The Age of Fury

by John Stephens

1907. New York City. A glittering world built on lies - and one murdered girl who could expose them all.

Caitlin Quinn crosses the ocean from Ballykelly with nothing but a desperate letter from her missing twin, Mary. New York is meant to hold answers - but instead it offers a sprawling metropolis with a brutal underbelly of crooked deals, criminal empires and forces who'd kill to keep Mary's truth hidden.

Then there is William Furey - a notorious gangster haunted by a rage he can't explain. He has his own orders to find Mary, and when his search collides with Caitlin's, their unlikely alliance sparks something fierce and undeniable.

As the walls close in, Caitlin and William realise the truth will cost them far more than they ever imagined. To uncover what happened to Mary, they must risk their loyalties, their futures, and the fragile trust growing between them. Because love, like justice, exacts a price. And some sacrifices are paid in blood...

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Historical, Fiction, Historical Fiction

480 pages, Library Binding

Expected publication October 20, 2026

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John Stephens spent ten years working in television and was executive producer of Gossip Girl and a writer for Gilmore Girls and The O.C. He holds an MFA from the University of Virginia. John and his wife have a dog named Bug and live in Los Angeles. His debut book 'The Emerald Atlas' is the first in a series of books.

Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 I have never watched Gilmore Girls which John was a writer on and not read any of his other books so wasn’t sure what to expect with this book but I really enjoyed it. It was very fast paced and filled with very compelling characters. Caitlin is so fiery and determined it’s incredible, I wish I had had her tenacity at that age. There are numerous laugh out loud moments especially when she goes up against William Furey, whom she meets while looking for her sister’s killer. Their relationship is compelling from the start as they are brought together trying to find a killer. We see as they slowly integrate into 1907 New York City society, see the lies it is built on and find a secret that can bring them all down.
As mentioned earlier the book is very fast paced but I felt that it slowed a bit in the middle area and some bits felt a bit drawn out and not really needed. But I felt that the characters were so well done they were strong enough to keep me entertained and interested. You can really tell the author has done their research as you are completely immersed in both worlds of this book, high society and the immigrant communities at the lower end of the hierarchy. It was really well done I thought.
Overall a really good solid four and a half star read and if you enjoy stories of New York’s Gilded Age, criminal gangs or Irish communities, you will enjoy this. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgallery for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[William de_Rham · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Age of Fury” is a lively historical novel and murder mystery set in New York City in 1907. It stars Caitlin Quinn, a courageous, indomitable 17-year-old who crosses the Atlantic to rescue her twin sister, Mary, who left Ireland with a man she’d fallen in love with, but who is now in some sort of serious trouble.

Soon after arriving in Manhattan, Caitlin learns that Mary is dead, brutally murdered in an alley. Determined to avenge her twin, she hunts for the person(s) responsible throughout the city and a variety of classes, including its poor, its criminal element, and its wealthiest, most powerful citizenry. Along the way, she meets William Furey, right-hand henchman to one of New York’s most notorious crime bosses who is currently at war with another gang over control of the docks.

Author John Stephens has written a novel featuring compelling characters. I found Caitlin to be very enjoyable, especially since, despite whatever danger she might be in, she’s often laugh-out-loud funny, and more than a match for William Furey. Mr. Stephens also makes good use of a variety of period settings, including New York’s developing west-side docks, various Catholic institutions, and a stunningly opulent estate overlooking the Hudson.

While the book grabbed me at the very beginning, the second half’s plotting struck me as sometimes drawn out, convoluted, and even melodramatic, making the 480-page novel seem overlong by about 15-20%. However, I found the characters strong enough and entertaining enough to hold my interest. Mr. Stephens has been quite successful in creating characters readers can care about.

I was surprised to find that the promotional materials set the “reading age” at “14 years and up.” I suppose that’s because Caitlin and William are 17 and 19 respectively. Nevertheless, parents and educators of readers at the younger ages of the range may wish to know that the novel includes scenes of violence and a number of references to prostitution. There are, however, no graphic sex scenes.

All in all, I thought this a solid four-star read suitable for anyone who enjoys stories about New York during or just after “The Gilded Age,” its “robber-barons,” its Irish community, or its criminal gangs. Indeed, the novel reminded me of films like “Far and Away,” “Gangs of New York,” and even “The Road to Perdition” (even though that takes place in Depression-era Chicago).

"The Age of Fury" is scheduled to be published on October 20, 2026.

My thanks to NetGalley, author John Stephens, and publisher Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing me with a complimentary electronic ARC. All of the foregoing is my honest, independent opinion.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. Historical fiction isn't always my go-to genre, but the combination of a murder mystery, gang rivalries, and 1907 New York completely pulled me in.

Caitlin was easy to root for from the very beginning. I loved how determined she was to find out what happened to her sister, and she had just enough humor to lighten some of the darker moments. William was probably my favorite character, though. His internal struggle made him feel much more than just your typical gangster.

The setting was one of the biggest highlights for me. It was gritty, atmospheric, and really brought New York to life. I could easily picture the streets, the docks, and the different worlds these characters were navigating.

The pacing did slow down a bit in the middle, and I think the story could have been a little shorter, but I never lost interest in finding out how everything would come together. Once things started picking up again, I was fully invested.

Overall, this was an entertaining historical mystery with memorable characters, plenty of suspense, and just enough romance mixed in. I'd definitely recommend it if you enjoy historical crime fiction, murder mysteries, and character-driven stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[ReneeReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is being mis-marketed as YA in my opinion and I am having a hard time continuing reading.
In Chapter One, Caitlin is writing to her sister Mary, the year is 1907. Caitlin tells her sister in the letter ""To be honest, I don't see how it's any of your fucking business.". Did people speak like this in 1907? The use of profanity in books doesn't normally bother me, but if this is meant to be written in 1907, I would assume that different language would be used especially from a lady, especially in writing. Now, we are still in Chapter one and there is mention of men taking advantage of women. In Chapter Three, one of the characters says "I don't want some dead slut in my cab." Chapter Eight - "I'll fix that slut". I'm just not vibing with this book at all.

The use of language in this book is definitely an interesting choice and it's taking me out of the story. DNF at 15%

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caitlyn is 17 and living in her family home alone since her twin ran off with a man she was in love with to America. Caitlyn is heartbroken and misses her sister but she receives a letter saying that Mary is in trouble. Caitlyn gets to New York only to find that Mary has been murdered. She vows to find who killed her and avenge her death.

I loved the 1907 time period as well as the story. William Furey was a great character whose struggle with his identity was a challenge for him. Caitlyn's wit and humor was refreshing and brought some relief in dark places. I look forward to reading more of Stephens' works.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

[Anniee Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Dark, gritty, and packed with atmosphere. I really enjoyed the historical setting and the mystery elements throughout the story. The pacing slowed down a little in parts for me, but overall it was an engaging read with strong suspense.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this unusually difficult to get into, which is stranger still because the tone doesn't change even though it becomes more engaging relatively quickly - after the first 20% I'd say. It's a rollicking good time after that, so.

[Tiera Aubrey]

Sadly I DNFd @10% - it starts off written in epistolary form (not my fav) and is more of a historical fiction genre than I like.
I also wasn't crazy about the MC - Caitlin.
Just not for me.

🌟Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!🌟

[Anita I · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caitlyn gets word that Mary is in trouble and goes on an adventure to solve the mystery behind her death.

If you like historical pieces then this is for you.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC read.

[Sam Andriese · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was highly disappointed with this book. While the book itself was well written, for the most part, it is being promoted towards young adults (age 14+). This should NOT be a young adult novel. Within the first few chapters the characters use a great deal of cursing, discussed violent death in detail, and made several mentions of attempted SA and prostitution.

If the main characters were aged up and this book was promoted as an "Adult Thriller" I'd be giving it a very different rating. But as a novel promoted toward young adults, I did not enjoy it at all.

[Jeremy Reppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Age of Fury” did not turn out quite like I expected, and the book was better for it. Caitlin Quinn and William Furey made for great protagonists. The story has plenty of surprises, with rival gangs, a destitute duke, twin sisters, a rich over-entitled industrialist, corrupt police, etc.