Murder on Second Street: The Jackson Ward Murders

by Rebekah L. Pierce

It's 1929 and a local Negro neighborhood called Jackson Ward in Richmond, Virginia is booming. In fact, it's called "The Black Wall Street of America" by economists of the day. Things are booming financially and socially for the Negro community, but then a series of what appears to be random murders of poor working class Negro women begins to happen and everyone is on edge, especially the Negro business owners. The Ward is a very tight community – strangers cannot move freely about in this segregated town. They hire haunted World War I veteran and alcoholic Sy Sanford to catch the cold-blooded murderer, but murder is not the only thing threatening to destroy "The Black Wall Street of America." The real Wall Street is about to come tumbling down and plunge Jackson Ward and its infamous 2nd Street into a debilitative financial and social state it may never recover from.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2010

About the author

It is not every day that an English Literature teacher finds their way to writing plays; in fact, you’d expect said teacher to venture into writing novels, which I have done. But I have been drawn to theatre like a bee to honey ever since I saw a dance rehearsal to Bill Wither’s “Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone” at the local community college in my hometown of Stockton, CA in 1989. A homeless pre-teen at the time, my heart and soul screamed “home” when I witnessed creativity birthed on the stage that day, and I have never stopped dreaming of one day seeing my plays on the stage.

Today, I refer to myself as a socially conscious playwright in that much of my work revolves around issues that impact the quality of life of women and their families. As a military veteran, once a homeless youth, entrepreneur and now teacher, I have been witness to the power of storytelling whether it is through the pages of a book or on the stage; it can bring about healing. Over the past 10 years, I have created plays that have attempted to bring forth issues such as child molestation, poverty, domestic violence and mental illness to the stage because for me, the stage is the ultimate truth box. An audience pays to be confronted, consumed and then released by it.

I am a writer – a storyteller. I am an advocate for the often dazzling, blinding reality of truth.

Reviews

[E.L. Farris · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first elegiac strains of Murder on Second Street, to the heart-pounding, tragic yet satisfying denouement, Pierce paints a gorgeous story of crime and punishment while she traces the rise and fall of a African-American Wall Street in Richmond, Virginia. With a subtle touch, Pierce weaves history into a well-told murder mystery in a wealthy African-American neighborhood. The history never overwhelms either the story or the complex characterizations, and I found myself very much identifying with the PTSD-tortured main character, Sy, who is hired by a consortium of wealthy African Americans to investigate the murders of six women.

The story never bogs down even as it educates the reader. I found myself flipping pages long into the night to get to the exciting conclusion, which I found both realistic and satisfying from the standpoint of good storytelling. I highly recommend this book both because of its exciting plot and because of its exploration of complex socio-economic issues. A strong five stars.

E.L. Farris

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to this great read it has allowed me to become an active reader again. I couldn't put the book down because I continued to wonder what would happen next.

[Bill Blume · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anytime I read a book, I'm always looking for a story that will take me someplace I don't know. With that in mind, reading a book set in Richmond, the city where I live, might seem an odd choice, but Murder on Second Street offered me a look at a side of this city which I've never seen.

Inspired by a series of murders in the Jackson Ward area during the 1920's, Murder on Second Street follows Sy Sanford's investigation into the murders. In many ways, the mystery plays second fiddle to the larger story being told by Rebekah L. Pierce. The real story is what's happening to Richmond as a whole, especially within the Jackson Ward area during the days leading up to the Great Depression. At the start of the book, we see how vibrant and alive the area is, but it's far from perfect. Discrimination plays a strong role in how the society is defined, and Rebekah doesn't flinch from showing a lot of the inequalities present. She doesn't limit that exploration to just how blacks perceive and treat whites and vice versa. Even within the Ward, there's a lot of financial inequality to be seen, which impacts Sy's investigation. He's hired by some of the wealthy businessmen and women in the Ward to find who's responsible for the recent killings of several young, black women. The concern of these business leaders is less for the safety of women in Jackson Ward and more for the potential impact to their businesses.

Sy stands out as an extremely well-developed and flawed hero who struggles with alcoholism and the post-traumatic stress from his experiences in World War I. He's also a very violent man who more than once crosses some lines he knows he shouldn't, and that can make it difficult to pull for him as a reader, but I never felt as if Rebekah wasn't being true to the type of man Sy really is. To make him nicer and less violent would have watered him down too much. Her honest approach to this flawed detective makes him a much more interesting character.

In the name of full disclosure, I'm a friend of Rebekah's and work with her as part of James River Writers. That added an interesting twist to this read for me. I went into this book knowing that a great deal of her writing background is in the theater. This shows in the way she works with a third-person omniscient voice, but it's also necessary for the story she tells. Murder on Second Street is less a mystery and much more a look at the Jackson Ward area's rise and inevitable decline at the time leading up to the Great Depression. Third-person omniscient doesn't lend itself well to a mystery, but Rebekah's decision to use that approach is very appropriate for this story about an entire neighborhood. Sy's murder investigation simply charts the course of the reader's journey. As for the murder mystery, the reader learns very early in the book who the killer is and the things that motivate him, and even that part of the book just reveals more about the people of Jackson Ward.

[Aubree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started, Murder on Second Street, Friday night, I finished it on Sunday. I didn't want to put it down. Applause, applause, applause for author, Rebekah L. Pierce! Heck, I'll even give her a standing ovation. It is set up to become a series and I cannot wait for number 2 of the Sy Sanford Mysteries.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical fiction. I've never read much historical fiction but I love mysteries. kept my interest and was written quite well.

[Adrienne Aka AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently decided to fulfill a personal interest in starting my own book club. I learned about the wonderful author and this novel from a personal recommendation of my mother-in-law who raved about its feature of Richmond,Virginia. I had never heard of historical fiction which intrigued this history lover from the very onset.
The Jackson Ward neighborhood served as a Mecca for African-American enterprise and financial success in the 1920's and the author's choice to depict this history as a background for this mustder mystery led to a riveting storyline. The first chapter quickly draws in the reader and visually takes you on a journey thru the mind of not only the killer but that of the reluctant and conflicted hero. I truly loved the humanizing way the author chose to give insight to the killer which almost made you understand his view instead of just hating him for his heinous behavior and cold yet calculating actions. For the first time, I almost read the novel backwards as I quickly went to the back to dive in to the ending quite early. I could easily visualize the scene as Sy Sanford comes face to face with the killer and that confrontation being the climatic conditions I anticipated.
I applaud the reference of historic detail like the name of the newspaper and several buildings, streets and locations from the neighborhood. It was like reading a mystery and history book in the same plot. Very entertaining and now I look forward to a visit of that historic Jackson Ward neighborhood one day soon! Love this novel...can't wait for the author to take me on her next journey!!!!!

[Kiera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first time I'd ever heard about the author Rebekah L. Pierce, and I'm glad that someone recommended this book to me. One of the things I liked about the book is that it was historical fiction, one of my favorite genres; it also takes place in a city I'm very familiar with, Richmond, VA.

Murder on Second Street: The Jackson Ward Murders is a very riveting story that takes place in the late 1920's, and spins a tale about someone killing young working class Negro women in and around the affluent African American section of Richmond, called Jackson Ward. The story pulled me in from the very beginning; the first chapter alone had me sitting on the edge of my chair. I was spellbound by the descriptions of the different characters in the book. Ms. Pierce weaves such a rich tale around them, you can almost close your eyes, and be walking right alongside them.

Even though I figured out the "whodunit" early on, the book kept me engaged enough to want to see how they figured the murders out, and more importantly, what they were going to do about it. The ending practically had me cheering; I had to cover my mouth, as it was a bit too late in the evening for me to be shouting.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good murder mystery, and a bit of history as well. I love it when I not only read a great book, but learn a bit in the process. I'm looking forward to reading Ms. Pierce's next book; she's gained a new fan here!

[Marc DiGiacomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Incredible Journey through American History!
It's not often I read a book that I can't put down. It's not often I read a book and can see "Hollywood" actors playing the roles of the main characters. This is the case with Murder on Second Street. The author takes the reader back to a time in American history when people weren't so nice, and living was hard. The central character, Sy Sanford, an African-American Captain from the U.S. Army who fought in WW1, is a drunk and works in securities. Sy is hired to find a killer by some affluent members of his community. Young African-American women are being butchered in Jackson Ward, and it is up to Sy to find the killer and bring him to justice. This book truly depicts the emotions of the times amongst African-Americans trying to survive in a country still not willing to accept them as equals. This causes a constant battle within Sy Sanford. How can someone who fought for his country still be treated as an outsider? In my opinion, this is a book that should be read to every high school student in America. It's beautifully written, and it captures the feelings of the 1920's perfectly. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a thriller that takes place during a time in America worth remembering.

[Rene Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an in depth story of historic value, during a period of time in our country when prosperity flourished, even amongst the African-American communities. It takes place in 1929, in Richmond, VA. Jackson Ward, a prominent Negro community in the City, becomes the center of this murder mystery. Negro women are being murdered and the prominent towns’ people in this small community want answers. The characters in Rebekah Pierce’s story are fully authentic and their complex interactions come to life as we get a glimpse of history in America. Its multilayered storyline is enriched with vivid descriptions and is well-written. The reader becomes totally engaged as she weaves her story. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read.

[KS Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm impressed! This was a fantastic read and very realistic in it's portrayal of the race/class/gender divide especially during a time when African Americans in Richmond, VA were at their height working so hard to be "equal" while at the same time showering the same biased on poor African Americans in their pursuit of equality. Whether this was an intentional act or not the fact is that it was real and still is. The book gives us a glimpse into the heart of what real entrepreneurialism was then with it's dark undertones to match. Being familiar with the town in question as I read the story my mind's eye took me to some of the places that still stand today and left me imagining what they looked like then. When I visit that part of the country again I'll be sure to stop by at let my imagination take me on a ride. Some of the truths mentioned in this story are cringe-worthy but the truth is the truth and this lady nailed it!

The title says it's Book one of a series! I can't wait for the next Sy Sanford story.

[Kathryn Svendsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book right from the start. It had me up until very late into the night because I had to finish it before I could put it down. First of all this is a historical novel, and it was well researched. You don’t often find works cited at the back of a novel for reference.

Murder on Second Street: The Jackson Ward Murders follows Sy Sanderson, the owner of a security firm in the Jackson Ward district. He is hired by some the community’s business people to find the murderer of Negro women that have been turning up in the community over the past couple of weeks because the Sheriff is white, and “the murder of Negro women was not horrific enough for Sheriff Mason to do anything about it.”

This novel speaks volumes about the great racial divide that still existed in the late ‘20’s and early ‘30’s. Sy Sanderson was a veteran of World War I. The novel describes some of his memories of being integrated into white society in France and the shock of returning from war as a decorated officer to racism and segregation. The difference between the way Negroes veterans were treated in other parts of the world and how they were treated in America when they returned must have been particularly painful to them. Heroes in Europe; worthless dirt in the USA.

Along with racism, Murder on Second Street also deals with spousal abuse and how it was dealt with in that era. We also watched as Sy struggled with what we would now recognize and diagnose as post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, a condition that many veterans suffer from. And it, in turn, is probably what led him to his alcoholism. As a writer, Ms. Pierce has the amazing ability to take a large number of themes and blend them together into a cohesive, comprehensive whole.

I really came to care for the two main characters Sy and Lena in this novel and really felt bad for them at the situations they were in – Lena for the abuse, both of them for being in love with one another and not being able to do anything about it. Sy’s situation nearly had me in tears toward the end of the novel. Lena was a sweet young woman and I felt bad for her that she got trapped in a loveless (at least on the part of her husband) marriage with a brutal, abusive man.

I really loved this book not only for the excellent writing, but also for the insight into what segregation was like during that time. This was not just a story, but a look into American history of the late 1920’s. Though the story itself is fiction, the culture of the place and time are real.

This book is a definite must-read. I gave it 5 stars out of 5.

Thank you very much to the author Rebekah Pierce for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.

[Patricia Ibarra · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are in 1929 in Virginia in Virginia, in the zone known as The Black Wall Street of America. This is a prosperous community of hard-working people. Most of them have had their share of hardship and are now enjoying thriving times. Unfortunately, bodies of young girls start appearing in different places. The white police underestimate them and pay little attention: most certainly some rifts among negros. The leaders of the community are very concerned, not so much for the girls but for the effects this will have on their businesses. They approach Sy Sanford to help them solve these crimes. He might not be the best choice as he is traumatized by his experiences in the war and drinks excessively, but there is no other choice. This novel shows the clear divisions and conflicts between blacks and whites, and it reminded me how hard life can be. Sometimes no matter how hard you try, it will never be enough. A mirror of life, you can be up, but nothing guarantees that you may be down again. And then Wall Street crashed.

[Tom Huskerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder on Second Street is an entertaining read that, for me, was deeply interesting because I was born and raised in Richmond. Each and every location was clearly visible in my minds eye. I was in touch with the city in every chapter. However, I feel this is the same thing that steals something from the book. Someone who is unfamiliar with the city would probably become annoyed by the repeated references to streets and sections of the city. Sy Sanford is a man battling demons both in his head and in the bottle. He is a tragic hero and in some ways pitiful. I was really into the story but my heart was broken when the guilty party was revealed way too soon. I think a few more false leads would have added some much needed excitement to the story.

[KimberlyAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down!
I have to say that I have never been a fan of historical fiction, but Rebekah Lynn Pierce has made me a convert. I loved how she weaved the historical facts of the times into the story without overwhelming me like a history text. She also shared so clearly the after-effect of being a war veteran who has actually seen combat. I was intrigued by the story and she kept me reading for 4 hours straight until I finished the book! I look forward to the next book in the series. Bravo Rebekah!

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

I read this book for my book club, Sisters Sipping Tea. I found it very well written. The plot was well developed and you could not guess who the killer was until the writer introduced him to you. Even after knowing who the killer was the book still remained interesting in how the other characters found out and then handled him. The story was historically accurate in that it told the history of Jackson Ward in Richmond and the great racial divide that was present at the time.