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Death and the Good Life
Al Barnes is a good but admittedly "mushy hearted" homicide cop who trades his stressful Seattle beat for a small-town deputy's life in rural Montana. The peace is disrupted when a local fisherman and a mill owner are found gruesomely axed. Barnes is drawn into a twenty-year-old unsolved case near Portland, adding to an already puzzling search through murky secrets and sweeping him up in the decadent "good life" of his suspects.
231 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1981
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183 people want to read
About the author
Richard Hugo
47 books67 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Richard Hugo (December 21, 1923 - October 22, 1982), born Richard Hogan, was an American poet. Primarily a regionalist, Hugo's work reflects the economic depression of the Northwest, particularly Montana. Born in White Center, Washington, he was raised by his mother's parents after his father left the family. In 1942 he legally changed his name to Richard Hugo, taking his stepfather's surname. He served in World War II as a bombardier in the Mediterranean. He left the service in 1945 after flying 35 combat missions and reaching the rank of first lieutenant.
Hugo received his B.A. in 1948 and his M.A. in 1952 in Creative Writing from the University of Washington where he studied under Theodore Roethke.[1] He married Barbara Williams in 1952, the same year he started working as a technical writer for Boeing.
In 1961 his first book of poems, A Run of Jacks, was published. Soon after he took a creative writing teaching job at the University of Montana. He later became the head of the creative writing program there.[2] His wife returned to Seattle in 1964, and they divorced soon after. He published five more books of poetry, a memoir, a highly respected book on writing, and also a mystery novel. His posthumous book of collected poetry, Making Certain It Goes On, evinces that his poems are marked by crisp, gorgeous images of nature that often stand in contrast to his own depression, loneliness, and alcoholism. Although almost always written in free verse, his poems have a strong sense of rhythm that often echoes iambic meters. He also wrote of large number of informal epistolary poems at a time when that form was unfashionable.
Hugo was a friend of poet James Wright.
Hugo’s The Real West Marginal Way is a collection of essays, generally autobiographical in nature, that detail his childhood, his military service, his poetics, and his teaching.
Hugo remarried in 1974 to Ripley Schemm Hansen. In 1977 he was named the editor of the Yale Younger Poets Series.
Hugo died of leukemia on October 22, 1982.
Richard Hugo (December 21, 1923 - October 22, 1982), born Richard Hogan, was an American poet. Primarily a regionalist, Hugo's work reflects the economic depression of the Northwest, particularly Montana. Born in White Center, Washington, he was raised by his mother's parents after his father left the family. In 1942 he legally changed his name to Richard Hugo, taking his stepfather's surname. He served in World War II as a bombardier in the Mediterranean. He left the service in 1945 after flying 35 combat missions and reaching the rank of first lieutenant.
Hugo received his B.A. in 1948 and his M.A. in 1952 in Creative Writing from the University of Washington where he studied under Theodore Roethke.[1] He married Barbara Williams in 1952, the same year he started working as a technical writer for Boeing.
In 1961 his first book of poems, A Run of Jacks, was published. Soon after he took a creative writing teaching job at the University of Montana. He later became the head of the creative writing program there.[2] His wife returned to Seattle in 1964, and they divorced soon after. He published five more books of poetry, a memoir, a highly respected book on writing, and also a mystery novel. His posthumous book of collected poetry, Making Certain It Goes On, evinces that his poems are marked by crisp, gorgeous images of nature that often stand in contrast to his own depression, loneliness, and alcoholism. Although almost always written in free verse, his poems have a strong sense of rhythm that often echoes iambic meters. He also wrote of large number of informal epistolary poems at a time when that form was unfashionable.
Hugo was a friend of poet James Wright.
Hugo’s The Real West Marginal Way is a collection of essays, generally autobiographical in nature, that detail his childhood, his military service, his poetics, and his teaching.
Hugo remarried in 1974 to Ripley Schemm Hansen. In 1977 he was named the editor of the Yale Younger Poets Series.
Hugo died of leukemia on October 22, 1982.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 24, 2019
Homicide Detective Al Barnes retired from the Seattle PD and took a job as a deputy sheriff in tiny Plains, Montana, hoping for a little peace and quiet. Unfortunately his serenity is interrupted when an ax-wielding woman charges out of the forest and makes mincemeat of a poor unsuspecting fisherman. Shortly thereafter, a mill foreman is also axed to death and it appears that Barnes is up against a formidable serial killer.
Al's investigation of the crimes leads him out of Montana into Idaho and then Portland, Oregon, where the owners of the mill spend the bulk of the year. The foreman had come with them from Oregon to Montana and Barnes hopes to find a clue to the foreman's murder in his Oregon past.
The investigation leads him back to another murder that's been unsolved for over twenty years and that involves a number of people in the foreman's circle of friends. It quickly becomes apparent that someone does not want these secrets, ancient or contemporary, to be disturbed and when Barnes refuses to be deterred from his investigation, he places himself squarely in the sights of a killer.
Richard Hugo was best known for his poetry and this is the only mystery novel that he ever wrote. But it's a very good one. Al Barnes is an interesting and sympathetic protagonist; the mystery is clever, and there's lots of sex and violence. One leaves the book regretting only that Hugo did not live long enough to write more books featuring this character.
Al's investigation of the crimes leads him out of Montana into Idaho and then Portland, Oregon, where the owners of the mill spend the bulk of the year. The foreman had come with them from Oregon to Montana and Barnes hopes to find a clue to the foreman's murder in his Oregon past.
The investigation leads him back to another murder that's been unsolved for over twenty years and that involves a number of people in the foreman's circle of friends. It quickly becomes apparent that someone does not want these secrets, ancient or contemporary, to be disturbed and when Barnes refuses to be deterred from his investigation, he places himself squarely in the sights of a killer.
Richard Hugo was best known for his poetry and this is the only mystery novel that he ever wrote. But it's a very good one. Al Barnes is an interesting and sympathetic protagonist; the mystery is clever, and there's lots of sex and violence. One leaves the book regretting only that Hugo did not live long enough to write more books featuring this character.
June 14, 2013
I was riveted by the story and loved the detective/narrator, Al "Mush Heart" Barnes. I agree with Rick Demarinis who writes on the back cover blurb, "Reader, Dick was on your side." I genuinely felt I had met a friend in Al Barnes, and have now bought a book of poetry by Hugo, hoping to develop our relationship. I do have two criticisms which I'd love to discuss with anyone who's read the book; see the spoiler cache.
April 9, 2014
A fantastic detective story set in the Northwest (Portland,OR and Montana) that tells the story of a poet/policeman Al "Mush Heart" Barnes, who's to empathic to be good at most police work but is solid at homicide because he really hates murder. It has all the beats of a good hard-boiled Chandler story, but with a fantastic sense of language, depth of character and observation usually reserved for more literary fare. Like an american Graham Greene, with more fishing and bourbon. It reminded me a little, in setting and tone, of the tv show Twin Peaks.
Since I've never heard of this book before nor heard it mentioned, and only found it by chance at my library while looking for poetry books by Richard Hugo, I'll go ahead an call it an undiscovered classic. You should really check it out.
Since I've never heard of this book before nor heard it mentioned, and only found it by chance at my library while looking for poetry books by Richard Hugo, I'll go ahead an call it an undiscovered classic. You should really check it out.
August 11, 2023
This started out fun with the empathetic cop, a writer with a keen eye for social dynamics and a beautiful Montanan setting. But when he goes to Portland, the mystery kicks into gear and it leaves a lot to be desired. Would’ve loved to have seen Hugo turn this into a series as he found his mystery writing voice. Alas.
October 13, 2010
Richard Hugo created an endearing homicide cop, Al "Mush-Heart" Barnes who leaves the big city of Seattle to what he sees as a slower pace of life in Montana. But of course, it ain't so and Barnes is drawn into a complex set of murders. The sad part is that Richard Hugo died before he could write any other Al Barnes mystery(writing this book surprised himself when he finally came to the conclusion that he could write a mystery and thought maybe there were a few more in him).
April 18, 2013
This is a great read with an outstanding ending. Well written. Some of the best landscape descriptions I've ever read. Hugo was a poet and his ability to put a soft side on a hard crime is very unusual. He was old enough when he wrote this to have seen and heard (and a good poet he paid attention) to some of the very strange people that inhabit Montana (or anyplace else.) I guarantee you will not guess the outcome of this book!
August 25, 2020
I'm a big fan of Hugo's poetry, and I am very familiar with the Montana he writes about. The best parts of this book are the parts where the Montana poet shines -- landscapes and small details of people's behavior. The plot is fine as murder mysteries go, but I really couldn't stand the narrator's constant -- and I mean *constant* -- commentary on how attractive (or, rarely, unattractive) women characters are and his desire and chances of taking them to bed. It just grated on me.
January 20, 2011
Richard Hugo's only published novel. Great good fun. A real thriller. It's also good to see a detective novel with such literary merit and even mention within its pages of poets, etc.
December 23, 2014
Clever murder mystery that takes place in my backyard. The author captures the sense of place of small town Montana in the late 1970s.
August 16, 2022
Recently, the author James Thane gave a presentation at the local library on mysteries set in Montana and this book was one he talked about. I have to admit I have not read any of Hugo’s books of poetry and mainly know of him from his reputation at the University of Montana and because he was a friend and mentor to James Welch (who has written the preface to this edition). Although Barnes is not a hard boiled detective, it seems to me the book takes much of its inspiration from Hammett and Chandler. It would have been interesting to see the Barnes character develop over time, if Hugo had lived to write a series. The book’s strengths are the writing, especially character descriptions, and sense of place, but as the murders pile up, the plot and ending left something to be desired.
September 11, 2024
I enjoyed the author's poetry about the Isle of Skye and was excited to read a mystery novel written by a poet. I disliked the writing style, the prose, the characters, and weird sexualization being constantly used about the women. It was unpleasant to read from start to finish.
August 8, 2017
I so enjoyed. I reserve 4 star mysteries for Agatha primarily, but this fella took me for a good ride and I wouldn't mind going again!
December 16, 2017
One of my favorite poets tried his hand at hardboiled prose. It read a bit like Hugo's pal James Crumley, with some of the rougher edges sanded down.
February 13, 2024
Very well written. Great mix of mystery and odd sexual humor.
June 19, 2024
Goed vertier.
July 14, 2011
A homicide detective from Seattle is transplanted to an area near Missoula, Montana and is enjoying a quoted life that is short lived because there is a series of murders that disturbs the calm. Deputy Barnes has hisj good points and bad but he is footed in his determination to solve the crimes. He does turn out to be one of those guys who when he is not with the one he loves,loves the one he is with.
December 21, 2009
I'm rereading this because Neil and I are going down to UMWestern to talk to a Montana Mysteries class. They've finished Death and are halfway through Lone Creek so we're talking about both. What I'd forgotten about Death is how absolutely true Dick's voice in the novel is to his voice in life and in his poetry. For those who knew him, it's impossible to read without hearing him. Which is lovely.
January 30, 2010
This Montana writer crafts real believable characters from real small towns in western Montana that I have frequented myself, like Dixon and Lolo and then takes the reader to Portland, OR in the process of solving two gruesome murders. Given to me by my well-read brother who now lives in Bozeman, MT and could pull similar characters from his life and travels there.
September 26, 2011
It definitely comes through that this was a murder mystery written by a poet. I picked it up initially because it was set in Plains, MT and I've driven through that area enough that I was hoping for a bit more of the action to take place there. Still a good read and actually a fairly good twist at the end.
February 6, 2019
It was Dick's great desire to write a tough guy crime novel. This was it. Fun for Portlanders, Seasiders and Gearharters.
After reading Philip Kerr’s novels with Bernie Gunther I wish Hugo had gone on with a follow up story in the NW. Sheriff Al Barnes is such a type.
After reading Philip Kerr’s novels with Bernie Gunther I wish Hugo had gone on with a follow up story in the NW. Sheriff Al Barnes is such a type.
December 22, 2007
one of the better crime novels i've read.
May 21, 2012
Almost 4 stars for this one.
February 11, 2015
Fine read by one of my favorite poets.
September 8, 2015
J ai beaucoup apprécié le personnage , mais la fin m'a semblée bricolée
April 24, 2017
Writing was enjoyable (mostly) by this poet turned novelist. Story ridiculous; didn't take me long to figure it out. Would not recommend it.
Want to read
March 16, 2019Synopsis: Al Barnes is a homicide cop who trades his Seattle beat for a deputy's life in Montana. Then a fisherman and a mill owner are axed.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews