Review:Sweet Madness by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie

Title: Sweet Madness

Author:  Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie
Publisher:  Merit Press 

Publishing Date: September 15th 2015

Pages: 224
Genre: YA Historical Fiction 

Series:  Stand Alone
Source: Hardcover 

 

Seventeen-year-old Bridget Sullivan is alone in Fall River, a city that sees Irish immigrants as nothing more than a drunken drain on society. To make matters worse, she's taken employment with the city’s most peculiar and gossip-laden family—the Bordens. But Bridget can’t afford to be picky—the pay surpasses any other job Bridget could ever secure and she desperately needs the money to buy her little sister, Cara, passage to the states. It doesn’t hurt that the job location is also close to her beau, Liam. As she enters the disturbing inner workings of the Borden household, Bridget clings to these advantages.

However, what seemed like a straightforward situation soon turns into one that is untenable. Of course Bridget has heard the gossip around town about the Bordens, but what she encounters is far more unsettling. The erratic, paranoid behavior of Mr. Borden, the fearful silence of his wife, and worse still…the nightly whisperings Bridget hears that seem to come from the walls themselves.

The unexpected bright spot of the position is that Lizzie Borden is so friendly. At first, Bridget is surprised at how Lizzie seems to look out for her, how she takes a strong interest in Bridget’s life. Over time, a friendship grows between them. But when Mr. Borden’s behavior goes from paranoid to cruel, and the eerie occurrences in the house seem to be building momentum, Bridget makes the tough decision that she must leave the house—even if it means leaving behind Lizzie, her closest friend, alone with the madness. Something she swore she would not do.

But when Bridget makes a horrifying discovery in the home, all that she thought she knew about the Bordens is called into question…including if Lizzie is dangerous. And the choice she must make about Lizzie’s character could mean Bridget’s life or death.

I was really excited for the day this book showed up at my doorstep. I know the story of Lizzie Borden, I have watched Deadliest Women. I like crazy women stories, crazy people stories. I though hmmm this is gonna be pretty great. I liked the read. It was good but it wasn't great for me. I think I was expecting something different than what I received. For what the story was... told from a 3rd party that was on Lizzie's side.... .It was not creepy or scary or horrific... that is what I expected. But it was written well and it did tell the famous story from another point of view. 

Lizzie Borden had a pretty crap life. Her father was controlling. She wasn't very liked. She really didn't have any friends. It was pretty sad. She had one friend though.  A maid in the house. This maid thinks pretty great things about Lizzie. They become friends and this is the maid's story. The story of when Lizzie took an axe, the story of the madness in the Borden home. The story of Bridget, the maid who worked in the wrong house. 

So I liked the book. It was written well and it was done very well. I just had a few problems with it that kept it from being a great read.
The good was the characters. Bridge was nice and she was loyal to Lizzie... even when she felt it was the wrong move. She dealt the with crazies int he home well. She had a boy she loved  and a sister she loved to keep her working with her head held high. She had to save money to make a better life for herself and those she loved. She just happened to be working in the crazy house of town. 

Lizzie was written well. I have seen a few shows and documentaries on Lizzie and the Borden household. The characters in this book were done well and from what I know true to form. The authors did make them a little more alive and eccentric but all the same the crazy was there. 

This book was a bit different then the other stories I have see. This book made me feel more for Lizzie. Sorry for her. Maybe understand her a little bit. OF course the question still stands did Lizzie do it? The authors of course spun the story the way they wanted it spun since... well the whodonnit was never solved... Does this book spin it as Lizzie do it or was she innocent? You will have to read to find out. 

The story was interesting because it was done from a different point of view and because the authors did go in a bit of a different direction. Not completely but enough to give the story its own. It was slow paced throughout the first half of the book for me. The second half picked up and I couldn't put it down... so the ending made up for the beginning. 

I did expect more suspense more horror. This was written more like a narrative drama. So I didn't like that. It was done well just not what I was expecting or wanting for this read. 

It was still a good read and worth the read. It opens up more questions and more intrigue about the Lizzie Borden horrific story. It was good on the historical fiction too. I felt it was written to bring that part of life alive. The time period, the struggles, the gloom. It was very descriptive in words and tone. I did like that. 

If you like historical fiction and unsolved mysteries. Read this book. Its good. 

Trisha Leaver lives on Cape Cod with her husband, three children, and one rather disobedient black lab. She is a chronic daydreamer who prefers the cozy confines of her own imagination to the mundane routine of everyday life. She writes Young Adult Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Horror and Science Fiction and is published with FSG/ Macmillan, Flux/Llewellyn and Merit Press. To find out more about her, please visit her website atwww.trishaleaver.com

 Chicago is my city. Disney World is my jam. Halloween is my fave. Writing is my love.
GRACELAND AVENUE, coming 2017 from Simon & Schuster/Aladdin
JAMMED, coming 2017 from Spencer Hill Press
Out now: CREED, SWEET MADNESS. (co-authored with Trisha Leaver)