The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty

Unlike his family’s past cover-ups, Alex had to contend with modern technology as he tried to conceal his family’s crimes. How did digital evidence play a pivotal role in catching Alex, or conversely, how did modern technology hinder the investigations? In your response, focus on one of the following: Alex’s financial crimes, the boat crash cover-up, or the murder cover-up.

What role does Bauerlein’s portrayal of Mark Tinsley play in illuminating the darker aspects of Alex’s personality?

A notable convention of the true-crime genre is the effort to give a voice to the voiceless. How does Bauerlein include the voices of Alex’s victims throughout the narrative? What new information and perspectives do these voices offer?

How do Bauerlein’s descriptions of Alex’s early financial crimes contribute to a deeper understanding of his capacity to commit murder?

What is Alex’s constructed self-image? How did Alex’s desire to maintain his outward appearance and reputation contribute to his defeat?

How were the investigations into the boat case and the murders impeded by the close-knit nature of Hampton County? How did investigators try to overcome the influence of the Murdaughs’ connections?

How does Bauerlein depict the insularity and traditions of Hampton County? How did the Murdaughs take advantage of these characteristics when building their dynasty?

How does Bauerlein use narrative elements and literary devices to elevate her retelling of the Alex Murdaugh case beyond a play-by-play account of the investigation’s major events?