#BookReview SEE WHAT I HAVE DONE by Sarah Schmidt
@ikillnovel US @groveatlantic UK @TinderPress

"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."
~Leo Tolstoy

SEE WHAT I HAVE DONE, Sarah Schmidt's debut novel, examines one of the most infamous true crimes in American history: the axe murders of Andrew and Abigail "Abby" Borden in Fall River, Massachusetts on August 4, 1892. Andrew's younger daughter Lizzie was charged and tried for the murders of her father and her step-mother. Schmidt's literary historical thriller is a superb work of realism and naturalism, filled with the kind of details which can lead the reader to learn what actually happened at 230 2nd Street that sweltering summer day. The novel starts with a vengeance, with Lizzie, in the first person, yelling, "Someone's killed Father."

The story unfolds in chronological order, but Schmidt also uses reverse chronology so that the reader can know which events lead up to the murders. Our unreliable narrators, and potential suspects, are, in alternating chapters, four characters: Lizzie (32), Emma Borden (41), Lizzie's sister, Bridget Sullivan (26), the Borden's Irish maid, and Benjamin, a man who has come to Fall River at the behest of someone close to the Borden family. Lizzie is clearly an unstable child-woman still trying to please her father and her step-mother, but also misbehaving and acting in a suspicious manner. Emma has spent her life taking care of her troubled younger sister, giving up any chance of love and marriage, and an escape from her father's gloomy and parsimonious household.

There have been times when Lizzie was away from home that I nursed absence. Always two ways of feeling: relief and loneliness.

Bridget is one of all "the Bridget's," young Irish women who fled Ireland during the 19th century famines and came to work as domestics in the United States. She is overworked and underpaid, and privy to nearly all details of the Borden household. There was a great deal of anti-Catholic nativism occurring in the United States, so Bridget would have been suspected simply for being an Irish immigrant. Benjamin is a mystery man and, perhaps, a dark horse. Could he be the person who broke into the home and stole some mementos a year before?

The novel's pacing, too, depicts the excitement, the horror and the tedium which happens in every crime investigation--and in every unhappy family. The plot evolves firmly from accurate historical accounts of the Borden family, the crimes, and the subsequent trial. The author knows that the devil is in the details. Andrew Borden is wealthy yet frugal. He is sparing with his love as well. Emma and Lizzie are two adult daughters living at home, spinsters in a time when middle-class women were married and living with husbands and children in their own homes. Abby is Andrew's second wife, and her relationship with her step-daughters is difficult. There are too many hens and impotence rules the roost. Money could easily have been the main motive, but the ever-present tension in the household could have driven someone to murder.

Yet, of course, this is a work of fiction, of literary fiction and of crime fiction. Schmidt's lyrical and beautiful prose captures both the striking and the mundane which occur before, during and after the murders. Her powerful interpretation of these people and events is fueled by a deep understanding of how petty conflicts and co-dependence accumulate until there is a need for some sort of resolution, release and relief. Unfortunately for Andrew and Abby, the catharsis resulted in their deaths.

SEE WHAT I HAVE DONE is an extraordinary novel which shines light on the iconic crime, the darkness within families and the human soul, and the banality of evil. Sarah Schmidt is a gifted and intelligent writer. She is a major new talent, and I await her next novel eagerly.

Highly Recommended.


Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this novel through NetGalley. SEE WHAT I HAVE DONE was published in the United States on August 1, 2017. SEE WHAT I HAVE DONE UK

Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish See What I Have Done.

Why?

Because I knew how it was going to end and I hated every single character. Books can be good if the characters are unlikeable, but this one just didn’t grab me. Perhaps because the timing also confused me. In spite of the fact that it was recommended by Entertainment Weekly, it was Historical Fiction and True Crime, I just didn’t like it. I’m sure other people will, though!

On a hot August morning in 1892, Lizzie Borden calls out to their maid, "Someone has cut Father." Both Andrew Borden and his wife have been brutally murdered with an ax, but there is a baffling lack of evidence. Was there a stranger near the house? Was it Lizzie herself? In this book, the reader sees into the minds of four of the main players in the still-unsolved Borden murders.


When I was young, I was the kid who vegged in front of the TV, watching shows with titles like, "America's Creepiest Destinations," "America's Most Haunted," and so on.

And trust me, the Borden house was featured on most of those lists. I knew plenty about the Borden murders before beginning this book, which made me very excited to be swept away by the story.

Because like I did, maybe you're asking yourself, "Could a book about an unsolved double murder be anything but riveting?"

And I'm here to tell you that unfortunately: YES. It can be.

It can be dull, actually. I'll tell why:

This book is narrated by four different people: 1) Lizzie Borden herself, 2) Lizzie's older sister, Emma, 3) Benjamin, a violent vagrant, and 4) the Borden's Irish maid, Bridget.

Apart from Bridget, I disliked all the narrators. Lizzie is loony to the point of being unbelievable. Emma, her sister, is whiny and spineless. And Benjamin is so weirdly psychotic, I had a constant "...what?" look on my face the entire time I read his chapters.

The story is also bogged down by a convoluted timeline. The reader is thrown between the day of the murders, the past, and so on. All over the place. It was jarring.

I had no emotional reaction to this book, but I still rated it two stars because I really liked the maid, Bridget. She's a marginalized woman who is only trying to do her best, but is caught up serving a very strange family. I felt for her. If this book had been completely narrated by her, I believe my feelings towards it would be different.

Please believe me, I wanted to love this book. I really did. I wanted to be swept up in the weird creepiness of the case, but instead, I was just... bored. Definitely NOT what I was expecting from a book about an unsolved double murder.

[2.5 stars]

I love books about crime. I love fiction based on real people and/or events. I love books about dysfunctional families. See What I Have Done is all of these things, but I didn’t love it. Most of the story centers around the Borden family dynamics (each family member has their own motives to have possibly killed Abby and Andrew Borden) and the days immediately following the murders. Oddly for a story involving crime and a dysfunctional family, it moved slowly and I got bored around the 40-50% mark. I kept expecting things to move along to Lizzie’s arrest and the subsequent trial (the part of the story I find most intriguing), but that didn’t happen until three quarters of the way through. And, when we finally did hear about it, it was covered only briefly and on a surface level (we never even got to hear about the evidence that led to Lizzie’s arrest). When I finished, I felt like I didn’t know much more about the murders than I did before I read the book.

I am in the minority on this one. I struggled to make it through. I could not connect with any of the. characters. Everything Lizzie said and did was strange. The writing was too descriptive and at times disgusting. I love true crime but this one makes me wonder if I ever want to hear about Lizzie Borden again! It was very depressing and for me disappointing.

No official review since I did not finish the book.

I had a difficult time getting interested in this novel. I've never been especially interested in the Lizzie Borden case and so I don't really know a lot of the theories regarding her guilt or innocence which I believe played a part in my disinterest in this book. The plot moved along way too slowly for me. The characters were not that interesting. I was continuously confused by who was speaking and when they were describing. It just never clicked with me. Probably someone who is more familiar with the case would find it interesting and fun but I was just lost.

I was expecting more from this book. I have a particular fondness for the Borden case, as it is what started my love affair with the true crime genre. I feel Benjamin was a very heavy-handed plot device and an unnecessary addition. I would've liked to hear more from Bridget, and maybe use the time spent on Benjamin to hear from Mr. and Mrs. Borden instead. I'm sure this'll do very well with the commercial fiction crowd, however.

Sarah Schmidt has crafted one of America's most famous murder cases into a riveting psychological thriller. The shifting narratives and time periods build suspense, but become tiresome in the last third of the novel. And all the characters, from Lizzie, a selfish sociopath, to her long-suffering older sister with a martyr complex, to their mustache-twirling uncle and his murderer-for-hire Benjamin, are so unsympathetic that it's hard to become invested in anyone but the housemaid, Bridget, who disappears from the story much too early on. There's a danger, too, in "finishing" a story and then going back and retelling it from another perspective — after Benjamin's last account, I had little interest in going back and reliving the smothering, claustrophobic relationship between the sisters. I do recommend the book, however, especially to fans of true crime — even though this is a novel, it's a fascinating examination of this case and its place in our history.

I love reading books that are based on actual, true life people and events. Although this story was a fictionalized version, it was a great interpretation of the life of Lizzie Borden. Lizzie gained infamy after being tried and acquitted for the 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts.

The author did a great job of setting up an atmosphere of a family that just did not seem "right." Very well done and their was a few subtle hints throughout the story of how things unfolded in these murders. At the end of the book the author included true facts. It was fascinating to learn that Lizzie was basically acquitted of these murders because the male jury believed no woman was capable of committing an act like this. Really great book! I received a complimentary ebook via Netgalley.com

I was so excited to start this book because I love retellings and honestly didn’t know the whole story behind the accusations of Lizzie Bordon murdering her parents with an ax in 1892. I decided to get online and read about the true story so that I would have an idea about what really went down that August morning in 1892.

The book starts with an introduction to that morning the ax murdering took place in Fall River, Massachusetts. Lizzie’s father Andrew and her stepmother Abby were both found axed to death and the only person in sight when someone finally arrives to help is Lizzie. Everyone wants to know who the perpetrator is. Who could commit such horrible acts of crime and why would they want to hurt these people?

For me, the first half of the book was not intriguing at all. I felt like the characters were flat and boring and the narrative was confusing at times, mainly because of Lizzie’s thoughts with the jumping back and forth between reality and what was going on in Lizzie’s head. I wasn’t enjoying the writing style at all. Then, when I got to the last half of the book, I became very interested in who the real killer was here. It could’ve been Lizzie, but she’s not reliable and her thoughts are all over the place. Is she being honest? What about Uncle John and Benjamin? There are clues and accusations along the way, but the reader is left to wonder until the very end what actually happened.

Overall, The author has spun her own version of the tale and it’s spellbinding at times. I’m happy that I stuck with it and didn’t give up. Some people say that the book is gruesome, but I didn’t think it was too gory on the details. I really appreciated the timeline the author provided in the back of the book. If you’d like more true information on the events that took place, you might want to watch “Histories Mysteries: The Strange Case of Lizzie Bordon.” This is truly a compelling mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book for review.

My rating on this is 3.5 stars

Unfortunately, I am not a fan of this book. I found the characters really unlikeable, which is not surprising based on the true life story, but I feel like there was something amiss in these characters as they presented on the pages. I realize this is an interpretation of real people, and ones not easily likeable, but they seemed forced, too one dimensional. Also, the writing just did not engage me enough into the story. I am not a fan of the back and forth time frames as I found them distracting. Normally, this doesn't bother me and I know it's a popular method of storytelling but here it felt like it would pop up when I wasn't expecting it. I believe this book was meant to be atmospheric and creepy, which I think many people are experiencing while reading it, but I found it felt a bit too forced.

Before reading this, I really didn’t know anything about Lizzie Borden and the horrific details of her life. I went into this book thinking it would be a good mystery based on a true story. This is a debut novel for this author and it was a good first book.
I am not sure how I feel about the story. I did find myself interested in what happened but it did drag at times for me. I was thoroughly annoyed at the ending of the book I feel as if the author ran out of things to say. I do understand that the conclusion of the Lizzie Borden case was one in which everyone felt satisfied with, but for me, the book ended abruptly.

As soon as I heard that a novel was coming out that was based on Lizzie Borden, I was IN! Given that I’m fascinated by these sorts of crimes, I was eager to see what she made of the events. This novel is such an interesting take on a murder case that has fascinated people for YEARS! Although it doesn’t take a stand in terms of who committed the crime itself, this book really takes a close look at the Borden household and a family that was volatile and ugly. As a result, the book gives you more information about what could have been happening and how various pieces of the case could be looked at through a variety of lenses.

The story is told from four perspectives which shift throughout the novel – Lizzie, her sister Emma, the housemaid Bridget and a stranger named Benjamin. From each of these perspectives, the reader gets to watch the events of the Borden story as they are unfolding through time. I loved how different each perspective was … yet Schmidt pulls all of the disseminated fragments together in the end in a satisfactory way.

The tone of the novel feels very odd, almost foggy and dreamlike. There is an ominous feel to the writing and the story which are reinforced by the details of each person’s experience. The images were so dreamy and yet vivid for me – for example, the mutton soup that is always on the stove, being eaten by the family each day despite it not being kept cold. Another reviewer called the book a fever dream which I think is the perfect way to capture how the book feels as you read.

The exploration of family and familial relationships through the Borden family was rather disturbing – such a ‘upstanding’ family yet they were extremely dysfunctional and unstable in so many ways. Once you better understand the family dynamics, it’s easy to understand why this family and the murder of the father and stepmother have captivated people for over 100 years.

All in all, this is a deeply unsettling novel that will feel as if it’s haunting you in a way. I kept thinking over the novel for days after finishing, thinking through my own theories of what may have actually taken place. Really great novel – well written, well imagined. Highly recommend this one!

See What I Have Done explores one of the most infamous murder cases of all time- the Lizzie Borden murders. I was familiar with the general story, but Schmidt fills in the gaps from one creepy detail to the next, utilizing the timeline that is known about the time leading up to the murders and the aftermath.

Schmidt crafts a twisted and dark story, creating the insecure world of the Borden sisters and their angry and awful parents. Using four points of view (the housemaid, an observing stranger, and the two sisters), Schmidt brings the story together through very different points of view.

It is a claustrophobic type of read and no one is really likable at all, with the exception of Lizzie’s sister. It can be confusing, at times, as Schmidt jumps through the timeline, instead of ending with the trial, which seem to interrupt the flow. That said, I learned a lot more about the Borden family and the circumstances surrounding this gory murder!

3.5 Stars

I had to sit a few days before reviewing this book. This my first historical fiction read and while I was intrigued by the premise (and an absolutely beautiful cover!) I didn't really know if I'd enjoy a story when I already knew the ending. Once I got used to the period style prose I was pleasantly surprised.

All of the characters were unlikable but we already knew the dysfunction of the Borden family. Sarah Schmidt did a very good job of provoking your sympathy and then slowly eroding that sympathy. Andrew suffered a great loss with the death of his wife, but was abusive and stingy. Abby couldn't bare children and I think really wanted a relationship with Emma and Lizzie, but clung to maid Bridget like a life preserver and essentially held her hostage at the house. Emma never recovered from the trauma of her mother's death and just wanted to escape the family, but enabled Lizzie her entire life. And then there is Lizzie... Oh boy. Every time she appeared on the page evoked a strong sense of dread. I was terrified of the Lizzie Sarah Schmidt created. There were times when I had to remind myself that she was an ADULT WOMAN acting like an psychopathic child.

Beautifully written, like a story you would daydream while looking at the old photographs of the family and crime scenes. I very much enjoyed looking through the keyhole.

Thank you to Sarah Schmidt, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.

Nearly everyone has heard this rhyme and this case. Andrew and Abby Borden were both brutally murdered in their home with an axe; Andrew’s daughter Lizzie was arrested and brought to trial for their murders. She was found not guilty and the murders are still unsolved today. Sarah Schmidt took a 10 year writing process/obsession and has brought us the fictional account of what led to the murders and afterwards with See What I Have Done.

There are four narrators in See: Lizzie, her sister Emma, Bridget the maid, and the enigmatic Benjamin who is a fictional character. Each narrator brings something different to this very disturbing story and family. It is a slow moving novel that at times can be hard to follow with the narratives. See goes back and forth within the chapters which can be confusing. I had to reread some paragraphs several times because of the confusion.

There is a timeline included at the end of the novel. I felt that would have been better used at the beginning as an introduction to see where things will go for those who don’t know many details about the case. I felt a “cast of characters” would have been helpful as Schmidt seems to assume that the reader will know who each character is.

Even knowing this novel is fictional, it all seemed very real. This comes with the in-depth research that Schmidt did. It does make you think about the case and wonder what really happened. If you are looking for a good fictional introduction to Lizzie Borden, this is the place to start. If you are looking for anything ‘new’ with the case or any conclusions as to who did commit the murders, you will not get that.

Despite the issues I had, Schimidt did a very good job with See, which is her debut novel and it is an accomplishment. Living and breathing Lizzie for 10 years must have affected her as she ‘lived’ with these real people for so long. You can see in the Author Acknowledgements where she thanks Lizzie, but asks her to move on.

I received a copy via NetGalley, thank you so much for my copy!

I sincerely doubt I am in the minority regarding prior knowledge of the story of Lizzie Borden and her ax. What I do recall, after the school house rhyme faded from my mind, was that Lizzie was acquitted and I don’t believe the double homicide was ever solved. One of those cold cases that might surface in a documentary or movie of the week if new evidence was uncovered, but nothing over the years captured my attention.
Sarah Schmidt and See What I Have Done however did pique my interest. Her descriptions of Lizzie, Emma, Bridget, Uncle John and of course the now departed Andrew and Abby were creepy and compelling. If this family were alive today, I could see them on some sort of train wreck reality TV show with fast and furious Twitter comments as each episode aired.
This wasn’t a happy home by any stretch of imagination. Lizzie, a woman in her 30s sound like a young teen at best and a homicidal maniac at worst. Emma, her sister thrust into the role of surrogate mother is manipulated by Lizzie and has never had the ability to break free and create a life of her own. Andrew Borden, a man of means either believes in living with less or is just plain cheap and miserly and his relationships with his daughters and second wife would never be described as warm and fuzzy. The maid Bridget is by the far the closest thing to normal in the Borden household as each character is so unbelievably well developed by the author.
I love books, I respect the work involved in crafting an engaging story, but in this case, Sarah Schmidt truly went above and beyond to craft such distinct voices. It’s a tragic tale of a dysfunctional family, and while it did take me some time to get comfortable with the author’s rhythm, by the end I couldn’t stop turning pages to get to the end.
Thank you Sarah Schmidt, Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everyone knows the rhyme:
Lizzie Borden took an axe; and gave her mother 40 whacks; when she saw what she had done; she gave her father 41.
Sarah Schmidt's novel is historical fiction exploring the infamous murders of Mr. and Mrs. Borden in the late 19th century. Emma, Lizzie's sister, is ten years older than Lizzie, and has assumed the role of caretaker and main confidante of Lizzie following the death of their birth mother when Lizzie was very young. The bond between the sisters is a strange one, bordering on unhealthy. In fact, there are no healthy relationships whatsoever in See What I Have Done. The novel is told from the alternating points of view of Lizzie, Emma and Bridget, the family's servant who is desperate to escape the family and return to Ireland.

See What I Have Done is beautifully written in a strange, almost dreamlike manner, with the ominous tone and the forbading atmosphere of the house permeating throughout. From the mutton soup which always seems to be on the stove - never refrigerated and eaten daily - to the descriptions of the bodies of the victims, to Mrs. Borden's strange and unhealthy attempt to hold on to Bridget in spite of her desperate attempts to flee, it's easy to get caught up in the chilling, dysfunctional atmosphere of this novel. Everyone in the Borden family is a bit off: the maid, older sister Emma who desperately seeks separation from Lizzie (who is unhinged and creepy throughout), and Uncle John who is just a bit too touchy with the sisters and has it in for their beastly father Andrew.....in a deadly way.

Who really butchered Lizzie Borden's parents? The case was never solved and Sarah Schmidt is not saying either. Readers will draw their own conclusions after reading this fascinating novel.