What do readers think of The Family Man by James Lasdun? Write your own review.

I really enjoyed The Family Man. It's well written and clearly well researched, which made it easy to stay engaged. I had already read articles and watched documentaries about the murder case, so I wasn't going in blind, but the book still gave me many details that I had not seen before.

I really liked how thoroughly the author broke down the fraud cases, the scope and depth of the fraud added a layer to the story that the other articles and documentaries did not dive into. It did not feel rushed or glossed over and provided some more understanding into the "family annihilator's" mind. I also liked the background on different family members and their social circle. It added a lot of context and painted a fuller picture of how everything fit together. Even though I already knew quite a bit about the murder case, the book was still dramatic and engaging. It didn't lose any impact even though I knew the outcome. Overall, it is definitely worth the read, even if you think you already know the story.

I followed the Murdoch trial in the news and watched the documentaries so i was immediately intrigued by the book. It was a very interesting read. I liked getting some behind-the-scenes details about the investigation and trial and some insight about what the Murdoch family was like. It was very interesting to read about the level of corruption in the local banking and legal communities that was possible simply because of the Murdoch family's long history in the area. Definitely a cautionary tale there. In the same vein, it was uncanny how many people seemed to find it easy to forgive his massive thefts, simply because he was a "good ol' boy" in their eyes.

Like many of you, I watched in horror as the extraordinary facts about the murders at the South Carolina home of Alex Murdaugh were revealed. It was hard to miss. You may be thinking, as I was, that the world couldn't possibly need yet another true crime book (news report, TV show, etc) about this sensational crime and all the events leading up to it.

This book, written by British born journalist James Lasdun, is not that, but a dense and detailed family and cultural exploration of what might have led a respected, apparently dedicated family man, a lawyer, to commit these crimes. Lasdun openly shares his skepticism about Alex's guilt early in the book, and then proceeds to investigate the history and events which might have led Murdaugh to commit the crimes.

If you are a fan of history, psychology, and, yes, true crime, you may also find this book as fascinating as I did.

Thanks to #BookBrowse for the opportunity to read and review the ARC.

I received this book free from BookBrowse as an early reviewer. I am a big fan of narrative nonfiction and true crime and the author, James Lasdun, does both well. Most readers will be familiar with the case of Alex Murdaugh, the embezzler and murderer of his wife and younger son. The book reads like fiction, and in fact, is hard to believe. However, the crimes happened. Lasdun does a terrific job filing in the details of this incredible crime. He, also, provides an exhaustive account of the events occurring prior to the murder. The Murdaugh family has a murky history including another suspicious death. The reader becomes well acquainted with the complex character of Murdaugh and his family. The end of the book relates the author's interesting alternate theory as to what occurred that bloody evening. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed both the story and writing style of the author. I highly recommend this to reader and bookclubs of true crime.

I loved having the opportunity to read and review this book. It was wonderfully written and moved along nicely. To see a man transform from a loving husband to a monster was exciting but scary to read. When something so normal and mundane turns scary, flipping a family's reality upside down. This book was a great read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a true crime lover.

I don't read many true crime books but this one caught my eye since it occurred in an area of South Carolina that I'm familiar with plus I wanted to learn more about what would cause a seemingly happy family man to kill his wife and son. The author did a fantastic job with his research and laid the story out in a concise way. He also wrote about some of the inconsistencies that were published in the press and the rumors that were going on while the crime was being solved. Even though it's still difficult to believe that someone could kill their wife and son (Paul), the author does an excellent job of explaining the mindset and problems that drove Alex to commit murder.

The author did extensive research for this book but for me the most important thing that he did was to interview many people who knew Alex – not only the people he worked with but family members and people in town who had known him his entire life. Along with the boat accident, he explained other deaths that may have been associated with the family and how they affected (or why they didn't affect) the entire family. I have read several books about the murders but this is the first one that gives transcripts from phone calls that Alex made from prison after his conviction. The conversations gave a good look at his state of mind and his lack of remorse because despite the verdict, he always said that there was no way that he would kill his beloved wife and son.

This book is a well-done portrait of Alex Murdaugh and the horrific crimes that he was accused of. The writing is so well done and the research so extensive that it reads like a Southern murder novel.

The Family Man by James Lasdun is a chilling account of the corruption in what Alex Murdaugh's family referred to as "the House of Murdaugh." The three-generation family of lawyers knew lives of great privilege in their small southern town as well as out in the world at large. This true-crime tale recounts the many red herrings and barricades family members threw up in order to protect themselves and attempt to put the onus on others nearby. It was fascinating and horrifying at the same time to realize how very much great wealth allows a family to get away with. Most readers will find that the Murdaugh family cast so many aspersions on others that even the reader begins to doubt her/his own judgement. This is definitely a cautionary tale for our time.