The Second Mouse

Joe Gunther #17

by Archer Mayor

The Second Mouse takes Joe Gunther and his team off their Brattleboro home turf, forty-two miles west, to chip-on-its-shoulder, blue collar Bennington.In Wilmington, VT, Gunther encounters the lifeless body of Michelle Fisher. Her corpse, pale and seemingly at peace, offers him no clues about who she was or how she died. There are no signs of violence, no disorder. Snapshots and postcards show a woman who laughed hard and lived harder. Yet diaries reveal a rootless life marred by depression and drink. Suicide seems a reasonable conclusion, but Gunther suspects foul play. The house is for sale, after all, and Michelle was its only tenant, resisting all efforts to have her evicted. The unsavory landlord is a prime suspect, but safely equipped with an impressively air-tight alibi.To uncover the truth about the fate of this discarded, all but forgotten woman, Gunther must follow a confusing trail of half leads and mounting crimes. He draws near to a violent and careless trio of criminals, whose leader is hell bent on making the career move of a lifetime—disregarding anyone in his way.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Audiobook, Procedural, Detective, Mystery Thriller

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Over the years, Archer Mayor has been photographer, teacher, historian, scholarly editor, feature writer, travel writer, lab technician, political advance man, medical illustrator, newspaper writer, history researcher, publications consultant, constable, and EMT/firefighter. He is also half Argentine, speaks two languages, and has lived in several countries on two continents.

All of which makes makes him restless, curious, unemployable, or all three. Whatever he is, it’s clearly not cured, since he’s currently a novelist, a death investigator for Vermont’s medical examiner, and a police officer.

Archer has been producing the Joe Gunther novels since 1988, some of which have made the “ten best” or “most notable” lists of the Los Angeles and the New York Times. In 2004 Mayor received the New England Booksellers Association book award for fiction.

Intriguing plots, complex characters, and a vivid landscape are the foundation of Archer Mayor's award-winning New England thrillers.

Reviews

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good entry in the Joe Gunther series. Joe takes over an investigation from the State police which at first seems "odd". We meet plenty of local bad guys, some of whom are truly evil, others are just followers. The tale has a surprise ending that makes sense, not just tacked on to jerk the reader around. Recommended, especially to Gunther fans.

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, Mayor’s descriptions of Vermont, and the character of Joe Gunther hold my interest most. This story had an interesting, unexpected plot twist. Though it came out of nowhere, Mayor made it work.

[Richard Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe Gunther steps into another agency’s investigation of a young woman’s death; it seems like a natural death, but something bother’s Joe; the investigation leads to a link with three low level baddies, one of whom is getting badder, but the link isn’t what it seems to be. Very readable as always.

April 25, 2023: Maggee was leaving for Vancouver this morning so we (she, Lutrecia and me as reader-alouder) pushed on into the evening yesterday to get this book finished. This time around, I found it a bit confusing to keep the relationships between some of the characters clear, but that may be just the fact that my brain is that much older. I would have like to see a bit more closure with Nancy. But, all in all, an enjoyable read-aloud.

This was book #19 on our 2023 Read-alouds With Lutrecia List and book #22 on our own 2023 Read-alouds List.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading!

As usual, Archer Mayor has written a well designed, thoroughly thought out story that keeps the reader on the edge right up to the end. I am so excited to say I have the entire collection and am reading them in order. It widens the scope of the story to include Joe Gunther's personal life with Gail Zigman, his longtime friend and lover, so the reader can follow their viewpoint of their relationship and the how and why of its degeneration. Joe's longtime "lust in hiding" finally comes to fruition with a respected profession colleague. He has new, and old, surprises to come! I am excited as I begin book number nineteen! If you are an avid reader of mystery crime, once you begin you won't want to leave the story!

[Jill Manske · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Second Mouse" should probably rate 3.5 stars. It's an interesting story with strong characters, featuring Joe Gunther, one of the most likable and personable detectives you're likely to find in fiction. Gunther, the leader of the elite major-crimes unit in the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, happens upon a death that at first appears to be from natural causes. But his detective intuition tells him to look deeper. And the more he and his unit shake the trees, the more puzzling pieces fall out. While the storyline is a bit predictable, it's told with such feeling that I didn't really mind. This is definitely not a suspenseful book, but it's a good, solid read.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Archie Mayor is a new author to me. His character, Joe Gunther, is an investigator with the Vermont Bureau of Investigations. I found this book to be interesting, and I enjoyed his characters. Apparently this is one in a series of Joe Gunther books. I'm going to keep my eye out for the rest of them. It's the kind of book that is good for airplanes, waiting rooms and such; interesting enough to keep you reading, but not so fascinating that you can't put it down and get on with your life.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archer Mayor is a Vermont author who writes about his home area. These are relatively "soft" mysteries, but always fun to read, especially as the reader gets to know Joe Gunther, the main character.

[Jock Mutschler · Rating 2 out of 5]

How many times did Joe Gunther "stare out blankly" at or into something? So many times, I began to doubt his ability to process the case. Another observation - multiple characters said, "Yeah, stretching out the word/dragging out the word/said the word slowly...."

[Dennis Fischman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sad book, in which the investigation of one person's almost pointless death is the impetus for detecting another murder, a series of thefts, and a drug deal. There's a plot twist at the end, but those of you who are good at putting the pieces together may figure it out in advance. (Hint: who buried the cat?)

I have to admit, I didn't see the subplot involving Dr. Beverly Hillstrom and our friend Joe Gunther coming. Some might object that it's unnecessary to the main plot of the story. To me, though, it was one of the most interesting parts of the book, and I am wondering how Mayor will cultivate this new level of intimacy in the future.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#17 in the Joe Gunther series.

Joe Gunther series - The death of Michelle Fisher strikes Joe Gunther as a little unusual. When Joe calls for her autopsy results, he stumbles on a political snarl that threatens both his investigation and his relationship with chief medical examiner Beverly Hillstrom. Meanwhile, small-time criminal Mel Martin is intent on becoming a big-time criminal with the help of his wife, Nancy, and their friend Ellis Robbinson; for their part, Ellis and Nancy are increasingly disenchanted with Mel and enchanted by each other.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the better entries in Mayor's "Joe Gunther" series. As usual, the novel is set in Vermont and focuses on one of its towns, this time Bennington. The author spent more time developing the antagonists in this one and the novel had at least one surprise.

[Edward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forgot I'd already read this, the 2007 addition to the Joe Gunther regional police procedurals. It's still pretty good.

[Debs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I can see the point of some of the reviews that this book is too wordy, I really enjoyed it. Light reading but I really started to care about some of the characters. Good plot.

[Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, Miss Beverly...

I really liked this story. It was interesting to see how it all came together.

I seriously hope that was the end of Gail. She's just holding him back.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Joe Gunther and Vermont, this story is about drugs and killing, with some really dumb criminals, but the story is interesting. Mayor always makes a good story, hard for me to put down when I want to know how it is going to end.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book and almost like two stories in one. My only complaint is it was totally two different stories. One did not have anything to do with the other. Both could have stood alone I thought. Still, all in all a good book. Don't skip it if you're reading the series.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: Joe Gunther, head of Vermont Bureau of Investigation
SETTING: Vermont
SERIES: #17 of 17
RATING: 4.25

Is there a series that you are particularly fond of that you think may have been overlooked by readers at large? That is how I feel about the Joe Gunther series by Archer Mayor. Ever since the first book, Open Season, debuted in 1988, Mayor has consistently produced some of the finest police procedurals being written today. It's all the more noteworthy because his books don't take place in a big city or a thriving metropolis; rather, they are mostly set in Vermont and environs. The Second Mouse is Book Number 17; there are no signs that Mayor could not write 17 more and still keep readers engrossed.

Joe Gunther was formerly chief of the Brattleboro Police Department and is now working as the head of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation. He's become involved in the case of Michelle Fisher, whose death appears to be the result of suicide. However, Joe is suspicious about that conclusion. Michelle's boyfriend, Archie Morgan, died a few months earlier of natural causes. Ever since then, Archie's father has been trying to oust Michelle from the house that he rented to his son. Did he evict his unwanted tenant by killing her?

Meanwhile, there's a criminal on the loose in Bennington who has instigated several crimes. His wife and friend serve as his accomplices; unbeknownst to him, they have become involved with one another. Mel Martin is moving toward more violent criminal encounters. As the book progresses, the two cases begin to connect to each other. Mayor does a great job of making these connections and ultimately pulls off a surprising but completely credible resolution.

One of the benefits of reading a long-running series is that you can step into the pages and feel like you are coming back home, that you know the characters well and are looking forward to seeing what they are up to since last you met. They somehow achieve a semi-reality in your mind—these are real people, and they grow and change from book to book. Fans of the Gunther series are just as interested in seeing what Willie Kunkel, Sammie Martens and Lester Spinney are up to as they are in catching up with Joe (and you'll definitely want to know what's going on in his love life!).

It's difficult to hone in on one particular part of Mayor's writing that makes reading his books such a pleasure. Certainly, the Vermont setting is wonderfully drawn, whether we're in the deteriorating manufacturing cities or out in the rural countryside. The narrative flows well, and the resolution is very well done. But perhaps the biggest thing he brings to the table is completely accurate police procedures, which are an outgrowth of his own experiences as a law enforcement official. According to the book's dust jacket, Mayor is a death investigator for Vermont's Chief Medical Examiner, a part-time police officer for the Bellows Falls PD, a volunteer firefighter and the EMT captain of his local rescue squad.

In some ways, the Joe Gunther books are comfort reads for me. The plotting and characterization are rock solid. They may not be flashy, but they are always satisfying. Of course, some of the books in the series are better than others; however, there is not one stinker in the bunch. Fans of the series will be heartened to hear that Mayor delivers yet again. And for those of you who haven't read him yet—what are you waiting for? You have a treat in store for you!

The early bird gets the worm; the second mouse gets the cheese.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery begins with the lifeless body of a woman found in her home and with no seemingly obvious cause of death. Turns out her life had been chaotic and the signs somewhat indicated that maybe her vindictive landlord had done her in. But in searching for clues to her death, the team uncovers an entirely new story of three messed-up folks who make one bad decision after another and finally wind up making an absolute mess. Interestingly, however, 2 of the 3 are actually pretty likeable characters and I found myself hoping they would somehow get their acts together.

Overall, the story is pretty sad. From the mysterious dead woman to the three people who end up being the focus of the story, to virtually all the peripheral characters in the story, we are introduced to people who live precarious lives and who, in the tyranny of the moment make really bad choices.

I think this might be my favorite Joe Gunther novel so far. The writing was top notch (ok, I listened to the audio book), the story line was interesting and complex enough to keep me guessing and the characters were believable and even sympathetic.

[Karen Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slight departure from the Joe Gunther series in that this novel follows the Vermont Bureau of Investigation's probe into the death of a recovering alcoholic in her home and the big-time plans of a small time group of criminals in Bennington. As expected, their paths will intersect by the end of the book but not as anyone would expect.

Gunther also has personal issues on his plate, as his relationship with the newly elected state senator Gail has reached a crossroads, with both of them taking a break from seeing each other. The relationship between two of Gunther's detectives, Willy Kunkel and Sammie Martens, is still going strong and they provide a lot of enjoyment with their banter.

The book moves along quickly as it switches between the investigation of the death, which may or may not be a murder, and the intentions of Mel, the leader of the trio of criminals, to make a score that will put him in the big time. It is good as a stand alone book, but even better if read after the others in the series. Highly recommended.

[Karen Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am about 2/3 of the way through this book. It started quickly, but then immediately got bogged down with way too many words. But glad I stuck with it. Mayor gracefully works around his characters and his hero, Joe Gunther carefully unfolded the mystery of a murder actually being committed. It had been ruled as suicide. The protagonist presents himself as a jealous, political hack, and is intelligently dealt with. The characters are well formed and not static. I am enjoying this book, in spite of too many words. lol. I prefer books where there is not a word that is not needed. Such a book is Snow Falling on Cedars.

[Ruben Alvirde · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very interesting because about a murder that the local popo think it was just a gas leak but a cunning detective sees to many pieces that dont fit together and continues with the investigation....

So far in the book the two story's that Mayor has been are starting too cross together in the book a three crooks are trying to steal dope form some drug runners and Joe is crossing into the middle of the situation him and is team are getting close to the three crooks. My favorite character is Joe he is a simple detective with lots of wisdom.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started the Joe Gunther series 20 years ago and got to about #13 before moving on to other authors. They were reliably entertaining and solid police procedurals. Maybe this one’s an outlier, but I found the plot to be a bit weak. It depends on a chance connection and a huge red herring. Also, it’s weird that the characters have transferred to a new state agency and have gone through several career changes yet never age. Gunther was a veteran middle aged cop when the series started in the 1980’s, and he seems to be the same age even in the latest installments 30+ years on.

[Eliece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe Gunther is a rather unique policeman in the world of fiction, in that he doesn't seem to be flawed or all complicated. About the only other one that I could compare him to would be Louise Penny's Armand Gamache. They are both smart and kind, and highly respected by their colleagues. I enjoyed this book's surprise ending.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Joe Gunther series read 17 of so far 28. Not much to say other than it is a great series that we strongly recommend. We started with book one and now are up to 28. We found starting from the beginning gave the reader a more familiar series trail but all of the series provide some background from previous series developments.

[Lynne Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best of Archer Mayor's 'Joe Gunther' Series. Hoping book 18 - "Chat", is much better.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just re-read this book and upgraded the rating. Mayor writes an entertaining book with plausible characters and plot lines. And I enjoy learning about life in Vermont.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very different sort of mystery, with a lot of moving parts. Not my favorite Jo's Gunther, but decent.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay - liked the local connection.

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the characters and the plots are good. Another great book from Archer Mayor.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good mystery with Joe Gunther. Joe is such a likable character. I miss his relationship with Gail though. I hope they get back together!