Scan barcode
A review by jaborch
The Borden Tragedy: A Memoir of the Infamous Double Murder at Fall River, Mass., 1892 by Rick Geary
4.0
In the past few years, I've taken to telling my friends I'm going to get married at the Lizzie Borden B&B in Fall River - and make my bridal party spend the night before the wedding in this haunted little inn. So it should come as no shock that I thoroughly enjoyed Geary's adaptation of this sensational Victorian murder.
The book is surprisingly balanced view of the days leading up to and preceding the murders of Andrew and Abby Bordern in their home on August 4, 1892. Those convinced of Lizzie's apparent guilt, might change their mind when they discover how little evidence there was (the back cover goes so far as to draw comparisons between Lizzie and OJ Simpson).
Told from the perspective of a "childhood friend" of the Borden sisters, Geary uses facts and images to walk us through what is known of the murders. Favorite new fact I learned: Andrew Borden considered hallways wasted space! The Borden house was (is?) a maze of rooms leading from one to another through a series of interconnected doors. The book concludes with clippings from period newspaper articles, reporting on the murder, speculating on the assailant, and covering the trial and acquittal.
Certainly a fast and Halloween appropriate read! Next I'll track down Geary's look at H. H. Holmes - America's first serial killer and owner of his own murder castle. Oh October, you bring out the best and worst in me. :)
The book is surprisingly balanced view of the days leading up to and preceding the murders of Andrew and Abby Bordern in their home on August 4, 1892. Those convinced of Lizzie's apparent guilt, might change their mind when they discover how little evidence there was (the back cover goes so far as to draw comparisons between Lizzie and OJ Simpson).
Told from the perspective of a "childhood friend" of the Borden sisters, Geary uses facts and images to walk us through what is known of the murders. Favorite new fact I learned: Andrew Borden considered hallways wasted space! The Borden house was (is?) a maze of rooms leading from one to another through a series of interconnected doors. The book concludes with clippings from period newspaper articles, reporting on the murder, speculating on the assailant, and covering the trial and acquittal.
Certainly a fast and Halloween appropriate read! Next I'll track down Geary's look at H. H. Holmes - America's first serial killer and owner of his own murder castle. Oh October, you bring out the best and worst in me. :)