Madness Under the Royal Palms Audiobook By Laurence Leamer cover art

Madness Under the Royal Palms

Love and Death Behind the Gates of Palm Beach

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Madness Under the Royal Palms

By: Laurence Leamer
Narrated by: Todd McLaren
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In March 1999, a Palm Beach matron and her socially ambitious husband invited the elite of the island for a dinner dance honoring Prince Edward. Among those dancing to the string orchestra that evening would be those accused of murder and spousal abuse, and others who would suffer fates both unseemly and unspeakable. Among the outer circle there would be murders, suicides, and fatal fires. There would be those who would rise from the dust of obscurity to the heights of wealth and those who would fall to oblivion and disgrace.Thus begins Madness Under the Royal Palms.

Leave it to Laurence Leamer, the best-selling author known for getting the inside story on his elusive subjects, to take us behind the walls of America's most exclusive enclave of wealth and privilege. Here Leamer tells a braided story involving a socialite determined to make it to the top of Palm Beach society, two infamous murders, and a powerful society reporter. As a backdrop, Leamer tells the story of the clash between old money and new, religion and status, and the love, lust, and fatal hatreds that determine the shape of a fiercely protected society. The cast of characters include trophy wives, trophy husbands, purported gigolos, glamorous widows, a pioneering gay couple, a wildly irreverent event planner, a sociopathic multimillionaire, and an elegant society queen. For 100 years, Palm Beach has been a fantasyland nurtured by, and maintained for, the megawealthy.

In the end, Leamer's tale of money, murder, and mad pretension reveals a darker strain. Uncovering that strain, the author writes, "turned into as fascinating, in some cases as shocking, and always as unexpected a journey as I have ever taken."

©2009 Laurence Leamer (P)2009 Tantor Americas Entertainment & Celebrities Investing & Trading Popular Culture Royalty Social Sciences Sociology State & Local United States Celebrity Marriage Money Investing Crime Witty Murder

Critic reviews

"Madness offers buckets of heart-warmimg Schadenfreude for all." ( The Washington Post)
"The book's highly visual vignettes dominated by divorce, infidelity, excessive drinking and violence produce a depressing picture of sad, angry, insecure and frequently nasty people hiding behind empty smiles, luxury cars and socially invisible servants." - ( Publishers Weekly)
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Money defamation murder suicide! It had everything. A fabulous read. Five stars all the way

Fantastic book

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I am not someone who has spent any time in my life thinking about extraordinary wealth. But this book was free for Audible subscribers, so I thought I would try it.
The story is a cross between tragic and grotesque. I’m sure there must be many lovely people that live in Palm Beach. But this book talks virtually exclusively about the tragic souls where money is all they have. I am sure this kind of wealth and lifestyle are tempting to some people. But this book made me realize I am grateful to not be a part of it.

Bizarre

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For those of us who "havenot" a must read (listen) for anyone who loves the tabloid-esque scandals of the Palm Beach rich. I love that the stories are scandalously current, unlike the old recycled stories we've heard countless times. Fantastic! Keep 'em coming!! ten stars not five!!!!

Just what I've been waiting for

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I live near Palm Beach. In my experience this story is accurate in its depiction of the people, culture and island life. I see and interact with them regularly for over 20 years. Have friends who do as well and share their stories… The author did a great job of painting the picture as it really is… or was in 2009.

Accurate portrayal of life on the island

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A raw, unvarnished account of a society that could have gone on for volumes because social circles such as this one described in Palm Beach, FL change characters over time but never die, and they have existed all over the world for centuries.

This is more than just a tale of frivolity, this book exposes ruthless evil that is as toxic and vile as it gets.

There is good historical content; however, there was an error regarding The Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The author said that they resided in Bermuda, when in fact in 1940, the Duke was appointed governor of the Bahamas. He and the Duchess resided in Nassau for the remainder of the war.

Toxic, desperate people

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I expected to read about a particular crime. This is more an expose of the wealthy of old Palm Beach. There are many interesting characters, but I got lost trying to keep track. Good read to kill time. Not one I'd buy again.

Not a story, but a collection

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I quickly picked up this book after reading Mar A Lago because I love the way this writer writes, and the narration is truly fabulous. The same narrator here also. This book was much wittier and at times my ribs hurt and tears rolled down my cheeks as I laughed uncontrollably. So many very interesting tales packed into this book. The writer is able to write and permit the reader to draw their own conclusions without becoming an interruption with his own attitudes and opinions. I feel as if I am remote viewing when he tells a tale. He recreates people and situations with such clarity and with views from comfortable angles, for the most part. Some stories are more shocking than others, such as a two-year-old child drowning in a pool, written off as collateral damage with sadistic disregard, from an extramarital affair. The writer walks you through labyrinths of illusion, self-importance, and insatiable needs. The burdens of "rank" and "status" that cause people continuous compromises with integrity. And lets you rest in the distances between the Haves and Have Nots. I only wish this was volume one of a twenty volume set.

Master Story Telling

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For some reason, I had the impression this was a true crime book. It's not, but it's somewhat interesting nonetheless, but it's just a story about awful, rich people doing terrible things to each other.

Not a true crime book, but ok.

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At times I grew pretty weary of the author’s rants on the bias against Jews in Palm Beach, as though it were still going on as it had been in much earlier days. This became tiresome, as at times he seemed to disapprove of just about everything and everyone in the town. But overall, I found this book engaging and well-written, so much so that I have even begun to think of visiting there some time soon. Recommended.

A somewhat jaundiced view but still worthwhile

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This book was amazing! Such amazing stories told in such a well researched way! Love the narrator as well. I just went to look up more books by this author. I’m now a huge fan!

I love the research

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