Infection and Perdition: A Tale of Ambition, Murder, and Madness at the Erie Canal Terminus

In the mid-1800s, Buffalo’s Erie Canal District was considered one of the most dangerous places on earth. Ciaran McGarry is an Irish orphan, canal boat hoggee, street urchin, pickpocket, and black-market entrepreneur who must fight daily to survive. Against all odds, he becomes a successful businessman and politician, but he is also a sadistic schizophrenic serial killer. The reader is invited to accompany Ciaran on the journey through his turbulent life and existential challenges. The book explores themes such as street survival, moral depravity, political corruption, and economic, racial, and religious inequality through the lens of Ciaran’s dual personalities. It is rich with historically accurate imagery and integrates historical events and people into the story with accuracy and factual detail. Ciaran’s narrative not only exposes the district’s dark underbelly but provides a comprehensive understanding of the rise of Buffalo as a significant commercial, economic, and industrial center.