John GlattReseñas

Abduction

Crime

I was vaguely aware of this story. I think I might have googled it at some point and that was part of the reason that I requested it as an arc. This book takes this crime to another level. This is the story of a young man who is deeply disturbed, whose mental state went unchecked and was never properly treated, whose drug use was rampant, and was lost. It took murdering his father in cold blood to try to figure out why. I think privilege plays a big part in this story at least in my opinion. This young man had everything handed to him and still, he fell apart and committed a crime that did not need to happen. Thomas Gilbert, Jr., was adrift. Not interested in the finance business that his father tried to steer him toward. He continued to flounder, but his dad supported him so not much changed by way of his living situation or social life.


This is such an upsetting story, on so many levels, and while I commend the author for his thorough research, I was left questioning so much at the end. This is my type of true crime book though because I went through an entire roller coaster of emotions from start to finish.

Wow. I've kept up with most of the news stories following this case (or cases, rather) and there was a lot more information included in the book that I was not aware of. The saddest part in addition to the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh are the countless victims of financial crimes and embezzlement. The influence of this family over multiple counties in South Carolina is staggering.

The book is well written, although I will say there are a few parts that were definitely not written by someone who is familiar with the South.

*I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

While the first 1/3 of this book was a slow read, the rest of the book was well written and the author did a wonderful job of portraying the greed and self absorbtion of Alex Murdaugh and his family. There is a good coverage of the incidents leading up to the murders of Alexs' wife and son. He truly was a sociopath who had no feeling for others.

Hailing from a long family of lawyers, Alex continued the family tradition of becoming a lawyer in the lowcountry of South Carolina. The Murdaugh name meant money and power. Dating back one hundred years, the firm was very successful and brought the family fame and incredibly wealth.

The power of the family meant that they got away with quite a lot. June 7, 2021 changed that. Alex claimed to have found the dead bodies of his wife and son Paul on their beautiful country property. Calling 911, he tearfully had difficulty explaining the discovery of his family. The book does a very good job at outlining occurrences leading up to the death/murder of his family members.

Alex was a prominent trial lawyer who was a very wealthy man. Unfortunately, some of that wealth was stolen from clients he represented. Winning multi-million dollar law suits led Alex to take much of the client's money. Many had no idea what the final settlement of their case was. Alex skimmed much of the money of his clients. It was the financial advisor of the company who began to notice discrepancies. When she took the truth to the other lawyers in the firm, Alex was fired. This was but one of the events that led to the untangling of his weath, notariety and reputation.

Nasty events occurred before family members were murdered.

Alex is a dispicable character, and his sons followed his lead. When his drunken son Paul smashed the family boat into the pillings of a bridge, thereby killing young Mallory Beach, who was one of his friends in the boat, his father Alex was more worried about hiding the fact that Paul drove the boat, had an alcohol level three times the legal limit, rather then thinking of the feelings of the other parents whose children were harmed. The Murdaugh name brought power and corruption, and Alex used this to the best of his abilities. As the author notes, the Murdaughs were "feared as much as they were loved." And the parents of the other young people in the boat feared that everything would be covered up and the Murdaughs would get away with yet one more thing.

Leading up to the murders of Alex's wife and son, things occurred in rapid succcession When a high school friend of Alex's son was found dead on a country road, the Murdaughs were good at covering up any blame that might have rightfully come their way. Stephen Smith's mother felt there was a lot that was not right about the way he died. Disagreeing this was a hit and run case, Stephen's mother wanted the truth.

Amidt all this drama, the long-term house keeper of the Murdaugh's was found bleeding at the bottom of the steps of their home. She was unconscious, and died a few days later.

As if all of these occurrences were not enough, it was discovered that Alex had quite a heavy addiction to opiods and had overused them for a long time. Consuming a large amount of pills every day, led to a nasty inability to stop.

Alex was tried for the murder of his son and wife and found guilty. He is now in jail and adapting well.

2.5 stars. It's not a bad book just little boring. More of " this happened, then this, then this" plus side if your trying to follow the case, It's neatly organized.

This book was about the Murdaugh family, starting from around the turn of the century (around 1900). It was a long and dignified family that worked hard in the field of the law. Most of them were lawyers were quite dedicated to it. They were all in their own law firm that grew bigger over time. Then Alex Murdaugh came along. He was a good lawyer for a long time, but that changed. This book was Murdaugh pretty detailed and well written. The only thing is that it ends before the trial. But it does give so much information that it would help to understand things that help down the line. I do recommend this book!

I felt like I needed a shower after reading this book! This family was so dirty, so slimy, it was amazing how they got away with everything they did for as long as they did.
The author did a great job with the history of the family and the story of the downfall, as well as how the low country authorities participated in the corruption.
A great non-fiction story of a relatively current set of crimes and the crime family.

Tangled Vines by John Glatt is a fascinating look at just how thoroughly power corrupts, not just single individuals but entire family lines.

The Murdaugh case(s) have gotten a lot of national media attention recently, to the point where most people know at least a little about it. I have neither the time nor the inclination to follow a case such as this to the extreme of watching the entirety of the trial on television, so a book that collects the various pieces of information together, along with some original research, into a coherent narrative is perfect for me. For those with nothing better to do than watch every second of coverage, a lot of this will likely be redundant, but having it presented clearly and concisely still makes it a worthwhile read.

The extent to which the family had raised themselves to a position where they genuinely considered themselves not simply above the law, but the law personified makes the fall guiltily pleasurable. I say guiltily because I would prefer such people have a fall without the loss of human life.

And no, this is not a case of victim blaming, I'm not even sure how someone sees that here. Some of those killed had their personal histories tied up with the Murdaugh family, obviously since family members are included as victims. Omitting their parts of the family story would be asinine, not to mention it helps explain what happened and why.

While the review copy doesn't include the latest updates, there is space left for that to be included in the final copy. The writing is good and I like the fact we got a more detailed family history beyond just the usual "privileged and powerful family" line or two. I believe it helps to show just how deep the sense of entitlement ran in the family and among those close to the family.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

A thrilling account of the story of Shannan Watts and her two daughters murdered in cold blood by her husband Chris Watts. It goes into great detail the evidence in the case and breaks down the timeline to make it more clear for listeners and readers. I listened to this on audiobook and I thought it was very well narrated and very well written! I would recommend this book for all True Crime fans, even for those who think they are very familiar with the tragic story.

I like many others around the world was captivated but this story. What type of mother was Lori that she could just be vacationing in Hawaii with her new husband having no concerns for her missing children. A cold heartless mother as evident in the data presented in the case. It was such a sad feeling when Tylee and JJ's bodies were finally discovered but at the same time at least the discovery of their bodies were able to help find justice for them.

I don't remember some of the details in this book being in the media. Reading this book is in its own way a horror story. Just because of how heinous the murders were carried out. What I did really like about this book is the way that Mr. Glatt found that right balance of providing facts but not giving so much that reading this book I got bogged down by too many details.

Very interesting subject matter (albeit horrifying, obviously). However, the book itself felt badly written, in the sense that it kept going back and forth, and being repetitive with the same content. For example, the same descriptions/content (almost verbatim) would appear across various chapters, once as it was happening in the story, once when one of the people involved were giving statements to the police, and again when decribing media reports. This type of repetition happened rather a lot. While it is sometimes useful to convey what information was provided by different sources, it felt like a waste of time to read exactly the same things again and again without any particular additional point.

I had a lot of questions when the news of the Turpin family abuse broke out. I was hoping this book would help me gain insights on those questions. Unfortunately it did not. I was surprised the author did not get interview from any key player of the scandal -- not the parents, nor any one of the 13 children. Dude, if you don't have any insider information, there is very little you can write about a family that had kept to themselves most of the time. Why write the book at all if you don't have important inside information? I am also surprised the author didn't interview a single friend of the Turpin parents. Was he unable to find one? Surely the couple had cultivated some friendship in their lives, at work or off work? And did the self-professed Christian couple ever attend any church throughout their years of marriage? I felt the author didn't do much in-depth reporting, but instead relied mostly on police reports, trial transcripts, and existing media coverage. I see the author talked to a trauma specialist about his speculation on how the Disneyland trips and Las Vegas wedding renewals must have traumatized the children. He also combed books written by Turpin family's relatives in an attempt to find talking points. (He really wanted to link the Turpin parent's only allowing their children to have one meager meal per day to the Christian fasting practice promoted in a book written by a Turpin uncle. I felt this indicated the author did zero research on fasting and Christianity. ) I had expected this book to be in-depth reporting written by a good journalist, similar to what I've read in Bad Blood, Nomadland, Unbroken..... It was not a book of that standard. But because the scandal is so hair-raising, the book is still a gripping read. You want to keep reading to make sure the children got out of the abusive home. The vocabulary used in the book was pretty simple.

The Golden Boy: A Murder Among the Manhattan Elite is a 2021 St. Martin’s Press publication.

This is a riveting true crime story about the Thomas Gilbert case that grabbed headlines- especially in the New York area. Thomas Gilbert Sr. a wealthy Manhattan banker was gunned down by his son, Tommy Gilbert Jr. after the Sr. Gilbert cut his son off financially. Sounds cut and dried- open and shut- right?

Well…

Not exactly.

For years, Thomas Gilbert Jr., exhibited signs of mental instability. Just as there is no doubt, he pulled the trigger that killed his father, there is no doubt Thomas suffered from some form of mental illness.

The question then becomes- is he competent to stand trial for murder? Should he be sent to prison, or should he get a proper diagnosis and receive treatment for his illness in an institution?

This is a complex case and although this is the first true crime book I’ve read this year, with many more on my list, I can say with certainty it will be a ‘favorite’ in the true crime category this year- simply because it was so disturbing and complicated.

I struggled with the situation, which ran through my mind constantly, for days after I finished the book.

There is a lot to absorb.

The ‘entitlement’ aspects, the system that failed the affluent in the same way it fails everyone else, the lack of a proper diagnosis, and Gilbert’s obvious decline makes a compelling argument for his defense.

However, for the record, mental illness as a defense is only successful about 25% of the time.

I think Gilbert was troubled. He did need some mental health treatment, and probably could have used a stint in rehab for drug abuse. That he has serious issues is not disputed. Still, at the end of the day- and I realize this is not a popular opinion-

If I were on that jury, I’d have come to the exact same conclusion they did. I’m sure the decision was difficult, and Gilbert's mental health should have been given a great deal of inspection, given serious weight, and I think it was. In the end, though, as hard as it is, as conflicting, and controversial, as the jury’s decision was- I think they got it right, in this case.

I felt so bad for Tommy’s mother, though. What a position she found herself in!! Naturally, as she has lost so much, in such a tragic way, I could understand her feelings.

The author’s goal was to expose a flawed system as much as it was to tell a sensational true crime story. He achieved that goal, and it is certainly something we need to be aware of and seriously consider.

There was a great deal of enabling here, ignorance, and stigma associated with mental illness. All these points are valid, and the system is absolutely flawed- I’m not disputing that- but I’m not convinced Gilbert was in a psychotic break when he killed his father.

That was the part I just could not get past. I’m still thinking, though, that some intervention might have helped Tommy achieve some of the success he struggled to obtain, might have helped him stand on his own two feet, and get the help he needed- which, of course, might have changed the course of his life… but of course, now we’ll never know for sure.

Overall, though, this is an absolutely riveting drama, very thought provoking, and damning. The author did a good job with the book. I tossed and turned a couple of nights mulling over all the various angles of the case, the people involved, and to what extent, if any, Gilbert’s illness played in his crimes. That’s the mark of a job well done.

4 stars

I was not at all familiar with this murder story when it occurred and am interested in true crime so thought this would be a good read; it was. Not a mystery murder by any stretch this was an obvious act, the real question was whether the perp Tommy Jr. would get the insanity plea. Interesting enough he was not pushing it as it was primarily driven by his attorneys and his mother.

The story leading up to the murder I found more interesting as it was a bio of Tommy and his family. This was a well to do family that moved in the moneyed society of greater New York. The elite schools, homes, and social connections were all on display. And of course in our class conscious country these are significant factors in staying in the upper tiers. Tommy had all of this matched with brains and looks. But alas he also carried the seeming crazy genes of his family also. That led to the unraveling of the gravy train ride.

The trial which consisted of nearly half the book got a bit repetitious and grinding as we were on a nonstop circuit of Tommy's disruptive and uncooperative behavior during the proceedings. The verdict which I did not know in advance was a bit surprising. And the book closed abruptly without much analysis or aftermath.

In 1984 in Austria, Josef Fritzl (who had already been raping his middle daughter, Elisabeth, since she was 11-years old), imprisoned her (now 18) in a dungeon under his house that no one knew existed. He had spent six years building it. He kept her there for 24 years, and fathered seven children with her (he already had seven with his wife – Elisabeth being the middle/4th one).

This book does look at all the abuses toward his daughter that just went on and on. Not only that, but previous to all this, he had a history of sexual crimes, only one of which he was convicted and went to jail for. His wife knew nothing about what had happened to Elisabeth – he told everyone she had run away (which would have been no surprise, as she had run away a couple of times previous) to join a religious cult. He took three of the children upstairs to raise them with his wife as adopted/foster children, so he could get the money for them. So, three of the children were raised in the “real world” upstairs, while three others in the dungeon, never seeing sunlight, and rife with all kinds of health issues (the 7th child only lived a few days before dying when Josef refused to get him medical help).

What a monster! Omg, don’t read this if you are at all queasy. I don’t know if I remember this case. She got out with her kids in 2008, only a couple of years after Natasha Kampusch (and I do remember that one). Maybe I don’t remember as much because the entire family ended up changing their names/identities so they could try to get some peace and try to heal. Elisabeth and her children got out of the dungeon in 2008 and the book was published in 2009. The book still managed to get in much of the aftermath, though I did look up more (the trial and to see how Elisabeth and her kids were doing after the end of the book). There is some repetition in the book, but it was well-researched.

Excellent book. Sad and frustrating. Highlights the many failures in the mental health system and the judicial system.

I remember the headlines when this murder took place, and it was all about a spoiled young man who committed murder because his allowance was cut. The truth is far sadder, with Thomas Gilbert Jr.'s mental health issues slowly unravelling his life.½

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first John Glatt and I have a feeling it won't be my last. Glatt writes without an agenda and gives a blow by blow, almost minute by minute retelling of the case. The amount of research and detail included in this book was almost overwhelming. Glatt put his own voice aside to allow the voices of the family, the victims, and the assailant ring true.

This case is particularly harrowing and close to home.

The Golden Boy : A Murder Among the Manhattan Elite is the second true crime book that I have read by John Glatt and I have been impressed by both of them. Glatt’s mix of facts and story telling keeps the book interesting and he’s able to distance himself enough from his subject matter that his opinions of the events doesn’t color his writing.

I was so mad while reading The Golden Boy and if you were actually here in my office and we were discussing it, I know my blood pressure would rise again! Tommy is given a wonderful life, one that has so many advantages that 99 percent of the world will never know. His parents just keep giving him money and throwing money at others to make his discretions disappear. They know he has something mentally wrong with him but they are too concerned about saving face. Or that he will stop talking to them, although he barely talks with his father anyway. Even most of his peers brush it off. If you have money, just make it someone else’s problem.

It makes me angry that mental illness is not discussed and that better support is not in place for every person, rich or poor. It makes me angry that people are not willing to cut others off sooner. It makes me angry that so many rich people do nothing but collect wealth.

Normally in my reviews, if a book makes me angry I say that it’s a good book because it makes me think about things in a different light. And while The Golden Boy is an excellent account of a life that was destroyed and another that ended in murder, and I highly recommend that you read it if you enjoy True Crime, I just can’t say it’s a “good book” in the area of subject matter that I’m not familiar with because this is not anything new to me. The decline of our society via wealth and the horrendous medical field shows itself everyday in various ways and I see no end in sight. I hope this makes you angry too and that you are taking steps, no matter how small, to improve your life and the life of others.

Okay, enough soapbox speech! Another fantastic book by Glatt and one I recommend.

I have read several of John Glatt's books, so I really looked forward to this one. This book is about Thomas Gilbert Jr. and the murder of his father, Thomas Sr. As I expected, it was a great book! I like the way the author writes, and he is clear on his details, which are not lacking. It is well written. Plus, the storyline is very good, and you can understand both sides, although your empathies go with his parents. It is a heartbreaking story. I highly recommend this book. It is great!

If you've ever watched any shows on Oxygen, Investigative Discovery or Court TV you probably are familiar with this case. Quick run down is not so happily married couple decides to buy a house. Wife kills husband and then dismembers him in an insane disposal plan using (doh!) matching luggage, and tosses the body parts off a bridge. Fisherman "catch" the luggage. there's much more to this story that you didn't necessarily hear about on Forensic Files or Snapped. This was fascinating to me and I think others will find it just as compelling as I did.

Just the facts, ma'am. Author John Glatt does not really offer opinions on Chris Watts. At first, I found this grating. But in light of the fact that no psychological evaluation was ever done on Christopher Watts, this was probably a wise choice. Also, letting Chris and Shannon speak for themselves through texts and emails, Chris's interviews, and Shannon's prolific social media use really helps you to understand how you never really know what is going on inside of someone's head. Warning - the details of the murders themselves are horrifying.

I'm trying to read some of the older books in my bookcases to start off the year and this one grabbed my attention. It's a well told, well researched look at Chris Watts who killed his wife and two daughters in 2018. This was a horrific unbelievable crime and the way the killer acted after the murders was unbelievable - he very calmly told his friends and family that his wife had taken the kids on a play date, he told the media that he wanted them back and hoped that they were safe - all while he knew that he had strangled them and disposed of their bodies. The police noticed immediately that his demeanor was off - he didn't really act like a distraught husband and father, instead he appeared calm and unaffected. He was their prime suspect as soon as they interviewed him. This was a very difficult book to read especially when it was about the little girls being murdered. This man is evil personified and deserves to spend the rest of his life in prison.

The book used interviews with friends and family but didn't really go into the deep reasons behind the murders. What I didn't like is that the author continually made disparaging remarks about Shanann that I felt were almost blaming her. Yes, even if there were problems in the marriage, they could have been handled without murder.

I read this book in practically one sitting. I could not put it down. The story of Josef Fritzl imprisoning his daughter Elisabeth in his celler, unknown to everyone but himself, was horrifying. When this news story broke I was appalled and fascinated.

I saw this at the library and picked it up. I remember I had read stories on the Internet but didn't get the big picture. As awful as this subject matter is, I was drawn into this book and this horrific crime.

It's not always well written. At times the author repeated himself a few times. It seemed to be well researched, though. The 4 stars does not represent writing syle, it represents the fact that I couldn't put the book down.