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Lizzie: A Novel
Late one summer morning in 1892, a prominent businessman and his second wife were brutally murdered with an axe in their own home. One of the man’s two daughters was charged with his murder. The trial was a circus. The outcome was controversial. What actually happened in that home? This work of fiction imagines the thinking and fear that drove the killer to that extreme act of cruelty.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2025
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March 9, 2025
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This book is a fictional version of the Borden axe murders. Even though it isn’t a true account, it is very well-researched and written. I like how the author takes us into Lizzie’s head and gives hints as to the why of the case. We learn of the societal problems women had at the time (late 19th century) and how these may be the cause behind Lizzie’s actions. Or was it greed?
Even though the mystery surrounding Lizzie Borden has always interested me, my rating reflects the fact that I found some parts of the book a bit of a drag. I didn’t like how much this was a take on women’s issues. This is not a story of who did it but of why and the aftermath of it all. Is Lizzie really just a money-hungry old maid? Did society's expectations of women and marriage decide Lizzie's fate?
The relationships of the characters are well defined. Especially that of Lizzie and her sister. The court sections were enthralling and informative. However, the book felt as if it had a split personality; is it a biography or a fictional account? I wish the author had chosen one or the other.
The latter part of the book deals with the aftermath and tells what the papers and court case don't. Lizzie is a real person, after all, not just a sensational story. This kind of dragged for me. If you enjoy courtroom drama, then this is the book for you, especially if you’re into historical fiction, too.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
This book is a fictional version of the Borden axe murders. Even though it isn’t a true account, it is very well-researched and written. I like how the author takes us into Lizzie’s head and gives hints as to the why of the case. We learn of the societal problems women had at the time (late 19th century) and how these may be the cause behind Lizzie’s actions. Or was it greed?
Even though the mystery surrounding Lizzie Borden has always interested me, my rating reflects the fact that I found some parts of the book a bit of a drag. I didn’t like how much this was a take on women’s issues. This is not a story of who did it but of why and the aftermath of it all. Is Lizzie really just a money-hungry old maid? Did society's expectations of women and marriage decide Lizzie's fate?
The relationships of the characters are well defined. Especially that of Lizzie and her sister. The court sections were enthralling and informative. However, the book felt as if it had a split personality; is it a biography or a fictional account? I wish the author had chosen one or the other.
The latter part of the book deals with the aftermath and tells what the papers and court case don't. Lizzie is a real person, after all, not just a sensational story. This kind of dragged for me. If you enjoy courtroom drama, then this is the book for you, especially if you’re into historical fiction, too.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
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June 26, 2025This book is about Lizzie Borden and the murders of her parents which she allegedly commited.
I am very fascinated by the Lizzie Borden case and have consumed quite a bit of media about it at this point, so I'm always excited when there's something new coming out - a new interpretation, a fictional retelling of the case, whatever it may be. This one I had to dnf though. The writing style did not appeal to me at all and there were a couple of points where it completely threw me. As far as I've read, this book was not factual enough for an objective retelling of the case, nor written out enough to be a new fictional account of what might have happened. If you're completely new to the case this might be a good starting point, but for me it sadly didn't work.
I am very fascinated by the Lizzie Borden case and have consumed quite a bit of media about it at this point, so I'm always excited when there's something new coming out - a new interpretation, a fictional retelling of the case, whatever it may be. This one I had to dnf though. The writing style did not appeal to me at all and there were a couple of points where it completely threw me. As far as I've read, this book was not factual enough for an objective retelling of the case, nor written out enough to be a new fictional account of what might have happened. If you're completely new to the case this might be a good starting point, but for me it sadly didn't work.
March 1, 2025
Thank you to netgalley for this ARC copy. I was looking forward to this book. I was a bit disappointed. It seemed more of a statement about the way women are treated in society as second class citizens and less a story about Lizzie Borden.
March 8, 2025
Let’s begin with the cover. While not at all unpleasing to the untrained eye, this “Lizzie” is styled more in the Edwardian fashion (1901-1910) rather than the proper Victorian look of the time. The font choice and color, however, I greatly approve of.
On to the actual book itself. While there were some minor points of characterization of the Bordens that I personally disagreed with, this is a fictionalized version of events, and we cannot be sure one way or the other what they were truly like. It is nothing against the author’s skill as a writer, which I found to be quite to my stylistic liking, merely a difference in opinion.
As a self proclaimed Borden scholar —the case has been of special interest to me for nearly fifteen years now— it did irk me that some facts were incorrect, stating Emma was ten years older than Lizzie instead of nine, for example, and the incorrect spelling of Lizbeth as “Lisbeth” when Lizzie officially changed her name.
I will give credit where it is due, however, and say that the author did her best work in making the dialogue feel authentic of both the time period and to what we know was factually said by those involved. And her description of events that we were never privy to made for a compelling narrative that seems, at least for the most part, quite plausible. And the feminist slant, while welcome, and likely how Lizzie must have felt, began to feel a little overplayed at times.
If you read this and are not familiar with the case, I do advise you to remember that this is a fictionalized version of true events, one which does provide some missing context and enhancement to both the town of Fall River and its inhabitants, but should not be taken as a primary factual resource. However, if reading this sparks an interest in the case itself, then it will have done its job well.
On to the actual book itself. While there were some minor points of characterization of the Bordens that I personally disagreed with, this is a fictionalized version of events, and we cannot be sure one way or the other what they were truly like. It is nothing against the author’s skill as a writer, which I found to be quite to my stylistic liking, merely a difference in opinion.
As a self proclaimed Borden scholar —the case has been of special interest to me for nearly fifteen years now— it did irk me that some facts were incorrect, stating Emma was ten years older than Lizzie instead of nine, for example, and the incorrect spelling of Lizbeth as “Lisbeth” when Lizzie officially changed her name.
I will give credit where it is due, however, and say that the author did her best work in making the dialogue feel authentic of both the time period and to what we know was factually said by those involved. And her description of events that we were never privy to made for a compelling narrative that seems, at least for the most part, quite plausible. And the feminist slant, while welcome, and likely how Lizzie must have felt, began to feel a little overplayed at times.
If you read this and are not familiar with the case, I do advise you to remember that this is a fictionalized version of true events, one which does provide some missing context and enhancement to both the town of Fall River and its inhabitants, but should not be taken as a primary factual resource. However, if reading this sparks an interest in the case itself, then it will have done its job well.
April 12, 2025
I was provided an ARC by netgalley.
I was initially excited to read this based on the premise, but the very dry and simple wikipedia-retelling writing style made it impossible to go beyond 20%. Not to mention lack of editing resulting in the same character being referred to as both father and uncle within the same paragraph.
Have to mark it as DNF.
I was initially excited to read this based on the premise, but the very dry and simple wikipedia-retelling writing style made it impossible to go beyond 20%. Not to mention lack of editing resulting in the same character being referred to as both father and uncle within the same paragraph.
Have to mark it as DNF.
September 9, 2025
I was SO EXCITED for this book.. but honestly was left a bit disappointed. I was always super interested in the real case and felt like this book could be great. For me, it wasn’t. I actually had a really hard time finishing this one.
A few great chapters but then too much random conversation and information that made the book much longer than it needed to be.
A few great chapters but then too much random conversation and information that made the book much longer than it needed to be.
February 19, 2025
The mysterious story of the Borden family intrigues me just as much as Jack the Ripper so when I saw Lizzzie by Diane Fanning, I couldn't...wouldn't...resist. The author did a spectacular job incorporating fiction with facts. Her writing is lovely and details are very believable. I was mesmerized the entire time and did a further bit of research as a result. Though I'm nearly certain who the murderer was, there is still that niggling sliver of doubt. True crime stories of the era are endlessly fascinating to mull over!
In Massachusetts in 1892, Andrew Borden and his second wife Abby lived in a large home with his daughters, Emma, 43, and Lizzie, 32. He was wealthy but lived frugally. The girls did not like their step mother but had a close sister relationship. Their world changed when Andrew and Abby's butchered bodies were discovered and the only person at home at the time was Lizzie who said she was in their barn a few meters from the house. Lizzie was the main suspect for several reasons and stood trial but was acquitted. The author describes the atmosphere in the family home, the crimes, suspicious actions, the servant "Maggie" and Uncle John, the trial and life after, the sisters' huge new house, Lizzie's philanthropy and their deaths nine days apart.
If you are a true crime and historical fiction fan, this is unmissable! Well worth reading.
In Massachusetts in 1892, Andrew Borden and his second wife Abby lived in a large home with his daughters, Emma, 43, and Lizzie, 32. He was wealthy but lived frugally. The girls did not like their step mother but had a close sister relationship. Their world changed when Andrew and Abby's butchered bodies were discovered and the only person at home at the time was Lizzie who said she was in their barn a few meters from the house. Lizzie was the main suspect for several reasons and stood trial but was acquitted. The author describes the atmosphere in the family home, the crimes, suspicious actions, the servant "Maggie" and Uncle John, the trial and life after, the sisters' huge new house, Lizzie's philanthropy and their deaths nine days apart.
If you are a true crime and historical fiction fan, this is unmissable! Well worth reading.
September 23, 2025
A fictional yet historical retelling of one of the most infamous patricides… who wouldn’t be intrigued. Sadly this is another example of a book that had so much potential but was poorly edited. Interesting in places, Fanning creatively brings to life the trials and tribulations both Lizzie and her sister faced after the murder of their father and stepmother, adding a new level of humanity and emotion to the well known crime. However… the book was easily 40% longer than it needed to be which meant there were parts of it that significantly dragged, sadly taking away from the overall impact of the book!
June 17, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Diane Fanning for this opportunity to read Lizzie. I want to start off by saying that Lizzie is the first book I have read by Diane Fanning and she did a wonderful job of writing this book. I had never heard of the Borden family before this book so naturally this book was incredibly intriguing to me. Even though this book is not first person, the author creates a very clear tone that makes the reader really tap into Lizzie and the societal influences that impacted her character and the case. Fanning does pacing so well with this book by interlacing the historical and true crime details together which moves the reader along well. Historical fiction, at times, can lean too far into the historical context but that isn’t a problem with this book. I would highly consider reading Diane Fanning’s other works after finishing Lizzie.
April 8, 2025
"Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one."
Growing up in the Midwest, I always heard about the Lizzie Borden axe m*rders. My mother told me the story when I was quite young, and I knew the rhyme by heart.
(I actually have a memory of reciting the rhyme in my 8th grade theater class when we were reading the play about the crime, and I scared my classmates 😂).
Despite my familiarity with this m*rder mystery, I have never read about Lizzie Borden, fictional or otherwise, so when I saw this book I NetGalley, I wanted to give it a try.
On the morning of August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abbey Borden were brutally attacked in the comfort of their homes with a hatchet.
The only two people who were home during the crime were Andrew's daughter, Lizzie, and their live-in servant, Bridget Sullivan. It was Lizzie who found her father and called for help.
Not long afterward, the police suspected Lizzie as the perpetrator of the crime despite a lack of evidence. A week later, she was arrested and spent nearly a year in jail before being acquitted. Although, sometimes, the court of public opinion can't be swayed.
This book was a fun and informative read. The author does a really good job of bringing to life the real historical people these characters were based on. They never once felt out of place, and I really believed they were those people.
The dialogue was also really well done. Although this was a fictionalized retelling of these events, each character's speech and dialect felt realistic for not only the characters but also the time period.
However, my biggest hang-up is that I personally wanted the characters to feel a little more real. They never really came off of the page for me, unfortunately.
I just wanted the author to push the fictional aspect a little further, and I kind of got what I was looking for towards the end with the author's take on Lizzie's big fight with her sister, Emma, years after the trial and acquittal before she moved out. I just wish more of the book had been like that.
I also felt like the book might have been better served if it was written in first-person POV instead of third. Which is something I normally don't say, but in this instance, the third-person POV detracted from the story.
It was told from almost a top-down POV, starting the day of the crime and leading all the way up to Lizzie's death. It felt as if I was watching it like a movie, and there were multiple perspectives that the narrative followed as well.
Additionally, there was an underlying theme about women's rights, our place in society, and suffrage that was a main focus on the narrative, which also took away from the main story.
I think a narrower focus solely on Lizzie's perspective might have really pushed this over the edge for me. But I also haven't read any other Lizzie Borden stuff, and maybe a lot of them already do that. I commend the author for the attention to detail and creativity that gave this story new life and has reinvigorated my interest in it.
This novel is perfect for those who know about Lizzie Borden, as well as for those who might not be as familiar. Although, it is important to keep in mind that it is a fictional retelling. I give this 3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 4).
Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books - Historia for sending me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Growing up in the Midwest, I always heard about the Lizzie Borden axe m*rders. My mother told me the story when I was quite young, and I knew the rhyme by heart.
(I actually have a memory of reciting the rhyme in my 8th grade theater class when we were reading the play about the crime, and I scared my classmates 😂).
Despite my familiarity with this m*rder mystery, I have never read about Lizzie Borden, fictional or otherwise, so when I saw this book I NetGalley, I wanted to give it a try.
On the morning of August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abbey Borden were brutally attacked in the comfort of their homes with a hatchet.
The only two people who were home during the crime were Andrew's daughter, Lizzie, and their live-in servant, Bridget Sullivan. It was Lizzie who found her father and called for help.
Not long afterward, the police suspected Lizzie as the perpetrator of the crime despite a lack of evidence. A week later, she was arrested and spent nearly a year in jail before being acquitted. Although, sometimes, the court of public opinion can't be swayed.
This book was a fun and informative read. The author does a really good job of bringing to life the real historical people these characters were based on. They never once felt out of place, and I really believed they were those people.
The dialogue was also really well done. Although this was a fictionalized retelling of these events, each character's speech and dialect felt realistic for not only the characters but also the time period.
However, my biggest hang-up is that I personally wanted the characters to feel a little more real. They never really came off of the page for me, unfortunately.
I just wanted the author to push the fictional aspect a little further, and I kind of got what I was looking for towards the end with the author's take on Lizzie's big fight with her sister, Emma, years after the trial and acquittal before she moved out. I just wish more of the book had been like that.
I also felt like the book might have been better served if it was written in first-person POV instead of third. Which is something I normally don't say, but in this instance, the third-person POV detracted from the story.
It was told from almost a top-down POV, starting the day of the crime and leading all the way up to Lizzie's death. It felt as if I was watching it like a movie, and there were multiple perspectives that the narrative followed as well.
Additionally, there was an underlying theme about women's rights, our place in society, and suffrage that was a main focus on the narrative, which also took away from the main story.
I think a narrower focus solely on Lizzie's perspective might have really pushed this over the edge for me. But I also haven't read any other Lizzie Borden stuff, and maybe a lot of them already do that. I commend the author for the attention to detail and creativity that gave this story new life and has reinvigorated my interest in it.
This novel is perfect for those who know about Lizzie Borden, as well as for those who might not be as familiar. Although, it is important to keep in mind that it is a fictional retelling. I give this 3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 4).
Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books - Historia for sending me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2025
I’m a huge lover of pseudo-historical novels — ones that attempt to fill in the blanks, subvert a story that was marred by historical biases, offer a fresh perspective or just take inspiration from our own histories. Lizzie delves into the story of Lizzie Andrew Borden, a tale that has captivated history and true crime fans around the world and sparks a debate: was she a scapegoat, a murderer, or something more complicated?
Lizzie attempts to answer the not if she was a killer, but why? Fanning fills in the gaps with her own ideas of what really happened not just that one night, but in the carnage that follows.
Fanning tries to look underneath the sensationalist coverage and fear mongering at the time to give us one interpretation of Lizzie’s crime and punishment - but also using her to explore 19th century society and its vilification of women.
"I am considered too delicate to hear the doctors testimony about the axe splitting an imaginary skill, yet they think I am indelicate enough to plunge that same weapon into my living father ten or eleven times?"
While I appreciate blurring the line between reality and fiction, something that often happens in real life cases like Lizzies, there was something jarring about the way it was presented in this book - but it was clearly researched in the factual elements and had many hours of wondering and speculation behind it with plenty of intricate details that really set the scene and allow the reader to understand the nuance of the situation.
The shift in narrative styles was a little lackadaisical, it sometimes reading like a biography and other times as a work of fiction- sometimes just facts and statements, then vivid scenes and descriptions. I appreciated the effort behind trying to merge the truth with ideas to create a narrative, but this felt somewhere in between that didn't quite work for me.
"He walked his bustling street passing by four homes, a restaurant, stables, a photography studio, a liquor store, a wholesale produce business, a carriage trimmer a plumbing company and a machine shop. Turning left and down one block further he reached Main Street."
As for Lizzie herself, for a large part of the book she felt 2D, largely a stereotype of the wealthy spoiled spinster girl without any real motivation or thought, very much a repeat of how she was reported by media at the time, but she was slowly developed into her own person with a conviction for women’s rights and her own opinions. I loved how Fanning tried to access her relationships with her sister and distant relatives at the time to see how they could’ve influenced her life, how they reacted to the trial, and if she would've really told anyone the truth.
"'Really Emma,' Lizzie said, 'men have been doing that to unwanted daughters and wives for quite some time. We are lucky we escaped that fate.'"
It was deeply emotional at times between the law and lots of talking and I enjoyed the fact the book actually continued into the aftermath of the trial, showing that Lizzie is more than a court case, a scandal but it did seem to meander afterwards and lost it’s depth and pace. Despite the mildly confusing mash of styles, any history and true crime buffs will definitely find this an interesting read.
Lizzie attempts to answer the not if she was a killer, but why? Fanning fills in the gaps with her own ideas of what really happened not just that one night, but in the carnage that follows.
Fanning tries to look underneath the sensationalist coverage and fear mongering at the time to give us one interpretation of Lizzie’s crime and punishment - but also using her to explore 19th century society and its vilification of women.
"I am considered too delicate to hear the doctors testimony about the axe splitting an imaginary skill, yet they think I am indelicate enough to plunge that same weapon into my living father ten or eleven times?"
While I appreciate blurring the line between reality and fiction, something that often happens in real life cases like Lizzies, there was something jarring about the way it was presented in this book - but it was clearly researched in the factual elements and had many hours of wondering and speculation behind it with plenty of intricate details that really set the scene and allow the reader to understand the nuance of the situation.
The shift in narrative styles was a little lackadaisical, it sometimes reading like a biography and other times as a work of fiction- sometimes just facts and statements, then vivid scenes and descriptions. I appreciated the effort behind trying to merge the truth with ideas to create a narrative, but this felt somewhere in between that didn't quite work for me.
"He walked his bustling street passing by four homes, a restaurant, stables, a photography studio, a liquor store, a wholesale produce business, a carriage trimmer a plumbing company and a machine shop. Turning left and down one block further he reached Main Street."
As for Lizzie herself, for a large part of the book she felt 2D, largely a stereotype of the wealthy spoiled spinster girl without any real motivation or thought, very much a repeat of how she was reported by media at the time, but she was slowly developed into her own person with a conviction for women’s rights and her own opinions. I loved how Fanning tried to access her relationships with her sister and distant relatives at the time to see how they could’ve influenced her life, how they reacted to the trial, and if she would've really told anyone the truth.
"'Really Emma,' Lizzie said, 'men have been doing that to unwanted daughters and wives for quite some time. We are lucky we escaped that fate.'"
It was deeply emotional at times between the law and lots of talking and I enjoyed the fact the book actually continued into the aftermath of the trial, showing that Lizzie is more than a court case, a scandal but it did seem to meander afterwards and lost it’s depth and pace. Despite the mildly confusing mash of styles, any history and true crime buffs will definitely find this an interesting read.
May 17, 2025
Book Review: Lizzie by Diane Fanning
A Haunting Reimagining of America’s Most Infamous Axe Murder
Diane Fanning’s Lizzie breathes new life into the century-old mystery of Lizzie Borden, blending meticulous historical research with the psychological depth of a character study. This novelized account of the infamous 1892 murders in Fall River, Massachusetts, eschews sensationalism for a nuanced exploration of Lizzie’s psyche, family dynamics, and the suffocating constraints of Victorian womanhood. Fanning’s prose is sharp and evocative, immersing readers in the claustrophobic Borden household while teasing out fresh theories about the crime. The result is less a true-crime retelling and more a Gothic tragedy—one that challenges assumptions about guilt, innocence, and the stories history chooses to preserve.
Key Strengths
-Psychological Complexity: Fanning’s Lizzie is neither monster nor martyr, but a deeply layered woman shaped by repression and circumstance.
-Atmospheric Tension: The Borden home becomes a character itself, its creaking floors and locked rooms heavy with dread.
-Narrative Boldness: The novel’s speculative twists (particularly around Andrew Borden’s coat) offer provocative reinterpretations of the case.
Potential Considerations
-Pacing: The introspective focus may frustrate readers craving a faster-paced thriller.
-Familiarity: Those well-versed in Borden lore might crave more radical departures from known facts.
Score Breakdown (Out of 5)
-Historical Fidelity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – A corset-tight reconstruction of Gilded Age oppression.
-Character Depth: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5) – Lizzie’s unraveling is as meticulous as a lace doily’s stitchwork.
-Plot Innovation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – Familiar bones dressed in fresh, unsettling flesh.
-Thematic Resonance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – A scalpel-sharp dissection of gender and violence.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – Like arsenic-laced tea—smooth, deceptive, and lethally compelling.
Ideal Audience
-True-crime enthusiasts hungry for psychological nuance over gore.
-Fans of Alias Grace or The Dress Lodger, where history’s margins whisper darker truths.
-Anyone who relishes unreliable narrators and the weight of an unscratchable itch: What if we’ve been wrong all along?
Gratitude
Thank you to NetGalley and Diane Fanning for the advance copy. Lizzie doesn’t just revisit a legend—it holds a cracked mirror to our fascination with women who defy expectation, whether by axe or by acquittal.
Note: Review based on an ARC; the final edition may include refinements.
A Haunting Reimagining of America’s Most Infamous Axe Murder
Diane Fanning’s Lizzie breathes new life into the century-old mystery of Lizzie Borden, blending meticulous historical research with the psychological depth of a character study. This novelized account of the infamous 1892 murders in Fall River, Massachusetts, eschews sensationalism for a nuanced exploration of Lizzie’s psyche, family dynamics, and the suffocating constraints of Victorian womanhood. Fanning’s prose is sharp and evocative, immersing readers in the claustrophobic Borden household while teasing out fresh theories about the crime. The result is less a true-crime retelling and more a Gothic tragedy—one that challenges assumptions about guilt, innocence, and the stories history chooses to preserve.
Key Strengths
-Psychological Complexity: Fanning’s Lizzie is neither monster nor martyr, but a deeply layered woman shaped by repression and circumstance.
-Atmospheric Tension: The Borden home becomes a character itself, its creaking floors and locked rooms heavy with dread.
-Narrative Boldness: The novel’s speculative twists (particularly around Andrew Borden’s coat) offer provocative reinterpretations of the case.
Potential Considerations
-Pacing: The introspective focus may frustrate readers craving a faster-paced thriller.
-Familiarity: Those well-versed in Borden lore might crave more radical departures from known facts.
Score Breakdown (Out of 5)
-Historical Fidelity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – A corset-tight reconstruction of Gilded Age oppression.
-Character Depth: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5) – Lizzie’s unraveling is as meticulous as a lace doily’s stitchwork.
-Plot Innovation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – Familiar bones dressed in fresh, unsettling flesh.
-Thematic Resonance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – A scalpel-sharp dissection of gender and violence.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – Like arsenic-laced tea—smooth, deceptive, and lethally compelling.
Ideal Audience
-True-crime enthusiasts hungry for psychological nuance over gore.
-Fans of Alias Grace or The Dress Lodger, where history’s margins whisper darker truths.
-Anyone who relishes unreliable narrators and the weight of an unscratchable itch: What if we’ve been wrong all along?
Gratitude
Thank you to NetGalley and Diane Fanning for the advance copy. Lizzie doesn’t just revisit a legend—it holds a cracked mirror to our fascination with women who defy expectation, whether by axe or by acquittal.
Note: Review based on an ARC; the final edition may include refinements.
March 8, 2025
When first requesting this book, I'll admit I was unaware of the Borden case. If I'm honest it kind of felt like a Pride and Prejudicicesesque x Little Women x Good Girls Guide to Murder (My least favourite, predictable 'thriller'). The other reviews on this book have made me pleasantly aware in the meantime, and I went down a bit of a rabbit hole researching it.
If I'm honest this book does not do the true case or Lizzie Borden justice. Whilst I haven't and do not think I will ever make my own mind up on whether or not Lizzie Borden was her father and stepmother's true killers, due to the many legal injustices, along with the simple fact that I simply wasn't there, I feel this book simply didn't provide an new angle or clarifying insight that it really could've.
The book had a mass number of historical inaccuracies, many of them even being in things as simple as terms and language used- easy to fix or research things like so. Though I'll admit the case didn't seem well researched either- it seemed as if Fanning had just picked a popular case in her genre to turn a quick coin.
Though the writing was boring and not engaging either.
Please, feel free to take my review one of two ways:
The first: I am new to Fanning, a popular and awarded author's writing. I am new to this case. I have likely missed points.
The second: I am not new to law. Nor am I new to crime thrillers. Nor historical fiction. This book was primarily law, and inaccurate law at that, even if it was for a trial in 1893 (which this book claimed there was no trial). This book can hardly be claimed as a Mystery, nor Thriller considering it imagines the thoughts behind it, and not the ending. And a good historical fiction should plainly not be this bore-inducing.
I may be new to the case, but that means the knowledge is fresh in my mind.
So take my review as you will, but keep it in your mind when making your own decisions about this book.
If I'm honest this book does not do the true case or Lizzie Borden justice. Whilst I haven't and do not think I will ever make my own mind up on whether or not Lizzie Borden was her father and stepmother's true killers, due to the many legal injustices, along with the simple fact that I simply wasn't there, I feel this book simply didn't provide an new angle or clarifying insight that it really could've.
The book had a mass number of historical inaccuracies, many of them even being in things as simple as terms and language used- easy to fix or research things like so. Though I'll admit the case didn't seem well researched either- it seemed as if Fanning had just picked a popular case in her genre to turn a quick coin.
Though the writing was boring and not engaging either.
Please, feel free to take my review one of two ways:
The first: I am new to Fanning, a popular and awarded author's writing. I am new to this case. I have likely missed points.
The second: I am not new to law. Nor am I new to crime thrillers. Nor historical fiction. This book was primarily law, and inaccurate law at that, even if it was for a trial in 1893 (which this book claimed there was no trial). This book can hardly be claimed as a Mystery, nor Thriller considering it imagines the thoughts behind it, and not the ending. And a good historical fiction should plainly not be this bore-inducing.
I may be new to the case, but that means the knowledge is fresh in my mind.
So take my review as you will, but keep it in your mind when making your own decisions about this book.
March 27, 2025
Lizzie is an interesting novelisation of the life of Lizzie Borden and I really enjoyed the opening chapters, however once the trials began the pace began to drag and the aftermath of the verdict was incredibly slow and particularly uninteresting. This is a case I've heard of in passing and somehow always assumed that Lizzie had been convicted, probably because my knowledge of it was tied to the children's nursery rhyme about forty whacks. I was therefore completely in the dark as to actual events and the novel was both informative and unexpected.
Where I think Fanning really lets herself down though is in the relaying of the unreliable narrator in Lizzie. Parts of the novel seem intended to cause doubt and leave you unsure as to whether Lizzie actually committed the crimes she was on trial for. If this tone had been kept throughout, it would have kept the reader on their toes. However at other points, Fanning makes a clear cut case - using 'evidence' that never became apparent in real life - to confirm that Lizzie was 100% responsible for killing her father and step-mother. An example of this is Lizzie's hiding place for the axe and stolen belongings - a lot is made in the novel of her hiding place under the bed, despite this never being found by the police who tore the place apart looking for evidence.
Whilst I can understand the authorial need for a clear narrative and answer to 'who done it', Fanning goes too far in this endeavour and doesn't manage to capture the uncertainty and lack of actual evidence that let to Lizzie being acquitted. It's written as a fictionalised biography, but a fictionalised biography would recognise that Lizzie may actually be as Not Guilty as the jury proclaimed her. I don't think this novel therefore does Lizzie or the case justice.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy of this title.
Where I think Fanning really lets herself down though is in the relaying of the unreliable narrator in Lizzie. Parts of the novel seem intended to cause doubt and leave you unsure as to whether Lizzie actually committed the crimes she was on trial for. If this tone had been kept throughout, it would have kept the reader on their toes. However at other points, Fanning makes a clear cut case - using 'evidence' that never became apparent in real life - to confirm that Lizzie was 100% responsible for killing her father and step-mother. An example of this is Lizzie's hiding place for the axe and stolen belongings - a lot is made in the novel of her hiding place under the bed, despite this never being found by the police who tore the place apart looking for evidence.
Whilst I can understand the authorial need for a clear narrative and answer to 'who done it', Fanning goes too far in this endeavour and doesn't manage to capture the uncertainty and lack of actual evidence that let to Lizzie being acquitted. It's written as a fictionalised biography, but a fictionalised biography would recognise that Lizzie may actually be as Not Guilty as the jury proclaimed her. I don't think this novel therefore does Lizzie or the case justice.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy of this title.
April 20, 2025
As a lover of true crime, I have somewhat heard of the Borden axe murders, whilst also realized while reading this book that I actually didn’t know much about it. The book takes us on a fictionalized journey through the case and the potential suspect, innocent until proven guilty, and what happens when she is accused and spends time in prison during her trial.
Once Lizzie is acquitted we see more glimpses into her head, her thinking process, and if any of us had an inkling she was a great actress we’d be right, whilst also feeling like we missed something.
It’s a very well researched work of fiction, taking us through all the steps of solving a murder and making and breaking a case in the late 1800s USA. It felt a lot like Victorian Britain, and yet it wasn’t, it felt like it covered sapphic love briefly, living against the usual societal standards also briefly, and somewhat of a suffragette movement, but again, briefly.
To me, as much as it kept me enthralled, my spidey senses felt that something was missing, and that missing piece was not entirely solved to me until the end. It felt like the first part of the book covered things in minute detail, whilst the end it was all a brief blur and a somewhat of an explanation of what happened and it all ends with the two main characters kind of seeming to make amends on their death bed. It just felt rushed, while also a bit long. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, and I still can’t, but I think I found the reaction maybe predictable whilst also dismissing it as predictable.
Overall, it’s an interesting, well researched, very appropriate for the time story, but I felt it was missing some interesting plot twist to prove me wrong.
Once Lizzie is acquitted we see more glimpses into her head, her thinking process, and if any of us had an inkling she was a great actress we’d be right, whilst also feeling like we missed something.
It’s a very well researched work of fiction, taking us through all the steps of solving a murder and making and breaking a case in the late 1800s USA. It felt a lot like Victorian Britain, and yet it wasn’t, it felt like it covered sapphic love briefly, living against the usual societal standards also briefly, and somewhat of a suffragette movement, but again, briefly.
To me, as much as it kept me enthralled, my spidey senses felt that something was missing, and that missing piece was not entirely solved to me until the end. It felt like the first part of the book covered things in minute detail, whilst the end it was all a brief blur and a somewhat of an explanation of what happened and it all ends with the two main characters kind of seeming to make amends on their death bed. It just felt rushed, while also a bit long. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, and I still can’t, but I think I found the reaction maybe predictable whilst also dismissing it as predictable.
Overall, it’s an interesting, well researched, very appropriate for the time story, but I felt it was missing some interesting plot twist to prove me wrong.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2025
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC!
This is a true crime, historical fiction novel regarding the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. Set in Massachusetts during the 1800s, the story follows the daughters, Lizzie and Emma Borden, the former is the primary suspect in her dad’s murder.
The events leading up the murders, the direct aftermath, and the court proceedings were well written and kept our attention. The latter quarter of the book was slower paced with many seemingly ‘filler’ chapters that didn’t add great value to the story. The decades that passed after the trial were are least favorite of the book, and could have done without.
Not knowing anything about the story of Lizzie Borden before reading this novel, I wish we were not told immediately whether or not she was the murderer. Knowing the ‘truth’ the entire time gave little for suspense. The crime component of the story could have been more of a mystery to ruminate on if the ‘truth’ had been revealed to the reader after the trial.
A lot of names are introduced throughout the book which made it difficult at times to follow or know whether that person would be of interest to remember. One thing that kept tripping me up was the use of two names for their servant. The daughters (whom are both adults) call her Maggie but her real name was Bridget. That was odd, and though the reason was explained it didn’t seem that important to have been incorporated into the story in the first place.
Overall, it was a decent true crime, historical fiction book. I would recommend to anyone that likes this genre and to those liking women’s fiction.
This is a true crime, historical fiction novel regarding the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. Set in Massachusetts during the 1800s, the story follows the daughters, Lizzie and Emma Borden, the former is the primary suspect in her dad’s murder.
The events leading up the murders, the direct aftermath, and the court proceedings were well written and kept our attention. The latter quarter of the book was slower paced with many seemingly ‘filler’ chapters that didn’t add great value to the story. The decades that passed after the trial were are least favorite of the book, and could have done without.
Not knowing anything about the story of Lizzie Borden before reading this novel, I wish we were not told immediately whether or not she was the murderer. Knowing the ‘truth’ the entire time gave little for suspense. The crime component of the story could have been more of a mystery to ruminate on if the ‘truth’ had been revealed to the reader after the trial.
A lot of names are introduced throughout the book which made it difficult at times to follow or know whether that person would be of interest to remember. One thing that kept tripping me up was the use of two names for their servant. The daughters (whom are both adults) call her Maggie but her real name was Bridget. That was odd, and though the reason was explained it didn’t seem that important to have been incorporated into the story in the first place.
Overall, it was a decent true crime, historical fiction book. I would recommend to anyone that likes this genre and to those liking women’s fiction.
May 20, 2025
I enjoy almost all books about Lizzie including this one. Fanning did a nice job sticking to most of the facts of the case down to very small details that only true Borden historians would know.
Unfortunately, there were two cons for this book for me. One was that the murderer in this novel was made clear by page 12, which lessened the tension for the rest of the book. I actually stopped reading about halfway through, read three other books, then came back to this one.
The biggest problem, though, was the need for a closer edit. There were errors throughout the book including misspelled names of main characters ("Burden" instead of "Borden"; "Morris" instead of "Morse"; "Bridgett" instead of "Bridget"), missing quotation marks, capitalization errors, and tense inconsistencies plus multiple instances of major errors like suddenly switching from third person POV to first person (page 146: "Lizzie wondered if this was the moment that she... I did rob Father and Abby.")
The most egregious errors, though, were these:
Page 306 "Ida brought Alice for a visit in the Spring of 2003." No, seasons should not be capitalized, but wait--Alice, who was 33 when the murders happened in 1892, was visiting people in 2003? No.
Page 341 "Emma sat for an interview with the Boston Herald in April 2013." I can get past a newspaper not being italicized, but Emma was interviewed 12 years ago? No, she died in 1927.
I appreciate any Lizzie story, but a well-edited one is even better!
Unfortunately, there were two cons for this book for me. One was that the murderer in this novel was made clear by page 12, which lessened the tension for the rest of the book. I actually stopped reading about halfway through, read three other books, then came back to this one.
The biggest problem, though, was the need for a closer edit. There were errors throughout the book including misspelled names of main characters ("Burden" instead of "Borden"; "Morris" instead of "Morse"; "Bridgett" instead of "Bridget"), missing quotation marks, capitalization errors, and tense inconsistencies plus multiple instances of major errors like suddenly switching from third person POV to first person (page 146: "Lizzie wondered if this was the moment that she... I did rob Father and Abby.")
The most egregious errors, though, were these:
Page 306 "Ida brought Alice for a visit in the Spring of 2003." No, seasons should not be capitalized, but wait--Alice, who was 33 when the murders happened in 1892, was visiting people in 2003? No.
Page 341 "Emma sat for an interview with the Boston Herald in April 2013." I can get past a newspaper not being italicized, but Emma was interviewed 12 years ago? No, she died in 1927.
I appreciate any Lizzie story, but a well-edited one is even better!
March 5, 2025
"Lizzie Borden took an axe
She gave her mother forty whacks
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one."
The events in Fall River are well known along with the trial, but Lizzie goes beyond that. Lizzie explores the relationship between the sisters Lizzie and Emma and Lizzie's life through it all.
I was hooked simply because of the subject matter, but I didn't enjoy the majority of the book
While there are factual events in the book such as the trial, I'm not sure how much of the rest of the story is based in fact. A hidey hole? A Confession? It would have been nice to have had clarity on what events were fact and what was gossip or fiction.
The dialogue was my main issue. I felt the dialogue was boring and stale. Yes, it was a late Victorian era with a type of speech and language, but I really struggled to stay engaged with it.
Along with the speech was Lizzie's constant diatribes on the evil of men. It was receptive and heavy handed - was this based in fact?
I enjoyed the trial and the glimpses of Lizzie's time in jail. It was interesting to read something other than the focus on the murder.
However, after the trial it felt like it wandered from diary point to diary point with no real reason to many things. I struggled to finish the latter half of the book.
Grab this book for different view on Lizzie Borden.
Thank you to Netgalley and Level Best Books for the chance to read and review.
She gave her mother forty whacks
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one."
The events in Fall River are well known along with the trial, but Lizzie goes beyond that. Lizzie explores the relationship between the sisters Lizzie and Emma and Lizzie's life through it all.
I was hooked simply because of the subject matter, but I didn't enjoy the majority of the book
While there are factual events in the book such as the trial, I'm not sure how much of the rest of the story is based in fact. A hidey hole? A Confession? It would have been nice to have had clarity on what events were fact and what was gossip or fiction.
The dialogue was my main issue. I felt the dialogue was boring and stale. Yes, it was a late Victorian era with a type of speech and language, but I really struggled to stay engaged with it.
Along with the speech was Lizzie's constant diatribes on the evil of men. It was receptive and heavy handed - was this based in fact?
I enjoyed the trial and the glimpses of Lizzie's time in jail. It was interesting to read something other than the focus on the murder.
However, after the trial it felt like it wandered from diary point to diary point with no real reason to many things. I struggled to finish the latter half of the book.
Grab this book for different view on Lizzie Borden.
Thank you to Netgalley and Level Best Books for the chance to read and review.
May 25, 2025
Lizzie is the kind of true crime story that doesn't just recount facts, it pulls you deep into the psychology behind one of the most infamous cases in American history. Diane Fanning approaches Lizzie Borden’s story with a steady hand, balancing historical detail with a narrative style that keeps the pages turning.
What I really appreciated was that Fanning doesn’t try to force a single answer onto a case that’s been debated for over a century. She lays out the evidence, the social context, and the complex personalities involved, and lets you draw your own conclusions. At the same time, she isn’t afraid to point out the holes, the contradictions, and the chilling possibilities.
The writing is crisp and well-paced. You never feel bogged down by research, but it’s clear she did her homework. Lizzie herself is portrayed with a kind of unsettling ambiguity that makes the book even more compelling. You want to understand her, but you’re never quite sure if you do — and that’s part of what makes this book stick.
If you're into true crime that’s thoughtful, well-researched, and genuinely unsettling without being sensationalized, Lizzie is a solid pick. It’s both informative and haunting in the way only real-life mysteries can be.
What I really appreciated was that Fanning doesn’t try to force a single answer onto a case that’s been debated for over a century. She lays out the evidence, the social context, and the complex personalities involved, and lets you draw your own conclusions. At the same time, she isn’t afraid to point out the holes, the contradictions, and the chilling possibilities.
The writing is crisp and well-paced. You never feel bogged down by research, but it’s clear she did her homework. Lizzie herself is portrayed with a kind of unsettling ambiguity that makes the book even more compelling. You want to understand her, but you’re never quite sure if you do — and that’s part of what makes this book stick.
If you're into true crime that’s thoughtful, well-researched, and genuinely unsettling without being sensationalized, Lizzie is a solid pick. It’s both informative and haunting in the way only real-life mysteries can be.
February 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for the eARC!
First of all, I just want to say that the woman on the cover is giving Taylor Swift.
The story was pretty well written, if a bit overly detailed in places. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the author wasn't so obviously disgusted with Lizzie. She also gives Lizzie an extreme hatred of men and their power over women. So much so that by the end, I wasn't sure if Lizzie was supposed to be espousing the author's views or if the author found those views so abhorrent she had to make sure Lizzie spoke them AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I would have also appreciated a run down (maybe at the end) of what parts were true and which parts were fabricated. Obviously, with some of it, I can tell, but I wasn't always sure what parts the author was filling in (how much of the hidey-hole information was true?)
Also, I think this book could have stood to have some of the repetition (of the trial, of Lizzie's thoughts, etc.) removed.
All that being said, if you are interested in the story of Lizzie Borden, I think this book is worth a read.
First of all, I just want to say that the woman on the cover is giving Taylor Swift.
The story was pretty well written, if a bit overly detailed in places. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the author wasn't so obviously disgusted with Lizzie. She also gives Lizzie an extreme hatred of men and their power over women. So much so that by the end, I wasn't sure if Lizzie was supposed to be espousing the author's views or if the author found those views so abhorrent she had to make sure Lizzie spoke them AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I would have also appreciated a run down (maybe at the end) of what parts were true and which parts were fabricated. Obviously, with some of it, I can tell, but I wasn't always sure what parts the author was filling in (how much of the hidey-hole information was true?)
Also, I think this book could have stood to have some of the repetition (of the trial, of Lizzie's thoughts, etc.) removed.
All that being said, if you are interested in the story of Lizzie Borden, I think this book is worth a read.
February 23, 2025
2.75 Rounded up.
Writing a book about a true crime that was never actually solved is a mountain to climb in itself. This holds true ten times for a crime that is so well known and glamorized or romanticized. This novel focuses on the relationship between Lizzie and her sister as well has her like during and after the trial. Showing Lizzie as a strong woman who wanted nothing more then her independence from a mans world.
Lizzie is portrayed to be a woman before her time. Not wanting to be held down by what was expected of her station and the fact that she was a woman. It shows how those attributes could have weighed on the public’s perception of her and swayed the opinions of the public at the time. A key line in the book that sums it up for me is, “society does not like a strong woman to win. Ever.”
I was intrigued with this before and throughout the trial but as the book went on focusing on Lizzie’s life after I did seem to loose interest at times. So I did struggle to continue in some places. Which is why I gave it the rating I have.
Writing a book about a true crime that was never actually solved is a mountain to climb in itself. This holds true ten times for a crime that is so well known and glamorized or romanticized. This novel focuses on the relationship between Lizzie and her sister as well has her like during and after the trial. Showing Lizzie as a strong woman who wanted nothing more then her independence from a mans world.
Lizzie is portrayed to be a woman before her time. Not wanting to be held down by what was expected of her station and the fact that she was a woman. It shows how those attributes could have weighed on the public’s perception of her and swayed the opinions of the public at the time. A key line in the book that sums it up for me is, “society does not like a strong woman to win. Ever.”
I was intrigued with this before and throughout the trial but as the book went on focusing on Lizzie’s life after I did seem to loose interest at times. So I did struggle to continue in some places. Which is why I gave it the rating I have.
March 10, 2025
thank you netgalley and level best books for access to this arc.
i know of lizzie borden but wasn't super familiar with her story so i was super excited to jump into this book!
this book read slightly like a history textbook at times (which was not necessarily a bad thing for someone who studied and loves history), but overall it was an easy and interesting read. fanning included LOTS of commentary on the society and the treatment of women during the late 1800's and early 1900s and Lizzie's character shows much disgust at the society she was apart of, which i did find a tad repetitive at times.
i felt that there were a lot of characters introduced at once and i did find it confusing to keep track of them all, especially as they would be mentioned at different times throughout the book and i got confused with who was who. i did find myself getting slightly bored around the 75% mark but overall i thought this was an interesting depiction of such a well known women.
again thank you to both netgalley and level best books.
i know of lizzie borden but wasn't super familiar with her story so i was super excited to jump into this book!
this book read slightly like a history textbook at times (which was not necessarily a bad thing for someone who studied and loves history), but overall it was an easy and interesting read. fanning included LOTS of commentary on the society and the treatment of women during the late 1800's and early 1900s and Lizzie's character shows much disgust at the society she was apart of, which i did find a tad repetitive at times.
i felt that there were a lot of characters introduced at once and i did find it confusing to keep track of them all, especially as they would be mentioned at different times throughout the book and i got confused with who was who. i did find myself getting slightly bored around the 75% mark but overall i thought this was an interesting depiction of such a well known women.
again thank you to both netgalley and level best books.
April 8, 2025
Unless you are a writer yourself, you might not understand just how hard it is to write about an unlikeable main character. DIANE FANNING pulls this off in a masterful fashion. As kids, we learned the ditty about Lizzie Borden and how she killed her mother and father with an axe. In Lizzie, Fanning doesn't dispute the historical facts. Rather, she takes the reader inside the mind of the killer. Blending her skill at writing true crime with her historical fiction, we learn more about what made Lizzie kill her parents. The main character is not likeable; in fact, Fanning paints her as a narcissistic sociopath who is out of touch with the reality she lives in. Wanting to belong in the upper crust of her small town, Lizzie finds herself shunned after her parents' murders. Even before the trial, she and her sister find themself alone. Without giving away the ending, let's just say that Lizzie Borden does not find her dream coming true. Highly recommended for book clubs and individual readers.
March 11, 2025
"Lizzie Borden took an ax
And gave her mother forty whacks,
And when she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one."
The well-known rhyme about the murders gets several things wrong (it was her stepmother & the amount of axe blows are incorrect for a start) but was Lizzie the killer? This book is an uneasy mix of historical fiction & true crime, with the author blending the events & aftermath of Lizzie Borden's trial for the murders of her father & stepmother whilst giving us a look into Lizzie's thoughts, that doesn't quite gel.
The first third was very hard-going, the conversations felt very stilted as if the characters were automatons rather than people, but when we get to the point where Lizzie is first arrested, it vastly improves. I found myself engrossed in reading about the conditions in which Lizzie was kept before the inquest & the lead-up to her being charged & on trial.
The character of Lizzie though was her own worst enemy here, & it felt as if she was just parroting 'feminist' rhetoric at times & needlessly riling people who were on her side. I must say that I don't know much about her character & she may have indeed been very blunt & forthright. Overall it was interesting but treads a fine line between fact & fiction that isn't always work. 3.25 stars (rounded down)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Level Best Books (IBPA), for the opportunity to read an ARC.
And gave her mother forty whacks,
And when she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one."
The well-known rhyme about the murders gets several things wrong (it was her stepmother & the amount of axe blows are incorrect for a start) but was Lizzie the killer? This book is an uneasy mix of historical fiction & true crime, with the author blending the events & aftermath of Lizzie Borden's trial for the murders of her father & stepmother whilst giving us a look into Lizzie's thoughts, that doesn't quite gel.
The first third was very hard-going, the conversations felt very stilted as if the characters were automatons rather than people, but when we get to the point where Lizzie is first arrested, it vastly improves. I found myself engrossed in reading about the conditions in which Lizzie was kept before the inquest & the lead-up to her being charged & on trial.
The character of Lizzie though was her own worst enemy here, & it felt as if she was just parroting 'feminist' rhetoric at times & needlessly riling people who were on her side. I must say that I don't know much about her character & she may have indeed been very blunt & forthright. Overall it was interesting but treads a fine line between fact & fiction that isn't always work. 3.25 stars (rounded down)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Level Best Books (IBPA), for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Read
August 30, 2025The novel is another historical fiction view of the story of Lizzie Borden, the murder of her parents, the trial, and aftermath. Parts of the retelling make it sound like Lizzie was a victim, while others made it seem like she was a crafty killer who got away with the brutal murders of her father and stepmother. She was also determined to not need a man or be placed under his thumb, while understanding her sister needed to find love.
I did enjoy this version of her story, up to and during the trial. Her life after the trial seemed rushed and just an add on. It was interesting, and at parts I felt for her and her sister being made to feel like they lived in a fishbowl with others wanting to look.
I know I have some students who will be interested in reading. I recommend the book to those interested in true crime, Lizzie's story, and/or historic fiction, or women's fiction.
I was given the opportunity to read this novel by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I did enjoy this version of her story, up to and during the trial. Her life after the trial seemed rushed and just an add on. It was interesting, and at parts I felt for her and her sister being made to feel like they lived in a fishbowl with others wanting to look.
I know I have some students who will be interested in reading. I recommend the book to those interested in true crime, Lizzie's story, and/or historic fiction, or women's fiction.
I was given the opportunity to read this novel by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2025
Diane Fanning delivers a gripping historical novel that reexamines the infamous case of Lizzie Borden, the woman accused of brutally murdering her father and stepmother in 1892. With meticulous historical detail and a sharp psychological portrait, Lizzie immerses readers in a world of suffocating social constraints and hidden family tensions.
While the novel shines in its rich atmosphere and nuanced character exploration, it loses momentum in the second half, with a slower pace and a lack of suspense due to early revelations about Lizzie’s role. More historical reflection than thriller, it’s a compelling read for true crime and historical fiction lovers—but those seeking a fast-paced mystery may find it less satisfying.
An insightful, well-researched take on a chilling true crime story, though not as suspenseful as one might expect
While the novel shines in its rich atmosphere and nuanced character exploration, it loses momentum in the second half, with a slower pace and a lack of suspense due to early revelations about Lizzie’s role. More historical reflection than thriller, it’s a compelling read for true crime and historical fiction lovers—but those seeking a fast-paced mystery may find it less satisfying.
An insightful, well-researched take on a chilling true crime story, though not as suspenseful as one might expect
March 20, 2025
🌟🌟🌟
Lizzie by Dianne Fanning
ARC review
True crime fictional novel based on the Borden Murders in Massachusetts 1892.
I went into this book knowing nothing about the Borden murders, which actually helped me enjoy the novel without any preconceived notions.
The beginning of the book, up to the trial, was really engaging. I thought the story was well-written, and the author did a great job of highlighting the societal injustices and gender biases that women like Lizzie faced during that era. The author highlighted the patronising attitudes and double standards that relegated women to secondary status.
However, I felt the post-trial section dragged on a bit - there was a lot going on, and it could have been wrapped up earlier. Overall, though, the ending was well-done.
Worth a read.
Thank you Netgalley and Level Best Books for the chance to read and review this book.
Lizzie by Dianne Fanning
ARC review
True crime fictional novel based on the Borden Murders in Massachusetts 1892.
I went into this book knowing nothing about the Borden murders, which actually helped me enjoy the novel without any preconceived notions.
The beginning of the book, up to the trial, was really engaging. I thought the story was well-written, and the author did a great job of highlighting the societal injustices and gender biases that women like Lizzie faced during that era. The author highlighted the patronising attitudes and double standards that relegated women to secondary status.
However, I felt the post-trial section dragged on a bit - there was a lot going on, and it could have been wrapped up earlier. Overall, though, the ending was well-done.
Worth a read.
Thank you Netgalley and Level Best Books for the chance to read and review this book.
March 6, 2025
"Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one."
Now this is the Lizzie Borden story I've wanted since I first found out about her! Getting to be in her mind with thoughts and opinions that she very well could have had made this un-put-downable for me. I understood this fictional Lizzie's thought process and how she may have in fact been driven to do what she was accused and ultimately acquitted of. The perspective of a woman under arrest in the 1890s was unique, and I hadn't previously read anything that described what it would have been like for her in jail at the time. I struggle to find another book to compare this to, it stands alone in the best of ways!
And gave her mother forty whacks
When she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one."
Now this is the Lizzie Borden story I've wanted since I first found out about her! Getting to be in her mind with thoughts and opinions that she very well could have had made this un-put-downable for me. I understood this fictional Lizzie's thought process and how she may have in fact been driven to do what she was accused and ultimately acquitted of. The perspective of a woman under arrest in the 1890s was unique, and I hadn't previously read anything that described what it would have been like for her in jail at the time. I struggle to find another book to compare this to, it stands alone in the best of ways!
April 14, 2025
This book was really good. The chapters are the perfect length, and it's a pretty fast read. I don't know much about Lizzie Borden except for what was in that Lifetime movie and mini-series with Christina Ricci. I know that this is also a fictionalized version of the true story. But I mean, like who really knows what happened? This book seems close to the truth if you ask me. I did some Googling while reading it, and found that Lizzie really was a spoiled brat. It makes sense that she would murd3r her stepmom and dad because he changed some things in his will. People have k!lled for even less than that. If you enjoy true crime, you should check out this book. Diane Fanning is a famous true crime author. And if you enjoy reading about Lizzie Borden, you should also read this book.
July 29, 2025
I received an advanced copy through NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are truthful and my own.
I was excited to get an Arc for this book, as the Borden murders were my True Crime introduction. This book is a fictional imagining of what might have happened and what the motivation might have been. As long as you keep that in mind, this book is enjoyable. I particularly find the portrayal of Lizzie to be the best part - its been a trend lately to portray Lizzie as a sad, almost pathetic woman but Fanning writes the (fictionalized) Lizzie to be self centered and even a bit narcissistic. I did find some grammatical errors that took me out of the story a few times but overall, this is worth the read.
I was excited to get an Arc for this book, as the Borden murders were my True Crime introduction. This book is a fictional imagining of what might have happened and what the motivation might have been. As long as you keep that in mind, this book is enjoyable. I particularly find the portrayal of Lizzie to be the best part - its been a trend lately to portray Lizzie as a sad, almost pathetic woman but Fanning writes the (fictionalized) Lizzie to be self centered and even a bit narcissistic. I did find some grammatical errors that took me out of the story a few times but overall, this is worth the read.
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