Lizzie Didn't Do It! by William L. Masterton Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $12.30 You Save: $7.65 (38%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $7.96 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Lizzie Didn't Do It!
Book Review: A well-reasoned argument
Summary: 5 Stars
As a long-time fan of the Borden case, I was at first skeptical, given the "give-away" title of this book (indicating the author believes Lizzie "didn't do it.") Until now, based on what I've read in other books on this subject over the years, I suspected Lizzie's sister Emma and/or a supposed illegitimate son of Andrew Borden (don't recall the name of the book I read years ago on the illegitimate son theory) who were "in cahoots" with Lizzie. I couldn't stop reading this book ... the author's arguments are well-reasoned and his synopsis and end-of-book suggestion of who he believes the murderer was has changed my mind on this now ... I am now not so sure my previous opinion is as solid as I thought. Well done ... any fan of this true-crime story of the Borden murders will enjoy this book.Book Review: An interesting book
Summary: 4 Stars
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.
Book Review: Brilliant reading.
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Book Review: CSI Fall River
Summary: 5 Stars
After more than a century, belatedly but invaluably!
Of the handful of truly essential books on the Borden murders this one must be included.
As any real-world detective will attest, it is always the evidence that drives the investigation and therefore determines any truly probable conclusions. Mr. Masterton has
quite simply - and quite masterfully - examined all the contemporaneous evidence afresh,
including every salient detail as it was originally documented. And makes some obvious and
inevitable observations.
For a very long time I had concluded that the fugue-state theory was a likely explanation.
Upon casual (I do not claim any hard fascination with this particular case, but rather a
periodic interest and curiosity with its numerous contradictions) reevalution of some of
the facts, my opinion shifted. This book has been the finest remedy for my confusion.
Anyone who values objectivity and true detective work needs to review Mr. Masterton's
analysis. Anyone who is at all curious about Lizzie Borden, especially anyone who has
read any of the other "classic" studies, is duty bound to give this modest, easy to read
and rather witty examination a close one of their own.
Thank you, Professor Masterton. Memory does not serve, but decades ago I was failed by
a chemistry teacher at UConn. If that was you, all is forgiven.
Book Review: Hokey, but honest
Summary: 4 Stars
At first, I was a bit put off by this book's tone and format. Masterton's writing is conversational (and more than just a little hokey in spots), and he spends his chapters in unexpected ways. But in the end, these small wrinkles fade away into the larger picture of a book well-researched, well-presented - and a very interesting read overall.One of the hardest things to get used to is Masterton's chapter topics - rather than giving much overview, he launches almost immediately into the thick of the evidence. Each chapter is like a close-up snapshot of one or two specific aspects of the Borden case. At first the book feels disconnected, with a lot of seemingly unrelated information being presented side-by-side; but ultimately it makes sense and is probably even the best approach Masterton could have taken to prove his thesis.
I would have liked to see more application of modern forensics to the crime - Masterton was a chemistry professor, surely he must know some interesting stuff! - but his Holmes-esque logic and deduction are satisfying and believable.
In the end, I'm not sure whether Masterton "solved" the crime - then again, he honestly admits that he can't, given the poor state of the evidence - but to my mind, he accomplished his aim. I don't think Lizzie did it!