The Reservoir

The author weaves a mystery from the bare bones of an actual murder case in Richmond, Virginia, in the 1890s. Did Lillian Madison commit suicide, or did her cousin, Tommie Cluverius, an ambitious lawyer, kill her to rid himself of an unwanted, pregnant girlfriend? Evidence can be found to support either point of view. Details of time and place are evidence of extensive research. Tom Stechschulte does an admirable job of telling the story from Tommie's viewpoint. But despite a good narration, the listener remains unengaged. Although the mystery's setting is vibrant, its characters are neither appealing nor interesting. The character of Tommie, in particular, comes across as scheming and self-absorbed--so obviously hiding something that he's unable to arouse the listener's sympathy. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

April 11, 2011
Thompson (America's Historic Trails) fleshes out the bones of an actual 1885 murder case in his solidly entertaining first novel. When the body of a pregnant young white woman is found floating in a Richmond, Va., reservoir one cold March morning, she appears to have taken her own life. After she's identified as Lillian Madison, Police Justice Daniel Cincinnatus Richardson arrests Tommie Cluverius, Lillian's cousin, for murder. In flashbacks, Thompson reveals the links between Lillian and Tommie, an ambitious, mercurial fledgling lawyer, and Tommie's older brother, Willie, an earnest, steadfast farmer. Lillian is attracted to both, but falls for Tommie, who has his eye set on a more advantageous marriage. A tense trial ensues in which Willie is forced to measure his devotion to his brother against the various versions of events related by Tommie. The strong period setting lifts a somewhat prosaic tragedy. Author tour.