The Suicides

by Sara Flower Kjeldsen

It is 1892 and a disturbing number of young adults committed suicide in Sunny Harbour, New York. Alfred, a creative writer and student at Brown University, visits the eerie harbour town for the summer. He struggles with depression and is drawn to the story of Sunny Harbour's suicides.He discovers the mysterious place where all of the suicides' bodies were tossed. As he digs for more information, he is met with hostility from the townsfolk, especially from store owner Caleb McFarlane. Sarah, a closet writer, offers to help Alfred. The quest leads Alfred to a pistol duel with Caleb, who is Sarah's husband. As Alfred stares death in the face, he is left to wonder if his project was in vain. An unlikely ally steps in to end the showdown, but Alfred's salvation comes with a great cost that he may never recover from.

127 pages, Paperback

Published August 4, 2017

Reviews

[Ken McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

compelling period piece

Sara Kjeldsen transports us back to NYC and the mysterious town of Sunny Harbour in the late 1800s with her intriguing story, the Suicides.

Alfred, who is studying at Brown University, travels to Sunny Harbour to visit his aunt but also to investigate the series of suicides that have plagued the town. He wants to set things right but also to use the tragedies as the basis for a writing project.

Things do not go as planned for Alfred, and he finds himself in trouble with the locals. The book also features the first duel I’ve ever read.

The book takes a harsh look at mental illness in the 1800s that left me shaking my head.

Kjeldsen’s writing is smooth and melodic, and the story gave me the same vibes as M. Knight Shyamalan’s The Village.

A quick read at 122 pages, the Suicides is well worth your time if you’re looking for a compelling period piece.

[Evelyn Chartres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mental illness and suicide are sensitive topics in our time. Imagine a story that involves both aspects in the late nineteenth century and think of the challenges these would pose.

This is where indie author, Sara Flower Kjeldsen, takes us in her book titled The Suicides. She introduces Albert, who is driven to shine a light upon a community’s suicides. The thing is, his interactions with townsfolk strongly hint that they are not inclined to support his cause.

This story brings up the stark realities of the day and some which will likely never change. As the story develops, so do the mysteries that bind the characters, bringing them closer together while simultaneously tearing them apart.

Ultimately, this is a quick and compelling story which may just open your eyes. The last line of the book sums things up perfectly. May I suggest you will need to read the book to find out.

[R.S. Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always had a fascination around macabre stories and was instantly drawn to the title of this Novella.
Set in the late 1800's the story covers important subjects such as mental health and suicide.

I personally loved that two of the main characters were writers. Not only is there sadness and grief within this story but there is also friendship and love. I felt my heart sink when Sarah uttered the words, "tell me a sad story" I was surprised to feel that sinking feeling for a second time with such a bitter sweet ending.

This book was really well written and I would highly recommend it.

[Tanweer Dar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this novella dealing with mental illness, prejudice and love in the mid-1800s. The characters are believable and relatable and the plot is well-constructed. Not my usual genre, but got a lot out of this little book. Definitely worth a look.

[Dean Tongue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the whole vibe of this book, from the title, the artistic cover and the content itself.
It's about a melancholic writer who investigates a bunch of mysterious suicides in an eerie harbour town. He aims to not only inspire his own writing with his findings but also to bring some semblance of peace to the dead bodies.
His adventure brings him many enemies (one particularly more so than anyone else) and also an ally in the form of Sarah. I loved the interactions between these two characters and the twists and turns all lead to an ending that is both dark and poetic at the same time, perfectly epitomising the melancholic tone of the story!
A fantastic novella which I highly recommend!

[Kristina Gallo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alfred, a young writer is coming to small-town to research cases of unexplained suicides. Soon he will face it with obstacles, at first with violent Caleb, an abusive man who knows many secrets. His wife Sarah is helping Alfred because she is involved with Jeremy, a man who tried to commit suicide. Brave and persistent Alfred will do anything to protect Sarah and find justice for dead people who are not buried.
I did not know what to expect from the book, it looked like a documentary story but then it developed in a romantic direction ( sparks between Alfred and Sarah).
It was an easy read, painted with an emotional dimension. I will read more from this author.

[emily walker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Confused

Really hard to follow. If I could even find the words to explain I would. Wasn't badly written just hard to get why it jumped around like it did