And I Cried, Too: Confronting Evil in a Small Town, a memoir

by Mike Hartnett

Mike and his wife, Barbara, moved to Lincoln, Illinois, in 1972. The town of 17,000 was charming, friendly, and safe. As employees of Lincoln College, a small, private junior college, they quickly grew to enjoy the subtle pleasures of small-town living. Then the campus was hit with a series of burglaries and a student disappeared. Finally, the murders began. This is Mike Hartnett’s personal story, memories that have taken him more than forty years to write. This is not a true crime exposé or a who-dunnit mystery. This is simply a story about one man on the periphery of a series of events that devastate a community for a time. It is a story about the guilt that lingers and the questions that remain.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Memoir

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 12, 2020

Reviews

[Gloria Zachgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Hartnett did an excellent job of sharing his recollections of a cold-blooded murderer. His knowledge of the perpetrator haunted him long after the horrific acts the man had committed. Mr. Hartnett not only reveals his own emotions but tells the effects the crimes had on his friends and people in the town in which he lived.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a resident of Lincoln, IL at the time of these murders, I distinctly remember the fear felt by the town at the time. Ann Fry became a friend of mine for several years before her death. Every time Smerker came up for parole, she was notified. Her brother's murder haunted her for her entire life. This book brought up a lot of things I was unaware of and thank the author for that.

[CHRISTINA M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a former faculty member and Academic Dean at Lincoln College, (long after the events in this book) I could not put it down until finished. Albeit one doesn’t need to have worked at LC to appreciate Hartnett’s memoir. The book is haunting, gripping, and written in a way that captures the horrific disruption of the peaceful town of Lincoln, IL during the ‘70s. Highly recommend!!

[SB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting Perspective

Most true crime genre books are written without much emotion and dwell on only the facts of the case. Not so with this honest and insightful memoir of someone who lived in the small college town and who was drawn into a troubling multiple murder case from long ago. Initially, I was a bit skeptical about reading this book, but am very glad I did. Wonderfully written and well thought out, I highly recommend taking the time to read this very interesting story of a multiple murderer in a small town.

[Jeanne GA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional Account of Encountering a Sociopath

Mikes story is that of an everyday kind of guy doing exceptional work with students at a nondescript (sorry Lincoln College and Mike) college. Sadly he was involved, as a counselor, with a student who defied all of the odds and stayed in a setting where his evil wasn’t recognized. Mikes account of the events that occurred kept me reading as a really good novel would. This book is one I highly recommend!

[Jayme Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puts you right in the middle of things

WOW I felt like was going through the pain and fear of a serial killer. Would I be the next victim? How did I become involved in this craziness? Could I have been the reason for a college boy's murder? So many questions even when the book is finished that will never be answered. What an in depth look at what it feels like to know you may be this serial killer's next victim.

[SheMac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little gem of a book that I purchased only because I was having a hard time finding my next read. It's really two books in one. On the one hand, it's a charming portrait of life at a small college in a small Midwestern town. On the other hand, it's a true crime story told from a different perspective: that of someone who's involved to the point where he's nearly a victim. But, unlike most of these "and I was there" stories, this one is well written and the author's presence is not overwhelming.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

It's an account of murders in the 70s with no "fluff" and I found myself waiting for something, some concrete answers to questions the author himself lists. Now, in 2023, I'm headed to search the web - hoping to find some closure for two bodies yet to be found. If there's no new info or cold case opened then I'll take it at face value and start something else. Preferably a true account that ends with a tidy little bow and no loose ends!

[lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a true, chilling account of criminality on a small college campus and the end of innocence there, along with one man's introduction to a sociopathy and the criminal justice system. It's a scary accounting, leaving the reader wondering just how closely college admissions staff research the backgrounds of potential students over the interests of the 'higher ups' pushing for the funds that come along with a larger population at their schools vs. safety of those students. It might just give parents of future students nightmares.

[Gloria Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, easy read. It's no 'In Cold Blood', but you can tell this story is extremely close to the author's heart and the hearts of the college and city where it takes place. Some of the character's could have been flushed out a little more.

[Christine Cazeneuve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast and interesting read. I did feel like some of the story was filler and wasn't sure how exactly it related. However, reading about this tragedy from a non-crime author nor a true police stance was more in layman terms. 3.5 stars

[Jessica Schlafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb

Extraordinarily well written. Superb storytelling. Detailed but not gory. Breaks and repairs your broken heart. Enjoyed the whole experience. A different perspective from most true crime stories.

[Jim Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptionally well-written book about good and evil. Unfortunately, it's not fiction.
--Jim Potter, author of Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery

[Kathryn Spurgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read

This true story reads easy, but covers a lot of territory. Busyness, fear, ghastly murders, and honest thinking. Worth reading.

[Steven Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short read of an amazing story happened back in the 1970's. The author started it 35 years ago and then finished. The story keeps moving and had my interest throughout.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't stop reading!

Unbelievable story told from the heart and soul of a loving and devoted teacher and husband. Great read for any true crime fan.

[Chad Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick and interesting read of a very tragic story. I didn’t love the author’s writing style, it seemed amateurish.