In the fifth entry in the French 50 States of Crime series, Arthur Cerf covers a case that has been getting a lot of media attention since the crimes were committed over four years ago. At the time of this writing, a dramatization is currently airing on Hulu. The Murdaugh Murders, where the prominent attorney Alex Murdaugh was tried and convicted of the murders of his wife and child, Maggie and Paul, have captured the public’s attention.
The basic details of the double homicide, additional crimes connected to the murders, and the lurid backgrounds of some of the individuals involved are fairly well known by now, and need not be repeated here. The main focus of this review will be on the book itself. Like all of the other entries in the 50 States of Crime series, it’s a relatively brief overview of the case designed for individuals who do not know very much about what happened. True crime fans who have followed the narrative from the beginning will find a few factoids that they did not already know. There are at least a dozen books on the case, some of which cover the tale in much more detail, and there is a plethora of true crime documentaries, podcasts, and now a miniseries out there. Does this book offer anything that has not been told more extensively– or alternatively, concisely– elsewhere? Between the significantly longer books for those who want to know every detail, and the readers who only have time for the Wikipedia article on the case, what is the audience for this book? Much like the California entry in the series, The Golden State Killer Case, was an extended CliffsNotes version of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, The Murdaugh Murders Case seems to be made for readers who don’t want to read all of John Glatt’s Tangled Vines or Mandy Matney’s Blood on Their Hands.
Stepping away from the other tellings of the crime, The Murdaugh Murders Case suffers from a couple of major flaws. First, the non-linear (at times) storytelling style can be a little confusing. The second problem is more serious. Another death is mentioned multiple times, and Cerf veers into conjecture, wondering on multiple occasions if a person who has not yet been charged with a crime was responsible. There have been a lot of reflections lately on the ethics of true crime reporting, and what part, if any, theorizing should play. When there are open questions about a death, it’s natural to wonder whodunit and to look at suspects, but one must never forget that real people with actual reputations are involved, and it is irresponsible to cast aspersions without proof of culpability.
Criticisms aside, this is a fast-moving, informative read, and it raises some important questions as to how individuals and families can gain and hold power in communities, and how corruption can spread unchecked. The book does a strong job of recreating the community and explaining the central figure’s alleged crimes in a clear and effective manner. If you’re unfamiliar with the Murdaugh case and want to learn more, this is a good place to start. If you’re well-versed on the case, this book may not add very much to your knowledge and understanding of the crimes.
The Murdaugh Murders Case (50 States of Crime– South Carolina)
Arthur Cerf, translated by Lynn E. Palermo
Crime Ink
October 7, 2025
