Customer Reviews

Bellows Falls (Joe Gunther Mysteries)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This, the 7th in the series is as entertaining as the first. The author has a winner in his main and secondary characters. If you like mysteries, you'll read 'em all in a hurry and wait for the next one.

An engaging and thoughtful crime mystery novel. Based in Vermont, it has an unusual feel. We are so used to crime settings in big cities, this has a unique outlook. Of course, small towns and small states have crimes, also. This book, set in Vermont, gets to focus in on characters and personalities. Archer writes with clarity and precision. His characters are interesting and the secondary characters have particular depth.

Having lived and gone to school in Vermont (Middlebury, for which Archer gives a nice plug in the book) the settngs and geography all ring true. Fun, light reading.

The whole thing begins simply enough. Joe Gunther is asked to help the police chief of nearby Bellows Falls investigate a sexual harrassment complaint against one of his officers by Jan Bouch. However Gunther quickly realizes that there is more to the whole thing than simple sexual harrassment when he meets Jan's con-man husband, Norm. Does Norm really run drugs as the Bellows Falls police believe and is he behind the disappearance of known drug seller Jasper Morgan?

As with all of Mr. Mayor's books the plot seems simple to begin with but as Joe Gunther peels away layer after layer we finally realize just how convoluted the whole thing is. I'm always amazed at how Mr. Mayor is able to tie it all up neatly at the end, but he does. And it always makes sense when he's finished. As always Mr. Mayor's characters are dead on. And he really seems to know what makes a small police department tick. All of the Joe Gunther books are just flat-out entertaining. These stand head-and-shoulders above much of the garbage that passes for mysteries these days. I recommend all of Mr. Mayor's books highly.

Emile Latour, the police chief of Bellows Falls, Vermont asks for assistance from the police department of nearby Brattleboro. Lieutenant Joe Gunther of Brattleboro is loaned to Latour to investigate a claim of sexual harassment against one of the local officers, Brian Padgett. The accusation against Brian was brought forward by Jan Bouch, the spouse of a local drug king, Norm, who has never been charged with trafficking.

Joe begins to investigate and soon thinks the local cop may be guilty of the sexual harassment charge, but wonders why Norm would file anything that brings attention to him with the police. Joe digs deeper into the case and starts to uncover a larger conspiracy orchestrated by Norm. This knowledge places Joe in danger and helps him understand why a punk like Jasper Morgan would flee rather than be interviewed by Joe. If Joe is not careful, he could easily be the next victim.

Like the seven Joe Gunther novels that preceded BELLOWS FALLS, this book is a great mystery due to its wonderful characters (ranging from the good and decent Joe to the amoral Norm) and the seedier side of the Green Mountain State. The story line is fast-paced and exciting as the mystery well written. Archer Mayor remains one of the top mystery writers on the market today.

Harriet Klausner

Great if you like a well spun yarn with facinating characters who deal with real life problems. Great to read a book set in places you can find on the map, and recognize if you have ever been in Bellows Falls.

A richly detailed edge-of-your-seat thriller. It made me want to revisit familiar Vermont haunts and do some new exploring, too.

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!

Number Uno, I live in Bellows Falls and Mr Archer Mayor lives in Putney. So he doesn't know the first thing about what it's even _like_ to live here! The book only focused on the bad things of BF, not the good things. It made us all seem like a bunch of debauched hick drug addicts. Get a life! Not only has everyone in the state now heard of us, but the whole country! I'd rather be from Westminster any day.