The End of Normal: A Wife's Anguish, A Widow's New Life [Kindle Edition]

Stephanie Madoff Mack (Author)

Book Description

An explosive, heartbreaking memoir from the widow of Mark Madoff and daughter-in-law of Bernard Madoff, the first genuine inside story from a family member who has lived through -- and survived -- both the public crisis and her own deeply personal tragedy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[P]erhaps the most truly 'insider' account of Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme to date...engrossing from the start...Madoff Mack's account contains personal details that make the book worth reading....[F]ascinating."
-Clare O'Connor, Forbes

"[A] moving and revealing memoir...Stephanie finally tells her side of the story."
-Nanette Varian, MORE.com

"The End of Normal gives an intimate account of Mark Madoff's two years of torment over the infamous swindle that wiped out thousands of investors and-by his wife's account-left him a man broken beyond repair."
-Tom Hays, Associated Press

"This is a love story wrapped up in a news story, and that's tricky to tell, because there is a really deep bond between these two people, Stephanie and Mark....Stephanie is just coming forward because she wants people to hear her, and her husband's, version of what their life has been. It's as pure and as simple as that."
-Chris Cuomo, ABC's 20/20

“The End of Normal is a riveting account of life inside the Madoff family as it self-destructed. Stephanie tells her personal story with stark candor and startling courage, and in the face of tragedy, she exudes an undaunted spirit for the sake of her children. This is a heartbreaking tribute to a beloved husband, and a stunning read.”
- Linda Fairstein, New York Times bestselling author of Night Watch

About the Author

Stephanie Mack is the widow of Mark Madoff, who she married in 2004. In December 2008, her father-in-law, Bernard Madoff, was arrested for operating the largest Ponzi scheme in history. She lives in New York City with her two children.

Product Details

• File Size: 4570 KB
• Print Length: 272 pages
• Publisher: Plume; Reprint edition (October 20, 2011)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005HN208A
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,317 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #27 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Death & Grief
  • #72 in Books > Self-Help > Death & Grief > Grief & Bereavement
  • #75 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Relationships > Marriage

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 114 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Writing from the heart October 21, 2011

By K. Unger

Format:Hardcover

This is a beautifully written book full of pain and love and loss. It is a very personal look at the deepest pain caused by Bernie Madoff. Of all the many people that Bernie hurt and the pain and loss that he caused, those who suffered the most were his family. He took their money and their futures (as he did with many people) but he also stole their past and their foundations. I knew Mark and never for one minute believed that he had any knowledge of his father's evil until he confessed in December 2008.
Stephanie gives voice to the agony that she and Mark went through at the hands of Bernie, as well as how the media, bloggers, and public exacerbated that pain. Mark was unable to share his story with the public and very much wanted to let the world know his truth. I had hoped that he would one day be in a place emotionally and legally to be able to tell his story. Sadly, that was not to be, but Stephanie does a fantastic job of letting the world into their private space and painting a true picture of Mark.
The book also shows the heartache and pain that suicide brings to those left behind. Stephanie does an excellent job of conveying the questions, pain, and process that suicide of a loved one brings. Her journey is sad and her loss is real, but the book also manages to be a beautiful love letter to Mark and his children.
Thanks for writing this.

62 of 69 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Please read the book before rushing to judgment October 22, 2011

By K. Corn TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The former Stephanie Madoff (she changed her last name to Mack) writes poignantly in The End of Normal about the details of how Bernie Madoff not only ruined the financial lives of so many but also shattered his family's life. Tainted by the accusations that Andy and Mark, Madoff's sons, were part of the swindle, the two were shunned and judged by society - as was Stephanie.

Now Stephanie tells her side of the story - and it is a book which I picked up with reluctance and couldn't put down. Why reluctance? Because our family, while luckier than many, had a portion of our investments lost to Madoff. Just thinking about anything "Madoff related" made me feel angry.

But I'm glad I overcame my reluctance and gave this book a chance .Stephanie's writing allowed me to see another perspective. Imagine marrying a Madoff son and not having an inkling that the father was masterminding a scheme of such monstrous proportions. After all, Madoff fooled so many,including some very prominent people. As Stephanie describes it, he also kept his sons...and her...in the dark.

Imagine...how ironic and eventually how sad...actually sharing the same birthday with Bernie Madoff...as Stephanie does. Imagine living with a shattered shell of a man, Mark Madoff, the husband Stepanie once knew as happy and vibrant. Stephanie Madoff Mack brings it all to life for readers and I could see how her seemingly dream life dissolved in an instant.

Based on at least one comment on a review of this book, there are those willing to condemn anyone connected to a Madoff, including his daughters-in-law. But why? Bottom line- I did find Stephanie's account to be credible.

After all, her own stepfather lost money to Madoff and Stephanie's husband was...well, for anyone who hasn't read the headlines about that, I urge you to read the book for that shocker. A heavy price to pay for being connected to the Madoff family for both Stephanie and Mark. Pain rippling out to engulf not only perfect strangers but family and friends.

Even before Madoff's crimes became public, Stephanie found him distant. Hiis superficial charm fooled many into giving him their
life savings. Is it impossible to beieve he couldn't also have fooled some of his own relatives? His own sons? His daughter- in- law?

The book isn't without flaws and there are parts that lag a bit. Readers may not want to read about the minutiae of Stephanie and Mark's love life - from their early dates to marriage. Stephanie judges many she knows for faults both minor and major. I'm not sure
why some of that information was included. It made me see her as overly critical.

But the book still deserves to be read and the photo sections are both touching and heart wrenching, showing Stephanie and hr husband in happier times and then revealing the sadness and shock in Mark's eyes after the scandal broke.

As noted before, I wanted to ignore this book myself but read it to get Stephanie's perspective. I'm glad I did. It is the tale of a
woman who unwittingly walked into a tragedy waiting to happen and who loved a man who happened to be Bernie Madoff's son and even had two children with him. This book offers readers a glimpse into the life now led by Stephanie Madoff Mack.

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A voice that should be heard..... October 22, 2011

By elpee

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The financial fall-out from the scam perpetrated by Bernie Madoff claimed many victims and many of their tragic stories have been heard: people's lives turned upside down, crushed and ruined, some with no hope of recovery. Bernie Madoff is in prison, but there is no retribution...no answers for those who have been hurt beyond measure. One victim, silent until now, is Stephanie Mack Madoff, the widow of Mark, Bernie's eldest son who took his own life. And if you scoff at her being a victim, then you must read her story...it's truly heartbreaking. I picked it up out of curiosity and I was blown away.

I've often wondered, (and I'll bet you have too what it must have been like to be a member of the Madoff family...this book brings it home: It is filled with intimate details of Mark and Stephanie's courtship, their marriage (including the rough patches), their daily life, Mark's devotion to his children from his first marriage and their two children together. Stephanie discusses her relationship with both Ruth and Bernie....where credit is due she gives it e.g. both Ruth and Bernie were loving grandparents.) The mind boggles! She comes across as totally sincere, totally honest, and totally devastated by the betrayal and what it did to her husband and her family. Put yourself in her place...there is no training for enduring the nightmare that her life became.

But this is also the story of her husband Mark who, because of the legalities involved, was never able to publicly stand up for himself and deny the accusations of his involvement in the debacle. Again, I urge you to read about him from Stephanie's perspective...her passion for you to know Mark as she knew him is palpable. There is also the description of the children and how they're coping with Mark's death. Anyone who's been there will recognize the gut-wrenching difficulty of keeping oneself together on their behalf.

I think it's important to note that this book doesn't come across as tabloid fodder...there's nothing trashy about it. What it is, is well-written and compelling. You'll want to finish it in one sitting.

There is a spirit in this young woman that is to be admired. She's had a lot on her plate to contend with and she is managing to do so with spunk and grace and hope for the future. I for one wish her the best and hope that future is bright.

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.