It seemed appropriate, having just moved to Vermont, that I should read one of Archer Mayor’s Joe Gunther mysteries, set in this beautiful state. It turned out to be an excellent story too. This is the second Joe Gunther story, though it seemed that there was already lots of back story, describing people he had upset back in Brattleboro, where he normally works, people both personal and work colleagues.Anyway, in this second book, Joe is seconded up to the “North East Kingdom” of Vermont, an even more remote part of the state than the norm. It is to help out a state’s attorney investigate some fraud, but it will allow him to get some thinking time, and reassess his relationships. He decides to stay in a small village where he used to vacation as a child, and where he had many friends and happy memories. But as he arrives in what should be a quiet area, a fire breaks out and kills five people. Perhaps it’s arson? Joe slips into his erstwhile role as volunteer firefighter, and nearly dies. Then he becomes part of an incredibly complicated network of investigators looking into the fire. Vermont police seem to have a very convoluted hierarchy (or at least they did in 1990, which is when this book is set). When the prime suspect in the potential arson is then found dead, one of Joe’s good friends from childhood becomes the likely suspect, and Joe is reluctantly drawn into a manhunt for an old friend, thus alienating his relationships in the village. Running through the story is the complication of a cult which has bought up half of the real estate in the village, initially bringing some wealth to a very poor area, but now making it even more poor, and creating a great deal of friction in the community. A Massachusetts couple have come to the village looking for their daughter who has been drawn into the cult, and this creates another flashpoint. I liked the book for the story, but also for the evocation of the lifestyle of the people of the North East Kingdom. They have a hard life, but prefer to be left alone, which is becoming less and less of an option. The book did not seem to be dated, even though it is now 25 years old. A good read.
Boy, do I ever like this series. There's something about Joe Gunther, the middle age Everyman cop who's the hero of this series, that is so real it's endearing. The plot in this one presented a complicated cast of miscreants and a number of crimes any of them could have committed. I didn't figure this one out, but Joe did. I love that there are so many more to go, and I'm curious about how the author keeps Joe young...or not. He's well into middle age (early 50's I think) in the first two books. This one was published in 1990. Since there's a new Joe Gunther coming out this year, that would put Joe in his 70's. Hmmmmm. I could look this up, I suppose, but it's more fun to just keep reading. Did I mention what a good series this is?
Do You like book Borderlines (2011)?
On the high side of three stars. I once again enjoyed Mayor's main character, Joe Gunther,and the book's comfortable style of writing. It is always fun to explore a state (or country)you don't know well in a nicely written mystery and the setting in a remote area of Vermont was half the fun of this book. I was a little bothered by the build-up of numerous characters only to have them disappear from the book (or in one case never even appear.). The main issue I had with this book is just a personal one, I don't like books built around cults. That said, I have little doubt that sometime down the road I will happily pick-up the next book in the series.
—Vastine Stabler
Archer Mayor is a new discovery for me and I am SO glad I stumbled across a couple of his books. This was the first that I read and it was fabulous. Since Mr. Mayor lives in Brattleboro, he makes Vermont come alive in a way that someone who doesn't would not be able to do. I have never been to Vermont, but I could vividly see the scenes in my mind. This novel creates a mystifying mix of murders, each level becoming more complex - it is beautifully done and Joe Gunther is a terrific character - complex, insightful and full of the sort of off-beat stuff that makes a good cop character. As he tries to solve first a mysterious fire that resulted in five deaths, then a brutal stabbing, then yet another horrifying death that seems to disrupt the entire flow of the investigation, he is stymied at every turn by members of a group of people who belong to a sect of "back to nature" worshippers, who have rejected all modern conveniences - and refuse to interact with those who do not agree, not even talking to them. To make matters worse, members of the community who lived there before their arrival resent this group and feel they are a cult - there is a lot of tension simmering under the surface. But, don't want to ruin it for you! Just go out and read the book - you won't be sorry!
—Katy
I'd seen a positive review of a book by Mayor, then read here it was #25 (!) in the Joe Gunther series, so while waiting for the CDs to arrive from another branch, went as far back as I could and got Joe #2. Dated but fun. Are there cults and deprogrammers around any more? This was pre-cell phone and NE Vermont was very much a character in the plot. Enjoyable. Maybe not QUITE a four star, but I rounded up.Ready for # 25 (since I have it) but will probably return to previous ones. So nice to find a new series!
—Lynn Pribus
