I received a copy of this book in advance. As someone who wasn't intimately familiar with the Bordens case before reading this, I came into the novel with no expectations of how the story should be told/how it has been told in the past. This novel is carefully researched, and it is clear throughout how meticulous Cree is with her details. There were a few places that started to feel dense in comparison to other chapters, but overall, it piqued an interest in me to learn more about this landmark case.

This gripping historical fiction delves deep into one of America's most enduring mysteries. The author recreates the tense atmosphere of late 19th-century Fall River, bringing the Borden household to life; while Lizzie Borden emerges as a complex character, inviting readers to form their own opinions of her. The story truly ignites during the police investigation, building suspense that culminates in a riveting trial. Drawing from actual police notes and trial transcripts, the author incorporates authentic dialogue and details that immerse readers in the heart of the case. Beyond the infamous murders, the book offers a comprehensive look at the Borden sisters' lives, from their childhood to the aftermath of the trial. The author's meticulous research culminates in a compelling theory that not only identifies the true killer(s) but also provides a plausible motive and method. A must-read for true crime enthusiasts and history buffs alike! (I received an advance reader copy of this book)

In “Killing the Bordens: Lizzie Borden and the Unsolved 1892 Borden Murders,” author C. Cree tackles one of the most famous unsolved American criminal mysteries. Who actually killed Andrew and Abby Borden? And why? Cree’s meticulously researched and gripping re-telling of this shocking crime provides readers with a bird’s eye view of the events as they unfold, introducing a wide cast of characters and skillfully detailing critical timelines surrounding the murders. Cree puts forth a well-reasoned case regarding the identity and motive of the perpetrator, while also providing crucial context around common criminal investigative practices of the day and some questionable legal decisions made while building the case for trial. Drawing on thousands of pages of notes, correspondence, and transcripts, Cree guides the reader back in time, capturing conversations and interrogations in the vernacular of the day. By using the key players’ own words to tell the story, Cree deftly communicates how the prevailing attitudes around wealth, social class, and marital status shaped the public’s perception of Lizzie Borden (an unmarried woman of a certain age) through the investigation, trial, and beyond. Details gathered from friends, family, and colleagues about the victims and the accused build a rich portrait of the complexity of family life and community life, and portray Lizzie as the multi-faceted, and often enigmatic, woman that she was. Even for those familiar with the basic facts of the case, Cree’s engrossing take on the Borden family, and Lizzie in particular, will challenge you to view the murders, trial, and aftermath in a new and thought-provoking light. Highly recommended reading for anyone interested in this fascinating case!

Brought the story of Lizzie Borden to life. The detail is extraordinary and revealed a lot that I did. It not know. Great read!

Killing the Bordens, by C. Cree is a surprising book. It is at once a re-telling of an infamous historical unsolved crime, a true crime mystery story, and a biography of a person, of a family, of a small town and it's residents. Reading it gave me a strong sense of place and time - small town America at the turn of the 20th century. The book begins by describing what appears to be a routine neighborhood morning, people out and about on various daily tasks, but of course we know that something isn't right. And we are quickly informed of that when Lizzie calls out to a neighbor that "Someone has killed father." From there the book quickly gathers momentum, taking us throught the events of the morning and carrying us forward through the investigation, the arrest and detention of Lizzie, the trial and subsequent verdict. But it doesn't stop there. The book continues, showing us through the rest of Lizzie's life (and to some extent, the lives of her sister and others connected with the case). We are painted a picture of a flawed woman, one whose life was deeply affected by the murders. We see just how deeply she was affected, how she attempted to put the murders behind her, and how she spent her final days, still in the shadow cast by her parents deaths. And then the author jumps us back years before the murders, examining what is known about the Borden family history starting with the death of the girls birth mother. Along the way along the way we are given hints of the specters of family wrongdoing, finally imagining in excruciating detail how the murders MAY have been committed, who MAY have been responsible, and WHY. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The tone throughout is concise, matter-of-fact, avoiding sensationalism - but there were several points in the story where I felt shivers, imagining what the characters went through. Highly recommended.