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Beulah Hill
"The whispered revelations that come spilling out of -Beulah Hill are like ghostly voices you sometimes hear in the attic—soft, sad and disturbingly urgent."
— New York Times Book Review
"Mesmerizing."
— Publishers Weekly
A novel of rare literary distinction—an erotic thriller combined with a true mystery, and a look back at a little-known part of the American societal patchwork—Beulah Hill, by bestselling author William Heffernan, is a brilliant and deeply original work of fiction.
Set in the 1930s, the story follows the investigation of a racially motivated murder in a rural Vermont town and the shocking ramifications it has on that backwoods community, which had once served as a stopping place for runaway slaves. Having made new lives for themselves there, many of these former slaves married interracially, and their progeny became what was known as "bleached." The result was an atmosphere of tension and distrust that—as so vividly rendered in this novel—occasionally exploded in acts of violence . . . and even murder.
At a time when the Great Depression had created widespread fear and Hitler was just beginning his reign in Germany, Beulah Hill tells the story of a white man who was murdered in an almost ritualistic manner on land owned by the only remaining black family in that small town. Heading the investigation is a young con-stable who is himself a deeply conflicted member of the "bleached" underclass and who is intimately involved with the proud and headstrong black woman at the center of the killing.
William Heffernan , a three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, is the author of 15 novels, including such bestsellers as The Corsican, The Dinosaur Club (a New York Times bestseller), Tarnished Blue (Edgar Award winner) and Cityside (forthcoming from Akashic in trade paperback in fall 2003). He lives in Vermont with his wife and three sons.
— New York Times Book Review
"Mesmerizing."
— Publishers Weekly
A novel of rare literary distinction—an erotic thriller combined with a true mystery, and a look back at a little-known part of the American societal patchwork—Beulah Hill, by bestselling author William Heffernan, is a brilliant and deeply original work of fiction.
Set in the 1930s, the story follows the investigation of a racially motivated murder in a rural Vermont town and the shocking ramifications it has on that backwoods community, which had once served as a stopping place for runaway slaves. Having made new lives for themselves there, many of these former slaves married interracially, and their progeny became what was known as "bleached." The result was an atmosphere of tension and distrust that—as so vividly rendered in this novel—occasionally exploded in acts of violence . . . and even murder.
At a time when the Great Depression had created widespread fear and Hitler was just beginning his reign in Germany, Beulah Hill tells the story of a white man who was murdered in an almost ritualistic manner on land owned by the only remaining black family in that small town. Heading the investigation is a young con-stable who is himself a deeply conflicted member of the "bleached" underclass and who is intimately involved with the proud and headstrong black woman at the center of the killing.
William Heffernan , a three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, is the author of 15 novels, including such bestsellers as The Corsican, The Dinosaur Club (a New York Times bestseller), Tarnished Blue (Edgar Award winner) and Cityside (forthcoming from Akashic in trade paperback in fall 2003). He lives in Vermont with his wife and three sons.
- GenresFiction
301 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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35 people want to read
About the author
William Heffernan
30 books12 followersWilliam Heffernan, a three-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, is the author of eighteen novels, including such bestsellers as The Corsincan, The Dinosaur Club (a New York Times bestseller), The Dead Detective, and Tarnished Blue (winner of an Edgar Award). Heffernan lives outside of St. Petersburg, Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 31, 2017
Some racism on fictional display.
Every once in a while there were a couple of lines that were very touching and insightful, but I did find the whole to be a display of what racism "should" be (or rather, how one would be taught about racism/slavery in school... i.e. generalized.)
In the end, Beulah Hill at it's base is a who-done-it that takes place in a very racist community. The whites think the colored folks did it. The opposite is also true, and the book focuses on finding out who truly is to blame while dealing out various family, community, and romantic relationships.
A tad violent towards the ending, but all the tension building throughout the story had to express itself somehow.
We do find out who-done-it (even if the community doesn't,) and while I did not fully guess the perpetrator by the end I was satisfied with the outcome.
Every once in a while there were a couple of lines that were very touching and insightful, but I did find the whole to be a display of what racism "should" be (or rather, how one would be taught about racism/slavery in school... i.e. generalized.)
In the end, Beulah Hill at it's base is a who-done-it that takes place in a very racist community. The whites think the colored folks did it. The opposite is also true, and the book focuses on finding out who truly is to blame while dealing out various family, community, and romantic relationships.
A tad violent towards the ending, but all the tension building throughout the story had to express itself somehow.
We do find out who-done-it (even if the community doesn't,) and while I did not fully guess the perpetrator by the end I was satisfied with the outcome.
November 3, 2008
I enjoyed this book a lot. Though I think A Time Gone By is the better book, this has a lot of classic Heffernan tricks in it. One problem is the clear give away as to motive for entire murder narrative at the beginning of the book. I'd say the writer is a bit too smart to write something so obvious. Left me wondering. Overall, a great read.
January 11, 2013
For me, this book was just an "okay" read. The author did a great job in the writing of this story. The subject matter, mainly the discrimination, left me with sad and frustrated feelings. While I know that discrimination has gotten better over the years, it will always continue with some.
Reading about such discrimination "hurt my heart".
Reading about such discrimination "hurt my heart".
January 26, 2015
A fatal death happens on the hill and Samuel has to find out who did it but the town thinks it was the african american family who own the land that the body was found on. Samuel thinks that they are being framed for the crime. He does a investgation and finds a lot of clues on who did it.
February 8, 2015
The protagonist breached the privacy of a friend. It bothered me to the extent that I found myself n
Avoiding picking up the book again. Not good. Too many books to read. So I won't be finishing this one.
Avoiding picking up the book again. Not good. Too many books to read. So I won't be finishing this one.
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March 20, 2008This book was a great find!!!
June 24, 2012
set in the early 30's in rural Vermont, a murder mystery filled with racial issues. very interesting and well told
July 10, 2012
I enjoyed this book because it was thought provoking.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews