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Sarah Kennecott and Jack Harden Mystery #1
Into the Suffering City
Baltimore, 1909. The city is jumping with danger and excitement. New thrills are everywhere: cars, cocaine, ragtime music, moving pictures. Old troubles also thrive, including murder, corruption, and the painful divisions of gender, class, and race.
Dr. Sarah Kennecott is on the autism spectrum—a trait that is unidentified and unappreciated at the time. Her passion is justice for murder victims, and after getting fired for looking too closely into the killing of a showgirl, she refuses to back down from the investigation. Sarah forms an unlikely bond with Jack Harden, a tormented, down-on-his-luck private detective. Jack pushes the case into Baltimore’s seedy underworld, a vitally corrupt realm of saloons, brothels, and burlesque theaters.
When Sarah and Jack pull the pieces together, they discover a stunning pair of secrets, each of which is worth killing to keep.
"Into the Suffering City" is a fast-paced, emotionally immersive story that combines originality and historical detail to explore the lives of people living in Baltimore during the early 1900s.
Dr. Sarah Kennecott is on the autism spectrum—a trait that is unidentified and unappreciated at the time. Her passion is justice for murder victims, and after getting fired for looking too closely into the killing of a showgirl, she refuses to back down from the investigation. Sarah forms an unlikely bond with Jack Harden, a tormented, down-on-his-luck private detective. Jack pushes the case into Baltimore’s seedy underworld, a vitally corrupt realm of saloons, brothels, and burlesque theaters.
When Sarah and Jack pull the pieces together, they discover a stunning pair of secrets, each of which is worth killing to keep.
"Into the Suffering City" is a fast-paced, emotionally immersive story that combines originality and historical detail to explore the lives of people living in Baltimore during the early 1900s.
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2020
318 people are currently reading
5170 people want to read
About the author
Bill LeFurgy
14 books165 followersBill LeFurgy is a professional historian and archivist who has studied the seamy underbelly of urban life, including drugs, crime, and prostitution, as well as more workaday matters such as streets, buildings, wires, and wharves. He has put his many years of research experience into writing gritty historical fiction about Baltimore, where he lived for over a decade. It remains his favorite city.
Bill has graduate degrees from the University of Maryland and has worked at the Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore City Archives, National Archives and Records Administration, and the Library of Congress. He has learned much from his children and grandchildren, including grace, patience, emotional connection, and the need to appreciate different perspectives from those on the autism spectrum and with other personality traits that are undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or unexplained.
Bill has graduate degrees from the University of Maryland and has worked at the Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore City Archives, National Archives and Records Administration, and the Library of Congress. He has learned much from his children and grandchildren, including grace, patience, emotional connection, and the need to appreciate different perspectives from those on the autism spectrum and with other personality traits that are undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or unexplained.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
April 28, 2020
Baltimore at the turn of the 20th Century is the backdrop for this historical thriller from the pen of Bill LeFlurgy. When showgirl, Lizzie Sullivan, is murdered the medical examiner, coroner and police commissioner have all concluded the cause of death to be a gunshot wound perpetrated by politician, Harold Shaw, who is in line to become mayor. However, Dr. Sarah Kennecot, a Pinkerton employee, who is sent to attend the post-mortem examination disagrees. Enter Jack Harden, a local Private Detective who is hired to find out the truth behind Sullivan’s murder.
These two characters, Dr. Sarah Kennecot and Jack Harden couldn’t be more different, yet they are thrown together as they search for answers in the murder of Lizzie Sullivan. Kennecot is autistic at a time when autism isn’t defined or understood. Harden suffers PTSD, which is also misunderstood. These two make quite the pair as they search for truth. The character of Dr. Sarah Kennecot leads readers through the early days of forensic science with a fascinating look at such things as the beginnings of the use of fingerprints. Jack Harden’s character takes readers through the seedier areas of the city with all it’s sensory emanations. Both are outcasts of society who bond in the search for justice.
Baltimore itself is a quasi character in this novel. LeFlurgy’s past work as an archivist at the Baltimore Historical Society and the Baltimore Archives is evident in his depiction of Baltimore and the historical events contained within this work. One can almost feel the energy of the city as it is vividly described. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction will appreciate the author’s dedication to detail in this book. A wonderfully written thriller that will keep you turning pages late into the night!
These two characters, Dr. Sarah Kennecot and Jack Harden couldn’t be more different, yet they are thrown together as they search for answers in the murder of Lizzie Sullivan. Kennecot is autistic at a time when autism isn’t defined or understood. Harden suffers PTSD, which is also misunderstood. These two make quite the pair as they search for truth. The character of Dr. Sarah Kennecot leads readers through the early days of forensic science with a fascinating look at such things as the beginnings of the use of fingerprints. Jack Harden’s character takes readers through the seedier areas of the city with all it’s sensory emanations. Both are outcasts of society who bond in the search for justice.
Baltimore itself is a quasi character in this novel. LeFlurgy’s past work as an archivist at the Baltimore Historical Society and the Baltimore Archives is evident in his depiction of Baltimore and the historical events contained within this work. One can almost feel the energy of the city as it is vividly described. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction will appreciate the author’s dedication to detail in this book. A wonderfully written thriller that will keep you turning pages late into the night!
May 7, 2020
3.5 stars
I read this book via an ARC from the author, for Rosie Amber's Review Team. The fact that it was free has not affected this honest review.
A most professionally presented book, which centres around the murder of a showgirl. Dr Sarah Kennecott is a doctor who happens to be on the autism spectrum, though of course this was not recognised in those days. She becomes fascinated with the case and can't let it rest, despite much family and political opposition; she also has to contend with the attitude of the time towards professional, educated women. Through her passionate interest in Lizzie Sullivan's murder, she becomes involved with Jack Harden, a down-on-his-luck private detective. This association is not looked upon kindly.
The author clearly has a great love for his subject, and I appreciated the pictures drawn of the development of this new city, with its excitement and opportunity, but also its dark side: corruption, narcotics, prejudices. It is most intelligently written (the author is a professional historian and archivist), and a most commendable debut.
The only problem for me with this book was that it lacked that spark that might have made it a real page-turner. I felt a lack of suspense, and didn't become involved with the characters; they felt distant, and never became more than names on a page for me. This could be just personal taste, though, as I often struggle with third person characters written in the omniscient narrator style. I am sure that if the author works on his actual storytelling he could produce something marvellous in the future; the rest of it, I could not fault.
I read this book via an ARC from the author, for Rosie Amber's Review Team. The fact that it was free has not affected this honest review.
A most professionally presented book, which centres around the murder of a showgirl. Dr Sarah Kennecott is a doctor who happens to be on the autism spectrum, though of course this was not recognised in those days. She becomes fascinated with the case and can't let it rest, despite much family and political opposition; she also has to contend with the attitude of the time towards professional, educated women. Through her passionate interest in Lizzie Sullivan's murder, she becomes involved with Jack Harden, a down-on-his-luck private detective. This association is not looked upon kindly.
The author clearly has a great love for his subject, and I appreciated the pictures drawn of the development of this new city, with its excitement and opportunity, but also its dark side: corruption, narcotics, prejudices. It is most intelligently written (the author is a professional historian and archivist), and a most commendable debut.
The only problem for me with this book was that it lacked that spark that might have made it a real page-turner. I felt a lack of suspense, and didn't become involved with the characters; they felt distant, and never became more than names on a page for me. This could be just personal taste, though, as I often struggle with third person characters written in the omniscient narrator style. I am sure that if the author works on his actual storytelling he could produce something marvellous in the future; the rest of it, I could not fault.
September 3, 2021
I enjoyed this book immensely!
It's a risk to take a neurodiverse protagonist, pair her with a protagonist with sometimes debilitating PTSD, in 1909 Baltimore, and not come across as heavy-handed or, at worst, offensive for having drawn the characters incorrectly, as caricatures, or as one-note. LeFurgy has succeeded beyond my expectations. Sarah and Jack are fully complex people whose quirks (as they are seen by most of the neurotypical people who surround them) are just part of who they are. By masterfully using show-don't-tell, we come to understand the challenges they face without that overshadowing the main story.
Which is also great.
This is not a book about mental health issues hung on the thin frame of a weak plot to give it a reason to be. No! The mystery is stellar, stuffed with red herrings, are-they-or-aren't-they-shady characters, a few twists, and a satisfying resolution. I didn't guess the ending, and I now realize that I didn't even try. I was enjoying the ride too much.
Furthermore, the city is evoked in rich detail. You might think that the description of the path taken by a character from one location to another would be unnecessary and boring, but here, scenes like this draw us in so that we feel as if we are really there in Baltimore c. 1909.
It's a risk to take a neurodiverse protagonist, pair her with a protagonist with sometimes debilitating PTSD, in 1909 Baltimore, and not come across as heavy-handed or, at worst, offensive for having drawn the characters incorrectly, as caricatures, or as one-note. LeFurgy has succeeded beyond my expectations. Sarah and Jack are fully complex people whose quirks (as they are seen by most of the neurotypical people who surround them) are just part of who they are. By masterfully using show-don't-tell, we come to understand the challenges they face without that overshadowing the main story.
Which is also great.
This is not a book about mental health issues hung on the thin frame of a weak plot to give it a reason to be. No! The mystery is stellar, stuffed with red herrings, are-they-or-aren't-they-shady characters, a few twists, and a satisfying resolution. I didn't guess the ending, and I now realize that I didn't even try. I was enjoying the ride too much.
Furthermore, the city is evoked in rich detail. You might think that the description of the path taken by a character from one location to another would be unnecessary and boring, but here, scenes like this draw us in so that we feel as if we are really there in Baltimore c. 1909.
March 5, 2022
Wow. This book kept me flipping virtual pages. I could not put it down for long. The mystery that makes up the main plot of the book is deep and twisting. Just when you think the answer is there, a new clue pops up. You are kept guessing from page one through the end.
It should be no surprise given the author being a Baltimore historian, but his portrayal of the city makes it a living character. From the gritty description of early 1900's inner harbor to the precise mapping of streets and divisions of neighborhoods, Baltimore lives and breaths. You feel a pulse from the city as the characters traverse it, interact with team and fictional businesses, and dips into the criminal corruption that has dogged the Baltimore police department for decades.
Finally, Mr. LeFurgy sensitivity presents characters with mental disorders unknown at the time, but that did exist. As a modern psychology student, I am aware of the autism spectrum and diagnostic criteria indicating it. Likewise, I have studied PTSD in great depth, including its history even as far back as antiquity. The portrayal of these disorders within the characters was so well done that I was able to identify them immediately. I am impressed with how the accuracy of the disorders and their misunderstanding during the time period was combined with just as accurate depictions of people who work hard to succeed against the odds.
I do not hesitate in the least to recommend this book. It has not supplanted my favorite, Le Mort d'Arthur, but it comes pretty close. Really looking forward to the next in the series.
It should be no surprise given the author being a Baltimore historian, but his portrayal of the city makes it a living character. From the gritty description of early 1900's inner harbor to the precise mapping of streets and divisions of neighborhoods, Baltimore lives and breaths. You feel a pulse from the city as the characters traverse it, interact with team and fictional businesses, and dips into the criminal corruption that has dogged the Baltimore police department for decades.
Finally, Mr. LeFurgy sensitivity presents characters with mental disorders unknown at the time, but that did exist. As a modern psychology student, I am aware of the autism spectrum and diagnostic criteria indicating it. Likewise, I have studied PTSD in great depth, including its history even as far back as antiquity. The portrayal of these disorders within the characters was so well done that I was able to identify them immediately. I am impressed with how the accuracy of the disorders and their misunderstanding during the time period was combined with just as accurate depictions of people who work hard to succeed against the odds.
I do not hesitate in the least to recommend this book. It has not supplanted my favorite, Le Mort d'Arthur, but it comes pretty close. Really looking forward to the next in the series.
June 5, 2020
Dr. Sarah Kennecott is a wealthy, single young woman trying to be accepted in the male dominated field of medical pathology. Her passion is justice for murder victims, but she is hindered by her extreme tics and social awkwardness. When she meets Jack Harden, a down on his luck private detective, they form an uneasy bond and work together to solve a murder mystery.
The story is set in 1909 Baltimore, a time of new temptations and old troubles. Divisions of gender, class and race are common place. I love reading about the early 20th. century, when automobile's were coming into use, moving pictures were in the fledgling state, ragtime music was popular and corruption was rampant.
Bill LeFurgy has written a thoroughly engaging story and I am delighted that a sequel is in the works.
The story is set in 1909 Baltimore, a time of new temptations and old troubles. Divisions of gender, class and race are common place. I love reading about the early 20th. century, when automobile's were coming into use, moving pictures were in the fledgling state, ragtime music was popular and corruption was rampant.
Bill LeFurgy has written a thoroughly engaging story and I am delighted that a sequel is in the works.
April 20, 2024
At first I wondered if I could read this story. I couldn't quite understand Jack's 'street' language and I struggled with the first few chapters. However I stuck with it and began to enjoy the plot.
It was obvious from the beginning that Jack was suffering from PTSD and Sarah was on the Autistic spectrum. I found these aspects of the main protoganists very appealing. I even began to get very fond of Jack and Sarah.
Finding the murderer in the time of the early twentieth century became fraught with danger and I was with the characters all the way. I also appreciated the notes at the end of the book when the author explained PTSD and autism.
I can recommend Into the Suffering City for those who enjoy reading historical crime stories.
It was obvious from the beginning that Jack was suffering from PTSD and Sarah was on the Autistic spectrum. I found these aspects of the main protoganists very appealing. I even began to get very fond of Jack and Sarah.
Finding the murderer in the time of the early twentieth century became fraught with danger and I was with the characters all the way. I also appreciated the notes at the end of the book when the author explained PTSD and autism.
I can recommend Into the Suffering City for those who enjoy reading historical crime stories.
April 15, 2020
This marvelous, multi-faceted murder mystery is replete with original, authentic, quirky, funny, vile, murderous, colorful characters making their way in the world as best they can. Each enduring their own special brand of suffering – Asperger’s, PTSD, misplaced love, unrequited love, deviant love, greed, rejection, rage, pride, prejudice, betrayal, injustice, and mental instability. Even fear of elevators. Yes, you read that correctly.
LeFurgy trashes conventional stereotypes with gusto. Don’t look for sweet, soft, weak women characters in this book. Dr. Sarah Kennecott is an educated, resilient, determined woman with uncontrollable twitches who abhors metaphors and interprets all conversation literally, which proves quite humorous at times. She has to remind herself, “Do make eye contact…Do control the tics. Do not offend the men. Stay out of trouble.” And you needn’t look for strong, confident, heroic men either. You won’t find that kind of cardboard character in these pages. Jack Harden is a down on his luck private detective suffering sudden blackouts only to wake and discover he has committed a violent or an impetuous act that he can’t remember. Sarah is seen as an odd duck and Jack is seen as an alcoholic. Both are mislabeled and misunderstood, but not mismatched. They are a refreshing and original pair of sleuths.
In addition to Sarah’s compulsion to touch things, LeFurgy seamlessly weaves the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of early 20th Century Baltimore into the story saturating your senses. The authenticity of this story, in large part, lies in the author’s expertise in historical events, people, medical practices, new inventions and innovations (such as fingerprint analysis) plus the vernacular of the day. You don’t hear the expression, “Flapdoodle” much these days. Sprinkled throughout are references such as the 1909 World Series between the Detroit Tigers with Ty Cobb and Pittsburgh with Honus Wagner (known as Krauthead), the looks of John Barrymore, the Bud Dajo massacre and the theories of a guy named Sigmund Freud. Some allusions had me making notes to learn more about these stories within a story.*
There is a constant yin and yang between: upper class and lower class; educated and uneducated; kindness and cruelty; reality and perception; victims and victimizers; cops and criminals; old world and new world that keeps this story taut and tense from beginning to end. Consequently, LeFurgy spins a fascinating, multi-dimensional tale that will entice and entertain you.
Write down the name Bill LeFurgy because after reading, “Into the Suffering City: A Novel of Baltimore” you are going to want to follow this author. LeFurgy has it all: historical knowledge, sense of humor, original plot, three dimensional characters, and, most importantly outstanding storytelling skills. I don’t know if he’s planning another book but if he is I want to be first in line to read it.
*For example: The stories of murderesses Belle Gunnar, Jane Toppen
My review originally appeared in Reedsy Discovery:
https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/int...
LeFurgy trashes conventional stereotypes with gusto. Don’t look for sweet, soft, weak women characters in this book. Dr. Sarah Kennecott is an educated, resilient, determined woman with uncontrollable twitches who abhors metaphors and interprets all conversation literally, which proves quite humorous at times. She has to remind herself, “Do make eye contact…Do control the tics. Do not offend the men. Stay out of trouble.” And you needn’t look for strong, confident, heroic men either. You won’t find that kind of cardboard character in these pages. Jack Harden is a down on his luck private detective suffering sudden blackouts only to wake and discover he has committed a violent or an impetuous act that he can’t remember. Sarah is seen as an odd duck and Jack is seen as an alcoholic. Both are mislabeled and misunderstood, but not mismatched. They are a refreshing and original pair of sleuths.
In addition to Sarah’s compulsion to touch things, LeFurgy seamlessly weaves the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes of early 20th Century Baltimore into the story saturating your senses. The authenticity of this story, in large part, lies in the author’s expertise in historical events, people, medical practices, new inventions and innovations (such as fingerprint analysis) plus the vernacular of the day. You don’t hear the expression, “Flapdoodle” much these days. Sprinkled throughout are references such as the 1909 World Series between the Detroit Tigers with Ty Cobb and Pittsburgh with Honus Wagner (known as Krauthead), the looks of John Barrymore, the Bud Dajo massacre and the theories of a guy named Sigmund Freud. Some allusions had me making notes to learn more about these stories within a story.*
There is a constant yin and yang between: upper class and lower class; educated and uneducated; kindness and cruelty; reality and perception; victims and victimizers; cops and criminals; old world and new world that keeps this story taut and tense from beginning to end. Consequently, LeFurgy spins a fascinating, multi-dimensional tale that will entice and entertain you.
Write down the name Bill LeFurgy because after reading, “Into the Suffering City: A Novel of Baltimore” you are going to want to follow this author. LeFurgy has it all: historical knowledge, sense of humor, original plot, three dimensional characters, and, most importantly outstanding storytelling skills. I don’t know if he’s planning another book but if he is I want to be first in line to read it.
*For example: The stories of murderesses Belle Gunnar, Jane Toppen
My review originally appeared in Reedsy Discovery:
https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/int...
April 15, 2020
Into the Suffering City by Bill Lefurgy is a historical fiction detective story set in 1909 Baltimore.
*See synopsis ab0ve*
The author sets the scene with in-depth descriptions of Baltimore. His love of this historic city shines through in his well-researched writing.
The dual perspectives of Jack Harden and Dr. Sarah Kennecott tell the story. Jack is a down-on-luck private detective with PTSD. Sarah is a doctor trying to find respect in a man's world, as well as dealing with the idiosyncrasies of autism. It was intriguing to see how autism was perceived in the early days.
The first chapters of the book moved a little slow, as characters, plotlines, and story arcs developed. After that, the characters and the mystery grabbed me and carried me through to the end.
I enjoyed a peek into the early science of fingerprinting and evidence collection. It's rewarding to see how far we have come in respect for females in the workplace, even if we have much further to go.
The story has all the usual characters from this period: hustlers, mobsters, crooked politicians, and police officers on the take. Given the plot, these characters fit right in.
Readers who love historical fiction and mystery will enjoy Into the Suffering City.
*See synopsis ab0ve*
The author sets the scene with in-depth descriptions of Baltimore. His love of this historic city shines through in his well-researched writing.
The dual perspectives of Jack Harden and Dr. Sarah Kennecott tell the story. Jack is a down-on-luck private detective with PTSD. Sarah is a doctor trying to find respect in a man's world, as well as dealing with the idiosyncrasies of autism. It was intriguing to see how autism was perceived in the early days.
The first chapters of the book moved a little slow, as characters, plotlines, and story arcs developed. After that, the characters and the mystery grabbed me and carried me through to the end.
I enjoyed a peek into the early science of fingerprinting and evidence collection. It's rewarding to see how far we have come in respect for females in the workplace, even if we have much further to go.
The story has all the usual characters from this period: hustlers, mobsters, crooked politicians, and police officers on the take. Given the plot, these characters fit right in.
Readers who love historical fiction and mystery will enjoy Into the Suffering City.
February 26, 2020
Reviewers Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Author Bio: Bill LeFurgy is a professional historian and archivist who has studied the seamy underbelly of urban life, including drugs, crime, and prostitution, as well as more workaday matters such as streets, buildings, wires, and wharves. He has put his many years of research experience into writing gritty historical fiction about Baltimore, where he lived for over a decade. It remains his favorite city. Bill has graduate degrees from the University of Maryland and has worked at the Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore City Archives, National Archives and Records Administration, and the Library of Congress. He has learned much from his children and grandchildren, including grace, patience, emotional connection, and the need to appreciate different perspectives from those on the autism spectrum and with other personality traits that are undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or unexplained.
Plot in Brief (no spoilers) When prostitute Lizzie Sullivan is found shot to death, Horace Shaw, a wealthy Baltimore businessman with political aspirations, is charged with the crime. Dr. Sarah Kennicott, who is present at the autopsy disagrees with the pathologist's findings. Private detective Jack Harden is hired to help prove Shaw's innocence. Sarah and Jack team up to find the true killer.
The Characters: The pages of this book are brimming with colorful characters that inhabit the teaming streets of turn-of-the-century Baltimore. Sweet prostitutes, crooked Irish policemen, piano-playing African Americans, rotten politicians with a few high society swells jostle for attention. The city itself is also a character. The author clearly loves this city and is intimately acquainted with its history.
The main characters are Jack and Sarah. Jack is a down on his luck detective with a host of personal demons. I struggled to like Jack, I'm not sure why, but there was something about him that put me off. Sarah is the most interesting and original character in the book, she is both a doctor, unusual at the time, and she is on the autistic spectrum. LeFurgy does an excellent job of making her a believable character who garners the reader's sympathy early on. As she struggles to make a life for herself in a man's world and gain acceptance for her neurodiversity, I cheered her along.
The Writing: The writing is good and the book is well edited. The pace was slow in parts, I felt it dragged in parts, especially when the author is describing the city. The story is told from two points of view, that of Sarah and Jack.
Overall: I liked the book, but not as much as I wanted to. I thought some of the characters were formulaic and more like caricatures than real people. I enjoyed the murder mystery/crime investigation portion of the book, the whodunit was well done. I especially liked the emerging crime science of fingerprinting and fiber analysis as well as the budding field of psychology. I love a good historical setting and the city of Baltimore sounds like it was quite the place in early 20th century America. I appreciate the fact that the author chose to set his story in the squalid underbelly of the town, and did not hold back on the stark reality that was the life of the poor.
I admit that there were times when I was not sure if I was reading a travel book or a crime story. The street by street, building by building descriptions dragged the story-line to a halt and I was impatient to get back to the crime solving. I confess to skipping a few pages.
Recommendation: I think this book will appeal to lovers of crime fiction set in the past. Anyone with an interest in early crime scene investigation will also enjoy this story. I also think that the sympathetic portrayal of a character on the spectrum as a successful independent woman should appeal to lots of readers.
Author Bio: Bill LeFurgy is a professional historian and archivist who has studied the seamy underbelly of urban life, including drugs, crime, and prostitution, as well as more workaday matters such as streets, buildings, wires, and wharves. He has put his many years of research experience into writing gritty historical fiction about Baltimore, where he lived for over a decade. It remains his favorite city. Bill has graduate degrees from the University of Maryland and has worked at the Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore City Archives, National Archives and Records Administration, and the Library of Congress. He has learned much from his children and grandchildren, including grace, patience, emotional connection, and the need to appreciate different perspectives from those on the autism spectrum and with other personality traits that are undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or unexplained.
Plot in Brief (no spoilers) When prostitute Lizzie Sullivan is found shot to death, Horace Shaw, a wealthy Baltimore businessman with political aspirations, is charged with the crime. Dr. Sarah Kennicott, who is present at the autopsy disagrees with the pathologist's findings. Private detective Jack Harden is hired to help prove Shaw's innocence. Sarah and Jack team up to find the true killer.
The Characters: The pages of this book are brimming with colorful characters that inhabit the teaming streets of turn-of-the-century Baltimore. Sweet prostitutes, crooked Irish policemen, piano-playing African Americans, rotten politicians with a few high society swells jostle for attention. The city itself is also a character. The author clearly loves this city and is intimately acquainted with its history.
The main characters are Jack and Sarah. Jack is a down on his luck detective with a host of personal demons. I struggled to like Jack, I'm not sure why, but there was something about him that put me off. Sarah is the most interesting and original character in the book, she is both a doctor, unusual at the time, and she is on the autistic spectrum. LeFurgy does an excellent job of making her a believable character who garners the reader's sympathy early on. As she struggles to make a life for herself in a man's world and gain acceptance for her neurodiversity, I cheered her along.
The Writing: The writing is good and the book is well edited. The pace was slow in parts, I felt it dragged in parts, especially when the author is describing the city. The story is told from two points of view, that of Sarah and Jack.
Overall: I liked the book, but not as much as I wanted to. I thought some of the characters were formulaic and more like caricatures than real people. I enjoyed the murder mystery/crime investigation portion of the book, the whodunit was well done. I especially liked the emerging crime science of fingerprinting and fiber analysis as well as the budding field of psychology. I love a good historical setting and the city of Baltimore sounds like it was quite the place in early 20th century America. I appreciate the fact that the author chose to set his story in the squalid underbelly of the town, and did not hold back on the stark reality that was the life of the poor.
I admit that there were times when I was not sure if I was reading a travel book or a crime story. The street by street, building by building descriptions dragged the story-line to a halt and I was impatient to get back to the crime solving. I confess to skipping a few pages.
Recommendation: I think this book will appeal to lovers of crime fiction set in the past. Anyone with an interest in early crime scene investigation will also enjoy this story. I also think that the sympathetic portrayal of a character on the spectrum as a successful independent woman should appeal to lots of readers.
March 25, 2022
Into the Suffering City (Sarah Kennecott and Jack Harden Mystery #1)
By Bill LeFurgy
Murder in the Haunted Chamber (Sarah Kennecott and Jack Harden Mystery #2)
By Bill LeFurgy
Its hard to find a more mismatched pair of detectives looking for justice for murders in churning mix of old and new, filth and gilt, good and evil that was 1906 Baltimore. Look no further than Sarah Kennecott and Jack Harden.
Sarah possessed prodigious medical talent and intellect at a time when society only accepted women as dutiful wives and mothers, certainly not as doctors, pathologists no less! Such daunting societal strictures prevented many women from seeking fulfillment outside their strictly defined roles. Sarah, from a high society background, suffers from significant autism, a misunderstood and unacknowledged condition at that time. For her to navigate the elite rituals and games to find a well-placed husband would be disastrous, even if she wanted one. She has trouble connecting on an emotional level, she can’t look people in the eye, she flinches away from a touch, she has noticeable tics, and has difficulty modulating her speech volume. Nevertheless, she battled her way through medical school where even dismissive staff and cruel students were forced to admit she surpassed them, especially in pathology. Her autism, while a big handicap in most of her daily interactions, included the ability to focus longer than anyone around her on a problem and to remember details others forgot.
She pairs up with Jack Harden, a jaded and savvy detective, well versed in the lowest areas and echelons of a city that ground up the naïve, weak, slow, immigrant, bumpkins, and just plain unlucky, then spit them into the vile muddy slum streets. Jack knows his way around the bars, honky-tonks, strip joints, and brothels. He knows every game being played. He knows how to jiggle the pinball to get what he needs, usually without triggering a TILT. He knows which cops are on the take and which ones just have to smack someone around every shift to feel alive. He is dark and dirty and he gets things done. He’s a good detective.
So how in the world is he broke and on the run from a loan shark? He likes to gamble, but a street level private dick really shouldn’t bet large on longshots with borrowed money. He also suffers severe PTSD caused by participation in a massacre while serving with the army in the Philippines. The horror disturbs him so much he refuses to continue the slaughter. The army dumps him.
He never knows what will trigger the hallucinations of screaming people begging for mercy and being slaughtered all around him. One woman with a baby particularly torments him. The delusions are as vivid and solid as anything else around him. One minute, he might be walking through a glitzy hotel lobby only to find himself attacking a potted palm. He tries to stop the visions with alcohol and whatever drug is available. Nothing works. By the time we meet him, he is on a very shaky wagon.
How the hell do these two manage to solve murders? Very well, as it turns out.
I loved these characters and the way they coped with their disabilities. In fact, through their struggles they developed capacities and perspectives not apparent to most other people. Their problems are so different, but at the same time, they understand each other better than anyone else could.
I can’t wait for Book Three.
By Bill LeFurgy
Murder in the Haunted Chamber (Sarah Kennecott and Jack Harden Mystery #2)
By Bill LeFurgy
Its hard to find a more mismatched pair of detectives looking for justice for murders in churning mix of old and new, filth and gilt, good and evil that was 1906 Baltimore. Look no further than Sarah Kennecott and Jack Harden.
Sarah possessed prodigious medical talent and intellect at a time when society only accepted women as dutiful wives and mothers, certainly not as doctors, pathologists no less! Such daunting societal strictures prevented many women from seeking fulfillment outside their strictly defined roles. Sarah, from a high society background, suffers from significant autism, a misunderstood and unacknowledged condition at that time. For her to navigate the elite rituals and games to find a well-placed husband would be disastrous, even if she wanted one. She has trouble connecting on an emotional level, she can’t look people in the eye, she flinches away from a touch, she has noticeable tics, and has difficulty modulating her speech volume. Nevertheless, she battled her way through medical school where even dismissive staff and cruel students were forced to admit she surpassed them, especially in pathology. Her autism, while a big handicap in most of her daily interactions, included the ability to focus longer than anyone around her on a problem and to remember details others forgot.
She pairs up with Jack Harden, a jaded and savvy detective, well versed in the lowest areas and echelons of a city that ground up the naïve, weak, slow, immigrant, bumpkins, and just plain unlucky, then spit them into the vile muddy slum streets. Jack knows his way around the bars, honky-tonks, strip joints, and brothels. He knows every game being played. He knows how to jiggle the pinball to get what he needs, usually without triggering a TILT. He knows which cops are on the take and which ones just have to smack someone around every shift to feel alive. He is dark and dirty and he gets things done. He’s a good detective.
So how in the world is he broke and on the run from a loan shark? He likes to gamble, but a street level private dick really shouldn’t bet large on longshots with borrowed money. He also suffers severe PTSD caused by participation in a massacre while serving with the army in the Philippines. The horror disturbs him so much he refuses to continue the slaughter. The army dumps him.
He never knows what will trigger the hallucinations of screaming people begging for mercy and being slaughtered all around him. One woman with a baby particularly torments him. The delusions are as vivid and solid as anything else around him. One minute, he might be walking through a glitzy hotel lobby only to find himself attacking a potted palm. He tries to stop the visions with alcohol and whatever drug is available. Nothing works. By the time we meet him, he is on a very shaky wagon.
How the hell do these two manage to solve murders? Very well, as it turns out.
I loved these characters and the way they coped with their disabilities. In fact, through their struggles they developed capacities and perspectives not apparent to most other people. Their problems are so different, but at the same time, they understand each other better than anyone else could.
I can’t wait for Book Three.
April 26, 2020
A showgirl turns up murdered, and the police think they have the case all wrapped up. But, when Sarah, a woman educated in pathology and medicine, helps with the autopsy, she is not convinced. With the case involved politically, the police and the coroner believe they have their man. For true justice to be served, Sarah must investigate the case alone. Along the way, she meets Jack Harden, a private detective, and together the two uncover dark secrets and unfinished business.
It is 1909, and the world caters to a patriarchal society. The author incorporated this into the book with accuracy and ease. It is best demonstrated through Sarah. She is on the spectrum for autism but is a lady of high society. Many shun her for her odd quirks and odd habits. Her educated status worsens how she is treated, as not many ladies were educated in 1909. Her workplace is dominated by men who often disregard her opinion because of her gender. Challenging this inequality, Sarah is unfazed and puts herself out there, molding herself into a modern woman.
The second protagonist of the story is Jack. He is a man trying to make ends meet while being haunted by ghosts from his past. Both characters are very relatable, and the story is more enjoyable because of them. The two click and have an amusing contrast. Jack is more streetwise of the two and is socially skilled. Sarah is the opposite but is very intelligent and knowledgeable in her field of study. Together the two make an unusual and yet very capable team.
The book vividly brings the past to life with its descriptive scenes and well-researched details. Everyday items we are unfamiliar with and also ideas that we would balk at in present times. Such as the racism, displayed by characters reflecting old attitudes, integrated into the book that is accurate with past prejudices. The idea that if you're associating with people descended from slaves, then your reputation will be in tatters. While this is an idea that we would never entertain, it does set the book up well and gives us an understanding of the context of the book.
The mystery aspect of the book is well thought out and is not easily solved and keeps the reader guessing. I liked this because I couldn't guess the ending. The plot is not cliche, and the subplots kept the mystery alive throughout the story. The use of Sarah's autism is original and makes the book more interesting.
The last pages round the story up nicely, and leave the book open to a sequel. Altogether, the book is a very good read, and I recommend it if you love mysteries. I can see this turning into a great series of books if the author wishes to continue with the characters.
It is 1909, and the world caters to a patriarchal society. The author incorporated this into the book with accuracy and ease. It is best demonstrated through Sarah. She is on the spectrum for autism but is a lady of high society. Many shun her for her odd quirks and odd habits. Her educated status worsens how she is treated, as not many ladies were educated in 1909. Her workplace is dominated by men who often disregard her opinion because of her gender. Challenging this inequality, Sarah is unfazed and puts herself out there, molding herself into a modern woman.
The second protagonist of the story is Jack. He is a man trying to make ends meet while being haunted by ghosts from his past. Both characters are very relatable, and the story is more enjoyable because of them. The two click and have an amusing contrast. Jack is more streetwise of the two and is socially skilled. Sarah is the opposite but is very intelligent and knowledgeable in her field of study. Together the two make an unusual and yet very capable team.
The book vividly brings the past to life with its descriptive scenes and well-researched details. Everyday items we are unfamiliar with and also ideas that we would balk at in present times. Such as the racism, displayed by characters reflecting old attitudes, integrated into the book that is accurate with past prejudices. The idea that if you're associating with people descended from slaves, then your reputation will be in tatters. While this is an idea that we would never entertain, it does set the book up well and gives us an understanding of the context of the book.
The mystery aspect of the book is well thought out and is not easily solved and keeps the reader guessing. I liked this because I couldn't guess the ending. The plot is not cliche, and the subplots kept the mystery alive throughout the story. The use of Sarah's autism is original and makes the book more interesting.
The last pages round the story up nicely, and leave the book open to a sequel. Altogether, the book is a very good read, and I recommend it if you love mysteries. I can see this turning into a great series of books if the author wishes to continue with the characters.
May 1, 2020
I never dreamed when I started reading this historical fiction novel that I would love it as much as I did. Not only does it have an incredibly complex and captivating plot, but the characters and themes are unforgettable. It is set in the early 1900’s in Baltimore, when interracial romantic relationships are unlawful, reputations can make or break you, and women are still expected to accept that future happiness depends on finding a suitable husband and having children. Enter into his scene one feisty, educated and outspoken young female pathologist, Sarah, who is hell-bent on getting to the bottom of who really murdered a beautiful, kindly prostitute. When Sarah combines her medical expertise with the street smart know-how of Jack, a private detective, their investigations lead to the truth, but not without endangering their own lives and more lives being lost. This captivating plot had me turning pages so fast I could not put the book down even when I had a load of other things on my plate that had to be done!
But while the plot kept me riveted, it was the brilliant depiction of Sarah that kept me smiling and enthralled. Supported by research notes at the end of the novel, the author suggests Sarah’s unusual behaviour and brilliance is born of her being on the autism spectrum. She is intelligent, but physically clumsy, cannot understand double-talk and is impatient with idle social chatter. She also avoids physical touching and eye contact. In the notes, the author points out that autism was most likely mistaken for schizophrenia or mental instability back in those days. And indeed, some of the evil doers in the story are keen to get Sarah committed to a mental institution. Le Furgy’s characterization of Sarah is unforgettable and beautifully done.
I could go on for paragraphs about other things I loved about this book, like the author’s recreation of the settings, shopping, bars, customs etc in Pittsburgh in that era, but I really would like you to discover that all for yourself. Don’t think twice about buying this book. Purchase it and let Le Furgy help you visualize The times, places, people and plot playing out on the big screen. ENJOY! Nothing less than five stars. I Would give it 10 if that were possible!
Viga Boland, author and book reviewer,
Http://www.vigaboland.com
But while the plot kept me riveted, it was the brilliant depiction of Sarah that kept me smiling and enthralled. Supported by research notes at the end of the novel, the author suggests Sarah’s unusual behaviour and brilliance is born of her being on the autism spectrum. She is intelligent, but physically clumsy, cannot understand double-talk and is impatient with idle social chatter. She also avoids physical touching and eye contact. In the notes, the author points out that autism was most likely mistaken for schizophrenia or mental instability back in those days. And indeed, some of the evil doers in the story are keen to get Sarah committed to a mental institution. Le Furgy’s characterization of Sarah is unforgettable and beautifully done.
I could go on for paragraphs about other things I loved about this book, like the author’s recreation of the settings, shopping, bars, customs etc in Pittsburgh in that era, but I really would like you to discover that all for yourself. Don’t think twice about buying this book. Purchase it and let Le Furgy help you visualize The times, places, people and plot playing out on the big screen. ENJOY! Nothing less than five stars. I Would give it 10 if that were possible!
Viga Boland, author and book reviewer,
Http://www.vigaboland.com
April 5, 2020
Baltimore’s misfit-heros lead a tour of turn of the 20th century Baltimore, in Bill LeFurgy’s first historical crime novel, Into The Suffering City.
In 1909, a beloved show girl named Lizzie is found dead in her boarding house. Sarah Kennecott, a medical doctor working for a private detective agency, investigates. The mayoral candidate, accused of Lizzie’s murder, hires Jack Harder, whose specialty is “fixing problems” (12), to clear his name. Sarah and Jack join forces to get to the bottom of Lizzie’s murder mystery.
Although they seem like opposites, Sarah and Jack are similar as outsiders. Outspoken, distant, and singularly focused on justice, Sarah shows signs of autism. Jack’s military experience causes him debilitating flashbacks, as well as shaking, now associated with PTSD. Jack says, “I get my hands dirty to earn my dough. So you’re a do-gooder idealist with your head in the clouds. Let’s consider the possibility that our interests overlap” (68). Jack’s gut instinct coupled with Sarah’s brains show the strength of people pushed to the margins of society. Society’s treatment of the pair contrasts their acceptance of each other.
Getting along in the world is presented as a dramatic and valiant struggle, against a backdrop of familiar political shenanigans. The three Baltimore mayoral candidates in the book are: the businessman accused of killing Lizzie, a wealthy social activist, and a proponent of white supremacy based on Biblical teachings. While politics between these three is ugly, Baltimore itself shines in living color. Jack’s walks all over town expose jaunty jive talk, jazz music and entertainingly seedy characters. The heat ramps up as the last several chapters get shorter. Bursts of action culminate the novel with violence met with bravery and wit.
With Sarah’s scientific inquiry and Jack’s outlaw charm, Into the Suffering City celebrates the accomplishments of a dynamic duo in the context of Baltimore’s grit and its glamour.
In 1909, a beloved show girl named Lizzie is found dead in her boarding house. Sarah Kennecott, a medical doctor working for a private detective agency, investigates. The mayoral candidate, accused of Lizzie’s murder, hires Jack Harder, whose specialty is “fixing problems” (12), to clear his name. Sarah and Jack join forces to get to the bottom of Lizzie’s murder mystery.
Although they seem like opposites, Sarah and Jack are similar as outsiders. Outspoken, distant, and singularly focused on justice, Sarah shows signs of autism. Jack’s military experience causes him debilitating flashbacks, as well as shaking, now associated with PTSD. Jack says, “I get my hands dirty to earn my dough. So you’re a do-gooder idealist with your head in the clouds. Let’s consider the possibility that our interests overlap” (68). Jack’s gut instinct coupled with Sarah’s brains show the strength of people pushed to the margins of society. Society’s treatment of the pair contrasts their acceptance of each other.
Getting along in the world is presented as a dramatic and valiant struggle, against a backdrop of familiar political shenanigans. The three Baltimore mayoral candidates in the book are: the businessman accused of killing Lizzie, a wealthy social activist, and a proponent of white supremacy based on Biblical teachings. While politics between these three is ugly, Baltimore itself shines in living color. Jack’s walks all over town expose jaunty jive talk, jazz music and entertainingly seedy characters. The heat ramps up as the last several chapters get shorter. Bursts of action culminate the novel with violence met with bravery and wit.
With Sarah’s scientific inquiry and Jack’s outlaw charm, Into the Suffering City celebrates the accomplishments of a dynamic duo in the context of Baltimore’s grit and its glamour.
April 25, 2020
Into the Suffering City: A Novel of Baltimore by Bill LeFurgy is a mystery thriller about the corruption, politics, racism, sexism, and murder in Baltimore in the early 1900s. The story follows medical examiner Sarah Kennecott, who is brilliant yet extremely socially awkward, and private detective Jack Harden who is charming yet in severe gambling debt and suffers from PTSD. While these two characters couldn’t be more unalike—Jack solves crimes to make fast cash and Sarah, unhinged by past family trauma will stop at nothing for the truth—they bond over one common goal: to solve the murder of a dead showgirl, Lizzie Sullivan.
The author is completely committed to creating the setting of the early industrial 20th century; he describes the city and characters using vivid imagery, uniquely fitting metaphors, language, dialogue, and slang relative to the time period. He acutely embodies the old-fashioned mindset of being dismissive towards anyone who wasn’t a white male during that time period; for example although Sarah may be the most level-headed and uncorrupt character in the novel, because she is a woman, she has been referred to as twitchy, neurotic, difficult, crazy, hysterical, and fragile by most of the male characters.
The plot is expertly woven; at one point in the novel there are at least seven possible suspects with motive for murder and the author does an excellent job in intertwining perspectives and timelines as the story unfolds. The reader accompanies the protagonists as they put themselves at risk to collect evidence (still a modern idea at that time), question witnesses, stage acts, socialites, authorities, and dangerous politicians all in pursuit of the truth and at their own individual peril.
This was a compelling investigative story with imaginative and memorable characters that keep the reader guessing until the end. There were a lot of twists and turns and action in this thrilling historical-fiction whodunnit.
The author is completely committed to creating the setting of the early industrial 20th century; he describes the city and characters using vivid imagery, uniquely fitting metaphors, language, dialogue, and slang relative to the time period. He acutely embodies the old-fashioned mindset of being dismissive towards anyone who wasn’t a white male during that time period; for example although Sarah may be the most level-headed and uncorrupt character in the novel, because she is a woman, she has been referred to as twitchy, neurotic, difficult, crazy, hysterical, and fragile by most of the male characters.
The plot is expertly woven; at one point in the novel there are at least seven possible suspects with motive for murder and the author does an excellent job in intertwining perspectives and timelines as the story unfolds. The reader accompanies the protagonists as they put themselves at risk to collect evidence (still a modern idea at that time), question witnesses, stage acts, socialites, authorities, and dangerous politicians all in pursuit of the truth and at their own individual peril.
This was a compelling investigative story with imaginative and memorable characters that keep the reader guessing until the end. There were a lot of twists and turns and action in this thrilling historical-fiction whodunnit.
August 1, 2022
When a rush to charge someone of murder is politically motivated...
Lizzie Sullivan was a young dancer and "soiled dove" when she was murdered. Dr. Sarah Men Scott is asked to observe the autopsy. When the coroner performs a less than thorough autopsy, Sarah, who sees the world in black and white, challenges the coroner. Because she is a woman and "different", she is ridiculed and ignored.
Nick Harden is a down on his luck PI, who gets hauled in to the Pinkerton Agency by the police. There he meets Shaw, who is running for mayor and a prime suspect in Lizzie's murder. He also encounters Sarah.
It is 1909 and Baltimore politics are corrupt; the police are violent thugs on the take; and the city's poor, colored, and immigrant population are more often than not ignored and crimes against them are rarely investigated. When Sarah is dismissed from her job at the Pinkerton Agency and Nick is told that his services as a PI are no longer needed, they decide to team up to solve the murder.
LeFurgy does several things in this first book in a series:
1. He creates for his reader sensory imagery of Baltimore in the first decade of the Twentieth Century that makes the city as it was in 1909, real in the reader's mind.
2. He creates two main characters faced with societal prejudices against people who are different. Readers today quickly come to understand that Sarah is on the autism spectrum and that Nick has PTSD. In addition to Sarah's neurological differences, she is a female pathologist.
3. He sets his story firmly in the historical, cultural, and societal scenery that impacts the motives and actions of each character.
4. And lastly, unless you're a really good detective yourself, you probably won't figure out who really murdered Lizzie until the end.
Lizzie Sullivan was a young dancer and "soiled dove" when she was murdered. Dr. Sarah Men Scott is asked to observe the autopsy. When the coroner performs a less than thorough autopsy, Sarah, who sees the world in black and white, challenges the coroner. Because she is a woman and "different", she is ridiculed and ignored.
Nick Harden is a down on his luck PI, who gets hauled in to the Pinkerton Agency by the police. There he meets Shaw, who is running for mayor and a prime suspect in Lizzie's murder. He also encounters Sarah.
It is 1909 and Baltimore politics are corrupt; the police are violent thugs on the take; and the city's poor, colored, and immigrant population are more often than not ignored and crimes against them are rarely investigated. When Sarah is dismissed from her job at the Pinkerton Agency and Nick is told that his services as a PI are no longer needed, they decide to team up to solve the murder.
LeFurgy does several things in this first book in a series:
1. He creates for his reader sensory imagery of Baltimore in the first decade of the Twentieth Century that makes the city as it was in 1909, real in the reader's mind.
2. He creates two main characters faced with societal prejudices against people who are different. Readers today quickly come to understand that Sarah is on the autism spectrum and that Nick has PTSD. In addition to Sarah's neurological differences, she is a female pathologist.
3. He sets his story firmly in the historical, cultural, and societal scenery that impacts the motives and actions of each character.
4. And lastly, unless you're a really good detective yourself, you probably won't figure out who really murdered Lizzie until the end.
December 11, 2021
INTO THE SUFFERING CITY is historical fiction. As with all other books of historical fiction I have read, I wondered throughout the book what was true and what was fiction. Although Bill LeFurgy, the author, does provide some author notes at the end of the book, I still wondered, especially about the men who wanted to run for mayor of Baltimore. Were these the actual people?
But that certainly is not a criticism of the book. It only goes to show that it was interesting enough to make me want to know more.
Sarah is a high-functioning autistic doctor and Jack is a down-on-his-luck private investigator. When both have an interest in the same case, they join forces.
Sarah wants to find justice for a dead showgirl, and Jack is being paid to prove that someone is not the murderer. That someone is one of three people who intend to run for mayor of Baltimore.
Their investigation reveals that the good old days really weren’t so great. They deal with many of the big problems of the day, e.g., racism and sexism, with some of the misunderstandings still prevalent in the early 20th century, e.g., what we now know as autism and PTSD, and even with some of the aggravations then, e.g., horse manure in the streets and all the undergarments women had to wear.
As a matter of fact, I was most impressed with LeFurgy's historical details. They are far greater than those of most other authors’ historical fiction.
Before the end of the story, Sarah and Jack truly admire each other. Will more come of these feelings? And will they continue as detectives together?
We can assume the answer to that second question. LeFurgy has continued with another book in their series.
But that certainly is not a criticism of the book. It only goes to show that it was interesting enough to make me want to know more.
Sarah is a high-functioning autistic doctor and Jack is a down-on-his-luck private investigator. When both have an interest in the same case, they join forces.
Sarah wants to find justice for a dead showgirl, and Jack is being paid to prove that someone is not the murderer. That someone is one of three people who intend to run for mayor of Baltimore.
Their investigation reveals that the good old days really weren’t so great. They deal with many of the big problems of the day, e.g., racism and sexism, with some of the misunderstandings still prevalent in the early 20th century, e.g., what we now know as autism and PTSD, and even with some of the aggravations then, e.g., horse manure in the streets and all the undergarments women had to wear.
As a matter of fact, I was most impressed with LeFurgy's historical details. They are far greater than those of most other authors’ historical fiction.
Before the end of the story, Sarah and Jack truly admire each other. Will more come of these feelings? And will they continue as detectives together?
We can assume the answer to that second question. LeFurgy has continued with another book in their series.
April 28, 2020
Into the Suffering City is author Bill LeFurgy’s first historical mystery thriller. Set in Baltimore at the turn of the 20th century, the novel follows a pair of misfits as they work together to solve the murder of a local showgirl. Dr. Sarah Kennecott is on the Autism spectrum and has a passion for pathology and justice, an unusual combination for her male dominated field and even more so for a woman of the upper class. After being dismissed from her job for looking too deeply into the murder of a showgirl named Lizzie, Sarah decides to take the investigation into her own hands. Jack Harden is a down-on-his luck private detective who suffers from PTSD and together with Sarah, the unlikely pair form a bond to investigate the dark secrets behind Lizzie’s murder. LeFurgy’s vivid imagery and description helps transport readers to the bustling seaport city of Baltimore and its seedy underworld. With Sarah’s book smarts and Jack’s street smarts, one of my favorite parts was watching both characters play off each other’s strengths as well as Jack’s patience and acceptance of Sarah’s social awkwardness. Another interesting point is the handling of autism and mental illness, both conditions that were not well known and had little in terms of treatment during the early 1900s. This whodunit is filled with everything from corruption to political scandals to racial injustice as mystery fans become entangled in the glamour and grit of Baltimore.
June 6, 2023
Unusual Team up—Exploring Baltimore’s Underground City.
Sarah Kennecott is a one-of-a-kind character with an awkward habit of pissing off powerful men and falling in and out of trouble. However, beneath all that heart, she also has a soft spot for seeking justice for murder victims. She is also as intelligent as she is sweet—she is a doctor.
Then, Sara meets a private detective with all the skills required to survive the streets—his name was Jack Harden. The duo teams up together to explore Baltimore's deep secrets, from the fancy ballrooms to the gilded mansions and Baltimore's seedy underworld.
What they found out was more than what they had in mind. The underworld was booming with different kinds of businesses. What was even worse is the fact that the underworld held a very dark secret.
Into the Suffering City: A Novel of Baltimore (Sarah Kennecott and Jack Harden Mysteries, Book 1) by Bill LeFurgy is one unique book with a historical backdrop. Even though the story is a work of fiction, the elements and key information in this book are relatable.
One thing I love best about this book is the author’s unique style of writing. The story also flows very well and captures the very essence of the message the author was driving home—dirty politics, racism, corruption, sexism, and murder in Baltimore in the year 1909 and the preceding years. Bill LeFurgy did justice to this book.
Sarah Kennecott is a one-of-a-kind character with an awkward habit of pissing off powerful men and falling in and out of trouble. However, beneath all that heart, she also has a soft spot for seeking justice for murder victims. She is also as intelligent as she is sweet—she is a doctor.
Then, Sara meets a private detective with all the skills required to survive the streets—his name was Jack Harden. The duo teams up together to explore Baltimore's deep secrets, from the fancy ballrooms to the gilded mansions and Baltimore's seedy underworld.
What they found out was more than what they had in mind. The underworld was booming with different kinds of businesses. What was even worse is the fact that the underworld held a very dark secret.
Into the Suffering City: A Novel of Baltimore (Sarah Kennecott and Jack Harden Mysteries, Book 1) by Bill LeFurgy is one unique book with a historical backdrop. Even though the story is a work of fiction, the elements and key information in this book are relatable.
One thing I love best about this book is the author’s unique style of writing. The story also flows very well and captures the very essence of the message the author was driving home—dirty politics, racism, corruption, sexism, and murder in Baltimore in the year 1909 and the preceding years. Bill LeFurgy did justice to this book.
December 18, 2025
Into the Suffering City is a riveting historical mystery that immerses readers in the grit, danger, and vibrancy of Baltimore in 1909. Bill LeFurgy masterfully balances historical authenticity with a compelling narrative, bringing the early twentieth century city to life with vivid detail from the ragtime music and moving pictures to the rampant corruption and social divisions.
The novel’s heart lies in its protagonists: Dr. Sarah Kennecott, an intelligent, determined woman on the autism spectrum navigating a society that doesn’t understand her, and Jack Harden, a troubled private detective whose courage and insight complement hers. Their partnership is both dynamic and believable, blending professional tension with mutual respect and understanding.
LeFurgy’s plot is tightly woven, combining murder, intrigue, and societal commentary. The story maintains a fast pace, immersing the reader in a seedy underworld of saloons, brothels, and criminal enterprises, while also exploring broader issues of gender, class, and race in early twentieth-century Baltimore. The historical research enriches the narrative without ever slowing the tension, making the novel as educational as it is thrilling.
Into the Suffering City is a must read for fans of historical mysteries, richly drawn characters, and atmospheric storytelling that delivers suspense and social insight in equal measure.
Michael
The novel’s heart lies in its protagonists: Dr. Sarah Kennecott, an intelligent, determined woman on the autism spectrum navigating a society that doesn’t understand her, and Jack Harden, a troubled private detective whose courage and insight complement hers. Their partnership is both dynamic and believable, blending professional tension with mutual respect and understanding.
LeFurgy’s plot is tightly woven, combining murder, intrigue, and societal commentary. The story maintains a fast pace, immersing the reader in a seedy underworld of saloons, brothels, and criminal enterprises, while also exploring broader issues of gender, class, and race in early twentieth-century Baltimore. The historical research enriches the narrative without ever slowing the tension, making the novel as educational as it is thrilling.
Into the Suffering City is a must read for fans of historical mysteries, richly drawn characters, and atmospheric storytelling that delivers suspense and social insight in equal measure.
Michael
April 30, 2020
Into the Suffering City is a brilliant novel which deals elegantly and delicately with some really interesting issues, alongside the central murder mystery storyline.
The story follows the life and work of Dr Sarah Kenecott, a medical practitioner who takes what is considered to be too great an interest in a murder case after an examination of the victim. When she refuses to move on from the incident, she loses her job - and there begins the real drama of the novel. From medicine to forensics and criminology, Sarah turns her expertise to solving the murder, teaming up with a private investigator - a character that perfectly complements her own.
LeFurgy has done an excellent job with the characters of this novel, particularly Sarah and Jack, each with subtle and interesting idiosyncrasies that set them apart from each other and serve to carve out their role within the story. Sarah’s autism (not identified as such in the contemporary world of the novel, set in 1909) is written in a nuanced way that works really well within the setting of the novel. The historical setting is also well-informed and immersive.
Overall, a really great novel - I’d highly recommend it to anyone, particularly with an interest in historical fiction of this period or murder mystery.
The story follows the life and work of Dr Sarah Kenecott, a medical practitioner who takes what is considered to be too great an interest in a murder case after an examination of the victim. When she refuses to move on from the incident, she loses her job - and there begins the real drama of the novel. From medicine to forensics and criminology, Sarah turns her expertise to solving the murder, teaming up with a private investigator - a character that perfectly complements her own.
LeFurgy has done an excellent job with the characters of this novel, particularly Sarah and Jack, each with subtle and interesting idiosyncrasies that set them apart from each other and serve to carve out their role within the story. Sarah’s autism (not identified as such in the contemporary world of the novel, set in 1909) is written in a nuanced way that works really well within the setting of the novel. The historical setting is also well-informed and immersive.
Overall, a really great novel - I’d highly recommend it to anyone, particularly with an interest in historical fiction of this period or murder mystery.
March 20, 2020
We are taken into the underbelly of turn-of-the-century Baltimore where we meet Dr. Sarah Kennecott. She's recently graduated [amid much teasing from the male students] and loves unearthing the clues to be found in a cadaver in the city morgue. These are the days before today's scientific methods and police procedures, and so the information she gathers is nothing short of amazing!
Sarah is on the Autism spectrum, so she speaks slowly and carefully, and absorbs much through her eyes. Bill LeFurgy does an EXCELLENT job of presenting Sarah's disability in her speech and in the way she processes information.
She teams up with a private eye named Jack Harden, whose life is complicated and in need of something stimulating, and, together, they set the police on their ears.
When I came to the end of this most illuminating novel, I immediately went to the author's web page to see what else he had written. I was dismayed and amazed to see that this is HIS FIRST AND ONLY NOVEL. I can only hope that there will be more.
I read this EARC courtesy of Edelweiss and High Kicker Books. pub date 04/15/20
Sarah is on the Autism spectrum, so she speaks slowly and carefully, and absorbs much through her eyes. Bill LeFurgy does an EXCELLENT job of presenting Sarah's disability in her speech and in the way she processes information.
She teams up with a private eye named Jack Harden, whose life is complicated and in need of something stimulating, and, together, they set the police on their ears.
When I came to the end of this most illuminating novel, I immediately went to the author's web page to see what else he had written. I was dismayed and amazed to see that this is HIS FIRST AND ONLY NOVEL. I can only hope that there will be more.
I read this EARC courtesy of Edelweiss and High Kicker Books. pub date 04/15/20
July 31, 2020
Into the Suffering City is written by Bill LeFurgy, a professional historian. His vast experience and his many years of research allows him to create this fascinating masterpiece. The story is set in Baltimore because it is his favorite city and where he lived for more than ten years. It is about Sarah Kennecott, a young doctor that tries to find justice for murder victims and as she discovers compromising things she is hated by some powerful people. She works with Jack Harden, the perfect partner.
The writing was on point, no errors and the dialogue flowed smoothly through all the conversations. The plot of the book was much different than I expected by looking at the cover and name. I was expecting a fantasy book but got a marvellous historical mystery novel. I felt like the plot was solid as was the character development. I really enjoyed the journey the author took me on through the book.
I'm going to see if he has any other books because if they are like this, it would be worth reading them first without picking another random book. I would recommend it. Immerse yourself in a crime's wonderland.
The writing was on point, no errors and the dialogue flowed smoothly through all the conversations. The plot of the book was much different than I expected by looking at the cover and name. I was expecting a fantasy book but got a marvellous historical mystery novel. I felt like the plot was solid as was the character development. I really enjoyed the journey the author took me on through the book.
I'm going to see if he has any other books because if they are like this, it would be worth reading them first without picking another random book. I would recommend it. Immerse yourself in a crime's wonderland.
April 24, 2020
The historical crime thriller INTO THE SUFFERING CITY: A NOVEL OF BALTIMORE takes place during a week in 1909. Two loners, Dr. Sarah Kennecott and private detective Jack Harden, investigate the murder of a young showgirl which may involve three mayoral candidates, including one who is the Police Commissioner.
The author Bill LeFurgy is a professional historian who provides absorbing details about Baltimore during that era. However, the strength of the novel comes from his sensitivity in revealing the main characters. Sarah may be, what would now be considered, on the autism scale. Jack suffers what would now be called PTSD caused by his military experience.
Mr. LeFurgy’s descriptions of the populist anti-black and anti-immigrant politics of that time are sadly relevant today and make this novel stand out from others of the same genre. The novel may be about a crime of passion but it is the author’s passion for his characters that makes INTO THE SUFFERING CITY a hard novel to put down.
The author Bill LeFurgy is a professional historian who provides absorbing details about Baltimore during that era. However, the strength of the novel comes from his sensitivity in revealing the main characters. Sarah may be, what would now be considered, on the autism scale. Jack suffers what would now be called PTSD caused by his military experience.
Mr. LeFurgy’s descriptions of the populist anti-black and anti-immigrant politics of that time are sadly relevant today and make this novel stand out from others of the same genre. The novel may be about a crime of passion but it is the author’s passion for his characters that makes INTO THE SUFFERING CITY a hard novel to put down.
July 15, 2020
First of all, let me just appreciate the beautiful cover of this book. My eyes are all hearts just by staring at it. At first glimpse, I thought differently about its story until I started reading it. Into the Suffering City: A Novel of Baltimore by Bill LeFurgy was a different take on a historical fiction. It is blended with mystery and action that made it so unique for a historical fiction fan like me.
In this book we meet our brilliant heroine Dr. Sarah Kennecott who has compassion for murder victims. When she started to dive into the discovery of a crime happened to a showgirl, she risked her profession and she was fired, leading her to meet another character named Jack Harden.
There were secrets and mysteries unrveled in this book that made this truly an excellent book. Aside from that, it tackles different issues pyscholigically and mentally which made it all the more interesting. I was amazed by the turn of events. At first I had trouble understanding what's going on but in the later chapters everything started to make sense. It was a compelling read as a whole.
In this book we meet our brilliant heroine Dr. Sarah Kennecott who has compassion for murder victims. When she started to dive into the discovery of a crime happened to a showgirl, she risked her profession and she was fired, leading her to meet another character named Jack Harden.
There were secrets and mysteries unrveled in this book that made this truly an excellent book. Aside from that, it tackles different issues pyscholigically and mentally which made it all the more interesting. I was amazed by the turn of events. At first I had trouble understanding what's going on but in the later chapters everything started to make sense. It was a compelling read as a whole.
July 17, 2020
In turn of the century Baltimore, Sarah Kennecott is a young female doctor who is ahead of her time. She does not much care for the social norms she is supposed to be playing by. Powerful men do not intimidate her and her sense of justice, moral compass, and ability to help others is much more important to her. Crossing powerful men is what she does yet again when she inquires into the death of a showgirl. Fired from her job and shut out from her usual sources for information, Sarah forms a union with a young detective, Jack Harden who offers to help her investigate the murder. As they start putting together the clues they gather, they unravel a disturbing secret that will prompt someone to murder to protect the secret.
I enjoy strong and smart female leads, and I really liked Sarah. Jack was not your typical detective and he was a well-balanced complement to Sarah’s character. In this I think the book did very well. The setting was well done, and I loved the chase after clues and how the two were able to fit them together. Good Book.
I enjoy strong and smart female leads, and I really liked Sarah. Jack was not your typical detective and he was a well-balanced complement to Sarah’s character. In this I think the book did very well. The setting was well done, and I loved the chase after clues and how the two were able to fit them together. Good Book.
July 28, 2020
I found this to be an interesting concept for a crime novel. Two unique individuals, one a female socialite doctor on the autism spectrum and the other a struggling private detective with PTSD team up to solve a murder with political overtones in 1909 Baltimore. While the interactions between the two are often strained by their past histories, mental issues, and class differences; they eventually work as a team to solve the murder of a young woman of the streets. The female doctor has a difficult time working in the male-dominated world of medicine. The private detective, a former soldier who participated in a massacre while serving in the Phillipines, has a difficult time controlling his PTSD, seems headed toward alcoholism, and lacks the respect of the local police and members of the elite social class. There are some interesting sleuthing methods used by the two including unauthorized autopsies, primitive finger printing, and gut instinct. Also included are some graphic descriptions of what life was like in a large urban area during the early 1900's
April 19, 2020
3.5 stars
Into The Suffering City is a murder mystery set in Baltimore during the early 1900s. Doctor Sarah Kennecott strives to be accepted as a medical practitioner. Her fascination with pathology and her determination for justice has her joining forces with private investigator Jack Harden to solve a gruesome murder. The situation is complicated by politics as one of the suspects is currently running for the office of mayor; Jack has been given the difficult task of proving the man’s innocence. However, Sarah’s interest in new forensic research techniques might just give them a chance to solve the case.
Brimming with historical nostalgia, this story places the reader at the heart of this busy city. The author’s research shines through and you get a real feel for the bustling explosion of new inventions and changes across the wide spectrum of an American city at the time. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-foP
Into The Suffering City is a murder mystery set in Baltimore during the early 1900s. Doctor Sarah Kennecott strives to be accepted as a medical practitioner. Her fascination with pathology and her determination for justice has her joining forces with private investigator Jack Harden to solve a gruesome murder. The situation is complicated by politics as one of the suspects is currently running for the office of mayor; Jack has been given the difficult task of proving the man’s innocence. However, Sarah’s interest in new forensic research techniques might just give them a chance to solve the case.
Brimming with historical nostalgia, this story places the reader at the heart of this busy city. The author’s research shines through and you get a real feel for the bustling explosion of new inventions and changes across the wide spectrum of an American city at the time. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-foP
April 24, 2020
This historical novel takes place in Baltimore, circa 1908, and focuses on the excitement and danger of these times. The main character, Dr. Sarah Kennecot is on the autism spectrum, which is highly misunderstood at this time and adds a different kind of spice to this mystery thriller. She is a gifted medical examiner who finds herself allying with an off-beat detective, Jack Hardenas, because she is determined to see justice done for a murdered showgirl. This novel depicts a past age with such clarity and style. This historical thriller is fast-paced and will keep you enthralled until secrets are revealed within Baltimore’s seedy underworld. “Into the Suffering City” is emotional, historical and an epic timepiece of Baltimore in the early 1900s that will leave you thinking for many days after reading. It leaves you with a taste of history and a truer understanding of how people felt towards those with autistic tendencies in the early 1900s.
July 23, 2020
Bill LeFurgy weaves history and suspense into an intriguing mystery novel, Into the Suffering City. Dr. Sarah Kennecott is extremely smart, yet has an undiagnosed personality disorder. This behavior along with being a woman makes her an oddity to the men she is suppose to work with. Jack Hardin is hired to prove a politician did not murder a dance girl and must work with Sarah to find justice for this girl. Can these two fight a system that does not want to know the truth?
I found Into the Suffering City very fascinating. Bill LeFurgy paints Baltimore as a thriving and bustling city in the early 1900s. Pairing up these two misfits makes this novel interesting as Sarah and Jack face their own problems while trying to understand the other person. The story jumps right into the murder and conflicts that will need to be overcome. I really enjoyed this novel and savored the experience.
I found Into the Suffering City very fascinating. Bill LeFurgy paints Baltimore as a thriving and bustling city in the early 1900s. Pairing up these two misfits makes this novel interesting as Sarah and Jack face their own problems while trying to understand the other person. The story jumps right into the murder and conflicts that will need to be overcome. I really enjoyed this novel and savored the experience.
August 31, 2021
There is no other rating I could give this book but five stars. The author, Bull LeFurgy has crafted an interesting look into early 20th century life in Baltimore with some murder thrown into the mix.
The characters were all well-drawn out and I longed to hear more about them and their lives in this time period and this seamy side of town. All too often we know there is a poor part of town with drug use, loose morals, orphans and corrupt politicians but rarely are we presented with such a vivid picture as Mr. LeFurgy has drawn here.
A female doctor on the autism (unknown at the time) spectrum pairing with a private detective from the wrong side of the tracks was pure genius. Watching the two of them work together was fascinating.
I am not going to give away anything else about this book other than to say you owe it to yourself to give it a read. Kudos Mr. LeFurgy for this great start to a new series.
The characters were all well-drawn out and I longed to hear more about them and their lives in this time period and this seamy side of town. All too often we know there is a poor part of town with drug use, loose morals, orphans and corrupt politicians but rarely are we presented with such a vivid picture as Mr. LeFurgy has drawn here.
A female doctor on the autism (unknown at the time) spectrum pairing with a private detective from the wrong side of the tracks was pure genius. Watching the two of them work together was fascinating.
I am not going to give away anything else about this book other than to say you owe it to yourself to give it a read. Kudos Mr. LeFurgy for this great start to a new series.
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