...written by John Milliken. According to the information I read on the back of the boxed set of Cd's, it is based on a true story, something that really happened in Richmond Virginia. But since the subtitle is 'A Novel', we can assume there was a great deal of liberty taken. Much of the reading is probably in quote marks from different characters as they are speaking from the witness stand, while the murder trial was taking place. There considerable poetic license that surely occurred when the author shares the questions and answers between attorneys and various witnesses called upon to enlighten the jury in the courtroom.
A young man is accused of killing his cousin and leaving her body in the city reservoir. There are many references to places, particular locations as the geography of the day. Naming specific streets and hotels, restaurants, universities, businesses, houses of ill repute that would have been in downtown Richmond in the post-war years. Buildings that would have come into being as the Confederate Capital was rebuilt after much devastation and destruction. Leading the reader to understand that the time period and trial was well researched through the reading of journals, dairies and news paper reports. Numerous details of interest that add color and a sense of actually being there in the time the events occurred.
This young man is an attorney, and seems unable to tell the truth of the matter. Providing a number of likely scenarios to different people who want to help him gain his freedom. But ultimately he is convicted and sentenced to the gallows. It is probably common to expect someone who is remanded to incarceration before death to believe there is always the possibility of a reprieve or commutation. This character was no different, a lost soul, unwilling to admit his part in the drama, yet expecting to wake up and find the whole sordid trial was a bad dream.
It did not have a happy ending, but required that I make it through to the last disc. An interesting story, with lots of detail to provide authenticity as the tale unfolded. A bit wordy, but a good read.
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