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Jun
16
Book Review: THE RESERVOIR by John Milliken Thompson
2011 at 5am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
Other Press, June 21, 2011
John Milliken Thompson’s debut novel The Reservoir begins on a chilly March day in 1885 when a pregnant woman named Lillie is found floating in the Richmond reservoir. Lillie’s cousin, rising young lawyer Tommie Cluverius, who has a spotless reputation and some skeletons in the closet, is accused of murdering her. But the evidence is all circumstantial, and Cluverius maintains that though he once had a relationship with Lillie, he was not with her when she died and had not seen her in quite some time. And besides, he points out, it’s 1885 and she’s a pregnant single woman—investigators shouldn’t be so hasty to rule out suicide.
Tommie is smart, savvy, the kind of guy who “knows when to be the educated gentlemen and when to play the country boy.” And damn, can he spin a yarn.
The Reservoir opens as Tommie rushes away from the reservoir on the morning of Lillie’s death, allowing Thompson to establish from the outset—for the reader, if not for the investigators—that Tommie is not as honest as he’d have people believe. In a narrative that moves deftly between the novel’s present-day and Tommie and Lillie’s past, Thompson unfurls a story that is rich in historical details and rife with tension. The question here is not so much “Whodunit?” as “Did he do it?” And that? That’s the kind of story that lends itself perfectly to courtroom drama, which is lucky for us because Thompson writes brilliant, crackling courtroom dialogue.
Just when you think you have this one figured out, Tommie goes and tells another version of his story. He denies; he confesses; he finesses facts (after all, he IS a lawyer), and Thompson makes each tale seem plausible. The Reservoir is saturated with ambiguity (which I find very satisfying, but if you’re looking for a mystery with a conclusive resolution, keep looking) and reasonable doubt the likes of which could get a man acquitted. But it’s not that simple.
As he imagines the missing pieces from a real case, John Milliken Thompson brings 19th-century Richmond vividly to life in this engaging novel about lust, law, and deception.
Keep your eyes peeled for a Q & A with John Milliken Thompson, and if you’re in or near Richmond, join me Tuesday, June 21st at 6pm to celebrate the launch of The Reservoir at Fountain Bookstore!
Learn more at John Milliken Thompson’s website and follow him on Twitter @john_milliken_t
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I don’t often like fiction based on true events (Ellen Horan’s 31 bond street comes to mind), but I loved this book. I loved how you really don’t ever know the truth, and Thompson doesn’t try to force it on you.
jenn aka the picky girl´s last [type] ..Hot and Bothered- My Love Affair with My Nook Color
In addition to the way Thompson lets the characters speak for themselves, his novel is strong in atmosphere. It was easy to put myself in Richmond in the winter in the mid-1880s and in the countryside. Wonderfully lyrical and, as Jenn noted, the author lets the reader decide what happened.
Lynne Perednia´s last [type] ..Review- Jane Austen- A Life Revealed
This sounds absolutely right up my alley. I love courtroom dramas full of suspense and mystery. I also can’t help but fall in love with characters that are shrouded in ambiguity. I’m definitely going to be adding this one to my summer wish list.
I’ve got a copy of this book on my kindle right now and I can’t wait to read it–I think I will start it as soon as I finish my current book.
Stephanie´s last [type] ..Book Reviews- The Polysyllabic Omnibus
So Tommie killed Lillie?!?!? I love these kind of books!!!! can’t wait to find it on the shelves!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Kate´s last [type] ..What Are The Great Benefits of Forex In The Market
Sounds like it may be a good one- it can be hard to find quality mysteries sometimes.
Christine @ BB´s last [type] ..This is Very – adjective
Excellent review! I’m not sure about this one because I need my books to have some sort of resolution. Intriguing though
This sounds fantastic! I love criminal cases and courtroom dramas and it sounds like Thompson writes this one extremely well!
Amy´s last [type] ..Night Road by Kristin Hannah
I’m not too crazy about books that are fiction based and speak of real events, since one wouldn’t be able to differentiate what’s real or not. However, this seems pretty interesting. Do you think this is highly recommended to be read?
Thompson’s end note makes it pretty clear what was fact (not much) and what he imagined. The story is very engaging, and because the characters, though mostly real people, are not people we as contemporary readers will be familiar with, I didn’t find it distracting. (I do, however, find it very distracting to read fiction about real people who are either still living or whose lives I’m familiar with.)
Hmm, interesting. I should check this one out. I see where you are coming from, the thought of it is quite distracting to read fiction books similar to those who you encounter with. I love books that are engaging! It sounds like something that is mysterious and I would love to know the conclusion to the story.
I was looking for a review of this book, and yours came up first on Google. As a writer, I find the idea of Reservoir intrigues me….Off to the library.
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