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Henry Sullivan #1
Hound
"Death was, after all, the way Henry made his living."
A bookhound, Henry Sullivan buys and sells books he finds at estate auctions and library sales around Boston and often from the relatives of the recently deceased. He’s in his late thirties, single, and comfortably set in his ways. But when a woman from his past, Morgan Johnson, calls to ask him to look at her late husband’s books, he is drawn into the dark machinations of a family whose mixed loyalties and secret history will have fatal results.
Hound, the first novel featuring Henry Sullivan, is the debut work of a longtime Boston bookseller. It is a paean to books, bookselling, and the transformative power of the printed word. Even as it evolves into a gripping murder mystery, it is also a reminder that there are still quiet corners of the world where the rhythms of life are calmer, where there’s still time for reading, time for getting out for a beer with friends, time to investigate the odd details of lives lived on the edges of the book world.
As the true story unfolds, its mysteries are also of the everyday sort: love found and love lost, life given and life taken away. At the center is Henry himself, with his troubled relationships and his love of old books. There’s his landlady Mrs. Prowder whose death unsettles Henry’s life and begins the sequence of events that overturns it. There’s the secret room his friend Albert discovers while doing "refuse removal," a room that reveals the story of a woman who lived and loved a century ago.
And throughout the novel are those of us whose lives revolve around books: the readers, writers, bookstore people, and agents—as well as Henry, the bookhound, always searching for the great find, but usually just getting by, happy enough to be in the pursuit.
“McCaffrey, the owner of Boston’s legendary Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop, succeeds in conveying his love of books in his intriguing debut.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Hound is billed as a mystery, and it’s a good one, but its fuse is long and its pace befitting an old bookshop. That’s a good thing. There’s something charismatic and timeless about the way the story builds and McCaffrey opens Henry’s life to the reader. It wasn’t until the action started to heat up about 100 or so pages in that we remembered we were reading a mystery at all. And while we’re a little tired of books about books and the people who love them—which often come off more as marketing initiatives— McCaffrey is never cloying or playing to demographic. He’s just telling a compelling, old-school yarn, the kind of story a man who knows his literature tells.”
—Time Out Chicago
“Vincent McCaffrey’s debut mystery is crammed with stories, with likable, eccentric characters, much like his marvelous Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop—of all the bookstores in the world, the one I still miss most of all. Like all good mysteries, Hound concerns more than murder: it’s rich in detail and knowledgeable asides about bookselling, the world of publishing, and life lived in the pubs, shabby apartments, penthouses, and strange corners of the city of Boston.”
—Kelly Link, author of Pretty Monsters
"McCaffrey's bookseller, Henry Sullivan, is as endearing, frustrating, and compelling a character I've come across in some time. Hound is more than Henry's show, however. It's a slow burn murder mystery, a sharp character study, a detailed exploration of Boston, and a mediation on the secrets of history—both personal and universal. But I'm wasting our precious time trying to pigeonhole his wonderful first novel. Hound is, quite simply, a great book."
—Paul Tremblay, author of The Little Sleep.
Vincent McCaffrey has owned and operated the Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop for more than thirty years, first in Boston, and now online from Abington, Massachusetts. He has been paid by others to do lawn work, shovel snow, paint houses, and to be an office-boy, warehouse grunt, dishwasher, waiter, and hotel night clerk. He has since chosen at various times to be a writer, editor, publisher, and bookseller. He can still remember the first time he sold books for money in 1963—and what most of those books were. Hound is his first novel.
A bookhound, Henry Sullivan buys and sells books he finds at estate auctions and library sales around Boston and often from the relatives of the recently deceased. He’s in his late thirties, single, and comfortably set in his ways. But when a woman from his past, Morgan Johnson, calls to ask him to look at her late husband’s books, he is drawn into the dark machinations of a family whose mixed loyalties and secret history will have fatal results.
Hound, the first novel featuring Henry Sullivan, is the debut work of a longtime Boston bookseller. It is a paean to books, bookselling, and the transformative power of the printed word. Even as it evolves into a gripping murder mystery, it is also a reminder that there are still quiet corners of the world where the rhythms of life are calmer, where there’s still time for reading, time for getting out for a beer with friends, time to investigate the odd details of lives lived on the edges of the book world.
As the true story unfolds, its mysteries are also of the everyday sort: love found and love lost, life given and life taken away. At the center is Henry himself, with his troubled relationships and his love of old books. There’s his landlady Mrs. Prowder whose death unsettles Henry’s life and begins the sequence of events that overturns it. There’s the secret room his friend Albert discovers while doing "refuse removal," a room that reveals the story of a woman who lived and loved a century ago.
And throughout the novel are those of us whose lives revolve around books: the readers, writers, bookstore people, and agents—as well as Henry, the bookhound, always searching for the great find, but usually just getting by, happy enough to be in the pursuit.
“McCaffrey, the owner of Boston’s legendary Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop, succeeds in conveying his love of books in his intriguing debut.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Hound is billed as a mystery, and it’s a good one, but its fuse is long and its pace befitting an old bookshop. That’s a good thing. There’s something charismatic and timeless about the way the story builds and McCaffrey opens Henry’s life to the reader. It wasn’t until the action started to heat up about 100 or so pages in that we remembered we were reading a mystery at all. And while we’re a little tired of books about books and the people who love them—which often come off more as marketing initiatives— McCaffrey is never cloying or playing to demographic. He’s just telling a compelling, old-school yarn, the kind of story a man who knows his literature tells.”
—Time Out Chicago
“Vincent McCaffrey’s debut mystery is crammed with stories, with likable, eccentric characters, much like his marvelous Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop—of all the bookstores in the world, the one I still miss most of all. Like all good mysteries, Hound concerns more than murder: it’s rich in detail and knowledgeable asides about bookselling, the world of publishing, and life lived in the pubs, shabby apartments, penthouses, and strange corners of the city of Boston.”
—Kelly Link, author of Pretty Monsters
"McCaffrey's bookseller, Henry Sullivan, is as endearing, frustrating, and compelling a character I've come across in some time. Hound is more than Henry's show, however. It's a slow burn murder mystery, a sharp character study, a detailed exploration of Boston, and a mediation on the secrets of history—both personal and universal. But I'm wasting our precious time trying to pigeonhole his wonderful first novel. Hound is, quite simply, a great book."
—Paul Tremblay, author of The Little Sleep.
Vincent McCaffrey has owned and operated the Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop for more than thirty years, first in Boston, and now online from Abington, Massachusetts. He has been paid by others to do lawn work, shovel snow, paint houses, and to be an office-boy, warehouse grunt, dishwasher, waiter, and hotel night clerk. He has since chosen at various times to be a writer, editor, publisher, and bookseller. He can still remember the first time he sold books for money in 1963—and what most of those books were. Hound is his first novel.
271 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2009
2 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Vincent McCaffrey
13 books27 followersSince the publication of his debut novel
Hound
in 2009, reviewers have compared McCaffrey's writing to John Dunning, Cliff Janeway, Lisa Lutz, Ross Macdonald, Woody Allen, and Raymond Chandler. Vince's novels have been reviewed by Publisher's Weekly, Crime Spree Magazine, Time Out Chicago, Gumshoe Review, Author Magazine, and Library Journal. His work has been praised by fellow authors Paul Tremblay (
The Little Sleep
), Kelly Link (
Pretty Monsters
), and Anne Fortier (
Juliet
).
Hound
was declared a "Must-Read Book" by the Massachusetts Book Awards.
In his other career, McCaffrey is the proprietor of Avenue Victor Hugo Books, a fixture of Newbury Street in Boston’s Back Bay for 29 years. At one time, the cavernous bookshop held over a quarter-million magazines and over 150,000 used books. Awarded “Best Used Bookstore” multiple times by Boston Magazine, it was truly a book lover's paradise. During its years on Newbury Street, Avenue Victor Hugo also played host to Fiction, Galileo, and Galaxy magazines, all published by McCaffrey.
Recently, Avenue Victor Hugo has reopened its doors in the town of Lee, New Hampshire, just minutes away from the University of New Hampshire. This rebirth of a classic bookstore has been praised by Foster's Daily Democrat , The Boston Globe , and WGBH Boston.
Vince has published several novels. Hound and Slepyng Hound to Wake , two mystery novels about the darker side of bookselling, were published by Small Beer Press. The Dark Heart of Night, and The knight's tale: a story of the future are available through Amazon. The first three chapters of both of these novels are available FREE using the links above.
John Finn , Vince's most recent novel, about a man so lost in his study of the past he may end up losing his life in the present, is also available through Amazon.
Fortunate husband, father, grandfather, and dubious wit, Vince now lives in Lee, New Hampshire and still sells books on weekends.
In his other career, McCaffrey is the proprietor of Avenue Victor Hugo Books, a fixture of Newbury Street in Boston’s Back Bay for 29 years. At one time, the cavernous bookshop held over a quarter-million magazines and over 150,000 used books. Awarded “Best Used Bookstore” multiple times by Boston Magazine, it was truly a book lover's paradise. During its years on Newbury Street, Avenue Victor Hugo also played host to Fiction, Galileo, and Galaxy magazines, all published by McCaffrey.
Recently, Avenue Victor Hugo has reopened its doors in the town of Lee, New Hampshire, just minutes away from the University of New Hampshire. This rebirth of a classic bookstore has been praised by Foster's Daily Democrat , The Boston Globe , and WGBH Boston.
Vince has published several novels. Hound and Slepyng Hound to Wake , two mystery novels about the darker side of bookselling, were published by Small Beer Press. The Dark Heart of Night, and The knight's tale: a story of the future are available through Amazon. The first three chapters of both of these novels are available FREE using the links above.
John Finn , Vince's most recent novel, about a man so lost in his study of the past he may end up losing his life in the present, is also available through Amazon.
Fortunate husband, father, grandfather, and dubious wit, Vince now lives in Lee, New Hampshire and still sells books on weekends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 26, 2021
this is not a great mystery novel, but it is a good read. there are actually a couple of mysteries contained within this small novel, but it is really the story of a man who loves books. the author is himself a bookhound, so naturally he knows his stuff and has an excellent vantage point from which to write this character. people who love books are going to love this book, because his excitement in both reading and hunting them is contagious.mystery novel fans may feel a bit underwhelmed.
the strongest parts are definitely the passages about the book trade. when he is talking about his early years in the book business - the drive he had, his methods for obtaining and assessing books, right down to the mechanics of building the shelving units for maximum salability and display space, and also when he later talks about appraising collections of books - there is a passion that comes through in the writing that is absent from other scenes.
i would love this author to write a book-memoir, like larry mcmurtry has done about his years in the book trade, because these are the kinds of stories that excite me - more than murder, more than brutality, i like to know about where to find good used books!
the rest of the book has its awkward moments - rants on the flaws of the modern age, annoyingly unsophisticated philosophical arguments that remind me of stoned friends in undergrad, details that are given as afterthoughts when they should probably be given more emphasis, weak transitions. but when he is writing about books, this story shines; the parts that are good are very very good:
the secondary mystery is the stronger of the two; the main mystery is fairly pedestrian and any of the character development that involves family or love instead of the passion for books is oddly stilted and not very interesting. but it is definitely worth a read for the booky bits, and the resolution of the secondary mystery.
come to my blog!
the strongest parts are definitely the passages about the book trade. when he is talking about his early years in the book business - the drive he had, his methods for obtaining and assessing books, right down to the mechanics of building the shelving units for maximum salability and display space, and also when he later talks about appraising collections of books - there is a passion that comes through in the writing that is absent from other scenes.
i would love this author to write a book-memoir, like larry mcmurtry has done about his years in the book trade, because these are the kinds of stories that excite me - more than murder, more than brutality, i like to know about where to find good used books!
the rest of the book has its awkward moments - rants on the flaws of the modern age, annoyingly unsophisticated philosophical arguments that remind me of stoned friends in undergrad, details that are given as afterthoughts when they should probably be given more emphasis, weak transitions. but when he is writing about books, this story shines; the parts that are good are very very good:
It was here he had first understood the true smell of books. The peculiar odor of a few pages held open to his nose was already a perfume he had savored. Here, it was the sum of the scent of a million books which once flowed and ebbed on the tide of human inquiry—the aroma mixed with the smell of polished wood, cooled and condensed against the marble floors, arising again around the electric glow of milky orbs in brass bowls, drifting about the green-shaded lights at the tables, and stirred by the brush of wool on the arms of readers lost in a greed for words.
the secondary mystery is the stronger of the two; the main mystery is fairly pedestrian and any of the character development that involves family or love instead of the passion for books is oddly stilted and not very interesting. but it is definitely worth a read for the booky bits, and the resolution of the secondary mystery.
come to my blog! 
October 26, 2009
Hound by Vincent McCaffery
This novel is written by a bookseller about a bookseller, in fact the author is very respected in the industry. There are several mysteries in the book, some solved before they are even thought about. The story is creative and true to the background of both writer and character. This is his first novel featuring Henry Sullivan, the first in a trilogy. Perhaps the character of Henry will advance and grow in future stories.
Do not expect a roller-coaster ride on this one. This book builds slowly, forming each character and location completely. The mysteries are almost background to the characters. The most consistent part that positively glows throughout is Henry's love of books and quotes from many of the old classics. In his work he meets many people with different preferences, different feelings about books. There are readers who have a full-bodied love of reading classics, readers of westerns, unexpected secret lovers of books, and the collectors. I think I would not be too far off the mark to say that the author has lived in this book, it lends so much personality to the books themselves.
The novel is not just about books and the book trade though. It also twists and turns around several love stories, past and present. Many of the characters have connections they are unaware of or have never questioned. There is also the murder of someone very special to Henry. One of the final mysteries begins as a love story after the discovery of letters and pieces of paper stuck in books in a hidden room. As an old mystery, it has its own unique pull, and it's own surprising finish.
Did I like the book? For content, story-telling, learning something new, and characters, yes I did. Expecting a mystery, I had my blinders on evidently because I started reading with a definitive murder mystery as the main theme of the book in my mind. Once I took the blinders off, I found the book enjoyable, but not a "real page-turner". This book does not need to be devoured but savoured slowly. All told, it was an interesting read, I'd recommend it but not for anyone who is looking for instant gratification and action in the mystery department
This novel is written by a bookseller about a bookseller, in fact the author is very respected in the industry. There are several mysteries in the book, some solved before they are even thought about. The story is creative and true to the background of both writer and character. This is his first novel featuring Henry Sullivan, the first in a trilogy. Perhaps the character of Henry will advance and grow in future stories.
Do not expect a roller-coaster ride on this one. This book builds slowly, forming each character and location completely. The mysteries are almost background to the characters. The most consistent part that positively glows throughout is Henry's love of books and quotes from many of the old classics. In his work he meets many people with different preferences, different feelings about books. There are readers who have a full-bodied love of reading classics, readers of westerns, unexpected secret lovers of books, and the collectors. I think I would not be too far off the mark to say that the author has lived in this book, it lends so much personality to the books themselves.
The novel is not just about books and the book trade though. It also twists and turns around several love stories, past and present. Many of the characters have connections they are unaware of or have never questioned. There is also the murder of someone very special to Henry. One of the final mysteries begins as a love story after the discovery of letters and pieces of paper stuck in books in a hidden room. As an old mystery, it has its own unique pull, and it's own surprising finish.
Did I like the book? For content, story-telling, learning something new, and characters, yes I did. Expecting a mystery, I had my blinders on evidently because I started reading with a definitive murder mystery as the main theme of the book in my mind. Once I took the blinders off, I found the book enjoyable, but not a "real page-turner". This book does not need to be devoured but savoured slowly. All told, it was an interesting read, I'd recommend it but not for anyone who is looking for instant gratification and action in the mystery department
October 11, 2012
Meh. I'm not sure why I actually finished reading this, because the mystery just seemed incoherent, and I wasn't fond of any of the characters -- except maybe Morgan, and well, she's the corpse in the mystery. The passion for books shines through, but the rest of it... eh. I'm sort of sorry I bothered getting through to the end of this.
It's not bad, exactly. Just. Boring.
It's not bad, exactly. Just. Boring.
June 22, 2015
If bibliophilia is an illness, then Henry Sullivan is terminal! Books are his work, his life and his love. A book Hound, Henry is a former bookstore employee who now buys and then resells books over the Internet from his home.
A single man in his mid-thirties, Henry’s days are marked by estate sales, library book sales and other quests for saleable books. He enjoys a regular pint and a game of chess with his friend and confidant Albert. He makes the trek across the city of Boston to visit his father whom he seems never to have actually connected with. He shares a passing word with his landlady whom he respects and admires.
His heretofore predictable, mundane life is upturned when his landlady dies. He learns he will soon be losing his rent controlled apartment when her house is sold. This development, though troubling, absolutely pales to insignificance when Morgan Johnson, an old flame, calls him to value her husband’s books. One wonders if he is thinking of rekindling the flame when he learns of Morgan’s death the day after his visit with her. She was an important part of his life in the past and he is profoundly disturbed by her passing. Her collection was very valuable but would someone kill her for it?
In attempting to discover how Morgan died Henry becomes enmeshed in her family’s secrets. She was the second wife of a prominent publisher and traveled extensively. Her family and extended family hid troubles, resentments and deceptions beneath a thin veneer of respectability that their wealth and renown afforded them. Was murder kept in the family as well?
Somewhat reminiscent of John Dunning’s Bookman novels, this is a mystery novel that is more novel than mystery. Literary in both style and subject, Hound is a novel for those who enjoy a more sedately paced story. If you are looking for action you won’t find it here. Filled with anecdotes and asides on bookselling and the love of reading, Vincent McCaffrey’s love for books absolutely drips from the pages. If you share that obsession, then you will be touched and moved by his words.
Vincent McCaffrey is obviously a man so well read that he seems to have gleaned a deep understanding of human nature from his studies. His characters are appealing and sympathetic and his story well plotted.
I look forward to his next novel after what was a most enjoyable debut.
A single man in his mid-thirties, Henry’s days are marked by estate sales, library book sales and other quests for saleable books. He enjoys a regular pint and a game of chess with his friend and confidant Albert. He makes the trek across the city of Boston to visit his father whom he seems never to have actually connected with. He shares a passing word with his landlady whom he respects and admires.
His heretofore predictable, mundane life is upturned when his landlady dies. He learns he will soon be losing his rent controlled apartment when her house is sold. This development, though troubling, absolutely pales to insignificance when Morgan Johnson, an old flame, calls him to value her husband’s books. One wonders if he is thinking of rekindling the flame when he learns of Morgan’s death the day after his visit with her. She was an important part of his life in the past and he is profoundly disturbed by her passing. Her collection was very valuable but would someone kill her for it?
In attempting to discover how Morgan died Henry becomes enmeshed in her family’s secrets. She was the second wife of a prominent publisher and traveled extensively. Her family and extended family hid troubles, resentments and deceptions beneath a thin veneer of respectability that their wealth and renown afforded them. Was murder kept in the family as well?
Somewhat reminiscent of John Dunning’s Bookman novels, this is a mystery novel that is more novel than mystery. Literary in both style and subject, Hound is a novel for those who enjoy a more sedately paced story. If you are looking for action you won’t find it here. Filled with anecdotes and asides on bookselling and the love of reading, Vincent McCaffrey’s love for books absolutely drips from the pages. If you share that obsession, then you will be touched and moved by his words.
Vincent McCaffrey is obviously a man so well read that he seems to have gleaned a deep understanding of human nature from his studies. His characters are appealing and sympathetic and his story well plotted.
I look forward to his next novel after what was a most enjoyable debut.
January 5, 2010
First Sentence: Death was, after all, the way Henry made his living.
Henry Sullivan is a book hound. He buys books at estate and library sales, most often selling them to other dealers and bookstore owners. Morgan Johnson, once his lover now recently widowed, ask Henry to appraise the library of her late husband with plans to donate the collection. When Morgan is found strangled, Henry becomes the initial suspect. Although the police release him from that role, Henry does want to know who killed Morgan.
This is a real book lover’s book. McCaffrey, the author, is the owner of Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop, located for 30 years on Newbury Street in Boston but now an online bookstore. The greatest pleasure, in reading this book, comes from his insights on book lovers—“…The ones who really loved the books liked to browse, dip into a page here and there, and feel the cloth and smell the paper.”--readers, collectors, non-readers—“Maybe some rainy day, they’ll read one of these book and it will change their lives or at least make them want to read another. It’s possible.”—Reader’s Digest editions and a very frank look at the publishing industry.
As a mystery, it’s not particularly strong. The characters are not fully developed. I finished the book not really know who Henry is as a person, but identifying with him as a book lover. The other characters were interesting, but remained enigmatic.
The sense of place is strong when the setting is a room containing books, but although the book is set in Boston—a city I lived in and love—there was no real sense of the city. The mystery is there and interesting but, as befitting the character, not very suspenseful. However, I did very much like the ending.
This is one of those books I find hard to rate. As a mystery on its own, it was only good at best. As homage to those of us who love the written word and the vessels in which they are contained, it was excellent. For me, if McCaffrey writes a second mystery, I shall definitely read it.
HOUND (Ama. Sleuth-Henry Sullivan-Boston-Cont) - VG
McCaffrey, Vincent – 1st mystery
Small Beer Press, 2009, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9781931520591
Henry Sullivan is a book hound. He buys books at estate and library sales, most often selling them to other dealers and bookstore owners. Morgan Johnson, once his lover now recently widowed, ask Henry to appraise the library of her late husband with plans to donate the collection. When Morgan is found strangled, Henry becomes the initial suspect. Although the police release him from that role, Henry does want to know who killed Morgan.
This is a real book lover’s book. McCaffrey, the author, is the owner of Avenue Victor Hugo Bookshop, located for 30 years on Newbury Street in Boston but now an online bookstore. The greatest pleasure, in reading this book, comes from his insights on book lovers—“…The ones who really loved the books liked to browse, dip into a page here and there, and feel the cloth and smell the paper.”--readers, collectors, non-readers—“Maybe some rainy day, they’ll read one of these book and it will change their lives or at least make them want to read another. It’s possible.”—Reader’s Digest editions and a very frank look at the publishing industry.
As a mystery, it’s not particularly strong. The characters are not fully developed. I finished the book not really know who Henry is as a person, but identifying with him as a book lover. The other characters were interesting, but remained enigmatic.
The sense of place is strong when the setting is a room containing books, but although the book is set in Boston—a city I lived in and love—there was no real sense of the city. The mystery is there and interesting but, as befitting the character, not very suspenseful. However, I did very much like the ending.
This is one of those books I find hard to rate. As a mystery on its own, it was only good at best. As homage to those of us who love the written word and the vessels in which they are contained, it was excellent. For me, if McCaffrey writes a second mystery, I shall definitely read it.
HOUND (Ama. Sleuth-Henry Sullivan-Boston-Cont) - VG
McCaffrey, Vincent – 1st mystery
Small Beer Press, 2009, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9781931520591
August 21, 2011
There is a great deal to like about this book, especially if you are a lover of books as Henry Sullivan most definitely is, he is after all a book buyer and seller. Set in Boston there is a lot of local atmosphere to this book, with the Beacon Hill houses to the Brookline part of town, you know that Boston is part of the story just because it is so much a part of Henry's life.
When an old friend/flame of Henry's is killed, just hours after he left her home and her bed, Henry is pulled into the mystery of who killed Morgan, and why? Morgan is the widow of a very popular publisher who has an amazing collection of books that Morgan is planning on donating to a college, all signed, all first editions, all authors that Heber Johnson published in his many, many years as a renowned publisher. So, who has motive? Henry because of his affair with Morgan? Arthur Johnson, the son of Morgan and Heber who is desperately in need of money and doesn't want the books donated but sold so he can have the money? Peter Johnson, the son of Heber's first wife and who has had almost no contact with his father over the years? Someone else that Henry doesn't yet know about?
All of the threads that Henry is following are interwoven in the mystery of a set of letters found in a small, walled off room, in a house that was going to be destroyed. Henry weaves a mystery out of the letters as well as trying to solve the mystery of the murder of Morgan.
Well written, lots and lots of literary allusions, and great characters. I will be reading the next in the series.
When an old friend/flame of Henry's is killed, just hours after he left her home and her bed, Henry is pulled into the mystery of who killed Morgan, and why? Morgan is the widow of a very popular publisher who has an amazing collection of books that Morgan is planning on donating to a college, all signed, all first editions, all authors that Heber Johnson published in his many, many years as a renowned publisher. So, who has motive? Henry because of his affair with Morgan? Arthur Johnson, the son of Morgan and Heber who is desperately in need of money and doesn't want the books donated but sold so he can have the money? Peter Johnson, the son of Heber's first wife and who has had almost no contact with his father over the years? Someone else that Henry doesn't yet know about?
All of the threads that Henry is following are interwoven in the mystery of a set of letters found in a small, walled off room, in a house that was going to be destroyed. Henry weaves a mystery out of the letters as well as trying to solve the mystery of the murder of Morgan.
Well written, lots and lots of literary allusions, and great characters. I will be reading the next in the series.
May 29, 2012
I agree with the other reviewers that as a mystery it's only OK and a little sleepy at times, but as a story meant to connect with booklovers, it's excellent.
Of note, this delightfully scathing critique of Reader's Digest books: "Henry had always imagined that the editorial staff of the Reader's Digest was made up of a menagerie of barely anthropomorphic creatures, missing an arm here, a leg there, this one a hand, that one a foot, some eyeless altogether. Educated by machines in sunless rooms, they must huddle for hours over desks lit by sputtering candles, while fed gruel on paper plates by conveyor belt, the sounds of their own sneezing and coughing absorbed in the hiss of old Muzak tapes from the 1960s playing endlessly. There they took fresh new novels, biographies, and histories and snipped them with the kind of scissors handed out to first-graders, removing any word they thought might offend an imagined public of morons who would be shocked from their intellectual sleep by too many syllables or a colorful four-letter word; cutting chapters that ran more than eight pages, trimming pictures larger than four-by-six inches, all in order to produce shortened versions of popular books which might fit four at a time in the stubby little uniform volumes they called "condensed."
Of note, this delightfully scathing critique of Reader's Digest books: "Henry had always imagined that the editorial staff of the Reader's Digest was made up of a menagerie of barely anthropomorphic creatures, missing an arm here, a leg there, this one a hand, that one a foot, some eyeless altogether. Educated by machines in sunless rooms, they must huddle for hours over desks lit by sputtering candles, while fed gruel on paper plates by conveyor belt, the sounds of their own sneezing and coughing absorbed in the hiss of old Muzak tapes from the 1960s playing endlessly. There they took fresh new novels, biographies, and histories and snipped them with the kind of scissors handed out to first-graders, removing any word they thought might offend an imagined public of morons who would be shocked from their intellectual sleep by too many syllables or a colorful four-letter word; cutting chapters that ran more than eight pages, trimming pictures larger than four-by-six inches, all in order to produce shortened versions of popular books which might fit four at a time in the stubby little uniform volumes they called "condensed."
December 21, 2011
Hound as in bookhound. Throughout this cozy mystery we are constantly reminded of Henry's love of books. Henry is used book dealer in Boston. He is asked to appraise a book collection belonging to Morgan Johnson, recently widowed, and at one time Henry's girl friend. She is planning on donating them to Boston University, but is murdered before this happens. An additional mystery is the disappearance of Helen Mawson in 1915. A walled up room is found in her father's house. More than anything Hound is a "paean" to books. I truly enjoyed it.
September 16, 2009
I liked Henry Sullivan, the main character in this book, and would love to meet him in real life and talk about books. I'd read McCaffrey's next book and the next just to spend more time with Henry. But I wanted to like the story more than I did. The plot kind of went this way and that way and was not nearly as interesting to me as the toss-away subplot of the letters and the secret room. I wish that had been the main story or that McCaffrey had saved it to use for a whole book.
February 6, 2010
Not your typical mystery, which is one reason I enjoyed it so much. Much of the fun involved in reading Hound includes discussions of books, leisurely conversations among friends at a bar, and the interesting wanderings of Henry, a Boston bookseller. Yes, there is a murder to investigate, but the atmosphere of Boston and the characters of the book world make Hound a real treasure.
September 25, 2012
This one starts off a bit dark but if you can make it through the first few chapters, it's well worth it. The main character buys and sells books and is hired to estimate the value of a collection owned by a successful, although deceased, book agent. There are a couple of subplots, including a walled off room found by the hero's friend, interesting and unknown depths to his landlady and some family secrets revealed by an ex-girlfriend.
August 3, 2014
As this story is about a book lover, who buys and sells books I was in straight away! Henry is a likeable character (nicknamed Hound because he ferrets out books) who just wants to be with his books, but gets caught up in a murder (his older lover) as well as trying to solve an age old mystery after finding a letter in a pile of books he is valuing. Realy enjoyed it - apparently there are another 2 in the series. Should be good.
November 18, 2009
A fine biblio-mystery with likable characters, humor and poignancy, and some absolutely wonderful observations and insights on books, people, love, death, and friendship.
November 12, 2010
A very nice mystery for lovers of books. The novel interweaves two mysteries, one that happens during the course of the book and one from the past found in a series a letters and a closed up room.
October 24, 2011
First in an engaging series featuring Henry Sullivan, a thirty something quietly likeable bookhound,who solves more than one mystery while in dogged pursuit of the ever-elusive great find.
June 5, 2022
I liked the writing style and the bookseller (Henry) was pleasant enough to spend 270 pages with. It's not really much of a murder mystery (although one does occur.) More of a look into Henry's life and his dealings with his circle of friends and his remaining family. Except for one really boring passage of his inner thoughts during a chess game, it was an okay read, especially if you like books and especially if you are a Bostonian.
Read
October 26, 2017DNF.
I got maybe 1 chapter in. All the blurb elements told me to check this out of the library: mystery, bookshop, city as character - that's all I need. But I found myself picking other books up off the shelf, and I'm going to release this back into the wild.
I got maybe 1 chapter in. All the blurb elements told me to check this out of the library: mystery, bookshop, city as character - that's all I need. But I found myself picking other books up off the shelf, and I'm going to release this back into the wild.
January 22, 2026
Definitely reads like literary fiction and not the mystery genre whatsoever, but a decent read that kept my attention and provoked deep thoughts. The ending felt a little lackluster/anticlimactic/disjointed/wandering, but the beginning and middle felt solidly engaging.
July 2, 2019
The first in the Henry Sullivan series and might be my favorite. A fun mystery that weaves through the book world of Boston with a bounty of references that will entertain any lover of literature.
December 29, 2021
Do not be put off by the title if you are not a dog person because this book is really about book stores and book selling with a bit of a mystery mixed in.
May 31, 2011
Overall, this was an OK mystery. The main character is a dealer in used books, and all of the parts concerning the book business were very interesting. The main character has his moments, but the mystery itself was a bit blah and events occurred that seemed very unbelievable to me.
If you are a lover of books and mysteries, Hound is definitely worth a read. I've often found that mystery writers hit their stride with a series around the third book, so it's possible the next book in the series will build on the strengths of this one (the first).
If you are a lover of books and mysteries, Hound is definitely worth a read. I've often found that mystery writers hit their stride with a series around the third book, so it's possible the next book in the series will build on the strengths of this one (the first).
September 15, 2009
I think McCaffrey has potential, but needs more practice. Wish there had been more information shared about Helen Mawson, author of the letters found in the attic room; she sounded more interesting than the contemporary murder mystery. Sorry, but it seemed that Henry made being a "book hound" sound like a really boring pursuit, when I know it could be more exciting and interesting.
November 18, 2009
This one I didn't even finish. I lost interest in the plot, the characters and everything in it. The author might be a very good bookseller; but a writer, he's definitely not. I never got the "mystery" part in it (I read well after half of the book) and I could never remember who was who. I say: don't waste your time with this one; there are too many good books out there waiting to be read...
December 15, 2009
Enjoyable read, a bit different from the average mystery. The observations of long-standing friendships are well done. I like the fact that hero stayed human-scale, bumbling into the detective role by happenstance, not through an excess of testosterone. Any book lover will enjoy this glimpse into the world of book selling, to boot.
Read
July 27, 2009review forthcoming!
October 14, 2009
Nice subtle characterizations and interplay of A storyline and B storyline.
June 28, 2010
A really good read that will have you thinking long after the last page. Can't wait to share it with my book club.
July 20, 2010
bookseller and collector
February 28, 2011
McCaffrey too often has gaps in his plot that leave the reader wondering what just happened.
June 4, 2011
An OK mystery - but it is about books, so I liked it a little more.
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