Reviews

See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt

jpustka's review against another edition

4.0

I loved this creepy, atmospheric book from page one. The story about the circumstances surrounding the death of Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother was told in such a compelling way that I didn't want to stop reading. Schmidt is a master of descriptive writing. Highly recommend for lovers of literary fiction.

vberry109's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Very vivid descriptions of vile things

karijohnson's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

emhope95's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

trin's review against another edition

1.0

Pretentious and muddled prose mixed with an outdated and outlandish take on the crime.

Spoiler

There was an unseen, unknown intruder there to murder Mr. and Mrs. Borden, but before he could, Lizzie BEAT HIM TO IT.

This is especially annoying as it's a fascinating case, about which an excellent, psychologically penetrating novel could absolutely be written. This is very much not it.

Some better Borden books: [b:The Borden Tragedy|18727239|Borden Tragedy A Memoir of the Infamous Double Murder at Fall River, Mass., 1892|Rick Geary|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1410790220s/18727239.jpg|143235] by [a:Rick Geary|8998|Rick Geary|http://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1357614722p2/8998.jpg] (Lizzie did it), [b:The Borden Murders|20649206|The Borden Murders Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century|Sarah Miller|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431808569s/20649206.jpg|39943270] by [a:Sarah Miller|17490|Sarah Miller|http://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1490563286p2/17490.jpg] (Lizzie didn't do it), and [b:Popular Crime|9507382|Popular Crime Reflections on the Celebration of Violence|Bill James|http://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442586464s/9507382.jpg|14393063] by [a:Bill James|12126|Bill James|http://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245180445p2/12126.jpg] (Lizzie didn't do it).

knittingchaos's review against another edition

3.0

This book became a slough.

jrmarr's review against another edition

3.0

I tried hard to enjoy this book, but none of the characters were very enjoyable to read, the central character of Lizzie Borden was wholly unlikeable (deliberately I’m sure) and while it was well written, I just wasn’t enthralled. Not sure why I’m giving it three stars and not two, but maybe the writing was good enough to get it over the line.

emmaspaperbacks's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

elladensnella's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

sjbanno's review against another edition

5.0

A very interesting read. Oh to really know the truth.
Lizzie Borden was certainly unhinged! And I really feel for her sister Emma.
It was hard to put this book down. Even knowing that I'll never be able to know the real truth, Sarah Schmidt had me hooked on the mystery hoping she'd reveal the truth. The griping way she wrote the characters and main players. There is no doubt in my mind that a very mentally unstable, manipulative Lizzie Borden killed her father and step mother.