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Among the Bros: A Fraternity Crime Story
A brilliant young investigative journalist traces a murder and a multi-million-dollar drug ring, leading to an unprecedented look at elite American fraternity life. When Max Marshall arrived on the campus of the College of Charleston in 2018, he hoped to investigate a small-time fraternity Xanax trafficking ring. Instead, he found a homicide, several student deaths, and millions of dollars circulating around the Deep South. He also opened up an elite world hidden to outsiders. Behind the pop culture cliches of “Greek life” lies one of the major breeding grounds of American 80 percent of Fortune 500 executives, 85 percent of Supreme Court justices, and all but four presidents since 1825 have been fraternity members. With unprecedented immersion, this book takes readers inside that bubble. Under the live oaks and Spanish moss of Travel + Leisure ’s “Most Beautiful Campus in America,” Marshall traces several “C of C” boys’ journeys from fraternity pledges to interstate drug traffickers. The result is a true-life story of hubris, status, money, drugs, and murder—one that lifts a curtain on an ecstatic and disturbing way of life. With expert pacing and a cool eye, he follows a never-ending party that continues after funerals and mass arrests. An addictive and haunting portrait of tomorrow’s American establishment, Among the Bros is nonfiction storytelling at its finest.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,103 reviews
November 28, 2023
Wow, I really did not like this book and really thought I would. There is a great book in here but this author couldn't (or wouldn't) locate it. The author is extremely biased in favor of frat boys, he won't call out sexual violence, racism, or abuse. The pacing is off, he thinks his readership is not intelligent so he constantly slows down to explain things. Also the big twist of the story is broadcast for so long it feels so obvious once we get there. Great cover. Great title. Disappointing book.
January 25, 2024
I rarely rate a book below three stars. I prefer nonfiction to fiction, and true crime is a favorite genre of mine. The title captured my attention and I ordered it on audiobook. I had to wait awhile to receive it and many other listeners/readers are waiting in line behind me.
The content is incredibly disturbing, particularly fraternity hazing and the dealing of illegal drugs in stupendous amounts. I did not make it to the murder part of this story. I made it halfway through the book and placed it in the DNF pile. The pace is way too slow and there is a tone of arrogance rather than empathy.
The content is incredibly disturbing, particularly fraternity hazing and the dealing of illegal drugs in stupendous amounts. I did not make it to the murder part of this story. I made it halfway through the book and placed it in the DNF pile. The pace is way too slow and there is a tone of arrogance rather than empathy.
May 22, 2024
4.5 stars— After reading many middling reviews for “Among the Bros” I wasn’t sure whether I should read this book, but I have to admit that I really enjoyed it. I have never read anything by the author, Max Marshall, but he must have done hundreds of hours of research and interviews to tell the story of a massive drug operation that was run through past and present fraternity members at the College of Charleston from 2015 to 2016. I’m no prude, but I was absolutely amazed at the level of debauchery and ignorance this book details in the daily lives of fraternity and sorority members during that time. The amount of drugs sold and consumed through the actions of basically three prolific frat boy drug dealers absolutely amazed me. And talk about operating ‘wide open’ — these guys had absolutely no fear of police or other drug dealers as they made so much cash they ran out of room to hide it all. The story focuses on the two biggest fraternity drug dealers, Mikey Schmidt and Rob Liljeberg, who became friends as they raked in hundreds of thousands of dollars providing primarily xanax, cocaine, and marijuana to fraternities and sororities in Charleston and in Mikey’s case, several other colleges. Marshall manages to provide extraordinary detail through witness interviews, access to police files and cooperation from some of the principals. Although the author is not the best writer in the world as far as how he organizes the book and the irrelevant details he sometimes provides, I couldn’t put this one down. I’m not sure why this book has such a low Goodreads’ score because it provides very detailed information that you usually can’t find on a major drug operation that was absolutely fascinating to me. I am still trying to wrap my head around the very large number of young people who knowingly commit felonies on a daily basis as well as the depraved lifestyle that thrives on major college campuses in the Greek system. I guess after reading my review I am a prude based on my ignorance of the so-called college lifestyle described in this book. My one sentence review for “Among the Bros” — the best argument for homeschooling since Stephen King’s ‘Carrie’.
January 9, 2024
Bro, you need to read this book. Trust me, bro.
Max Marshall's Among the Bros is basically what I expected and that was a good thing. Marshall tells the story of a drug ring which developed at a southern college that ended in a murder. If you are looking for a straight true crime book then this actually isn't it. Marshall also immerses the reader in the fraternity culture and at times explains his own experiences since he was in a frat at a different school.
I peeked at a few other reviews and I noticed that many (not all) of the bad reviews for this book centered around Marshall being a bro himself and the fact he does not explicitly condemn Greek culture. While I agree that he does not denounce the culture explicitly, I respectfully disagree with their conclusions.
Marshall treats Greek life as a journalist and looks at it clinically. He does not say, "Frats do this and this is bad, shut them all down." However, when you follow along with what he presents to the reader to explain where fraternities come from and what they have become, he is actually providing a searing indictment. At the same time, he fully recognizes his own part in this lifestyle and touches on how wistful it can seem years later. I think saying, "Frats are terrible and should be abolished," will not reach readers who are prone to ignore that type of diatribe. Marshall does the harder job of showing, not telling.
Whether you love or hate Greek life, there is a book here for you. I highly recommend it.
(This book was provided for review by the publisher.)
Max Marshall's Among the Bros is basically what I expected and that was a good thing. Marshall tells the story of a drug ring which developed at a southern college that ended in a murder. If you are looking for a straight true crime book then this actually isn't it. Marshall also immerses the reader in the fraternity culture and at times explains his own experiences since he was in a frat at a different school.
I peeked at a few other reviews and I noticed that many (not all) of the bad reviews for this book centered around Marshall being a bro himself and the fact he does not explicitly condemn Greek culture. While I agree that he does not denounce the culture explicitly, I respectfully disagree with their conclusions.
Marshall treats Greek life as a journalist and looks at it clinically. He does not say, "Frats do this and this is bad, shut them all down." However, when you follow along with what he presents to the reader to explain where fraternities come from and what they have become, he is actually providing a searing indictment. At the same time, he fully recognizes his own part in this lifestyle and touches on how wistful it can seem years later. I think saying, "Frats are terrible and should be abolished," will not reach readers who are prone to ignore that type of diatribe. Marshall does the harder job of showing, not telling.
Whether you love or hate Greek life, there is a book here for you. I highly recommend it.
(This book was provided for review by the publisher.)
November 9, 2023
In "Among the Bros," Max Marshall navigates the troubled waters of fraternity life and crime with the finesse of a dilettante rather than the acuity of a seasoned journalist. Marshall's narrative, regrettably, revels in the clichéd and gilded tropes of drug dealer bravado and collegiate debauchery, foregoing a critical analysis of the events and their wider societal impacts. His fixation on the protagonists' privileged backgrounds and scandalous exploits suggests a veiled glorification rather than an objective critique, which diminishes the work's potential to resonate with a discerning reader seeking a penetrating exposé of campus life and its darker undercurrents.
A skilled journalist might have transcended the superficial allure of fraternity notoriety, delving instead into the systemic issues that enable such crimes to flourish. By critically examining the intersection of privilege, education, and legality, a more nuanced story could emerge—one that challenges the reader to confront uncomfortable societal truths rather than simply consume a narrative of excess and entitlement. Such an approach would not only provide a richer, more enlightening perspective but also honor the responsibility of journalism to illuminate rather than simply entertain.
Notably, a significant portion of the positive reviews for "Among the Bros" appear to originate from individuals granted early access prior to the book’s publication. This invites speculation regarding their impartiality. Readers would be wise to approach such reviews with scrutiny, inferring what they may about the authenticity of the book's early acclaim. In essence, consider directing your attention elsewhere—there are more rigorous journalistic endeavors that merit your time.
A skilled journalist might have transcended the superficial allure of fraternity notoriety, delving instead into the systemic issues that enable such crimes to flourish. By critically examining the intersection of privilege, education, and legality, a more nuanced story could emerge—one that challenges the reader to confront uncomfortable societal truths rather than simply consume a narrative of excess and entitlement. Such an approach would not only provide a richer, more enlightening perspective but also honor the responsibility of journalism to illuminate rather than simply entertain.
Notably, a significant portion of the positive reviews for "Among the Bros" appear to originate from individuals granted early access prior to the book’s publication. This invites speculation regarding their impartiality. Readers would be wise to approach such reviews with scrutiny, inferring what they may about the authenticity of the book's early acclaim. In essence, consider directing your attention elsewhere—there are more rigorous journalistic endeavors that merit your time.
November 19, 2023
2.5 rounded down
Max Marshall is clearly a good writer and researcher, but this reads like a very long magazine article: engaging but shallow. Marshall outlines a world of insane amounts of straight, white, male institutional power and privilege that is sickening to read about. He lets the subjects and their culture damn themselves through their own words and actions, but that’s undermined by the fact that, despite portraying a world of intense misogyny and racism, it never shows any interest in what it might be like for the women, girls, or people of color who have to deal with these assholes. The way it stays so firmly in the perspective of rich white guys…is that an intentional choice to show how narrow and insular their world is? Or does the writer just not care about anyone else? I think it’s intentional but I think that was the wrong choice. We already knew these dudes only care about themselves. It feels so incredibly lopsided. Even if he’s spending so much time with these guys to show how horrible they are, it’s still allowing them to write the narrative.
It’s a shame we’ll never get a real look at one of the few people in the whole thing who had to deal with true consequences: the black man who may or may not be guilty of the crime he was convicted of. His was the only story I came away wanting to know, but who’s going to dedicate this many words to him?
It makes for a decent argument against the existence of “Greek life” though, if you could possibly still need one of those in 2023.
Good Lord, I hate rich people so very, very much.
Max Marshall is clearly a good writer and researcher, but this reads like a very long magazine article: engaging but shallow. Marshall outlines a world of insane amounts of straight, white, male institutional power and privilege that is sickening to read about. He lets the subjects and their culture damn themselves through their own words and actions, but that’s undermined by the fact that, despite portraying a world of intense misogyny and racism, it never shows any interest in what it might be like for the women, girls, or people of color who have to deal with these assholes. The way it stays so firmly in the perspective of rich white guys…is that an intentional choice to show how narrow and insular their world is? Or does the writer just not care about anyone else? I think it’s intentional but I think that was the wrong choice. We already knew these dudes only care about themselves. It feels so incredibly lopsided. Even if he’s spending so much time with these guys to show how horrible they are, it’s still allowing them to write the narrative.
It’s a shame we’ll never get a real look at one of the few people in the whole thing who had to deal with true consequences: the black man who may or may not be guilty of the crime he was convicted of. His was the only story I came away wanting to know, but who’s going to dedicate this many words to him?
It makes for a decent argument against the existence of “Greek life” though, if you could possibly still need one of those in 2023.
Good Lord, I hate rich people so very, very much.
June 12, 2023
Don't be alarmed by those searing eyes on this creepy cover. This was a super engaging and fast-paced story of a drug ring at at College of Charleston fraternity. The descriptions of the people involved were compelling, the timeline was well laid out, and the background and information on fraternity life at C of C was fascinating. I picked this up after being frustrated by the three former fratboys that moved in next door to me and are incapable of acting with any amount of decency.
I was provided a copy of this book through Net Galley in exchange for my review.
I was provided a copy of this book through Net Galley in exchange for my review.
July 2, 2023
What in the actual hell? This story is unbelievable and highlights how wealthy white men so frequently avoid the consequences of their actions.
Also, this cover is brilliant.
Also, this cover is brilliant.
November 24, 2023
I hated everything about this book, from the artless cover to the horribly written story about an ugly train wreck of a subculture to the terrible author photo on the back flap. I only finished it because I paid full price at an indie bookstore, and I’m giving it 2 stars instead of 1 because I was somewhat interested in the actual underlying story, although the author (a “bro” himself) made it very hard to stay focused on it.
He seemed to randomly switch between first name and last name when referring to the key players, which only added to the chaotic reading experience. His writing strategy seemed like nothing more thoughtful than just stringing a stack of research notecards (run-on style) together, with several irrelevant details shoved in, all to terrible effect. Granted, he had a lot of detail to include, but the end result was frustrating and highly unsatisfying.
About 90% of what I read is nonfiction, so I’m not new here, but this guy blew it with me. I have absolutely no further interest in his work.
Tl; dr
DO NOT RECOMMEND.
He seemed to randomly switch between first name and last name when referring to the key players, which only added to the chaotic reading experience. His writing strategy seemed like nothing more thoughtful than just stringing a stack of research notecards (run-on style) together, with several irrelevant details shoved in, all to terrible effect. Granted, he had a lot of detail to include, but the end result was frustrating and highly unsatisfying.
About 90% of what I read is nonfiction, so I’m not new here, but this guy blew it with me. I have absolutely no further interest in his work.
Tl; dr
DO NOT RECOMMEND.
December 21, 2023
I can't recall the exact constellation of events that put this book on my radar, but I'm a sucker for a good nonfiction. The story of frat boys being at the center of a drug ring, laundering money through their chapters disguised as alumni donations? That's a story worth reading. At time this did read like a collection of tangents and not the straight forward narrative I assumed that I was getting myself into, but those tangents were certainly related and offered tidbits of information that were definitely still informative.
I'm not a nonfiction reviewer, I just know what I like when I read it, and this just one of those things. If the synopsis or event he title is intriguing in anyway, I think this is worth at least checking out a sample.
I'm not a nonfiction reviewer, I just know what I like when I read it, and this just one of those things. If the synopsis or event he title is intriguing in anyway, I think this is worth at least checking out a sample.
December 10, 2023
When they’re first starting out in the profession, nearly every journalist wants to try their hand at narrative storytelling. The advice they’re given is to capture color — *really* absorb the details and use them to enrich the writing.
As we know, all horrible outcomes stem from good intentions. And this piece of wisdom has created an army of journalists who write lines like “James, who loves his steaks medium and has a 10-handicap, always wanted to be a surgeon.” It’s color for color’s sake; it does nothing to advance the core story.
Max Marshall must have gotten the same advice and applied it to excess effect in “Among the Bros: A Fraternity Crime Story.”
It’s unending.
— “His father co-owned 82 Queen, an upscale downtown restaurant famous for its award-winning she-crab soup.” This, about a minor character.
— “Taking a QB and watching Terry Bradshaw straighten his double windsor knot.” This, about college kids doing drugs on Sunday mornings.
— “In Smash, Mikey liked to play as Samus, and Rob picked blue Donkey Kong.” This, describing two drug-dealers who loved video games.
None of this has any relevance to the plot — but is quite relevant to explaining my growing apathy toward this book.
But that’s just half the reason.
The other half is what the writing tells us about the author himself.
“Among the Bros” is ostensibly, is about bro culture at college fraternities — about the privileged ignorance that thrives in groups dominated by wealthy, white, straight men, who literally get away with murder and land just fine.
“I hope people that take the time to read this book also see that it’s not a finger-waggy exposé where I feel like I’m above it all,” Marshall told the Guardian.
Not only does he not pass judgment, but the writing exposes, if not, Marshall’s envy than, at the very least, his awe of Mikey — the asshole protagonist of this story.
“I was the one trying to impress him,” Marshall writes about his first phone call to Mikey in prison.
And throughout the book, the author — who also used to be in a fraternity — is overly enamored of his subjects’ wealth, and hard-partying lifestyles.
These are college students who ran an interstate drug ring. But Marshall’s interest lies more with the frat boy excess of the dealers than their real-life victims.
True crime is hard to write. You have to be dispassionate but still elicit outrage. It’s a delicate balancing act that, when done well as in “Empire of Pain” or “Bad Blood,” elevates a book from great to absolutely remarkable.
This is not that kind of a book.
As we know, all horrible outcomes stem from good intentions. And this piece of wisdom has created an army of journalists who write lines like “James, who loves his steaks medium and has a 10-handicap, always wanted to be a surgeon.” It’s color for color’s sake; it does nothing to advance the core story.
Max Marshall must have gotten the same advice and applied it to excess effect in “Among the Bros: A Fraternity Crime Story.”
It’s unending.
— “His father co-owned 82 Queen, an upscale downtown restaurant famous for its award-winning she-crab soup.” This, about a minor character.
— “Taking a QB and watching Terry Bradshaw straighten his double windsor knot.” This, about college kids doing drugs on Sunday mornings.
— “In Smash, Mikey liked to play as Samus, and Rob picked blue Donkey Kong.” This, describing two drug-dealers who loved video games.
None of this has any relevance to the plot — but is quite relevant to explaining my growing apathy toward this book.
But that’s just half the reason.
The other half is what the writing tells us about the author himself.
“Among the Bros” is ostensibly, is about bro culture at college fraternities — about the privileged ignorance that thrives in groups dominated by wealthy, white, straight men, who literally get away with murder and land just fine.
“I hope people that take the time to read this book also see that it’s not a finger-waggy exposé where I feel like I’m above it all,” Marshall told the Guardian.
Not only does he not pass judgment, but the writing exposes, if not, Marshall’s envy than, at the very least, his awe of Mikey — the asshole protagonist of this story.
“I was the one trying to impress him,” Marshall writes about his first phone call to Mikey in prison.
And throughout the book, the author — who also used to be in a fraternity — is overly enamored of his subjects’ wealth, and hard-partying lifestyles.
These are college students who ran an interstate drug ring. But Marshall’s interest lies more with the frat boy excess of the dealers than their real-life victims.
True crime is hard to write. You have to be dispassionate but still elicit outrage. It’s a delicate balancing act that, when done well as in “Empire of Pain” or “Bad Blood,” elevates a book from great to absolutely remarkable.
This is not that kind of a book.
November 28, 2023
This book caught my attention because of the cover and the title. I loved the contrast of the serious, old fashioned portrait with a pink polo with the popped collar. Then finding out that it was a true crime story about a ring of drug dealers in the elite world of fraternities definitely had me interested. The story was compelling and I did get through the book rather quickly, but I was also left wanting more from it.
It was fascinating to see how this group of guys went from smaller dealers to being involved with creating and distributing massive amounts of Xanax and other drugs. Getting a glimpse into the world of fraternities, especially white fraternities in the south, was eye opening. However, I wanted the book to go further with presenting multiple viewpoints. The author was in a fraternity himself, and it seemed like he only interviewed people who continue to stick up for frats as a whole. He would mention news stories that showed the negative sides of frats, instances of racism and white supremacy, rape, hazing gone wrong, and more… but the book doesn’t have interviews with the people talking about those negative experiences from their own perspectives.
I think I was just hoping for a more balanced look at the positives and negatives of Greek life. Don’t get me wrong, the book does definitely show negatives. But it’s more like the people who are still praising the frats telling on themselves rather than giving a spotlight to people who could share their negative viewpoints.
It was fascinating to see how this group of guys went from smaller dealers to being involved with creating and distributing massive amounts of Xanax and other drugs. Getting a glimpse into the world of fraternities, especially white fraternities in the south, was eye opening. However, I wanted the book to go further with presenting multiple viewpoints. The author was in a fraternity himself, and it seemed like he only interviewed people who continue to stick up for frats as a whole. He would mention news stories that showed the negative sides of frats, instances of racism and white supremacy, rape, hazing gone wrong, and more… but the book doesn’t have interviews with the people talking about those negative experiences from their own perspectives.
I think I was just hoping for a more balanced look at the positives and negatives of Greek life. Don’t get me wrong, the book does definitely show negatives. But it’s more like the people who are still praising the frats telling on themselves rather than giving a spotlight to people who could share their negative viewpoints.
January 7, 2024
1.5 stars. Hate the authors writing style. It feels like a college paper being written the night before.
Very very redundant with its information. This story could’ve been a short story or Wikipedia page. No sustenance to it at all, just talking about how some kids in frats would throw parties and do Xanax with a focus on Mikey.
Overall not a book I’d recommend. This could’ve been a short story if anything.
Very very redundant with its information. This story could’ve been a short story or Wikipedia page. No sustenance to it at all, just talking about how some kids in frats would throw parties and do Xanax with a focus on Mikey.
Overall not a book I’d recommend. This could’ve been a short story if anything.
January 18, 2024
don't do drugs, kids
November 15, 2023
An enthralling tale of a fraternity Xanax drug ring and murder. Fast paced and easy to read. That being said I was confused during parts because the time line jumped around a bit.
As someone who had never heard about this (I rarely watch the news) I still found it interesting and a little mind boggling that this actually took place. I flew through the book.
Thank you Harper for the advanced readers copy, all thoughts are my own.
As someone who had never heard about this (I rarely watch the news) I still found it interesting and a little mind boggling that this actually took place. I flew through the book.
Thank you Harper for the advanced readers copy, all thoughts are my own.
November 18, 2023
This would have made for a very interesting article or two. I was interested to hear the rest of the details so I finished but I was not a fan at all of how it was written. The author inserted himself into the story so much and in ways that were totally unnecessary - did I need to hear “when Mikey and I were in school” every time he wrote about Mikey being in school? Did I need to hear about his buddies’ reactions to things (multiple times)?? Nope. I sure didn’t.
January 26, 2024
I thought I knew enough to hate frat bros. There is so much more to hate about them after reading this. Very well written.
December 10, 2023
First, I wish we could have a scale of 1-10 or 1/2 star options, because 4 seems too high for this but 3 seems too low.
I work at a university in South Carolina, so I was not the least bit shocked by any of the revelations here, but I suspect a lot of people will be. Marshall's writing is far from great, but it gets the job done. It feels as if he wavers between trying to be a journalist and slipping back into his own frat bro days. Organization is lacking at times.
More than anything else, this made me more angry than ever at the patriarchy, racism, the American caste system and the USA in general.
I work at a university in South Carolina, so I was not the least bit shocked by any of the revelations here, but I suspect a lot of people will be. Marshall's writing is far from great, but it gets the job done. It feels as if he wavers between trying to be a journalist and slipping back into his own frat bro days. Organization is lacking at times.
More than anything else, this made me more angry than ever at the patriarchy, racism, the American caste system and the USA in general.
September 3, 2023
A very quick read and more than a little unsettling. Rich, white fraternity boys capitalized on the need for Xanax and cocaine on their College of Charleston campus. Mind numbing that 80 percent of of legislators and 85 percent of Supreme Court justices come from this talent pool. Even more disturbing is the lack of empathy for those who die due to addiction - it is almost like an inconvenience to the party schedule. Although I certainly don’t celebrate anyone’s death the story of Patrick Moffley and his family’s behavior- having another huge drug and alcohol fueled raged on their farm as a “life celebration" when he was gunned down in a drug related robbery did not make me sympathetic to their plight. Apparently as long as the black trigger man was apprehended and punished it did not seem to matter to them or the police that the hit could have been an order from another white “bro”. So many of the defendants in this drug ring are out leading their lives without any implications. Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy. This would make a great Netflix expose. Suburb cover design too - kudos to whoever made that choice!
November 25, 2023
Not for me. The journalistic style wasn’t even serious writing, as if he was cashing in on being of the same generation and background as his subjects. Everything about the story itself just disgusted me. Middle section was Drugs 101 and I work in healthcare but it was a LOT.
Hated it. The Vanity Fair article was far better. This book could’ve been an article. I read they’re optioning film rights? I’ll pass.
Hated it. The Vanity Fair article was far better. This book could’ve been an article. I read they’re optioning film rights? I’ll pass.
February 2, 2024
Hey bro, guess what? I just watched the longest and most tedious episode of ‘Entourage.’
Having gone to a Big Ten university and read a lot of dark academia, I thought there would be a lot to like about ‘Among the Bros.’ Fun-loving princes on a beautiful campus? Check. Fast cars and pop stars? Check. Rich people problems? Check. A dead body? Check. And that, friends, is a list more organized than this mess of a book.
Early on we are offered a list of young men (and one woman, semi redacted) involved in this ‘fraternity crime story.’ Only a couple of them get the bulk of the attention; other names are sprinkled in with so little context I found myself dogearring the page and checking to see whether that name was one from the original list. We are also told over and over again how gorgeous the College of Charleston campus is, how ubiquitous drugs and alcohol are, how privileged the families of these fraternity brothers are, and how one of those still-short guys grew seven inches in a year and fought to make up the height difference socially. There was absolutely nobody in this book to root for, no real explanation how one clean-cut Catholic kid wound up dealing without a flicker of conscience, and any storytelling was a tangle of linear threads. By the time we get to the long-foreshadowed dead body, it’s not really clear how the guy fit into the story or why he was murdered.
‘Among the Bros’ had a lot of great source material and the author clearly did a lot of research, but then he threw the whole pasta colander against the wall to see what would stick. Pacing is nonexistent. There is editorializing about the author’s own college and frat experience (spoiler: he’s a bro too, skating by on his Frat Row cred like all the rest), quoted laws, details on how to counterfeit prescription pills, conflicting notes on street value, ingenious ways to hide thousands of pills, Confederate folklore (with racist incidents that should be shocking but then are dropped quickly), and enough music industry namedropping to make me absently mutter ‘Yo yo yo’ under my breath. Frat guys, industry figures, and dealers are named, their sex lives referenced, and then barely ever mentioned again. You really can’t care because there’s nothing to hold onto. At least the guys in ‘Entourage’ were sober from time to time and had caring relationships with one another.
The book could have been very different. Introduce each guy listed and take us through their journeys. Help us understand their motivations. Explain how many of them spent virtually no time (I mean it—why are they there again?) in the classroom and still graduated. I want my drug stories pure, not diluted and stretched. Like many of the drugs exhaustively referenced and described, reading ‘Among the Bros’ was a very white, very banal waste of time and effort…and, in the end, no fun at all. At least I was able to stop whenever I wanted, which was still too late.
Having gone to a Big Ten university and read a lot of dark academia, I thought there would be a lot to like about ‘Among the Bros.’ Fun-loving princes on a beautiful campus? Check. Fast cars and pop stars? Check. Rich people problems? Check. A dead body? Check. And that, friends, is a list more organized than this mess of a book.
Early on we are offered a list of young men (and one woman, semi redacted) involved in this ‘fraternity crime story.’ Only a couple of them get the bulk of the attention; other names are sprinkled in with so little context I found myself dogearring the page and checking to see whether that name was one from the original list. We are also told over and over again how gorgeous the College of Charleston campus is, how ubiquitous drugs and alcohol are, how privileged the families of these fraternity brothers are, and how one of those still-short guys grew seven inches in a year and fought to make up the height difference socially. There was absolutely nobody in this book to root for, no real explanation how one clean-cut Catholic kid wound up dealing without a flicker of conscience, and any storytelling was a tangle of linear threads. By the time we get to the long-foreshadowed dead body, it’s not really clear how the guy fit into the story or why he was murdered.
‘Among the Bros’ had a lot of great source material and the author clearly did a lot of research, but then he threw the whole pasta colander against the wall to see what would stick. Pacing is nonexistent. There is editorializing about the author’s own college and frat experience (spoiler: he’s a bro too, skating by on his Frat Row cred like all the rest), quoted laws, details on how to counterfeit prescription pills, conflicting notes on street value, ingenious ways to hide thousands of pills, Confederate folklore (with racist incidents that should be shocking but then are dropped quickly), and enough music industry namedropping to make me absently mutter ‘Yo yo yo’ under my breath. Frat guys, industry figures, and dealers are named, their sex lives referenced, and then barely ever mentioned again. You really can’t care because there’s nothing to hold onto. At least the guys in ‘Entourage’ were sober from time to time and had caring relationships with one another.
The book could have been very different. Introduce each guy listed and take us through their journeys. Help us understand their motivations. Explain how many of them spent virtually no time (I mean it—why are they there again?) in the classroom and still graduated. I want my drug stories pure, not diluted and stretched. Like many of the drugs exhaustively referenced and described, reading ‘Among the Bros’ was a very white, very banal waste of time and effort…and, in the end, no fun at all. At least I was able to stop whenever I wanted, which was still too late.
January 31, 2024
Judging by Max Marshall's college graduation year, I assume he and I are around the same age. That could be a big reason this book resonates with me because it's based in 2013 when I was also a university student. I went to Southern University, an HBCU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana known for having LSU. I remember websites like Total Frat Move and Greek Rank. I remember the storied message boards of the early to mid-2010s, remnants of the 2000s. Southern-based universities are major institutions down in the South. There is a lot of pride in where you went to school and a big part of Southern-based university life is the Greek life. I am Black and we have our traditions regarding Black Greek Letter Organizations but I remember what it was like for these organizations.
Long story short, this took me back to such a specific time that I don't think about on the day-to-day so this was a blast from the past. I was inspired to pick this up because of the familiarity. Frat boys acting like drug lords, pimps, and gangsters funneling money, drugs, pills, and guns all over the South was something I knew about but forgot about. I remember the horror stories of college kids dying in hazing incidents or from alcohol poisoning at a party. As a young woman, I learned all about the rape culture before I got to my college campus. Then there's the racism under the guise of "tradition" (for Black kids, it was typically colorism and misogyny).
I see negative reviews pointing out that Max Marshall doesn't answer for the crimes committed in this book and as a journalist, I don't expect him to do that. His job is to tell the story, not pass judgment on any of the guys here. What I did miss out on was his presence. I got a lot of information about these guys and I like how the author fleshed them out but as a fan of creative writing, I missed #TheNarrative. I would have liked a bit more style in the narration department. This was not an easy read because of the subject matter. It's deeply disturbing and upsetting but it's a big part of Southern culture so I wasn't as shocked by it. However, as someone who is far removed from that lifestyle at this point in my life, it's crazy how those things are just allowed to happen.
Long story short, this took me back to such a specific time that I don't think about on the day-to-day so this was a blast from the past. I was inspired to pick this up because of the familiarity. Frat boys acting like drug lords, pimps, and gangsters funneling money, drugs, pills, and guns all over the South was something I knew about but forgot about. I remember the horror stories of college kids dying in hazing incidents or from alcohol poisoning at a party. As a young woman, I learned all about the rape culture before I got to my college campus. Then there's the racism under the guise of "tradition" (for Black kids, it was typically colorism and misogyny).
I see negative reviews pointing out that Max Marshall doesn't answer for the crimes committed in this book and as a journalist, I don't expect him to do that. His job is to tell the story, not pass judgment on any of the guys here. What I did miss out on was his presence. I got a lot of information about these guys and I like how the author fleshed them out but as a fan of creative writing, I missed #TheNarrative. I would have liked a bit more style in the narration department. This was not an easy read because of the subject matter. It's deeply disturbing and upsetting but it's a big part of Southern culture so I wasn't as shocked by it. However, as someone who is far removed from that lifestyle at this point in my life, it's crazy how those things are just allowed to happen.
January 8, 2024
I wanted to read Among The Bros by Max Marshall, mostly, because I love to see the elite face the consequences of their actions. I’m not sure that was accomplished here.
Max Marshall did his research, documented at the end of the book. He did give me many details, but the writing didn’t get me involved. I felt it was like reading a text book. It’s hard to relate to characters who feel they are entitled, that no matter what they do it’s no big deal. Just boys having fun.
I felt Max Marshall glossed over rape and murder, concentrating on the drugs and the never ending parties at the College of Charleston.
I find it interesting that so many Fortune 500 executives, Supreme Court Justices, and presidents have been fraternity members. What does that say about them, especially after reading a book like Among The Bros. AND that is why I love to read a book like Among The Bros. Is all the secrecy surrounding fraternities because the members do not want the members actions exposed? How far is too far?
The book left a bad taste in my mouth….and I expected that, so Max did deliver.
Max Marshall did his research, documented at the end of the book. He did give me many details, but the writing didn’t get me involved. I felt it was like reading a text book. It’s hard to relate to characters who feel they are entitled, that no matter what they do it’s no big deal. Just boys having fun.
I felt Max Marshall glossed over rape and murder, concentrating on the drugs and the never ending parties at the College of Charleston.
I find it interesting that so many Fortune 500 executives, Supreme Court Justices, and presidents have been fraternity members. What does that say about them, especially after reading a book like Among The Bros. AND that is why I love to read a book like Among The Bros. Is all the secrecy surrounding fraternities because the members do not want the members actions exposed? How far is too far?
The book left a bad taste in my mouth….and I expected that, so Max did deliver.
December 4, 2023
*2.5 stars*
This really was not what I was expecting at all. I thought this was going to be a story about hazing in frats and like the toxicity that can come from fraternities, but though there was a tiny bit about hazing, it was mostly about selling drugs in frats. And while I think that’s interesting, it felt like a footnote to a much better idea that just never came to fruition in this book. This was SOOO boring. On and on about the same shit about drugs and selling drugs. There didn’t feel like there was any grand theme or purpose honestly.
It also felt oddly like the author was defending some of these toxic behaviors frats can sometimes have that he was describing (hazing, racism, sexism) and it just made me feel icky and uncomfortable. And almost glorifying it?? It wasn’t blatant or anything but I just felt like the author was defensive idk. I just didn’t like this nearly as much as I thought I would! :///
This really was not what I was expecting at all. I thought this was going to be a story about hazing in frats and like the toxicity that can come from fraternities, but though there was a tiny bit about hazing, it was mostly about selling drugs in frats. And while I think that’s interesting, it felt like a footnote to a much better idea that just never came to fruition in this book. This was SOOO boring. On and on about the same shit about drugs and selling drugs. There didn’t feel like there was any grand theme or purpose honestly.
It also felt oddly like the author was defending some of these toxic behaviors frats can sometimes have that he was describing (hazing, racism, sexism) and it just made me feel icky and uncomfortable. And almost glorifying it?? It wasn’t blatant or anything but I just felt like the author was defensive idk. I just didn’t like this nearly as much as I thought I would! :///
December 7, 2023
Among the Bros recounts the nefarious activities of a fraternity at the College of Charleston around 2018. It seems the bros threw wild parties, took advantage of drugged women, and sold piles of drugs. It exposes the privileged life of wealthy families and their ability to escape severe punishment. It's a compelling and easy read that left me wanting more depth.
November 30, 2023
The subject of this book intrigued me, but I disliked almost everything about it. The writing was disjointed and the people involved disgusted me. I finished it, but it just left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
June 28, 2024
Wow! This book was intense and it was incredibly well researched. The depth of checking background information pushed me to experience deep emotional feelings towards all of the negative things that happened.
I never was in a fraternity member because when I went to college I had a child and a wife. So, that was all out for me. After reading this book, I am glad I never took the opportunity to get involved!
Overall, a good book that breaks out some startling facts. The depth of research that he did to make sure that it was accurate was oh so impressive.
I never was in a fraternity member because when I went to college I had a child and a wife. So, that was all out for me. After reading this book, I am glad I never took the opportunity to get involved!
Overall, a good book that breaks out some startling facts. The depth of research that he did to make sure that it was accurate was oh so impressive.
November 22, 2023
I enjoyed this book and learning about these terrible humans. It was probably especially fun for me hearing so many addresses and streets that were in the neighborhood I lived in in Charleston.
It’s not really that crazy of a story and I’m sure this sort of thing existed at basically every school in America but it was interesting to hear how widespread and deep the ring was.
I think maybe this investigation would have been better served written by someone who wasn’t the same age as the perpetrators and also wasn’t in a fraternity, himself. You could tell many instances where the author definitely thought the fraternities - and the guys in fraternities - were cool and a common good. Beyond the fact they are awful, I kept thinking bless this guy’s heart that he doesn’t realize frat kids are actually losers.
It’s not really that crazy of a story and I’m sure this sort of thing existed at basically every school in America but it was interesting to hear how widespread and deep the ring was.
I think maybe this investigation would have been better served written by someone who wasn’t the same age as the perpetrators and also wasn’t in a fraternity, himself. You could tell many instances where the author definitely thought the fraternities - and the guys in fraternities - were cool and a common good. Beyond the fact they are awful, I kept thinking bless this guy’s heart that he doesn’t realize frat kids are actually losers.
January 6, 2024
3.5
THIS WAS WILD DAMN I did not know college students were running drug rings at this scale. The writing style got a bit annoying towards the end with the big reveals (author was also in a fraternity and does a lot of self insert)
THIS WAS WILD DAMN I did not know college students were running drug rings at this scale. The writing style got a bit annoying towards the end with the big reveals (author was also in a fraternity and does a lot of self insert)
December 6, 2023
You know that feeling when you are from a connected white family and have friends who can hook you up with a good internship even if all you have done with your life so far is skip class to use and deal drugs? Yes, everyone is super supportive and your grandfather gives you a trust fund but you just really really wanna get into drug dealing and maybe the rap scene?
spoiler alert: this piece exposes very little! We need a new name for genre of books where the author claims to have "uncovered something" and it's 100+ pages just to summarize stuff that police and defense attorneys are all clearly long aware of lol.
More surprising than the drug scandals or the fact that frat bros DGAF if people are ODing, etc, is this AUTHOR! I seriously think the author was more surprised about the happenings in this case than anyone who has dealt with rich frat boys before. He repeatedly reminds us that he was also one of them and there's actually great things about this institution that only allows men to join, arguments like hmmm if fraternities are so bad how come so many presidents and people in extreme power are frat bros??? I just kept being like "dude.....please pretend you are one of the (SUPER casually referenced) victims of rape, misogyny and racism in this story for one second" but instead its just how women being objectified or assaulted + rappers hearing white frat boys yell the N word affects the FRAT BOY feelies. Like ugh, there's this pathetic vibe from the author where he clearly thinks there's anything COOL about white boys with trust funds getting into drug dealing and addicted to benzos like the SoundCloud rappers they so desperately admire.
Because they keep using the word "journalist" all over this, I was surprised that a website called "Total Frat Move" is so frequently consulted on this serious(?) investigation? Like why was I having to read the gross sexual comments from the commenters on that dumb website that I wish the author hadn't brought to my attention because all it did was serve as evidence that at best, he really didn't care about women and at worst, he genuinely thought their degrading publicized thoughts were kinda funny? I feel so bad for that girl because she was forced to know that these are the true thoughts of some men she meets on campus IRL.
There are some throwaway lines acknowledging the potential negatives of fraternity life on others but mostly I feel like I was tricked into reading a book by man who is metaphorically just lovingly gazing into the glazed eyes of some loser who literally chooses to commit crimes and hurt people for CLOUT!
spoiler alert: this piece exposes very little! We need a new name for genre of books where the author claims to have "uncovered something" and it's 100+ pages just to summarize stuff that police and defense attorneys are all clearly long aware of lol.
More surprising than the drug scandals or the fact that frat bros DGAF if people are ODing, etc, is this AUTHOR! I seriously think the author was more surprised about the happenings in this case than anyone who has dealt with rich frat boys before. He repeatedly reminds us that he was also one of them and there's actually great things about this institution that only allows men to join, arguments like hmmm if fraternities are so bad how come so many presidents and people in extreme power are frat bros??? I just kept being like "dude.....please pretend you are one of the (SUPER casually referenced) victims of rape, misogyny and racism in this story for one second" but instead its just how women being objectified or assaulted + rappers hearing white frat boys yell the N word affects the FRAT BOY feelies. Like ugh, there's this pathetic vibe from the author where he clearly thinks there's anything COOL about white boys with trust funds getting into drug dealing and addicted to benzos like the SoundCloud rappers they so desperately admire.
Because they keep using the word "journalist" all over this, I was surprised that a website called "Total Frat Move" is so frequently consulted on this serious(?) investigation? Like why was I having to read the gross sexual comments from the commenters on that dumb website that I wish the author hadn't brought to my attention because all it did was serve as evidence that at best, he really didn't care about women and at worst, he genuinely thought their degrading publicized thoughts were kinda funny? I feel so bad for that girl because she was forced to know that these are the true thoughts of some men she meets on campus IRL.
There are some throwaway lines acknowledging the potential negatives of fraternity life on others but mostly I feel like I was tricked into reading a book by man who is metaphorically just lovingly gazing into the glazed eyes of some loser who literally chooses to commit crimes and hurt people for CLOUT!
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