An upper class Mom in Connecticut is murdered and the suspects still show up to family reunions.
It’s part whodunnit, part group therapy—and all filmed by the mom’s son.
This is the best true crime series I’ve seen since “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” (which I rank 91/100).
Trailer for “Murder on Middle Beach”
Watch “Murder on Middle Beach”
You can watch “Murder on Middle Beach” on HBO Max at https://play.max.com/video/watch/810e109c-2eb4-481d-af6f-c6ce988b939d
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 79/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: It was made by Madison Hamburg. This is his first big project.
Release Date: November 15, 2020
My Review of “Murder on Middle Beach”
The Setup
“Murder on Middle Beach” is a 4-part HBO docuseries. The total run time is about 235 minutes.
Madison Hamburg’s mom, Barbara, was murdered in 2010. She was found near their home in Madison, Connecticut. She was beaten to death.
Madison is the one asking the questions. He interviews his own family, including his dad, aunt and sisters.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Madison sits down with his dad Jeffrey Hamburg and asks him point-blank: “Did you kill Mom?”
More Highlights from the Doc
- Barbara was killed in broad daylight. There was no break-in. Nothing was stolen. But her friends said she was scared for her life before she died.
- Barbara was part of a secret group called the “Gifting Table.” They use secret terms like “butter” and “dessert.” It was a pyramid scheme: women had to give $5,000 to join ( they promised to “get gifted” more if they brought in new members).
- Madison finds out his dad was sued by the SEC. He took millions of dollars from a company deal.
- He also talks to his sister, aunt, and grandma.
- At one point, Madison thinks his dad bugged his apartment with listening devices.
- Barbara had been fighting for alimony. She wanted back pay. This caused more tension with her ex-husband.
- Police files were hard to get. Madison had to file requests to see them. Many parts were blacked out.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Barbara’s sister, Conway Beach, admits she broke into Barbara’s house after the murder. She took personal items. That made the police suspicious.
- Madison’s dad had deep money problems. He said he didn’t want to pay Barbara any more support.
- The doc shows how police may have messed up the case. Madison says they waited too long and missed key steps.
Wrap Up
If you like murder stories with real heart and family drama, this one is worth your time.
The case is still not solved.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc