Book was very detailed and well researched. It was very long but a fast read. Would definitely recommend for reading to others that enjoy true crime books

NOTE: This review includes information about and from John Glatt’s book Tangled Vines (also about the “Murdaugh mystery”), in addition to Valerie Bauerlein’s The Devil At His Elbow. I admit my guilty pleasure in both reading and podcasts is true crime, so I fell into this topic, along the way getting deep into the various crimes, scandals, and trials. As it became a national story, there were podcasts, posts in online discussion forums, and then the books started popping up. I consumed many hours of podcasts about the Murdaugh saga on my beach walks (most notably Mandy Matney’s). In July 2023 the book I had been waiting for arrived: Tangled Vines by John Glatt, which I reviewed in August. You might think I’d be sick of the story but I wasn’t, and in August 2024 I received a copy of The Devil At His Elbow by Valerie Bauerlein in exchange for my honest review, thanks to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley.

Tangled Vines was the first full book I had read on the topic, back in Summer 2023, followed by Mandy Matney’s Blood On Their Hands in November. Matney’s book provided tons of information and I applaud her for both her podcast excellence and outstanding true crime writing. (In April of this year, I also read Swamp Kings by Jason Ryan, an author and journalist who lives in Columbia, S.C. I wasn’t able to find much info on him and his book was memorable more for the nearly overwhelming jumping around in time while telling the story than for the information provided).

So what is the scoop on this story that has kept my interest all this time? If you have been asleep for the past couple of years, here is the basic outline (NOTE: quotes marked with * are from Glatt’s Tangled Vines, both the book and my review): In the Low Country of South Carolina, many decades ago, the Murdaugh family began the law firm that would rule the area right up until about 2021. They were incredibly wealthy and powerful, both socially and politically.

In 2021, Alex Murdaugh, the current patriarch of the family (generally called “Alec” or “Ellick” – go figure) found (ahem) the bodies of his wife and younger son just outside the kennels at their hunting lodge. Both were dead from gunshot wounds. Two different guns—more than one shooter? A few months later, Alex called 911 from the side of a road, saying he’d been shot in the head. WTF?

Then there were the earlier tragedies. Younger son Paul was in legal jeopardy (despite the efforts of Daddy and Granddaddy) after he had been driving a boat drunk and ran it into the side of a river bridge, killing a young woman named Mallory Beach. The police treated him like the local prince he was, Was this a cover-up? (Duh). The whole law enforcement response the night of the crash was a mess: “…dispatchers gave out the wrong location fourteen times to various emergency services, wasting valuable time to save Mallory Beach.” *

Then there was the housekeeper who died falling down the steps of the house at the hunting lodge. She “fell over the dogs,”* although that was a little suspicious. Then there was Stephen Smith, the young man who may or may not have been in a relationship with older son Buster. His death was ruled a hit and run, although it was suspected to be a homicide, it was never investigated as one. Ruled a hit and run? Why? “…she stated it was a hit and run because he was found in the road.”*

Then the money and drugs became hot news. Alex had blatantly embezzled and downright stolen millions of dollars. Alex said he was an addict…but the more likely story seems to be that the family was just evil, and their lavish lifestyle had been funded for years by an elaborate drug trafficking and money laundering scheme.

The Devil At His Elbow spends considerable time on the history of the Murdaugh family, which might help people understand this family…although I admit I find them just disgusting and Alex’s actions are beyond my ability to understand. But it still held my interest. Sadly, Alex/Ellick/Alec “...inherited his forebears’ power and prowess and then squandered it.” The book explains that he”...pronounced his name “Ellick Murdick,” in the traditional Scottish diction that lingered for centuries in the rural South.” I was happy to learn that, but I still find him reprehensible.

To sum up the current situation, Alex is now in prison for the murders of his wife and son. The deaths of Stephen Smith and the housekeeper don’t seem to have been finally resolved, but tons of money has been generated for the local economy via crime tourism, podcasts, etc. Several books have come out of this mess and more will follow, but it will be hard for others to top the storytelling by John Glatt in Tangled Vines. It is a shocking and extremely entertaining and informative book, and in my opinion is the best so far. I thought I knew a lot about this story before I read Glatt’s book, but wow did I learn a lot. As for Ms. Buerlein’s book, it is perhaps the strongest on the family history, which does help put all the insanity in a sort of perspective. Well worth reading, for true crime fans or just anyone fascinated by the “Murdaugh Mystery.” Four stars.

This was a very interesting read. Like a lot of other people, I was very invested in the Alex Murdaugh case and had been following news about the case for many years, beginning with the murders of Alex Murdaugh's wife and son. I wanted to read this book because of the in depth look at the case the author took, as well as the deeper dive into the details surrounding the case and the history of the Murdaugh family. I like that the author wrote about the history of the family beginning around the late 1800s until present day, as it allowed me to gain more knowledge about various members of the family and the role they played in Southern society, even before Alex Murdaugh was even born. I can tell the author did a ton of research and I really enjoyed her style of writing while reading the book. A lot of secrets about the family are uncovered and I almost couldn't believe what I was reading at times. I also like how the author described the details surrounding Alex Murdaugh's trial and conviction for the murders of his wife and son. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the Murdaugh family and Alex Murdaugh's case!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Real Rating: 4.75* of five
Sick-making.

True-crime books are not strangers to my TBR himalaya, or my blog. They regularly infuriate me, offend my sense of ma'at, and reorient my moral compass in the direction of "humans are irredeemable scum".

This story marks the second time I have felt physically sick while reading about a true crime. (<I>American Honor Killings</I> was the first.) Author Bauerlein covered the story for the <I>Wall Street Journal</I> because, one assumes, there were so very many financial crimes uncovered in this murder trial. The malpractice, malfeasance, and felony money-laundering are what made the case interesting enough for that bastion of The Establishment to consent to spend resources on the take-down of what is presented as a rogue actor, a bad apple, an outlier. What better way to protect The Establishment than to show it policing itself?

The book details a century's worth of similar, often worse, crimes committed by the same family. Unprosecuted, usually uninvestigated crimes committed as good as out in the open.

But this one's a rogue.

No, he is not, and if #MeToo taught the world anything it's that The Establishment circles the wagons fast to contain the damage. Zoë Kravitz has made this superficial damage control the center of her directorial debut film <I>Blink Twice</I>. Author Bauerlein does not seem to make this connection, though, as she says, Alex Murdaugh had inherited his forebears' power and prowess and then squandered it, the work of a hundred years washed away in blood. Even after digging into the history of these crackers in expensive shoes, her allegiance is firmly to The Establishment, and thus confines condemnation to this scumbag while quietly and indirectly exonerating the evil demon of generational wealth that enabled at the least, caused is more like it, the inevitable rise of the very scumbag she ringingly condemns.

I understood the need to organize the book out of chronological order; there's evidence that otherwise wouldn't fit into the story. It did mean that all the almost-five hundred pages feel weighty, freighted with meanings you can not slip past or you will indeed miss something. It also made the read a week longer for me than it would have been otherwise. Processing the implications of the murderer's inherited sense of entitlement and immunity from consequences was, and is, effortful for me.

Terrible story of a vile scion of ill-gotten wealth squandered, and for a wonder, the criminal punished at long last. A cautionary tale for others in similar circumstances.

The chickens will come home to roost.

I’m genuinely impressed. Valerie Bauerman crafts a narrative that’s as captivating as any fiction thriller, making it nearly impossible to put down. Her meticulous research shines through, offering a detailed and well-organized account of Alex Murdaugh’s malevolent crimes. A quick heads-up: the descriptions are quite graphic, so if you’re sensitive, proceed with caution. But overall, Bauerlein’s debut is nothing short of amazing!

Wow! What an immaculately written story. I only knew the base knowledge of this case going into it, and I feel like I am now an expert. Bauerlein did an exceptional job having a neutral, unbiased voice while explaining to the world a monster. This was a fabulous read.

The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Mardaugh and The Fall of a Southern Dynasty
By Valerie Bauerlein
Publish date August 20.2024

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC.

I LOVE true crime. This book covers the murder of Alex Mardaugh’s wife and son , the deaths of so many around the family, how he stole money from his clients and the attempts to cover it all up.

It amazes me how one family can hold so much power. If you’ve heard of this case but don’t know all the details I would highly recommend giving this a read. I was following this case closely and I learned so many new things from this book. Valerie is an amazing investigative journalist.
She does a great job unfolding the story and goes into the history of the Mardaugh dynasty in this part of South Carolina.
I pray for justice for the families of Gloria, Stephen, and Mallory as well as his victims that he stole money from.

The Murdaugh family had so much power. The scare tactics they used were far-reaching and mind-blowing. This family made a whole county (and beyond) afraid, so they could get away with almost anything.

It shows how far some will go to preserve a reputation and themselves. Alex Murdaugh caused so much grief to so many and it's heart wrenching. He did horrible things to so many people and this book goes through numerous stories in detail culminating to his wife and son, Paul.

This is one of the best true crime books I've ever read. The tenacity of the author bleeds through every page and shows the far lengths they went through to fully understand this family. This book will definitely stay with me. I am so glad I read this book.

If reading true crime is something you like to do, I definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for the eARC.

I have been captivated by the story of the Murdaugh murders and was so excited to receive this book. Really well done by Baurelein, I really enjoyed this one.

Well-written and intensively researched–including with boots-on-the-ground–Devil at His Elbow is compelling, profound, and inspiring.
I ripped through this book at top-speed to get the full story.

Based on true events, this fast-paced account gives a close-up view of a powerful man who nearly got away with murder. Award-winning journalist Valerie Bauerlein gives valuable insight into the Murdaugh family and its downfall, from their empire-building sire founding their law firm through their crimes and cover ups.

The author's description of her research, including interviews, viewing the crime scenes, and attending the trial inspires confidence. I appreciated her assertion that all dialogue came from transcripts and trusted sources, rather than being imagined. The book captivated me, and much of it affected me like a powerful generational novel. Bauerlein renders Alex Murdaugh’s disturbing crimes, the investigations, and the trials that exposed his web of fraud, theft, dirty dealing, deceit, and death in vivid scenes.

The book details Murdaugh’s damaging impact on people he fleeced and on surviving loved ones of those he played a part in killing, bringing home the suffering and death visited on innocent people whose only mistake was to trust a Murdaugh man. The violence and corruption included his son's victims–and his role in encouraging the boy's drinking and shielding him from consequences.

The empathy for the victims sets this book apart from true crime books that focus on criminals and treat people they harm and kill as incidental or objects solely for titillation. In Devil at His Elbow, the victims and their loved ones are depicted in detail and with respect.

The book includes an excellent bibliography and research notes.

Highly recommended for seasoned readers of true crime, biographies, and history with graphic material and content some readers may find disturbing.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books for the e-ARC via NetGalley for consideration. These are my unbiased opinions.

I thought I knew everything about the Murdaughs until I read this book. It was almost 500 pages and I devoured it in 48 hours. It was the perfect blend of story telling and facts. Highly recommend.

This true crime book is probably one of the best I’ve ever read. I have personally followed this case from the beginning but I still learned a few things I didn’t know. This book is good for people who are familiar with the case and those that are just starting to go down the rabbit hole. Well written and showed respect for all of the victims involved. Thank you for showing them that respect.

I thought I knew everything about Alex Murdaugh and his family - boy was I wrong! This book is meticulously researched - the author spent four months on the ground in South Carolina - conducting interviews, being in the courtroom, visited all of the sites, etc. The details on the trail are fascinating and very descriptive - from Alex's changing words and body language - his eyes going black when he does not like the questioning from prosecutors. He had a million excuses for why he stole money from his family founded firm (his 20 year opioid addiction) but it took dogged detective work and the bravery of people who worked for him to contradict his lies and finally reveal the truth that he murdered his wife and son. He is the embodiment of pure evil which is why the title of this book is so fitting. He stole cash settlements from poor people to enrich himself and his family. His clients ended up destitute. What I did not realize is how deep this legacy of evil, betrayal, entitlement, corruption flows -- it goes way back in his family lineage. Fascinating read and this book provides much more insight and detail on the family and his crimes than any other book or series I have seen so far. This is the beauty of really good investigative reporting. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

This book was insightful and astonishing! Really makes you wonder who you can trust and who you can’t.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

"Sometimes the most monstrous evils lurk beneath the most charming facades."

I don't know where to start. If you're looking for a gripping true crime saga, The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty is IT!! It's an unforgettable account of the crimes committed over time by the Murdaugh families.

Alex Murdaugh was more than just an attorney in South Carolina. He was also the man who could frequently be found glad-handing everyone he saw, dispensing favors, drinks, and invitations to his estate, with effortless authority. I had no idea that past generations of the Murdaugh family had such twisted pasts ... but Alex Murdaugh completely outdid all of them.

Ms. Bauerlein patiently attended every moment of the trial and then slowly and carefully peeled layer after layer away in her hunt for the absolute truth. I learned so much!!

Many thanks to #BallantineBooks and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Devil at His Elbow

#ValerieBauerlein #CrimeAndPunishment #TrueCrime

I watched the Netflix documentary, Murdaugh Murders, when it first came out. I knew some of the story from news articles but I was shocked to hear the devious background of one powerful family in the south.

The name of this book, The Devil at His Elbow, so perfectly describes Alex Murdaugh's personality. The cover is eerie and haunted.

I think the author did a great job sharing background into the family's history and the timeline of events leading to Alex's conviction of guilty.

If you enjoy true crime done correctly without glamorizing murder, check out this book. I would read more from the author. Thank you to NetGalley, Valerie Bauerlein, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read this book. I have written this review voluntarily.

This book was absolutely wild - I've been following the Murdaugh saga for a long time, watching the coverage, watching the Netflix documentary, and keeping tabs on the crazy. It feels like it's truly out of a movie, but how can you make this up?

This book follows not just the story of Alex Murdaugh, but the entire timeline of Murdaugh family from the tie of Alex's great grandfather. The book goes into great detail of how the family was known for it's hospitality, kindness and good nature and the ultimate downfall from power, thanks to Alex Murdaugh. and his sons, crumbling the Murdaugh dynasty. The amount of detail in this book is fantastic, and I can tell that Valerie's journalistic integrity is top-notch. I really enjoyed the storytelling and I hope that there's even more to this story that will come out in years to come.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine books for this advanced copy!

This was an excellent book. This is one that kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. Anyone interested in this type of story will love this book.

📱The Devil at His Elbow📱⁣
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⁣Length- 480 pages. ⁣
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⁣Genre- True Crime. ⁣
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⁣My thoughts- Who else loves true crime? If so- you’ve heard of Alex Murdaugh and his violent downfall. Alex lived a very privileged life- ruling over his small South Carolina community as a third generation lawyer. And then one summer night he murdered his wife, Maggie, and son Paul which unraveled the entire fragile facade of his family. ⁣
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⁣This is nonfiction that reads like fiction. Valerie Bauerlein tells this meticulously researched history of four generations of Murdaugh’s and the ways they manipulated the people of South Carolina with their legal dynasty. I knew the basics of the case, but still found myself amazed at the audacity of Alex Murdaugh and the history of his family. ⁣
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⁣Four stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
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⁣Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of The Devil at His Elbow. This book is out now! #thedevilathiselbow

Thank you to the publishing team for this book! Admittedly I am glad I got it, and dove in right away, due to my husband's strong interest in this family's crimes, his disgust with the Murdagh's and how privilege persists in such hurtful ways.
What stands out with Valerie Bauerlein's work here is that she dives not just into what many of us know from true crime docs and podcasts but goes into the bigger story around the family, their history, and takes us into the spaces and world that allowed this Alex Murdagh to kill. She brings to life the ghosts that surround this story, honors the victims, and gives readers the depth of understanding about power and wealth and murder.