THE FOREVER YOUNG PRISONER

In Lessard’s debut novel, a young man in prison seeks out a local legend.

In 2022, Tommy McConnell is 24 years old and serving a three-year sentence at the Providence State Penitentiary. Tommy is a “semi-habitual drug user” who was raised by abusive foster parents. A bar fight landed him in his current location, and he navigates prison life as best he can.  He is also an avid reader who has taken up writing—most of his work tends toward ultra-violent fiction (such as the “tentatively titled ‘Attack of the Killer Zombie Rats from Hell’ ”), yet he is intrigued by a story of a man who has been locked up since the 1910s. The man’s name is Henry Heck. Supposedly Henry, the “Forever Young Prisoner,” can be found somewhere deep within the confines of the facility in a place known simply as “The Pit.” Tommy takes up an investigation; along the way he hears of other prison lore (like the “resident phantom,” Ol’ Morgan) and learns more about his own family history, including what happened to his biological parents. The narrative gives a nuanced version of prison life: For a prisoner, the wrong word to the wrong person will result in violence; on the other hand, two cellmates that get along may be able to watch TV and enjoy “Jack Mack, and burritos” during a lockdown. The novel proliferates with such fine points, some of which, as the author states in the epilogue, are based on his own real-life experiences. The search for Henry progresses, albeit not always in a thrilling way: The reader learns from flashbacks that Henry does exist, so Tommy tracking down his full story feels like a foregone conclusion. Though the payoff is not immensely rewarding, it is ultimately Tommy’s journey that counts.

A memorable setting—while lacking in mystery, the finely tuned details impress.