The Surrogate Thief (Joe Gunther Mysteries)

"The Surrogate Thief" offers a more introspective look into the life of Joe Gunther. By using a cold case Gunther had been following early in his career, Mayor allows the reader to see how Joe has grown as a man and investigator. While there are no knock down, drag-out fights landing Joe in the hospital, we are treated to a fascinating puzzle and psychological exploration. In previous books, Joe's late wife is usually mentioned at least once, but this is the first book to discuss their relationship and her death in any detail. Mayor ties Joe's emotional backstory to his current relationship with Gail Zigman in a moving, genuine manner and still provides a page turner of a mystery.

A domestic call gone bad deals Vermont's Bureau of Investigation agent Joe Gunther a second chance from the past. The gun involved in the domestic turns out to be one used in the unsolved fatal pistol whipping of a shopkeeper 30 years earlier. Gunther's young wife had been dying of cancer at the time and he's always felt he dropped the ball. This new evidence allows him to reopen the case and Gunther's painstaking, canny sleuthing is a pleasure to follow as he pursues each lead into the past and around New England. Not that this is any quiet cozy. Not once witnesses begin turning up dead faster than Gunther can track them down. On the personal side, his longtime love, Gail, is running for state senator and Gunther dislikes everything about the political arena and its effect on her. Well-plotted and character driven, this thoughtful series keeps getting better. - Portsmouth Herald

Archer Mayor's series starring Joe Gunther of the Vermont police just keeps getting better. This entry is indeed his best; multi-layered, suspenseful and realistic. Gunther is investigating a cold case, well over thirty years old, and is thrown back into the emotional crisis that was in his life at that time. His wife, Ellen, was dying, slowly and painfully of cancer at the same time he was investigating the brutal murder of a shopkeeper. A young man under suspicion at the time disappears and it seems that he is the murderer. The suspect is never found and suddenly the case is open again and Gunther must travel the path again, reliving the anguish of his young wife's death. In the present he must deal with his relationship with Gail, his lover, who is entering politics and in the midst of an active campaign. Her campaign means that he is not able to turn to her for support with his many conflicting emotions. This is a well-written, suspenseful story made strong by the depth of the characterizations. A great series.

Mr. mayor has done it again. He is a master in this genre. He has earned his due to be included in the upper tier of writers such as : Parker,both MacDonalds, Cornwell, and Chandler and Doyle . Mr. Mayor has captured Vermont and its people. Not only that but has noticed the different Vermonters in different areas of Vermont and that their thinking and speech are unique to their part of the state. I am a private investigator and deal in his world and can vouch for its truthfulness.There are many writers who just dont know and make fools of themselves with what they write. Read his entire out put from hios Gunther series. Brad Stender.

Thirty-two years ago in Brattlesboro, Vermont, rookie police detective watches his beloved wife Ellen slowly dies from cancer. Her lingering ailment negatively impacted his work as evinced by the robbery turned murder of storekeeper Klaus Oberfeldt in which evidence pointed to petty thief Pete Shea; Joe Gunther gave it a half hearted effort, to catch the fleeing Pete, but failed. The case went cold. In the present a domestic issue turns ugly when a wife shoots her former husband. Though obviously a local matter, the case comes to Joe's attention because the gun used is the same one that killed Klaus. Always feeling that he failed to do his job because of the distraction, Joe, using his leverage as the chief of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, begins an investigation. When he begins he is unaware that the two cases will make him reexamine his past tragedy and the impact it has had on him since including how he relates to his longtime lover, Gail Zigman as she runs for political office. THE SURROGATE THIEF is the best tale in this highly regarded police procedural series. Besides a terrific investigation into two crimes three decades apart, the novel provides a deep look at the demons haunting the hero dating back to Ellen's slow death. Fans of Joe will appreciate the insight into Ellen especially her last days and how that still disturbs him. Readers who enjoy an upfront and personal police investigation tale with a powerful gaze at what has motivated the lead investigator to excel over the years will want to read Archer Mayor's latest thriller. Harriet Klausner