Top 20 Books About Lizzie Borden Updated 04 /2024

She used an axe to hit her mother forty times. When her father saw what she had done, she gave him forty-one.

There is a nursery rhyme about one of the most mysterious murders of the early 20th century in the United States, and we all know it. For one thing, Lizzie Borden was never charged with the murder of her father and stepmother.

She died on June 1st in 1927, when she was 66 years old. This shows that Borden and the murders of 1892 still fascinate people all over the world, even though they've been around for a long time. You can read about Lizzie Borden's life in these Lizzie Borden books, which range from true crime to fiction. Andrew and Abby Borden were killed by Lizzie Borden in 1908. There's no shortage of interesting things to read about, from in-depth investigations to fascinating stories about speculative fiction. Yet, the question still stands: What happened in Fall River, Massachusetts on August 4, 1892, and why? To figure out what you think, read some of the best Lizzie Borden books!

The Trial of Lizzie Borden

By Cara Robertson

It was a big deal when Lizzie Borden went on trial for killing her parents in 1892. The whole thing became a big deal around the world. Everybody seemed to have their own opinion on whether or not Lizzie was guilty as she took the stand. Despite the fact that this story has been told many times, it has never been looked at with this much precision before. Cara Robertson backs up her work with 20 years of research and new evidence. She gives a definitive answer to a long-running mystery.

Women Who Kill

By Ann Jones

The fact that women aren't nearly as prone to killing as they used to be doesn't mean that they don't do it. Author Ann Jones takes a look at some of the most shocking violent crimes that women have ever committed. In this book, she talks about them. If there were a collection like this one, Lizzie Borden would have to be there. Belle Gunness, a housewife who was later suspected of being a serial killer, is one of the people this book talks about. Jean Harris, who was convicted of shooting her lover, the "Scarsdale Diet" doctor, is another. Jones then talks about how crimes against women, abuse, and oppression are seen in our culture.

The Fall River Tragedy

By Edwin H. Porter

This is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about the grisly murder mystery that led to the deaths of Andrew and Abby Borden. Reporter Edwin H. Porter was in court when the Borden trial was going on. His account is the very first of its kind, and he was there. When Lizzie was arrested, Porter kept track of the case all the way through the Superior Court trial, giving us an unbiased, first-hand account of the case. This includes the Trickey-McHenry Affair, which made the already controversial trial even more complicated.

The Borden Murders

By Sarah Miller

It's almost impossible to figure out the truth about Lizzie Borden's story in the midst of all the sensational newspaper stories that were being written at the time. Author Sarah Miller spends a lot of time separating fact from fiction in her book August 4, 1892. Miller tells a story that moves in a straight line, giving a clear picture of both the mild-mannered woman who is accused of killing two people and the town where the crime took place.

The Cases That Haunt Us

By John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker

There are some unsolved cases that we as a society just can't let go of, no matter how much time has passed. Lizzie Borden and her alleged crimes are just one prime example, alongside the Jack the Ripper mystery and the Zodiac Killer. In this gripping book, author and filmmaker Mark Olshaker teams up with FBI veteran John Douglas to take a look back at the cases which still leave us reeling decades and even centuries later. By reinterpreting facts presented at the time of the crime as well as applying modern criminology, Olshaker and Douglas give these shocking cases brand new perspectives.

A Private Disgrace: Lizzie Borden by Daylight

By Victoria Lincoln

Author Victoria Lincoln has a unique perspective on Lizzie Borden and her twisted trial: not only did she grow up in the Massachusetts town where the Borden murders took place, but she also knew Lizzie personally. With firsthand knowledge and thorough research, Lincoln argues in favor of Lizzie's guilt, leaning into a hypothesis that Lizzie suffered from a form of temporal lobe epilepsy. From the strange actions of her overpaid lawyers to the mysterious disappearance of Lizzie's Irish maid, Lincoln brings every suspicious fact to light.

The History & Haunting of Lizzie Borden

By Rebecca Pittman

Rebecca Pittman, the author of this book, has spent five years doing research that is both new and compelling. People who were on the Borden property the day of Lizzie's murders and her maid's testimony may now be known, as well as theories about botched forensic evidence and murders for hire plots. But Pittman goes even further than the trial. He talks about reports of terrifying paranormal activity at the murder site, which he thinks are true. Is there still a sense of the Borden murders in the air today?

Miss Lizzie

By Walter Satterthwait

It starts in the 1920s, 30 years after Lizzie Borden was found not guilty of killing her parents. When Borden retires to the New England shore, she makes friends with the 13-year-old girl living next door. When Amanda finds her stepmother's body, history seems to repeat itself. Lizzie is the person Amanda thinks is responsible. Lizzie is determined to clear her name yet again, so she starts to look into this terrible crime on her own.

Several years after the events of this book, Lizzie and Amanda investigate another grisly murder in the follow-up New York Nocturne, which takes place three years after the events of this book.

See What I Have Done

By Sarah Schmidt

In this psychological thriller, author Sarah Schmidt retells the murder of Andrew and Abby Borden in a new way. In this story, the Bordens didn't have a lot of love in their home. Abby was full of resentment, Lizzie and Emma wanted to be free, and Andrew Borden was a man who was ruled by his anger and could not be freed from it. So how can anyone ever know what happened the night of the murders? Because Lizzie's memories of that day are so disjointed, how can anyone ever know what happened?

The Secrets of Lizzie Borden

By Brandy Purdy

Brandy Purdy makes Lizzie Borden feel bad in this historical fiction book by giving her a new reason to be angry. Lizzie should have been one of the rich women in Fall River, but her father made sure that didn't happen. Andrew Borden could have given his daughters everything they wanted. Instead, he made them live a frugal life and scared away potential suitors, so they didn't want to marry him. Lizzie is driven to the brink of madness when the promise of her inheritance is in doubt. She acts out in the only way she knows how: she stabs herself in the eye.

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