Extreme Punishment

The Chilling True Story of Acclaimed Law Professor Dan Markel’s Murder

By: Steven B. Epstein

Narrated by: Eddie Frierson

A devoted father. One of the most accomplished criminal law scholars in the country. Someone wanted him dead. But why?

On the morning of July 18, 2014, 41-year-old Florida State law professor Dan Markel dropped his boys off at preschool, hit the gym, and headed home to his quiet, tree-canopied neighborhood. Within seconds of pulling into his garage, two .38-caliber bullets fired from point-blank range were lodged in his brain.

His brutal slaying defied explanation. The case went stone cold for nearly two years before dogged pursuit by the Tallahassee Police and the FBI resulted in the arrest of two life-long criminals who had driven 10 hours from Miami with one singular purpose: to murder the esteemed professor. Were his ex-wife Wendi Adelson and her South Florida family the masterminds behind this horrific crime?

Extreme Punishment is the riveting story of a divorce between two law professors that spiraled out of control, wealthy in-laws hell-bent on revenge, an unlikely love triangle, and the relentless quest to bring Dan’s killers—all of them—to justice.

©2022 Steven B. Epstein (P)2024 Black Lyon Publishing

Critic reviews

“Empathetic, engrossing, and impeccably researched, Extreme Punishment is the single best piece of reporting I’ve read on the Dan Markel case. Like the best true crime books, it says as much about the law and society as it does about Dan’s murder and the subsequent trials. A genuine revelation.” (Matthew Shaer, creator and host of Wondery’s Over My Dead Body podcast)

“Extreme Punishment is a rich, detailed, well-researched telling of the murder of Dan Markel. But it’s not the crime that will keep you turning the pages in what will become a classic on the shelves of true crime enthusiasts. What makes this book special is the people involved in this twisted story, the wildly exciting characters you soon realize are just like you and your next-door neighbors. Maybe even your in-laws. Perhaps even your ex-spouse.” (Rod Kackley, award-winning journalist and author of 32 books including The Murder of Kelsey Berreth and The Murder of Thora Chamberlain)

”Steve Epstein’s sharp new true-crime rips the lid off the whole sensational story about a wrecked relationship gone horribly awry. Top notch.” (Ron Franscell, New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Night and Shadowman)

Good book. Guys voice awful

The guys voice was irritating. The way he pronounced juror was getting on my nerves. Should have gotten Kevin pierce

That it took so many years to finish the whole thing up.

I really liked this book since it was a true story. The narrator was easy to understand and spoke very clearly.

Great writing, problematic narration.

I’ve been following this case from day 1, as Dan’s friend and Tallahassee-an. Detailed biographies of all the “actors.”
Layperson-friendly analysis and assessments of attorneys’ strategies.
Excellent murder-crime writing.
Narrator- problems with diction, especially “jurors”.

Well researched and organized

loved hearing all the details of the case I hadnt beard before and the history o

shocking

amazing the length and time put into this account. what a horrible tragedy. and horrible how ppl hurt themselves in trying to gain control. sorry most for the children and the parents of the victim.