Lizzie Didn't Do It! [Paperback]

William L. Masterton (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0828320527 | ISBN-13: 978-0828320528 | Publication Date: October 9, 2011 | Edition: 1

On 4 August 1892, an elderly couple living in Fall River, Massachusetts were slaughtered with a hatchet. Their daughter, Lizzie was accused of the crime, tried and acquitted. Yet 'conventional wisdom' and Fall River society have always considered her guilty, asking the question, "If Lizzie didn't swing the hatchet, who did?" Now, after more than a century. Professor Masterton uses modern forensics and extensive research to answer that question convincingly.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William Masterton

Product Details

• Paperback: 242 pages
• Publisher: Branden Books; 1 edition (October 9, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0828320527
• ISBN-13: 978-0828320528
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,108,586 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting book, November 6, 2000

By 

Shalom J. Stavsky (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lizzie Didn't Do It! (Paperback)

I thought that this was a very interesting book. At first, I was put off by the cover, which has the title smeared in blood-covered ink. (They could've been a little more subtle.) I also thought the book could've used tighter editing. Nonetheless, the further I got into the book, the more intrigued I got. The writer brings out certain information -- regarding the note that Lizzie claimed was delivered that morning, and the possible purchase of prussic acid -- that I'd never come across before (and I've read a lot about this case). He also mentions other suspects that people haven't considered. At the very least, he makes it less likely that indeed Lizzie did it.

Central to his thesis, though, is the belief that the Bordens were actually killed at about the same time and Mr. Borden first. This goes against a hundred years of tradition. I've actually wondered myself whether the doctors may have been wrong at the time -- but it still seems to me that the likelihood is that they were killed some time apart, with Mrs. Borden having been killed first.

It's interesting that practically all the books that have come out in the past ten years about the case have pointed at people other than Lizzie. That may be a good thing. Despite the legend about the case, there were plenty of people at the time of the trial who thought Lizzie was innocent. Her notoriety may not be deserved.

Of all the books on this case, the one I've thought best-written (though not without its flaws) is Edward Radin's 1961 book Lizzie Borden: The Untold Story. Radin's theory is that the maid, Bridget Sullivan, did it. Radin points out that there have been many cases when servants killed employers, and Bridget did have opportunity. (She also may have had it in for Mrs. Borden.) Masterson doesn't buy into this theory. But I've always wondered why people have not considered Bridget more seriously as a suspect. The fact that we don't know a motive may just be a red herring that people have been staring at for a hundred years.

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant reading., May 22, 2000

By 

Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lizzie Didn't Do It! (Paperback)

Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother 40 whacks, when she found what she done, she gave her father 41 - or did she? What if Lizzie Borden wasn't the killer, then who did it? William Masterton thinks is was someone else and his books may just have the answers.

Fall River Massachusetts is the location of one of America's most brutal murders. In 1892 Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the crime, but over 100 years later people still consider her the killer. Masterton pieces together, through forensics, a highly convincing argument to the contrary of public opinion.

The books looks at the evidence gathered, breaks it down and details why Lizzie Borden could not and was not the killer. I was a skeptic of the book until I started to openly evaluate what the author was relaying throughout the entire book.

Masterton had to have worked overtime to answer the most difficult questions. His work is impeccable and his research is by far the best if have ever seen on this subject. This book Masterton has changed my thinking on the case - you might want to read this one too.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She really didn't do it!, November 2, 2002

By 

Nina (Monterey, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Lizzie Didn't Do It! (Paperback)

This was an excellent book! I have always been interested in this case and it was thorough in examining all of the evidence and testimony presented at the inquest and trial. The books leaves you with several suspects to choose from that could have committed the crime, none of them Lizzie or her immediate family members. There are plenty of newspaper clippings and excerpts from historical documents to substantiate Masterston's findings. Definitely an enjoyable read.