News travels fast in the small state of Vermont. In this tight-knit society, police officers and investigators proudly maintain a kinship that transcends the boundaries of their jurisdictions. When an unidentified body is found in the peaceful town of Brattleboro, local police and the Vermont Bureau of Investigation both appear at the scene.
But before investigator Joe Gunther can begin to gather evidence of murder, a family emergency sends him to his hometown, where the lives of his mother and brother have suddenly been threatened. Gunther reaches out to a network of police officers who know him only by name and repututation as he attempts to discover the source of this imminent danger.
Meanwhile, his investigative team chases an elusive murderer who has no apparent ties to the victim. In a state that is more like a neighborhood community, secrets are difficult to keep, and it's sometimes impossible to know who can be trusted. Gunther soon finds himself opposing criminals more menacing than any he has ever encountered in order to save those he holds closest to his heart.
Archer Mayor lives in Newfane, Vermont. He writes full-time and volunteers as a firefighter/EMT. He is also a death investigator for the state's medical examiner, and a part-time police officer for the Bellows Falls Police Department. Mayor has lived all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and has been variously employed as a scholarly editor, a researcher for TIME-LIFE Books, a political advance man, a theater photographer, a newspaper writer/editor, and a medical illustrator. In addition to his Joe Gunther series, he has written two books on American history, a few short stories, and many articles
HIGH PRAISE FOR MAYOR AND THE JOE GUNTHER SERIES
"Archer Mayor's unassuming voice and down-to-earth style stamp his regional crime novels with a sense of integrity."
"Mayor's skills are equal to the vigor of his imagination, and we take his word for every twist, every turn, every thunderbolt."
"The strength of this durable series has always been its insularity: local settings; sharp small-town characterizations; home-grown police procedures."
"The writing is strong, with sharp social observations throughout. Gunther grows on you from novel to novel."
"Mayor's Joe Gunther novels are among the best cop stories being written today."
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Distributor: Hachette Book Group USA
Publication Date: 11-01-2008
Pages: 400
Measurements: 7in X 4.25in X 1.25in X .43lb
