This is a difficult book to review! On the one hand, it definitely gave more context to the trial, but on the other hand, I'm not entirely sure if the author actually likes her subject. I think the latter makes the book feel a bit dry, it's more of an analytical read than the emotionally charged one I was expecting. That being said, it appealed to my macabre as well as my historian side.
I would definitely recommend it to patrons at my library.

DNF at 37%.

If you're looking for a very thorough description of the Lizzie Borden trial, complete with details of just how hot it was in the courtroom, what she wore on each day, the headlines and gossip of the day, et cetera, then this book is for you. There are quotes upon quotes in addition to minute accounts of each witness's testimony, and this is a great resource regardless of how much you already know (or think you know) about the case.

Personally I found it a little too detailed and slightly repetitive, but this is just a case of right book, wrong reader.

This book was a very detailed, factual account of the trial of Lizzie Borden. This is one of the most contested and talked about murder trials in American history. Though this book is documented to the hilt (with almost every sentence having a citation and the reading content only about two-thirds of its length), yet one is never bored or bogged down. Robertson does something that almost no one has in relation to this topic, she discusses how women were thought of culturally and how the Bordens were perceived by their community. Another interesting aspect is how the various newspaper persons were reacting and writing about the trial.

Lizzie Borden has held a mythical position in America's cultural cannon ever since her arrest for the brutal murders of her father and step-mother first catapulted her into the national spotlight.

I wanted to love this book. I read a lot of true crime and I am familiar with the story of the Borden murders.

This book fell a little flat. It was descriptive to a fault of the various police, lawyers, judges, neighbors, and more which became tedious to sift through fairly quickly in.

3/5...I learned some new things about Lizzie Borden and the trial she underwent, but got lost in the details.

I was vaguely familiar with the Lizzie Borden case as most people are, but being a huge fan of true crime, I was very interested in this book. It focuses on the trial itself, and how we got there. The story is told in three parts - the first is the crime itself and how the prosecution built its case, the second is the trial itself and the verdict, and the third is a short wrap up of Lizzie's life post trial as well as current state of the case and related files. I thought this was an interesting take on the subject, given that there have been multiple books written on this already. My favorite part was the trial itself, because that is the part of this story that I know the least about. It was both fascinating and infuriating how the case was presented and arguments were made back then (aka, the argument that menstruation causes women to want to commit crimes, I mean really). It got a little technical in a few parts, which could be difficult to get through, but the author did a really good job of being thorough and piecing together a story that made you feel as if you were right there with everyone else. She also showed how the system was flawed way back then, potentially even worse as most of the trial was based on circumstantial evidence. The way Lizzie was able to change her story so many times, be so flippant during her interrogations, it was all so surreal. I enjoyed this read and feel much more educated about this case. I recommend this to those that like true crime, anything on this case, and reading stories about how the courts worked back then.

An amazing book!! I have always loved reading anything having to do with lizzie Borden and this book captured my attention 100% and i did not want to put it down! Very in depth and informative and I loved every single page!!

Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.
This popular rhyme symbolises the pervasiveness of the fascination that the Lizzie Borden case still exerts over us, and this meticulously researched account tries to sort out fact from fiction and legend. I can’t imagine there’s much – if anything - left to discover, but somehow the truth still evades us. It’s such a strange yet compelling tale of murder within a family, and the author is to be congratulated on the depth of her research. Perhaps there’s a case to be made for not having every single bit of that research included in the narrative, however. I can see why the author should want to include it, and I expect this is the definitive account and the nearest we will ever get to truly understanding what actually happened, but I must admit to finding some of the book tedious on occasion. The court scenes certainly pall a bit after a while. Nevertheless, if you want to know absolutely everything about Lizzie Borden and her time (except perhaps did she actually do it) then this is the book for you.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

As someone who has always been fascinated by this story I found this book very interesting. This is not the story of Lizzie exactly but the trial itself and how exactly the trial went to find her innocent.

I learned a number of things that I did not know before reading this.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in knowing about this subject.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I have read a lot about this case and watched many documentaries about it as well, but this book surpassed them all. I loved the inclusion of pictures and diagrams that were placed perfectly in between sections. I love that there were even repeat pictures, so I didn't have to go back and find a picture or diagram again to understand where everyone was or where they claimed they were. I really truly go back and forth about if she did it or not. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more of the story and the trial and aftermath of Lizzie Borden.

Cara Robertson has studied the Lizzie Borden Trial for the past 20 years. She gives a day by day account of the Lizzie Borden trial including pictures and quotes from the people involved.

Andrew Borden and his wife Abby Borden were found murdered in their home in August 1892. There were only 2 other people in the home that day; their maid, Bridget Sullivan, and Mr Borden's youngest daughter, Lizzie. His eldest daughter was out of town that week. There were no witnesses.

I found this book very interesting. Some of the facts and changes in people's stories is amazing.

Thank You Netgalley, Goodreads, and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book.
True Crime
Expected Release Date: March 12, 2019

I recieved the physical version and the digital of this book.
I found this very interesting. It gave a look inside one of the most talked about murders through history. I really enjoyed this book.

I've seen and read a lot about these murders and still managed to learn some new things in this book! Very detailed and well written as well.

It's obvious that Robertson has done her research, and it is much appreciated. I have purchased two copies of "The Trial of Lizzie Borden," and I expect it to be a big hit with my patrons.

A very in depth look in to one of the most notorious crimes in the US. Lizzie Borden, accused of killing her father and stepmother with an axe. This book takes a deep dive into the family life of the Bordens before getting into the trial itself.

Some of the trial portions read long and dry, but it still was a fascinating look at the criminal justice system of the time. For those fascinated by the case, this book really provides a window into the Borden household and the atmosphere of Fall River. I live about 45 minutes from there, and never thought about taking a trip to the infamous house. After readign this book, I defintiely want to go learn more.

I went into the book thinking about if Lizzie was guilty or innocent one way, and about halfway through, I realized I didn't know as much as I thought I did. Exceptionally researched.

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster andCara Robertson for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a meticulously researched book about, as the title says, the trial of Lizzie Borden. We're all familiar with the gruesome murders of Lizzie's father and step-mother and the fascination over whether Lizzie is innocent (as the jury said) or guilty. This book will still leave you questioning her guilt. The story continues to fascinate; however, the book was a bit dry to read given its academic nature.

What I felt was equally fascinating was how women and journalism was in this time period (1893). Can you imagine the backlash if papers called women fat or ugly now? The descriptions of women from the journalists at that time always included comments on their weight and beauty or lack thereof. Much was almost made of the thoughts of the time that a woman having her period was a kind of madness - the woman was prone to violence, mental illness - that's some serious PMS!

Amazingly researched book - the last third is footnotes - and includes many pictures.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for my honest feedback.

3.75 stars

I love reading about Lizzie Borden, it's so fascinating. This is a great read!

The Trial of Lizzie Borden

This is a book that delves into the story of Lizzie Borden and the murders of her father Andrew and step-mother Abby. But it mostly focuses on the trial after the murders, once she’s been held and it’s been found that there is supposedly enough evidence against her to bind her over, and a grand jury has filed a true bill. This is a good retelling of the facts of the murders and Lizzie’s arrest and time in jail, especially the trial afterward. It’s very detailed and gives a good recounting of how life was back in those days. But overall, I found it a bit parched. My thanks for the advance electronic copy that was provided by NetGalley, author Cara Robertson, and the publisher for my fair review.

This is a book that delves into the story of Lizzie Borden and the murders of her father Andrew and step-mother Abby. But it mostly focuses on the trial after the murders, once she’s been held and it’s been found that there is supposedly enough evidence against her to bind her over, and a grand jury has filed a true bill. This is a good retelling of the facts of the murders and Lizzie’s arrest and time in jail, especially the trial afterward. It’s very detailed and gives a good recounting of how life was back in those days. But overall, I found it a bit parched.

This was alright. I liked the concept. I wish I could relate more to the characters. I would like to read more by this author.

Indulging in non-fiction books has always been a struggle for me. I often times find non-fiction dry or boring and it takes a long time for me to get through. After reading The Trial of Lizzie Borden, I can safely say that I would not categorize this book with some of the drab non-fiction I am used to. Cara Robertson's illustration of the murder, trial, and verdict in the infamous case of the Massachusetts Commonwealth vs. Lizzie Borden is a well written account of the events and aftermath surrounding the murders of Lizzie's father, Andrew Borden and her stepmother, Abby Borden. Robertson uses reputable primary sources to piece together Lizzie's story from beginning to end and make the reader feel as if they are actually in the courtroom witnessing the trial first hand. As a middle school history teacher, I felt that Robertson's depiction of the events in the Trial of Lizzie Borden would be a great secondary source for students to utilize for research, not only on this particular case, but in relation to how the legal system worked during this time period. Overall, The Trial of Lizzie Borden was a well written, interesting read, that anyone fascinated by history or the law would find enjoyable.

Cara Robertson decides to focus a majority of this Lizzie Borden story on the trial itself. Lizzie Borden is being tried for the murders of her father and stepmother, Andrew and Abby Borden. Trigger warning: graphic details are given of the vicious crime. First of all, Robertson draws such a clear picture of the atmosphere of the courtroom and the interactions between the prosecutor and defense council that you feel like you are experiencing all of it in real time. She utilizes passages from journalists who were present, primarily Elizabeth Jordan (New York World) and Joe Howard (Boston Globe).

Second, this trial gained such a following of intrigued spectators. They could not fathom that a woman could commit such a violent crime. The blows that killed Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother were numerous and excessive. Those in the courtroom could not reconcile the image of this hideous crime (the Andrew & Abby's skulls were literally on display) with the gentle image of Lizzie Borden. Also, she was criticized for her demeanor, which seemed unsuitable for a woman, because she didn't show emotion (cry) after the murders and very little in the courtroom. She was simply still and composed and that, to many spectators, meant guilty.

Last of all, Robertson did a fantastic job reliving both the case against Lizzie Borden and her defense. Since Lizzie Borden's testimony and the interviews from pharmacists, stating that she tried to buy prussic acid (a poison) just a few days prior to the murder of Andrew & Abby Borden, were not permissible in court, there was not much evidence that Lizzie Borden committed the murders. There were no witnesses and not much if any evidence that tied her to the murders. There was just suspicion and a whole lot of it.

Because I didn't know much about Lizzie Borden, the trial was a rollercoaster ride of emotions that all led up to a final climatic verdict. However, the story does not conclude with the verdict, so maybe that is the author's way of saying she too is unsettle by the conclusion. We may never know what truly happened the day that Andrew and Abby Borden were hacked to death, but there will always be theories. 

This is a well-written piece of true crime!