THE MURDERER'S MAID, by Erika Mailman

Historical Fiction -- 2 1/2 stars


Two stories told side by side.  In one, the well-known story of Lizzie Borden; in the second, a young woman whose life has been threatened takes a job as a barista, falls for a customer, and becomes fascinated with the story of Lizzie Borden.  The barista story is an average tale with a nice twist at the end.  The Lizzie Borden story is told through the eyes of the Borden maid, Bridget.  While I didn't expect new evidence or insight into the Borden legend, I was hoping for a newly imagined scenario, an alternate theory to the well known history.  In that, I was sorely disappointed.  I realize that writers of historical fiction need to create dialogue and intimate situations to move the story along, but putting so much of the action inside Bridget's head seemed strained and awkward.