The Rat Catcher: Hugo August Detective Series, Book One

by Rebecca Barrett

In the fall of 1968, what passes for winter is coming to the heart of the deep South. And so are death, deception, draft evasion, drugs, and heartache. Hugo August has come home, or at least the nearest thing to a home he has ever known. As a newly minted detective in the police department, he must investigate the murder of a wealthy socialite. The appearance of Bebe Prescott, the forbidden fruit of Hugo’s late-night longings and lifelong obsession, complicates the case. A product of the Catholic orphanage, Hugo is well aware of the social stratification of Mobile society. Bebe is as far removed from his reality as the moon, and yet, they have always had chemistry. Spurred by a desire for justice and to prove his worth, Hugo must wade through the complications of the wealthy family’s business, social connections, dark secrets, and often tragic history while guarding his own demons. Begin the first book in the Hugo August Detective Series today!

354 pages, Paperback

Published May 24, 2023

About the author

Rebecca Barrett writes historical fiction, the Hugo August Detective series, cozy mysteries, children’s stories, and short stories of life in the South. An avid reader all her life and a product of “front porch” socializing, she became a story-teller at an early age.

She resides in the lovely artist colony of Fairhope, AL, on the shores of Mobile Bay where she draws inspiration and joy.

Visit the author's website rebeccabarrett.com to enjoy some of her short stories.

Reviews

[Carrie Dalby]

Great detective yarn set in 1968 Mobile, Alabama, with a Southern Gothic edge. Well paced and excellent cast of characters. Hugo is book boyfriend material--flaws and all. Looking forward to the next book.

[Joy Allyson]

Vietnam vet and PTSD sufferer, Detective August Hugo, returns to Mobile, Alabama, in the late 60s after a five-year absence. His first case, the death of an elderly lady who dies in her rocking chair, proves to be far from routine. Who would have believed her mysterious passing would involve boatloads of rare gold coins, the Catholic Church, the local orphanage, debutantes, Old Mobile society, muscle cars, and suppressed and not-so-suppressed sex! Move over, Kathryn Stockett; make room for another excellent Southern period drama writer! I couldn't put it down!

[Sharon]

4.5/5 Stars

I met Rebecca Barrett at a writers' conference in 2018, at which time I discovered her delightful Trouble in Paradise cozy. I loved her authorial style, so I was thrilled to receive "The Rat Catcher" in a goodie bag at another conference earlier this year.

This is a very different book from Barrett's cozies, very much hard-boiled noir. Vietnam Era vet turned detective Hugo August is back in his hometown (Mobile, Ala.) and catches a suspicious death case. The tricky bit is that he was once in love with one of the deceased woman's family members -- and Bebe Prescott is now a suspect in Ruth Camden's death.

As Hugo and his partner, Junior Knight, try to find out whodunnit, they also become embroiled in looking for Ruth's nephew, Archie, who is AWOL from the Army ... and it seems that Bebe may be involved in that matter as well.

And then potential witnesses start to disappear.

There are more twists and turns than a winding country road in this book, and sometimes I had to re-read something to make sure I really had understood it. All in all, this is more of a thriller than a fair play puzzle, although there are a smattering of clues along the way that suddenly make sense when the case all comes together.

Overall, if you like your mysteries a little on the dark side, this will suit you to a tee.

[Mac]

Hugo August is my kind of detective. He has his fair shares of flaws but that helps make him good at his job. Old Mobile holds all the charms of New Orleans along with murder, Mardi Gras and deceit. Back in his hometown after serving a tour in Viet Nam he's surprised the case he's sent out on has ties to the girl he left behind and her Old Mobile family. Mobile society is good at hiding secrets as Hugo knows but he's going to discover a few new surprises along the way to solve this murder.

[Nancy]

I enjoyed this book from beginning to the very end ! The author, Rebecca Barrett takes you on a mystery ride along with telling about Mobile, Alabama.
Can't wait for "She Had To Die"