I could NOT get into this one, which really disappointed me. I was so intrigued - I don't think I've ever come across a Lizzie Borden novel before, and the case is certainly an interesting one that lends itself to fiction. I tried reading it a couple of times, but after the first few pages I kept stumbling... The shifts in perspective didn't help; although that usually does not bother me in a story, in this instance I found it oddly distracting. Lizzie's obvious mental instability in the opening pages were interesting at first, but quickly made following her narrative rather more difficult than the effort seemed to warrant. I just couldn't find myself interested, and so I had to give up...

I loved this historical fiction look at Lizzie Borden's killing of her father and stepmother! Up until about 80% of the way through the book it was so interesting to read what led up to her calm, cool, and collected massacre of her parents. I also enjoyed that Ms. Schmidt wrote the book as though perhaps Miss Borden perhaps did not commit the crimes but introducing additional suspects, motives, and means. But I did somehow feel like the book lingered on a bit too long. I realize why Ms. Schmidt chose to continue the story but I was already satisfied and didn't see any additional value in the extra pages.

Sarah Schmidt's See What I Have Done is a debut novel that gives a fictional account of Lizzie Borden. The book focuses mainly on the time immediately before and after the murders of her father and stepmother. While the subject matter is interesting, I found the book to be lacking a bit. It dragged at points. Lizzie, her father, and her stepmother are imagined as a mixture of horrible and mentally unstable. The only likable characters are Emma Borden and the maid, Bridget. A final character is Benjamin, who has been hired by Lizzie and Emma's uncle to take care of how the sisters are being treated by their father. The book does not tackle the mystery of who actually committed the murders. Still for anyone interested in alternate ideas of the story and life inside the Borden house, this is worth reading.

When I heard that this was a retelling (telling?) of the infamous Lizzie Borden's story, I was all in. Schmidt did a good job of putting me into the dysfunction of the Borden family--and yes, creating sympathy for Lizzie herself. (Didn't we always suspect there was much more to the story than what we learned in the twisted little rhyme?)

Most of us are no doubt familiar with the infamous Lizzie Borden trial and the nursery rhyme about the axe murder of her stepmother and father. The gruesome crime has captured the public’s imagination since it occurred in 1892. Australian author Sarah Schmidt is the latest to turn her pen to this topic. Her debut novel See What I Have Done, recounts the day of the murders, as well as the days leading up to and immediately following them. The story is told from the perspectives of four narrators: Lizzie’s older sister Emma, the Borden’s Irish maid Bridget, a fictional and violent outsider Benjamin, and Lizzie herself. These narrators reveal events in a fragmented and often non-linear manner- a device that adds to the reader’s sense of unease and helps to build suspense.

What I enjoyed most about this unsettling novel was without a doubt Sarah Schmidt’s writing. Her descriptive prose grabbed me from the very first page. She uses language that evokes the senses-a point that heightens the ick factor given the subject matter. So many sentences gave me an almost visceral reaction. However, I found See What I Have Done to be just the right amount of creepy and chilling without crossing over into the category of unnecessary gore.

For the most part, I liked the multiple narrators. Schmidt painted such a vivid portrait of a childish and disturbed Lizzie, that it was often stifling and uncomfortable to remain too long inside her head. The other narrative perspectives were a welcome relief. That said, I don’t understand the inclusion of the character of Benjamin. I didn’t like his chapters and felt he brought nothing to the story. If Schmidt needed a character that was removed from the Borden family-in order to relate the events of the trial-I’m not sure why she couldn’t have just used Bridget’s perspective. Personally I think See What I Have Done would have been a much tighter, stronger novel with only the three female narrators-all of whom were based on real people-instead of with fictional Benjamin’s story tacked on.

Another issue I had was with the dialogue-most of which seemed slightly anachronistic to me. The ways in which the characters spoke to one another-and even their own thoughts inside of their heads-did not seem realistic or in keeping with the time. I also thought the novel dragged towards the end. I had really been enjoying my reading experience up until about the halfway mark, at which point I began to dread picking this up and just wanted to reach the end already. As I said, maybe I wouldn’t have felt this way without the addition of Benjamin’s chapters. I think the slight time jumps and the repetitive recalling of the Borden family’s past added to this feeling of tediousness as well.

Overall, I found See What I Have Done to be an interesting, although flawed novel. I really enjoyed Sarah Schmidt’s writing style and will be on the lookout for her future work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

**A huge thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the opportunity to read See What I Have Done in exchange for an honest review* *

A fictional retelling of a real life crime involving Lizzie Bordon,where she is thought to axe her father and stepmother to death!
Sarah Schmidt uses real accounts and information gathered to write a fictitious plot of what may have happened back in 1892.
Firstly the beautiful cover lulls you into a false sense of security. This book is definitely not for the feint hearted. Be prepared for gory detail It certainly took me out of my comfort zone and at times I had to stop reading it. If you love scary and disturbing reads then this is certainly for you.
In my opinion, I found the plot lines confusing at times,as it took me a while to get used to the swap between time lines and characters. You need to have the time to spend, to fully immerse yourself in the plot.
Sorry this wasn't for me. I awarded 3* as for many it will deliver a good read with well researched facts. Many have loved it. Lack of personal enjoyment for me though. Sorry

“Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41.” Yes and this is why I requested See What I have done! What a line right?!?
See What I Have Done starts with a bang and I was drawn in. Espiscally with Sarah Schmidt telling the story of Lizzie Borden. She was wow not sure crazy is the right word to use. Her father and step mother were BRUTALLY killed and the questions of what happens enters everyone's mind, and the hundred year 
“Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41.” Yes and this is why I requested See What I have done! What a line right?!?
See What I Have Done starts with a bang and I was drawn in. Espiscally with Sarah Schmidt telling the story of Lizzie Borden. She was wow not sure crazy is the right word to use. Her father and step mother were BRUTALLY killed and the questions of what happens enters everyone's mind, and the hundred year history of the Borden household is questioned.
I was taken over by this book that while reading I was googling Lizzie Borden at every pivotal moment in this book. Then after I was done reading I could not stop thinking about Lizzie and the story of this dysfunctional family. 
Sarah did a great job in retelling of this historical story.

I think just about everyone knows the little nursery rhyme about Lizzie Borden giving her mother and father whacks with the ax and killing them.Well this is a debut author and she has written about the Borden murder case. Each chapter is the perspective of Lizzie,her older sister Emma,the housemaid Bridget or the enigmatic stranger Benjamin. The day is revealed through their words and thoughts. First let me say it was a Gothic historical and kept me reading in a creepy spellbinding way. The family is void of any love or closeness. I could just feel the evilness seeping out of Lizzie's pores. Her thoughts were very disjointed,like a quite mentally ill person. The whole family was very dysfunctional.Quite different perspective than any other Lizzie Borden story I've ever read. The killing takes place at the beginning of the book with Lizzie discovering her father on the couch after his face had been axed. Then the rest of the book you can just feel the pure evilness of Lizzie as it tells about her relationship with her father Andrew and stepmother Abby whom she hated. You get the sense she did it because of the way her father treated her. So it's a who dun it but we will never know. She was acquitted after spending 10 months in jail awaiting her trial. Very interesting and different book!
Pub Date 01 Aug 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for a review copy in exchange fro my honest review.

3.5 stars Many years ago, I saw the movie about Lizzie Borden with Elizabeth Montgomery. While reading this, I kept picturing her as Lizzie. I felt the author wrote a compelling story about a very dysfunctional family. She brought in some possible theories as to why this horrible thing was done and yet stayed true to the facts as we know them. One thing is certain, this was one creepy family!

**Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.**

Schmidt writes a compelling and thrilling fictional account of the famous Lizzie Borden incident. The story pulls the reader in with Lizzie's life imagined in her own words. Dark and twisted, even when the outcome is already known readers will not be able to put this one down.

This was a fascinating and intricate re-telling of the Lizzie Borden murders in August of 1892. We are given the perspectives of four individuals who had their own motives for wanting Mr and Mrs Borden dead - Lizzie, her sister, Emma, Bridget, the housemaid and Ben, a drifter with a connection to the girls' uncle, John. There are some great literary motifs at play, like the way in which certain words are often repeated, leading to a sense of confusion and heightened emotion. What I really loved was the examination of the family life. What appeared to be a wealthy and upstanding family was in fact riddled with jealousy and domination. The prose is great, with each view point having its own unique voice and the author has done an excellent job of creating doubt and intrigue about one of the most famous murders of all time.

This cover deserves all the stars.
I love anything surrounding true crime. So when I saw this on NetGalley and was approved to read this, I was so ecstatic and instantly downloaded it and started reading it.
I loved this book. I loved how unsettling it made you feel, especially reading from Lizzie's perspective. Was truly haunting to read just how nonchalant she was regarding the murders in the way she would talk and act.
The writing was atmospheric and so creepy, that at times, it gets under your skin. You will be transposed in that room looking at Father, and experiencing dread, and wondering did/could Lizzie really do this? Was this woman capable of inflicting so much harm and brutality towards her own parents?
The only thing I didn't particularly care for, was at times it seemed the sentences were fragmented, and sometimes very blunt and short.
Sarah Schmidt is an incredible writer, and I can't wait to read more by her. I will be definitely be picking up a hardback copy for myself here soon.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest opinion. My thanks to Sarah Schmidt and Grove Atlantic for the opportunity to read and review this book.

There are many good things in this book that would make this a great choice for a different reader. Sadly I am not that reader. I was super excited about this book - it was on plenty of people's "most anticipated" lists, both covers are absolutely stunning, and the bit of the blurb that I read sounded exciting. I had some misconceptions though: I did not realize that this book would be gritty historical fiction, I did not realize that Lizzie Borden was 32, and for some reason I thought it would have magical realist pieces.

Sarah Schmidt sets out to retell the story of the Borden murders - murders so famous that most people in the English speaking world have heard of them (I was not one of those people). Told in alternating viewpoints following Lizzie Borden, her sister Emma, their maid Bridget, and an involved bystander Benjamin. Every single one of those characters, save maybe Bridget, is unbelievably awful. They are nasty, self-involved, blind to their own faults, and unbearable to spend time with. Especially Lizzie's chapters made me want to throw things - she is without a doubt the worst person I ever had to listen to (figuratively). Every time her name was above the chapter, I groaned. I know many people do not mind unlikable characters but I think I just need to be honest with myself here. I am not one of those people; I need the characters I spend time with to be at least sympathetic or have any redeeming traits.

Sarah Schmidt has an undeniably brilliant way of painting vivid pictures that engage the readers senses in a near unique way. Sadly, here it is mostly used to paint a vivid picture of the awful living conditions of this wealthy family (the father was famously stingy). There are long and evocative descriptions of vomit, sweat, blood, period blood, and everything else nasty. The characters all eat fruit in a way that apparently leaves them covered in its juices. They do not swallow, they gulp (side note: I think this is my alltime least favourite word - it might be because I am not a native speaker but for me the action of gulping sounds super loud in my head).

This is not a bad book but it is one I did not enjoy one bit. I was undeniably the wrong reader. Sarah Schmidt has a very evocative way with words and I think she succeeds in telling her story in an original way; I thought the time jumps worked very well and the execution was really well-done. I just did not enjoy reading this and was sad to be so glad to be done with this book. But I was very glad.

First sentence: "He was still bleeding."

See What I Have Done is a fictionalized account of the Lizzie Borden murders. You know - Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41. Lizzie was acquitted of the murders and no one has ever been charged with the crime.

The author used an interesting technique to tell the story. It is told from 4 different points of view: Lizzie, Lizzie’s older sister Emma, Bridget the maid and Benjamin a man hired by Lizzie’s Uncle John. It mainly takes place around the time of the murders, though it does jump ahead a little towards the end.

I think that this jumping around and the story told from different points of view work really well with the story. The author paints the fabric of the family from each character’s point of view. I think it is much more effective that if the story had just been told as a straight narrative. As it is, we don’t know who of the characters are reliable narrators, if any.

I enjoyed this book, I thought it was a clever way to present a historical crime that most of us are familiar with.

I received an ARC of the book.

I liked this one a lot, though I am a little surprised it made for a full-length novel, and can't help but wonder if the same effect could have been made with a novella. That said, the language and tension and eeriness were a lot of fun. I really enjoyed Schmidt's style of writing.

This is a fictional retelling of the Lizzie Borden "Axe Murders" story. Sarah Schmidt does an excellent job of keeping the reader engaged and in suspense the entire way through the book. While it is a strange book, it was written on a strange topic so nothing less would be expected. I really enjoyed this fictional retelling of the account and loved the creepy atmosphere throughout the book.

Sarah Schmidt's See What I Have Done is a novel that has the advantage of having a truly titillating premise and a built-in fan base of readers who already know of Miss Lizzie Borden’s infamy:

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

If you’ve ever sung that “nursery rhyme” to yourself, you’re already at least a step ahead. See What I Have Done has its roots in the factual 1892 trial of Lizzie Borden--the characters are even based on and named for the real people who were in and out of the house on the fateful day of the murders. With those common facts out of the way, Schmidt rolls up her sleeves and dives into the task of reconstructing that fateful day and retelling the notorious story of Miss Lizzie Borden.

Let me start by first of all saying that Schmidt has a true talent for finding her readers' pressure points and picking at them consistently, a skill that sets a suspenseful novel apart from a predictable one. I can see this author's method working for so many readers, pulling them in and making them feel immersed in these characters' very thoughts. But, it didn't work for me. In fact, there were times when this novel was an uphill struggle for me.

The one thing that will always stick out to me about this novel is Lizzie’s temperament. Throughout the novel it was eerily strange despite her obviously childlike temperament, menacing just below the surface in a way that was clearly deliberate on the author’s part. Whether she was not in her right mind in a vaguely sociopathic way or in a childlike way hinting at mental retardation I could not fully tell (though I’m leaning toward the latter), but it certainly functioned to add a little unpredictability and upheaval in the otherwise monotonous 19th century lives these characters seemed to lead.

However, there was something about the execution of this novel that really turned me off—possibly intentionally—but I definitely didn’t take to it the way I would have wanted to. Lizzie’s personality was like an itch under my skin, one I wanted to scratch until she was gone completely and long forgotten about. Instead of building suspense or anxiety, her twitchiness and oddities really just annoyed me to the point that I could no longer stand her. I wanted to be out of her head—away from her altogether at times—at any cost. Only, her chapters were by far the most interesting, as the others seemed to melt into the background for me as a reader. The characters’ voices didn’t pull me in; their actions didn’t interest me. So, that left me with Lizzie, and you can imagine the conundrum that left me in as a reader! :) There was just too much of it. A titillating hint here and there is intriguing; 5 hints toward her psychological oddities per page, every page is annoying. That’s what created that itching sensation under my skin, the tap dancing on my reader Spidey senses.

The thing is, Sarah Schmidt’s ability to affect her reader in that way is a true gift, a skill that's difficult to hone and display. So, just because it didn’t work for me personally doesn’t mean that I don’t see the cleverness and mental dexterity it took to execute that aspect of this novel, and for that I tip my hat off to her. I’d recommend this novel to lovers of The Village (2004) or of historical mysteries in general. There’s absolutely a fan base out here for Sarah Schmidt and See What I Have Done, and I look forward to giving her another shot the next time she hits the shelves. 3 stars ***

I wanted to love this book, but it fell a little short. Like many people, I'm fairly familiar with the story of Lizzie Borden. I love creepy reads, so I was excited to begin this one. Very unique style of writing, but sometimes it actually felt TOO descriptive. My focus started to wane while I was reading as a result. I've never been grossed out so much by simply eating before. It is genuinely creepy though. Getting inside the brain of Lizzie Borden (and others) is very disturbing. The family is painted as being very dysfunctional. Definitely not your average family tiffs happening in the Borden house. The sisters seemed to be both intensely attached to each other and despise each other. Insane family dynamics. Chapter perspectives alternate. Lizzie, big sister Emma, cousin John, maid Bridget, and an original character you'll learn more about as you read.

I'm not going to touch on the plot much because most of us already know the story, which means we know what's coming in the book before it actually happens. There has to be some mystery, so it's best to go in without knowing exactly how the author presents the story.

I was given an ARC copy of this book from Grove Atlantic and Net Galley, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

“Emma threw her hands out in front of her. “Enough,” she said. “I just want them to find the person who did this and be done with it.” Emma’s hideous desire for answers made my heart beat faster. She made my teeth want to sink into her flesh and eat her out of my life, made me want to swarm her mind and sort through all the thoughts she had of me, that I was being stubborn, I was being too secretive, I was being bad. I felt her nastiness crawl over my skin, tiny deaths that made me want to become nothing. Emma sat boulder strong, eyed me like a parent seeing their child misbehave for the first time and not liking any of it.”

Book lovers take note! There is a new historical fiction author in town and her name is Sarah Schmidt. Schmidt’s recreation of the events that surrounded the murder of Lizzie Bordon’s parents is BRILLIANT. The masterful skill she exhibits setting such a disturbing, haunting tone throughout the story while slowly weaving Lizzie’s emotional instability through the pages reads as though it was penned by a seasoned author. This is a story that will get under your skin, that will make you nervously look around as you turn the pages faster and faster, trying to determine who actually swung the ax on that fateful day. I am completely blown away by this stunning talent. See What I Have Done hits shelves tomorrow and this is one that you do not want to miss 4.5 creepy stars. Many thanks to @netgalley and @groveatlantic for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

What really happened in the Borden household in August of 1892? Who was it who took that axe and killed Lizzie and Emma Borden's father and stepmother? Was it Lizzie, or was there someone else in the house? Would you love to find out? 

Sarah Schmidt takes us inside the Borden murder house in her novel See What I Have Done. It's a eerie imagining of the time around the murders through the thoughts and actions of Lizzie Borden, her sister Emma, their housekeeper Bridget, and an acquaintance of their Uncle John. Each character tells their part of the story, so you get to feel the atmosphere in the house, hear about the girls' childhood, piece together the relationships between all the family members, and envision what may have happened that fateful day when Andrew and Abby Borden lost their lives. 

For anyone who doesn't know the story, on August 4, 1892, grown daughter Lizzie Borden found her father, killed with an axe, and called for Bridget to help her. Neighbors were called, the police were called, and eventually Bridget and Mrs. Churchill went upstairs to look for Abby, Lizzie's stepmother, and found her murdered as well. It was Lizzie's confusion about where Abby had been that kept anyone from finding her sooner, and her strange and contradictory answers to police questions that caused suspicion to fall in her direction. Eventually she was tried and acquitted for the murders, but her place in pop culture has cemented her place as an axe murderer anyway. 

The impressive (and creepy) thing that stood out to me about this novel was the way the writing takes you into this house that pretty much everyone deemed strange. There was just something about the house, about the family, that made people uncomfortable. And as you read the novel, there is a growing chilling feeling, like the walls are closing in on you, like you can smell the rot in the home, like you can't trust anyone around you. The tension builds and builds until the end, when you can finally breathe again (and you find yourself so incredibly thankful for indoor plumbing and all the sanitation innovations that have been made in the last 125 years!). 

Anyone interested in the Lizzie Borden story, anyone wanting a chance to see through the eyes of a notorious historical figure, anyone who dreams of spending the night in the supposedly haunted Borden house (now a Bed and Breakfast, and just 50 miles south of Boston) should definitely pick up this book. And do it this week. Friday, August 4, is the 125th anniversary of the murder. 



Galleys for See What I Have Done were provided by Grove Atlantic through NetGalley.com, with many thanks.