“The Murder of Mattie Hackett” by Peter M. Pettingill has been released worldwide. This historic novel tells the nominally fictionalized story of seventeen-year-old Mattie Hackett’s murder in a small New England town at the turn of the 20^th century, as well as the investigation and trial of her accused killer, Elsie Raymond. Diligently researched and vividly detailed, the book delves deeply into the people involved, the political and social factors that drove the case, and the mysteries that still surround young Mattie’s murder over a hundred years later.

The true crime tale takes place in Readfield, Maine, a quiet town that, in the early 1900s, was a well-educated, tightly knit farming community of progressive thinkers. When Mattie Hackett is murdered, however, the Puritanical history of their community shows itself as they collectively shun the accused. The town suspects Elsie Raymond, but cannot muster the evidence for an indictment. More than six years later, a headstrong candidate for county attorney promises to bring Mattie’s killer to justice if he’s elected, and soon the case is reopened with Elsie in the court’s crosshairs.

The book follows the entire series of events from 1905 to 1912, from Mattie’s murder through Elsie’s trial, and takes great care to examine the personalities, setting, and time period that all contribute to the unfolding real-life drama. Pettingill shows how political motivation can drive (and pollute) investigations and trials, the social stigma that accompanies accusation, and the universal human behaviors that remain unchanged in the present day.

Through meticulous ancestry research, pouring over historical documents, and interviewing people of the Readfield community with ties to the events of the book, the author creates vivid, dynamic representations of the individuals involved, drawing readers into not only the details of the case, but the humanity surrounding it as well.

An excellent read for true crime fans, history buffs, and anyone interested in an engaging true story, this fascinating story paints a beautiful, chilling portrait of a bygone era and a crime that remains shrouded in mystery.

The Murder of Mattie Hackett (ISBN: 9781961532359) can be purchased through retailers worldwide, including Barnes and Noble and Amazon. The paperback retails for $21.95, and the ebook retails for $9.99. Review copies and interviews are available upon request.

From the back cover:

On Thursday evening, August 17, 1905, the idyllic New England town of Readfield, Maine was shaken by the murder of seventeen-year-old Mattie Hackett, a beloved student of the Maine Wesleyan Seminary & Female College at Kents Hill.

Within a few days of the murder law enforcement suspects Mrs. Elsie Raymond but is unable to secure and indictment. Six years after the murder, an ambitious county attorney candidate promises that if elected he will bring the perpetrator of the murder to justice. Elected to office the case is re-opened, re-investigated, subsequently resulting in the indictment and trial of Elsie Raymond.

In this nominally fictionalized tale, the author brings the reader through the fated evening, the ensuing days, weeks, months, and years through the trial of Elsie Raymond. Using in depth research, the author uses the facts and characters to take the reader to 1905 – 1912 Kennebec County, Maine to witness the events and experience the personal moments of those involved.

About the author:

Peter M. Pettingill is an amateur genealogist and historian living in New Hampshire. Growing up, Pete’s father, John, and aunt, Janet Pettingill Ward, gave him a love of genealogy and history.

Pete grew up in Nassau County, New York, served three years in the United States Army Military Police Corps, completed a BA in English at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and spent his career in the commercial insurance claims business from 1985 – 2022 when he began to research and write full time.

An Ancestry.com power user, Pete uses Ancestry and multiple other resources to understand the individuals he researches often traveling to New England towns to visit sites, meet with historical society members, rummage through old books and records, or interview relatives of his characters.