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Hatchet Girls
Set more than one hundred years after the Borden murders, this propulsive, supernatural thriller imagines what might happen if history were to repeat itself today. Perfect for fans of Kara Thomas and Courtney Summers!
When Mariella Morse accuses her boyfriend, Vik Gomez, of murdering her wealthy parents with an axe, the town is quick to believe her. It doesn’t help that Vik is caught standing over her parents’ bodies with blood on his hands, unable to remember anything about the night in question.
But Vik’s sister, Tessa, knows that Vik would never be capable of such a gruesome crime. Haunted by the mistakes she made that led her family to move to Fall River, MA in the first place, she sets out to prove her brother’s innocence.
Tessa’s search for answers will lead her into a sprawling, notoriously cursed forest, where she and Mariella must face a darkness that has lurked within their town since before the days of Lizzie Borden—the original axe murderess of Fall River.
When Mariella Morse accuses her boyfriend, Vik Gomez, of murdering her wealthy parents with an axe, the town is quick to believe her. It doesn’t help that Vik is caught standing over her parents’ bodies with blood on his hands, unable to remember anything about the night in question.
But Vik’s sister, Tessa, knows that Vik would never be capable of such a gruesome crime. Haunted by the mistakes she made that led her family to move to Fall River, MA in the first place, she sets out to prove her brother’s innocence.
Tessa’s search for answers will lead her into a sprawling, notoriously cursed forest, where she and Mariella must face a darkness that has lurked within their town since before the days of Lizzie Borden—the original axe murderess of Fall River.
Audible Audio
First published October 10, 2023
63 people are currently reading
3022 people want to read
About the author
Diana Rodriguez Wallach
13 books278 followersDiana Rodriguez Wallach is a multi-published author of young adult novels. Her latest, THE SILENCED tackles the Troubled Teen Industry and is a 2026 finalist for the International Thriller Awards for Best YA Thriller and the HWA Bram Stoker Awards for Best YA Horror. In October 2023, she released HATCHET GIRLS, a modern twist on the legend of Lizzie Borden, and in 2021, she published SMALL TOWN MONSTERS, inspired by real paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (all Penguin Random House/Delacorte).
Additionally, Diana is the author of the Anastasia Phoenix Series, a trilogy of young adult spy thrillers. The first book in the series, Proof of Lies, has been optioned for film and was a finalist for the 2018 International Thriller Awards for Best YA Thriller. Her debut novel, a contemporary YA romance, placed second in the International Latino Book Awards, and her essays and short stories have been published in several anthologies.
For the past four years, Diana has been on faculty as a writing instructor for the Highlights Foundation, and prior to that she taught Creative Writing for Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth. She is also the former cohost of the writing podcast The Papertrail. Diana holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University and lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband, two kids, and two cats.
Social Media Links
Website: www.dianarodriguezwallach.com
TikTok: @dianarodriguezwallach
Instagram: @dianawallachauthor
Threads: @dianawallachauthor
Additionally, Diana is the author of the Anastasia Phoenix Series, a trilogy of young adult spy thrillers. The first book in the series, Proof of Lies, has been optioned for film and was a finalist for the 2018 International Thriller Awards for Best YA Thriller. Her debut novel, a contemporary YA romance, placed second in the International Latino Book Awards, and her essays and short stories have been published in several anthologies.
For the past four years, Diana has been on faculty as a writing instructor for the Highlights Foundation, and prior to that she taught Creative Writing for Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth. She is also the former cohost of the writing podcast The Papertrail. Diana holds a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University and lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband, two kids, and two cats.
Social Media Links
Website: www.dianarodriguezwallach.com
TikTok: @dianarodriguezwallach
Instagram: @dianawallachauthor
Threads: @dianawallachauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
April 30, 2023
This creepy and eerie novel blends different genres brilliantly, including horror, paranormal, mystery, YA thriller, romance, and a touch of magical realism. If you're a horror fan interested in true crimes of the past, including Lizzie Borden's story, this installment is a perfect fit for you.
The story takes place in Fall River, where Lizzie Borden and her family lived, and where Lizzie's parents were bludgeoned to death. The Morse family owns most of the historical properties in town and rents the Borden Family House for touristic attractions, such as haunted mansion tours and a bed and breakfast. Many creepy outsiders prefer to stay in the same room where Lizzie is presumed to have axed her parents.
It seems there are cracks in Winthrop and Catherine Morse's marriage. Their princess daughter, Mariella, who is the "It" girl of the school, rebels by choosing to date Vik Gomez. Vik doesn't come from money like Mariella's social circle; he's an outsider who recently moved from Philadelphia with his family after his stepmother died in a hit-and-run incident. His sister, Tessa, and his mother are still dealing with their grief.
When Winthrop and Catherine Morse are found brutally axed in their house, Mariella points her finger at Vik, declaring him the murderer. Tessa believes that her father cannot hurt a fly and intends to prove it, even though her actions put her life in danger. She becomes suspicious of Mariella's behavior and her insistence on not leaving the house where her parents were butchered. Tessa asks for help from Philip, Mariella's childhood friend who works at the family business giving tours at the Borden house. Philip has a crush on Tessa, but he is also loyal to Mariella, making it harder for Tessa to get information about Mariella's secrets related to the night of the murders.
The increasing pressure, witchery, pagan rituals, and urban fantasy elements mix perfectly with the horrific atmosphere. The ending will make your blood run cold! Overall, I highly recommend this book to YA horror/paranormal fantasy lovers!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press for sharing this digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
The story takes place in Fall River, where Lizzie Borden and her family lived, and where Lizzie's parents were bludgeoned to death. The Morse family owns most of the historical properties in town and rents the Borden Family House for touristic attractions, such as haunted mansion tours and a bed and breakfast. Many creepy outsiders prefer to stay in the same room where Lizzie is presumed to have axed her parents.
It seems there are cracks in Winthrop and Catherine Morse's marriage. Their princess daughter, Mariella, who is the "It" girl of the school, rebels by choosing to date Vik Gomez. Vik doesn't come from money like Mariella's social circle; he's an outsider who recently moved from Philadelphia with his family after his stepmother died in a hit-and-run incident. His sister, Tessa, and his mother are still dealing with their grief.
When Winthrop and Catherine Morse are found brutally axed in their house, Mariella points her finger at Vik, declaring him the murderer. Tessa believes that her father cannot hurt a fly and intends to prove it, even though her actions put her life in danger. She becomes suspicious of Mariella's behavior and her insistence on not leaving the house where her parents were butchered. Tessa asks for help from Philip, Mariella's childhood friend who works at the family business giving tours at the Borden house. Philip has a crush on Tessa, but he is also loyal to Mariella, making it harder for Tessa to get information about Mariella's secrets related to the night of the murders.
The increasing pressure, witchery, pagan rituals, and urban fantasy elements mix perfectly with the horrific atmosphere. The ending will make your blood run cold! Overall, I highly recommend this book to YA horror/paranormal fantasy lovers!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Delacorte Press for sharing this digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
2023
October 21, 2025Halloween TBR
Latine Heritage Month TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press
Latine Heritage Month TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press
November 29, 2023
Review coming soon.
July 20, 2023
I was so bummed that this book was over!
I loved everything from the title to the cover to the Lizzie Borden connection. Tessa is awesome and I definitely enjoyed how creepy everything was.
Did I know who was doing what? Yep, but I didn’t know why and how and I really wanted to know.
Expect a fast paced, entertaining, and very eerie read!
• ARC via Publisher
I loved everything from the title to the cover to the Lizzie Borden connection. Tessa is awesome and I definitely enjoyed how creepy everything was.
Did I know who was doing what? Yep, but I didn’t know why and how and I really wanted to know.
Expect a fast paced, entertaining, and very eerie read!
• ARC via Publisher
nope-dnf
November 3, 2023Dnf 3%
I have no patience for this
I have no patience for this
October 13, 2023
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by Penguin Teen, Random House Children's, and Delacorte Press.
Hatchet Girls is a supernatural horror that reminds us family can be our saving grace--or our biggest curse. Set one-hundred years after the Borden murders, this propulsive thriller imagines what a similar trial might look like today.
When the parents of the richest family in Fall River are found murdered by axe, the town is quick to blame newcomer Vik. It does not help that he was caught standing over the bodies with blood on his hands and can not remember anything about the night in question.
But Vik’s sister, Tessa, knows that Vik would never be capable of such a gruesome crime. Haunted by the mistakes she made that led her family to Fall River in the first place, she sets out to prove her brother’s innocence. Her search for answers will lead her into a sprawling, supposedly cursed forest, as well as the childhood home of Lizzie Borden—the original axe murderess of Fall River.
Hatchet Girls was a decent thriller. It is based off of Lizze Borden and her town with some twists which I was intrigued. The book was very slow for my preference and I did not like any of the characters, which may it hard to enjoy the book. The story itself was creepy and gory, but I wish there was more character development and more of a scare factor. I did like the historical facts I learned about the Lizzie Borden axe murders and the Native Americans that perished in that town and on that land. I think if you like murder stories with some paranormal, creepy aspects, then you will like this one. Also, if you are into YA horrors or thrillers you may like this or you can give this read a shot.
Hatchet Girls is a supernatural horror that reminds us family can be our saving grace--or our biggest curse. Set one-hundred years after the Borden murders, this propulsive thriller imagines what a similar trial might look like today.
When the parents of the richest family in Fall River are found murdered by axe, the town is quick to blame newcomer Vik. It does not help that he was caught standing over the bodies with blood on his hands and can not remember anything about the night in question.
But Vik’s sister, Tessa, knows that Vik would never be capable of such a gruesome crime. Haunted by the mistakes she made that led her family to Fall River in the first place, she sets out to prove her brother’s innocence. Her search for answers will lead her into a sprawling, supposedly cursed forest, as well as the childhood home of Lizzie Borden—the original axe murderess of Fall River.
Hatchet Girls was a decent thriller. It is based off of Lizze Borden and her town with some twists which I was intrigued. The book was very slow for my preference and I did not like any of the characters, which may it hard to enjoy the book. The story itself was creepy and gory, but I wish there was more character development and more of a scare factor. I did like the historical facts I learned about the Lizzie Borden axe murders and the Native Americans that perished in that town and on that land. I think if you like murder stories with some paranormal, creepy aspects, then you will like this one. Also, if you are into YA horrors or thrillers you may like this or you can give this read a shot.
Read
April 12, 2023I can't wait for you all to read my next novel, HATCHET GIRLS. It will be released in October 10, 2023 and it's got some great author buzz already!
"Gripping, delightfully shocking, and brilliantly sharp. Wallach has sliced into my heart with this one. So unforgettable!" Jesse Q. Sutanto, nationally bestselling author of The New Girl and The Obsession
"A propulsive thrill of a book! You think you know what happens next, but there's a twist around every corner." ~Zoraida Córdova, award-winning author of Labyrinth Lost
HATCHET GIRLS storms the YA horror realm with blistering, unputdownable storytelling. A magnificent setting, characters full of surprises, and clever twists team up for a heart pounding ride. Hold on to your hatchets! And don’t miss this stunner.
--Laura Taylor Namey
New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
"A slick murder mystery packaged within the terror of supernatural possession, HATCHET GIRLS feels at home set in Lizzie Borden's house, and the Fortean forest of the Bridgewater Triangle." — Johnny Compton, author of The Spite House
"An absorbing, deadly spiral of shadowed history and family secrets. Rodriguez Wallach knows exactly where to strike. Once Hatchet Girls digs the blade in, there's no escape." — Hailey Piper, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth
An intense, feminist, thrill ride of a novel, HATCHET GIRLS brings the macabre world of Lizzy Borden into the twenty-first century. Part love story, part supernatural whodunit, Wallach's richly imagined characters embody the entire spectrum of the human experience--from the bonds of sibling loyalty to the depths of jealousy and depravity. A must-read for fans of Claire Legrand and Kendare Blake.
-- Amalie Jahn, USA Today bestselling author of The Next to Last Mistake
"A thrillingly twisted tale of haunted whispers and reeking secrets, Hatchet Girls is sharp as an axe."—Ann Fraistat, author of What We Harvest
"Hatchet Girls is a bloody good time! Mesmerizing and creepy, Diana Rodriquez Wallach combines an evocative setting with historical legends to weave a gripping tale about a modern-day axe murder. The story also features a powerful sibling bond and real details about the Lizzie Borden murders. With its relentless pacing, Hatchet Girls takes you in its teeth and doesn't let go until the final, spine-tingling chapter!"—Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, author of Friends Like These
"Absolutely riveting! HATCHET GIRLS is a must read filled with clever twists, dark thrills, and strong women. I loved every page."-- Melissa Marr, NYT Bestselling Author of Graveminder and Remedial Magic
Hatchet Girls blew me away with its high tension, memorable characters, and non-stop action. The story had me second-guessing every character, every motive, and kept me up late reading to find out what would happen. Layer that with the lore of the Lizzie Borden murders, and it's a winning combination both teens and adults will not be able to put down. In short, Hatchet Girls is spine-tingling, axe-murdering awesomeness! -- P. J. Hoover, author of Solstice and The Hidden Code
"Gripping, delightfully shocking, and brilliantly sharp. Wallach has sliced into my heart with this one. So unforgettable!" Jesse Q. Sutanto, nationally bestselling author of The New Girl and The Obsession
"A propulsive thrill of a book! You think you know what happens next, but there's a twist around every corner." ~Zoraida Córdova, award-winning author of Labyrinth Lost
HATCHET GIRLS storms the YA horror realm with blistering, unputdownable storytelling. A magnificent setting, characters full of surprises, and clever twists team up for a heart pounding ride. Hold on to your hatchets! And don’t miss this stunner.
--Laura Taylor Namey
New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
"A slick murder mystery packaged within the terror of supernatural possession, HATCHET GIRLS feels at home set in Lizzie Borden's house, and the Fortean forest of the Bridgewater Triangle." — Johnny Compton, author of The Spite House
"An absorbing, deadly spiral of shadowed history and family secrets. Rodriguez Wallach knows exactly where to strike. Once Hatchet Girls digs the blade in, there's no escape." — Hailey Piper, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth
An intense, feminist, thrill ride of a novel, HATCHET GIRLS brings the macabre world of Lizzy Borden into the twenty-first century. Part love story, part supernatural whodunit, Wallach's richly imagined characters embody the entire spectrum of the human experience--from the bonds of sibling loyalty to the depths of jealousy and depravity. A must-read for fans of Claire Legrand and Kendare Blake.
-- Amalie Jahn, USA Today bestselling author of The Next to Last Mistake
"A thrillingly twisted tale of haunted whispers and reeking secrets, Hatchet Girls is sharp as an axe."—Ann Fraistat, author of What We Harvest
"Hatchet Girls is a bloody good time! Mesmerizing and creepy, Diana Rodriquez Wallach combines an evocative setting with historical legends to weave a gripping tale about a modern-day axe murder. The story also features a powerful sibling bond and real details about the Lizzie Borden murders. With its relentless pacing, Hatchet Girls takes you in its teeth and doesn't let go until the final, spine-tingling chapter!"—Jennifer Lynn Alvarez, author of Friends Like These
"Absolutely riveting! HATCHET GIRLS is a must read filled with clever twists, dark thrills, and strong women. I loved every page."-- Melissa Marr, NYT Bestselling Author of Graveminder and Remedial Magic
Hatchet Girls blew me away with its high tension, memorable characters, and non-stop action. The story had me second-guessing every character, every motive, and kept me up late reading to find out what would happen. Layer that with the lore of the Lizzie Borden murders, and it's a winning combination both teens and adults will not be able to put down. In short, Hatchet Girls is spine-tingling, axe-murdering awesomeness! -- P. J. Hoover, author of Solstice and The Hidden Code
April 14, 2023
I think that anything involving the Lizzie Borden mystery is fascinating to read about. I love seeing author’s twists on the story and their fictional recounts on what really happened. Hatchet Girls takes a different approach and takes place a century later but in the same town that the crime took place. In fact, there’s even a Lizzie Borden House, a haunted bed and breakfast, which is the only tourist attraction in town.
If you’re in it for the mystery aspect of this book, you pretty much find out what’s going on within the first 20% of the book. You don’t find out all the details of the supernatural/magic and how it comes about, but you do get an explanation of pretty early on that magic is involved. But, what isn’t revealed until further down the line is the details of what exactly this magic is, who REALLY is behind it all, and how everything will be resolved.
This is an extremely fast read, probably the fastest read that I’ve read in a while, so for those of you who like to whip through books quickly, this is a great addition to boost your reading count to meet your reading challenge goals. It’s a super easy, quick, read. It’s also very YA in tone which isn’t a bad thing, but I know some people don’t like YA books that actually feel like a YA book.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book until I got to about the 70% mark, but I ended up LOVING this. I thought for sure it was going to be a 3 star read, but the ending made it 4 stars for sure. So visual and perfectly creepy, and most definitely a horror ending. Make no mistakes, this isn’t some thriller with magic and some supernatural sprinkled in, the ending is full fledged horror.
I also loved how the locations in this book are based on actual haunted locations in Massachusetts! It makes me want to do my own research about Bridgewater Triangle and Hockomock Swamp. And the fact that the author experienced weird supernatural occurrences after returning from visiting these places, yeah no thanks I’ll pass on that.
Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
If you’re in it for the mystery aspect of this book, you pretty much find out what’s going on within the first 20% of the book. You don’t find out all the details of the supernatural/magic and how it comes about, but you do get an explanation of pretty early on that magic is involved. But, what isn’t revealed until further down the line is the details of what exactly this magic is, who REALLY is behind it all, and how everything will be resolved.
This is an extremely fast read, probably the fastest read that I’ve read in a while, so for those of you who like to whip through books quickly, this is a great addition to boost your reading count to meet your reading challenge goals. It’s a super easy, quick, read. It’s also very YA in tone which isn’t a bad thing, but I know some people don’t like YA books that actually feel like a YA book.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book until I got to about the 70% mark, but I ended up LOVING this. I thought for sure it was going to be a 3 star read, but the ending made it 4 stars for sure. So visual and perfectly creepy, and most definitely a horror ending. Make no mistakes, this isn’t some thriller with magic and some supernatural sprinkled in, the ending is full fledged horror.
I also loved how the locations in this book are based on actual haunted locations in Massachusetts! It makes me want to do my own research about Bridgewater Triangle and Hockomock Swamp. And the fact that the author experienced weird supernatural occurrences after returning from visiting these places, yeah no thanks I’ll pass on that.
Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
September 25, 2023
I did really like this- it was creepy, atmospheric, and definitely had some great gorey scenes. Unfortunately I felt that neither MC was likable, and I just couldn’t feel bad for either of them.
My biggest problem was The Accent- it made my eye twitch the entire time. It was so unnecessary and none of the other characters had one, so why did he? I get it, the dude has a Boston accent. There’s no need to write it that way. It really took me out of the story.
Highly recommend for spooky season though or if you’re a fan of the Lizzie Borden legend!
My biggest problem was The Accent- it made my eye twitch the entire time. It was so unnecessary and none of the other characters had one, so why did he? I get it, the dude has a Boston accent. There’s no need to write it that way. It really took me out of the story.
Highly recommend for spooky season though or if you’re a fan of the Lizzie Borden legend!
January 17, 2024
Man I really struggled with how unoriginal/uninspired this novel was. The only reason I finished it was because of how short the novel was. However, there were mutliple times throughout the novel where I was bored/felt like I had already experienced these plot points but other YA thrillers/mysteries. While there are many YA novels that I can enjoy as an adult this one felt very rudimentary and by the book to the point where it makes no lasting impressions.
October 17, 2023
Eh..... Two is generous
April 1, 2024
{3.5 stars}
What if the horrors that occured in Lizzie Borden's home were the result of some lingering evil? Mariella is a descendent of the family and her family are killed in an equally brutal axe attack. Caught standing over the bodies is Mariella's boyfriend, Vik. But Vik's sister knows he would never commit such a crime and is desparate to get to the truth.
I loved the concept of this one. The evil was really awesome and I thought the how and why were just a perfect creepy Stephen King-like concept. I liked the switching of POVs and the back and forth in time. But, the text was perhaps a bit too whiny YA at times for me. It wasn't unreadable but felt like it could have used another edit to tighten it up a bit. Still a fun horror read!
What if the horrors that occured in Lizzie Borden's home were the result of some lingering evil? Mariella is a descendent of the family and her family are killed in an equally brutal axe attack. Caught standing over the bodies is Mariella's boyfriend, Vik. But Vik's sister knows he would never commit such a crime and is desparate to get to the truth.
I loved the concept of this one. The evil was really awesome and I thought the how and why were just a perfect creepy Stephen King-like concept. I liked the switching of POVs and the back and forth in time. But, the text was perhaps a bit too whiny YA at times for me. It wasn't unreadable but felt like it could have used another edit to tighten it up a bit. Still a fun horror read!
January 9, 2024
This book was absolutely brilliant. You can tell how much research the author put into it. This is a modern Lizzy Borden retelling. Loved the characters and everything they go through, at first I liked a character then I didn't then I hated them. I love when a writer can do that. Highly recommended and PERFECTION 5 stars
September 22, 2023
can i tell you how much i didn't expect to love this? and then ended up totallyyyyy lovinggg itttt. yeah, it's the best thing ever when that happens.
as a true crime junkie, i went down the lizzie borden rabbit hole a long time ago (i think the sister did it) and i LOVED the tie in. besides the obvious (and very real) stuff she uses in this story she also did some sneaky tie ins that some won't know. the peaches cracked me up. how freaking creative of this author! she did her research and nailed it. total props!
i didn't expect this one to go as supernatural as it did, but i was there for it.
stellar writing for awesomesauce story that's creative af. as a 37 year old occasional YA thriller reader, i can say that even if they aren't typically you're thing- you should still pick this one up.
thank you getunderlined and penguin random house for the copy.
as a true crime junkie, i went down the lizzie borden rabbit hole a long time ago (i think the sister did it) and i LOVED the tie in. besides the obvious (and very real) stuff she uses in this story she also did some sneaky tie ins that some won't know. the peaches cracked me up. how freaking creative of this author! she did her research and nailed it. total props!
i didn't expect this one to go as supernatural as it did, but i was there for it.
stellar writing for awesomesauce story that's creative af. as a 37 year old occasional YA thriller reader, i can say that even if they aren't typically you're thing- you should still pick this one up.
thank you getunderlined and penguin random house for the copy.
September 28, 2023
Lizzie Borden took an axe,
And gave her mother forty whacks,
And when she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.
In the town and on the property that, that more than one hundred years ago Ms. Borden allegedly murdered her parents, history seems to have repeated itself. Vik is convicted of axing his girlfriend's family to death. But his family is certain he didn't dot it, couldn't do it. Tessa, Vik's sister and our main character, seeks to prove his innocence, and sets her sites on his girlfriend.
This was a horror roller coaster. Elements from nearly every horror genre and trope as well as lessons in society and justice weave through the shocking twists and explosive revelations. I couldn't put this down. A must read for Halloween.
And gave her mother forty whacks,
And when she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.
In the town and on the property that, that more than one hundred years ago Ms. Borden allegedly murdered her parents, history seems to have repeated itself. Vik is convicted of axing his girlfriend's family to death. But his family is certain he didn't dot it, couldn't do it. Tessa, Vik's sister and our main character, seeks to prove his innocence, and sets her sites on his girlfriend.
This was a horror roller coaster. Elements from nearly every horror genre and trope as well as lessons in society and justice weave through the shocking twists and explosive revelations. I couldn't put this down. A must read for Halloween.
March 12, 2024
This was fantastic in every way and I now need to get copies for my half Rican half Portuguese children to have forever. Maybe to show off to their Fall River cousins. Every Philly reference made me home sick and just made this tale that much better.
The moral of the story? When the grandkids of colonizers start talking about their ancestors?? RUN!
The moral of the story? When the grandkids of colonizers start talking about their ancestors?? RUN!
August 22, 2024
Hatchet Girls
by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
About the book 🪓
When Mariella Morse accuses her boyfriend, Vik Gomez, of murdering her wealthy parents with an axe, the town is quick to believe her. It doesn’t help that Vik is caught standing over her parents’ bodies with blood on his hands, unable to remember anything about the night in question.
But Vik’s sister, Tessa, knows that Vik would never be capable of such a gruesome crime. Haunted by the mistakes she made that led her family to move to Fall River, MA in the first place, she sets out to prove her brother’s innocence.
Tessa’s search for answers will lead her into a sprawling, notoriously cursed forest, where she and Mariella must face a darkness that has lurked within their town since before the days of Lizzie Borden—the original axe murderess of Fall River.
✨ My thoughts:
Loved! And perfect for spooky season. I’ve been meaning to write a review for this as I finished it in March!! But I’m here now. I absolutely loved the Lizzie Borden connection and the supernatural aspects of this story. This story is a fantastic mash up of genres and overall the perfect amount of creepy. The only way to read this, is to devour it. If you’re looking for a fast and eerie read to get you ready for the ‘bet months, you need to pick this one up!
Happy reading 📖 🪓
by Diana Rodriguez Wallach
About the book 🪓
When Mariella Morse accuses her boyfriend, Vik Gomez, of murdering her wealthy parents with an axe, the town is quick to believe her. It doesn’t help that Vik is caught standing over her parents’ bodies with blood on his hands, unable to remember anything about the night in question.
But Vik’s sister, Tessa, knows that Vik would never be capable of such a gruesome crime. Haunted by the mistakes she made that led her family to move to Fall River, MA in the first place, she sets out to prove her brother’s innocence.
Tessa’s search for answers will lead her into a sprawling, notoriously cursed forest, where she and Mariella must face a darkness that has lurked within their town since before the days of Lizzie Borden—the original axe murderess of Fall River.
✨ My thoughts:
Loved! And perfect for spooky season. I’ve been meaning to write a review for this as I finished it in March!! But I’m here now. I absolutely loved the Lizzie Borden connection and the supernatural aspects of this story. This story is a fantastic mash up of genres and overall the perfect amount of creepy. The only way to read this, is to devour it. If you’re looking for a fast and eerie read to get you ready for the ‘bet months, you need to pick this one up!
Happy reading 📖 🪓
June 22, 2023
3.5 overall!
I was super excited for this book, I love the Lizzie Borden murders so I couldn’t wait to see how this all played out. It definitely started out strong and the spooky vibes were there and stay throughout the book. I enjoyed the POV’s of Tessa and Mariella and having the before and after of how everything plays out. I did feel it was a little predictable but there were some twists I didn’t see coming.
For me, it took a turn I wasn’t expecting and I felt a little eh about it. I was wishing for more creepy, ghost of Lizzie Borden vibe than the supernatural take it took. I did love at the end the author put what was actually real that she used in the book, which really gave an added spooky vibe to it.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and it would definitely be the perfect read for fall this year!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC!
I was super excited for this book, I love the Lizzie Borden murders so I couldn’t wait to see how this all played out. It definitely started out strong and the spooky vibes were there and stay throughout the book. I enjoyed the POV’s of Tessa and Mariella and having the before and after of how everything plays out. I did feel it was a little predictable but there were some twists I didn’t see coming.
For me, it took a turn I wasn’t expecting and I felt a little eh about it. I was wishing for more creepy, ghost of Lizzie Borden vibe than the supernatural take it took. I did love at the end the author put what was actually real that she used in the book, which really gave an added spooky vibe to it.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and it would definitely be the perfect read for fall this year!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC!
March 29, 2024
I couldn’t stand the boston accent written for Phil and how he was the only one who had it. It was really a distraction. The book was honestly just alright, not my favorite but an okay read.
May 15, 2025
Hatchet Girls was such a solid YA horror! Set in Massachusetts with creepy forest vibes and a Lizzie Borden-inspired twist—yes please.
Tessa was super relatable (Puerto Rican girl who understands Spanish but can’t speak it fluently? SAME), and I loved how far she was willing to go for her brother. The mystery kept me hooked, and the Boston setting made me miss living there so much.
Fast-paced, eerie, and full of twists—definitely recommend if you like small-town secrets and spooky vibes.
Tessa was super relatable (Puerto Rican girl who understands Spanish but can’t speak it fluently? SAME), and I loved how far she was willing to go for her brother. The mystery kept me hooked, and the Boston setting made me miss living there so much.
Fast-paced, eerie, and full of twists—definitely recommend if you like small-town secrets and spooky vibes.
December 20, 2023
2.75 rounded up. Phil and his accent drove me NUTS. His Boston accent coming out at random times was so annoying. I understand it was when he was nervous or upset, but literally none of the other characters who are from the same town have this issue. Also, Tessa's never heard of Lizzie Borden???? She's from Philly, it's not that far from Fall River. Are there really people out there who haven't heard of her??
December 23, 2023
pretty solid. This honestly really creeped me out a lot but the ending was good.
Read
November 25, 2023
Trigger & Content Warnings
Child abuse
Emotional abuse & gaslighting
Blood & gore depiction
Death of a parent
Murder
Car accident recounted, off-page
Child abuse
Emotional abuse & gaslighting
Blood & gore depiction
Death of a parent
Murder
Car accident recounted, off-page
April 14, 2024
This book was incredible! It was inspired by the Lizzie Borden murder that happened a long time ago. It was a story of what could have happened that day. Because no one knows for sure. It is on the gorier side of you mind that. It also mentions being possessed by demons and dark magic. So take this into consideration. But if that doesn't faze you definitely check it out!
October 9, 2023
Hatchet Girs is a fun, fast read that definitely gave the Lizzie Borden vibes. I really enjoyed how this jumped right into the action where we see Vik getting arrested for the murder of his girlfriend's parents. We also get dual POVs and timelines, one from the days leading up to the murder alternating with what happened after. I loved how they slowly came together revealing the truth of what really happened the night of the murder. It gave great thriller/ could it be supernatural vibes and it kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how it was all going to play out.
October 27, 2023
I am going back and forth between 4 and 4.5 stars but I will leave it at 4 for right now.
Full RTC!
Full RTC!
November 22, 2025
This was just okay for me. I liked the historical information of the real Lizzie Borden the best of the entire thing.
February 11, 2024
“lizzie borden took an axe,
and gave her mother forty whacks.
when she saw what she had done,
she gave her father forty-one.” 🪓
☆☆☆☆☆
hatchet girls is the perfect book for anyone wanting to get into paranormal horror. the paranormal elements are very low-level while still adding a ton of intrigue to the plot as a whole.
the plot of hatchet girls functions as somewhat of a retelling and somewhat of a continuation of the original story. tessa and her family have recently moved to fall river, ma in the wake of a family tragedy. one hundred years after the lizzie borden trial, tessa’s brother, vik, is found covered in the blood of his girlfriend, mariella’s, parents. told in a split timeline alternating between tessa’s pov after the murders and mariella’s pov in the days leading up to, hatchet girls is fast-paced and intriguing from start to finish. the characters are complex and will have you questioning your own morality as their motivations come to light. the plot’s finale was ambiguous enough to leave a lingering feeling of eeriness without compromising a sense of closure.
while unrelated to the plot, i also loved that the author chose to include a section title “the truth” at the end of the novel to maintain the integrity of the actual lizzie borden trial as well as the history and geography of fall river, massachusetts.
and gave her mother forty whacks.
when she saw what she had done,
she gave her father forty-one.” 🪓
☆☆☆☆☆
hatchet girls is the perfect book for anyone wanting to get into paranormal horror. the paranormal elements are very low-level while still adding a ton of intrigue to the plot as a whole.
the plot of hatchet girls functions as somewhat of a retelling and somewhat of a continuation of the original story. tessa and her family have recently moved to fall river, ma in the wake of a family tragedy. one hundred years after the lizzie borden trial, tessa’s brother, vik, is found covered in the blood of his girlfriend, mariella’s, parents. told in a split timeline alternating between tessa’s pov after the murders and mariella’s pov in the days leading up to, hatchet girls is fast-paced and intriguing from start to finish. the characters are complex and will have you questioning your own morality as their motivations come to light. the plot’s finale was ambiguous enough to leave a lingering feeling of eeriness without compromising a sense of closure.
while unrelated to the plot, i also loved that the author chose to include a section title “the truth” at the end of the novel to maintain the integrity of the actual lizzie borden trial as well as the history and geography of fall river, massachusetts.
April 18, 2024
Hatchet girls is a YA book that touches on some of the history of Lizzie Borden and the historical land surrounding. We start the book off with one of the main protagonists, Tessa, who we learn has recently moved to Fall River with her mother and brother. Still in high school, her and her brother spent a year trying to fit in with the kids of this small Massachusetts town. Vik is her brother who ends up dating Mariella, our other protagonist in this story. Mariella’s family, the Morses, make this town run and live in the richest part of town. Close to their house lives her best friend Phil, who is living in Lizzie Borden’s actual home with his family. Allegedly Lizzie murdered her dad and stepmother with a hatchet but was later acquitted of those actions. Phil has a crush on Tessa and is constantly trying to get her up to the house to give her a tour of the house, but she never gives in.
We go back and forth between Tessa’s point of view and Mariella’s where we see Mariella accuse Vik of murdering her parents. He is sent to jail where his family tirelessly tries to understand what has happened. Tessa and her family visit him in jail, and this is where we meet the detective of his case. We learn that Mariella wants her father dead for being abusive to her mother and starts to come up with a plan to get rid of him. She is plagued by my nightmares and voices after she drinks tea that is supposedly going to help her with said plan. Vik has no idea of this and is seemingly unaware of the physical changes she is going through. The voices command her to do lots of things and she is not strong enough to fight them off most times. Going back to Tessa her family comes into town to support her and her mother. Also comes along her Ex-boyfriend Oscar that she broke up with when they moved. She decides she can't sit by and needs to figure out what has happened to her brother. First, she goes to Phil to see if Mariella has confided in him about the murders, but only figures out that they have been going to the woods frequently.
Mariella is influenced to give Vik some of the tea mixed with her blood on a ledge in the woods, so he can kill her father for her. Once he drinks this, he turns from a loving boyfriend to a stone-cold robot. The voices muted in her head for a while as she chased out of the trees, eventually riding back to her house. She plans to have him kill her father in his sleep with penicillin which he is allergic to. But for some reason he grabs an axe instead and goes inside and kills her mother. Horrified Mariella realizes her mother was the only one in the bed and did not intend to be hurt. She tries to save her mother with no luck. Phil walks into the room like he owns the place, calm as a cucumber. She realizes he is in control of Vik and makes the connection that he is the voice and demon she has been seeing regularly. Disgusted at her best friend doing this, her father walks in with a shaving blade intending to fight the boys. The voice gets back into her head, and she grabs the axe and kills her father herself following some rude remarks he just couldn't help uttering. Phil cleans everything up and gets Mariella ready to lie to the police, telling her Vik must take the fall. She becomes numb to the idea, but the voice is too much for her to ignore. Vik finally wakes up not understanding what is going on.
Tessa and Oscar go to the woods with Phil as their tour guide to see where the “ledge” is located to see if they can find some answers. Throughout the whole hike he is trying to get them to drink a weird drink that they both refuse. Tessa ends up getting lightheaded with voices telling her to jump. A powerful wind shakes the forest and Oscar snatches her away from the ledge that many spirits inhabit but breaks or sprains his knee in the process. Phil leaves them to find help, but the wind gets so strong it forces them through the woods. The voices are not telling her to run! Eventually they find themselves in the swamp where the battle of King Phillip (Metacom) the Wampanoag leader vs. English settlers was fought. Many spirits are said to be beneath and surrounding that land. In fear of being lost forever, she sends her location to the detective of her brother's case. Phil comes back to them, but Tessa realizes Phil isn’t who he says he is as she becomes lightheaded again. The air is getting to her, and she can see Phil’s eyes are cloudy and evil. A fight ensues and eventually Tessa has him on the swampy ground having him fight for air as she dunks his head in the gross water. Mariella has been having doubting thoughts and her choices for this life. She ends up in the woods with a hatchet prepared to confront Phil. Taking over the torture after she finds it, she holds him at hatchet point. Phil wanted her parents dead so that he and his family could benefit financially. She then explains everything to Tessa, who records the whole confession. Mariella says it was all her and Phil and that Vik was just a scapegoat. The detective has also found the kids and orders her to drop the weapon and she listens. But Phil has drank lots of the swamp water and Mariella reminds him how he has used these beings for his own gain. The winds pick back up and vines lift him up in the air and without success the detective tries to shoot him down. The wind being so strong in an instant Phil disappears with the assumption he was dragged into the swamp. Mariella is thrown in jail but let out on probation and promises Tessa the Vik will not hear any voices.
At the end of the book Vik is freed and a year later moves back to his hometown. He sees Mariella a lot in his mind and ends up hearing her voice that says he will see her soon.
Teaching: I think a good thing that we can teach with this book is dual perspective. There is a lot to consider such as time and place matching up when you are going back and forth between characters. It also can be a great lesson in showing different voice styles. I was thinking maybe this could be a good partner project. Each pair gets a topic and needs to create a story that goes back and forth from different characters perspectives. They must work together to make a cohesive story that follows that same timeline. Seeing that this book would be for most likely high school students I feel that this project would be very doable.
We go back and forth between Tessa’s point of view and Mariella’s where we see Mariella accuse Vik of murdering her parents. He is sent to jail where his family tirelessly tries to understand what has happened. Tessa and her family visit him in jail, and this is where we meet the detective of his case. We learn that Mariella wants her father dead for being abusive to her mother and starts to come up with a plan to get rid of him. She is plagued by my nightmares and voices after she drinks tea that is supposedly going to help her with said plan. Vik has no idea of this and is seemingly unaware of the physical changes she is going through. The voices command her to do lots of things and she is not strong enough to fight them off most times. Going back to Tessa her family comes into town to support her and her mother. Also comes along her Ex-boyfriend Oscar that she broke up with when they moved. She decides she can't sit by and needs to figure out what has happened to her brother. First, she goes to Phil to see if Mariella has confided in him about the murders, but only figures out that they have been going to the woods frequently.
Mariella is influenced to give Vik some of the tea mixed with her blood on a ledge in the woods, so he can kill her father for her. Once he drinks this, he turns from a loving boyfriend to a stone-cold robot. The voices muted in her head for a while as she chased out of the trees, eventually riding back to her house. She plans to have him kill her father in his sleep with penicillin which he is allergic to. But for some reason he grabs an axe instead and goes inside and kills her mother. Horrified Mariella realizes her mother was the only one in the bed and did not intend to be hurt. She tries to save her mother with no luck. Phil walks into the room like he owns the place, calm as a cucumber. She realizes he is in control of Vik and makes the connection that he is the voice and demon she has been seeing regularly. Disgusted at her best friend doing this, her father walks in with a shaving blade intending to fight the boys. The voice gets back into her head, and she grabs the axe and kills her father herself following some rude remarks he just couldn't help uttering. Phil cleans everything up and gets Mariella ready to lie to the police, telling her Vik must take the fall. She becomes numb to the idea, but the voice is too much for her to ignore. Vik finally wakes up not understanding what is going on.
Tessa and Oscar go to the woods with Phil as their tour guide to see where the “ledge” is located to see if they can find some answers. Throughout the whole hike he is trying to get them to drink a weird drink that they both refuse. Tessa ends up getting lightheaded with voices telling her to jump. A powerful wind shakes the forest and Oscar snatches her away from the ledge that many spirits inhabit but breaks or sprains his knee in the process. Phil leaves them to find help, but the wind gets so strong it forces them through the woods. The voices are not telling her to run! Eventually they find themselves in the swamp where the battle of King Phillip (Metacom) the Wampanoag leader vs. English settlers was fought. Many spirits are said to be beneath and surrounding that land. In fear of being lost forever, she sends her location to the detective of her brother's case. Phil comes back to them, but Tessa realizes Phil isn’t who he says he is as she becomes lightheaded again. The air is getting to her, and she can see Phil’s eyes are cloudy and evil. A fight ensues and eventually Tessa has him on the swampy ground having him fight for air as she dunks his head in the gross water. Mariella has been having doubting thoughts and her choices for this life. She ends up in the woods with a hatchet prepared to confront Phil. Taking over the torture after she finds it, she holds him at hatchet point. Phil wanted her parents dead so that he and his family could benefit financially. She then explains everything to Tessa, who records the whole confession. Mariella says it was all her and Phil and that Vik was just a scapegoat. The detective has also found the kids and orders her to drop the weapon and she listens. But Phil has drank lots of the swamp water and Mariella reminds him how he has used these beings for his own gain. The winds pick back up and vines lift him up in the air and without success the detective tries to shoot him down. The wind being so strong in an instant Phil disappears with the assumption he was dragged into the swamp. Mariella is thrown in jail but let out on probation and promises Tessa the Vik will not hear any voices.
At the end of the book Vik is freed and a year later moves back to his hometown. He sees Mariella a lot in his mind and ends up hearing her voice that says he will see her soon.
Teaching: I think a good thing that we can teach with this book is dual perspective. There is a lot to consider such as time and place matching up when you are going back and forth between characters. It also can be a great lesson in showing different voice styles. I was thinking maybe this could be a good partner project. Each pair gets a topic and needs to create a story that goes back and forth from different characters perspectives. They must work together to make a cohesive story that follows that same timeline. Seeing that this book would be for most likely high school students I feel that this project would be very doable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2024
This is the perfect book to start off the spooky season right! The author does a spectacular job at blending several genres together, it really is a good mix. If you like young adult, thriller, mystery, horror, paranormal, and a little romance then this book has you covered.
I was completely sucked into this story and the Lizzie Borden case tie in. I loved all of the unexpected supernatural elements woven in how everything made sense and had a place in the plot.
You could definitely tell that the author took the time to do her research and it really had a good outcome.
If you are a fan of the Lizzie Borden case and the paranormal then this is definitely one to add to your tbr this fall!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy for an honest review.
I was completely sucked into this story and the Lizzie Borden case tie in. I loved all of the unexpected supernatural elements woven in how everything made sense and had a place in the plot.
You could definitely tell that the author took the time to do her research and it really had a good outcome.
If you are a fan of the Lizzie Borden case and the paranormal then this is definitely one to add to your tbr this fall!
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy for an honest review.
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