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Reviews tagging 'Murder'
Blood on Their Hands: Murder, Corruption, and the Fall of the Murdaugh Dynasty by Mandy Matney
8 reviews
lauren_lovestoread's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Excellent and engaging, as well as super informative writing. I love how honest and unapologetic Mandy Matney is, both in her reporting and in sharing her personal experiences as a female journalist. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Murder
barelyconcealed's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
0.75
This is quite bad.
The only reason I think I managed through this was because I was waiting for a few other audiobooks to come in through Libby and I needed something to fill my long commute home. This was very nearly a DNF, for a few big reasons.
I am not familiar with the podcast that Matney runs based on this subject. I am familiar with the subject matter. The Murdaugh case - famous among true crime watchers - is already kind of a messy case to begin with, but Matney makes the inspired choice to (between confusing elements of a confused story) to constantly and readily insert herself. Not Gonzo style - that might have been interesting - but instead in near grotesque jumps to personal, unrelated anecdotes.
I'm not sure who wanted a book based on the least interesting perspective in the room during the investigation and prosecution of an accidental death, double homicide and extensive fraud but I guess if you wanted that perspective, here it is. Matney inserts her own story alongside the narrative in the kind of podcaster-white-knight caricature that I've come to expect (for another case study, see Payne Lindsey); this wouldn't have been solved without Matney. Matney is a key point along which this entire case pivots.
There is more time spent in this book on the trip that Matney takes with her fiance to Jamaica than on the trial itself. For a double homicide. I exit this book knowing more about Matney and every time that she's been personally and professionally slighted than about any other figure in this story and this is supposedly about the Murdaugh case.
In ways that I can't quite articulate there's something very white feminism about this book; repeatedly Matney will bring up this story and relate it to the regional plight of people of color, but barely talks about the non-white victims of this case, she tells a very strange story about a Jamaican souvenir vendor that only just avoids pastoral stereotypes, and talks a lot in the slang of the girlboss - Murdaugh isn't lying, he's gaslighting. People can't disagree with her unless they're a part of the good ole boys club. It's just exhausting and narratively unfounded. I'm not saying that the men in her life aren't ignoring her concerns because she's a woman, I'm saying that she doesn't establish that that is why.
Unless you're a fan of Matney, I see absolutely no reason to read this book.
The only reason I think I managed through this was because I was waiting for a few other audiobooks to come in through Libby and I needed something to fill my long commute home. This was very nearly a DNF, for a few big reasons.
I am not familiar with the podcast that Matney runs based on this subject. I am familiar with the subject matter. The Murdaugh case - famous among true crime watchers - is already kind of a messy case to begin with, but Matney makes the inspired choice to (between confusing elements of a confused story) to constantly and readily insert herself. Not Gonzo style - that might have been interesting - but instead in near grotesque jumps to personal, unrelated anecdotes.
I'm not sure who wanted a book based on the least interesting perspective in the room during the investigation and prosecution of an accidental death, double homicide and extensive fraud but I guess if you wanted that perspective, here it is. Matney inserts her own story alongside the narrative in the kind of podcaster-white-knight caricature that I've come to expect (for another case study, see Payne Lindsey); this wouldn't have been solved without Matney. Matney is a key point along which this entire case pivots.
There is more time spent in this book on the trip that Matney takes with her fiance to Jamaica than on the trial itself. For a double homicide. I exit this book knowing more about Matney and every time that she's been personally and professionally slighted than about any other figure in this story and this is supposedly about the Murdaugh case.
In ways that I can't quite articulate there's something very white feminism about this book; repeatedly Matney will bring up this story and relate it to the regional plight of people of color, but barely talks about the non-white victims of this case, she tells a very strange story about a Jamaican souvenir vendor that only just avoids pastoral stereotypes, and talks a lot in the slang of the girlboss - Murdaugh isn't lying, he's gaslighting. People can't disagree with her unless they're a part of the good ole boys club. It's just exhausting and narratively unfounded. I'm not saying that the men in her life aren't ignoring her concerns because she's a woman, I'm saying that she doesn't establish that that is why.
Unless you're a fan of Matney, I see absolutely no reason to read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
armiel's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.25
A very interesting book. It is my first time reading a "true crime" related memoir, and I enjoyed it. I never found myself being bored; on the contrary, I could not put the book down. I felt like the book was handled with care and understanding when writing about such delicate cases that affect people's lives.
Lastly I really appreciated the reflexion and hopeful note the ended with.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Car accident, and Murder
abby_can_read's review
emotional
informative
medium-paced
3.0
🎧
This was fascinating to listen to. I think this was well-researched and well-written.
This was fascinating to listen to. I think this was well-researched and well-written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, and Violence
erinvasut's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
mandolin77's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Violence, Grief, and Murder
droznowski's review
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
4.25
I listen to and watch a lot of true crime but somehow missed this one for quite some time so this is the first thing I listened to about it. I am so glad this was the first Murdaugh content I encountered.
Mandy’s personal account of her life and her reporting on the case was fascinating to me. I couldn’t stop listening even though I knew the outcome of the most recent court case. I really appreciated the lense she had talking about her life and her work instead of just the gruesome facts of the cases.
I think there needs to be a huge reckoning with true crime content and how to ethically produce it or engage with it. This book did a great job of sharing information about the crimes and cases without sensationalizing it.
Mandy’s personal account of her life and her reporting on the case was fascinating to me. I couldn’t stop listening even though I knew the outcome of the most recent court case. I really appreciated the lense she had talking about her life and her work instead of just the gruesome facts of the cases.
I think there needs to be a huge reckoning with true crime content and how to ethically produce it or engage with it. This book did a great job of sharing information about the crimes and cases without sensationalizing it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Murder
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Narrator rating: 4.25/5
A memoir and true crime book by the definitive podcaster on the Murdaugh family cases. About her journey to covering the Murdaughs and through the current time in the cases.
I enjoyed this though I wasn't expecting as much of a memoir on her journalistic life as it was. I've always enjoyed her voice, so the "vocal fry" didn't bother me.
Overall, it is a great look at her journey with a focus on the Murdaugh part of it.
Extra ratings: Fluff-NA Heartfelt- 3/5 Helpful-NA Horror -NA Inspiration -NA Love aka Romance-1/5 Mystery -NA Predictability-NA Spice -NA Suspense -NA Tear-2/5 Thrill -NA Humor-NA
A memoir and true crime book by the definitive podcaster on the Murdaugh family cases. About her journey to covering the Murdaughs and through the current time in the cases.
I enjoyed this though I wasn't expecting as much of a memoir on her journalistic life as it was. I've always enjoyed her voice, so the "vocal fry" didn't bother me.
Overall, it is a great look at her journey with a focus on the Murdaugh part of it.
Extra ratings: Fluff-NA Heartfelt- 3/5 Helpful-NA Horror -NA Inspiration -NA Love aka Romance-1/5 Mystery -NA Predictability-NA Spice -NA Suspense -NA Tear-2/5 Thrill -NA Humor-NA
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, and Medical content
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
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