by Archer Mayor
Part of Joe Gunther, book 21
First published 2010
Detective Joe Gunther investigates what appears to be a straightforward case in rural Vermont. The initial evidence points in one clear direction, but Gunther suspects the obvious answers mask deeper truths. As he digs beneath the surface of small town relationships, he discovers layers of misdirection that challenge his assumptions about the crime. The investigation forces Gunther to question not only the suspects but his own investigative instincts. Personal stakes rise as the case threatens people Gunther cares about. He must navigate between what seems true and what actually happened, knowing that the wrong choice could have deadly consequences. The detective confronts the reality that in small communities, the most dangerous secrets often hide behind familiar faces and trusted relationships.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Vermont
291 pages · Minotaur Books