Customer Reviews

Fruits of the Poisonous Tree (Piatkus crime)

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

 

 

A suspenseful read I couldn't put down. I kept wanting to know what would happen next. The police work was believable and the characters came to life. Detective Joe Gunther's pursuit of his girlfriend's rapist keeps you on the edge of your seat. He's got to catch that guy!! Thanks for keeping me up all night Archer Mayor! Next time I start reading one of your books I'll begin it earlier in the day! M. Hauser

Archer Mayor is to be praised for his precise clarity. To make the average reader understand that a search warrant improperly executed makes everything found (up to and including murder weapons), null, void and inadmissible as evidence is a difficult concept, yet Mr. Mayor succeeds. His writing is so realistic; we are as disappointed as the police.

Brattleboro VT police detective Joe Gunther's very special lady friend of fifteen years (Joe is nothing if not a careful man), Gail is brutally raped over a three-hour period not long after Joe has left her house. Joe is enraged, guilt-stricken, and stunned. Gail is shattered, but fortunately is being taken care of by her highly experienced women's group. Though Gail can barely speak, she indicates she wants Joe in charge of the case. The majority of his fellow policemen and all of his superiors try to discourage him from attempting this dual role as clear-eyed, impartial cop and Gail's distraught comforter.

After some brilliant police work, a clear trail leads to a thoroughly despicable scumbag who has all the right credentials. A search of his house solidifies his guilt. An aborted arrest attempt leaves Joe in a coma after suffering abdominal stab wounds from the suspected man. To add to this unfortunate turn of events, it is found the warrant was improperly served and the assailant cannot be tried for the rape. (A silver lining, of course, is that he CAN be tried for attempted murder.) After Joe staggers back on duty, it begins to look as if the rapist must be someone else. Joe is further knocked about, bounced on his head, and shot, but justice is eventually served.

The book is very tightly and skillfully written. I had a few qualms about Joe and Gail. They were so lofty in their sentiments, understanding and goals, they seemed to me to belong on pedestals in the park rather than ordinary (if superior) people. I was as dubious as everyone else in Brattleboro about the propriety of Joe taking the lead in the investigation. Think a lot less mayhem would have ensued with Joe being left on the bench. Then there were Joe's remarkable recuperative abilities. I couldn't help but wince every time he tore his stitches out anew while grappling with the bad guys.

This is one hard-boiled mystery that I admire the craft more than the probability. Grade: B-

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.

The title refers to the legal theorum, "should a search or warrant prove to be obtained under false pretense, all subsequent findings are the 'fruit of a poisonous tree' and therefore inadmissible in a court of law'". When Joe's companion, Selectman Gail Zigman is brutally raped in the same bed they had made love in two hours prior, all hell breaks loose in Brattleboro.

For the rape crisis group that Gail works with, "Woman for Woman"; for the local State's Attorney (up for re-election in two weeks); for the members of the Brattleboro Police Department (for whom Gail is considered a family member); the case becomes a cause celebre, and everyone wants the 'perp' caught, tried and punished, as soon as possible. But for the same reason, the case has to be handled extra-carefully, to make sure that any proof against the 'alleged' perp is clean and not manufactured. There can be no cutting corners on this one.

As Joe and the Brattleboro PD follow the clues where they find them, a case begins to build against a three time (once convicted) rapist. All of the info that is painstakingly develop, point to the MO of Bob Vogel. When confronted, Vogel bolts and ends up pursued by Joe through the tunnels of a hydropower station, where Joe is knifed by Vogel. Joe almost dies from this wound, and ends up spending close to a month in the hospital. During this time, Vogel's case is brought to trial, but some- thing about the case gives Joe a bad feeling.

As Joe reassesses the case, it turns out that one of the 'original' witnesses has embellished his testimony and much of information developed for the case is thrown out by the Judge. As Joe and the Brattleboro PD review the case, Joe begins to have doubts as to the guilt of Vogel. Some of the proof seemed to 'perfect' and Joe feels like someone has been leading him around by the nose. So who is the rapist, it's almost impossible to guess, since Mayor hasn't given us any information about the 'perp' prior to the last fifty pages. The denouement is tight and well done and the ending is just a little less than satisfying.

Mr. Mayor has created a series that emphasizes atmosphere without sacrificing suspense and intrigue. His hero, Joe Gunther, is determined, intelligent, compassionate and yet flawed. Gunther is constrained by relationship and job pressures which contribute to his realistic quality. Of course, that makes him much easier to identify with than most other detective protagonists.

The book just made me feel good. This is proubly my favioret Joe Gunther mystery. I live in Brattleboro myself and I liked how he included the streets and landmarks that I know so well. I'm pleased with how Mr. Mayor wrote it. Thanks alot.

Detective Joe Gunther's girl friend has been raped. All clues point to convicted rapist Bob Vogel and Gunther leads the police in hunting Vogel down. But Gunther is almost killed by Vogel, and as Gunther recupurates from the near-fatal stabbing he takes a closer look at the evidence and begins to have doubts. Could it be that they've got the wrong man behind bars and the real rapist is still out there ready to strike again?

Like all of Mayor's Gunther novels the police work is believable as are the characters. The dialog is well done and Mr. Mayor has a way of grounding us in place in Brattelboro Vermont and shows us how a small town really works. If you like a good mystery and especially police procedurals this whole series is good with this book perhaps the pick of the litter.