The Reservoir
Review: The Reservoir, John Milliken Thompson's historical fact-inspired novel, is written in such a style that it not only makes for an interesting read but also takes me back to a time that I have only read about or seen on television.
Set in 1885 in Richmond Virginia, it starts with the discovery of the body of a young woman and a simple question posed by the police: murder or suicide. The dead woman is Lillian Madison, and she was pregnant, which in mid-19th century Richmond poses all sorts of contributing factors, racial and economic, that affect the investigation. A gold key and a letter lead to the arrest of Tommie Cluverius, a local young man.
Tommie professes his innocence, which falls on deaf ears … at least at first.
What a good read this book is. I started it feeling sad for Lillian and her unborn child, and finished it almost in tears. Well written using the language of the time and place, this is not a typical crime novel.
Special thanks to Lynne Gordon for contributing her review of The Reservoir.
Acknowledgment: The Other Press provided a copy of The Reservoir for this review.
Review Copyright © 2011 — Lynne Gordon — All Rights Reserved
Reprinted with Permission
Location(s) referenced in The Reservoir: Richmond, Virginia
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The Reservoir by John Milliken Thompson
Publisher: The Other Press
Format: Trade Paperback
ISBN-10: 1-59051-444-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-59051-444-3
Publication Date: June 2011
List Price: $15.95
Synopsis (from the publisher): On an early spring morning in Richmond, Virginia, in the year 1885, a young pregnant woman is found floating in the city reservoir. It appears that she has committed suicide, but there are curious clues at the scene that suggest foul play. The case attracts local attention, and an eccentric group of men collaborate to solve the crime. Detective Jack Wren lurks in the shadows, weaseling his way into the investigation and intimidating witnesses. Policeman Daniel Cincinnatus Richardson, on the brink of retirement, catches the case and relentlessly pursues it to its sorrowful conclusion. As the identity of the girl, Lillie, is revealed, her dark family history comes to light, and the investigation focuses on her tumultuous affair with Tommie Cluverius.
Tommie, an ambitious young lawyer, is the pride and joy of his family and the polar opposite of his brother Willie, a quiet, humble farmer. Though both men loved Lillie, it’s Tommie’s reckless affair that thrusts his family into the spotlight. With Lillie dead, Willie must decide how far to trust Tommie, and whether he ever understood him at all. Told through accumulating revelations, Tommie’s story finally ends in a riveting courtroom climax.