Who would have thought to think of this as a true crime book?
The nomination made sense to me once I delved deeper into the fascinating life of Tom Thomson. I had only known that he was an artist associated with The Group of Seven, and a Canadian icon. I had no idea that his death (and life) was steeped in such mystery, with such compelling and eccentric characters.
This title will appeal to many fans of biography, true crime and perhaps even a few mystery fiction readers.
Here is what the book reviewers say:
– Toronto Star
“Part history, part true-crime investigation and part memoir, Northern Light is both scrupulously even-handed and deeply personal. . . . [MacGregor] has crafted a beautifully realized picture of a time and place.“
– Winnipeg Free Press
“It would be a shame to give too much detail from Northern Light because it is an intriguing, well-crafted piece of work blessed with all the natural elements of a great story: Fame, murder, lost love, shame, money, government deception and a drama played out against one of our country’s most magnificent natural backdrops. What more could a reader ask for?“
– Ottawa Citizen
Here is the publisher’s description:
As Roy MacGregor’s richly detailed Northern Light reveals, not much is as it seems when it comes to Tom Thomson, the most iconic of Canadian painters. Philandering deadbeat or visionary artist and gentleman, victim of accidental drowning or deliberate murder, the man’s myth has grown to obscure the real view – and the answers to the mysteries are finally revealed in these pages.”
Source: http://www.thereader.ca/2008/06/staff-pick-northern-light-by-roy.html