The Curious Case of Henry Harrington: A Short Story

by S.E. Howard

A dark and dangerous business…

Surgery in the Victorian Era was bloody and brutal. Anesthesia hadn’t been invented yet, meaning patients who went under the knife were wide awake the entire time. Speed was of the essence to minimize pain, and in 1844, young medical student Nick Bennett aspires to become “the fastest scalpel in London.” When he and his best friend, Simon Turner, are introduced to a curious fellow with unusual talents, Nick is offered the chance to make his ambitions a reality. However, all bargains come with a price, and Simon soon realizes this deal may cost Nick both his dreams as a surgeon—and his sanity.

Genres: Horror, Historical Fiction

28 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2025

About the author

S.E. Howard lives in Kentucky where she works as a registered nurse, certified in toxicology (a fitting field given her side-hustle writing horror stories). Her short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies, including PUSH! An Anthology of Childbirth Horror presented by Ruth Anna Evans, Carnival of Horror from Undertaker Books, and the Amber, Sinister, and Green Diamond Editions of The Horror Collection by KJK Publishing. Her short story “You’ve Been Saved” was also adapted for the screen in the 2022 GenreBlast film anthology Worst Laid Plans. Her horror novella, "Prairie Madness" is available from Baynam Books Press, and a novel, The Vessel from Wicked House Publishing. For more information, visit online at www.sehoward.com.

Reviews

[Nenia Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

With anesthesia being but a gleam in the medical industry's eye, Victorian doctors require speed and alcohol to get the job done on their patients in need of amputations. Nick, who is in med school, is woefully slow. He knows his teacher and his father will never accept him the way he needs unless he can increase his amputation speed.

Then he and his friend meet a man in a bar named Henry, who claims not to feel pain and to be able to regenerate limbs. He offers Nick the chance to practice on him indefinitely... for a price.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF HENRY HARRINGTON was honestly really well done. It's hard to tell a short story well, to condense a plot into under fifty pages and still add tension, suspense, and a striking ending. But Howard did it and did it well. I ended up feeling really creeped out and discomfited when I got to the end of this book. I will definitely be checking out some of her other stories.

3.5 stars

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy and disturbing, exactly how I like it! Haven't had this fun with a short tale with this theme since JP Dixon's "A Surgeon's Tale" or Clive Owen's "The Knick"!

S.E. Howard's story packs a wallop, taking an apparently familiar surgical horror theme (amputation without anesthesia) and giving it a horrific twist. In "The Curious Case of Henry Harrington," Nick and Simon are two Victorian medical students, neither with any prospects in life, since they aren't the oldest children in their respective families. After Nick gets ridiculed in class by the most famous surgeon of his era, and told off due to his slow skills in amputation, he becomes obsessed with becoming “the fastest scalpel in London”. An obsession that might have been innocuously overcome if Nick hadn't met a strange man, the titular Henry Harrington, who proves to be something of a boon for ambitious 19th Century surgeons-wannabes.

"The Curious Case of Henry Harrington" keeps the gore mild, but goes hard on the weird and the uncanny; its ending, especially, was nightmarish, and I really felt for poor Simon. I should also mention that I read the end in a far darker way than I should have, asking myself how the kind of situation described can be actually sustained materially - and my mind went immediately to the idea of cannibalism! But I guess that's just me LOL.

Do yourself a favor and pick this up immediately!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Curious Case Of Henry Harrington
by S.E. Howard
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 🩸
This novella is fantastic; an amazingly enjoyable and well written gothic horror story!
This story takes place in 1844, the Victorian Era, where surgery on people was a scary and dangerous situation. Nick, a medical student, really wants to impress his teacher, as well as his father, with his surgery skills. During this time period, there was no anesthesia, so fast surgeries were needed!
Nick had a slow amputation practice session on a cadaver, which upset and embarrassed him terribly!! So when a random man in a bar, Henry, offers Nick a chance to practice amputations on him, he couldn’t resist!!
This book has a really fun and entertaining storyline. It’s short and very fast paced!
This is my first read from S.E. Howard and I’m so excited to check out more!!

Thank you to S.E. Howard for a copy of this excellent book!
*It’s out now and I definitely recommend grabbing this one!!* 🔪❤️🪚

[Catriona Mowat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick is a surgeon in training in Victorian England. Under the shadow of great surgeons, his expectations are high, and he cannot meet them. until one day he meets the strange and unusual rag & bone man, Henry Harrington.

Now his friend Simon can only watch as Nick gives up everything for Henry. How far would you go to achieve your dreams?

Ambition, ego, and obsession fuel this short story, set against the horrific backdrop of the dawn of surgery. With good historic detail on medical matters, this story will scratch the itch of those medically trained and those who can’t tell their body parts apart. With twists, some gore, and the realisation that those around us might never notice if we disappeared, this story is as much psychological horror as it is physical. I loved it, I just wish it had been longer, it felt like I could have stayed in that world for a full novella. This is the start of something great.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading stories set in the Victorian era, especially when they also involved the medical field. This was a unique and wildly entertaining short story that I highly recommend.

Surgery in the Victorian era was done without anesthesia (UGH!), so speed was the most desirable trait of a surgeon. When a medical student named Nick is humiliated in front of his peers by his slowness during his first attempt at surgery, he is devastated. Then, a mysterious man named Henry Harrington comes on the scene and gives Nick a way to practice to improve his skills.

I devoured this story and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was well-written, with great characters and a fast pace. And, the ending was totally unexpected! Just the thing when you want a short, creepy read that will stick with you for a long, long time. I will definitely be looking for more by this author!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has all the creepy gothic feels. It takes place in 1844 before anesthesia had been invented. Surgeons had to work fast to try to keep patients conscious and reduce pain. This is the story of a surgeon named Nick as told through his friend Simon's eyes. Nick was ridiculed for being slow, so he makes it his life's mission to become "the fastest scalpel in London." They meet a man with a curious talent that may help Nick achieve his goals.

The story is not really gory, but if you love tales of gothic medical practices wrapped in a creepy atmosphere, check this story out! It definitely has Poe like vibes, and maybe even a little more of a dark and twisted Arthur Conan Doyle type of vibe, as well. The cover is stunning, as well!

[J.A. Barrios · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story!

Set in the Victorian era, a surgical student, Nick is pressured to fine tune his skills. With a teacher revered as the "fastest knife in the West End," telling Nick that he needs to speed things up, Nick becomes desperate to break the record. Fortunately, Nick meets a stranger who is offering up his body to practice his amputations. But when Nick goes missing, fellow mate, Simon, begins to question what the stranger has done to his friend... even though he should be wondering the exact opposite.

That is all I will say about the story itself for it is a wild ride! The imagery is intense with a gripping story that left me wishing for more. I also enjoyed the author's note at the end, giving the historical facts that inspired such a story.

[Camille Danciu · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Curious Case of Henry Harrington was a chilling short story of the Victorian era horror that was amputation and surgery.

Nick and Simon are used to operating on cadavers in class. After a humiliating scene in front of peers, Nick is venting and determined to beat his professors amputation times. He and Simon are overheard discussing the need for a willing participant as Henry just happens to hear. We are thrown into madness and determination as Nick sets out for his goal. Unexpected and intriguing!

Once again, I’m so impressed with Howard’s writing style and research into the period. Please, do yourself a favor and add this to your list. I loved this story so much!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting: Victorian England, the dark and dirty streets littered with unscrupulous people.
The Characters: 2 medical students and roommates, one of which gets tragically humiliated in front of the class, leading him to what to find a quicker way to amputate body parts without killing the patient.
Then along comes a stranger with a unique and odd solution which creates the perfect gothic horror story that you wish was a novel and not a short story. The story reminds me of tales I would watch on Tales of The Darkside. It is classic yet original.

[Jamie Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

🪚 ARC REVIEW 🪚

If you're in the mood for a fantastic little novelette set in the (thankfully) distant past, you could do much worse than Howard's tale about amputation, mystery & obsession.

Any novelette that I read that leaves me craving more is a success in my book. I really enjoyed the pace, characters and settings of this story and I could have seriously consumed another 100+ pages within this world (hint hint)

I feel like this little morsel reminded me of a perfect mashup of American Horror Story, Whiplash & The Prestige. Give it a shot!

[Janelle Halstead · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this story regarding how quick Nick wanted to be at amputations. Henry is definitely a unique character with a strange ability. His ability becomes even stranger than we first think as the story ends.
I thought the author’s note brings the story together for those that aren’t familiar with medical procedures in the early 1800’s.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great, little, unsettling story. Not exceptionally original as there is a manga and novel trilogy that both use this idea (I don't want to name titles as it would spoil the ending) but still a very fun read

[Leighah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this quick read. The way the author has set the scene for this story really makes you feel like you are the era. It isn't overly violent but more creepy. I read this in one sitting and will be looking for more from this author

[C Lenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so satisfyingly creepy! Using Victorian-era medical school as a grim setting for a gruesome descent into madness, this was a really gross, fun read.

[Alf Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb short story. A super quick read.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a really enjoyable quick read but I wanted just a bit more. Loved howbthe authors notes also explained some of the victorian terms.

[Karm Barter · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was so weird but in a good way.

[Aura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but nice.