I received this ARC from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

Who hasn't heard of Lizzie Borden? She took an ax and gave her mother 40 whacks!

This is a fictionalized telling of that brutally murderous day. Written from several points of view, we see what 'could have' brought Lizzie to the decisions she made.

3☆

https://anovelhaul.wordpress.com/2017/08/14/see-what-i-have-done-by-sarah-schmidt/

This was interesting. I was expecting it to be fast paced and a psychological thriller. What I got was a historical fiction based on a real family and event and it was very character driven. So it was definitely interesting and fascinating l, just wasn't what I was expecting. Now I want to do some research on these people. But the characters were good and super creepy. I do wish there was more of a definitive ending, but based on history that may not have been possible.

Hats off to Sarah Schmidt for being able to immerse herself into a dark, atrocious event and find humanity in these sick, twisted characters. Told in 4 alternating points of view, the book leaves us with more questions than answers about the Borden murders; in this horrible, dysfunctional family motives for murder abounded. But the point of this book isn't to know, but to feel. I felt sadness, pity, frustration, and anger toward this real-life cast of characters. The descriptions were evocative at a sensory level: gut-wrenching renditions of dead bodies, cringe-inducing portrayals of acts of violence, even the food was repulsive. Needless to say, this book is not a light read, but the creepy darkness is appropriate for the subject matter and it is a worthy read. I will definitely be looking for Sarah Schmidt's next novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well hello there, Sarah Schmidt. I love it when a debut novel really nails it. See What I Have Done is one of my most highly anticipated reads for the year. I've always been absolutely fascinated with Lizzie Borden and couldn't wait to read a fictionalized account of her story. I didn't know if it was going to deal with the events leading up to the murders, the murder itself, or the trial that took place thereafter, but I didn't mind going in relatively blind. I was pleased that it really covered a little of everything, but focused mainly on the events that happened in the days leading up to and after the murder. The story is told from 4 different perspectives: Emma, the older sister, Bridget, the Irish Maid, Benjamin, a stranger with nefarious intentions, and Lizzie herself.

The writing was so evocative! There's a lot of imagery (specifically, food and smell imagery. That damn mutton soup!) It was a slow burn and the story took me a bit to get into, but Schmidt had my full attention when she began to describe the state of the bodies. This book is not for the faint of heart. When I'm faced with gruesome imagery, it surprises me and makes me laugh. (Like, ahh very good author- you got me!) I had that feeling several times throughout this book. That said, if you are not into gore, you should probably skip this one. It was a very atmospheric story, and I am typically not one for "flowery" writing. I like character development and solid plot, and I want you to describe what's going on to me clearly, thank you. However, because of the 4 differing viewpoints, the author got a chance to really play with style without sacrificing the story. Emma was the most straightforward character; she is an older sister who is beholden to her needy younger sister, Lizzie. Lizzie wants nothing more than the entirety of Emma's love: "I thought about..stalking into Emma's bed like the moon and lying by her side, growing tentacles and wrapping them around her until our breathing matched." Yeah. Lizzie is definitely creepy.

Emma's chapters are often really sad, both because her parents have been murdered and because she knows this now means she'll never get away from her burdensome sister. Lizzie's chapters creeped me out the most. Her narrative feels cloudy and anxious. I thought it was genius how the author played with words to get Lizzie's madness across. "I wanted to feel better. I forced my fingers onto my arms and forced them to march like ants". There was definitely something off with her and I have no trouble believing this character could have murdered her parents.

The maid, Bridget, who "did things and did things", is the voice of reason. She sees the family members for who they really are... and she wants out. She's been saving up her earnings for a trip back home, but when Mrs. Borden finds out, she steals her money. She's at least 10 years younger than Lizzie, the youngest Borden, but she often seems like the only adult in the room. She is a maid who emigrated to America from Ireland with the hopes of earning her own way and chasing the American Dream, and I really enjoyed reading about the pains she went through and the sacrifices she made to get to the U.S.

Benjamin is a man that's hired by the girls' uncle to teach their father a lesson. He ends up getting inside the home and ends up having a very interesting perspective on the murders. He gives me a real droog from Clockwork Orange vibe. I really enjoyed his addition to the story, as it gave us another angle to consider.

Overall, I found this to be a quite enjoyable read. We are given a real timeline of events at the end, and it seems like the author followed the actual events very closely. It's fiction but it sounded like a reasonable explanation for the unsolved case to me. I do wish we could have gotten more information about what happened during the trial, but I still feel like we were given a resolution to the story. The characters were well fleshed out and complex and I walked away feeling like I had a good sense as to the type of people the Bordens were. I think this could make a very disturbing HBO adaptation, a la Big Little Lies. Read her dedications, seriously. Especially the part dedicated to Lizzie...

Favorite Quote: "The jurors would poke their old fingers in everything, pretend they were investigating the facts when really they wanted to touch the spaces dead people had been."

Rating: 4.5/5. (Extra half star for the writing!)

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and the publisher, Grove Atlantic. The story of Lizzie Borden has fascinated me for a long time and I was excited to get this book. Unfortunately, it didn't grab me the way I'd hoped. Jumping around from the various perspectives of Lizzie, her sister Emma, the maid Bridget and a man named Benjamin, there's a lack of a clear narrative and a lot of inner-dialogue that doesn't do a lot to move the story forward. While I admire the writing style of Sarah Schmidt but wish there was a tighter story. The earlier chapters from Lizzie and Emma's perspectives seem to go on a bit long with a lot of repetition and I found my attention wandering. This wasn't a bad book but it wasn't a hit for me either. If I could give half stars it would be a 2.5.

There is definitely a strong familiar feeling to this story. It jumps through different characters point-of-view, and Lizzie’s way of thinking reminds me of The Yellow Wallpaper. This unreliable narration and the flitting between thoughts gives you a rushed feeling, as if you were racing to keep up with her. The story goes on, introducing us to more characters and their ways of thinking. Author Sarah Schmidt has done an excellent job giving each of these characters their own unique voice and yet tied them together in such a way that it flowed almost seamlessly. I was very surprised to find that this was a debut novel as her writing style seems well tested. I can understand how some might not enjoy this book and I feel like it will be very polarizing. I personally enjoy a book that lures me in and then spends the next few hours leading me down a twisting road. I do also enjoy simple A to B stories but this was a welcome break and I will be looking forward to Sarah Schmidt’s next book.

*This eBook was provided by NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press in exchange for honest feedback*

3.5 stars.

An interesting take on the Lizzie Borden story, specifically centering on that fateful day. I might have enjoyed it more if I wasn't as well-versed in Borden-lore. There were some factual inconsistencies that threw me a bit, but the writing was fully engrossing

Arguably one of the most anticipated literary fiction releases of the year, See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt takes the reader to Massachusetts back in the summer of 1892, when the infamous Lizzie Borden allegedly killed her parents. The novel delves into the dysfunctional family dynamics that led to the brutal murders and subsequent trial of the century. Drifting back and forth through time and covering several perspectives (Lizzie, Lizzie’s sister Emma, the family’s Irish maid Bridget, a hitman named Benjamin), this novel slowly unpacks how the events may have played out. While it does indeed have a creepy quality to it (the Borden sisters are especially unsettling characters), it is more of a book for historical crime enthusiasts, as opposed to mystery/thriller/horror readers. It is quite dull at times, but the period details and language carry it along. If you are squeamish or if you require a cut and dried resolution in the books you read, avoid this one. However, if you are interested in historical recreations and appreciate a tone of subtle eeriness, then See What I Have Done could be a good choice for you.

*Lost Interest*

I had this book on my to be read shelf, however, I no longer have any interest to read it. The first chapter didn't grab my attention and I don't want to give it a 1 star review on Goodreads. Therefore, I am DNFing it.

Despite this being the story of the famous Borden ax murders, at it's heart it's really the story of a terribly dysfunctional family. Sarah Schmidt's novel paints a fabulously unsettling picture of the Borden family - a family ruled by a tyrannical, miserly patriarch, an addled stepmother, codependent and unstable sisters, and poor Bridget the maid, who sees everything but is powerless to intervene or escape.

Lizzie is an unreliable narrator (as is to be expected, I suppose) and the narration in the chapters told from her perspective is dizzying in it's erratic and piecemeal presentation. Her thoughts jump around, concentrating heavily on sensation - what she felt, saw, heard, tasted - and she focuses on seemingly unimportant details (these details would prove to be important later, of course). I am delighted, however, to see that the other characters in the story are very well fleshed out and were what grounded the novel when Lizzie's narration took a fantastical turn. Schmidt's ability to write the characters in such a believable fashion serves to highlight just how unbalanced Lizzie was.

The gruesome nature of the crimes lends itself to a few death scenes in the novel which are handled in an understated but deeply unsettling way. The reactions of each character to the bodies are entirely in line with their characters. For those with squeamish stomachs, I advise avoiding food while reading. Also perhaps food after reading as well considering how food is also handled in the boo (the MUTTON STEW! <gag>).

This book is dark, haunting, unsettling, but also beautiful in it's style. Schmidt's expert combination of historical accuracy and creepy storytelling makes for a superb and fresh retelling of a well-known American murder.

See What I Have Done is a stunning character study about one of the most infamous murderers of all time. Told through the points of view of four characters, Lizzie Borden is elucidated so perfectly it's easy to believe this work of historical fiction is completely true. Reading the sister's narratives was cringeworthy, Lizzie was particularly selfish and childish, and I kept wishing Emma would grow a backbone to stand up to her sister's guilt-trips. Lizzie's point of view was particularly well delivered with a tangible note of mental instability woven into the narrative. This is a story of a despicable, dysfunctional family without a happy ending, except for Lizzie who probably got almost everything she wanted.

I would recommend this book to people interested in psychological, gritty fiction. This is an excellent character driven book and I love that it is told as historical fiction, See What I Have Done will serve as a crossover book for true crime enthusiasts. It also did well to spark my interest in Lizzie Borden and sent me searching for more information about her.

I finally finished this lovely true-crime-like historical fiction set around the iconic axe murders from my town of Fall River, MA. This book, See What I have done, alternated between the perspective of the accused, Lizzie, her sister, the maid, and a few other odd characters. It was written in a style with sort of an inner dialogue ramble which made it appropriate for some characters who were portrayed as perhaps a little less than sane. There were lots of historically accurate details present that I remember from my time studying this, as well as features from the home being portrayed accurately based on my recollection from staying there and the author's visit there as well. A definite must read for those interested in the Lizzie Borden case and those who have never heard of it!

Something is not right in the Borden house. In See What I Have Done (Atlantic Monthly Press, digital galley), first-time novelist Sarah Schmidt reimagines the famous axe-murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. And, of course, daughter Lizzy sits at the center of the tragedy that takes place in this dysfunctional household.

The events leading up to the murder unfold slowly as the story shifts forward and backward in time and between narrators to expose troubled relationships and possible motivations for murder. There are not a lot of characters to like in this story, but Schmidt does a good job of bringing the drama to life and tries to answer some of the lingering questions surrounding this historic case.

This is a visceral novel that is difficult to read at times as it proceeds toward the inevitable conclusion. But it's also difficult to put down as you try to determine which of the books narrators are the most unreliable. And which are telling the truth.

See What I Have Done is incredibly gripping, the writing style simple but, at the same time, brings such emotion. I enjoyed the different point of views from Lizzie, Emma and Bridget. Benjamin's part of the story didn't feel like it added anything to it except for an extra suspect/witness and felt like it was meant to add to the goriness of the story. The narration sometimes felt a bit confusing, without too clear a line between present (after the murders) and past, but it didn't bother me too much.

Despite being familiar with the true crime story, I was so tense reading this book, perhaps because of knowing how much of that has happened in reality. This is Sarah Schmidt's debut novel, and in my opinion she did a great job.

Another Lizzie Borden book...and still this one somehow kept me turning pages to find out what was coming next. The story alternates between several seemingly unreliable first person narrators and even if you're pretty sure what happened in the Borden house on that fateful day, it's an interesting read. The story opens with Lizzie and it did take me some time to get into the rhythm of her muddled thoughts, but once I was comfortable with the language, I was hooked.

We all know the tale of Lizzie Borden - a 32-year-old woman who allegedly killed her father and stepmother with an ax in their Fall River, Massachusetts home and was later acquitted. This book highlights the events leading up to this act and what occurs afterward. Different chapters tell the story from different people's points of view. We hear from Lizzie, her older sister Emma, their maid Bridget, and Benjamin, a friend of their Uncle John and someone around the house near the time of the murders.

I really enjoyed the embellishment of this true event. Each character was fleshed out, and it made me cast doubt on what I thought was so obvious about this notorious story. Lizzie was portrayed as rather erratic and young. There were times I forgot she was in her thirties and not a ten-year-old! She demanded constant attention and held grudges when she didn't get her way. I found her a bit annoying, but it worked for the purpose of the book.

I only wish I knew more about what happened after the murders. I would have liked to hear more about the trial phase, but that part seemed rushed. Otherwise - an intriguing adaptation to a famous story.

Lizzie Borden took an axe… Or did she? And who else might have done it?and who else had a motive? and if she did it, did they deserve it?

Sarah Schmidt tells the story of Lizzie Borden and her family from the points of view of Lizzie, her sister, the maid, and other participants in the family tragedy. She fleshes out the historical record with rich textural detail. Beware, nothing is as it seems!

We all know the story but Sarah Schmidt takes us to another place and another way of looking at it all. We are told the story in four alternating voices. Of course, there is Lizzie. She is a very odd woman. She definitely is not all there mentally. She thinks things that most of us would not and she has her secrets. Emma, her sister, just wants to live her live away from her stifling family. She comes so close at one point. Bridget, the Irish born maid, also wants to get away from the Borden family but Mrs. Borden does not want to let her leave. In her anger, she holds her money hostage from her. Their Uncle John hires a man named Benjamin to convince Mr. Borden not to leave his money to his wife. And by convince, he seems to mean any way possible. Benjamin has his own demons and is quite the sadistic character. Though none of us will probably ever know the real story of what happened that day in the Borden house, Sarah Schmidt’s story telling, sure makes me feel like we were there.

This book is very intense. There is an awful lot of anger in this house and you can feel it through the pages. I have read other books about the subject and they were very straightforward but I like how this one made me look at everyone with different eye. I still think Lizzie killed her father and stepmother and this book doesn’t really dissuade you to feel any different but it is an interesting look at the family dynamics.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Grove Atlantic in exchange for an honest review.

I do like reading Historical Fiction but even more so when the book is based on a true story. This is the story following the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden. They were found with their skulls smashed in by their daughter Lizzie. Lizzie and Emma Borden are spinsters and still live with their father, step-mother and Bridget the maid. They seemed to have a sheltered life and been well-kept by their father. This story delves in to the lives of the Bordens and what happened behind closed doors of this well-respected family.

"Lizzie Borden took an axe, And gave her mother forty whacks; When she saw what she had done, She gave her father forty-one,"

I am going to be truthful and say that this book was ok but nothing really blew me away. I don’t think that there was much added to this story than what you could actually read on Wikipedia. The story was repetitive, slow and didn’t always hold my attention. The problem with stories like these are you know how they are going to end you don’t have that thrill of finding out who done it. I liked the writing style of this book and the way she wrote Lizzie’s character.

The story is told from four perspectives, Lizzie, Emma, Bridget and Benjamin.It was through them that the story was told of the events leading up to the murders and afterwards. The character that stuck out the me was Lizzie, she was spoilt, childish, rude and clearly deluded. Benjamin was the only character that was added to put a bit of a spin on the story but really didn’t come to anything and a bit pointless.

How easy it was to get away with murder though in the 1800’s, there was no DNA testing, no blood spatter analysis or proper interrogations in those days, yet in there were times in the story when I wanted the police to grasp onto something and for them to start piecing it altogether. Lizzie’s statement of what happened was fragmented,not making sense and was taken as shock, whereas nowadays this would be deemed as suspicious behaviour and you would be arrested at the drop of a hat.

In conclusion I think this is a good debut novel by Sarah Schmidt but it didn’t really bring anything new to the table.

I rated this 3 out of 5 stars