My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: Hatchet Girls
Author: Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Format: eBook (NetGalley)
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 10/10/23
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Categories: Young Adult, Horror, Thriller, Paranormal, Suspense
Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
Thank you to Delacorte Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
For fans of Kara Thomas and Courtney Summers comes a supernatural horror that reminds us family can be our saving grace–or our biggest curse. Set one-hundred years after the Borden murders, this propulsive thriller imagines what a similar trial might look like today.
When the parents of the richest family in Fall River are found murdered by axe, the town is quick to blame newcomer Vik. It doesn’t help that he was caught standing over the bodies with blood on his hands and can’t remember anything about the night in question.
But Vik’s sister, Tessa, knows that Vik would never be capable of such a gruesome crime. Haunted by the mistakes she made that led her family to Fall River in the first place, she sets out to prove her brother’s innocence.
Her search for answers will lead her into a sprawling, supposedly cursed forest, as well as the childhood home of Lizzie Borden—the original axe murderess of Fall River.
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.
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