Lizzie

This is the first book I ever read about Lizzie, but it made me want to read more. After reading other material and seeing all of the documentaries, Mr. Hunter's theory still seems like a very probable motive for the crime. A wonderful read!

There are countless non-fiction accounts of the trial of Lizzie Borden and the events leading up to it. This is not one of them. This is a fictional account, written by a man better known by his pseudonym, Ed McBain. Lizzie Borden was a spinster Sunday school teacher who, in 1893, was tried for and acquitted of the hatchet murders of her father and stepmother. Hunter's book tells the story of Lizzie's 1890 Grand Tour of Europe, alternating with intercalorie chapters detailing Lizzie's inquest and trial. The last chapter tells the events of the murder day, at least as Hunter imagines they may have happened. Lizzie was a suspected Lesbian, and had a lengthy affair, post-trial, with popular stage actress of the day Nance O'Neil. Hunter's book tells of how Lizzie became enamored of a beautiful British woman while in Europe, and how her affair with the lady led to the events of August 4, 1892. Although this is not the book for someone researching the case, it is hightly entertaining, and does contain some useful information. The dialogue in the inquest and trial scenes are the actual courtroom testimony, although they are written like fiction, with "he said," and "she said". The Europe scenes, although completely fictional, are well-written and tell a good story, and the conclusion is at least plausible. I recommend this book to fans of crime novels and to Lizzie buffs who are anxious to get another "take" on the case.