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The Deadly Stingaree
April 1891, as the dusty frontier city of San Diego recovers from a collapsing real estate bubble, residents look forward to the arrival of Benjamin Harrison, the first US president to visit their city. Little do they suspect that some of their citizens are planning an attack on the president and his train.
Fourteen-year-old Johnny Cong, an enterprising orphan of mixed parentage, lives in the Stingaree district of the city, a degenerate slum where he ekes out a living driving a donkey cart. Johnny believes in the American Dream, but when a mysterious Norwegian named John Sigerson hires him as a guide, he must navigate a dangerous path between loyalty and treason.
Equal parts spy thriller, western, coming-of-age story, and Sherlockian intrigue, The Deadly Stingaree tells the remarkable story of this young man and his notable friends—a notorious gunslinger, a former Buffalo soldier, a crusading female attorney, and the world’s greatest detective—who saved the president and the union that day.
Is it fact, fiction, or some devious combination of both?
⭐Kipling’s Kim meets Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Scandal in Bohemia at the O.K. Corral. A singular and smart Wild West mystery. — Jolie Tunnell, author of The Idyllwild Mystery Series
⭐A well-researched and richly detailed adventure set in 1891 San Diego. Highly recommended to Sherlockian readers and mystery lovers who enjoy authentic history with their mystery. — Jeri Westerson, author of the Sherlockian series An Irregular Detective Mystery
⭐The Deadly Stingaree provides a thrilling peek into a country on the precipice of the 20th century, when Old West heroes hung up their spurs to become respected businessmen, and range wars gave way to foreign intrigues, all seen through the eyes of a precocious Chinese orphan. A great read for fans of history and mysteries alike. — Martin Roy Hill, author of Codename Parsifal
⭐A Chinese orphan, a Buffalo soldier, and a mysterious Norwegian explorer unravel historical intrigues as complex and convoluted as the maze of the interconnected brothels and saloons in San Diego’s infamous Stingaree district. Studded like a pair of cowboy boots with historical details and colorful characters, The Deadly Stingaree paints a vivid picture of the California-Mexico border region in 1891. — Cornelia Feye, award winning author of the Vega & Greg Stern mystery series
Fourteen-year-old Johnny Cong, an enterprising orphan of mixed parentage, lives in the Stingaree district of the city, a degenerate slum where he ekes out a living driving a donkey cart. Johnny believes in the American Dream, but when a mysterious Norwegian named John Sigerson hires him as a guide, he must navigate a dangerous path between loyalty and treason.
Equal parts spy thriller, western, coming-of-age story, and Sherlockian intrigue, The Deadly Stingaree tells the remarkable story of this young man and his notable friends—a notorious gunslinger, a former Buffalo soldier, a crusading female attorney, and the world’s greatest detective—who saved the president and the union that day.
Is it fact, fiction, or some devious combination of both?
⭐Kipling’s Kim meets Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Scandal in Bohemia at the O.K. Corral. A singular and smart Wild West mystery. — Jolie Tunnell, author of The Idyllwild Mystery Series
⭐A well-researched and richly detailed adventure set in 1891 San Diego. Highly recommended to Sherlockian readers and mystery lovers who enjoy authentic history with their mystery. — Jeri Westerson, author of the Sherlockian series An Irregular Detective Mystery
⭐The Deadly Stingaree provides a thrilling peek into a country on the precipice of the 20th century, when Old West heroes hung up their spurs to become respected businessmen, and range wars gave way to foreign intrigues, all seen through the eyes of a precocious Chinese orphan. A great read for fans of history and mysteries alike. — Martin Roy Hill, author of Codename Parsifal
⭐A Chinese orphan, a Buffalo soldier, and a mysterious Norwegian explorer unravel historical intrigues as complex and convoluted as the maze of the interconnected brothels and saloons in San Diego’s infamous Stingaree district. Studded like a pair of cowboy boots with historical details and colorful characters, The Deadly Stingaree paints a vivid picture of the California-Mexico border region in 1891. — Cornelia Feye, award winning author of the Vega & Greg Stern mystery series
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 13, 2025
What a fun read! The pacing was great; kept me moving forward yet didn't skimp on details. The story is told in first person by Johnny Cong, a 14 year old boy of Chinese and Scottish heritage. He has to endure racism, classism and bullying on a day-to-day basis. Yet he handles it quite well. He's highly intelligent and clever yet there is a naivety that is sort of sweet.
I found the tale to have a bit of a western flair. The author's research of the period reflected how well I could picture the sights and sounds of San Diego at that time. The book is more character driven than the plot, which was more secondary in my mind. Yes, you need the plot to make the story flow and I enjoyed the mystery of it all. But I relished getting to know the eclectic characters even more. You will find several historical figures in this one, which I feel added a touch of realism. I could imagine all of this having happened. It would make for a fun mini-series.
I received a free copy of the book and this review is my own.
I found the tale to have a bit of a western flair. The author's research of the period reflected how well I could picture the sights and sounds of San Diego at that time. The book is more character driven than the plot, which was more secondary in my mind. Yes, you need the plot to make the story flow and I enjoyed the mystery of it all. But I relished getting to know the eclectic characters even more. You will find several historical figures in this one, which I feel added a touch of realism. I could imagine all of this having happened. It would make for a fun mini-series.
I received a free copy of the book and this review is my own.
November 16, 2025
One of Fayman's best - and they are all good! From his Rolly Waters series, to his essays and short stories this author takes his time to research, and give us a wonderful, cinematic view that flows with each of his stories. In The Deadly Stingaree, it's the wild west meets Sherlock Holmes, and the protagonist (not Holmes) is an incredibly likeable and relatable young man caught between his need to survive and his desire to find his way through to a better life. Historical locations, and figures from that era as well. All blended into an excellent piece of storytelling that is at once entertaining as well as enlightening. I do hope you'll read this one and the many other offerings by this author!
November 9, 2025
Set in my beloved San Diego, albeit in 1891, this enthralling tale is told by 14 year old Jonny Cong, Chinese American bastard, orphan, scholar, and entrepreneur who, while being observant, unwittingly gets caught up in plots involving land grabs, spys, murder, and sabotage. The language is a treat as is the depiction of life in the Stingaree. Throw in a Norwegian explorer, Wyatt Earp, the mysterious Colonel, and Clara Foltz and you're in for a treat. Plus the author’s notes.
December 11, 2025
Young orphan writes a diary recalling a sequence of an unusual investigation - 5 stars
An intellectually ambitious orphan assists a visitor in 1891 San Diego slum to see and understand the underside of a growing city. Jonathan Cong was the son of a Scottish father and Chinese mother. Jonathan excelled after studying at a Catholic Chinese American school. He was fluent in both Chinese and English, cold do sums and differences and read and spoke as well as a highly educated American. Because racial prejudice was common, Jonathan used pidgin English to provide deference to his "betters". He owned a burro and wagon and was happy to earn a penny for honest work.
Having a business of picking up laundry and transporting goods, Jonathan's small size allowed him to be unnoticed and invisible to most people. From the crime-ridden slum primarily inhabited by Chinese immigrants to the expensive homes, Jonathan observed San Diego's comings and goings. A stranger who claimed to be a travelling Norwegian introduced himself (as John Sigerson) to Jonathan as the story begins. Each chapter could be read as each day's adventure added depth to the seemingly normal life of an enterprising young man.
Sigerson hired Jonathan to take him around the area, asking questions about many unrelated topics. Jonathan's trips take us through the redlight districts, opium dens, bars, hotels, parks and even a rail line that connected to Mexico. A trip to the waterfront let learn about a secret storage area under the customs house. It appeared that there was an undercurrent of criminal activity in addition to prostitution and vice. Sigerson seemed to be on a mission but because he kept his own council and talked mostly to Jonathan, Sigerson's truthfulness seemed open to question.
Jonathan was subjected to a protection racket by a local tough guy. He was exposed to troubles that would normally be commonly delt with by policemen. Jonathan tagged along with Sigerson and offered his knowledge of people. The two were often in the right place at the right time. Jonathan saw someone murdered right below his loft in a stable. He and Sigerson talked about what they had seen; Sigerson suggested that looking for clues before coming to a conclusion.
Tracking down a stollen printing press, a bank failure, and a theft of gunpowder eventually leads to a suspicion that there is some kind of nefarious activity in the works. After the mystery was resolved, there was yet another conundrum: was there a story based on a young man's observation or was it an unrelated historical figure whose imagination created a complete fiction rather than a clever historical novel?
An intellectually ambitious orphan assists a visitor in 1891 San Diego slum to see and understand the underside of a growing city. Jonathan Cong was the son of a Scottish father and Chinese mother. Jonathan excelled after studying at a Catholic Chinese American school. He was fluent in both Chinese and English, cold do sums and differences and read and spoke as well as a highly educated American. Because racial prejudice was common, Jonathan used pidgin English to provide deference to his "betters". He owned a burro and wagon and was happy to earn a penny for honest work.
Having a business of picking up laundry and transporting goods, Jonathan's small size allowed him to be unnoticed and invisible to most people. From the crime-ridden slum primarily inhabited by Chinese immigrants to the expensive homes, Jonathan observed San Diego's comings and goings. A stranger who claimed to be a travelling Norwegian introduced himself (as John Sigerson) to Jonathan as the story begins. Each chapter could be read as each day's adventure added depth to the seemingly normal life of an enterprising young man.
Sigerson hired Jonathan to take him around the area, asking questions about many unrelated topics. Jonathan's trips take us through the redlight districts, opium dens, bars, hotels, parks and even a rail line that connected to Mexico. A trip to the waterfront let learn about a secret storage area under the customs house. It appeared that there was an undercurrent of criminal activity in addition to prostitution and vice. Sigerson seemed to be on a mission but because he kept his own council and talked mostly to Jonathan, Sigerson's truthfulness seemed open to question.
Jonathan was subjected to a protection racket by a local tough guy. He was exposed to troubles that would normally be commonly delt with by policemen. Jonathan tagged along with Sigerson and offered his knowledge of people. The two were often in the right place at the right time. Jonathan saw someone murdered right below his loft in a stable. He and Sigerson talked about what they had seen; Sigerson suggested that looking for clues before coming to a conclusion.
Tracking down a stollen printing press, a bank failure, and a theft of gunpowder eventually leads to a suspicion that there is some kind of nefarious activity in the works. After the mystery was resolved, there was yet another conundrum: was there a story based on a young man's observation or was it an unrelated historical figure whose imagination created a complete fiction rather than a clever historical novel?
November 22, 2025
3.75 stars
“The Deadly Stingaree” by Cory Lynn Fayman follows the adventures of a young Chinese boy who is striving to survive in the seedy underside of late nineteenth-century San Diego. The enterprising orphan manages to connect with several notable figures of his time and impresses them so much that he ends up at the center of what threatens to be a significant upheaval in the rapidly growing city.
This historical fiction mystery with a touch of fantasy provides a vivid picture of a time and area when lots of change was taking place, and society was in flux. It took me a little while to become involved in the story, since it seemed to focus on the seedy underside of the city, but as the various secondary characters were introduced, I became more interested in seeing what was going to happen with this plucky boy who continued to combine cunning and industriousness but maintained his own brand of integrity. There are a number of fascinating historical figures who are spotlighted in this story that depicts a series of events that lead up to a potential disaster, and allusions to a great fictional detective, but also death and heartache and inspiration. An entertaining and imaginative blend of fact and fiction.
A copy of this title was provided for review
“The Deadly Stingaree” by Cory Lynn Fayman follows the adventures of a young Chinese boy who is striving to survive in the seedy underside of late nineteenth-century San Diego. The enterprising orphan manages to connect with several notable figures of his time and impresses them so much that he ends up at the center of what threatens to be a significant upheaval in the rapidly growing city.
This historical fiction mystery with a touch of fantasy provides a vivid picture of a time and area when lots of change was taking place, and society was in flux. It took me a little while to become involved in the story, since it seemed to focus on the seedy underside of the city, but as the various secondary characters were introduced, I became more interested in seeing what was going to happen with this plucky boy who continued to combine cunning and industriousness but maintained his own brand of integrity. There are a number of fascinating historical figures who are spotlighted in this story that depicts a series of events that lead up to a potential disaster, and allusions to a great fictional detective, but also death and heartache and inspiration. An entertaining and imaginative blend of fact and fiction.
A copy of this title was provided for review
December 19, 2025
The Deadly Stingaree is an excellent historical mystery written by Corey Lynn Fayman. The very clever premise is that it is a memoir written by Jonathan Cong in 1891 that has been recently discovered. Is it true? Is it not true? The reader must decide. The book is almost entirely in Cong’s words. Cong was a very smart Chinese-American boy living in San Diego who discovered an illegal shipment of arms. This event actually happened. Fayman did a wonderful job researching and fills the novel with details of the event and time, as well as historical characters who lived in San Diego then. Characters like President Harrison, Wyatt Earp, Kate Sessions, Clara Shortridge , and Ah Quin. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s John Sigerson also plays a major part and helps solve the case. The novel has wonderful characters. It nicely evokes what it was like to be Chinese in the U.S., while at the same time laying out a darn good mystery. Highly recommended.
December 22, 2025
What is delightful tale
This isn’t the type of story I generally read, but I thought I’d give it a try. I am so glad I did!
This is a great tale with great characters and a fantastic plot, from beginning to end. As Cong was instructed to do, I will give nothing away. Find out for yourself! You’ll enjoy it.
This isn’t the type of story I generally read, but I thought I’d give it a try. I am so glad I did!
This is a great tale with great characters and a fantastic plot, from beginning to end. As Cong was instructed to do, I will give nothing away. Find out for yourself! You’ll enjoy it.
May 21, 2026
This clever historical novel is filled with a fascinating cast of characters—some fictional, others inspired by real people who lived in the past. Especially captivating is fourteen-year-old protagonist Master Jonathan Cong. It is an action-packed story brimming with mystery, political intrigue, and a vivid portrayal of San Diego’s steamier side in 1891. I highly recommend it!
January 22, 2026
A very delightful read. I loved the creative mix of fictional characters with historical characters. The story was also a creative blend of historical facts with fictional events. Well worth your time if you are interested in history, Sherlock Holmes, and Wyatt Earp.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews