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Joe Gunther #28
Trace
The NYTimes calls Archer Mayor the "Boss Man of police procedurals."
The Vermont Bureau of Investigation (VBI) has been pulled onto three cases at the same time; meanwhile, VBI head Joe Gunther has to take time off to care for his ailing mother.
Those cases are now in the hands of the individual investigators. Sammie Martens is assigned a murder case. The victim is a young woman, the roommate of the daughter of Medical Examiner Beverly Hillstrom. A recent transplant from Albany, New York, Sammie must find out what put a hit man on the trail of this seemingly innocent young woman.
Lester Spinney takes over a famous cold case, a double murder where a state trooper and a motorist were killed in an exchange of gunfire. Or so it has seemed for years. When Lester is told that the motorist’s fingerprints were planted on the gun he’s supposed to have fired, it opens the question—who really killed the state trooper?
Willy Kunkle’s case starts with a child's discovery of three teeth on a railroad track, leading eventually to a case of possible sabotage against critical military equipment.
In cases that lead the team all over Vermont and nearby, Archer Mayor once again shows why his novels featuring Joe Gunther and the VBI team are among the finest crime fiction today.
The Vermont Bureau of Investigation (VBI) has been pulled onto three cases at the same time; meanwhile, VBI head Joe Gunther has to take time off to care for his ailing mother.
Those cases are now in the hands of the individual investigators. Sammie Martens is assigned a murder case. The victim is a young woman, the roommate of the daughter of Medical Examiner Beverly Hillstrom. A recent transplant from Albany, New York, Sammie must find out what put a hit man on the trail of this seemingly innocent young woman.
Lester Spinney takes over a famous cold case, a double murder where a state trooper and a motorist were killed in an exchange of gunfire. Or so it has seemed for years. When Lester is told that the motorist’s fingerprints were planted on the gun he’s supposed to have fired, it opens the question—who really killed the state trooper?
Willy Kunkle’s case starts with a child's discovery of three teeth on a railroad track, leading eventually to a case of possible sabotage against critical military equipment.
In cases that lead the team all over Vermont and nearby, Archer Mayor once again shows why his novels featuring Joe Gunther and the VBI team are among the finest crime fiction today.
326 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2017
250 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Archer Mayor
43 books732 followersOver 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
November 8, 2018
This is another very entertaining entry in Archer Mayor’s long-running series featuring Joe Gunther, the head of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation. It’s also somewhat unique in that Gunther himself plays only a small, supporting role in the investigations that make up the book’s crime stories.
As the book opens, Gunther’s elderly mother is suddenly taken seriously ill. She has a rare malady that requires that she be transferred for treatment to a facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Joe accompanies her and so will be missing in action until she recovers. He names Detective Sammie Martens to run the unit in his absence.
No sooner does this happen than the VBI is suddenly challenged by three unique and complex investigations—one for each member of the team that Joe has left in place. One falls to the troubled Willy Kunkle when a small girl discovers three broken teeth near a railroad track in Windsor, Vermont. Near the teeth is an electronic device of some sort which has been badly burned. Are the teeth and the device connected? Does either discovery mean anything of consequence? Is there any criminal activity involved?
Willy’s curiosity is aroused and so he begins poking into the matter in his own inimitable way, meaning that he will work the case alone and that he will keep his supervisor—in this case his wife, Sammie, rather than Joe Gunther—largely in the dark until he gets a handle on the investigation. Also, his methods may not be strictly kosher, but in the end the trail leads him to a potentially dangerous situation that may involve terrorists.
Meanwhile, in addition to commanding the squad, Sammie winds up with a murder case to handle. A young woman was beaten and killed by an intruder in her apartment. The woman’s roommate smacked the assailant with a frying pan and drove him off, but the case assumes additional importance because the surviving young woman is the daughter of Beverly Hillstrom, the state medical examiner, and Joe Gunther’s current girlfriend. It’s unclear if the attack was random or if the victim was targeted deliberately, but Sammie will have her hands full trying to sort it all out.
Finally, Lester Spinney, the third of Joe’s subordinates, inherits a cold case that’s suddenly not so cold any more. Two years earlier, a state trooper pulled a man over on a stretch of deserted road. A few minutes later, both men were dead, apparently having shot each other. It’s impossible to say how or why this happened, but the case seemed open and shut, and the world has moved on. But now a technician in the crime lab has taken a second look at the fingerprints on the gun belonging to the civilian involved and has found a strange anomaly. Maybe the case wasn’t so open and shut after all, and Spinney will have to move very delicately if he’s to get at the truth of what happened that night without ruffling a lot of feathers.
Mayor moves seamlessly among the three stories, each of which is fascinating in its own way. By now, the cast of characters in this series feels like a group of old friends and it’s fun to see what happens when Mayor turns them loose without the assistance of Joe Gunther. A very good addition to the series.
As the book opens, Gunther’s elderly mother is suddenly taken seriously ill. She has a rare malady that requires that she be transferred for treatment to a facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Joe accompanies her and so will be missing in action until she recovers. He names Detective Sammie Martens to run the unit in his absence.
No sooner does this happen than the VBI is suddenly challenged by three unique and complex investigations—one for each member of the team that Joe has left in place. One falls to the troubled Willy Kunkle when a small girl discovers three broken teeth near a railroad track in Windsor, Vermont. Near the teeth is an electronic device of some sort which has been badly burned. Are the teeth and the device connected? Does either discovery mean anything of consequence? Is there any criminal activity involved?
Willy’s curiosity is aroused and so he begins poking into the matter in his own inimitable way, meaning that he will work the case alone and that he will keep his supervisor—in this case his wife, Sammie, rather than Joe Gunther—largely in the dark until he gets a handle on the investigation. Also, his methods may not be strictly kosher, but in the end the trail leads him to a potentially dangerous situation that may involve terrorists.
Meanwhile, in addition to commanding the squad, Sammie winds up with a murder case to handle. A young woman was beaten and killed by an intruder in her apartment. The woman’s roommate smacked the assailant with a frying pan and drove him off, but the case assumes additional importance because the surviving young woman is the daughter of Beverly Hillstrom, the state medical examiner, and Joe Gunther’s current girlfriend. It’s unclear if the attack was random or if the victim was targeted deliberately, but Sammie will have her hands full trying to sort it all out.
Finally, Lester Spinney, the third of Joe’s subordinates, inherits a cold case that’s suddenly not so cold any more. Two years earlier, a state trooper pulled a man over on a stretch of deserted road. A few minutes later, both men were dead, apparently having shot each other. It’s impossible to say how or why this happened, but the case seemed open and shut, and the world has moved on. But now a technician in the crime lab has taken a second look at the fingerprints on the gun belonging to the civilian involved and has found a strange anomaly. Maybe the case wasn’t so open and shut after all, and Spinney will have to move very delicately if he’s to get at the truth of what happened that night without ruffling a lot of feathers.
Mayor moves seamlessly among the three stories, each of which is fascinating in its own way. By now, the cast of characters in this series feels like a group of old friends and it’s fun to see what happens when Mayor turns them loose without the assistance of Joe Gunther. A very good addition to the series.
September 11, 2017
I don't know if Archer Mayor has ever faltered with his Joe Gunther series. 28 is a long run to keep hitting it out of the park. Familiarity does not breed contempt, only fondness.
Joe Gunther is mostly out of the picture in this book, he has to take his mother to a specialized facility in Missouri to help recover from a scary case of Lyme disease that has affected her brain.
Instead his three investigators for the Vermont Bureau of Investigations(VBI) end up on separate cases that start small but end having major concerns down the lane.
Sammy Martens lands a case involving the daughter of Joe's long-time girlfriend, Dr. Beverly Hillstrom, (no pressure there). Les Spinney is lucky enough to be contacted concerning the case of a dead hero state trooper. And well, Willy Kunkle takes three bloodied teeth found on an Amtrak track and ends up becoming the bête noire of Homeland Security. No surprise there. Maybe Joe Gunther is better off in the wilds of Missouri.
Mayor writes a tight story. I was equally engaged in the progress of each crime, not to mention the rehab of Joe's mother. Every crime seems different, but almost all crimes end as being one of the three main motives, money, sex, or revenge; these are no different as Mayor so deftly demonstrates. This is what makes a great crime story to me, an elaborate story still ending up as basic despite how these do blow up.
From the junked out river banks, to New England's rust belt cities waiting to be reinvented to the lush forests and mountains, Mayor is lavish in his description of this lesser known area of New England.
Gunther and his VBI team have gown over the years. They have changed and become more mature and more effective over the years. From by- the -book Spinney to maverick Kunkle to in -the -middle Martens we have seen the changes and influences they have had on one another over the years.
This book was a pleasure to read as is the rest of the series. Not a problem if you are starting with this or are an old fan, Mayor will catch you up on the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Joe Gunther is mostly out of the picture in this book, he has to take his mother to a specialized facility in Missouri to help recover from a scary case of Lyme disease that has affected her brain.
Instead his three investigators for the Vermont Bureau of Investigations(VBI) end up on separate cases that start small but end having major concerns down the lane.
Sammy Martens lands a case involving the daughter of Joe's long-time girlfriend, Dr. Beverly Hillstrom, (no pressure there). Les Spinney is lucky enough to be contacted concerning the case of a dead hero state trooper. And well, Willy Kunkle takes three bloodied teeth found on an Amtrak track and ends up becoming the bête noire of Homeland Security. No surprise there. Maybe Joe Gunther is better off in the wilds of Missouri.
Mayor writes a tight story. I was equally engaged in the progress of each crime, not to mention the rehab of Joe's mother. Every crime seems different, but almost all crimes end as being one of the three main motives, money, sex, or revenge; these are no different as Mayor so deftly demonstrates. This is what makes a great crime story to me, an elaborate story still ending up as basic despite how these do blow up.
From the junked out river banks, to New England's rust belt cities waiting to be reinvented to the lush forests and mountains, Mayor is lavish in his description of this lesser known area of New England.
Gunther and his VBI team have gown over the years. They have changed and become more mature and more effective over the years. From by- the -book Spinney to maverick Kunkle to in -the -middle Martens we have seen the changes and influences they have had on one another over the years.
This book was a pleasure to read as is the rest of the series. Not a problem if you are starting with this or are an old fan, Mayor will catch you up on the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 30, 2020
Archer Mayor has few peers when it comes to creating a team of fully fleshed out characters. Catching up with Joe and his team is like visiting with old friends.
This time, Joe is gone, taking his mother to a treatment center near St. Louis, MO for lime disease encephalitis. Lester jinxes the remaining team when he promises it’ll be a quiet spell while he’s gone. Before you know it, they’re investigating a plethora of cases, old and new.
With Joe away, it allows Mayor to shine the spotlight on Willie, Lester and Sammie. Each is pursuing their own very different crimes in their own different ways. I figured out Lester’s criminal early on but it’s always interesting to see how the dots will be connected.
Because of the different stories, this book moves at a constant pace with never a down moment.
I listened to this and Tom Taylorson did a decent, if not great job.
This time, Joe is gone, taking his mother to a treatment center near St. Louis, MO for lime disease encephalitis. Lester jinxes the remaining team when he promises it’ll be a quiet spell while he’s gone. Before you know it, they’re investigating a plethora of cases, old and new.
With Joe away, it allows Mayor to shine the spotlight on Willie, Lester and Sammie. Each is pursuing their own very different crimes in their own different ways. I figured out Lester’s criminal early on but it’s always interesting to see how the dots will be connected.
Because of the different stories, this book moves at a constant pace with never a down moment.
I listened to this and Tom Taylorson did a decent, if not great job.
October 5, 2021
I enjoyed this book, as I do all of Archer Mayor's writings, but this one less so. Mostly because the character Joe was very limited and he is one of the main characters in all of these books. Nevertheless I will anxiously be waiting for the next book release.
September 23, 2017
Where in the world is Joe Gunther? This is, as I understand it, the 28th book in the series featuring the commander of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation. Admittedly, it's my first, and although I'll say it stands alone quite well, I had to wonder what happened to the star of the show. In fact, until at least the 60% mark, his limited appearances are for the most part by phone or video meeting; he's off to a private hospital to stay with his ailing mother to give his brother, Leo, a care-giving break. He does return to the fold toward the end, but even then, he isn't a major player.
Of course, maybe that's the norm for these books; but his absence really surprised me. And because I really liked what little I saw of him (he's got a cat named Gilbert, for gosh sake), I would have enjoyed getting to know him better. All the other police-related characters, in fact, are exceptionally well developed (and for the record, also very likable).
Do not assume, though, that the story suffers in any other way. Actually, there are three story lines (more on that later), and each is intriguing enough to have made a short book in and of itself. There are quite a few characters to keep straight - no doubt they'd be familiar to readers of prior books - but once I got used to who's who, I was fully invested and wished I'd been able to keep reading straight through to the end (of course, life intervened, including the knuckle-biting finish to this year's "America's Got Talent" TV show in which the best contestant, IMHO, really did win, so it took me three days to finish).
Three cases land in the VBI's lap just as Gunther takes his leave, leaving investigator Sammie Martens to run the department. She personally handles the murder of a young woman, who just came to town and is rooming with the daughter of Beverly Hillstrom, the state medical examiner and Gunther's main squeeze. It looks to be a professional hit, and it's clear the woman had run and was trying to hide. But from what and whom?
Another colleage, Willy Kunkle, is puzzled when a child brings in three bloody teeth found at the edge of a local railroad track. Known as a bit of a department misfit (he's also Sammie's live-in companion with whom he shares a young daughter), he sinks his own teeth into the situation and finds a burned-out piece of electronics equipment at the site that in turn leads to the suspicion of sabotage involving U.S. military equipment.
Last but hardly least, colleague Lester Spinney is approached about an old traffic-stop case in which a state trooper and another man were believed to have killed each other. It's a closed case, but by a quirk of fate, it's been discovered that the motorist's fingerprints apparently were planted on the gun he used to kill the officer. Clearly, most everyone involved in the original case - including the police - aren't thrilled to have it reopened, but Spinney is convinced that the evidence was tainted and is determined to find out what really happened no matter where or on whom the chips fall.
Bit by bit, the investigative processes are revealed as each chapter offers highlights of each case. By the end, everything is resolved (no, I'm not going to explain further), and the department pretty much returns to normal operation. All's right with their world and they're ready for the next book (as am I, albeit with the hope I'll see more of Gunther). For now, I'll just recommend this book and say thanks very much to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Of course, maybe that's the norm for these books; but his absence really surprised me. And because I really liked what little I saw of him (he's got a cat named Gilbert, for gosh sake), I would have enjoyed getting to know him better. All the other police-related characters, in fact, are exceptionally well developed (and for the record, also very likable).
Do not assume, though, that the story suffers in any other way. Actually, there are three story lines (more on that later), and each is intriguing enough to have made a short book in and of itself. There are quite a few characters to keep straight - no doubt they'd be familiar to readers of prior books - but once I got used to who's who, I was fully invested and wished I'd been able to keep reading straight through to the end (of course, life intervened, including the knuckle-biting finish to this year's "America's Got Talent" TV show in which the best contestant, IMHO, really did win, so it took me three days to finish).
Three cases land in the VBI's lap just as Gunther takes his leave, leaving investigator Sammie Martens to run the department. She personally handles the murder of a young woman, who just came to town and is rooming with the daughter of Beverly Hillstrom, the state medical examiner and Gunther's main squeeze. It looks to be a professional hit, and it's clear the woman had run and was trying to hide. But from what and whom?
Another colleage, Willy Kunkle, is puzzled when a child brings in three bloody teeth found at the edge of a local railroad track. Known as a bit of a department misfit (he's also Sammie's live-in companion with whom he shares a young daughter), he sinks his own teeth into the situation and finds a burned-out piece of electronics equipment at the site that in turn leads to the suspicion of sabotage involving U.S. military equipment.
Last but hardly least, colleague Lester Spinney is approached about an old traffic-stop case in which a state trooper and another man were believed to have killed each other. It's a closed case, but by a quirk of fate, it's been discovered that the motorist's fingerprints apparently were planted on the gun he used to kill the officer. Clearly, most everyone involved in the original case - including the police - aren't thrilled to have it reopened, but Spinney is convinced that the evidence was tainted and is determined to find out what really happened no matter where or on whom the chips fall.
Bit by bit, the investigative processes are revealed as each chapter offers highlights of each case. By the end, everything is resolved (no, I'm not going to explain further), and the department pretty much returns to normal operation. All's right with their world and they're ready for the next book (as am I, albeit with the hope I'll see more of Gunther). For now, I'll just recommend this book and say thanks very much to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2018
It's been a long time since I read a Joe Gunther book. I forgot how satisfying these books are...like coming home. I miss Vermont, even the unsavory parts. Hee hee!
I enjoy Mayor's writing style. Crisp, clean, with various storylines woven together in a perfect arc.
The characters he has created in this series feel like real people, with just enough quirks and real-life details to keep readers coming back for more.
Looking forward to the next one.
Grade: A
I enjoy Mayor's writing style. Crisp, clean, with various storylines woven together in a perfect arc.
The characters he has created in this series feel like real people, with just enough quirks and real-life details to keep readers coming back for more.
Looking forward to the next one.
Grade: A
September 5, 2017
“Trace” by Archer Mayor is part of the Joe Gunther series, but it is not necessary to have read the other books to enjoy this one. In fact, this is my first Joe Gunther book, and I enjoyed it so much that now I will have to read the other twenty-seven. “Trace” consists of three separate stories with unusual connections. The three criminal cases vary from one extreme to the other, all three are perplexing, and each has police struggling to solve the cases.
Jayla Charlotte Ann was the mistress of a “scary white man with a short fuse and an inexplicably large income.” In an attempt to escape his abuse, she bought a bus ticket to Burlington, Vermont. Upon stepping off the bus, she was hit by a car!
Dr. Tina Sackman worked in the crime lab in Waterbury, Vermont. While putting together a graduate-level lecture on fingerprints, DNA, and forensic science, she stumbled on a gap in an “ironclad” closed double murder case involving a Vermont Trooper and the motorist he had pulled over.
Abigail Elizabeth Murray was a “precocious, stubborn, and willfully independent” ten-year old who lived in Windsor, Vermont. She liked exploring and especially watching the people who got off the Amtrak trains. “Who were they? What were they up to? What had they seen?” She also looked for treasures on the track, and found something that she was compelled to turn over to Windsor Police – three broken, bloodstained teeth.
Mayor’s skill as a writer is evident as he weaves people in and out of these separate but yet interconnected situations. He drops little crumbs of each storyline at the start and then adds specifics piece by piece as the book moves along. Those little details matter, and have readers eagerly turning page after page, wondering what happens next, and trying to fit all the pieces together.
Mayor’s authentic descriptions place readers right into the scenes. The village “from the river toward Main Street, high on the bluff, had dark old conduits designed for industrial runoff, abandoned ancient buildings filled with mysterious offerings, acres of concrete slab littered with piled treasure, and a railroad track that marked its boundary. “
The characters are well developed and multi-faceted. We see their triumphs and their faults as they deal with the trials of everyday life. They struggle with childcare, self-doubt, hectic schedules, and relatives in ill health, not to mention pressure of law enforcement jobs. We come to know them and support them regardless of their human flaws, even as they manipulate evidence for the greater good.
I received a copy of “Trace” from St. Martin’s Press, Archer Mayor, and NetGalley to read and review, and I very much enjoyed reading it. Mayor created characters that we want to know, and then he brought the story to those characters. I highly recommend “Trace.”
Jayla Charlotte Ann was the mistress of a “scary white man with a short fuse and an inexplicably large income.” In an attempt to escape his abuse, she bought a bus ticket to Burlington, Vermont. Upon stepping off the bus, she was hit by a car!
Dr. Tina Sackman worked in the crime lab in Waterbury, Vermont. While putting together a graduate-level lecture on fingerprints, DNA, and forensic science, she stumbled on a gap in an “ironclad” closed double murder case involving a Vermont Trooper and the motorist he had pulled over.
Abigail Elizabeth Murray was a “precocious, stubborn, and willfully independent” ten-year old who lived in Windsor, Vermont. She liked exploring and especially watching the people who got off the Amtrak trains. “Who were they? What were they up to? What had they seen?” She also looked for treasures on the track, and found something that she was compelled to turn over to Windsor Police – three broken, bloodstained teeth.
Mayor’s skill as a writer is evident as he weaves people in and out of these separate but yet interconnected situations. He drops little crumbs of each storyline at the start and then adds specifics piece by piece as the book moves along. Those little details matter, and have readers eagerly turning page after page, wondering what happens next, and trying to fit all the pieces together.
Mayor’s authentic descriptions place readers right into the scenes. The village “from the river toward Main Street, high on the bluff, had dark old conduits designed for industrial runoff, abandoned ancient buildings filled with mysterious offerings, acres of concrete slab littered with piled treasure, and a railroad track that marked its boundary. “
The characters are well developed and multi-faceted. We see their triumphs and their faults as they deal with the trials of everyday life. They struggle with childcare, self-doubt, hectic schedules, and relatives in ill health, not to mention pressure of law enforcement jobs. We come to know them and support them regardless of their human flaws, even as they manipulate evidence for the greater good.
I received a copy of “Trace” from St. Martin’s Press, Archer Mayor, and NetGalley to read and review, and I very much enjoyed reading it. Mayor created characters that we want to know, and then he brought the story to those characters. I highly recommend “Trace.”
August 17, 2017
(3 1/2). Archer Mayor is a must read author for me. The Joe Gunther series is just a tad South of Michael Connelly and Harry Bosch in my opinion. This book is slightly different than many of the others, in that the plot line (s) carry the day as Joe is mostly MIA for the majority of the story. We have 3 interesting investigations happening at once, each one being covered by the able bodied agents of the VBI. Sammy, Willy, Lester et al are in fine form in this one. Vermont obviously has a whole more going on than maple syrup!
December 20, 2017
A Joe Gunther series novel in which Joe plays almost no role? Well at least it gives the staff room to blossom and shine. When Joe’s mother comes down with a rare form of Lyme disease and has to be sent to a specialized facility in St. Louis, Joe accompanies her for the duration, champing at the bit to return to Vermont and the VBI job he loves. But duty calls and faithfully he stays, hoping it remains quiet back home for a while. Oh, were it so.
Instead oddly enough, three cases emerge somewhat innocuously, a number, strangely enough, matching the resident VBI staff members. So each goes his or her way, following almost nonexistent crimes, which, of course, blossom into full-fledged mysteries. For instance, a young girl finds three teeth on a railroad track and turns them over to a local policeman, who contacts Willie Kunkle on a whim. Who would have thought such a relatively meaningless event would develop into a major national security case? Another example: Lester Spinney is shown an anomaly in a famous case in which a state trooper is shot and killed during a routine traffic stop and in turn shoots the driver he stopped. An open and shut case? Hardly, when a technician discovers forged fingerprints on the driver’s murder weapon.
The third case falls to Sammie Martens, who Joe named as his temporary replacement to head the office while he was gone. A murder case, in which the victim was rooming with the daughter of Beverly Hillstrom, the Medical Examiner, and Joe’s girlfriend, that takes Sammie to Albany, New York, to find out why.
One interesting development in the novel is a deeper insight into Kunkle’s psyche. It is some time now that he has been living with Sammie, and they now have a three-year-old daughter. Kunkle, who usually is portrayed as a hard-hearted, emotionless character, is shown softening somewhat and looking into himself and the personality he exhibits. The author not only takes this opportunity to study Kunkle, but the others as well: Spinney for his talents as a patient, dogged investigator and Sammie for not only her sensitivity but her bravery as well. As always, the descriptions of the rugged Vermont hillsides are graphic and excellently written.
Recommended.
Instead oddly enough, three cases emerge somewhat innocuously, a number, strangely enough, matching the resident VBI staff members. So each goes his or her way, following almost nonexistent crimes, which, of course, blossom into full-fledged mysteries. For instance, a young girl finds three teeth on a railroad track and turns them over to a local policeman, who contacts Willie Kunkle on a whim. Who would have thought such a relatively meaningless event would develop into a major national security case? Another example: Lester Spinney is shown an anomaly in a famous case in which a state trooper is shot and killed during a routine traffic stop and in turn shoots the driver he stopped. An open and shut case? Hardly, when a technician discovers forged fingerprints on the driver’s murder weapon.
The third case falls to Sammie Martens, who Joe named as his temporary replacement to head the office while he was gone. A murder case, in which the victim was rooming with the daughter of Beverly Hillstrom, the Medical Examiner, and Joe’s girlfriend, that takes Sammie to Albany, New York, to find out why.
One interesting development in the novel is a deeper insight into Kunkle’s psyche. It is some time now that he has been living with Sammie, and they now have a three-year-old daughter. Kunkle, who usually is portrayed as a hard-hearted, emotionless character, is shown softening somewhat and looking into himself and the personality he exhibits. The author not only takes this opportunity to study Kunkle, but the others as well: Spinney for his talents as a patient, dogged investigator and Sammie for not only her sensitivity but her bravery as well. As always, the descriptions of the rugged Vermont hillsides are graphic and excellently written.
Recommended.
October 7, 2017
You know you have a winner of a series and great characters when you can make the central character a background piece in the stories. In this book, Joe Gunther is not the central player and yet Lester, Sammy and Willy handle their crimes in great style. This is a terrific series.
September 8, 2017
First Sentence: Jayla Robinson looked out across Albany’s Lancaster Street at the three matching brownstones opposite.
Joe Gunther, head of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, needs to take his elderly mother to a hospital in the Midwest leaving his team with three very different cases; the medical examiner’s daughter’s roommate being murdered in their apartment, a closed double murder where it is now found isn’t as cut-and-dried as it originally appeared, and the discover of three teeth and a burned-out battery found on a railroad track.
Mayor’s books contain a true ensemble cast of very individual characters. By removing Gunther from center stage for most of the book, the other characters have a chance to shine. Mayor’s descriptions tell us much more about each character than just their appearance, or even background.
That we also learn about their personalities plays a major role in the growth in the relationship of two characters. While one may not normally be a fan of a relationship focus in a mystery, it really does work here with growth and realization. He doesn’t stint on the secondary characters, either. The relationship Joe has with his brother Leo is very easy and realistic.
One thing about police procedurals is the fascinating things one learns. In this case it is regarding planted fingerprints and about trains, as well as how the VBI—the Bureau of Criminal Investigations in the real world--interacts with other agencies. But Mayor is also very good about the small details. Not only are they not boring, but often it’s the sort of thing where one things—“Oh, I’d forgotten about that.” A lot of the methodologies and technologies employed are very clever.
“Trace” contains three cases each of which is interesting and stands on its own with details and suspense building at a nice pace. It also ends with a nice homage to the vast majority of good, honest, hard-working police officers who really do work to protect and serve.
TRACE (Pol Proc-VBI Team-Vermont-Contemp) – G+
Mayor, Archer – 28th in series
Minotaur Books, Sept 2017
Joe Gunther, head of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, needs to take his elderly mother to a hospital in the Midwest leaving his team with three very different cases; the medical examiner’s daughter’s roommate being murdered in their apartment, a closed double murder where it is now found isn’t as cut-and-dried as it originally appeared, and the discover of three teeth and a burned-out battery found on a railroad track.
Mayor’s books contain a true ensemble cast of very individual characters. By removing Gunther from center stage for most of the book, the other characters have a chance to shine. Mayor’s descriptions tell us much more about each character than just their appearance, or even background.
That we also learn about their personalities plays a major role in the growth in the relationship of two characters. While one may not normally be a fan of a relationship focus in a mystery, it really does work here with growth and realization. He doesn’t stint on the secondary characters, either. The relationship Joe has with his brother Leo is very easy and realistic.
One thing about police procedurals is the fascinating things one learns. In this case it is regarding planted fingerprints and about trains, as well as how the VBI—the Bureau of Criminal Investigations in the real world--interacts with other agencies. But Mayor is also very good about the small details. Not only are they not boring, but often it’s the sort of thing where one things—“Oh, I’d forgotten about that.” A lot of the methodologies and technologies employed are very clever.
“Trace” contains three cases each of which is interesting and stands on its own with details and suspense building at a nice pace. It also ends with a nice homage to the vast majority of good, honest, hard-working police officers who really do work to protect and serve.
TRACE (Pol Proc-VBI Team-Vermont-Contemp) – G+
Mayor, Archer – 28th in series
Minotaur Books, Sept 2017
January 6, 2018
This is a complex book with a lot going on in it, but at times I almost thought there was too much happening to be contained in a single novel. It was hard to keep straight what was happening to whom at certain points.
Still, even with a little confusion on my part from time to time, this was a fantastic book. There are layers of mysteries to be solved in this novel and the characters are intelligent and well written. They feel like real people with problems and concerns both during working hours and whilst they are away. I warmed to this story quickly, wanting answers to the questions it raised early on and finding myself unable to set the book down after I got to the halfway point.
If you enjoy reading crime fiction and stories that seem plausible and will keep you excited to read the next page, this is a good book to go with.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Still, even with a little confusion on my part from time to time, this was a fantastic book. There are layers of mysteries to be solved in this novel and the characters are intelligent and well written. They feel like real people with problems and concerns both during working hours and whilst they are away. I warmed to this story quickly, wanting answers to the questions it raised early on and finding myself unable to set the book down after I got to the halfway point.
If you enjoy reading crime fiction and stories that seem plausible and will keep you excited to read the next page, this is a good book to go with.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
February 7, 2018
Love this series set in/around Vermont. Rather surprised though, to read that the New York State Capitol in Albany would have a golden dome. This building in reality does not have a dome, let alone a golden one. Slip of the pen?
January 7, 2018
There's a bit of a twist in the 28th Joe Gunther novel by Archer Mayor. Joe Gunther plays only small role in the story.
When a family health crisis forces Joe Gunther to take time off to help out, the rest of his VBI team finds themselves swamped with work as three major cases come in at the same time.
While a little weird at first to see the main character of the series reduced to pretty much a supporting role, the story allowed Mayor to shine more of a spotlight on Sammi Martens, Willy Kunkle and Lester Spinney.
Martens gets left in charge of the team which causes some strain with Kunkle, who longtime readers will know/remember is also her partner off the job and father of her daughter. But dealing with the administrative headaches that come with the job is only part of her duties. She picks up a homicide case that involves the daughter of the medical examiner, Dr. Beverly Hillstrom. A new roommate of the daughter's ends up murdered in what seems like a random housebreak. But as the investigation deepens, Martens soon learns she's stepped into a quagmire that involves other jurisdictions and political concerns.
As for Kunkle, he's off on his own investigating a case that seems like nothing. A young girl found three broken teeth on the train tracks. Seems like nothing...until Willy sinks his teeth (no pun intended) into the case. His questions turn up far more than anyone could've expected and soon he's emmeshed in a case of fraud that could have wide ranging implications.
Lester Spinney gets drawn into a cold case of a murdered cop when a lab tech notices something amiss with evidence. Tip-toeing around a cop killer case is never easy but for Spinney it is doubly hard as many of the people involved are known to him.
Three cases, three cops and three different methods of investigation. It makes for some compelling reading as each case starts out slow, deepens as more questions are uncovered and feature climaxes and consequences that no one could've forseen.
But it isn't just the investigations of these crimes that make "Trace" a good read. Mayor doesn't hold back on the running subplots for the characters either. In fact, there's some real possible character growth for everyone involved this time around. And it is nice to see. While the various scars that each person carries with them won't disappear, the small steps taken in this story were nicely done. The various scars that each character carries (or in the case of one, develops) won't disappear entirely but making it just a little easier to live with and move on really enlivens the continued growth of all concerned.
While I do hope that Gunther returns as the main lead in the next book, shifting the focus to Sammie, Willy and Lester for this book paid off handsomely with just that little extra deepening of understanding as to what makes each character tick.
When a family health crisis forces Joe Gunther to take time off to help out, the rest of his VBI team finds themselves swamped with work as three major cases come in at the same time.
While a little weird at first to see the main character of the series reduced to pretty much a supporting role, the story allowed Mayor to shine more of a spotlight on Sammi Martens, Willy Kunkle and Lester Spinney.
Martens gets left in charge of the team which causes some strain with Kunkle, who longtime readers will know/remember is also her partner off the job and father of her daughter. But dealing with the administrative headaches that come with the job is only part of her duties. She picks up a homicide case that involves the daughter of the medical examiner, Dr. Beverly Hillstrom. A new roommate of the daughter's ends up murdered in what seems like a random housebreak. But as the investigation deepens, Martens soon learns she's stepped into a quagmire that involves other jurisdictions and political concerns.
As for Kunkle, he's off on his own investigating a case that seems like nothing. A young girl found three broken teeth on the train tracks. Seems like nothing...until Willy sinks his teeth (no pun intended) into the case. His questions turn up far more than anyone could've expected and soon he's emmeshed in a case of fraud that could have wide ranging implications.
Lester Spinney gets drawn into a cold case of a murdered cop when a lab tech notices something amiss with evidence. Tip-toeing around a cop killer case is never easy but for Spinney it is doubly hard as many of the people involved are known to him.
Three cases, three cops and three different methods of investigation. It makes for some compelling reading as each case starts out slow, deepens as more questions are uncovered and feature climaxes and consequences that no one could've forseen.
But it isn't just the investigations of these crimes that make "Trace" a good read. Mayor doesn't hold back on the running subplots for the characters either. In fact, there's some real possible character growth for everyone involved this time around. And it is nice to see. While the various scars that each person carries with them won't disappear, the small steps taken in this story were nicely done. The various scars that each character carries (or in the case of one, develops) won't disappear entirely but making it just a little easier to live with and move on really enlivens the continued growth of all concerned.
While I do hope that Gunther returns as the main lead in the next book, shifting the focus to Sammie, Willy and Lester for this book paid off handsomely with just that little extra deepening of understanding as to what makes each character tick.
May 16, 2019
Another tale of Joe Gunther and the VBI gang. Joe's mother contracts a form of Lyme Disease and Joe ends up accompanying her to St. Louis for special treatment. He leaves Sammie Martens in charge and she feels out of her depth but has good support. Willy has a bit of trouble working with Sammie's new duties but has his own problem when a local cop contacts him about some broken teeth and a burned piece of electronics found on the railroad tracks. Willy starts to investigate and uncovers more than he expected. Sammie is working on the murder of a young woman who was befriended by daughter of Medical Examiner Beverly Hillstrom which leads Sammie into a cross state investigation with larger results then she expected. And Lester Spinney is contacted by a forensics person about some puzzling inconsistencies in and old officer involved shooting long since put away as solved. The book switches back and forth between the three investigations along with Sammie's and Willy's personal problems with their relationships. An altogether good visit with old friends.
November 25, 2017
This was a good read, but I found myself getting a bit annoyed at how the book kept jumping back and forth between three separate cases. Yes we did get insight into the unique talents of the three agents by the storyline being written this way. We also got to understand a lot more about Willy and his deep personal fears.
If you're a follower of the Joe Gunther, then yes, I definitely recommend this book.
If you're a follower of the Joe Gunther, then yes, I definitely recommend this book.
October 28, 2017
Somehow, whenever I start reading an Archer Mayor book about Joe Gunther and the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, I seem to come home to a familiar set of quirky, imperfect, but interesting characters, and get sucked into the plot immediately.
This is a prime example. I finished it in two days, and, as you can tell, I really was sucked in, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Three separate major crime cases, all solved, as it happens without Joe Gunther's help, because he spends most of the book our west taking care of his ailing mother. All three cases were pretty original and quite different. And all three had their denouements around the same time, right at the end of the book.
This one's a winner...
This is a prime example. I finished it in two days, and, as you can tell, I really was sucked in, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Three separate major crime cases, all solved, as it happens without Joe Gunther's help, because he spends most of the book our west taking care of his ailing mother. All three cases were pretty original and quite different. And all three had their denouements around the same time, right at the end of the book.
This one's a winner...
April 28, 2018
Well done, mr. Mayor. Pure police procedural at its best, it's always good to come back to Vermont, a place I learnt to love through Mayor's novels. It's like to go on vacation in the same place for years: you might miss the faces for 11 months, but after few pages you feel like home again. I also liked the space granted to Gunther's team in this novel, that could have been written as a collection of 3 novellas but which Mayor accomplished to reuinite in a whole novel, using the missing Joe as the glue to keep the three plots together. Yeah, it's always nice to go back to Vermont once a year.
January 7, 2018
Archer Mayor's books aren't great literature, but they're a lot of fun - especially for those who know and love Vermont. Although this one is #28 in the Joe Gunther series, Joe is virtually non-existent in the 3 stories that make up this book, having been called away to take care of his ailing mother. The remaining 3 members of the VBI squad each end up with a case to pursue and of course, they each handle the cases in their own style. Fun to see the staff featured. 3.5 stars.
November 20, 2017
I have read many books in this series. This was very good. I love Joe but in this one he was off helping his mother. This left room for the three other people to have more ‘book’ time. There are three different crimes that each on pursues. We get to read more about each one.
Really good!
Will continue to read this series and go back and pick up the ones I have missed.
Really good!
Will continue to read this series and go back and pick up the ones I have missed.
November 1, 2019
Minotaur Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Trace. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.
When I requested to read Trace, I had no idea that this book was part of a long standing series about Joe Gunther, head of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation. If I was not going to start at the beginning, this novel was a good place to begin because Joe is largely absent. The action is delivered by three cases, brought to VBI's attention at the same time. Will the rest of the team be able to step up and successfully bring these cases to a conclusion while their boss is tending to his ill mother?
Trace was a convoluted mess, with three investigations in various stages of completion. Although this may be authentic to law enforcement's daily workload, it does not make for good reading. I cannot say that I miss the presence of Joe Gunther here, as this is the first book in the series that I have read, but it also does not compel me to go back and read the others. With so much happening, I simply found my attention waning. I started this book twice before making it all the way through, which to me is a sign. Trace is not a book I would recommend to other readers, for the reasons I listed above.
When I requested to read Trace, I had no idea that this book was part of a long standing series about Joe Gunther, head of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation. If I was not going to start at the beginning, this novel was a good place to begin because Joe is largely absent. The action is delivered by three cases, brought to VBI's attention at the same time. Will the rest of the team be able to step up and successfully bring these cases to a conclusion while their boss is tending to his ill mother?
Trace was a convoluted mess, with three investigations in various stages of completion. Although this may be authentic to law enforcement's daily workload, it does not make for good reading. I cannot say that I miss the presence of Joe Gunther here, as this is the first book in the series that I have read, but it also does not compel me to go back and read the others. With so much happening, I simply found my attention waning. I started this book twice before making it all the way through, which to me is a sign. Trace is not a book I would recommend to other readers, for the reasons I listed above.
August 14, 2025
Archer Mayor rarely disappoints, and this book is basically no exception. Instead of following protagonist Joe Gunther on a case or cases, Mayor finds a pretext (family illness) to send Gunther away, and then follows Gunther's three most featured employees at the Vermont Bureau of Investigation on three very quirky cases.
Willy Kunkle is trying to find out who belonged to the three bloody teeth that an enterprising 10-year-old girl found on the railroad tracks.
Lester Spinney has had his nose rubbed in some apparently faulty evidence from a high-profile case from a few years ago, in which both a policeman and a civilian died, apparently shooting each other after a traffic stop.
And Sammie Martens is not only running the VBI in Joe's absence, she's also trying to locate a stalker/killer. Sammie's job is made harder and more urgent because the dead girl was a temporary roommate of a friend of the VBI.
So none of the stories are the least bit believable (unlike most Mayor stories), but they are all compelling, and they are enriched by lots of personal interactions among the detectives (especially since Martens and Kunkle have a complex but sweet marriage and a small daughter).
The book's biggest flaw is not the implausibility, but the fact that Gunther's absence is due to his mother's peculiar illness and her rehab in a specialty facility in the midwest, but we never really see her symptoms or her recovery, even though the story keeps flipping back to Gunther.
I read this one to give myself a break between the two intense magical French Revolution novels, and it served the purpose just fine. I'll keep picking up Mayor titles when I can.
Willy Kunkle is trying to find out who belonged to the three bloody teeth that an enterprising 10-year-old girl found on the railroad tracks.
Lester Spinney has had his nose rubbed in some apparently faulty evidence from a high-profile case from a few years ago, in which both a policeman and a civilian died, apparently shooting each other after a traffic stop.
And Sammie Martens is not only running the VBI in Joe's absence, she's also trying to locate a stalker/killer. Sammie's job is made harder and more urgent because the dead girl was a temporary roommate of a friend of the VBI.
So none of the stories are the least bit believable (unlike most Mayor stories), but they are all compelling, and they are enriched by lots of personal interactions among the detectives (especially since Martens and Kunkle have a complex but sweet marriage and a small daughter).
The book's biggest flaw is not the implausibility, but the fact that Gunther's absence is due to his mother's peculiar illness and her rehab in a specialty facility in the midwest, but we never really see her symptoms or her recovery, even though the story keeps flipping back to Gunther.
I read this one to give myself a break between the two intense magical French Revolution novels, and it served the purpose just fine. I'll keep picking up Mayor titles when I can.
October 13, 2017
Three separate mysteries handled by the VBI while the Boss, Joe Gunther, is away tending to his sick mother. Each mystery has its strengths and weaknesses but the book is structured like intertwined short stories rather than one larger book. This was my introduction to the series and I feel I missed the essential elements of it, namely the main character in action. For lovers of the series, this will provide character continuity and insight into the team. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
October 7, 2017
The usual outstanding job from Mayor with this long-running procedural series.
Joe Gunther takes a back seat for this one and the other members of the team each grab onto an interesting case.
I especially liked Lester's reinvestigation of a cop's killing with some good technical details and interaction with the Vermont underclass.
Mayor always gets the geography right too...interviews in Springfield MA or Albany NY and home to VT for dinner.
Alas, must wait another year for the next installment.
Joe Gunther takes a back seat for this one and the other members of the team each grab onto an interesting case.
I especially liked Lester's reinvestigation of a cop's killing with some good technical details and interaction with the Vermont underclass.
Mayor always gets the geography right too...interviews in Springfield MA or Albany NY and home to VT for dinner.
Alas, must wait another year for the next installment.
September 14, 2025
Mayor finds a reason to send Joe out of town for personal reasons and lets his three understudies step up and share the spotlight. Each of them gets to exercise their particular approach to cop work to solve some tricky mysteries.
October 15, 2017
A solid, but not spectacular addition to Mayor's likable series about crime busting in VT. Extensive character development makes this book a must-read for fans of the Joe Gunther novels. Newbees would be better served by starting at the beginning ("Open Season").
October 20, 2017
While Joe Gunther is off caring for his sick mother and giving his brother a break, three cases are handled back home by members of his investigative staff at the Vermont Bureau of Investigation. A murder, an old murder with new facts, and a mystery to solve tend to divide the plot into parallel cases, sometimes a pain to follow. Character development is great, and the endings, though not too surprising, satisfying. 3 1/2 stars overall.
September 12, 2017
Trace, the 28th in the Joe Gunther series can easily work as a standalone. (really!) In this novel, we get just a snippet of Joe, and even that much makes him an empathetic character. You're gonna like him; he's a good man.
This entry showcases his three close team investigators of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation (VBI). Sammie Martens looks into the murder of a young woman recently of Albany, New York. Lester Spinney hooks into a three-year-old cold case involving a state trooper in what looked to be a traffic stop. Willy Kunkle's case starts with three bloody teeth brought in from a railroad track (note the book cover), where an additional piece of equipment is discovered burned. The device meant for military installation suggests sabotage. The author has no problem separating each character's manner of dialogue, which, in view of the specific individual, seems very natural. His descriptions of Vermont give a soft glimpse into a lesser-known state, provide easily visualized scenes, and carefully crafted clues. This is maybe not so much a whodunit as how.
Mr. Mayor's meticulous details add depth to the investigations and explain tidbits of forensic interest. His characters are real people, problems of their own, but selflessly dedicated to solving their individual case files. I found Willy the most perplexing, his family situation perfect! He is a bull terrier, however, and once he latches on, he'll likely solve the riddle--it's a question of how (there's always one, huh?)--and that might warrant looking the other way, just briefly. Sammie Martins, working the murder of the young woman, exhibits feminine compassion to the family while carefully following procedures and collecting respect from connecting agencies. Lester Spinney digs at his cold case when he discovers fingerprints that do not jive. What initially looked a slam-dunk case--shootout between traffic stop and cop, isn't so transparent after all.
Mr. Mayor pulls all cases together in a satisfying climax of triumph.
I was offered this ebook download from Minotaur Books/St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a read and review. I can heartily recommend this book and the series as a thoughtful, intelligent mystery thriller, police procedural.
This entry showcases his three close team investigators of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation (VBI). Sammie Martens looks into the murder of a young woman recently of Albany, New York. Lester Spinney hooks into a three-year-old cold case involving a state trooper in what looked to be a traffic stop. Willy Kunkle's case starts with three bloody teeth brought in from a railroad track (note the book cover), where an additional piece of equipment is discovered burned. The device meant for military installation suggests sabotage. The author has no problem separating each character's manner of dialogue, which, in view of the specific individual, seems very natural. His descriptions of Vermont give a soft glimpse into a lesser-known state, provide easily visualized scenes, and carefully crafted clues. This is maybe not so much a whodunit as how.
Mr. Mayor's meticulous details add depth to the investigations and explain tidbits of forensic interest. His characters are real people, problems of their own, but selflessly dedicated to solving their individual case files. I found Willy the most perplexing, his family situation perfect! He is a bull terrier, however, and once he latches on, he'll likely solve the riddle--it's a question of how (there's always one, huh?)--and that might warrant looking the other way, just briefly. Sammie Martins, working the murder of the young woman, exhibits feminine compassion to the family while carefully following procedures and collecting respect from connecting agencies. Lester Spinney digs at his cold case when he discovers fingerprints that do not jive. What initially looked a slam-dunk case--shootout between traffic stop and cop, isn't so transparent after all.
Mr. Mayor pulls all cases together in a satisfying climax of triumph.
I was offered this ebook download from Minotaur Books/St. Martins Press and NetGalley for a read and review. I can heartily recommend this book and the series as a thoughtful, intelligent mystery thriller, police procedural.
November 11, 2018
A strong entry in a favorite series of mine. After months of depressing stories in the Baltimore SUN about corruption in the police force, it's a relief to return to the world of Joe Gunther, who heads the Vermont Bureau of Investigation. Joe may make mistakes, but his integrity is never in question. I wasn't sure I'd like this book since Joe is sidelined during most of the action while he accompanies his elderly mother out west for treatment of dementia-like symptoms caused by a severe case of Lyme Disease. So the focus is on his three teammates, each involved in a different case.
"Trace" works surprisingly well in my opinion. How could it not when one case opens with the discovery of three human teeth on a railroad track? Joe's most unconventional detective, Willy Kunkle, is determined to get to the bottom of that one.
Here's a paragraph that typifies Archer Mayor's fast-paced but mindful police procedurals:
"Willy had discovered early in his career that because cops often collected clues on their own, it fell to them to choose how best to present them. Police officers are trained to walk the straight and narrow--to reflect the truth at all times, regardless of consequences. They also learn almost as quickly the value of "officer discretion," with which they are supposed to act on that truth, depending on its context. Thus a little old lady with no prior speeding violations might be given a pass, despite having been caught driving too fast.
Willy had taken this practical, reasonable, occasionally used leeway and virtually made it his life's work. He was the master of officer discretion...."
"Trace" works surprisingly well in my opinion. How could it not when one case opens with the discovery of three human teeth on a railroad track? Joe's most unconventional detective, Willy Kunkle, is determined to get to the bottom of that one.
Here's a paragraph that typifies Archer Mayor's fast-paced but mindful police procedurals:
"Willy had discovered early in his career that because cops often collected clues on their own, it fell to them to choose how best to present them. Police officers are trained to walk the straight and narrow--to reflect the truth at all times, regardless of consequences. They also learn almost as quickly the value of "officer discretion," with which they are supposed to act on that truth, depending on its context. Thus a little old lady with no prior speeding violations might be given a pass, despite having been caught driving too fast.
Willy had taken this practical, reasonable, occasionally used leeway and virtually made it his life's work. He was the master of officer discretion...."
September 28, 2017
My first Archer Mayor novel. I like his straightforward style, and I like how he fleshes out the stories of even minor characters. I had no trouble jumping in for book 28 of the series.
The three plot lines in Trace were complex and interesting; the same goes for the characterizations of the protagonists. My only problem was one of the plots had a very annoying crutch. A bad guy is sent to retrieve a thing, but he does it in the stupidest possible way, letting his desire to be a violent creep override the astonishing simplicity of the actual task. It was the only point in the whole book that stretched credibility at all, but boy did it stretch far, advancing the plot at the expense of logic. That knocked off a star.
In general, though, this was very enjoyable. The author does a great job expressing the various cultural, historical, and geographical qualities of Vermont (a fun plus). I recommend it.
P.S. I want to take this opportunity to complain about the wretched cover, with its WRONG WRONG WRONG photoshopped representation of a man's shadow as he walks towards the setting sun (which has the dimensions of a reflection instead of a shadow). Gah! I look forward to the time when the copyright reverts to Archer Mayor and he can put his own cover on the book (as he has done with about the first twenty, and boy do they look good). Just had to get that off my chest, thanks.
The three plot lines in Trace were complex and interesting; the same goes for the characterizations of the protagonists. My only problem was one of the plots had a very annoying crutch. A bad guy is sent to retrieve a thing, but he does it in the stupidest possible way, letting his desire to be a violent creep override the astonishing simplicity of the actual task. It was the only point in the whole book that stretched credibility at all, but boy did it stretch far, advancing the plot at the expense of logic. That knocked off a star.
In general, though, this was very enjoyable. The author does a great job expressing the various cultural, historical, and geographical qualities of Vermont (a fun plus). I recommend it.
P.S. I want to take this opportunity to complain about the wretched cover, with its WRONG WRONG WRONG photoshopped representation of a man's shadow as he walks towards the setting sun (which has the dimensions of a reflection instead of a shadow). Gah! I look forward to the time when the copyright reverts to Archer Mayor and he can put his own cover on the book (as he has done with about the first twenty, and boy do they look good). Just had to get that off my chest, thanks.
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