by Archer Mayor
Part of Joe Gunther, book 27
First published 2016
Joe Gunther leads the Vermont Bureau of Investigation when workers discover human remains embedded in concrete at a decommissioned nuclear facility. The bones belong to Hank Mitchell, missing for four decades. Gunther digs into old leads and forgotten grudges, tracking connections between Mitchell's death and possible mafia money laundering through the original construction project. The investigation heats up when someone murders a key witness immediately after the man talks to Gunther. Then kidnappers snatch the son of VBI investigator Lester Spinney, sending a clear message to back off the case. Gunther realizes the truth behind this ancient crime still threatens people today. He must protect his team while pursuing killers who have stayed hidden for forty years. The case forces Gunther to balance justice for a long-dead victim against the safety of those he cares about most.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigation, redemption
Setting: Vermont, Vermont Bureau of Investigation
Period: 1970s, 2010s
304 pages · Hardcover · Minotaur Books