Lizzie Borden took an axe,

Gave her mother forty whacks.

When she saw what she had done,

She gave her father forty-one.

Lizzie Borden was a woman in her thirties, living with her older sister, Emma Borden, her stepmother, Abby Borden, and her father, Andrew Borden. They were a seemingly-perfect family because of their wealth and pride until one day when it all came crashing down. Lizzie was accused by the public of killing her stepmother and father with an axe. Was she ever proven guilty in a court of law, or was the public verdict enough?

The story starts out on August 4, 1892. It seemed to be a normal morning for everyone … that was until the shrill scream of a woman named Lizzie echoed through the town. The maid, Bridget Sullivan, came rushing down the stairs to find a horrified Lizzie clinging to the wall. Lizzie looked at her butchered father’s face in horror, but who did this to him? And where was Mrs. Borden?

The Borden Murders is a fantastic novel written by Sarah Miller. The novel tells of the events leading up to the “trial of the century.” While reading about a trial might seem boring, in the hands of Miller it becomes truly fascinating. This novel kept me on the edge of my seat, and there was never a boring moment. While children across America have chanted the rhyme about Lizzie Borden, many people are not familiar with what actually happened to her or what the trial results were. This book is unbiased and reveals what really did happen on August 4, 1892. I recommend this interesting read to anyone who likes thrillers.