First of all, I would like to thank Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson!

Robertson is a lawyer and after studying up on the Lizzie Borden case during her senior year at Harvard, this is her first book. I have always been fascinated by the Lizzie Borden case so I had to request this book immediately when I found it.

Even though I’ve read several books on Lizzie and am aware of the finer details of her life and the case, this book was such a great look into the trial - especially through the eyes of a lawyer. Personally, I would love more books such as this from Robertson. More true crime, specifically, unsolved cases.

Lizzie Borden allegedly murdered her father and stepmother with an axe in Fall River, Massachusetts in 1892. Whether or not she is at fault is still a question that remains unsolved. There were so many strange circumstances, however, so one can’t help but question did Lizzie get away with murder?

I love the way Robertson broke up the book into parts. Dividing up information on the murder, the trial, and then the verdict/aftermath. It was no surprise when reading about the trial, that this was written by a lawyer. Such a wonderful learning experience and it was written in a way that really put you in the scene.

I honestly feel like I could go on and on about this book considering my interest in the topic and with the book being such an enjoyable reading experience. Definitely would recommend this book to all interested in the case of Lizzie Borden!

I gave up on this one. It was long and complicated. I wanted a general biography, but this one went in to lots of details that bogged the story down. Some good editing would have helped increase the appeal of this book.

This was a fascinating account of the Borden murders and Lizzie Borden's trial. I learned a lot of information and it was easy and enjoyable to read. Definitely will recommend to true crime fans!

Lizzie Borden had an axe.
She gave her mother 40 whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
she gave her father 41.

Everyone knows the famous rhyme about about the infamous Lizzie Borden. But was she the killer of her stepmother and father or was it someone else?
This book explains all the facts of the murder, investigation, and trial. It lays out the whole case methodically and in depth. You can tell that Cara Robinson put a lot of effort into researching this case before putting it in paper, not a detail is missed.
Since it is just the facts without opinions or embellishments, the book tends to sometimes feels like a textbook. However, it is a good book to read because it examines all aspects of the case and leaves the readers to make up their own minds about Lizzie's guilt or innocence.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.

Well we know theres been tons of movies, books and everything else you can imagine on the Lizzie Borden case so if you're going to write on it you have to do it well and have your facts straight. Cara definitely did so. If your from a closet Lizzie was accused of killing her dad and step mom with an ax back in the 1890's.

Like many other American history buffs Lizzie Borden and her trial is slight interest of mine. Lizzie Borden is something of a glorified mythology figure. Did she do it? No one will ever know for sure. This book was well researched, well compiled and enjoyable to read. When writing a non fiction book the author has to take special care to ensure that the book stays light and enjoyable to read and Ms. Robertson did just that.

Very informative about the Borden trial. Shows what living in the time period would be like. Has some comments from journalists. The remarks about her demeanor, and mood changes. The courtroom antics where fascinating a drama at it's most dramatic. Most of the book is of the trial, which is something I hadn't read much about before. If you're interested in learning about the Borden trial I recommend this book.
Thank you to the publishers for an early review copy

The remarkable new account of an essential piece of American mythology—the trial of Lizzie Borden—based on twenty years of research and recently unearthed evidence.

The Trial of Lizzie Borden tells the true story of one of the most sensational murder trials in American history. When Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally hacked to death in Fall River, Massachusetts, in August 1892, the arrest of the couple’s younger daughter Lizzie turned the case into international news and her trial into a spectacle unparalleled in American history. Reporters flocked to the scene. Well-known columnists took up conspicuous seats in the courtroom. The defendant was relentlessly scrutinized for signs of guilt or innocence. Everyone—rich and poor, suffragists and social conservatives, legal scholars and laypeople—had an opinion about Lizzie Borden’s guilt or innocence. Was she a cold-blooded murderess or an unjustly persecuted lady? Did she or didn’t she?

The popular fascination with the Borden murders and its central enigmatic character has endured for more than one hundred years. Immortalized in rhyme, told and retold in every conceivable genre, the murders have secured a place in the American pantheon of mythic horror, but one typically wrenched from its historical moment. In contrast, Cara Robertson explores the stories Lizzie Borden’s culture wanted and expected to hear and how those stories influenced the debate inside and outside of the courtroom. Based on transcripts of the Borden legal proceedings, contemporary newspaper accounts, unpublished local accounts, and recently unearthed letters from Lizzie herself, The Trial of Lizzie Borden offers a window onto America in the Gilded Age, showcasing its most deeply held convictions and its most troubling social anxieties

My Thoughts
rating: 4.5
For a debut book as well as for the author , I'm glad that I picked this one to read , because I'm now looking foreword to see what else she writes about, while I knew a little bit about the case going into the story i didn't know a hole lot about it and that funny since i love to read true crime , and its ones of my top non fiction to read , i do have to say that the author brought the story to life , and made you think about why Lizzie did this , was she crazy , was it out of hatred to her father and step mother or was there something else going on that people just didn't see. Still a good book to read . With that said I want to say thank you to Netgalley for letting me read and review it in a change for my honest opinion.

No feedback to give because I can not download this book. I really wish there was a epub kindle link. Contacted NetGalley...still no help.

I had high hopes for this newly published comprehensive account of the Borden murders and subsequent trial. Unfortunately, the writing was rather dry and the content too dense. While I hail Cara Robertson for her extensive research, some parring down of the information might have been better executed. I found myself skimming huge paragraphs and losing interest as the reporting wore on. I do appreciate that the author remained neutral on Lizzie’s innocence or lack of but I got the sense that even after all of the research done, Cara Robertson is not sure herself. I know I am still unsure.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unable to download or read book. I have tried various different options and I am just keep getting an error message. There is no option to send it to my kind.

I personally think Lizzie had something to do with the murders but the book doesn’t posit any theories. Robertson just lays out the facts as reported both then and later discovered and leaves it to the reader to make their decision. I found Robertson’s writing easy to follow, however it’s very detailed. It’s not a quick read, but a satisfying one. So if you’ve been bitten by the Lizzie bug and are curious about the facts behind the drama, I 10/10 recommend this book.

I have always been interested in the story of Lizzie Borden and the craze that went along with her trial The author took her time to do the proper research and not only used known books about the case but also went through newspapers and court documents to truly reflect the feelings of the case. The detailed research made me feel as if I had been transported back in time to be able to sit in the courtroom and watch it as it occurred.

I would recommend this book to any true crime buff who also loves the historical aspect of the story.

As an avid true crime reader I am some what familiar with the Lizzie Borden case. This book does and excellent job of combining the narrative of the events that lead to the murder and the life that they lived. I really appreciated the use of images throughout the text helping keep you deep within the narritve while also showing the expert research and thought that went into this text.

I was vaguely familiar with who Lizzie Borden was\circumstances but I've always been curious. I deeply appreciate a straightforward, clear and honest layout to make my own decisions. Good read

My fascination with the Lizzie Borden story LOVED this book. This book specifically focused on the trial and the media surrounding it. The story was great at providing a different perspective from what I have already read.

I won't be able to review this one, alas, as the review copy is not compatible with Kindle. (I have vision problems and need the adjustable font size.) Since requesting a book and not reviewing it hurts my average, I feel compelled to let it be known that Kindle-compatible review copies are important, and I hope the publisher will take that into consideration.

Lizzie Borden and the murder of her father and step- mother is one of the greatest mysteries of all time. Was she truly innocent of the crime she was acquitted of?.
In this book there is new evidence. It also goes into greater detail of the trial. What was said, and what was heard.
One thing about the trial is that the majority of the women were sure of Lizzie's innocence. It is hard by the detailed description of Lizzie's personality and appearance that she could be the cold blooded killer portrayed in this case. The evidence is circumstantial. Cases have been prosecuted on less. At the end of the day, was she really innocent?
This is a remarkable read. The attention to detail is truly amazing. You can actually picture the trial in your mind. The drawings and pictures included,some II have seen for the first time. Well worth reading. Excellent!

Thanks to the kind people at Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I am a true crime buff. I have always been fascinated by the Borden case. There is so much speculation around what happened on that fateful day. This book took court documents and newspaper articles and recreated the case in such a way that made me feel like I was one of the spectators crammed into that hot little courtroom.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this read.

"The remarkable new account of an essential piece of American mythology—the trial of Lizzie Borden—based on twenty years of research and recently unearthed evidence.

The Trial of Lizzie Borden tells the true story of one of the most sensational murder trials in American history. When Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally hacked to death in Fall River, Massachusetts, in August 1892, the arrest of the couple’s younger daughter Lizzie turned the case into international news and her trial into a spectacle unparalleled in American history. Reporters flocked to the scene. Well-known columnists took up conspicuous seats in the courtroom. The defendant was relentlessly scrutinized for signs of guilt or innocence. Everyone—rich and poor, suffragists and social conservatives, legal scholars and laypeople—had an opinion about Lizzie Borden’s guilt or innocence. Was she a cold-blooded murderess or an unjustly persecuted lady? Did she or didn’t she?"

Like many others, I've always been fond of the Borden trials, ever since learning about it in school. This was a great updated read about Lizzie Borden with photos that I haven't seen before. Still to this day I still don't know what to believe. This book gives you a lot to think about.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC!
Pub Date 12 Mar 2019