, satanic carvings, and photos of a creepy, life-sized doll—that, in the mind of one man, conspired with him to carry out his heinous deeds.
This book is written in the style of the “nonfiction novel” because one cannot possibly know all of the conversations and scenes that took place some eighty years ago. For the most part, Laws stuck with facts as they relate to the crimes, main characters, and the bulk of the scenes. She invented a few people, who she believes existed in some form, although there are no living witnesses to the fact.
The story begins in the 1920s when thousands of Ku Klux Klan members march through this sleepy town. Great uncle Jal’s passions were ignited that day, as were those of Laws’ grandfather Tucker, who changed his Italian name to “sound white” with hopes of escaping poverty and racism, and of eventually becoming a U.S. Senator. Meanwhile, Laws’ great-grandmother, Margaret, set up a criminal enterprise in the back barn, and Laws’ great aunt, Rose, was hauled off to an insane asylum before becoming the mistress of a renowned Detroit mobster. (He is today listed as the FBI’s prime suspect in the killing of Jimmy Hoffa.)
But this story is not just about her family. It is also about their creepy neighbor, Ernie, who lived in the run-down house around the corner and who was one of the first documented Satanists. He abused his wives and dabbled in his favorite evil. He liked evil. He was creative when it came to evil. He was all about evil.
Many odd things happened in Fairmont in those days. There was a clearing in the woods called “Hangman Forest” where, as rumor had it, children were brought and tortured. There was an abandoned coal mine, where a small boy was left to die. There was a ghoulish, life-sized doll, which was spoken to as if it was a person. In the end, there were bombings and brutal murders which shook the town and shocked the nation.
Devil in the Basement is a story of love and horror, racism and hope, of Christian piety and satanic ritual. It is a book that shines a light on one of the most ghastly real life incidents in West Virginia history. It is a story you will never forget.
“Gritty… Fascinating.” – Robert Markowitz, New York Times essayist
“Alone and bitter, [the killer] fabricated a horrible revenge—on the world and himself.” – The West Virginian
“Charlotte Laws is a tsunami.” – Snatch Magazine
Reporters have called the crimes embedded within this story as “the most shocking in the history of West Virginia.” The bare bone facts made headlines across the nation in 1948, but no one ever researched the slew of scandalous, simmering, and heart-wrenching details, until now—until this book. Having worked as private eye (and even with the FBI), Charlotte Laws used her skills to track down anybody who had knowledge of the murders, satanic rituals, explosives, mobster dealings, love relationships, local Ku Klux Klan members, wife beatings, and familial ties which make this book a roller coaster of ecstasy and tragedy, of thrill and anger, of humor and passion.
Laws chose this story for one simple reason. It is about her family—her birth family. She was raised in Atlanta, Georgia as an adopted child and only learned the true identities of her natural parents in her late twenties. She met her half-siblings five years ago and was given a shadowy sketch of the sordid tale that involved her grandfather and some of her kin in Fairmont, West Virginia. She flew to the area twice and met with a slew of cousins, as well as other witnesses to the mind-boggling events of the past. She toured the location of the eerie rituals and observed bomb blast residue that has not been repaired to this day. She was shown a murder weapon, satanic carvings, and photos of a creepy, life-sized doll—that, in the mind of one man, conspired with him to carry out his heinous deeds.
This book is written in the style of the “nonfiction novel” because one cannot possibly know all of the conversations and scenes that took place some eighty years ago. For the most part, Laws stuck with facts as they relate to the crimes, main characters, and the bulk of the scenes. She invented a few people, who she believes existed in some form, although there are no living witnesses to the fact.
The story begins in the 1920s when thousands of Ku Klux Klan members march through this sleepy town. Great uncle Jal’s passions were ignited that day, as were those of Laws’ grandfather Tucker, who changed his Italian name to “sound white” with hopes of escaping poverty and racism, and of eventually becoming a U.S. Senator. Meanwhile, Laws’ great-grandmother, Margaret, set up a criminal enterprise in the back barn, and Laws’ great aunt, Rose, was hauled off to an insane asylum before becoming the mistress of a renowned Detroit mobster. (He is today listed as the FBI’s prime suspect in the killing of Jimmy Hoffa.)
But this story is not just about her family. It is also about their creepy neighbor, Ernie, who lived in the run-down house around the corner and who was one of the first documented Satanists. He abused his wives and dabbled in his favorite evil. He liked evil. He was creative when it came to evil. He was all about evil.
Many odd things happened in Fairmont in those days. There was a clearing in the woods called “Hangman Forest” where, as rumor had it, children were brought and tortured. There was an abandoned coal mine, where a small boy was left to die. There was a ghoulish, life-sized doll, which was spoken to as if it was a person. In the end, there were bombings and brutal murders which shook the town and shocked the nation.
Devil in the Basement is a story of love and horror, racism and hope, of Christian piety and satanic ritual. It is a book that shines a light on one of the most ghastly real life incidents in West Virginia history. It is a story you will never forget.
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
346 pages, Paperback
Published March 14, 2018
73 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 24, 2018
I had received an advance copy sometime ago, and it took me some time to pick the book up. The cover is disturbing unto itself but draws you to start the read - then what really hit home was the fact that it was based on true events. I had some "suspected" devil worship in the small very conservative town I grew up in, so this hit home for me. Rich detailed odd characters and chilling to read at night ( I read by day) but then, that is what this Author did. She brought me right there and it rattled my insides, though I could not put it down! A must read...
March 14, 2018
Based on a true story, Devil in the Basement by Charlotte Laws, is a read not to be forgotten when the last page is shut and the memories linger. Reminiscent of Steinbeck’s writing and cleverly crafted this timely story begins in the late 1920s. With the first mention of the Ku Klux Klan members marching through the streets a cold chill ran down me as images played in my mind. But as I continued to read and the human stories played out my own reaction thawed. The mark of good writing is that it entertains. The mark of great writing is that it entertains and teaches something; leaves the reader with new insights or views of the world. Laws’ brilliantly written prose with crisp time-appropriate dialogue does both. Characters bring scenes alive in Fairmount West Virginia. Great uncle John and grandfather Tucker (who coincidentally changed his Italian name to avoid racism levied at him) are excited by the Ku Klux Klan’s march through their town, exited by the possibilities of something new. All their human emotions are played out as they relate with the rest of the cast of characters: Great grandmother Margaret sets up backyard criminal activities, great aunt Rose lands in an insane asylum, the Detroit mobster who aunt Rose later becomes mistress to, the sinister neighbor Ernie who abuses his wives, to name a few. Yes there are scenes that burn from the page in horrific detail of hatred and persecution but there is also the tenderness, the bonds, the friendships, and relationships that weave through the fabric of our lives and connect us as human beings as the story plays out through time. I especially loved the way the roaring twenties was depicted. I’m a great fan of this time period and Laws excelled in the vivid descriptions to bring the pages alive. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that challenged my own prejudices and opened me to viewing the world differently, a book that I found hard to put down, and to this achievement I compliment the author. This book is a gem not to be missed.
July 11, 2025
There is a ton of passion in this book. It is based on a true story. It is about the author's grandfather and his relatives. The book starts out telling about the poverty and prejudice back in the 1930s. The Ku Klux Klan marches through the town. The grandfather is Italian and Italians were looked down upon back then. It was hard for them to get a job and they could not even dine in many restaurants. There is a parallel story about the devil worshiper who lives in the neighborhood. He is one of the first documented satanists in history. His story unfolds until the grandfather and satanist collide in what ends up being one of the bloodiest days in West Virginia history. There is also a sub-story about Rose (the grandfather's sister) who is dating a top Detroit mobster (He is suspected to be Jimmy Hoffa's killer). Anyway, there is just so much intrigue and fun and intense feelings in this book. It is a remarkable true story and kept me interested all the way to the end. I highly recommend it.
March 18, 2018
I received an ARC of Devil in the Basement, and found it a fascinating, unflinching, and entertaining read. Written by a former private investigator, this well-researched saga of rich characters is based on real-life events that show that sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. The author writes about her family members in the 1920s through the 1940s in a small community in West Virginia, when Prohibition, the KKK, and racism ruled the day. Based on the lives of her great-grandparents, the author explores the characters’ motivations and emotional depth behind their actions. The story simmers and bubbles, and left me wondering what would happen next. I took the book with me wherever I went, reading it in stolen moments throughout the day and at night before bed because I had to find out how the book ended and what happened to the characters. If you like suspense and well-written, complex characters and relationships, you will not be able to put this book down.
March 14, 2018
All I can say is this book was delightful. It is not as demon-infused as you might think until about 1/2 - 2/3 through but I enjoyed it more than anything I've ever read in this genre. Of course, I love true stories and this one is about the author's grandparents and great uncle. They are poor and get hassled by the Klan and racists as was common back then, although the plight of Italian Americans (the people in this book) is not as well-known as the plight of African Americans (certainly because Italians did not have it quite as bad). It was interesting learning about the history of this group as well as about the specifics of the crime - which was downright insane by the way. It was insane in intensity and committed by a man who was clearly bonkers. I read this book in two days flat because I was so engrossed.
May 6, 2018
This book has so many interesting pieces: Devil-worship, the KKK, The Mob, domestic violence, religious extremism--and murder. Drawn from the history of the author's family, the story is gripping, and she tells her tale with simple, yet somehow elegant, prose that in itself is worth the read. At the same time, you also get a picture of life in the South in the early part of the 20th century and a narrative that is fascinating and shocking. I know she fictionalized it, but from what I've read, it's only some details that were made up to fill in the blanks, as they say. The bare bones of the story are true. I mean, really, it's hard to make up this stuff. Laws brings us into this century-old world. You will see it vividly as you read, and you will not be disappointed.
April 17, 2018
A nuanced and layered structure. I love the way the storylines are woven together. I also found each and every story within the main story to be intriguing. I never lost interest. The sections about the flapper girl are sexy and fun. The sections about the Satanist put you on pins and needles, and the sections about the Moroose family are earthy and wholesome. This book (based on a true crime) begins during the Prohibition and works its way into the 1940s (when there are shootings, bombings, and a suicide in Fairmont, W Virginia). Not to spoil the ending, but despite the real-life tragedies in this book, the ending is upbeat and satisfying. I very much enjoyed Devil in the Basement.
August 19, 2019
I love the way this book is written and the sassy, fun characters. On the other hand, there is the looming evil that hangs over the story and the fear that harm will come at any moment. The story is fast-paced with colorful descriptions. I was particularly intrigued that it is based on a true story. The author even set up a website with the newspaper articles that describe the crimes. The book is very stylistic with playful language. If you like straightforward writing rather than metaphors and imagery, then this will not be a book for you. I think most people will enjoy this book. I love that I got to intimately know about one of the most heinous crimes in the U.S. history.
March 14, 2018
The author gave me an advance copy of the book two weeks ago. I told her I would do a review IF I like the book. So I am only writing this because I LOVED the book. I was surprised because I am not much for the fiction. But this book is only fiction style. It is a true story, so in my mind, it qualifies as nonfiction which I personally prefer. There were dozens of twists and turns and red herrings. I thought certain things would happen, that didn't. Other things I thought would not happen, did. Anyhow, you should pick up a copy or put it on your reading list.
March 26, 2019
Pretentious and shallow
I read the description of the book and was excited to get into it! The writing was like a teenager did it. She used slang from the 1920s in almost every sentence (really), even when the book had gotten in the 1940s.
The description promised the author had researched all of the details and backgrounds about bomb making, Satanists, the Klan, ect., ect.... She had interviewed all of the people involved. That was all grandiose and poppycock.
I'm very disappointed with the book.
I read the description of the book and was excited to get into it! The writing was like a teenager did it. She used slang from the 1920s in almost every sentence (really), even when the book had gotten in the 1940s.
The description promised the author had researched all of the details and backgrounds about bomb making, Satanists, the Klan, ect., ect.... She had interviewed all of the people involved. That was all grandiose and poppycock.
I'm very disappointed with the book.
March 14, 2018
This is a tantalizing tale that begins with life in the 1920s thru the WWII era in a tiny town in West Virginia. It tells a true story but it is written in novel form. I really enjoyed the tension which built toward a day of total mayhem. A satan worshiper reeks havoc on this town, murdering and setting explosions. It is a "good read" - the same name as this website. The characters are well-formed and there is conflict from page to page. I think most people will enjoy this book.
August 20, 2019
Delightful book. Not as creepy or scary as the cover makes you think. It fascinating because it is based on a true family and true murders in the 1940s. The killer is into devil worship and a bit out of his mind (unstable). The protagonists are super nice and I didn't want anything to happen to them. I won't spoil it for readers. I will only say: it was a terrific read.
January 31, 2021
Transports you to another time
The book was captivating, I just couldn't put it down. Enjoyed getting to know all the characters and visualising everything they went through. My emotions were everywhere. I felt anger, hope, frustration, some moments of happiness which then came crashing down to sadness. Must read!
The book was captivating, I just couldn't put it down. Enjoyed getting to know all the characters and visualising everything they went through. My emotions were everywhere. I felt anger, hope, frustration, some moments of happiness which then came crashing down to sadness. Must read!
June 25, 2025
I would have judged this book by its cover and title and NEVER have picked it up, but I read it because it was recommended to me. This book is not the “best written” book I’ve read, but it is an amazing story!! It is particularly interesting because it’s a true story that took place only a few miles from my house. I’ve loved driving around looking at houses and buildings from the story.
April 17, 2018
Memories
This story has been a part of MY past also. My mother kept a copy of the newspaper article for years. I live in Fairmont and related with streets and old businesses. I loved the "faction."
This story has been a part of MY past also. My mother kept a copy of the newspaper article for years. I live in Fairmont and related with streets and old businesses. I loved the "faction."
August 25, 2021
Fast paced and vivid
Really made the 1930's come alive. I loved the pictures and commentary at the end. Some really creepy characters. Looking forward to reading her other books. This novel was a nice surprise.
Really made the 1930's come alive. I loved the pictures and commentary at the end. Some really creepy characters. Looking forward to reading her other books. This novel was a nice surprise.
April 17, 2018
This was refreshing. Best book I have read in at least three years.
January 9, 2019
Well written and completely riveting
As a native West Virginian, I found this book to be absolutely mesmerizing..read it start to finish in hours...couldn't out it down
As a native West Virginian, I found this book to be absolutely mesmerizing..read it start to finish in hours...couldn't out it down
March 10, 2019
Intense, interesting book.
March 16, 2019
Great Read on Vacation
I really enjoyed reading this book with time period terminology. I felt a connection to the characters too. It is always fun to read non-fiction novels.
I really enjoyed reading this book with time period terminology. I felt a connection to the characters too. It is always fun to read non-fiction novels.
March 18, 2019
Based on a true story and wow , just wow !
February 8, 2020
I really enjoyed the playful language the author used. It brought me into the scene and the head of the characters. Also the story is fast-paced and gripping. Excellent read.
March 14, 2018
Author is highly proficient at painting a scene and driving a narrative
Swirly tensions and a fast-paced read. I received a copy in advance to review. This book is a fascinating account of two little known events. First, the murder of an immigrant Italian lawyer in a small town in West Virginia. Secondly, by possibly the first known declared devil worshiper in the United States. I had no idea of the fierce discrimination against Italians in parts of the U.S. as late as 1948. Although to be fair, his murder was apparently unconnected to his ethnicity (or only slightly connected). He was very unfortunate as the up-and-coming lawyer in the community and aspiring politician to represent as a client the wife of one of the strangest men ever known in West Virginia. The book paints a wonderful picture of the colorful turbulent life in a small, West Virginia town, mostly just after the war. With its swirling tensions and subsequent connections with certain well-known mafia figures from Detroit. The book is a fast-paced read by an accomplished, elegant author, highly proficient at painting a scene and driving a narrative. I recommend this book with enthusiasm.
Swirly tensions and a fast-paced read. I received a copy in advance to review. This book is a fascinating account of two little known events. First, the murder of an immigrant Italian lawyer in a small town in West Virginia. Secondly, by possibly the first known declared devil worshiper in the United States. I had no idea of the fierce discrimination against Italians in parts of the U.S. as late as 1948. Although to be fair, his murder was apparently unconnected to his ethnicity (or only slightly connected). He was very unfortunate as the up-and-coming lawyer in the community and aspiring politician to represent as a client the wife of one of the strangest men ever known in West Virginia. The book paints a wonderful picture of the colorful turbulent life in a small, West Virginia town, mostly just after the war. With its swirling tensions and subsequent connections with certain well-known mafia figures from Detroit. The book is a fast-paced read by an accomplished, elegant author, highly proficient at painting a scene and driving a narrative. I recommend this book with enthusiasm.
April 16, 2018
I devoured this book. “Devil in the Basement” is based on the true story of two families. The first is Italian and hammered by anti-immigrant sentiment (including local residents in the KKK). The other family is saturated in spousal abuse and secrecy (including devil worship rituals in the basement). Eventually these two worlds collide and lead to murder and explosions. Then the youngest Italian brother sets out to get revenge. I enjoyed the delightful language, the humor and the journey into satanic darkness. There are various themes in this book, but one that pops out is - extreme ideology can be repressive, even lethal. I enjoyed the way the characters are full, including the devil worshiper who is perhaps a seven on the evil scale (with 10 being completely evil). This made the story more realistic than if the “bad guy” had been 100 percent villain. This book is illuminating and a pleasurable read.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews