Apples and the Art of Detection

by John Bunker

John Bunker’s latest literary effort is hot off the press. The “art of detection” is what Sherlock Holmes called his profession. In John’s new book he channels his inner Sherlock as he searches through Maine’s past and present tracking down historic, unusual and occasionally illusive apple varieties and their stories. Part travelogue, part mystery and part how-to manual this book will take you for a ride across Maine and leave you excited to start searching for and identifying the old apple trees in your own neighborhood. Illustrated with hundreds of photos, as well as John’s signature cartoons and paintings of all the iconic Maine apples. 407 pages in full color.

407 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book about fruit exploration and identifying and preserving heirloom apple trees that otherwise may become forever lost. Very well written stories with great illustrations and photos. Author is guided by the Sherlock Holmes character, freely quoting from Doyle. It all makes for an inspiring and entertaining read. I find myself looking for old apple trees whenever I drive down country roads.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a resource for the preservation and understanding of Maine heirloom apples! This book is incredibly interesting and written in a friendly, sit-beside-me storytelling voice. John Bunker, now in his seventies, is an apple expert and one of the founders of the Maine Heritage Orchard in Unity, Maine.

[Elinor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about apples is not my standard fare, but I picked this up to learn a little more about the small home orchard I planted several years ago. What I got was a 400-page passion project by a good storyteller. Will definitely add a few of these heirlooms to my collection in the spring.