by Archer Mayor
Part of Joe Gunther, book 17
First published 2007
Vermont detective Joe Gunther travels from his familiar Brattleboro beat to the unfriendly mill town of Bennington. He finds Michelle Fisher dead in her rental house, her body showing no signs of violence. The scene appears peaceful, but something feels wrong. Fisher's personal effects tell contradictory stories. Photos capture a woman who embraced life fully, while her private journals expose struggles with alcohol and despair. The house is on the market, and Fisher was the sole tenant fighting eviction. Her landlord becomes the obvious suspect, yet his alibi proves solid. Gunther refuses to accept the easy suicide verdict. He digs deeper into Fisher's final days, uncovering a web of minor crimes and false leads. His investigation draws him toward three dangerous criminals planning their biggest score yet. Their ringleader will eliminate anyone who threatens the operation. Gunther must navigate this treacherous case to find justice for a forgotten woman whose death might not have been her choice.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, mystery
Setting: Bennington, Brattleboro, Vermont
336 pages · Paperback · Grand Central Publishing