Lizzie by Diane Fanning had me hooked from the start — this story has always intrigued me. I appreciated how the author skillfully wove historical facts together with the rumors of the time. While most people believe they know who the murderer is, Fanning adds just enough nuance to make you second-guess what you thought you knew.

Thank you to netgalley for this ARC copy.

I am always interested in stories about Lizzie Borden, but this one was kind of a slog. It was more of a show about the way women are treated in society in the 1900's and less a story about Lizzie Borden.

Lizzie is the kind of true crime story that doesn't just recount facts, it pulls you deep into the psychology behind one of the most infamous cases in American history. Diane Fanning approaches Lizzie Borden’s story with a steady hand, balancing historical detail with a narrative style that keeps the pages turning.

What I really appreciated was that Fanning doesn’t try to force a single answer onto a case that’s been debated for over a century. She lays out the evidence, the social context, and the complex personalities involved, and lets you draw your own conclusions. At the same time, she isn’t afraid to point out the holes, the contradictions, and the chilling possibilities.

The writing is crisp and well-paced. You never feel bogged down by research, but it’s clear she did her homework. Lizzie herself is portrayed with a kind of unsettling ambiguity that makes the book even more compelling. You want to understand her, but you’re never quite sure if you do — and that’s part of what makes this book stick.

If you're into true crime that’s thoughtful, well-researched, and genuinely unsettling without being sensationalized, Lizzie is a solid pick. It’s both informative and haunting in the way only real-life mysteries can be.

whilst I typically enjoy content like this book, it just did not connect with me. I love everything to do with the lizzie Borden case and I find it was definitely accuarate to the events of the crime I could not find myself believing the conversations and felt a little out of place reading it. The pacing was good and it was a quick read, I have no complaints about the writing I think the genre might be something I do not personally enjoy.

Gruesome as it may sound, I love the Borden mystery (and I wholly believe that Lizzie did, in fact, murder her father and stepmother.) I was really looking forward to this book; unfortunately it didn't really convey any emotion or suspense. The writing is very stilted, and the characters very flat. I have no doubt Fanning did her research, there are plenty of confirmed references to the case included in the book, but it didn't hold my interest at all.

Unfortunately a DNF for me. I love the Lizzie Borden story so I was very excited to read this. However, the textbook like narrative made it very difficult to immerse myself in the story.

A highly interesting read. I was captivated from the very beginning and right up until the end. Definitely a book I would recommend

A thoroughly engaging retell of the story of Lizzie Borden. Cleverly written. I enjoyed reading the novel and thibk others would, too. Also, I found the cover to be compelling.

I loved reading Lizzie’s story through the trial and until her passing. This was basically a combination of a Nobel and a biography. It definitely lost my attention at some points but overall I found it interesting. I was surprised the trial was over so quickly in the book.

From the days leading up to the infamous crime in 1892 to the years after, this novelization tells the story of the axe murders of a businessman and his wife - and the subsequent investigation that led to his daughter Lizzie Borden being arrested for the crime.
It’s VERY rare for me to give such a low rating to a book. But this felt like a regurgitation of the existing Wikipedia page for Lizzie. There was nothing that kept me interested throughout, little imagination, etc. Forced myself to get through this.
Thank you to Level Best Books Historia for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A telling of the infamous Lizzie Borden in a wonderful way!
I have always been fascinated by this case and this did not disappoint.
The author did a really good job of bringing to life the real historical people these characters were based on.

This book was pretty good, I’ve heard the original story and was interested to read this version. I enjoyed it but wasn’t amazed. 3/5⭐️

Any story that builds off the eery and terrifying Lizzie Borden story is exactly what I need in my life. Absolutely loved this one and definitely have plans to purchase a copy for my shelf!

This book blends fact and fiction about the infamous Lizzie Borden in a wonderful way!

Having always been intrigued in the the case, I couldn't wait to pick up this book. It did not disappoint.

A fictional look at a real person, and a real crime. '

Did she do it? Or didn't she? Guess you'll have to read this book and see what you think!

I’ve heard about Lizzie Borden’s ax murders my entire life. While doing my dad family tree my mother discovered we were ancestors, so I was so excited to get this arc and read this book. However, I found it a little slow and at some points hard to get through, it wasn’t a “bad book” it just wasn’t what I had expected .

As a lover of mysteries, I have somewhat heard of the Borden axe murders, whilst also realising while reading this book that I actually didn’t know much about it. The book takes us on a somewhat fictionalised journey through the case and the potential suspect, innocent until proven guilty, and what happens when she is accused and spends time in prison during her trial, as well as what happens after.

Once Lizzie is acquitted we see more glimpses into her head, her thinking process, and if any of us had an inkling she was a great actress we’d be right, whilst also feeling like we missed something. I felt she was both acquitted in the court of public opinion as well as in the actual court, whilst the shadow of this followed her throughout her existence regardless.

It’s a very well researched work of fiction, taking us through all the steps of solving the murder and making and breaking a case in the late 1800s USA. It felt a lot like Victorian Britain, and yet it wasn’t, it felt like it covered sapphic love briefly, living against the usual societal standards also briefly, and somewhat of a suffragette movement, but again, briefly.

To me, as much as it kept me enthralled, my spidey senses felt that something was missing, and that missing piece was not entirely solved to me until the end. It felt like the first part of the book covered things in minute detail, whilst the end it was all a brief blur and a somewhat of an explanation of what happened and it all ends with the two main characters kind of seeming to make amends on their death bed. It just felt rushed, while also a bit long. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, and I still can’t, but I think I found the reaction maybe predictable whilst also dismissing it as predictable.

Overall, it’s an interesting, well researched, very appropriate for the time story, but I felt it was missing some interesting plot twist to prove me wrong.

I was really excited for this, but it was not at all what I expected. This was fiction that read like nonfiction. It was very dry and hard to get through because I wasn’t trying to read nonfiction.

Such a fascinating story! I have been intrigued in the Lizzie Borden axe murder since Ghost Adventures did an episode about it years ago. Very eerie and unsettling.

I really enjoyed this book. Being British I wasn't at all familiar with the case, however I didn't feel that really mattered as Fanning really brought the events surrounding the case to life so well. She also gives a real sense of the humanity of those involved, something that is often lacking from books in this genre. The historical research is really first rate, and although slow and meticulous I found the book gripping. I would highly recommend this book.

Lizzie by Dianne Fanning was an okay read. The subject matter—delving into the mind and story of Lizzie Borden—was definitely intriguing, and Fanning does a solid job of presenting the facts and theories. However, the book didn’t quite grab me the way I hoped it would. The pacing felt a bit uneven at times, and while the research was thorough, it occasionally leaned too much into exposition without enough narrative drive to keep it really engaging. Still, if you’re interested in true crime and the Lizzie Borden case specifically, it’s worth a read. Just don’t expect it to be a page-turner.