Lost Man's River: Shadow Country Trilogy (2)
The brutal murder of a prominent sugarcane planter in the early 20th century was the cornerstone for Killing Mr. Watson (LJ 6/1/90), Matthiessen's first book in a trilogy about the man, the murder, and its far-reaching impact on several pioneer families in southern Florida. Fifty years after Watson's death, his son Lucius emerges from self-imposed exile, asking surviving witnesses probing questions most would rather leave unanswered. The Watson homestead is at stake, and Lucius aims to clear his father's name of the crimes attributed to him. But as Lucius investigates further, he finds it harder to cling to his version of the truth. Like the earlier book, this work depends on oral histories, and its numerous reminiscences create a rich story; however, the leisurely tone and large cast make for slow reading. Those so inclined to dive in, however, will find passages of unexpected resonance amid the gnarled family trees. Readers should peruse the first (more succinct) book to get the full story before tackling this labor of love from the famed wilderness writer. For larger fiction collections.-?Marc A. Kloszewski, Indiana Free Lib., Pa.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an alternatePaperbackedition.