The Broken Fife

by Gary C. Demack

As the Civil War approaches, eighteen-year-old Junius Hart falls in love with Ruby, one of his father’s slaves. When Junius overhears plans to kidnap Ruby, he vows to get her to safety via the Underground Railroad, but his plan goes disastrously wrong when they are ambushed by Jayhawkers and Ruby is captured.

Junius has a special talent: since he was a boy, he has played his grandfather’s fife. He sees a way to track Ruby by joining the Missouri State Guard as a fifer. But soon after, his unit is absorbed into the Confederate Army, forcing Junius to choose between his quest and his moral compass.

After the war, Junius is still reeling from the loss of Ruby. He embarks on a career selling musical instruments which takes him to Canada. There, he learns of Ruby’s fate and meets someone who will forever change his life. For a brief moment, Junius believes his dreams of a life with Ruby may come true, until a shocking revelation tragically destroys them both.

Years later, Junius has rebuilt his life. He no longer plays the fife, but, in a surprising twist, one half of his broken fife shows up in the hands of a stranger, bringing him the redemption he never thought he’d find.

296 pages, Hardcover

Published March 4, 2025

About the author

A native of southern California, Gary graduated from Duke University, Florida Atlantic University, and the Naval War College. He first embarked on a career teaching Political Science, and then served as an intelligence analyst with the National Security Agency for thirty years in various capacities at home and abroad. After retiring, Gary moved to central Florida where he enjoys writing, golf, and swimming and lives with his wife Tracy. He has combined his life-long interest in genealogy and Civil War history in The Broken Fife, a historical novel loosely based on the life of his paternal great-grandfather, Junius Hart.

Reviews

[Deetya Das]

Okay, so I have very mixed feelings about this one.

The story starts off beautifully. We're introduced to Junius Hart, a Jewish boy growing up in Alabama, who plays the fife and shares a gentle, heartfelt bond with Ruby, the daughter of their household’s enslaved man. Their connection is warm, sweet, and written with such tenderness that it genuinely pulled me in.

But things take a heartbreaking turn. While trying to protect Ruby from being captured, Junius loses her—and much of the novel follows his years-long search to find her again. Through his journey, we see the brutal reality of how Black people were treated during that time in the U.S., and how the Civil War tears through Junius’s life and family. The depiction of how women—especially Black women—were treated is deeply upsetting, but unfortunately, very real to the era.

Then comes the twist. And this is where my feelings got complicated.

Near the end, Junius plans to marry Ruby—only to discover that she was never actually enslaved. Even more shocking, Ruby’s real father is actually Junius’s father, which means she’s his half-sister. And yes, they’d already had a child together. The revelation is disturbing, and though they eventually go their separate ways, it left me feeling deeply uncomfortable. Especially because, while much of the book is based on the author’s great-grandfather, Ruby is a fictional character—so adding this incestuous plotline felt unnecessary and honestly took away from what was otherwise a moving story.

That said, the book did make me cry, and for the most part, I was really invested in it. I just wish the ending had been handled differently.

Thank you, NetGalley and Gary C. Demack for giving me a copy of this book to read.

[Diane Mezzanotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I liked the setting, the main character of Junius, and the love story that is woven into the plot throughout. His love for Ruby, an enslaved girl, sets events in motion that take the two of them from Missouri to Canada, through very different circumstances and paths. Through Junius, we learn about divisions happening in the country leading up to the civil war, and how taking a side was often complicated, at both the personal and state levels. Junius’s accounts of his unit’s battles are just detailed enough to feel real without being overly graphic. What I liked most, though, was the underlying theme of music, and how it can be a unifying force, whether on a personal level, between family members, or even on the battlefield. The titular fife tied four generations together in this story. Learning that the real Junius really did have a fife and went into the music business after the war was like a gift, as were the photos at the end of the book, including one of the real-life Junius and his young daughter—the author’s grandmother.

The book is written mostly in dialogue and a narrative that conveys Junius’s experiences and thoughts. There were times when I wanted a little more description and a slower speed to the passage of time and events, but these small criticisms didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story. (And, the plus side of this: I kept thinking how relatively easy it would be to adapt this to a screenplay.)

[Eric Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Broken Fife, Demack’s first novel, is a riveting tale. The story is truly grand in scale with excellent character development, a sweeping story covering generations, civil war stories and personal victories, secrets and of course tragedy. A love story between Junius and the slave Ruby, which is clear from the start of the book. Also, a mystery with subtle hints along the way that all is not what it seems. A story of survival and hope. It all adds up to a stunning conclusion. In my mind, not a Hollywood ending which was in line with the tenor of the tale. I particularly enjoyed the period when Junius was in the Civil War. Demack captures the brutality, senselessness of those caught in the war in its most basic form. There is however a sense of hope for all the main characters in the book thus engaging the reader fully in every chapter, a page turner, a novel very hard to put down. I highly recommend this novel.

[Linda S · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Broken Fife takes the reader through daring journeys of two lives affected by the Civil War. Junius, a young Jewish man, and Ruby, a black woman considered a slave, have a special and cautious connection including their shared love of music. But as the Civil War approaches, any hope for Ruby requires Junius to accompany her along the Underground Railway. They are separated by a Kansas Jayhawkers attack. Junius loses his connection with her. He is then, unwillingly pulled into the war, himself. The story is based on author Gary Demack's ancestors and is detailed with helpful and fascinating research. This is a story from the heart, for the heart, that relives the divisions that nearly broke our country in two, but created a strong generation.

[Emilia Stafano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written and heartbreaking story about love, war, and the weight of choices. Junius’ journey is both gripping and deeply emotional, as he struggles with the harsh realities of war and the consequences of his actions. The historical backdrop is richly detailed, making the story feel vivid and immersive. The themes of sacrifice, fate, and redemption are powerfully woven throughout, leading to an ending that is both bittersweet and poignant. If you love historical fiction with strong emotional depth, this book is definitely worth reading.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting historical fiction story. Well written and engaging characters. Can’t wait for his next book!!

[Cathy]

Lover lost during the civil war, broken hearted over his love sold, a war with much lost