The Unveiling; Extreme Punishment: Two new books about Dan Markel's Life and Death

Two new books are now out about the life and death of our dear friend, founder of Prawfsblawg Dan Markel. Both are highly recommended!

The first is by Ruth Markel, Dan's mother - from the publisher:

Ruth Markel’s tenacious fight for justice on behalf of the murder of her son, Dan Markel, and the struggle to be legally reunited with her grandchildren.

Ruth Markel is the mother of the late Dan Markel, a noted law professor who was murdered in Tallahassee, Florida in 2014.

In The Unveiling, she describes her experiences since the day of Dan’s death from several distinct perspectives:

• As a devastated mother with the unique human perspective of becoming a homicide survivor and victim.

• As a woman whose attempts to achieve normalcy and live a healthy life are continually interrupted by painful reminders, a rollercoaster of hearings, frequently changing trial dates, verdicts, and appeals.

• As an engaged citizen using what she has learned to help other victims of homicide and violent crimes recover from trauma and begin an optimistic outlook on life.

• As an insider who shows how our collective network of family, friends, and experts—including a murder coach—have helped her family remain involved, motivated, and hopeful.

• As a grandmother who had not been allowed to see her grandchildren in many years, she used advocacy to inspire the Florida State Legislature to pass a grandparent visitation bill.

• And as an experienced author of nine books using the written word to effectively address the shift from grief to promise.

The second is by Steven Epstein - Extreme Punishment - from the publisher:

A devoted father. One of the most accomplished criminal law
scholars in the country. Someone wanted him dead. But why?

On the morning of July 18, 2014, 41-year-old Florida State law professor Dan Markel dropped his boys off at preschool, hit the gym, and headed home to his quiet, tree-canopied neighborhood. Within seconds of pulling into his garage, two .38-caliber bullets fired from point-blank range were lodged in his brain.

His brutal slaying defied explanation. The case went stone cold for nearly two years before dogged pursuit by the Tallahassee Police and the FBI resulted in the arrest of two life-long criminals who had driven 10 hours from Miami with one singular purpose: to murder the esteemed professor. Were his ex-wife Wendi Adelson and her South Florida family the masterminds behind this horrific crime?

EXTREME PUNISHMENT is the riveting story of a divorce between two law professors that spiraled out of control, wealthy in-laws hell-bent on revenge, an unlikely love triangle, and the relentless quest to bring Dan’s killers—all of them—to justice.

Praise for this book:

“Empathetic, engrossing, and impeccably researched, EXTREME PUNISHMENT is the single best piece of reporting I’ve read on the Dan Markel case. Like the best true crime books, it says as much about the law and society as it does about Dan’s murder and the subsequent trials. A genuine revelation.”
—Matthew Shaer, Creator and Host of Wondery’s Over My Dead Body podcast

“EXTREME PUNISHMENT is a rich, detailed, well-researched telling of the murder of Dan Markel. But it’s not the crime that will keep you turning the pages in what will become a classic on the shelves of true crime enthusiasts. What makes this book special is the people involved in this twisted story, the wildly exciting characters you soon realize are just like you and your next-door neighbors. Maybe even your in-laws. Perhaps even your ex-spouse.”
—Rod Kackley, award-winning journalist and author of 32 books, including THE MURDER OF KELSEY BERRETH
and THE MURDER OF THORA CHAMBERLAIN

”Steve Epstein’s sharp new true-crime rips the lid off the whole sensational story about a wrecked relationship gone horribly awry. Top notch.”
—Ron Franscell, New York Times bestselling author of THE DARKEST NIGHT and SHADOWMAN

“EXTREME PUNISHMENT is a compelling and masterfully told story illuminating the lives of real people caught up in a shocking murder. The startling and complex twists in a war between two families and the unpredictable turns of real courtroom drama will satisfy any true crime lover and anyone else with a passionate interest in human relationships. This outstanding book is a ‘can’t-put-it-down’ to the last page. A must-read.”
—Jennifer Zedalis, Senior Legal Skills Professor, Director of Trial Practice, and Assistant Director of the Criminal Justice Center, University of Florida Levin College of Law

“A truly fascinating and addicting read. In EXTREME PUNISHMENT, Steve Epstein meticulously provides insight into the myriad of personalities and entanglements surrounding the tragic murder of Dan Markel. He has taken a most complex case and synthesized it brilliantly into a riveting and obsessive read.”
—John D. Singer, Co-founder of Singer Deutsch LLP and preeminent NYC and California employment attorney and legal commentator

“EXTREME PUNISHMENT is the book those of us who have been mesmerized by the search for justice in Dan Markel’s murder have been waiting for. Steve Epstein takes the reader through all the twists and turns of this remarkable case and provides richly textured insights into the lives of the people involved in, and affected by, this American tragedy.”
—Paul Caron, Dean of Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law and Founder of TaxProf Blog, a leading source of information about Dan Markel’s murder