Borderlines

I've said this before but it's worth repeating: Mayor is a fine writer and I've enjoyed all his books from the first to the latest. If you like police mysteries you'll find he is a craftsman of the first order. If you just like a good story and a well crafted plot, you can't go wrong with Archer. But be advised: The first of his books you read won't be the last! This is one of my favorite Mayor mysteries.

Lt. Joe Gunther is having a crisis, and decides the best way to deal with it is to runaway to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont to where he spent his "idealic" summers as a young boy. Well we all know that you can't go home again, because thirty years later home doesn't exist anymore. Your lucky if it hasn't been turned into a Wal-Mart. In the case of Gannet Vermont, the opposite has happened; the town is slowly dying when it is injected with 'new' money by a sect known as the 'Natural Order'. But like any two edged sword, the Order has now become a problem for it's neighbors. While in Gannet, Joe becomes involved in the investigation of a fire in one of the houses owned by the Order, where five people died. Joe is led, a merry chase by the leader of the Order, and by the murder of a parent of a member and the murder of an old childhood friend (who was the main suspect in the first murder). In the end, the solution to all of your questions will be answered; and the answers will be reasonable (not pulled out of the air at the end) as to what and why things happened.

Archer Mayor is a new discovery for me and I am SO glad I stumbled across a couple of his books. This was the first that I read and it was fabulous. Since Mr. Mayor lives in Brattleboro, he makes Vermont come alive in a way that someone who doesn't would not be able to do. I have never been to Vermont, but I could vividly see the scenes in my mind. This novel creates a mystifying mix of murders, each level becoming more complex - it is beautifully done and Joe Gunther is a terrific character - complex, insightful and full of the sort of off-beat stuff that makes a good cop character. As he tries to solve first a mysterious fire that resulted in five deaths, then a brutal stabbing, then yet another horrifying death that seems to disrupt the entire flow of the investigation, he is stymied at every turn by members of a group of people who belong to a sect of "back to nature" worshippers, who have rejected all modern conveniences - and refuse to interact with those who do not, even by talking to them. To make matters worse, members of the community who lived there before their arrival resent them and feel they are a cult - there is a lot of tension simmering under the surface. But, don't want to ruin it for you! Just go out and read the book - you won't be sorry!

All of Archer Mayor's books have a gripping story line. Although the stories are first class, the pictures drawn with words as the story unfolds are the best that I have ever encountered. The magnificent metaphors can create, in less than one sentence, images that may take other authors pages.Although each book is independent in and of itself, I enjoy reading the stories in sequence. There is a steady progression in character development and interpersonal relationships as we go from story to story. If you are a mystery fan, I am sure that you will enjoy the entire series as much as I have. If you are a student taking a course in creative writing, I don't think that you will find a better word artist than Archer Mayor.

As a frequent visitor of Brattleboro Vermont, I can tell you that Mr. Mayor knows the town and it's surrounding area like no one else. However, the real reason this novel and all his subsequent works are so gripping is because of his excellent characterization and ability to build suspense. All his characters are well drawn, but his protagonist, Joe Gunther is so real, that I have trouble believing he is fictional. A great read for all who appreciate realism in a mystery.