Borderlines (Joe Gunther Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Archer Mayor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 1990 | Series: Joe Gunther Mysteries

The second novel in the Joe Gunther re-release promotion finds Gunther in Gannet, Vermont. The quiet town is rocked by violence and murder when five members of a back-to-nature cult die in a suspicious fire.

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this sophisticated mystery, Lieutenant Joe Gunther, acting chief of the Brattleboro, Vt., police department, makes his second appearance; the first was in Mayor's superlative Open Season. Seeking a rest from his stressful job, Gunther procures a temporary assignment to Gannet, Vt., the site of his boyhood summer vacations. The tone of his tenure is set when a suspicious fire claims five lives. The dead are all members of the Natural Order, a mysterious back-to-nature cult that has created dissension in the economically depressed town by buying up much of its property. Gunther, who is nearly killed in the fire, becomes a member of the team investigating its cause. Then another corpse is found. The victim, stabbed to death, was searching for his daughter, a cult member. Gunther begins to question his professionalism once he realizes that the prime suspect in these killings is his best friend. The situation is further complicated by the refusal of the Order members to cooperate with the police and by the townspeople's growing distrust of Gunther. After another gory murder is committed, Gunther follows his instincts with near-fatal results. He learns that the Gannet of his boyhood happiness is gone--maybe forever. Mayor's polished sentences and adroit deductive reasoning add depth and style.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 253 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; First Edition edition (October 30, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399135537
• ISBN-13: 978-0399135538
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,839,545 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Archer Mayor is the author of the highly acclaimed, Vermont-based series featuring detective Joe Gunther, which the Chicago Tribune describes as "the best police procedurals being written in America." He is also the 2004 winner of the New England Independent Booksellers Association Award for Best Fiction--the first time a writer of crime literature has been so honored.

Before turning his hand to fiction, Mayor wrote history books, the most notable of which concerned the lumber and oil business in Louisiana from the 1870s to the 1970s. This book was published by the University of Georgia Press back in 1988 and very well received; it has been republished as a trade paperback in 2009.

Mayor--who was brought up in the US, Canada and France--was variously employed as a scholarly editor, a researcher for TIME-LIFE Books, a political advance-man, a theater photographer, a newspaper writer/editor, a lab technician for Paris-Match Magazine in Paris, France, and a medical illustrator. In addition to writing novels and occasional articles, Mayor gives talks and workshops all around the country, including the Bread Loaf Young Writers conference in Middlebury, Vermont, and the Colby College seminar on forensic sciences in Waterville, Maine. In addition, Archer is a death investigator for Vermont's Chief Medical Examiner, a Deputy Sheriff for Windham County, VT, an investigator for the Windham County State's Attorney's office, the publisher of his own backlist, a travel writer for AAA, and he travels the Northeast giving speeches and conducting workshops. He also has 25 years experience as a volunteer firefighter/EMT.

Mayor's critically-acclaimed series of police novels features Lt. Joe Gunther of the Brattleboro, Vermont police department. The books, which have been appearing about once a year since 1988, have been published in five languages (if you count British,) and routinely gather high praise from such sources as the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the New Yorker, and many others, often appearing on their "ten best" yearly lists.

Whereas many writers base their books on only interviews and scholarly research, Mayor's novels are based on actual experience in the field. The result adds a depth, detail and veracity to his characters and their tribulations that has led the New York Times to call him "the boss man on procedures".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maybe the Best in his Genre, February 3, 2000

By 

Jim Gibson (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Borderlines (Joe Gunther Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A master artist with words, May 24, 2001

By 

David A. Naess "howdydave" (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Borderlines (Joe Gunther Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars And yet another solid entry in the Joe Gunther series, September 8, 2000

By 

Old Fisherman "Jim" (Orange, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Borderlines (Joe Gunther Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

Joe Gunther needs to escape from Brattleboro. The pressures of his job and his deteriorating relationship with his girl friend have become too much so he takes a temporary assignment in Gannet, Vermont. Gannet is where he spent many happy summers while growing up and he hopes the atmosphere will help him get back on track. However, a mysterious fire that leaves five dead, a strange cult, a missing young woman, and a murder blamed on his boyhood friend Rennie, all place Gunther right back in the hot seat as he tries to unravel who killed who.

As in all Gunther novels the police work is believable and the characterization is strong. Gunther is not a fiery detective but he is methodical and eventually puts all the pieces together. I didn't feel that this novel was as strong as "The Skeleton's Knee" or "Fruits of the Poisonous Tree" but it is still a good read for mystery lovers.