Helpful Score: 1
Usually, I really enjoy true crime novels. Out of my Vine selections something about "The Reservoir" really piqued my interest. Maybe it was because the story is set in 1885. Perhaps, it was because the mystery is about a pregnant dead girl found floating in the town reservoir. I'd never heard of this story before I read about it in "The Reservoir".
There are three main characters in this novel: Tommie, his brother Willie, and their cousin Lillie. On March 14,1885 a body is found floating in the reservoir in Richmond, Virginia. The body turns out to be their cousin, a pregnant Lillie. The rest of the book is the story of Tommie's trial for the murder of Lillie with Tommie's flashbacks to the time of the crime. Tommie files a not guilty plea, but his private flashbacks hints to his struggle regarding truth.
The author has written this novel based on an actual court case that is full of more holes than Swiss cheese and many unanswered questions. In this book you won't find out if Tommie was guilty or innocent. Which makes this more of a character study type of novel. I was secretly hoping that the exact "real" murderer would be exposed, so, if you're hoping for that it won't happen in this novel.
Thompson has taken court case notes and made them into a well written novel. It took me a little while to get into this story but, I kept reading and I'm glad I did. Mr. Thompson was excellent describing the era wherein this story takes place and at times his writing seems more like beautiful poetry.
There are three main characters in this novel: Tommie, his brother Willie, and their cousin Lillie. On March 14,1885 a body is found floating in the reservoir in Richmond, Virginia. The body turns out to be their cousin, a pregnant Lillie. The rest of the book is the story of Tommie's trial for the murder of Lillie with Tommie's flashbacks to the time of the crime. Tommie files a not guilty plea, but his private flashbacks hints to his struggle regarding truth.
The author has written this novel based on an actual court case that is full of more holes than Swiss cheese and many unanswered questions. In this book you won't find out if Tommie was guilty or innocent. Which makes this more of a character study type of novel. I was secretly hoping that the exact "real" murderer would be exposed, so, if you're hoping for that it won't happen in this novel.
Thompson has taken court case notes and made them into a well written novel. It took me a little while to get into this story but, I kept reading and I'm glad I did. Mr. Thompson was excellent describing the era wherein this story takes place and at times his writing seems more like beautiful poetry.
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