by Archer Mayor
Part of Joe Gunther, book 8
First published 2012
Joe Gunther accepts what seems like routine work: an Internal Affairs inquiry for a small police department in Bellows Falls, Vermont. He travels upriver expecting to handle a simple matter involving a young officer's misconduct. The assignment appears straightforward until Gunther discovers the case runs much deeper than anyone admitted. Whispers of corrupt cops surface throughout the river town. Stories emerge about domestic violence, illegal drug transactions, and possible homicide. Each lead Gunther follows reveals new layers of deception woven through the community. Local residents prove reluctant to talk openly, forcing him to piece together fragments of truth from unreliable sources. The investigation grows increasingly perilous as Gunther realizes someone wants the real facts buried. He must determine which accusations hold substance and which serve as misdirection. The detective finds himself caught between protecting innocent people and exposing those who abuse their authority. Gunther's commitment to uncovering the truth puts him at odds with powerful interests in Bellows Falls, creating personal risk he never anticipated when he accepted the assignment.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: deception, uncovering-the-truth
Setting: Bellows Falls, Vermont
328 pages · Kindle Edition · March Media