Trace

A Joe Gunther Mystery

By: Archer Mayor

Narrated by: Tom Taylorson

The Vermont Bureau of Investigation (VBI) has been pulled onto three cases at the same time; meanwhile, VBI head Joe Gunther has to take time off to care for his ailing mother.

Those cases are now in the hands of the individual investigators. Sammie Martens is assigned a murder case. The victim is a young woman, the roommate of the daughter of medical examiner Beverly Hillstrom. A recent transplant from Albany, New York, Sammie must find out what put a hit man on the trail of this seemingly innocent young woman.

Lester Spinney takes over a famous cold case, a double murder where a state trooper and a motorist were killed in an exchange of gunfire. Or so it has seemed for years. When Lester is told that the motorist’s fingerprints were planted on the gun he’s supposed to have fired, it opens the question - who really killed the state trooper?

Willy Kunkle’s case starts with a child’s discovery of three teeth on a railroad track, leading eventually to a case of possible sabotage against critical military equipment.

In cases that lead the team all over Vermont and nearby, Archer Mayor once again shows why his novels featuring Joe Gunther and the VBI team are among the finest in crime fiction today.

©2017 Archer Mayor (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

It was never dull.

I really did enjoy this book. That there were so many cases going at the same time really kept it from getting boring. The characters were really interesting and some were actually pretty funny. The narration was really very well done.

My fav

My favorite Joe Gunther Novel yet!! Keeps you on your toes. Totally unexpected, turns and ending.

Joe and Tom and the best one yet!

3 incredibly interesting and complicated cases that lead from Albany to Windsor to Burlington and, of course, the main VBI office in Brattleboro. 1 starts when a child finds 3 broken and bloody teeth on the railroad tracks. Then the chief of the forensics fingerprint lab discovers that some prints in and old case were forged. And then Rachel meets a girl fleeing from Albany and they become friends and the girl gets murdered in their apartment.
Simple rural Vermont the home of political intrigue, counterfeit parts being sold to the Military, and what turns out to be very serious shenanigans in law enforcement.
And Joe's mother dealing with a serious ailment.

See review on book 32 - I enjoyed them all

Another great mystery that comes at an important time as our country slides down into the swamp.

Another hit for Archer Mayor

As always, Tom Taylorson was in good form. I loved this book because we get a look at Joe's team's ability to work without his guidance. The team is charged with solving three high profile cases, and they each succeed in their own way. As they go, they learn something about themselves and grow because of it. The police procedure is on point, except for Willie who makes his own rules and owns up to the consequences. I loved the five endings (Joe's Family, Case 1, Case 2, Case 3, and The Group). Definitely recommend this book!

Great Job Samantha

Another great, although slightly different Joe Gunther book. As usual the VBI is on top of their game while trying to solve major crimes. I personally love the relationship between Joe, Beverly and Rachel. I look forward to hearing the next chapter in this series.

It's All About The Cases

Very happy to have the personal lives and challenges of our core characters addressed in a healthy way that leads them to strengthening their bonds, rather than ending with the expected desperate and tragic consequences. Also loved having three different cases pursued that didn't illogically and unrealistically end up being inexplicitly linked together at the end - Kudos! Mayor just keeps getting better and better ...

another winner

I don't know how this book might work for those who don't already know the characters. it's not the place to start the series. but for those who do it's perfectly paced and well plotted.

Wow!

This is one that requires your complete attention. The three detectives without Joe do an amazing job of three cases. I read this straight through. This is one of his best!

Love this series

Archer doesn’t disappoint on this book. With three different investigations to keep track of it keeps you in tune to the story. I loved the ending with Willy. That old curmudgeon has a heart after all. His hardened exterior comes down for a moment. I loveWilly’s character. He always gives me a chuckle in every story in some way or another. Keep them coming and will keep reading or listening.