Death at the Black Bull

Sheriff Virgil Dalton Mysteries #1

by Frank Hayes

Hayward is a sleepy Southwestern town full of cattle, trucks, and tumbleweeds. Virgil Dalton’s been the sheriff for over a dozen years and has lived there all his life. It’s a place where everybody pretty much knows everybody—but they don’t know each other’s secrets…
 
Buddy Hinton is just a good ole boy. So when he disappears after a night drinking at the Black Bull, his friends just figure he went down to Mexico to find himself a girlfriend and eventually will come back. But this case quickly becomes a homicide after the sheriff discovers the missing man floating in one of his stock tanks.
 
For a man who wasn’t known to have enemies, Buddy clearly upset someone. Figuring out who that was will require Virgil and his deputy, Jimmy, to retrace Buddy’s last steps—and to remain a step ahead of a murderer who may have no qualms about killing again …

Genres: Mystery, Crime

312 pages, Paperback

First published October 7, 2014

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like mysteries set in the southwestern part of the U.S., you should like this book. The same goes for mysteries with interesting characters that you would read the next book in the series to catch up on their lives. This book has both plus scene setting desert descriptions. You find yourself there. As I neared the end of the book, I thought this would make a very good tv series. I can see actors wanting to play the meaty character parts in the book.

The town is Hayward that is set somewhere is the southwest. It has been a sleepy town with small town problems in the past. Now bigger city problems are starting to arrive there. Sheriff Virgil Dalton is understaffed but is more than able to take on these problems. His staff are as interesting as he is. There are scenes when he arrives at home after a hectic day that I think most could relate too. It is good to be home! There is a mare and her colt that one cares about. Virgil is a fair and caring sheriff. He looks out for the under dog. A likeable town person goes missing and this starts the story. I should mention too, his grandfather and Cesar are very likeable interesting characters and mainstays in Virgil's life. I always liked the parts when Virgil visited his grandfather. There was always humor and wisdom shared. I am looking forward to reading the next book.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vergil Dalton has been a Texas sheriff for twelve years, following in the footsteps of his father. Unlike the world in which his father lived, Vergil's world is a tougher place for a sheriff, full of uglier crimes. One of them is signaled by Vergil's discovery of a body in a stock tank on his ranch. It turns out to be the body of someone he knows pretty well, and its discovery puts Vergil into motion. It soon becomes apparent that he's has a good head for tracking criminals, being smart and determined, as the rest of the novel (the start of a series, I'd guess) shows. Other deaths follow, and family secrets get shared. Vergil is a good character, as are the deputies who work for him, his dispatcher, and the man who practically raised him, Carlos. I expect that they'll grow deeper following this very good first novel.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire is my favorite sheriff, so when I come across a new one, I have to see how he measures up to Walt. I think Walt and Virgil would get along just fine. Dalton calls himself a half-breed, he considers an old Mexican man who is the foreman on his ranch to be his second father, and his grandfather lives in a trailer way out in the back of beyond. He doesn't miss much. He doesn't say much. And he certainly gets the job done. He knows his town isn't the "old yellow dog" town anymore, and he doesn't back down when it comes to demanding the city fathers chase the moths out of their wallets to get him the help he needs.

Most importantly, the thing that won me over was how Dalton treats the people around him. He treats them with respect, and he doesn't ignore people everyone else has decided are "throwaways." A case in point is his deputy, Jimmy. Jimmy had an extremely abusive childhood, and most folks in town think he's not worth much... in fact he may even be a bit slow. But Virgil knows the life Jimmy has led, and he's spent time with the young man, listened to him, talked with him, and taught him things he needs to know. As a result, Jimmy could very well turn out to be an exemplary lawman. Dalton is in the Harry Bosch camp: everyone counts, or no one counts, and I like that.

Yes, as I read Death at the Black Bull, I fell for Virgil Dalton. I also fell for Frank Hayes' writing. The descriptions of the desert setting are evocative, and he's got a knack for making readers care about his characters. I spent most of the book wondering if the bad guy(s) would find Dalton's grandfather, if something would happen to the sheriff's beloved horse or to the old Mexican Cesar or to Jimmy. I seldom ever spend so much time feeling nervous while I'm reading a book. But it was a good nervous. Know what I mean?

There's only one thing that made me roll my eyes, but I can't really say anything about it without giving away major plot points. I'll just let you wonder about it. I expected Death at the Black Bull to be good, but I was very pleasantly surprised by how good it really is. Now I have to get my hands on a copy of the next book in the series, Death on the High Lonesome. I'm looking forward to my next date with Virgil Dalton.

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started a little slow but then it picked up enough for me to want to finish it. Overall a decent read. The main character in this book is very similar, I think, to the main character in the Jeff Carson David Wolf series. Both are very likable.

[Reggie Billingsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is SUCH a relief! Thank God Frank Hayes (a former English teacher who actually practices what he preaches) can write wonderfully and his good wife had the sense to hand him that notepad to get his 'retirement' career launched. Even in the first few paragraphs the reader knows this is craftsmanship at its best and can relax and enjoy the ride.

I am not interested in Westerns per se. I could care less about the west, or cowboys or anything about that culture. In fact only the reference to the redoubtable late Tony Hillerman on a cover blurb coaxed me into giving this one a try. Coming off a slog through some especially hideously written 'cosies' that should never have seen the light of day, imagine my sweet discovery that "Death at the Black Bull" towers above as what real (can a Western be exquisite?) sound, compassionate and insightful writing can be.

And here's a turn-up: I type these paragraphs while I have just started this book and already I am praising it. I shall return with a conclusion, but in the meantime...it looks so very good I wish I could reach into the ethernet and firmly shake Mr Haye's hand!

This is gonna be gooooooood!

...Okay .... Only one day later and I can honestly say I couldn't put this one down for long.

I would search out this author's work any day. The characters were entirely realistic and the plot was honest...which means while there is a realistic tragedy reflected in the past and a sadly but typically gruesome contemporary tragedy as well, there is enough tension to satisfy. Most appreciated by me: the reader is not sucker punched with the gratuitous death of a main character but kept wondering until the final twist in the end.

Deftly handled atmosphere and nuanced description without the stereotypical and overdone sympathetic weather syndrome of weaker less talented writers. For so many of those wretches I would love to say...go get this book, read it and learn from a master.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

This is a great debut from Frank Hayes!

He has created a wonderful character in Virgil Dalton. Virgil is half Native American and in addition to being the Sheriff of Hayward he is also a rancher and a lawyer. When Buddy Hinton disappears he thinks the guy has just run off but when his body is found he soon realizes big town trouble has come to the little town of Hayward.

All the clues lead back to the Black Bull, a local watering hole for ranch hands on and off for 30 years. With the help of his small band of deputies and insight from his ranch manager, Cesar, and his grandfather that lives on the reservation, Virgil starts to put the pieces together and uncovers more than a few secrets.

I was in the mood to read something a little different so I grabbed this book and once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. Hayes is a terrific storyteller. He is a very descriptive writer. I felt like I was watching a movie instead of reading a book. He also fleshed out his characters in a way that truly engaged me as a reader. The final twist was a real shocker too! This really can’t be Frank Hayes first novel. He is definitely an author to watch.

[M. Sprouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Hayes may not be Walt Longmire, but to steal and change a phrase from the "Wild Bunch", "He'll Do". Frank is not quite the man's man that Walt is but in many ways he's more human and believable. This book wasn't as deep as the Longmire books I've read, but that like saying a specific fish is big, but not as big as Moby Dick.

So why compare? This book stands alone as a neat mystery with a nice twist at the end. I found it engaging, witty and entertaining. The character development was exquisite and that helped the reader get a feel for the time and place. Maybe this novel is not outstanding, just solidly good.

[Spenser · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars ~ Good solid initial outing for Mr Hayes and Sheriff Virgil Dalton. Hayes has a good leading character to build on with this series. Unfortunately, I only see one follow-up book and it is from 2015. Hopefully Hayes has the ability to keep it going but that's a long lay off after book 2. This book was interesting and kept me rooting for the Walt Longmire-like Sheriff. Not as good as Longmire, but still worth the read. The story seemed to run out of a some steam towards the end.

[Joan Skinner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read! Kudos to the author for his first book! Sheriff Virgil ends up trying, and succeeding, to solve ultimately three murders. In between he gets romantically involved with a bar owner. It ends up that she is part of a conspiracy to traffic human organs. And he finds out that he has a daughter he hadn’t known about.

[John Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked the mystery and the setting. I’m always attracted to books, especially mysteries, that are set in the American Southwest. The reason this book only gets 3.5 stars is the overuse of snarky dialogue. It quickly became wearying.

[Michael Quillin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, not quite the humor of the Longmire series, but plot and characters keep you involved.

[Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good small-town Sheriff procedural. Slow and languid in a good way that captures the locale.

[Smitten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on Smitten by Books Blog

Sheriff Virgil Dalton has lived in his home town of Hayward his whole life and is proud to now be serving that town as the sheriff. His latest investigation is discovering what happened to Buddy Hinton, who seems to have vanished after an evening of drinking at a local bar called the Black Bull. Buddy’s disappearance is puzzling because Buddy is a good guy. He doesn’t seem the type to just leave, and he doesn’t have any known enemies. What begins as a baffling case of a missing person becomes an even more complex murder investigation when the sheriff finds Buddy’s body in one of his own cattle stock tanks. Buddy and his deputy, Jimmy, are on the case and are determined to find justice for Buddy, even when the case becomes even difficult and downright dangerous!

This book is set in a small town in the southwestern United States. Unless I missed it, I don’t think the state was ever given, but it sounds like Arizona. I was hoping it would be more like a Tony Hillerman or C.J. Box novel, but although it’s a modern story, because of the mood and the writing, it reads more like a western. It took a while for me to get used to the matter-of-fact writing style of the author. The narrative is sometimes choppy and the dialogue is sometimes stilted. However, there are times when the author impresses with his clever phrasing that makes the book relatable and realistic. For example, I love this description of a wannabe NASCAR racing team.

“…the problem was his boys were long on wanting and short on reliable.”

Once the story gained momentum and I was more accustomed to the way the author tells the story, I enjoyed the suspense in seeing how Virgil would solve the crime while dealing with a variety of personal issues. The book was loaded with unique characters that still seem like “real people”. They work for a living, have complex interactions, and believable flaws. I like the partnership between Virgil and his deputy Jimmy. Virgil is a respected mentor for Jimmy and Jimmy is someone Virgil knows he can trust. When health issues force Virgil to rely more on his deputy, this allows Jimmy to gain experience and confidence in his own abilities, and I enjoy seeing Jimmy’s growth. In addition to Virgil and his deputy, Jimmy, I really like Virgil’s Aunt Clara. Clara is an octogenarian who still gardens in the hot Southwest sun, cools down with a glass of vodka-spiked lemonade, and isn’t afraid to give her nephew advice on his sex life. I wish she had played a bigger role in the book, because she is a delightful character.

The investigation is interesting and there are plenty of red herrings to keep the reader guessing. I came to care about Virgil and was very interested in the unexpected twists in Virgil’s life and am curious to see how those may play out if there is a sequel to this book. The solution to the case is unexpected, but after the long build-up, falls a little flat. The book gets off to a slow start, but those looking for something a little different may want to try this debut crime novel by Frank Hayes.


Reviewed by Christine

[Gloria Feit · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this debut novel from Frank Hayes, we are introduced to Virgil Dalton, past forty and a life-long resident of the Southwestern town of Hayward, where he has been sheriff for over a dozen years. The run-of-the-mill crimes with which Virgil and his mentee and deputy, Jimmy, usually have to handle bear no relation to Virgil’s discovery of the body of a dead man, also a long-time resident and known and well-liked by all (or nearly all, it would appear). The man had not been seen since his usual night drinking at the Black Bull, a local drinking establishment/roadhouse frequented by most of the residents, Virgil included.

Hayward, the county seat, has a small population and one traffic light to brag about, and as with many such towns near the Mexican border, harbors a common prejudice against those born in Mexico, in the US illegally or deemed “half-breeds” among their less enlightened neighbors. Virgil himself is a half-breed, although indigenous and with a good education, including a law degree.

The murder does not appear to Virgil to have been a random act, and Virgil becomes more and more convinced there is much more to it than a single lethal act, and determines to try to get to the bottom of what motivated the crime. “For him, this investigation had suddenly turned into more than he had expected, more than just a killing in a small town.”

The writing is beautiful, e.g., the night when the dead man’s body is found is, for Virgil, an evening when “the earth held its breath in expectation,” and he has “an innate sense of premonition. When he had ignored such thoughts, or passed them off as coincidence, they had always come back to haunt him, so he had learned to live with them. Never confortably. Always reluctantly.” He looks up at “a night sky that couldn’t hold another star. . . He breathed deep the smells of the ranch . . . the mixed perfume was more than green grass, cut hay, and manure. It was home.” The author can take his place in the landscape of the Far West staked out by Tony Hillerman and, more recently, his daughter, Anne Hillerman, as well as Craig Johnson.

“Death at the Black Bull is a very satisfying read, and is recommended.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Death at The Black Bull" by Frank Hayes is a crime thriller set in the American Southwest and a very good one.
I got the book from the local library after a saw an ad for the second book in the series. The blurbs for the first book were quite good, so I thought that I give it a try, if I could find it. One blurb said, "Move over, Walt Longmire...." Well, this is a big step above that western crime Series, IMO. I think "Death At the Black Bull" ranks right up there with the crime novels set in Wyoming by C.J. Box, and as you know if you have read any of those novels-and you really should- that is high praise.
The main character is , I think, more interesting and deeper than Longmire, as is the supporting cast , which is somewhat reminiscent of the Jesse Stone supporting cast.: a green deputy who hero worships the sheriff and a feisty older woman office manager who definitely does not, to bring some humor into the story. The author' s description of the stark beauty of the desert southwest and it's different ethnic groups brought back good memories of my travel there.

The story begins as a young deputy sheriff brings a report to the sheriff, Virgil Dalton, that a young man is missing.the case seemed stalled with no trace of the man's truck, , no body found, nothing, until one morning when the sheriff is riding his horse around ranch and finds his cattle refusing to go near a watering tank. Odd. The reason is the tank contains the swollen body of the missing man.
That is the basic set up to a tight, eventful novel. There is a big, wealthy ranch run by a matriarchal woman who dominates he remaining son, and who was Virgil's girlfriend's mother before she was killed in an accident. Naturally, the mother blames Virgil for taking her away. There is that dead young man whom everybody liked- why was he murdered? He worked for the big ranch's trucking operation that went on regular delivery trips across the border. Did that mean anything?
The plot builds to a good climax and the book is a reward for any lover of crime stories. Recommended.
Some romantic sex scenes, not explicit. Violence, but not gore.

[Grey853 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Virgil Dalton is the sheriff in Hayward, a small southwestern town. The usual crimes include vandals or a few missing cows. Nothing much ever happens and Virgil likes it that way. Things change when his deputy Jimmy reports a missing Buddy Hinton. Buddy is well liked and has a lot of friends, but drove away one night and never made it back home. After searching for several days, Virgil finds Buddy's body floating in Virgil's stock tank, the tank used to water his cattle and horses.

Once he starts to investigate, he also finds the bodies of two migrant workers. They've been shot and beheaded, an obvious warning to someone. During the case Virgil also suffers personal health issues, but he continues to push on, putting himself and others in great danger. There are very dark forces working against him to hide their crimes.

There a myriad of twists in this page turner. It's full of great characters and is deftly plotted. I started it and finished in one sitting, something that doesn't happen that often anymore.

I'm shocked that this is the first novel for Frank Hayes. This is an amazing start for what I hope is a long and productive career.

Also, if you Walt Longmire books written by Craig Johnson, you'll likely enjoy this book.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sheriff Virgil Dalton, half Native American and half white, is a riveting main character. A lawyer, a rancher, a small town sheriff, he is close to his maternal grandfather and the reservation on which the man lives. The ranch ties him to his father. His Mexican second father, an illegal immigrant, ties him to his values. When a townsman is murdered in an unpleasant manner, Virgil begins to investigate. His questions will take in to The Black Bull, a drinking establishment where the dead man spent his last night as well as to the ranch of the town's leading family. A family bitter against the sheriff because of his father and his former relationship with a dead girl. The twists and turns of Virgil's probing open old wounds, lead to threats, more deaths, and arson. I could not put this book down.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Buddy Hinton vanished from the Black Bull bar, his friends figured he'd come back when he was ready--but then the sheriff, Virgil, finds his body in a stock tank, so the homecoming isn't anything like they hoped.

This isn't going to be an easy case for Virgil and his deputy, Jimmy. There's little clear motive, and Buddy's actions on his last day are murky at best. It isn't going to be easy to unravel this mystery--and ensure no one else dies.

A typical sort of darker mystery, with a small town setting with dangerous secrets. This book has plenty of lies and puzzles to keep the reader guessing, but there's some gender roles that didn't quite speak to me. A bit old fashioned, so if that's what you like, this story should make you happy.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Hayes, a Hudson River Valley high school teacher, has a solid debut with his first Virgil Dalton mystery.

Dalton is a likeable sheriff in a Southwestern town that is going through some big changes. During his 12 years as sheriff, the town has grown from the days when a lone yellow dog could fall asleep in the middle of main Street.

It's still the kind of town where everyone knows everyone and nobody can keep a secret.

Until Buddy Hinton goes missing after a night of drinking with his buddies at the Black Bull. Suddenly, the stakes are higher and the small town sheriff is left to ponder some big city issues.

I grew to like Dalton and the other characters more as the book progressed. That's a good sign. I'll be waiting to read the second book.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an assured debut by an author whom I hope to read more from. The only reason it is a 3-star vs. 4-star rating is due to the fact the ending was a bit too pat and the reader can figure out the who-dunnit, if not the why-dunnit before the ending. The main character is likeable and smart, someone you'd want to have your back if you are in trouble. The locale is sharply drawn and vivid, easily evoking Hayward's small-town environs. Well-drawn supporting cast bolsters an all-around entertaining read. If you are a fan of Craig Johnson, John Hart, Terry Shames, I think you'll easily enjoy Frank Hayes.

[DeeNeez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Virgil Dalton has been a sheriff of a small southwestern town for twelve years. A small town, small sheriffs office, and usually small troubles. But now he faces murders that bring big city crime to his under staff office. You can't help but love the characters. Virgil has a scarred history of lost love and lost family. And his loyalties run deep with those he's befriended.

This book was well written, and on par with Craig Johnston's Longmire series. I would definitely recommend this book. And I will defiantly read the next in this series.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start to a new series filled with some fun characters centered around a small town sheriff. In this one a body is found in a stock tank and the sheriff has to get the ball rolling before too many more bodies start to pile up. Ignore a lot of cover hype and this turns out to be a very well written first novel. Seriously, a lot of those cover comments have to be paid for. I have seem some that practically call "this new author" the messiah of the tomes. On that note this author does write very well and I would gladly take on any new books written about Sheriff Virgil Dalton.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Half Native American sheriff Virgil Dalton, like his father before him, keeps the piece in his rural county, until Buddy Hinton goes missing. A popular kid, Buddy has no problems at home or with his friends that would cause his death. So Virgil logically enough looks at his workplace. But Buddy worked for the Haywards, the rich and prominent family with whom Virgil's life is strangely intertwined.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheriff Virgil Dalton is in for some surprises when Buddy Hinton disappears. First he finds the body of the man in one of his stock troughs. Then a couple of pecan pickers disappear. The mother of his deceased flame reveals a secret after he becomes involved with the female owner of a bar. The Black Bull appears to be the center of everything happening. If you like the Longmire stories you will enjoy this work of literature.

[Jeri Gabrielson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Virgil Dalton is a small town sheriff and rancher. After finding the body of a long time friend in the cattle trough of his cattle in the hills, the community is rocked. There is more to this mystery than a simple murder. Hayes, in his debut novel, gives us a twisted tale of long time secrets, and some new ones as well.

[Laurie P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in a small southwestern town, the main characters in this well-written book are likeable, and feel real. This reminded me of Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire series, as well as William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor series, where you become completely immersed in the lives of the characters.

[Doug]

Virgil Dalton, sheriff in a small southwestern town,starts an investigation when Buddy Hinton disappears. A good story with good characters but what I liked most about the book is the descriptions on life on the ranch and the interactions with the horses.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first novel with first novel rough spots, but an incredibly good read all the same. Sheriff Virgil Dalton finds the body of a missing man floating in his stock tank. Everyone like Buddy, so who would kill him? And why?

[Audrey Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great western mystery and police procedural. Fans of Craig Johnson will appreciate this new writer on the block.

[Clashton · Rating 2 out of 5]

More-or-less ok, but the resolution was a bit hackneyed.