Blood and Guile

by William Hoffman

Walter B. Frampton II, Esq., has never been a hunter like his forefathers or even his best friend, Drake Wingo. He'd rather be sipping sour mash whiskey and listening to Mozart. But when Drake and Cliff Dickens, another old friend, ask him along on a grouse-hunting trip, he decides to go. One ruffed grouse is already bagged when Walter and Drake hear three shots -- a distress signal -- from Cliff. The unthinkable has happened -- the fourth member of their group, a quiet, polite stranger who owns the land, has accidentally been shot and killed. But when the details don't quite add up, Walter begins to have his doubts: Was it and accident? Is his friend Cliff a muderer? As events begin to spin out of control, only Walter can find out what really happened that fateful day on the mountain ridge.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 2000

Reviews

[Old Man JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent whodunit mystery by William Hoffman. Hoffman is another Dos Passos Award winner that I can cross off my list to read but I will be, for sure, reading more of his work. This begins as an apparent hunting accident that then turns into a murder case. The protagonist, Walter Frampton, a friend of the accused, is hired to be his attorney and sets out to prove his innocence. The story has several unforseen twists and turns that made it an excellent page turner that I found difficult to put down and read in one sitting. A very enjoyable read.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like William Hoffman's writing. This is the second book of his I've read, the other being Tidewater Blood. It is a mystery, but it isn't formulaic. It's a page turner but not in the sense that the action is breathtaking. It's a page turner because Hoffman's prose is so compelling. I want to read his next sentence, his descriptions of the West Virginia/Virginia country, his descriptions of the people. It's just such a pleasure to read such good writing -- and to get a good story out of it as well. I zipped through this in just a couple days, actually eschewing the boob tube in favor of reading! Gasp!

[Michael Dutchak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Local Virginia author - mystery set in in Richmond and countryside - accidental shooting on a hunting trip - fast read - rated 2.5 in 2001

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walter (Raff) Frampton, Drake Wingo and Cliff Dickens haven been best friends since grade school. Now men in their 30's, the three get together whenever possible and when Drake suggests a grouse hunt at his cabin in West Virginia the friends quickly agree to the weekend vacation. A fourth man, Wendell Ripley, who owns the land on which they are hunting, accompanies the group for the first time. During the hunt a terrible accident occurs when Cliff accidently shoots and kills Wendell. The local police believe that there is more to the incident than what Cliff is telling them and within a few days Cliff is arrested for murder. He calls on Raff, a lawyer, to help defend him but Raff senses there is a secret between Drake and Cliff that is behind the entire hunt. Raff is forced to investigate the lives of his two best friends and he uncovers much more than he bargained for.
This is a well-developed mystery with a good plot and some great writing. I didn't figure it out until the end and it was a pretty good reveal.

[Grey853 · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of those books that really annoyed me on several levels. The main character is flat and unappealing, an emotional one note kind of guy. He's a lawyer who goes hunting with three other men. One of the men is killed in what at first seems to be a hunting accident. However, that turns out not to be the case. Unfortunately, the writing is so bland, it's hard to care.

What bothered me most is how several of the characters pretty much voiced the notion that it's better to be dead than gay. The homophobia was a huge, and I mean huge, turn off to me.

[Kate Foss · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like twists, this is a good pick for you. However, my underlying problem is the outdated assumptions made by the author. That homosexuality should be kept a secret, that people would kill to do some, seems far fetched in this modern age. This was published in 2000, so I'm surprised what an old-fashioned sensibilities are included.

[Estibaliz · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2, porque mantiene la tensión narrativa, aunque en conjunto no sea una historia especialmente memorable.

La peor escena: la del ataque del semental.
La mejor escena: el baile del payaso final.

[David Vanness · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of nine finished during PT recovery.

[Paul Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very literary, but a hard read by a local author.

[Ima · Rating 4 out of 5]

a mysterious story about four old friends that takes place in Virginia and WV, with a noir feeling.