Who Killed Tom Thomson: The Truth about the Murder of One of the 20th Century's Most Famous Artists

(Hardback)

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For fans of cold cases and true crime, could the Great White North's most famous uninvestigated death finally be laid to rest Tom Thomson was Canada's Vincent van Gogh. He painted for a period of five years before meeting his untimely death in a remote wilderness lake in July 1917. He was buried in an unofficial grave close to the lake where his

Reviews

WhatLittle has done is take a novel approach to a mystery that seems, at times, to have been examined to death. First, he has done an admirable job of assembling the actual evidence, the hearsay evidence and all the various theories, from solid to ridiculous, concerning the death of Tom Thomson. His research he then turned over to the two former detectives whose professional careers were taken up solving difficult crimesJohn Littles key contribution to this ever-spinning tale was to bring in qualified investigators as consultants.
Roy MacGregor, The Globe and Mail

"Little has done a service in assembling and analyzing the collective research of earlier Thomson scholars such as David P. Silcox, Roy MacGregor, Joan Murray, and Harold Town. 'Anything that I might have added to the research and data of the Tom Thomson story is but a footnote compared to the work of all those who came before me,' Little writes. In its accumulation of research and analysis, Who Killed Tom Thomson is more than just a footnote. The police officers conclusions, which are solid so far as they go, remove some of the mystery surrounding Thomsons death."
Quill & Quire

"For 30 years, author John Little has pursued the fate of the great Tom Thomson in the footsteps of his father, who spent 30 years before that investigating the Ontario-born painters 1917 death. (Thomsons body was found in Canoe Lake days after his upturned canoe was spotted.) . The detectives concluded from the information given them that Thomson didnt drown, as was initially suspected, and didnt commit suicide. Thomson, they say, was murdered.... (One theory is he was shot, another that he was clubbed.) The sleuths explain their reasoning in detailwhich itself is well worth reading."
Winnipeg Free Press

This is a fascinating read. The narrative is compelling, while John Little presents the facts and testimony surrounding the death of Tom Thomson. As a detective, the facts of this case strongly suggest to me that the original coroners conclusion got it wrong, and yet the way the story is presented did not in any way attempt to lead me to a particular conclusion. A crime was committed here and John has shone the brightest light to date on it.
Troy Martin, detective constable, Ontario Provincial Police

John Little is uniquely qualified to write about the death of Tom Thomson. Not only did he grow up immersed in his fathers incredible quest to redefine the mystery, but he is also a talented writer who knows how to tell a great story. This book ripples with authority and passion carefully balanced on a foundation of meticulous research. The result is a crackling page-turner that has the reader peering over the shoulders of the author and the detectives as they dig through a century-old cold case, trying to determine once and for all whoor whatkilled Tom Thomson. A superb read!
Andrew Wagner-Chazalon, editor of Dockside Magazine and author of The Hidden World of Huckleberry Rock, Muskoka Traditions, and Grace and Speed

Confronting the enduring controversy one hundred years after Thomsons death over whether he was a drunk who fell from his canoe or was murdered, John Little has done the painstaking research thats long been most needed in this astonishingly elusive cold case. Now, Little has produced a grippingly detailed true-life thriller of intrigue, jealousies, and accusations pointing strongly to two persons of interest as the likely culprit. The book, Little says, is the closest thing well ever get to solving the mystery surrounding Tom Thomsons tragic death. But I assure you, readers will come away with definite opinions on how Thomsons promising, creative life was purposefully extinguished.
Ellie Tesher, syndicated advice columnist, author of The Dionnes, and former Toronto Star newspaper editor, columnist , and reporter

John Littles Who Killed Tom Thomson is a useful addition to the ever-growing library of books that postulate answers to this compelling mystery. Little has taken on Thomsons case like a bloodhound, passionately probing every supposition, consulting professional detectives, even hiring a scuba-diver to scour the murky bottom of Canoe Lake in search of clues and evidence. I suspect that Canadians fascination with the life and death of our beloved, brilliant landscape painter who died far too young, will keep journalists, filmmakers, writers, and readers forever curious.
Peter Raymont, co-director with Michele Hozer and co-producer with Nancy Lang, of the award-winning documentary film West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thomson (White Pine Pictures)

Some say Thomson died accidentally. Others say it was suicide. Yet others say murder. Little wanted to solve the enduring mystery, so he gathered all the evidence he could find and gave it to two experienced detectives from the Ontario Provincial Police. It was the first time police had examined the case.The two detectives, Daniel Mulligan and Scott Thomson (possibly a distant relative), concluded the famed artist was murdered. But by whom Lets just say the question in the books title is answered, in a fashion. But before the end, you will encounter tales of a roller-coaster romance, excessive drinking, money problems, a suspicious undertakerand a mystery that just wont die.
Paul Gessell, Galleries West
WhatLittle has done is take a novel approach to a mystery that seems, at times, to have been examined to death. First, he has done an admirable job of assembling the actual evidence, the hearsay evidence and all the various theories, from solid to ridiculous, concerning the death of Tom Thomson. His research he then turned over to the two former detectives whose professional careers were taken up solving difficult crimesJohn Littles key contribution to this ever-spinning tale was to bring in qualified investigators as consultants.
Roy MacGregor, The Globe and Mail

"Little has done a service in assembling and analyzing the collective research of earlier Thomson scholars such as David P. Silcox, Roy MacGregor, Joan Murray, and Harold Town. 'Anything that I might have added to the research and data of the Tom Thomson story is but a footnote compared to the work of all those who came before me,' Little writes. In its accumulation of research and analysis, Who Killed Tom Thomson is more than just a footnote. The police officers conclusions, which are solid so far as they go, remove some of the mystery surrounding Thomsons death."
Quill & Quire
"For 30 years, author John Little has pursued the fate of the great Tom Thomson in the footsteps of his father, who spent 30 years before that investigating the Ontario-born painters 1917 death. (Thomsons body was found in Canoe Lake days after his upturned canoe was spotted.) . The detectives concluded from the information given them that Thomson didnt drown, as was initially suspected, and didnt commit suicide. Thomson, they say, was murdered.... (One theory is he was shot, another that he was clubbed.) The sleuths explain their reasoning in detailwhich itself is well worth reading."
Winnipeg Free Press
This is a fascinating read. The narrative is compelling, while John Little presents the facts and testimony surrounding the death of Tom Thomson. As a detective, the facts of this case strongly suggest to me that the original coroners conclusion got it wrong, and yet the way the story is presented did not in any way attempt to lead me to a particular conclusion. A crime was committed here and John has shone the brightest light to date on it.
Troy Martin, detective constable, Ontario Provincial Police

John Little is uniquely qualified to write about the death of Tom Thomson. Not only did he grow up immersed in his fathers incredible quest to redefine the mystery, but he is also a talented writer who knows how to tell a great story. This book ripples with authority and passion carefully balanced on a foundation of meticulous research. The result is a crackling page-turner that has the reader peering over the shoulders of the author and the detectives as they dig through a century-old cold case, trying to determine once and for all whoor whatkilled Tom Thomson. A superb read!
Andrew Wagner-Chazalon, editor of Dockside Magazine and author of The Hidden World of Huckleberry Rock, Muskoka Traditions, and Grace and Speed

Confronting the enduring controversy one hundred years after Thomsons death over whether he was a drunk who fell from his canoe or was murdered, John Little has done the painstaking research thats long been most needed in this astonishingly elusive cold case. Now, Little has produced a grippingly detailed true-life thriller of intrigue, jealousies, and accusations pointing strongly to two persons of interest as the likely culprit. The book, Little says, is the closest thing well ever get to solving the mystery surrounding Tom Thomsons tragic death. But I assure you, readers will come away with definite opinions on how Thomsons promising, creative life was purposefully extinguished.
Ellie Tesher, syndicated advice columnist, author of The Dionnes, and former Toronto Star newspaper editor, columnist , and reporter

John Littles Who Killed Tom Thomson is a useful addition to the ever-growing library of books that postulate answers to this compelling mystery. Little has taken on Thomsons case like a bloodhound, passionately probing every supposition, consulting professional detectives, even hiring a scuba-diver to scour the murky bottom of Canoe Lake in search of clues and evidence. I suspect that Canadians fascination with the life and death of our beloved, brilliant landscape painter who died

Author Bio

John Little is the author of numerous books, including The Tao of Wing Chun (Skyhorse, 2015). He has written feature articles for many publications, including the Toronto Star (Canada's largest daily newspaper), and has been interviewed by Canada AM, CNN, Entertainment Weekly, and more.