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Joe Gunther #33
Fall Guy
In Archer Mayor's Fall Guy, a body found in the trunk of a stolen car leads Joe Gunther and his team to crucial evidence in an infamous unsolved case from years past.
A high-end stolen car is discovered in Vermont. A car filled with stolen items from a far-flung two stage burglary spree. But it's what is in the trunk that brings Joe Gunther and his team from the Vermont Bureau of Investigation. In the trunk is the body of burglar in question - one Don Kalfus. Complicating matters, while the body was found in Vermont, it appears he was probably killed in the next state over, New Hampshire.
The task force charged with finding out why Kalfus is murdered soon faces another problem. Within the pile of stolen cell phones found in the car is evidence of a notorious unsolved child abduction case from years earlier.
Now the seemingly simple case has become more complicated and deadly, leading Gunther's team to be pulled from the New Hampshire coast to near the Canadian border as they attempt to find and capture the psychopath responsible for a tangled, historical web of misery, betrayal, and loss.
A high-end stolen car is discovered in Vermont. A car filled with stolen items from a far-flung two stage burglary spree. But it's what is in the trunk that brings Joe Gunther and his team from the Vermont Bureau of Investigation. In the trunk is the body of burglar in question - one Don Kalfus. Complicating matters, while the body was found in Vermont, it appears he was probably killed in the next state over, New Hampshire.
The task force charged with finding out why Kalfus is murdered soon faces another problem. Within the pile of stolen cell phones found in the car is evidence of a notorious unsolved child abduction case from years earlier.
Now the seemingly simple case has become more complicated and deadly, leading Gunther's team to be pulled from the New Hampshire coast to near the Canadian border as they attempt to find and capture the psychopath responsible for a tangled, historical web of misery, betrayal, and loss.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2022
90 people are currently reading
3705 people want to read
About the author
Archer Mayor
44 books735 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 163 reviews
August 25, 2022
Every year, I anticipate the latest Archer Mayor book. His Joe Gunther series is a how-to for police procedurals. He has created a wonderful cast of characters who feel like old friends, with this the 33rd in the series. Yet he always provides enough background that a reader could pick this up as a stand-alone.
The story starts with the discovery of a dead body in the trunk of a stolen car. The body belongs to Don Kalfus, a minor thief. The car also contains a mobile phone with pictures of child porn and another ancient cell phone with links to an old, cold child abduction case. The multiple finds have the team crossing back and forth between Vermont and New Hampshire and running hither and yon. There are so many moving parts to this, you have to really pay attention. It kept me totally engaged trying to see how they would weave together and be resolved. And boy, was that ending intense and convoluted.
One of the reasons that Mayor stands out is his writing. His descriptions are spot on. Not your typical police procedural.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
The story starts with the discovery of a dead body in the trunk of a stolen car. The body belongs to Don Kalfus, a minor thief. The car also contains a mobile phone with pictures of child porn and another ancient cell phone with links to an old, cold child abduction case. The multiple finds have the team crossing back and forth between Vermont and New Hampshire and running hither and yon. There are so many moving parts to this, you have to really pay attention. It kept me totally engaged trying to see how they would weave together and be resolved. And boy, was that ending intense and convoluted.
One of the reasons that Mayor stands out is his writing. His descriptions are spot on. Not your typical police procedural.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
January 5, 2024
This is a Police Mystery, and this is the 33rd book in the Joe Gunther series. I have not read the other books in this series before picking up this book. I found it a little bit hard for me to get into this book because of the way this book is told. I found the story to be ok. I wanted to connect to the characters more. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
November 12, 2022
Archer Mayer is back with his 33rd Joe Gunther novel, Fall Guy. Mayer’s police procedural series is a cut above in its ability to present the many officers involved, with their many personalities and work styles, and have a cohesive, very believable story.
Fall Guy opens with the discovery of a small time thief, Don Kalfus, in the trunk of a stolen Mercedes. And also in the car, a phone with child porn, items that look to be stolen goods and an old flip phone that turns out to be connected to an old unsolved case. From this out of the ordinary beginning, Gunther will move around Vermont and then New Hampshire seeking answers to an ever growing list of questions. We readers even learn how interstate task forces work to join various police forces for hoped for seamless sharing and coordination.
This is a great series, highly recommended. I plan to go back and plug in the holes in my reading of Mayer’s books.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Fall Guy opens with the discovery of a small time thief, Don Kalfus, in the trunk of a stolen Mercedes. And also in the car, a phone with child porn, items that look to be stolen goods and an old flip phone that turns out to be connected to an old unsolved case. From this out of the ordinary beginning, Gunther will move around Vermont and then New Hampshire seeking answers to an ever growing list of questions. We readers even learn how interstate task forces work to join various police forces for hoped for seamless sharing and coordination.
This is a great series, highly recommended. I plan to go back and plug in the holes in my reading of Mayer’s books.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
September 13, 2022
Fall Guy is Book #33 in Archer Mayor’s Joe Gunther series. In this novel, Joe and his team are tasked with investigating and solving several cases — three murders, a case of child trafficking, and a cold missing persons case. All of these cases stem from finding a body beaten to death in the trunk of a stolen car.
While I did enjoy Mayor’s previous novels, I found Fall Guy to be a tedious read. For one, there were close to a dozen acronyms. ICAC, TFO, MOD (not COD,) RAC, etc. You get the picture… I was constantly referring back to my notes to refresh my memory of what each meant. Not a fun way to read a novel. Then there was the issue of the number of characters, which was close to over a dozen. Granted, there was the core group of Joe and his team. But with a whoddunit novel, all the characters matter. So rather than an enjoyable fiction, Fall Guy became an exercise in notetaking.
The plot was like a wagon wheel that contained numerous spokes emanting from the hub. Maybe the intention was to create plot twists, but the execution of it didn’t quite meet the mark.
Fall Guy was a disappointing read for me. Unlike Mayor’s other novels, it fell short of likable. But because I managed to finish it despite all the hurdles, I’ll give it two okay stars.
I received a digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
While I did enjoy Mayor’s previous novels, I found Fall Guy to be a tedious read. For one, there were close to a dozen acronyms. ICAC, TFO, MOD (not COD,) RAC, etc. You get the picture… I was constantly referring back to my notes to refresh my memory of what each meant. Not a fun way to read a novel. Then there was the issue of the number of characters, which was close to over a dozen. Granted, there was the core group of Joe and his team. But with a whoddunit novel, all the characters matter. So rather than an enjoyable fiction, Fall Guy became an exercise in notetaking.
The plot was like a wagon wheel that contained numerous spokes emanting from the hub. Maybe the intention was to create plot twists, but the execution of it didn’t quite meet the mark.
Fall Guy was a disappointing read for me. Unlike Mayor’s other novels, it fell short of likable. But because I managed to finish it despite all the hurdles, I’ll give it two okay stars.
I received a digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
August 14, 2022
Archer Mayor writes wicked good mysteries all set in his native Vermont. Fall Guy is the latest in the series of Joe Gunther and his gang at VBI. It all starts out with a stolen car with a body in the trunk with no apparent connection to the owner of the car as well as a phone in the car belonging to yet another person. Sounds intriguing? Well I found the book well written as usual and the story interesting, the policework to solve these mysteries is solid and the characters fantastic. This is a series I would love to discover all over again, it's pure pleasure reading these books. I must give thanks to Minotaur Books, Macmillan and Edelweiss for letting me read this advance copy and Archer Mayor for writing it.
August 8, 2022
Lacking in Focus!
Who, exactly, is the protagonist in this story? Is it Detective Joe Gunther, the field force commander for the Vermont Bureau of Investigation (VBI)? Is it Samantha, the mother of Emma, and also a police officer in Vermont? It almost seems to be Willy Kunkle father of Emma and mate of Samantha. Perhaps it is Lester. Or maybe Fred. He’s in New Hampshire, but the author solved that problem by having all of these cops be a part of a federal task force to investigate kiddie porn.
To me, it seemed as though former military sniper Willie Kunkle is the primary figure in this story, but it isn’t easy to be sure because the author shifts focus from one member of the investigative team to another with amazing frequency. Good luck keeping track of everybody.
In addition to having multiple cops, we also learn that there are multiple villains. At least one of them is dead. His lifeless body has been found in the trunk of a stolen Mercedes, and that event kicks off the story.
One of the supposed villains is Lemuel Shaw, owner of the Mercedes and very wealthy businessman. Another is the dead man’s mother, and another is his girlfriend. But wait, the dead man had a buddy who used to join him in his nighttime sojourns to burgle local homes. Did he murder his buddy?
Just to further complicate the plot, the cell phone of a missing child named Scooter Nelson, who had disappeared without a trace a number of years earlier, is found in the trunk of the Mercedes with the dead body. How did it get there?
At the rather abrupt and unsatisfying ending to the story, all of the bad guys are identified, but not before the obligatory additional murders have been committed. I was disappointed with the way the author ended the story, and I think he would have been well advised to focus the story on a single protagonist. I award three of the five available stars. I did not particularly like the novel, but some readers might.
Who, exactly, is the protagonist in this story? Is it Detective Joe Gunther, the field force commander for the Vermont Bureau of Investigation (VBI)? Is it Samantha, the mother of Emma, and also a police officer in Vermont? It almost seems to be Willy Kunkle father of Emma and mate of Samantha. Perhaps it is Lester. Or maybe Fred. He’s in New Hampshire, but the author solved that problem by having all of these cops be a part of a federal task force to investigate kiddie porn.
To me, it seemed as though former military sniper Willie Kunkle is the primary figure in this story, but it isn’t easy to be sure because the author shifts focus from one member of the investigative team to another with amazing frequency. Good luck keeping track of everybody.
In addition to having multiple cops, we also learn that there are multiple villains. At least one of them is dead. His lifeless body has been found in the trunk of a stolen Mercedes, and that event kicks off the story.
One of the supposed villains is Lemuel Shaw, owner of the Mercedes and very wealthy businessman. Another is the dead man’s mother, and another is his girlfriend. But wait, the dead man had a buddy who used to join him in his nighttime sojourns to burgle local homes. Did he murder his buddy?
Just to further complicate the plot, the cell phone of a missing child named Scooter Nelson, who had disappeared without a trace a number of years earlier, is found in the trunk of the Mercedes with the dead body. How did it get there?
At the rather abrupt and unsatisfying ending to the story, all of the bad guys are identified, but not before the obligatory additional murders have been committed. I was disappointed with the way the author ended the story, and I think he would have been well advised to focus the story on a single protagonist. I award three of the five available stars. I did not particularly like the novel, but some readers might.
January 29, 2023
Given that this is a very long-running series (Fall Guy is the 33rd book in the Joe Gunther series), it wasn’t practical for me to start from the beginning, so I decided to jump in with this latest offering. It’s a police procedural set in Vermont and New Hampshire, featuring a team from the VBI (Vermont Bureau of Investigation), led by Joe Gunther. In addition to Joe, there’s Willy, Lester and Sam (Samantha). They are called to the scene when a stolen car is found with a dead body in the trunk. Not surprisingly, there’s a lot of convoluted, twisty connections, and eventually the team figures everything out. There are some rather tense moments involving someone in a bomb-vest near the end, but for the most part, it wasn’t a very exciting read. Also, beyond the core four-person team, there were a lot of characters to try to keep straight.
Warning: references to child pornography (not a big spoiler, as it is revealed pretty close to the beginning of the book) and sexual activity with minors (not graphic, just referenced).
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I’m rather late to it. All opinions are my own.
Warning: references to child pornography (not a big spoiler, as it is revealed pretty close to the beginning of the book) and sexual activity with minors (not graphic, just referenced).
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I’m rather late to it. All opinions are my own.
March 30, 2023
I've read a few of these and they have all been a solid 3 stars. What I like the most is first the creativity with this author's stories and how he asks all the right questions (and by that I mean all the questions I'm asking myself). It is very methodical. No wild leaps over reality. I loved that.
I also like the MC. He gets the job done without a lot of fanfare. Overall I liked this one. These books are a bit of a slow burn though. Sometimes it is just want I need. So 3 stars.
I also like the MC. He gets the job done without a lot of fanfare. Overall I liked this one. These books are a bit of a slow burn though. Sometimes it is just want I need. So 3 stars.
August 30, 2022
First Sentence: Joe Gunther crested the hill overlooking a small cluster of flashing, multihued vehicles below.
Special Agent Joe Gunther, head of the VBI (Vermont Bureau of Investigation), and his team are confronted with a case that initially seems straightforward. An expensive car with New Hampshire plates, reported stolen by Lemuel Shaw, is found in Vermont near the scene of two burglaries. In the trunk is the body of the suspected burglar, Don Kalfus. Evidence suggests he was killed in New Hampshire. Also in the trunk are several stolen cell phones, one containing child porn, and another which belonged to a boy who disappeared years ago. The VBI team follows the clues as the body count continues to rise.
Rather than a prologue, Mayor begins with a description that is both dramatic and evocative. His literary style is always a pleasure to read--”…specialist teams delicately work around one another like dancers of a minuet…” The author is thorough in his description of the activity which occurs at a crime scene and explains how multi-jurisdictional teams can work together cooperatively and without grandstanding. There are a lot of acronyms used, but each is quickly explained.
Mayor has developed a cast of central characters that are always a pleasure to rejoin, especially as we’ve seen them grow and develop with the series. They are a cohesive unit, knowing how each works while trusting and supporting one another with occasional flashes of humor.
The investigative team runs through the details of the case and offer theories providing the realism one hopes for in a police procedural; they follow the clues rather than making an assumption of guilt and fitting the clues to that assumption. Willie, who has been with Joe and the VBI from the beginning, is the one, occasional, maverick among the group, sometimes taking someone else with him—Willy…“I want to tail ‘em.”… “Sniper-style,” Lester suggested neutrally…”Without authorization, without backup, and without pay, if I’m reading this right.” Willy’s enthusiasm was unaffected. “Yup. Sounds like fun, don’t it?”
Child kidnapping, sex trafficking, and kiddy porn are exceedingly difficult subjects. Mayor handles it with great sensitivity and understanding for the victims. In thinking about the child’s interview with social services, Joe had—"been caught by the metaphor of each victim becoming traumatically transformed into conjoined twins, one destined to lug around the corpse of the other until death.”
FALL GUY is a police procedural that develops as burglary and murder, develops to include at least two cold cases of missing children, a suspicious death, an abused child, spousal abuse, and a life-threatening situation no one could have predicted. Even then, it’s all topped off with a very unexpected case of, “but wait, there’s more.” Once again, Archer Mayor has come through with a first-rate read.
FALL GUY (PolProc-Joe Gunther-Vermont/New Hampshire-Contemp)
by Archer Mayor – 33rd in series
Minotaur Books, Sept 2022, 304 pp.
Rating: VG+ / A
Special Agent Joe Gunther, head of the VBI (Vermont Bureau of Investigation), and his team are confronted with a case that initially seems straightforward. An expensive car with New Hampshire plates, reported stolen by Lemuel Shaw, is found in Vermont near the scene of two burglaries. In the trunk is the body of the suspected burglar, Don Kalfus. Evidence suggests he was killed in New Hampshire. Also in the trunk are several stolen cell phones, one containing child porn, and another which belonged to a boy who disappeared years ago. The VBI team follows the clues as the body count continues to rise.
Rather than a prologue, Mayor begins with a description that is both dramatic and evocative. His literary style is always a pleasure to read--”…specialist teams delicately work around one another like dancers of a minuet…” The author is thorough in his description of the activity which occurs at a crime scene and explains how multi-jurisdictional teams can work together cooperatively and without grandstanding. There are a lot of acronyms used, but each is quickly explained.
Mayor has developed a cast of central characters that are always a pleasure to rejoin, especially as we’ve seen them grow and develop with the series. They are a cohesive unit, knowing how each works while trusting and supporting one another with occasional flashes of humor.
The investigative team runs through the details of the case and offer theories providing the realism one hopes for in a police procedural; they follow the clues rather than making an assumption of guilt and fitting the clues to that assumption. Willie, who has been with Joe and the VBI from the beginning, is the one, occasional, maverick among the group, sometimes taking someone else with him—Willy…“I want to tail ‘em.”… “Sniper-style,” Lester suggested neutrally…”Without authorization, without backup, and without pay, if I’m reading this right.” Willy’s enthusiasm was unaffected. “Yup. Sounds like fun, don’t it?”
Child kidnapping, sex trafficking, and kiddy porn are exceedingly difficult subjects. Mayor handles it with great sensitivity and understanding for the victims. In thinking about the child’s interview with social services, Joe had—"been caught by the metaphor of each victim becoming traumatically transformed into conjoined twins, one destined to lug around the corpse of the other until death.”
FALL GUY is a police procedural that develops as burglary and murder, develops to include at least two cold cases of missing children, a suspicious death, an abused child, spousal abuse, and a life-threatening situation no one could have predicted. Even then, it’s all topped off with a very unexpected case of, “but wait, there’s more.” Once again, Archer Mayor has come through with a first-rate read.
FALL GUY (PolProc-Joe Gunther-Vermont/New Hampshire-Contemp)
by Archer Mayor – 33rd in series
Minotaur Books, Sept 2022, 304 pp.
Rating: VG+ / A
September 27, 2022
I read, I think in the New York Times, that Archer Mayor is going to take a hiatus in writing books because he wants to devote more time to his primary job as Medical Examiner of Vermont. Sigh, this is sad news for his legions of fans, including me, however good it is for the people of Vermont.
I don't like spoilers so I won't give any. This is the thirty-third book in the Joe Gunther series, and like its preceding books it is well-written and keeps the reader interested. If this is your first acquaintance with Joe and his VBI team, I think you will be able to follow everything. I liked that this book concentrated on Joe and the Vermont Bureau of Investigation instead of more extraneous characters.
Every year for some time I have looked forward to a new Archer Mayor. I am sorry that next year we will be bereft of that pleasure. In the meantime, this is an excellent book, and so worth reading. Archer Mayor, I salute you!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
I don't like spoilers so I won't give any. This is the thirty-third book in the Joe Gunther series, and like its preceding books it is well-written and keeps the reader interested. If this is your first acquaintance with Joe and his VBI team, I think you will be able to follow everything. I liked that this book concentrated on Joe and the Vermont Bureau of Investigation instead of more extraneous characters.
Every year for some time I have looked forward to a new Archer Mayor. I am sorry that next year we will be bereft of that pleasure. In the meantime, this is an excellent book, and so worth reading. Archer Mayor, I salute you!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
April 15, 2024
I listened to the entire Gunther series on audiobook in one month, and I’m sad. I have to say goodbye to these characters! (Forever, or just for now?) Even though this wasn’t considered a cozy mystery series, I found a lot of coziness in the main characters and their relationships. Can anyone recommend a similar series I can enjoy now?!?
January 22, 2023
This is a very solid installment in a consistent series. Some convoluted plotting, but overall solid. Especially if you love Vermont, as I do. Willie plays a prominent role and he is a great cop character in my estimation.
May 28, 2022
4 stars
Archer Mayor has written the thirty-third in the Joe Gunther series. This is a quality book, as are all of his novels. I very much enjoy Joe’s philosophical and psychological musings as he pursues his uspects.
The Brattleboro team is all back: Willy, his wife Sammie and the others all combine to make a kick behind team. I see Willy growing as he ponders his daughter. He so loves this little girl, and it has made him softer. But not too soft…on criminals.
This is a very messy case. There are numerous leads to follow as the body count continues to rise. Bodies in car trunks, child sexual abuse, murders and bombings all factor into this story.
This is a complicated police procedural. The details are riveting. Mr. Mayor’s characters are fully fleshed out, interesting and likable. The book is very well written and plotted. It moves along apace and holds the readers’ interest. I will await the next novel in this series.
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
Archer Mayor has written the thirty-third in the Joe Gunther series. This is a quality book, as are all of his novels. I very much enjoy Joe’s philosophical and psychological musings as he pursues his uspects.
The Brattleboro team is all back: Willy, his wife Sammie and the others all combine to make a kick behind team. I see Willy growing as he ponders his daughter. He so loves this little girl, and it has made him softer. But not too soft…on criminals.
This is a very messy case. There are numerous leads to follow as the body count continues to rise. Bodies in car trunks, child sexual abuse, murders and bombings all factor into this story.
This is a complicated police procedural. The details are riveting. Mr. Mayor’s characters are fully fleshed out, interesting and likable. The book is very well written and plotted. It moves along apace and holds the readers’ interest. I will await the next novel in this series.
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
September 27, 2022
Book 33 in the Joe Gunter mysteries, Fall Guy was packed full of action and suspense. This is my first book by this author and I'm loving it. I love a good mystery of "who did it" and being able to find out those answers. When Joe arrives at the site where there is a stolen Mercedes with a dead guy in the truck, the mystery begins, and Joe must find those answers out. The book was fast paced and well written. I enjoyed the plot and the characters, and I believe I just found a new series I want to enjoy more of.
October 8, 2022
Outstanding ! The landscape, culture and law enforcement networks of Vermont and New Hampshire are true to life. This series entry focuses on the development of the four main characters, while adding a number of new less than good to very bad guys and gals. It is a relief that current politics and health issues are left out. You could read this as a stand-alone, but to really appreciate the main characters go back and start with book one - you will have a winter’s worth of excellent reading.
March 22, 2025
What started as a thrift store find quickly turned into a new obsession! Beginning with an interesting crime scene, a succession of unsavory acts committed by an array of morally unwell characters soon unfolds. With a number of events connecting and being revisited later in the novel, there is no shortage of surprises to be had! Sequentially, I've been introduced late in the game, but I cannot wait to backtrack to the start of Joe Gunther!
May 19, 2023
I’m not sure what I’m feeling upon finishing this one. It was a madcap ride for sure though.
October 2, 2022
Joe Gunther and his team are high on my list of favorite crime solvers. Every book has the kind of interconnected stories and crimes that they are driven to solve.
This is one of the most deviously-conceived mysteries ever!!
I was lucky enough to receive this book in a Goodreads Giveaway drawing. I am so glad I got to read it.
This is one of the most deviously-conceived mysteries ever!!
I was lucky enough to receive this book in a Goodreads Giveaway drawing. I am so glad I got to read it.
August 31, 2023
Good story. As a long time reader, I didn't feel that the repeated information about Willy's arm and his personality quirks were needed but I've read all the Gunther books to date so Willy is not a stranger to this reader whereas someone new might need the background. Did not see the twist and the connections at the end seemed a little odd to have not turned up in the exhaustive search the team was doing on the suspects but... again, overall, it was a good story.
September 28, 2022
Another great entry by Archer Mayor in the Joe Gunther saga.
December 10, 2022
The plot was exceptional in this entry in the Joe Gunter series. Sometimes the cast of characters gets a bit boring if the case is not interesting. But this case builds from a simple case of who killed the guy found in the trunk of a Mercedes into a wide-ranging mystery. Good side characters and some revelations at the end make this a good read.
June 12, 2022
4 stars
Archer Mayor has written the thirty-third in the Joe Gunther series. This is a quality book, as are all of his novels. I very much enjoy Joe’s philosophical and psychological musings as he pursues his suspects.
The Brattleboro team is all back: Willy, his wife Sammie and the others all combine to make a kick behind team. I see Willy growing as he ponders his daughter. He so loves this little girl, and it has made him softer. But not too soft…on criminals.
This is a very messy case. There are numerous leads to follow as the body count continues to rise. Bodies in car trunks, child sexual abuse, murders and bombings all factor into this story.
This is a complicated police procedural. The details are riveting. Mr. Mayor’s characters are fully fleshed out, interesting and likable. The book is very well written and plotted. It moves along apace and holds the readers’ interest. I will await the next novel in this series.
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
Archer Mayor has written the thirty-third in the Joe Gunther series. This is a quality book, as are all of his novels. I very much enjoy Joe’s philosophical and psychological musings as he pursues his suspects.
The Brattleboro team is all back: Willy, his wife Sammie and the others all combine to make a kick behind team. I see Willy growing as he ponders his daughter. He so loves this little girl, and it has made him softer. But not too soft…on criminals.
This is a very messy case. There are numerous leads to follow as the body count continues to rise. Bodies in car trunks, child sexual abuse, murders and bombings all factor into this story.
This is a complicated police procedural. The details are riveting. Mr. Mayor’s characters are fully fleshed out, interesting and likable. The book is very well written and plotted. It moves along apace and holds the readers’ interest. I will await the next novel in this series.
I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.
October 1, 2022
I love Joe Gunther and I've ready every book in the series. So why am I giving this three stars instead of five?
The nature of the crime being investigated creeped me out as it unfolded, all the way into I-need-a-trigger-warning territory. A lot of crime fiction lovers will be totally unfazed and will like this book just fine, but I'm rating on my personal take, and man I did not like it.
I've also said before, don't put too many primary characters in a book and expect me to keep track of all of them. I think this book could have used a few less crooks. I'd also say one or two fewer cops, but since it's a series the main leads are burned into my head and I have no problem keeping track of them. (It helps that the cops all have very distinct personalities, and of course no names that start with the same letter )
Finally, Mayor resorted to not one, but two instances of the entire chapter where a bad guy explains in detail everything that happened in their personal crime spree. What I think of as the James Bond denouement is just weak writing if you ask me. (And would a cop really spill his guts without a proffer from a prosecutor?)
The nature of the crime being investigated creeped me out as it unfolded, all the way into I-need-a-trigger-warning territory. A lot of crime fiction lovers will be totally unfazed and will like this book just fine, but I'm rating on my personal take, and man I did not like it.
I've also said before, don't put too many primary characters in a book and expect me to keep track of all of them. I think this book could have used a few less crooks. I'd also say one or two fewer cops, but since it's a series the main leads are burned into my head and I have no problem keeping track of them. (It helps that the cops all have very distinct personalities, and of course no names that start with the same letter )
Finally, Mayor resorted to not one, but two instances of the entire chapter where a bad guy explains in detail everything that happened in their personal crime spree. What I think of as the James Bond denouement is just weak writing if you ask me. (And would a cop really spill his guts without a proffer from a prosecutor?)
September 25, 2022
A dead body in the trunk of a stolen car leaves the experienced detective, Joe Gunther, scrambling for clues. At first, the evidence seems to only be from a burglary spree. But then the evidence leads them back to an infamous cold case, and the team is thrust into a complicated and dangerous situation. I didn't love this mystery. It was complex, and I never knew where it would go next. But it was also really slow-paced and focused on the tiny details of police practice. I enjoy realistic mysteries, but I could have done without all of the acronyms (for example, ICAC, TFO, CSST, and NESPIN are all in the first chapter). Maybe I would have liked the story better if I had read any of the other Joe Gunther books and already had a connection to the story. But I struggled to connect to the book's characters, and it made it hard to stay interested during the slower parts of the story.
Thank you to Netgalley, Minotaur Books, and Archer Mayor for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.
Thank you to Netgalley, Minotaur Books, and Archer Mayor for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me.
September 27, 2022
This book didn't WOW me, but it was decent. It was difficult for me to keep track of which characters were which, because there were quite a few of them and then rotated through their names and their nicknames.
It's been a few days since I finished reading and for the life of me I cannot remember who actually ended up being the murderer. There was police cover-up and tons of lies and deceit, but it just isn't a book that has stuck with me.
It was enjoyable to read in the moment. It only took me a few hours while I was the passenger on a long car ride and it kept me awake and mostly interested. I think if you've read the others in the series it might be easier to follow and keep up with.
It's been a few days since I finished reading and for the life of me I cannot remember who actually ended up being the murderer. There was police cover-up and tons of lies and deceit, but it just isn't a book that has stuck with me.
It was enjoyable to read in the moment. It only took me a few hours while I was the passenger on a long car ride and it kept me awake and mostly interested. I think if you've read the others in the series it might be easier to follow and keep up with.
October 20, 2022
I’m not sure whether I’ll read any more of this series or not. This was the first in the series I’ve read, and although the plot pulled me along, the heavy-handedness of filling in the back stories on all these people who form the Vermont Bureau of Investigation team felt a little much to me. Also, there was a lot of editorializing in the descriptions. I’d much rather an author show me that the team leader is laconic, upstanding, and inspiring than have an omniscient narrator inform me of it. Perhaps this just caught me at the wrong time, because I read it right after Scott Turow’s last book, which was much less formulaic and better in every way. I guess we’ll see whether I miss the characters at all and that will determine whether I try another one.
March 1, 2023
Fall Guy has an interesting plot that moves from the obvious to deeper motivations and crimes. I enjoyed that Mayor peeled back aspects of characters' personalities, yet would have enjoyed the book more if he had spent more time revealing them. Because he did not fully develop suspects, it was difficult to care about what happened to any of them.
October 2, 2022
I think maybe I should have researched this book a bit before getting into it. It was a little too dark for me, dealing with some disturbing issues. It also was hard to understand at times. I'm sure if you like darker police books this will be the one for you, however it was not for me.
February 4, 2023
Joe Gunther is getting old. it might be time for Joe to retire.
September 4, 2022
Fall Guy – Archer Mayor
(blog will publish 9/24)
It’s a chilly winter’s day when Joe Gunther, Field Commander of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, is summoned to a scene. A vehicle, reported stolen several days ago from New Hampshire, has been found – with a dead body stuffed inside the trunk. In the vehicle itself is a bunch of junk – low end items invariably stolen from a multitude of places. Of the six phones removed from the vehicle, one is quickly found to have child pornography. Another, inextricably, links to a missing persons case from several years ago – one that was never solved.
As Joe and his team document the scene, Beverly Hillstrom, the Chief Medical Examiner and Joe’s significant other, arrives on scene to collect the body. A quick on scene examination reveals a blow to the head as a likely source of death. A quick identification is made via a biometric scanner, complete with rap sheet and next of kin. The phones and random property appear to belong to various individuals, with each individual item needing follow up, as they look for a relationship, if any, to the vehicle owner – or the deceased.
A task force is formed with all the usual players we’ve come to know and love; the team splitting up to start unraveling the clues they’ve discovered, including the rescue of a young child from exploitation. Attempts to re-create the last week of travel via the stolen vehicle’s GPS reveal a multitude of stops, seemingly random, but all must be visited – with every destination seemingly provoking more questions than answers. Joe and his team must pull out all the stops to get to the bottom of this one – and do so with a very unexpected and a bit abrupt, but very satisfying ending!
As a former New Englander, I love the rich storytelling Archer Mayor provides, in his detailed and colorful descriptions of the Vermont/New Hampshire area. I can easily visualize the towns and geography he describes, making me more than a bit homesick for those days of my youth! I adore the Joe Gunther character and his merry group of investigators, and I know with each book release that I need to settle in for a nice long uninterrupted read. This one was no exception! Another great read from one of the greats!!
Available 9/27 from all of your favorite booksellers!
I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!
(blog will publish 9/24)
It’s a chilly winter’s day when Joe Gunther, Field Commander of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, is summoned to a scene. A vehicle, reported stolen several days ago from New Hampshire, has been found – with a dead body stuffed inside the trunk. In the vehicle itself is a bunch of junk – low end items invariably stolen from a multitude of places. Of the six phones removed from the vehicle, one is quickly found to have child pornography. Another, inextricably, links to a missing persons case from several years ago – one that was never solved.
As Joe and his team document the scene, Beverly Hillstrom, the Chief Medical Examiner and Joe’s significant other, arrives on scene to collect the body. A quick on scene examination reveals a blow to the head as a likely source of death. A quick identification is made via a biometric scanner, complete with rap sheet and next of kin. The phones and random property appear to belong to various individuals, with each individual item needing follow up, as they look for a relationship, if any, to the vehicle owner – or the deceased.
A task force is formed with all the usual players we’ve come to know and love; the team splitting up to start unraveling the clues they’ve discovered, including the rescue of a young child from exploitation. Attempts to re-create the last week of travel via the stolen vehicle’s GPS reveal a multitude of stops, seemingly random, but all must be visited – with every destination seemingly provoking more questions than answers. Joe and his team must pull out all the stops to get to the bottom of this one – and do so with a very unexpected and a bit abrupt, but very satisfying ending!
As a former New Englander, I love the rich storytelling Archer Mayor provides, in his detailed and colorful descriptions of the Vermont/New Hampshire area. I can easily visualize the towns and geography he describes, making me more than a bit homesick for those days of my youth! I adore the Joe Gunther character and his merry group of investigators, and I know with each book release that I need to settle in for a nice long uninterrupted read. This one was no exception! Another great read from one of the greats!!
Available 9/27 from all of your favorite booksellers!
I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!
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