The Confession

by Chad Miller

The year is 1887 and in the quaint Pennsylvania town of Temple, Isabella Strohmeyer stumbles upon a gruesome her father and stepmother brutally hacked to death. As the police investigation unfolds, gossip and rumors swirl through the tight-knit community. The Strohmeyer household, always steeped in simmering tension, harbors secrets that echo within its halls. As an arrest is made, the town becomes embroiled in the trial of the century. Grisly truths emerge and no one is prepared for the shocking conclusion of this dark tale. This harrowing story, loosely inspired by the Lizzie Borden murders, will send chills up your spine.

Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 26, 2024

About the author

Chad Miller never sleeps—and his stories make sure you won’t either.
Specializing in horror and suspense, Chad is the author of the highly rated dark historical mystery The Confession, the first book in his Founders Series.
By day, Chad Miller is a pharmacist dispensing medicine—by night, he prescribes nightmares through the pages of his chilling fiction. When he’s not writing, Chad is likely exploring a new city—and if it’s past midnight, you’ll probably find him wandering through the nearest graveyard.
Get a free ebook of The Void and stay up to date on his latest books and news at www.chadmiller-author.com.

Reviews

[Leeanne 🥀 The Book Whor3 🥀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Strohmeyer’s are the wealthiest family, living a frugal life, in the small town of Temple, Pennsylvania, and despised by all the townsfolk. One day, Frederick and his wife Rebecca are butchered with an axe in their home, and Isabella, Frederick’s daughter is arrested.

The story is a lead up to that fateful day, and eventually the trial, but hey this is 1887, and women didn’t really get believed back then, but did she really do it? There are many secrets, and mistrust within the family, and domestic problems get swept under the proverbial rug. This is a very good story which kept me guessing, as to who the murderer really was, culminating in a shocking “confession” at the end. This story is loosely inspired by Lizzie Borden, and is frustrating, harrowing, and tragically sad, and my heart broke for Isabella.

Thanks to the author, and BookSirens for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.

4 🪓🪓🪓🪓

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical horror fiction that has deep family secrets, brutal murders, and a nicely done twist ending you won't see coming.

We start with two detectives at the scene of two grisly murders. The victims are a wealthy couple and it's obvious there was a lot of personal hatred involved in the killings.

Everyone is a suspect. And as we start to read about their lives and household leading up to these horrifying events, it's evident that each family member and the maid were hiding deep seated resentments towards the father and stepmother. And not just the other family members. The father was not very well liked in the community. As a business owner employing most of the town, he was considered unduly frugal and wasn't willing to supply his workers with anything above a barely living wage.

So the list of suspects grows even larger! But as secrets are revealed and certain situations are presented we think we know who did it. There's evidence after all. But...but... just hang on to your hats because the ending is something else.

It was great to see some returning characters from Prisoner of Despair. These books are set in the same world and timeline so seeing these three was great.

The narrative moves along at a good pace and stays focused on the events at hand and how these various characters are hiding things from one another. Ultimately, this could lead to some horrific consequence.

Definitely pick this one up and don't forget to read Prisoner Of Despair as well. The third book in this world is coming next year so you'll want to be all caught up. I highly recommend this novel.

I received an ARC of this book from the author with no consideration. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

[daniela weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

a dynamic lizzie borden
retelling with great rythym,
intriguing characters - and a
creatively built up conclusion
for the axe girl famous tale. ♡

[Windy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year, I was lucky enough to receive early access to two ARCs written by Chad Miller - The Prisoner of Fear and its conclusion, Prisoner of Despair. A few weeks ago, Chad sent me a new ARC, and I put everything aside to get right into it - and loved it!

The story is a loose adaptation of Lizzie Borden and takes place in a small town in Pennsylvania in 1887. The protagonist, Isabella Strohmeyer, finds her father and stepmother brutally murdered. An investigation begins and since the Strohmeyers were not well-liked, the list of suspects is quite long. As gossip and rumours spread throughout the family and among the townsfolk, an arrest is made, and the trial begins. However, the ending is not what anyone expects!

And the best part (and unbeknownst to me), three characters from the previous two books popped into the story and I was stoked! The ‘world-building’ for this trio is well on it’s way and I am a fan!

Thank you @chadmillerauthor for yet another great ARC opportunity⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ it’s pub date is coming up - April 26!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The year is 1887 and in the quaint Pennsylvania town of Temple, Isabella Strohmeyer stumbles upon a gruesome scene: her father and stepmother brutally hacked to death. As the police investigation unfolds, gossip and rumors swirl through the tight-knit community. The Strohmeyer household, always steeped in simmering tension, harbors secrets that echo within its halls. As an arrest is made, the town becomes embroiled in the trial of the century. Grisly truths emerge and no one is prepared for the shocking conclusion to this dark tale.”

This extremely well written, true crime inspired horror fiction is perfect for fans that like just enough grisly details to keep the imagination in overdrive. Miller has an excellent way with words, and immerses the reader in the 19th century Pennsylvanian atmosphere, while building a slow burning dread leading to a surprising ending. I loved the appearance of Doyle, Braham and Scarlett from Miller’s Prisoner of Fear series, another highly recommended read. And as always, the cover is beautiful 😍. At less than 300 pages, this is a quick read.

The only negative observations I have are that I feel there are a couple of characters that didn’t receive the comeuppance they deserved, and that always sticks in my craw. I wasn’t really endeared to any of the main characters; I either disliked them or didn’t care about them at all.

Overall, this was a great book and I highly recommend it!

[J.B. Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Confession by Chad Miller is a vivid reimagining of the Lizzie Borden murder trial of the late 1800s with a smoothly infused climatic twist I never saw coming.

The story follows the wealthy, yet frugal, Strohmeyer family in the quaint Pennsylvania town of Temple. The patriarch, recently widowed, Frederick, (frugal, stern, and at times emotionless) has remarried, ushering his new bride into the family. Her vibrant, charismatic, and lecherous personality shakes the foundation of the home. Frederick’s two young children, Isabell and James, still mourn their mother’s death and don’t take to the new addition with love. Rather, their affection and trust lay with the nanny/maid Maggie.

After years of percolating turmoil and hate, the unimaginable bestows the town. Both Frederick, and his adulterous bride are brutally murdered in their home. The scene is a thing of nightmares, saturated with gore and primal violence, yet the authorities are stumped. They have their suspicions, but a murder weapon is never found. Could the young woman, Isabell, hack her father and stepmother to pieces? Or is there someone else that carries the brutal truth? You’ll have to read it to find out.

This was an excellent historical piece shrouded in mystery and suspense. Miller’s ability to infect the reader’s mind with possibility after possibility is genius. You’ll keep guessing until the final page. The pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, but once the action culminated, I flipped through the pages in two sittings.

Overall, this is an exciting read, filled with deception, scandalous characters, and an enigmatic, carefully plotted twist, that still has me shaking my head. If the likes of Poe and Stoker awaken your literary pleasures, this one’s for you.

[Daniel B · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Confession starts with a brutal double murder of the Strohmeyer's and a suggestion that the culprit was from within the house. We then flashback to the childhood of Isabella and move forward building tensely towards the killings.

The life of the Isabella is a rough one, with an outwardly uncaring father, a questionable step-mother Rebecca and a barely seen brother to deal with. Her comfort comes from two caring Maggie’s, one that helps navigate her through childhood at least until Rebecca arrives and the other that becomes a friend and more, if the rumours are to be believed.

The story of the lead up to the murders is broken up with the investigation into the deaths, with most of the local police wanting it clear quickly whilst others, including some familiar names want to know what really happened.

The characters in The Confession are brilliantly written, as a reader you can feel the tenseness of the Strohmeyer household. You can feel the frustration and later hopelessness that Isabella feels.

As mentioned the story is about a brutal double murder meaning there are plenty of suspects offered up for various reasons, the two victims have enemies inside and outside the house due to their nature and actions.

Upon finishing the book and reading the last Confession, things that were previously unexplained but not key to the plot and therefore ignored appear completely different. It’s something that bugs you but you don’t know why until you already know the answer...it’s a really good bit of storytelling to offer clues but them not to be fully comprehended until the full story is presented.

Thank you very much to Chad for the advanced copy, it was a great read and I'm looking forward to the follow up.

[Graveyardreads Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent adaptation of the Lizzie Bordon story from Chad Miller. It was a pleasure and delight reading A Prisoner of Despair last year, and I'm happy to say this one was just as good, if not more so. Isabella Strohmeyer, a wealthy but neglected heiress, is accused of murdering her parents in a gruesome display. Isabella's backstory takes us to her disturbed past and have you question...did she really murder her parents or is there something more sinister at large? Miller's writing is wonderfully done complete with gore, mystery, and a familiar pair of detectives to help solve the case.

[Emily Lorié · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew! This book took me on an emotional roller coaster ride. One scene even had me closing my Kindle so I could cry for a spell. The Confession just might rip your heart out, but it was executed beautifully.

Presented to the reader in two parts, this story follows Isabella and her dysfunctional family through some trying times as well as the aftermath of a couple of brutal murders and the quest to seek justice, no matter the cost.

Complete with a shocking twist and a delightfully surprising nod to another one of his works, The Confession delivered above and beyond my expectations.

There are content warnings up the wazoo, but most of this horror-loving community has come to expect that in our dark and twisty reads. Proceed with caution or throw caution to the wind. You do you! 🤘🏻🖤

[thiefofmemory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super immersive writing and an interesting take on a classic true crime. It slows down a bit in the middle half to end but there’s a good amount of twists and shocks to keep you guessing.

[Amina Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story starts with brutal double murders and with the theory of the killer being inside the house!

We take a step back and get to know Rebecca as she lives her life with no mother and an uncaring father and all the difficulties she goes through leading up to the murders.

Plus Points:
~ historical setting
~ compelling characters
~ brutal scenes

Minus Point
~ (it's a me thing but it did impact my enjoyment) I found the writing hard to get into and had to (I'm struggling to get my reading mojo back)

Thank you to Chad Miller for my arc copy

[Kacey Watson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC in return for an honest review.

So. If you have any interest in true crime at all (and probably even if you don't), you've almost certainly heard the case of Lizzie Borden. In the late 1800s, Lizzie Borden was accused of killing her father and her stepmother with what was likely an axe. However, the court was unable to come to a definitive decision, and so Lizzie was declared not guilty.

This book, The Confession, claims to be 'loosely based' on the Lizzie Borden case, but I would argue that it's practically the same story with the serial number filed off to avoid copyright infraction. The main character is Isabella Strohmeyer (Get it? Isabella -> Izzy -> Lizzie), and her life with her father, stepmother, and younger brother.

Some other plot-points from both the book and the real case are...

- Isabella's father is known to be tight-fisted with money, even though he could afford whatever he wants, and his wealth largely comes from mills and land he owns in the town. Lizzie's father was a frugal man who made his money from owning textile mills and commercial properties.

- Isabella's father is killed by blows to the head while sleeping on the couch in the parlor. So was Lizzie's father.

- Isabella's stepmother was killed upstairs while cleaning the guest room. So was Lizzie's stepmother.

- Isabella's family has a maid name Maggie, after a former maid. So did Lizzie's family.

- The second Maggie is only a few years older than Isabella. The second Maggie was only a few years older than Lizzie.

- Isabella's birth mother's name was Kara. Lizzie's birth mother's name was Sarah.

- It was believed that Isabella's father and stepmother were killed with an axe. So were Lizzie's father and stepmother.

- Isabella likes teaching Sunday School at the church she goes to. Lizzie enjoyed teaching Sunday School at her church.

- It's implied at one point that Isabella and Maggie are lovers. One theory in Lizzie Borden's case was that she committed the murders because her stepmother had caught them together.

- Isabella's father and stepmother eat spoiled mutton and contract food poisoning. Lizzie's household was taken ill in the days before the murders, and a family friend blamed it on mutton that had gone bad.

- Isabella is noted to be very calm and emotionless during the police interrogation. Many of those who interviewed Lizzie said that she was unusually poised and calm.

- Isabella's stepmother was counted to have seventeen strike marks on her body. Mrs. Borden suffered seventeen wounds during the attack.

- Isabella's father sustained eleven blows to the skull, splitting it in half. Mr. Borden was struck eleven times in the head, splitting his skull in half.

The characters are split down the middle between likable and unlikable, with the younger characters being much more likable than the older characters.

Isabella Strohmeyer is the star of the novel. From the age of seven, her life is nothing but despair and unhappiness. She's made to act as a servant for her neighbor who is supposed to take care of her and her little brother, and then take care of all of the chores at home on top of raising her brother, who is four years younger than she is. There's even a couple of instances of... Well, let's just say that Isabella is taken advantage of by a family member. The book doesn't go into details, thankfully, but I really don't understand why that had to be added, other than to add even more despair to Isabella's life. I would like to add that I found her a little weak-willed, but I know that times were different back then, and children were expected to be completely obedient.

James Strohmeyer is Isabella's younger brother. He has quite a small presence in the novel compared to the other characters, but he's shown to be loyal to his sister, and utterly loathes his stepmother.

Frederick Strohmeyer, Isabella's father, is written as a cold miser who couldn't care one way or the other about his children, and very clearly disdains his second wife. In the very beginning, he's shown to try to weasel out the lowest price for his wife's funeral, and when the undertaker hesitates, he threatens to raise the rent of the building where the undertakes works and lives. When his daughter is accused of being a thief, he does nothing to defend her, or even ask about the incident. In fact, from then on, he makes it a point to take all of the change out of his pockets each day and count them to make sure not one single cent is missing, often in front of Isabella herself. The way he's described makes it obvious that we're supposed to hate him, and to be honest, I do.

Rebecca Strohmeyer is Isabella's stepmother. She's portrayed as fat, obese, large, bursting out of her clothes, bulging, a pig...have I made my point? She's fat, is what the author is trying to say. She's also implied to be a drama queen, a cat-murderer, and a nymphomaniac who loves being groped and sleeping with any man who crosses her path. Oddly, she has a terror of witches, believing that her family was cursed by a witch during the period of the Salem Witch Trials. Despite always being described in unflattering terms, for some reason every man in existence seems eager to fall at her feet, from twelve year old boys to married men. It's never explained why she seems to have this magnetic allure while still being so vile.

A few plot points in the book just don't seem to have a purpose. For instance, there's one chapter where Isabella is accused of stealing an expensive doll from the store. It's insinuated that her stepmother, Rebecca, is the one who stole it, but Isabella finds it and buries it in the yard, never to be brought up again. The only thing I can think of is that this was introduced to lead into the discovery of what happened to Isabella's pet cat. It just seemed so...pointless. It was brought up and then dropped within a few pages.

One thing I did like was Isabella and Maggie's relationship (both of them). The first Maggie is very maternal, and very protective of the children, especially Isabella. She even stands up to Isabella's father a few times, rather than letting him run all over her. The second Maggie is more like an older sister that Isabella initially latches on to to stay away from her stepmother, and while Maggie isn't very talkative or affectionate, she never attempts to send Isabella away, and later comes to spend hours with her every day as Isabella teaches her to read and write. Isabella's relationship with both of them is very sweet.

We get about one paragraph of what Isabella's school life is like, and it's glossed over so quickly that it might as well not even be in there at all.

There are quite a few punctuation mistakes, and some misspellings, which I assume will be fixed in the final copy. But something more serious than that is the sentence structure itself. So many of the sentences are short and choppy, and have no flow between one and the next. There are also quite a few places were the prose slips into present tense, when it's supposed to be told in past tense.

It was a quick read, but I would just suggest finding a book of the Lizzie Borden murders and read that, instead. There are just too many identical points between the two that looking for the original would be better. (Not to mention that the original actually happened, and remains one of the most notorious murder cases in history.)

[Katy The Sleepy Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction at its best. I have been a long-time true crime reader and the story of Lizzie Borden is one that I have always found fascinating. So, when the author reached out to ask me to read this story it was an instant yes. This is a different take on the mysterious killings.

The book opens with a grisly scene, attended by two detectives. Frederick Strohmeyer and his wife Rebecca are found brutally murdered in their modest home. Isabella, Fredericks daughter, found them and immediately went for help. The Strohmeyers live in Temple, Pennsylvania, in a poorer part of town, Frederick being extremely frugal. His daughter also describes him as emotionless and stern. After his first wife passes away, he remarries a very loud, boisterous woman. Isabella and her brother, James, take an instant dislike to her.

Years go by with little love lost between Isabella and James and their stepmother, Rebecca. Isabella even catches her stepmother in the throes of passion with the local doctor but doesn't say anything to anyone. This household is anything but a loving, caring home. It is instead steeped in secrets, strife and strained relationships. As the detectives start poking around, they get some much-needed help from two returning characters, John Doyle and Thomas Braham. They are found in two of the authors previous books, The Prisoner of Fear and A Paroxysm of Fear, both fantastic books.

The list of suspects is large considering most of the town disliked Mr. Strohmeyer. However, the police end up finding a blood-soaked dress and axe in a hidden room within the Strohmeyer home and they immediately arrest Isabella. It all seems to point to her. She had motive, opportunity and the evidence seem to fit her, but did she do it? I'll leave it to you to read the story because the ending is something you never see coming.

The pace of the book is really great. It moves along quickly and with the book being under 300 pages, it's a pretty quick read. The book is historically accurate to the time period, and you can tell the author has done his research. The story is well written and keeps you guessing which I really enjoyed, the ending even could be open ended but that's all I'll say. This is a definite read if you love period piece mysteries.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won a Goodreads giveaway for a copy of the Confession. I am reviewing it on my own.
The Confession is clearly based on the infamous Lizzie Borden murders, and I am not sure it’s for the better, which is a shame. The story and mysteries were interesting enough on their own that I would have bumped up my final review by a star, but for the shadow of the Borden case. I wish more distance between this novel and that real event was taken.

Following the buildup and aftermath of the murder of Isabell Strohmeyer’s father and stepmother in 1887 Temple, PA, the reader is provided plenty of questions and possible red herrings while we uncover, eventually, the ‘truth’. The writing does a good job portraying the stifling heat and miserliness of her father, but most of the heavy lifting is done by the portrayal of her awful stepmother, who is confusingly written as both a disgusting ‘fat pig’, but also an alluring town seductress. While both things may not be mutually exclusive since it’s all matter of preference anyway, sometimes these would be within a few sentences of each other, so it was tonally confusing. As for Isabella herself, well, she certainly comes off as quite naive, if not outright stupid (at least in some of her actions/inactions). While it is possible to feel sorry for her, ultimately, I didn’t besides for the ending.

While I enjoyed this as a vacation read, I wouldn’t seek it out unless murderous Victorian heiresses are your favorite genre!

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Secret sins. Hidden rooms. A grizzly double homicide. Multiple suspects. A guest appearance by Braham, Doyle, and Hanlon. What's not to love?

I find it difficult to rate and review Chad Miller’s books. I usually wait to write my reviews for a week or two because I like to reflect on them. I admire Chad's dedication to writing and putting himself out there, learning and growing from his feedback. He has an eye for plot and does a pretty good job of developing his characters. But his books also have some persistent flaws.

I have previously read and reviewed The Prisoner of Fear and A Paroxysm of Fear, which have been re-edited into Prisoner of Despair. So when I had the chance to review his latest book, The Confession, I jumped at the chance because I am invested in his growth and development as a writer. Miller writes the types of books I wish I had the dedication and tenacity to write. The Confession takes its cue from the Lizzie Bordon murders, and anyone familiar with the case will see the similarities clearly enough. However, Miller puts his own spin on it with this book, and I enjoyed the ride.

He begins with the investigators at the scene of the crime, so there is some gore right off the bat. Then he goes several years back and begins introducing us to the main characters and a dysfunctional household. Within the first 30 pages, I was ready to take an axe to several of the characters myself. (I jest by the way...no need for alarm.) I love getting angry at characters in books, and authors can’t always evoke that level of emotion from me. Say what you will about my anger issues but bullies, manipulators, and abusers will never have my sympathy.

Miller rolled out this mystery at a good pace and the conclusion was satisfying, keeping me on the hook the entire time with a slew of suspects with various and sundry motives. The ending was a bit of a surprise, and I will be interested to read the sequel, Loose Ends, which is due out next year.

That being said, as an English major, I found myself distracted by split infinitives, awkwardly constructed sentences, and sections I would have liked to be shown rather than told. I have raised similar objections to his previous books, and strongly believe a more thorough editor is the solution. Many reviewers do not seem to have issues with these details, so, if you are not distracted by these qualms, you should find this book utterly engaging. I did even with the technical issues.

The book itself is well constructed and has a nice cover, pleasant font choices, and great paper. When I weigh everything together, I would have to rate The Confession 3.5 stars.

I want to thank Chad Miller for the opportunity to rate and review his book and for sending me a printed copy for my fair and honest review!

[A Mac · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actual Rating 1.5

This work is stated to be loosely based on the Lizzie Borden murders. It’s set in 1887 in Pennsylvania and follows the Strohmeyer family, using a dual timeline to set the backdrop to the murders in one timeline while the second follows the police investigation after the murders. However, I’d say that it’s not loosely based; it’s a retelling of the Lizzie Borden murders with different names. There are too many things that are exactly the same as the real events for this to be anything other than a retelling.

There were too many issues with this book that kept me from enjoying it. Most of them were related to the writing style. We’re told the whole book about things that are happening, what people think, how they feel, what they then did, etc. It wasn’t written in a way that was immersive or made the setting or characters come to life. Unfortunately, the characters felt like caricatures at best. No real motivations were presented for most of the characters, the antagonists were comical in their “evilness,” and none were developed in a meaningful way. There were also many technical issues with the writing.

The historical setting never came to life, and modern turns of phrase were incorporated throughout which detracted even more from the historical setting/feel of the work. The characters also said and thought things that felt anachronistic and much too self-aware to make them believable.

If you’re looking for a horror read or even a mystery, then I can’t recommend this one. In fact, I’d honestly just suggest reading a nonfiction book about the Lizzie Borden case if the premise of this one interests you. My thanks to the author and BookSirens for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SO good! I couldn’t put it down! It is loosely based on the Lizzie Borden murders or should it be the Lizzie Borden mystery. I have always found Lizzie’s story quite intriguing.

It is historical horror mystery & it’s set in 1887. We follow Isabella Strohmeyer who has not had an easy life and has a younger brother named James. Two victims have been brutally murdered in Isabella’s home which she shares with her father, brother & stepmother and maid. Anybody in their town could have done it as one of the victims was highly disliked by many & the other was quite coveted. Isabella is not very popular and is the easy target to blame for the murders.

There is quite a lot of tension build up & it all comes crashing down & claiming the lives of two people.

Did she do it? Or was it one of the many others who were not very fond of the Strohmeyers?

I HIGHLY recommend this book if you enjoy historical horror fiction, are intrigued by the Lizzie Borden account or enjoy great writing and a great story!

[Evelyn Dortch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical horror fiction delves into the brutal murders of a wealthy couple in 1887 Temple, PA, The story opens with detectives at a grisly crime scene, and as we learn about the lives of the Strohmeyer family. The victims, the father a miserly business owner, and his seductive yet detested new wife are at the center of this family and town's animosity.

As the story unfolds, we delve into the secrets and lies of the Strohmeyer household. Everyone, from the naive daughter Isabell to the loyal maid, has something to hide. Miller masterfully weaves a tale of suspense, with a twist ending that is both unexpected and satisfying. The narrative is engaging, the characters complex, and the atmosphere perfectly gothic.

If you love historical fiction with a dark twist and enjoy a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this reimagining of the Lizzie Borden tale is a must-read.

[The_Macabre_Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

🩸🕯️⏳Review🩸🪑🪓

Author: Chad Miller
Title: The Confession

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thoughts: It reads like you're in the midst of a horrific murder mystery but make it a horror historical piece.
This one keeps you guessing the whole time, as I frantically read through it I went back and forth on who I thought committed the murders. I mean I really had debates in my head trying to piece it all together lol.
Here's the cherry on top for me, it's inspired by Lizzie Borden. I have a deep fascination with true crime and Lizzie Borden is a favorite of mine. The author absolutely delivered in this story inspired by her.
If you've read other books of his then you'll get a great surprise in this one. Something I really enjoy about this author is he builds the story up and enhances it by bringing you into the era and this world of his.

[Aeroreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabella with an ax
Killed her father
While he napped
Just before he got his due
Mrs. Strohmeyer got hers too

The Confession by Chad Miller is a revisionist take on Lizzie Borden. You are taken through the story from when Isabella was a young girl and it ends with the perplexing and brutal deaths of her father and step mother. Did she do it? Readers are left guessing until the very end.

I thank the author for spelling it out at the end in a most fantastical way. I can't stand books ending on cliffhangers, and the ending for The Confession is very satisfying.

I really enjoyed this read. It was an immersive time piece and clever. I definitely spent a lot of time thinking about the story when I wasn't actively reading it.

Thank you to @chadmillerauthor for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Author tagged with permission.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a Kindle copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway. This is a voluntary review including my honest thoughts and opinions.

This story is heavily influenced by the Lizzie Borden murder case. It follows the wealthy Strohmeyer family living in Temple, Pennsylvania. The first half is told from the point of view of the daughter, Isabella, then the second half becomes a police procedural/court case.

It definitely got me interested in learning more about the real life Lizzie Borden case, and was an enjoyable read. I liked most of the characters.

My only complaints are that there are some issues with sentence tense, and a couple scenes where it just seemed over the top.

Overall, I'd rate it a 4/5 stars.

[Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Mr. Miller and certainly not my last. I enjoyed it very much. It is well written and I had no problem relating to Isabella and the hell of a life she had. The author did a great job of hitting us with a twist of an ending that I didn't see coming. It has elements of horror and family drama. The murders are very graphic so be warned if that type of reading is too much for you. Absolutely a great read. I can't wait for the next book. In the meantime, I will hunt down his other books. Highly recommended to all horror lovers.

Thank you to the author and Hidden Gems for allowing me to read this book and offer my voluntary review.

[Jackie Welcel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good!! I got it because I saw it was loosely based on Lizzy Borden and I’ll never forget watching the movie with Elizabeth Montgomery and being terrified. The authors description of the characters was so good you really feel like you are there. What a hard life for Isabella and James after their mom passed. The descriptions of the times and conditions was so real. After I finished I did go to Wikipedia and read about Lizzie Borden and could see how closely that story influenced this one but a couple big changes. No spoilers, just read it!!! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alexandra Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Confession is a great book about dysfunctional family, murder and a good twist at the end. All in all, I was pretty pleased.

Elizabeth Strohmeyer is a plain woman brought up in a house with her father, step mother(who is all but a monster), her brother and her family maid, Maggie. Our protagonist finds herself being blamed for her father and stepmother’s grizzly deaths, despite the Strohmeyers having a long list of people that dislike them.

As the list of suspects grows larger, secrets come out and the twist at the end makes the whole book worth it.

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Dawn Weast · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

It’s taken me two days to figure out what to write in this review without giving too much away. If you go into this thinking it’s a Lizzy Borden retelling you’d be wrong. It’s more like an alternate universe reimagining.
The style of the storytelling is meticulous and it really adds to the atmosphere of the novel. It is easy to like (and hate) the characters. By the end I was certain I had solved the mystery, and I was dead wrong. The worst part was that I should have known. The author set the whole thing up perfectly! Now I can’t wait for the sequel!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is about to find her father and stepmother dead in a gruesome way. Her life is going to get worse when secrets are revealed and the suspect is brought before the courts. Who did it? Why? Are they the real killer? What secrets will be revealed? See just what is going to happen
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I want to review

[Linetta Liberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written and suspenseful book. I was under its spell until the very end.

I must say, what an ending one that I did not see coming!!! If you like thriller and suspense novels then you will love this book.

Trust me unless you just have a way to get in the author's mind you will be gobsmacked by the ending.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very engaging murder mystery.

1887. A tough time to be a female.

This was my first read from this author.

This book lacks continuity, just like this review, but I felt that added to the eeriness and the mystery.

A lot of gore. Strange characters. A creepy house. Weird family. Crazy ending.

I really enjoyed it.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent depiction of what life was like for women in the late nineteenth century. My heart went out to Isabella. She suffered badly, and mostly in silence. The twist at the end was unexpected.

I look forward to reading the sequel Loose Ends when it is published next year.

I received a free copy of The Confession through BookSirens, and have chosen to leave a review.

[Jewel Carrie Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good horror story inspired by Lizzie Borden's case. However, a trigger warning is needed for readers conveying that there is sexual abuse of a child.

* I received this book as an ARC, and this is my honest review.