Tangled Vines

This book is a very good overall accounting of the retched Murdaugh family. Early on, it could benefit from a family tree because they all have the same name (Randolph) / Buddy and it's hard to know which person is being discussed. It does do an excellent job of filling in the blanks from what people have seen on the news and shows. It would be great if the author had a few more answers, but perhaps they are not available. A bit of a dry read since it is very clinical, but certainly gives the reader a flavor of the crimes and at least partially, the misdeeds that were rampant with Alex. It is shocking that he could have done all of these things, but he was deviant for a very long time. I enjoyed this book and the information it outlined.

I’m a big fan of John Glatt and always enjoy his books on true crime cases. Imagine my happiness when I saw he was doing a book on the Alex Murdaugh case as it was my obsession this year, as I watched every minute of the trial. The book is really good and does a great job telling a very, very complex and multi-layered story in a readable, easy to follow way. I especially enjoyed the background details on the family and town. If you were into this case or enjoy true crime stories at all, I highly recommend this book. 5 stars.

This book provided more in depth information on this fascinating true crime narrative.
I recommend this highly.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

This really is a detailed, exhaustive account of the case. It was really hard to follow in drips and drabs in the news so this really filled in the blanks. It was a little dry.

GOSH, I've been on such a true crime kick lately, and this was definitely one that I remember popping off in the media as it happened because it was so insane. I am so thankful to St. Martin's Press, John Glatt, and Netgalley for granting me advanced digital access to this one before it's projected to publish on August 8, 2023.

The mighty, unstoppable Murdaughs of South Carolina's low country have been ruling the swampland for more than 100 years and after three suspect and untimely deaths rock the small town, speculation gets tossed over to this seriously sinister family and you'll be shocked to learn how evil this patriarchal member, Big Red, or Alex Murdaugh truly is.

This book provides critical context and backstories into the lead-up of he criminal trial and is very eye-opening regarding how corruptly sanctioned government entities can be across our country.

Whoa....being a south carolina transplant this book gave so much history and perspective about the Murdaugh family. I loved it and will definetly recommend to true crime lovers and southern history lovers alike.

Thank you to netgalley/author/publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review early.

Too soon? Or not soon enough? The Murdaugh cases are some of the most confusing in recent years because the information about the family and all the bad things they did or had happen to them came out in drops, with most of it becoming available at Alex Murdaugh's murder trial. Glatt has traced this family and filled in many of the blanks but the biggest ones- the motivation, the truth (yes, the truth)- are still questions. That's not Glatt's fault but rather because Alex Murdaugh isn't telling and because of the culture of secrecy that grew up around this family over the years, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, Well done true crime,

I love a good True Crime book and this one does not disappoint. I followed the Alex Murdaugh case from the start and this was a very complex case to solve because everyone seemed to be afraid of them and nobody wanted to stand up to them to tell the truth. The book started out slow until the family dynamics were explained which was confusing because all the men were named Randolph and nicknamed "Buddy," except for Alex. The whole family seemed very dysfunctional and Alex was a real mess who was addicted to opoids, stole clients' lawsuit money, stole from the firm and then murdered his own wife and son. This book contains a lot of information that I was not aware of and it was a very informative and interesting read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this very interesting book.

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.

I've followed the Murdaugh drama in the media and watched several documentaries. However, this book gave me more information than anything else I've read or watched. As always, John Glatt offers a true inside look at the Murdaugh family dynasty and how if was formed over 100 or so years and how it crumbled at the hands of one man.

Author John Glatt gives an excellent accounting of the history of the legal empire and crimes of the South Carolina low-country Murdough family. His accounts go back in time to the taking of money from families who were awarded sometimes big settlements in cases where their loved ones were hurt or wrongfully died. It is an ugly story of a family that used power and influence to not just cover up their crimes but to commit more, including murder. And that is just what we know. One wonders after reading of the many misdeeds that go back generations how much more sociopathic behavior existed in this family. A good book for those who like true crime. The deed are well told even though some are distasteful and hard to read. It is crime at its worst and no fiction tale could be as horrible as this story of the misdeeds of a powerful family. Thanks to #NetGalley#TangledVines for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book. I recommend it to fans of true crime and those interested in The Murdaugh Family murders. It was very informative. #tangledvines

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#read #stmartinspress #readmore #netgalleybooks #netgalley #truecrime #murdaugh #bookworms #booksbooksbooks #avidreader #crime #crimebooks #bookstagram #booklover #bookaddict

This is my very first John Glatt true-crime book and I didn't know what to expect. I don't like books that "jazz up" a situation or crime to create reader interest; as a retired attorney who did a fair amount of criminal defense, and read through far too much about evidence, I just want a fair, factual retelling of what happened. This is precisely what I was looking for, "[T]he facts ma'm, just the facts." A previous reviewer had stated that the book was dry, so I was on my guard. This book is NOT dry, it is well-written and easily (and quickly) read. I was impressed by Glatt's control of so many characters and his ability to relay who they were. I would've just added the year in some cases as toward the end, I wasn't quite sure if were in 2022 or still 2021.

The text starts with the long re-telling of the Murdaugh dynasty and their history in the Low Country of South Carolina. This is all very important as it sets an important basis for the power and corruption as well as the pyschology and entitlement of the family. There is a reason why the later generations behaved like spoiled children throughout their lives: Because they could. And notably in the text the author refers to why the original Big Red was kept in office as the top prosecutor for the district: to keep the staus quo. If you missed it, it was a reference to not only keeping the white social structure with certain families on top, but also to keep black people from gaining social status and power. This stratified and fossilized social caste system later on helped the current-day Alex Murdaugh steal entire personal injury settlements from poor whites and blacks. I didn't see any individuals in Murdaugh's social circle get swindled. It is true he borrowed from his brother and took from his family law firm but he also planned to pay them back ahead of everyone else!

This is practically a modern-day Southern Gothic; rich sociopaths party on with posts of their excessive spending flooding social media. Children are allowed not only to drink excessively but also to operate motorized vehicles, resulting in a death of a young woman. Extreme hunting is glorified with photos of "armloads of dead ducks" (Hello, DNR?). You look at people like that and shake your head. And in the end, the proverbial house of cards comes tumbling down, although it usually doesn't include the sociopath at the center murdering BOTH his wife and child.

This is an interesting and well-written book! Thank you John Glatt. I really enjoyed reading this, which is a bit unusual as I practiced criminal defense law and generally shy away from these topics. But the facts were well-presented. I would love to see an update chapter in the published version about the trial. I'm sure it would be well-reported.

A BIG thank you to St. Martin's Press, John Glatt, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an unpublished galley of this work. I received no compensation and my opinions are, as always, entirely my own.

As a true crime fan, I was pretty excited to get my hands on an advanced copy of this book. Lots of history given which helped me understand the contributing factors and lent itself well to the story. The actual case is covered in depth, including after the trial. That being said, it wasn't the most excitingly written piece. The information is incomparable.

Seasoned investigative reporter Jim Glatt's latest true crime book, TANGLED VINES: Power, Privilege, and the Murdaugh Family Murders, focuses on a prominent recent murder trial of Richard Alexander Murdaugh from the powerful South Carolina legal family and its history.

A century-old, multimillion-dollar law practice brought the family into incredible wealth, power, and privilege―but it was an unimaginable tragedy that would thrust them into the national spotlight.

On June 7th, 2021, prominent attorney Alex Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, on the grounds of their thousand-acre hunting lodge. The mystery deepened only months later when Alex was discovered shot in the head on a local roadside.

The author explores the family history through the generations, born in Islandton, SC, in 1793, and the son who became the first lawyer in the family opening a one-man law practice in 1910. Taking readers to the next century and the Murdaugh name with three generations of lawyers.

By the time Murdaugh graduated from law school in 1994, new state laws had made it illegal for solicitors to also practice civil law. He joined the family law firm specializing in personal injury cases. Then his intoxicated teen son Paul drove a boat into a bridge and killed Mallory Beach, his nineteen-year-old friend.

Then in June 2021, Murdaugh found his wife and Paul shot to death at his hunting estate—a double murder for which he would be later convicted. Then Murdaugh was caught stealing ten million dollars of funds from his clients. Three days later his father, Randolph III, died of cancer after a long illness.

What happened after Alex ordered Fast Eddie to shoot him remains unclear.

The dark secrets of this Southern family are unraveled and come to light. They used their power, privilege, and influence to protect their own. From the financial fraud and the suspicious deaths linked to the Murdaughs, Alex was a desperate man on the brink of losing everything and his reputation who would do anything, even planning his death.

With a lot of media surrounding this family and murder, as well as podcasts and Netflix series, the author provides an in-depth family history. Their powers and influence were limitless. They had lorded it over judges, politicians, and top law officials for 86 years before Alex's father retired in 2006, appointing his own handpicked successor. The family ran one of South Carolina's top law firms, specializing in personal injury cases for the little man, which netted them millions of dollars a year.

Downplaying their wealth and privilege for political reasons, the Murdaugh family enjoyed their huge plantation estates, hunting lodges, and waterfront properties, including one called "Murdaugh Island." They appeared to be above the law and impervious to any legal consequences.

There are other questionable deaths with suspicion around the family; however, the Murdaugh family name, its power, and prestige allowed them not to be held accountable until all is unraveled with the deaths of Maggie and Paul.

The book details the corruption, the money Murdaugh stole, how he did so, and the victims—from fraud and embezzling to murder, making the beautiful Low Country feel dirty from the family history and the politics which goes back years. The author uses this background information effectively to help readers understand this entitled family and its motives. Murdaugh thought he would get away with his crimes.

As the author mentions—this is a twenty-first Greek tragedy that has played out in real-time as the world watches aghast. The author uses personal interviews, police records, and Alex's highly revealing jailhouse phone calls to his family, providing insight into his true character and many other interviews—some desiring to remain anonymous.

Glatt says he cannot say if Alex is a true sociopath, but in all the true crime books he has written, he has never come across anyone as dark and devoid of conscience as he appears to be.

The book was easier to follow than the audio, like someone reading a script without emotion, and the narrative was a little dry. While I liked the book's front cover, I did not care for the audiobook cover. I usually like this narrator, Shaun Grindell; however, it may be due to the non-fiction material.

There were a lot of characters to keep up with, from politicians, officials, clients, and family. Anyone who enjoys true crime and has followed the Murdaugh trials or readers who may not be familiar with the murders will appreciate the detail and research. It does not cover the trial and his ultimate conviction, but perhaps the final publication will include these details.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Tantor Audio for a gifted ARC and ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 8, 2023
Aug 2023 Must-Read Books

I don't think anyone in the US didn't already know about the Murdaughs. And living in NC and working for attorneys, I had a pretty solid knowledge of this family and all they have done.

I felt this book gave a very accurate, detailed history of the Murdaughs. Their power. The family members. And all they got away with - until they didn't.

This family had generations of skirting the law when they saw fit. But the recent generations took it to a whole new level. Alex and his wife Maggie let their sons drink while underage, which led to Paul driving a boat drunk that crashed and ended up in the death of a teenage girl. Their housekeeper's mysterious death falling down the stairs at their home. Missing money from settlements of Alex's clients. And ending with the murder of Maggie and Paul at one of their properties, resulting in Alex's arrest for the same.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Tantor Audio for both an ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Having watched the murder trial, the horrific case of Alex Murdaugh accused and found guilty of murdering h
his wife and son .Reading this well written book really gave me a background view of this family.A family with money ,education everything they could desire but something was not right reads like a crime novel but is sadly true.#netgalley Tangled Vines.#netgalley #st.martins

A very good read. I knew a bit about this book before reading, but found it well written and interesting. I liked that it did not give away what happened during the trial (as it was written before). It was definitely worth the read.

4-4.25 STARS

“Tangled Vines” delivers a very detailed recounting of the Murdaugh family dynasty and its legacy of corruption that was handed down from generation to generation. While interesting and insightful, much of what is written pertains to events leading up to the infamous murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, with little light shed on the events that transpired during the actual trial or of Alex’s subsequent conviction. Still, I found this book to be a compelling read, as it shines a bright spotlight on the absolute abuse of wealth and power enjoyed by the Murdaugh family spanning over many decades.

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.

Review of Tangled Vines by John Glatt

I am an absolute fan of true crime, and I don’t read enough of it. I was so thrilled to receive this book in the mail from @stmartinspress. Like many of us I was obsessed with the Murdaugh family. I’ve watched all the documentaries and watched all the news shows. This book gave me everything I was looking for. Not only the stories of what we have heard and seen on the news, but a large amount of backstory about the history of the family going all the way back to the 1700s. I found it all very fascinating and I highly recommend this one for anyone who enjoys true crime nonfiction books.

Synopsis:

Among the lush, tree-lined waterways of South Carolina low country, the Murdaugh name means power. A century-old, multimillion-dollar law practice has catapulted the family into incredible wealth and local celebrity―but it was an unimaginable tragedy that would thrust them into the national spotlight. On June 7th, 2021, prominent attorney Alex Murdaugh discovered the bodies of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, on the grounds of their thousand-acre hunting lodge. The mystery deepened only months later when Alex himself was discovered shot in the head on a local roadside.

But as authorities scrambled for clues and the community reeled from the loss and media attention, dark secrets about this Southern legal dynasty came to light. The Murdaughs, it turned out, were feared as much as they were loved. And they wouldn’t hesitate to wield their influence to protect one of their own; two years before he was killed, a highly intoxicated Paul Murdaugh was at the helm of a boat when it crashed and killed a teenage girl, and his light treatment by police led to speculation that privilege had come into play. As bombshells of financial fraud were revealed and more suspicious deaths were linked to the Murdaughs, a new portrait of Alex Murdaugh emerged: a desperate man on the brink of ruin who would do anything, even plan his own death, to save his family’s reputation.

This was a very interesting read, going very deep into the Murdaugh Family history. After watching the trial and also the documentaries, this was a very good recap, but also mentioned things that I didn't know about. Overall, a great book! Thank you to Netgalley for the preview!

I've watched a whole lot on the Murdaugh family so I wasn't sure if this would work for me. Even if you think you have seen/read everything, read this book. The way Glatt tells this story is incredible and I saw it from so many new angles. A must read for true crime fans.

This is my first time reading a John Glatt true crime novel and it was very interesting how he weaves facts and narratives. Glatt really shows this family's historical rise to power and the lengths they would take to keep up local reputation and notoriety. My mother's side of the family is from Estill, SC next to Hampton and I've attended a many Watermelon Festival so it was eerie to read about places and names I've absentmindedly seen throughout my life. I would recommend this novel and John Glatt as an author.

Author John Glatt takes a deep dive into the Murdaugh family and the result is eye-opening. He starts at the beginning of the family legends with the first Murdaugh to become a lawyer then the prosecutor for the five county district. More generations follow that path, but then we come to Alex Murdaugh. Many of us have watched as he became more of a news item. The double life he led was fascinating, and reading more of the details of the story was so informative.

Not too long ago, the Murdaugh Murders captivated an entire nation. It did not start with just a murder though - there is a darker past, and much more hidden behind the Murdaugh name.

Author John Glatt takes the reader through a fantastic journey of money, power, greed, and political clout in the deep south. This family was the southern Kennedy family - a family that would not let anything stand in their way. Maintaining their hold on power through law, the Murdaugh clan learned to wield not only political clout, but also building an wall that outsiders could not easily puncture.

Fantastic, and full of great information - this was so very hard to put down. I had both an advanced reader copy and advance audio edition, and both allowed me to constantly continue the journey through this dynastic family.
Hold onto your seat - this ride is one that you will not soon forget!

Tangled Vines covers the infamous Murdaugh Family and the incredible hubris and entitlement of the whole family. At its core, Alex Murdaugh was the worst of the worst -- a narcissistic sociopath who lacked empathy or caring about anyone else and would resort to stealing and murder of his own family if any one got in his way. But the family is also to blame (his grandfather, father, wife, etc.) for enabling and encouraging this sense of entitlement. The leaders in the legal community also are to blame for allowing the unchecked power grab by this family. At one point, the author compares it to a Shakespearean-like tragedy but even in Shakespeare plays, I sometimes feel some sympathy or understanding for the villains. I don't have any sympathy for this family or others who enabled their behaviors and lifestyles. They all got something out of being complacent and I am just happy justice is finally being served against this "untouchable" family. This book helped fill in some of the background I was not aware of so I recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

It seemed for awhile that the Murdaugh family WAS the nightly news. Each day brought new tidbits to keep the public coming back for more, but the back story of the family and their tight hold on the communities in which they lived, worked and played was never played out for public view. John Glatt gives us a deep dive into the dynasty that the Murdaughs assumed would live on forever. But evil will out itself. The disdain with which anyone named Murdaugh viewed those not of their family became more apparent with every page. The story is so much more surprising because it is true. A really great reading experience that I would recommend to everyone who loves true crime or the drama you usually only find in fiction.

Tangled Vines is the sad tale of the downfall of an iconic Southern family, culminating in a senseless murder. The Murdaugh family had lorded over the judicial system in South Carolina’s Lowcountry for generations. Their influence stretched across all political factions and permeated any criminal or civil proceeding in their jurisdiction, Author John Glatt once again does an excellent job of chronicling this true-crime saga, using interviews, court transcripts, police reports, etc., to help the reader navigate the maze of crimes committed by Alec Murdaugh, as well as the events that led up to his crimes, and ultimately the murders of his wife and youngest son. Regardless of how familiar you think you may be with this story that garnered national attention, this is a must-read, as this story has so many threads, all pulled nicely together in this book.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I don't usually read true crime but after watching the Alex Murdaugh's trail and listening to several podcast I was hoping to get more insight into who Alex Murdaugh waas and why would he do such a horrible thing or actually several things. From stealing from people who came to him for help to killing his wife and son. What kind of man could do this? This book takes you back to the beginning to the first Murdaugh which was Alex's great-great-great grandfather. You may wonder why but all this past history shows just how the Murdaugh's came to be powerful figures in Hampton and surrounding counties in South Carolina. However, Alex brought down years of Murdaugh's making money from other people's misery and all the iilegal stuff they may have been invovled in. This book tells about all the crazy things the Murdaugh's would do in court and how they let their status whinin the court system intimidate the small town of Hampton.
Tangles Vines tells all about Alex and the Murdaugh family but it stops right before the court case. So if you want to know about The Murdaugh Family and how they came to be this is the book you need. (Please know this book doesn't have anything about the trial).

This story is so insane if it was fictional we would not buy into it. I had no idea so much corruption was involved in this family for so long. This case is truly insane.

John Glatt is one of my favorite true crime authors for the amount of investigation and credibility he brings to his writing. He does it in an artful way that you get lost in the story line and aren’t overwhelmed with all the facts and details that need to be included to fully understand what is unfolding in a retelling based on evidence.

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.

This true crime did not disappoint! You can feel like a true detective because you can take notes on all that has happened within this family! Buckle up and enjoy!

Alex Murdaugh is a perfect example of deceptions and misdeeds leading to increasingly more corruption and ultimately to murder. The author spent a lot of time reviewing the history of the Murdaugh family and their influence in South Carolina's low country. It is no surprise that Alex fell prey to a corrupt lifestyle. I always appreciate the way John Glatt presents the background and timeline in his true crime narratives. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy to read and review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this advanced copy. John Glatt always writes amazing true crime novels. He gets you all the info you want to know. I loved learning every last detail about the Murdaugh dynasty and family. What a tangled vine it is! Amazing how the community can love a family so much and think they are wonderful, while at the same time this family is stealing from the poor, right behind their back.

John Glatt did a great job covering all the legal and behind the scenes of this case. I've listened to some podcasts, watched a documentary and read some articles, but I really appreciated all the court reports and other interviews with people that didn't make it mainstream. I also really liked that he went clear back to the beginning of the family line. You could see how each Murdaugh was like the ones before. Alex Murdaugh is just something else and the trouble he has created just blows my mind.

I love a good John Glatt book and this one didn’t disappoint! He can tell a true story so smoothly it reads like fiction. Truly entertaining in a odd sense of the word. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy in exchange for read and review

This one delved into the history of the Murdaugh family and how they became such a powerful Influence. What a shame they didn't use that power to help their community. The evil and entitlement ran deep and affected many. So much death and destruction was brought on by this man's actions. I hope the living victims are doing better now that he is removed from society.

this was one of my most anticipated true crime books this year and i have to say i wasn’t disappointed …. honestly i’ve already started reskimming it again and will def reread it …. this is a super complex and confusing case yet the author did and amazing job helping seperate out each sinister player and help you know which puzzle piece they were in this huge story …. i wondered if he would be able to humanize some of these deeply unlikeable people and he def did … can’t say they are much more likable but he def helped you see the big picture ….. seriously i think this story hasn’t been tackled by any other true crime writer because this is a hugely complicated and disturbed … entitled family …. and honestly aside from this author and one or two other veterans i don’t an author could do this story justice…… i have to say this author hit it out of the park… not only did he bit a home run .. he hit a grand slam! This book was in my top three true crime books by this particular author only reason it wasn’t my fav is because i don’t find the players in the story as likable whiich i know sounds crazy as they are “ real “ people … and that’s nothing that the author can really fix…..

First of all, I am a huge fan of John Glatt and have enjoyed everything I have read from him. Second, as a true crime fan, I did follow the news reports and trial about the Murdaugh family. This book was interesting and well researched. It had a way of enthralling me in the story even with me knowing most of it already. I highly recommend reading this!

This was an interesting read, not only because it was mostly true, but also because it seemed so outrageous. There are a few areas that do not agree with the information contained in the trial transcripts, but for the most part, it does not seem to matter that there are some inconsistencies because so much of the other is true. The Murdaugh Dynasty was a machine, chewing up and spitting out whoever had the gall to stand in the way of their wants. Thank goodness Murdaugh did not get away with the murders of his wife and son. While I enjoyed reading this book, I have sympathy for those who were subjected to the Murdaugh reign. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.

This edition is an ARC for which I am sharing my honest review. Relatively entertaining telling of the tale of unbelievable depravity. True crime is a difficult genre to write in but this books still needs some work The flow of the writing is negatively impacted but random topic jumps from one paragraph to the next. This is actually jarring on some occasions. Additionally, the author would have greatly helped the reader by adding a year when sharing dates, since he jumps back and forth at times. There is no conclusion in this version but it is widely known how the narcissistic sociopath (Alex) fares in end. What a path of destruction those family members left in their wake--not just Alex, who singlehandedly brought down his family name with help from his sons. Worthwhile read.

I ended up getting the audio version of this book, which I enjoyed. I followed this story through the trial and was captivated by it. The book filled in some holes that the press left out. If you enjoy true crime, this book is for you.

This is a hard one to review. We all know the story but I didn’t know how deep it ran. My mind is still reeling from all the awful things the Murdaugh family got away with for generations. This was a fast paced intriguing story. Hard to put down.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest opinion. 3.5 ⭐️

I knew very little about this whole story going into this book, and while the book goes into great detail about a great many things, I am left with the feeling that I still know very little about this family and just HOW they got to be so influential, enough that they could literally kill people and have little to no worry about repercussions [until now]. What a bunch of entitled, snotty, obnoxious people; most of the story either had me rolling my eyes or yelling in frustration and while this is a good book filled with interesting history, it is also a very frustrating and often puzzling read [I feel that this was a bit rushed and could have been better if fleshed out more] - I have never been able to understand just what others see in people like this. I think that this is not the last that we have seen and heard about this family [in fact just this week, there was a news article about one of the key players], and I think that we will never know what truly happened and what the truth really is.

I was able to get an audiobook ARC for this and it was really helpful. I liked the narrator very much, though there were moments where he was almost over-excited or frantic in his telling of the story. He has a very good speaking voice though and really made the story flow and I appreciated that immensely. He didn't try to do voices of all the players [thankfully] and I am very grateful for that. I would absolutely listen to him again.

I was asked to read and review this book by the publishers [St. Martin's Press], and I thank them, John Glatt, Shaun Grindell - Narrator, RB Media, and NetGalley for both the ARC and the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you love true crime, I highly recommend John Glatt. The Murdaugh story has been in the news in the US for the last few years and it’s honestly a jaw dropping saga. This family has been so “tangled” up in small town South Carolina drama since the 19th century. The things they have gotten away with because of their name. John Glatt does his research for his books, obvious by the amount of detail included. His books are an auto-buy for me regardless of the subject.

Before this well researched and unflinching narrative by John Clatt (@Hove99) that details the history of the notorious Maurdaughs, I had never heard of them but when I began reading this book - I couldn’t keep it down. Set in the Low country region in South Carolina, we learn that three man named Randolph Mardaugh who served as a circuit solicitor (primary prosecutor) for three generations in the Hampton country in the State. There are several non fiction books that are upcoming and multiple documentaries on Netflix and HBO Max if you are interested to learn of the family’s dark history, but perhaps what stood out to me was how power and privilege transformed over generations.

While there was corruption that was embedded in each generation, the second Randy Mardaugh III’s theatrical style of bringing props to the trial and dramatizing the various crimes in front of the jury was perhaps one moment that stood out throughout which has not been covered in the aforementioned documentaries. Secondly, during his tenure in the 1970s, the brutal murder and sexual assault of Betty Gardener, a black woman who was picked up while hitchhiking and murdered in a racially motivated crime. In this rare occasion, two white men were sentenced to death for the murder of a black woman.

Things take turn for the worst when his grandson, Alex Mardaugh takes charge as the solicitor, and also fleeces tons of his clients in the PMPD law firm where he steals millions from his clients who are unaware of his criminal history. Moreover, his son, Paul was also a suspect in the death of his friend, Mallory who was killed in a boating accident. Perhaps, what I appreciated of Clatt’s narrative style was how power and corruption became more nefarious with each generation. If there is a non fiction that speaks to privilege today, it’s this book and one that shouldn’t be missed! The book is now available and was released on August 8th!

Thank you @stmartinespress for the gifted digital arc.

#TangledVines #JohnClatt #StMartinsPress #SMPGinfluencer

In "Tangled Vines," John Glatt pieces together the real story of the Murdaugh family and the power they wielded over South Carolina for generations. This comprehensive history details each scam, power play, and use of political pressure that pushed the family forward, ultimately toward Alex Murdaugh's explosive final actions. I was familiar with the case as it progressed in the news, but Glatt's research unearthed new details for me that made everything make sense. Some parts of this story seemed a little boring or trivial, especially in the beginning, but I think it's necessary to know the family's history to understand their final fall from grace. This is a must-read for true crime fans!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy of John Glatt's newest true crime book. My favorite, so far, of John Glatt's true crime mysteries. As always, the story is incredibly interesting and will not disappoint true crime readers. 4 stars

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 Mardaughts. 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 have been following the Murdaugh saga closely for a long time now and was excited to see a book about it. I really enjoyed this book. The main thing I learned a little bit more about was the relationships throughout time with the Murdaughs. Otherwise it was a nice recap of things I knew already. It did seem a little rushed at the end and perhaps would have been better if the author waiting until the trial was over. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

I literally couldn’t put this book down from the moment I picked it up. This whole Murdaugh situation is just a disaster and there was so much more that I wasn’t even aware of. What a crazy series of twists and turns. Highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.