The Devil at His Elbow

Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty

By: Valerie Bauerlein

Narrated by: Maggi-Meg Reed, Valerie Bauerlein

“Valerie Bauerlein’s blistering, unforgettable account of the Murdaugh saga leaves no stone unturned, helping us finally truly understand the man at the center of one of the century’s wildest crime stories.”—Robert Kolker, author of Hidden Valley Road and Lost Girls

Power, privilege, and blood—this is the definitive and thrilling true story of Alex Murdaugh’s violent downfall, from a veteran Wall Street Journal reporter who has become an authority on the case.

Alex Murdaugh was a benevolent dictator—the president of the South Carolina trial lawyers’ association, a political boss, a part-time prosecutor, and a partner in his family’s law firm. He was always ready with a favor, a drink, and an invitation to Moselle, his family’s 1,700-acre hunting estate. The Murdaugh name ignited respect—and fear—for a hundred miles.

When he murdered his wife, Maggie, and son Paul at Moselle on a dark summer night, the fragile façade of Alex’s world could no longer hold. His forefathers had covered up a midnight suicide at a remote railroad crossing, a bootlegging ring run from a courthouse, and the attempted murder of a pregnant lover. Alex, too, almost walked away from his unspeakable crimes with his reputation intact, but his downfall was secured by a twist of fate, some stray mistakes, and a fateful decision by an old friend who’d finally seen enough.

Why would a man who had everything kill his wife and grown son? To unwind the roots of Alex’s ruin, award-winning journalist Valerie Bauerlein reported not just from the courthouse every day but also along the backroads and through the tidal marshes of South Carolina’s Lowcountry. When the jurors made their pilgrimage to the crime scene, trying to envision Maggie and Paul’s last moments, she walked right behind them, sensing the ghosts that haunt the Murdaughs’ now-shattered legacy.

Through masterful research and cinematic writing, The Devil at His Elbow is a transporting journey through Alex’s life, the night of the murders, and the investigation that culminated in a trial that held tens of millions spellbound. With her stunning insights and fearless instinct for the truth, Bauerlein uncovers layers of the Murdaugh murder case that have not been told.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF with a list of major characters, a map, and acknowledgments from the book.

Critic reviews

“When Truman Capote wrote In Cold Blood, he had the story of the Clutter slayings all to himself. With The Devil at His Elbow, Valerie Bauerlein has achieved something far more difficult journalistically: Despite wall-to-wall media coverage, she’s managed to produce the definitive account of the Murdaugh murders. Forget the podcasts, the TV specials, and the documentaries—this is the version of the story you’ll want to read. And once you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down.”—John Carreyrou, Pulitzer Prize–winner and bestselling author of Bad Blood

“It’s all here: the audacity and the deceit, the desperation and the calculation, a family’s unbelievable legacy of utter venality. Valerie Bauerlein’s blistering, unforgettable account of the Murdaugh saga leaves no stone unturned, helping us finally truly understand the man at the center of one of the century’s wildest crime stories.”—Robert Kolker, author of Hidden Valley Road and Lost Girls

“With The Devil at His Elbow, Valerie Bauerlein delivers a riveting story that explores the abuse of power and the human heart of darkness. This is an electrifying, horrifying tale, expertly reported and written.”—Jonathan Eig, author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning King: A Life

“Sweeping in scope and brilliantly rendered . . . No one else could have approached the clarity and confidence with which Bauerlein writes.”—Bronwen Dickey, author of Pit Bull

“A compulsively readable, deeply researched epic of deceit, murder, and unchecked power . . . a master class in crime journalism.”—Christopher Goffard, author of Dirty John and Other True Stories of Outlaws and Outsiders

“A haunting journey through time and across generations of Murdaugh men, probing the unresolved deaths that linger in the orbit of Alex Murdaugh’s power.”—Jennifer Berry Hawes, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of Grace Will Lead Us Home

“Brilliant . . . If Faulkner and Grisham had collaborated on a true crime story, Bauerlein’s masterpiece would be the result.”—William D. Cohan, author of Power Failure

“A page-turner . . . Bauerlein offers fresh details that expose the dark heart of a psychopath.”—Kathleen Parker, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of Save the Males

“A memorable—and often chilling—account of tangled webs, addled minds, and the evil that men do . . . Bauerlein’s gracefully written, thoughtful treatment is by far the best… in the Murdaugh sweepstakes.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

The Most Comprehensive Account Yet

Like so many people around the world I knew nothing about the Murdaugh family until the horrific killings took place. I watched news coverage, read books and articles and tried to learn about the what and the why. Of all that I have read, this book is truly the most comprehensive book written. Compiled after the resolution of the murder trial and many of the financial settlements, I have a much better understanding of what happened then I did before, but I will never understand the why. To the author's credit she does not try to explain it. She can't. Nobody can. Probably not even Alex Murdaugh. That is something between him and his God.

Amazing

This is hands down the best book I have read on this case! Well researched, thoroughly written and excellent sources.🙌🏼

Fascinating behind the scenes details

I couldn’t put down this audiobook! Although I knew a lot if details about the Murdaugh case, it was fascinating to hear about their generational “actions” that likely lead to Alex’s crimes. Well done, highly recommend.

Excellent

So thorough. Absolutely binge worthy. I followed this story so closely as I’m from South Carolina and it was as well done as I could possibly imagine it would have been.

The reporting and accuracy of the case.

This book has been the best so far about the Murdaugh family. I found myself going back and listening again.

Wow.

Great narration, excellent writing, and a clear picture of this wild saga. Binge worthy. Bravo!!

Worth the listen!

I thought I knew everything about this story but I was wrong. This book is thorough and gives background on the Murdaugh legacy. I loved the audible version!

Well researched and easy to follow

Valerie’s book was well researched and easy to follow. I enjoyed this book so much and had a hard time putting it down!

Excellent review

Worth it even if you "know everything", well organized and easy to follow, A+ work

The added details to a well covered case

Such a deep story here. I’ve listened to several of the podcasts while this was going on. This book certainly adds more details to the family history and the infestation. Well done!