HATCHET GIRLS

A new start for one family collides with the violent and repeating history of another.

Moving to Fall River, Massachusetts, was supposed to offer a fresh start for Tessa Gomez’s family after her father’s death. Her brother, Vik, has settled in more quickly than she has; he’s head over heels for new girlfriend Mariella Morse, who is white and the daughter of the town’s wealthiest, most well-connected businessman. She’s also a descendant of the infamous Lizzie Borden. When Tessa, whose family is Puerto Rican, wakes to news that Vik, found covered in blood, was arrested for the axe-murder of Mariella’s parents, she knows in her heart that there is more to the story. Though unraveling the truth about the threads of violence that run through Fall River will be dangerous, neither human nor supernatural forces are prepared for the determination of a sister who believes in her brother’s innocence. This creative spin on the tale of Lizzie Borden asks readers to consider issues of race, power, and control through the abusive and dysfunctional relationships surrounding Mariella’s family, some of which more effectively masquerade as healthy than others. Told from both Tessa’s and Mariella’s third-person viewpoints and packed with action, the book’s layered, emotionally well-rounded characters add depth to the horror elements.

A fresh, fantastic twist on a crime with an enduring legacy.