After a life changing event in their hometown of Philly siblings Tessa and Vik, with their mom move to the historic town of Fall River, MA. for a new start. Fall River isn't like most quiet small towns considering there was the famous murder case of Lizzie Borden a hundred years ago that created the well-known rhyme "Lizzie Borden took an axe, and gave her mother forty whacks, and when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.".

When the the book starts our main characters Tessa and Vik are already settled into their new place and new school. Vik has been dating Mariella Morse, descendent to Lizzie Borden, and a child of a rich family who owns the Borden house and historical property along with countless other things in town. Tessa on the other hand has changed her ways and is more of a homebody. Everything seems to be getting back on tracks for the siblings until one night Tessa gets thousands of messages about her brother murdering his girlfriend's parents in the exact way Lizze was said to have murdered her own. Tessa doesn't think it's real until a video of Mariella shows up on the news accusing Vik of killing her parents and a shot of Vik covered head to toe in blood shows on screen showing the whole news covering how he was found standing by the bodies with the axe at his feet. Not accepting what she sees as truth Tessa sets out to prove her brother's innocence in any way she can. Unfortunately for Tessa searching for the truth of this crime may end up uncovering more things about this town and its dark history then anyone wanted to admit was real.

The book is laid out by different point of views "before the murder" by Mariella and "after the murder" by Tessa. Coming into this i knew it would have the thriller and ghost factors due to the subject matter but did not realize how much research this author did to get everything as realistic as possible. The town and all talked about locations really exist and facts put in about the Borden case were also as factual as possible considering the fact no know really knows what happened during that case. With the paranormal getting added in it make things slightly hard to follow at times because i couldn't tell what was paranoia and what was paranormal voices in ones head telling them to do things. Sadly, I caught on to everything really fast and figured out most of what happened pretty early on (im talking way before the halfway mark) I just couldn't figure out some fine key facts that make me keep reading. I had the masked villain and the murder weapon but was missing how they got from point A to point C without more people catching on to what was going to happen or what was happening.

Overall good plot and writing. This kept my interest the whole time and even made me want to keep reading after i figured things out early. Made to want to see how it would all play out outside of my own head. Loved all the Lizzie Borden facts as well as her family history facts how the crazy anger murder could have been in her blood from her relative who killer her kids then herself. All the details about the locations and Borden house also kept my attention. One thing i dont/do get is the title. Is it supposed to be a play on past and present murders both being done by axe or just an attention grabber?

Tessa and Vic have been living in Fall River for about a year. They were city kids and the small town feel was different. Especially the woods. Tessa was more reserved after an accident back in Boston. But Vic has been dating the popular, rich girl Mariella. Philip and Mariella have been best friends since they were little. Philip and his family work at the Lizzie Borden house and Philip is all into the spooky history of the area. The woods are supposed to be extremely haunted. But Vic and Mariella go there to relax when she needs to get away from her dad. She decides she wants her dad to die. She drank this spell using ingredients from the woods. Since she drank it, she's hearing voices and wakes up with bruises. The voices tell her how she's going to get Vic to kill her father. Mariella wants her mom to be safe and thinks they will all be better if her dad's gone. Things go wrong and both parents are killed. Vic is arrested with an axe at his feet and blood all over him. But Tessa knows her brother. He would never hurt anyone. Something is wrong with him. He smells weird and doesn't remember the night. Tessa decides to start investigating to free her brother.

The book is told by both Tessa and Mariella. The story is current for Tessa, but Mariella's is the day of the murder. I loved the spookiness of the book. That whole area is interesting to me, so it was cool to read some of the history and stories included.

I gave this book 4 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.

i was so enamored with this books concept but was also hestitate to read the store t because i knew it could be very hit or miss and if it was a miss it would be a dumpster fire … i have to say it was a good … solid hit ….. author did a very job towing the line between real life … and fiction in a case where it wasn’t just a “ retelling “ of a fable or schoolyard nursery time …. i would def recommend this book to a fiction lover as well as a true crime lover and think the novel does a great job crossing both genres and lines … great job! def would recommend this to others and already have ! i literally only give 5 stars is i prob have 5 in my entire life that i say are 5 star reads and it takes me a while to soak the book in to give it a 5 star review …. and as i have just finished reading haven’t thought about it enough, i would def say though that it’s a good solid 4.5 which isn’t a rating i give out a ton!

"Hatchet Girls" by Diana Rodriguez Wallach is a gripping and inventive thriller that skillfully intertwines history, mystery, and the supernatural to create an enthralling narrative. The story, set over a century after the infamous Borden murders, plunges readers into a contemporary small town where accusations of a gruesome axe murder resurrect haunting echoes of the past. The author weaves a tense web of suspicion and doubt as Mariella Morse's accusations against her boyfriend, Vik Gomez, are met with disbelief and judgment. As Vik's sister, Tessa, embarks on a relentless quest to clear his name, the narrative takes a chilling turn when it delves into a cursed forest with a history as dark as Fall River's past. Wallach masterfully explores the blurred lines between reality and legend, crafting a tale that oozes with tension, secrets, and atmospheric unease. The characters' complex emotions and motivations, coupled with the eerie setting, contribute to a palpable sense of foreboding that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. "Hatchet Girls" is a hauntingly original novel that skillfully melds the past with the present to deliver a suspenseful and thought-provoking reading experience that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I loved the tie in or true crime in this book. The supernatural part of it wasn’t my favorite but it was well done.
Easy read since it is a YA novel but it still kept me interested. I enjoyed the characters as well.

4⭐️

Following the death of her father, Tessa’s family moves to Fall Rivers, MA for a fresh start. Fall Rivers is the home of Lizzie Borden, infamous for being accused of murdering her father and stepmother with an ax. While Tessa is overwhelmed by guilt and grief, her brother Vik has had no trouble making new friends. He begins dating Mariella Morse, the daughter of the man who owns most of the town. Due to her father’s temper, Mariella never brings Vik to the house but instead brings him to the woods for alone time.

When Mariella’s parents are found murdered, Vik is immediately blamed. It doesn’t help that he was found covered in blood in the house with no memory of what had happened. Tessa knows her brother and knows he would never do something so violent. She begins to look into the gossip of the town and finds that the paranormal stories that many of the town spread may not just be stories.

This was a great paranormal tale that draws in an actual true crime case, which I appreciate. I like that the magic wasn’t super over the top and played into not only the Borden case but also witches from Massachusetts. I also feel like everything was wrapped up at the end pretty well.

I do wish that we got a deeper look into the characters. For the most part the characters were all pretty surface level; we see some of Tessa’s feelings about her father’s death but that was more or less resolved pretty quickly. The detective character specifically would have been nice to have some background on and why she so easily believes the ghost stories of the town.

Thanks Netgalley and Random House for providing this ARC to me!

This was an interesting story that connected a true crime story with a mystical element. It had a strong beginning but lost me halfway through

This was a fun thriller that is based off the Lizzie Borden story. i have always found this case so interesting so of course I had to read this!

The story is a medium/slow pace and it felt like sometimes it was a little too slow but it was somewhat also predictable. I figured out the ending early on and it left the reading experience lack luster. The characters weren't at all likeable. I am not sure if that was what the author was planning or not but i could not stand most of them.

Defiantly a quick read but nothing memorable. Good for those true crime lovers that want something similar.

Content Warning: violence, murder

I couldn’t resist requesting this one because I wanted some darker, thrilling, spooky reads for Fall. This one is dark, bloody, and spooky if you like true crime murders. This story revolves around the history about the Lizzie Borden axe murders that took place in Massachusetts, in the late 1800’s. I’ve heard of the name but wasn’t familiar with the crime story. Seems like this author did her research though and even stayed in the house of the murders! I love the dedication to the story!

The story is set in the Fall River, MA and one of the characters, Phil, even works at the Lizzie Borden house. Mariella, his best friend and the rich girl in town is actually a descendant of the Bordens so when she tries to test her luck by getting in touch with the supernatural forces of the town to help her with a desperate situation – something sinister and strange happens. Other than the Lizzie Borden information we get fed in the book, I also loved the acknowledgment of the Native Americans that had been killed on that land. So this town is the perfect place for a story like this. Mariella’s parents are murdered by her boyfriend Vik, but Tessa (Vik’s sister) wants to truth. What happened that night of the murders? Why would Vik do something that is totally unlike anything he would ever do? There are so many questions and Tessa won’t give up until she figures it out.

This is a quick read but at times I thought maybe too quick because I wanted more of the creep factor especially about the Lizzie Borden history. I felt like the twist was something I caught onto halfway into the book. I would have loved more character development too, I didn’t quite connect to Tessa or Mariella but I did appreciate their back stories since they both were going through some challenging things. I totally felt bad for Vik, poor guy.

I think if you like murder stories with some paranormal, creepy aspects, then you will like this one.

Why you should read it:
*true crime, Lizzie Borden axe murder history, Massachusetts history, Native American history
*supernatural twist to the story

Why you might not want to read it:
*not into horror

My Thoughts:

This is a quick read and if you are into young adult horror and thrillers you may enjoy this one. I especially loved the historical facts I learned about the Lizzie Borden axe murders and the Native Americans that perished in that town, on that land. The story itself was creepy and gory and for the most part I was entertained even though I wish there was more character development and more of a scare factor.

First let me say, I am a bit wary of books billed as YA because they can sometimes feel too juvenile for me to get into (too much needless drama). However with the intriguing connection to Lizzie Borden and Fall River, MA it sounded like a good read. I really like the supernatural and historical elements worked into the story with care. This is a great read anyone trying to get into the spooky season!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

An interesting and engaging read! I really liked the inclusion of the historical elements, but wish there had been a deeper exploration of the Borden family and their connection to witchcraft. I also wanted to see more of an exploration for [redacted’s] involvement in the murders. One motive is very clear while the other is never really explained. Overall this was a unique plot and is sure to be a hit with paranormal and horror fans alike.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Just enough supernatural to make it somehow believable. I do think I could a bit more in background stories but overall a solid thriller.

Hatchet Girls was a whirlwind of a book and there was always something crazy going on. I absolutely loved all the bizarre happenings and all the supernatural elements that made this book weird. Of course I loved that this story was based in Fall River, MA and eluded to Lizzie Borden and the Lizzie Borden house many times. This story was brutal and gruesome and I loved every second of it. Tessa was a badass main character who was determined to find out the truth of her brothers involvement in the gruesome yet strange axe murders and I loved her character. All the details of the settings and the past of Fall River really made this book come to life. This definitely felt like an original story and I think horror fans and fans of anything Lizzie Borden are going to eat this one up! This is the perfect spooky October read!

I was so bummed that this book was over!

I loved everything from the title to the cover to the Lizzie Borden connection. Tessa is awesome and I definitely enjoyed how creepy everything was.

Did I know who was doing what? Yep, but I didn’t know why and how and I really wanted to know.

Expect a fast paced, entertaining, and very eerie read!

• ARC via Publisher

This was a great and fun read! Love this twist on the Lizzie Borden mystery and its different approach. I had no idea that the locations in the book are real haunted locations! That made this book so much more awesome. This thriller was exactly what I needed and I couldn’t put it down. Diana Rodriguez Wallach is a great author and I cannot wait to read more from them. Thank you Diana, NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this digital copy!

Hatchet Girls was a fun thriller read! It’s based off of Lizzie Borden with some interesting twists.
The book was a bit predictable and felt a little slow at times. I didn’t particularly love any of the characters which made it hard for me to enjoy the book as a whole. I didn’t love the ending either.
I appreciated the representation present in the book and the commentary about the inequality between those of different race and lower social standing.
With the book being under 300 pages, it’s a quick read! Pick it up if you’re in the mood for a thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free and give my honest feedback and review.

A paranormal teen slasher inspired by the Lizzie Borden murders! Mariella Morse is a beautiful and wealthy white girl who's parents are murdered with an axe... and the person she's accusing of doing it? Her boyfriend Vik Gomez, a person of color who is poor. It doesn't help that Vik is caught standing over Mariella's parents' bodies covered in blood and with an axe at his feet, however he doesn't have any memories of the night in question. Now it's up to his sister, Tessa to prove that Vik isn't the one responsible and that something else is going on. Tessa's search for the truth will spiral out of control and soon she'll find that the real villain was someone she never saw coming. While the story is suppose to be Lizzie Borden inspired, I was really hoping it would be more female focused and inciting, rather than *spoilers* have the main villain be a boy who not only is a psychopath and is drugging girls but violates and touches the other one without her consent. It just felt really gross and I did not enjoy this take on the book at all. I was expecting something much different than what I actually read. This story is very much a paranormal mystery and if that's what you are looking for then this is perfect for you.

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

spooky, supernatural thriller. Bit slow in places

thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the copy for review

I really didn’t want to, but I had to DNF around 25%. Sounds like I’m in the minority of people who didn’t like it, which is okay because reading is subjective, right? I think the writing is not my style. The story was good and I could tell it had potential, but there was just something about the writing that I couldn’t get into.

I will say that Mariella and her internal battles really intrigued me. I was curious to see where the author was going with her….but Tessa’s chapters are where I seemed to lose interest.

I definitely think this is something you should check out and see for yourself if you like it! Thank you for allowing me to read!

Fast paced thriller teens will devour in one sitting. I think they'll also enjoy diving into the historical tale of Lizzie Borden as well.