Romulus Ledbetter is a Julliard-trained pianist who has had a good career, but he suffers from schizophrenia and he now lives in a cave in New York’s Central Park and scavenges for food in dumpsters. He is convinced that a man named Cornelius Gould Stuyvesant is responsible for for the Y-rays and Z-rays and everything bad that has happened to people in recent times. Of course no one takes a crazy schizophrenic very seriously.
When Ledbetter discovers a body outside his cave one night, he goes out to seek answers wherein the ‘crazy’ man must navigate the ‘civilized’ world of lies, betrayal, and murder.
This is a really well-written mystery. Ultimately it boils down to our main character, Romulus, and whether or not we believe him. Author George Dawes Green has masterfully developed this character so that we can’t tell when to believe him and when to question his sanity. It’s this questionable sanity that keeps us fascinated for Romulus has lucid moments. He knows what he suffers from and so the mystery is as much about Romulus and where his head is at, as it is about the dead body outside his cave.
This was really a fun read and frankly, I went in to it wondering if I was going to like it. I’m very curious to see the movie.
Looking for a good book? The Caveman’s Valentine by George Dawes Green is a wonderful mystery with a protagonist who will keep you guessing.
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The Caveman’s Valentine
author: George Dawes Green
publisher: Time Warner Company
ISBN: 9780446671514
paperback, 325 pages
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