Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks …

Or did she?

A brief recap from the back cover for those who may not know the story. Lizzie Borden was charged with the 1892 brutal murders, [of her father and step-mother], tried in a court of law, acquitted, but the court of public opinion convicted her anyway, and for the rest of her life she was hated, feared, reviled and shunned.

I’ve been intrigued by the Lizzie Borden story since junior high. The details that keep me curious are the same ones that confounded the prosecution and ultimately led to her acquittal–the lack of real evidence. How did she pull off two murders and leave nothing behind? Well, except the two bodies. There was no physical evidence: no murder weapon, no bloody clothes, no signs of someone breaking in. Because of the timing between the murders, Lizzie wouldn’t have had time to ditch bloody clothes, wash herself, then commit the second murder. The only thing pointing to Lizzie was the fact she and the maid, Bridget, were the only two home at the time, and it was assumed since the doors were locked it had to have been one of them. Lizzie was the only one with motive; she and her older sister Emma were not fond of their step-mother.

Emma is the main character in Stice’s recently released historical novel. As Lizzie nears death, perhaps Emma will now break her silence and reveal the secret she and Lizzie have kept for thirty-seven years. The chapters alternate between Emma and the person who may receive the information …but not so fast. The pacing of the book is perfect in that along with Emma’s guest, I found myself saying, ‘Come on! Who was it? Get to the good part!’

And that’s the thing, the whole book is the good part. Through Stice’s clean writing and gifted storytelling, Emma unravels the knots of what transpired that day and all that led up to it. Stice did her research and not only reminds the reader of what they already know, but also introduces new information that, had the prosecution known, might have kept Lizzie from being charged with the murders at all.

This novel answers the prosecution’s central question, “If not Lizzie, then who?” At that point only one question remains. Why was Emma’s story never published?~ back cover

This from Kirkus Reviews: Stice reimagines a fascinating true crime … A cleverly reconstructed, meaty historical whodunit …the twist at the end is both shocking and satisfying.

Yes, it is. I wonder what you’ll think. You can purchase C.F. Stice’s book from Amazon, Lizzie: The Untold Story

I hope autumn’s colors and cool temps are reaching you. I’m patiently waiting, (actually not so patiently) for the leaf palette to change her in the Carolinas, but I am enjoying the cooling. May you have a good week and I’ll see you next Monday!