Blood and Guile

by William Hoffman

From the award-winning author
of Tidewater Blood comes a story of
lifelong friendships, valor, and betrayal
that unfolds with deadly calm.
It begins on a hunting trip in the mountains of West Virginia. Walter, Drake, and Cliff have known one another for a lifetime. Blood brothers who have gone their separate ways over the years, they have gathered together again for a weekend of conviviality and the chance to shoot ruffed grouse. During the first morning in the woods, they are confronted with a tragedy. The fourth member of the hunting group--an invited newcomer--is shot and killed by Cliff. This seemingly accidental death is a problem for the local sheriff, and Cliff is called back to the mountains. His story doesn't fit the facts. Determined to help him, and standing in as Cliff's lawyer, Walter finds himself drawn into the investigation, even as he struggles to comprehend the changes in his friends. As the authorities build their case, Walter can no longer deny that all is not what it seems, and his trust in his friends slowly erodes. They have secrets they will not share-secrets that will ultimately tear their friendships apart and set them on a course to disaster. Evocative and suspenseful, Blood and Guile builds with a subtle force to expose the deepest desires buried in the hearts of men.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

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.