Thank You to Grove Atlantic for providing me with an advance copy of Sarah Schmidt's novel, See What I Have Done, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- See What I Have Done is Sarah Schmidt's historical fiction retelling of the infamous Lizzie Borden case. Schmidt alternates between the narration of Lizzie, Emma Borden (Lizzie's older sister), Bridget ( a disgruntled Irish housekeeper), and Benjamin ( a stranger hired by Lizzie's uncle to intimidate and possibly kill Andrew Borden). Although Lizzie was arrested, tried, and eventually acquitted of killing her father and stepmother, was she the one with the best motive? Who was really guilty in this still unsolved case?
LIKE- I love both true crime and historical fiction, so I was eager to read Schmidt's See What I Have Done. Like most people, I've heard of the Lizzie Borden story and I know the gruesome school-yard rhyme about her whacking her parents with an axe, however while reading this novel, I realized that I didn't know much about Borden or her family history. For example, I always thought this took place on a farm, but although Andrew Borden had an interest in farming, they were not primarily farmers. The Borden family was wealthy and Lizzie had even been sent on a "Grand Tour" to Europe. I suppose the fact that they were a prominent family, made this case all the more shocking.
I liked how Schmidt focused on the sister dynamic between Lizzie and Emma. It's fraught with tension, jealousy, and even fear. I found it interesting that after such a close relationship, even sharing a house after Lizzie was released from jail, that they became estranged. This twist leads me to believe that Emma felt that her sister likely committed the murder and perhaps felt nervous for her own safety. Schmidt writes Lizzie as someone calculating and unstable. Although other people had motive to murder the Bordens, it seems like Lizzie is the most likely culprit.
Schmidt's writing style is effortless to read. She is masterful at setting scenes and using rich sensory images. It's quite gruesome when she gets to the details of the murder, specifically the carnage.
DISLIKE- Schmidt overlaps many of the plot points to show a different view with a switch in character perspective, and although this is often effective, it can also feel repetitive. I wish there had been more on the actual trial and Lizzie's perspective when she was in jail. These are minor complaints though, because overall, I was captivated by Schmidt's novel.
RECOMMEND - Yes, especially for true crime and historical fiction fans. If you even have the slightest interest in Lizzie Borden, See What I Have Done is a must read.