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Instant New York Times Bestseller

Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author John Carreyrou calls it *”the definitive account of the Murdaugh murders.”* Forget the documentaries, podcasts, and TV specials—this is the version of the story you won’t be able to put down.

Power, privilege, and murder collide in *The Devil at His Elbow*, an in-depth look at the dramatic downfall of Alex Murdaugh, written by veteran *Wall Street Journal* reporter Valerie Bauerlein.

Once a dominant figure in South Carolina’s legal and political circles, Alex Murdaugh held influence as a top trial lawyer, a political power broker, a part-time prosecutor, and a partner in his family’s esteemed law firm. He was generous with favors, hosted gatherings at his sprawling 1,700-acre estate, Moselle, and carried a last name that commanded both respect and fear across the Lowcountry.

But the night he murdered his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, the carefully curated illusion of his life came crashing down. His ancestors had concealed scandals ranging from a suspicious railroad crossing death to a courthouse-run bootlegging operation—and Alex might have escaped justice as well. However, a combination of missteps, a twist of fate, and a decision by a longtime ally who had finally seen enough ensured his eventual reckoning.

What drives a man who seemingly has it all to commit such horrific crimes? To answer this, Bauerlein immersed herself in the case, not just covering the trial daily but also tracing Murdaugh’s past through the backroads and tidal marshes of South Carolina. She stood behind the jurors as they visited the crime scene, absorbing the weight of history and tragedy that still lingers.

With gripping storytelling and meticulous research, *The Devil at His Elbow* unravels the complexities of the Murdaugh case like never before. Bauerlein delivers fresh insights and chilling revelations, shedding new light on a crime that captivated millions.