Reviews
Blood on Their Hands: Murder, Corruption, and the Fall of the Murdaugh Dynasty by Mandy Matney
lovefromnikki's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
Maybe I misread the title and blurb but this wasn’t the book I thought I was reading. I was unfamiliar with the Murdaugh case and hoped this would be a story that went in depth into the goings-on of this case and the community impacted. Instead this is more of a memoir for Mandy and the impact (real and perceived) in her pursuit of this case.
I usually like a memoir so I hung in there and got through the whole thing but it never really got there for me.
I usually like a memoir so I hung in there and got through the whole thing but it never really got there for me.
doloresofcourse's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
5.0
I gave this book five stars because I am a long-time listener of the MMP and want to be supportive. That being said, I did have issues with it. For the average reader who hasn’t been following the podcast, it’s probably a low three.
- This book is an autobiographical account of Mandy’s work history and behind-the-scenes of her Murdaugh crimes reporting. If you go into this expecting a true crime style recounting of Murdaugh family, you will be disappointed. I was hoping for a true crime book, but I am satisfied with the backstory and history behind my favorite podcast.
- There were many times in the book where Mandy called out slights against her as white man sexism. Looking at her examples from the outside, the way the situations were told they don’t always ring true as purposeful acts of sexism. Yes, her male editor would skip over her and Liz and give big stories to their older male colleagues to write. Colleagues who were older, more experienced, with years of building contacts and a familiar byline to readers.
There’s a lot of sour grapes towards men in this book and it makes for uncomfortable reading. Page 192 where she is pissed about Eric Bland giving the Satterfield story to her old nemesis John Monk made me think she was ready to cut him.
People called out my vocal frye and that is being sexist. No. That vocal Frye in the first couple of podcast episodes was horrible. It made the episodes very difficult not listen to and I’m sure more than a few hopeful listeners bailed because of it. I nearly did. It took me three tries to finally get through that episode. Just because someone doesn’t like the way you speak doesn’t make them sexist. I’ve passed on many podcasts because of fryes and just unpleasant voices both male and female. That being said, I’m glad I held in there and stayed with MMP.
Valerie at the Wall Street Journal page 177. I remember this podcast episode where she is mentioned. I don’t believe Mandy gave her last name and it’s not in the book, but she is Valerie Bauerlein. She and Mandy meet and it’s pretty obvious from their conversation that Valerie is trying to convince Mandy to write a book. I would assume the intent was for them to write it together. Valerie later publishes her own Murdaugh article which leads to another page of sour grapes and accusations of being used and backstabbing. Again, I’m not seeing the big back stabbing conspiracy. A reporter worked her sources. It’s not like they pinky swore as besties. Valerie does have her own Murdaugh book coming out in 2024 and I plan on reading it. I want to read all the books about the case so I can get multiple viewpoints and opinions.
- The book ends right before Alex is arrested for the murders of Maggie and Paul. I feel cheated. I wondered why the book is so thin and there’s the explanation. I understand the need to get it written and out the door because there are so many competing Murdaugh projects flying around. You sit through the appetizers, you sit through the soup, you sit through the salad knowing there will be a juicy steak coming and then you are given a plate with your after dinner mint. Very frustrating. But, the epilogue does patch together some things from the trial, so it’s not straight off the cliff.
- This book is an autobiographical account of Mandy’s work history and behind-the-scenes of her Murdaugh crimes reporting. If you go into this expecting a true crime style recounting of Murdaugh family, you will be disappointed. I was hoping for a true crime book, but I am satisfied with the backstory and history behind my favorite podcast.
- There were many times in the book where Mandy called out slights against her as white man sexism. Looking at her examples from the outside, the way the situations were told they don’t always ring true as purposeful acts of sexism. Yes, her male editor would skip over her and Liz and give big stories to their older male colleagues to write. Colleagues who were older, more experienced, with years of building contacts and a familiar byline to readers.
There’s a lot of sour grapes towards men in this book and it makes for uncomfortable reading. Page 192 where she is pissed about Eric Bland giving the Satterfield story to her old nemesis John Monk made me think she was ready to cut him.
People called out my vocal frye and that is being sexist. No. That vocal Frye in the first couple of podcast episodes was horrible. It made the episodes very difficult not listen to and I’m sure more than a few hopeful listeners bailed because of it. I nearly did. It took me three tries to finally get through that episode. Just because someone doesn’t like the way you speak doesn’t make them sexist. I’ve passed on many podcasts because of fryes and just unpleasant voices both male and female. That being said, I’m glad I held in there and stayed with MMP.
Valerie at the Wall Street Journal page 177. I remember this podcast episode where she is mentioned. I don’t believe Mandy gave her last name and it’s not in the book, but she is Valerie Bauerlein. She and Mandy meet and it’s pretty obvious from their conversation that Valerie is trying to convince Mandy to write a book. I would assume the intent was for them to write it together. Valerie later publishes her own Murdaugh article which leads to another page of sour grapes and accusations of being used and backstabbing. Again, I’m not seeing the big back stabbing conspiracy. A reporter worked her sources. It’s not like they pinky swore as besties. Valerie does have her own Murdaugh book coming out in 2024 and I plan on reading it. I want to read all the books about the case so I can get multiple viewpoints and opinions.
- The book ends right before Alex is arrested for the murders of Maggie and Paul. I feel cheated. I wondered why the book is so thin and there’s the explanation. I understand the need to get it written and out the door because there are so many competing Murdaugh projects flying around. You sit through the appetizers, you sit through the soup, you sit through the salad knowing there will be a juicy steak coming and then you are given a plate with your after dinner mint. Very frustrating. But, the epilogue does patch together some things from the trial, so it’s not straight off the cliff.
scrants19's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
nostoat's review against another edition
5.0
Compelling, tight writing about a huge series of cases in South Carolina. I first heard about the Murdaugh family in an article mentioned in this book, and I was thrilled to see an entire book appear in my library's new purchases the other day. I try not to make a habit of following developing true crime, or true crime in general, so I had no idea how the situation had finally shaken out. This is a powerful example of what dogged investigative journalism can do for communities, and I hope Liz and Mandi keep nipping at the heels of powerful men everywhere for as long as they can.