Mon 9 Oct 2017
Reviews by L. J. Roberts
ARCHER MAYOR – Trace. Joe Gunther/VBI #28. Minotaur Books, hardcover, September 2017.
First Sentence: Jayla Robinson looked out across Albany’s Lancaster Street at the three matching brownstones opposite.
Joe Gunther, head of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, needs to take his elderly mother to a hospital in the Midwest leaving his team with three very different cases; the medical examiner’s daughter’s roommate being murdered in their apartment, a closed double murder where it is now found isn’t as cut-and-dried as it originally appeared, and the discover of three teeth and a burned-out battery found on a railroad track.
Mayor’s books contain a true ensemble cast of very individual characters. By removing Gunther from center stage for most of the book, the other characters have a chance to shine. Mayor’s descriptions tell us much more about each character than just their appearance, or even background.
That we also learn about their personalities plays a major role in the growth in the relationship of two characters. While one may not normally be a fan of a relationship focus in a mystery, it really does work here with growth and realization. He doesn’t stint on the secondary characters, either. The relationship Joe has with his brother Leo is very easy and realistic.
One thing about police procedurals is the fascinating things one learns. In this case it is regarding planted fingerprints and about trains, as well as how the VBI — the Bureau of Criminal Investigations in the real world — interacts with other agencies. But Mayor is also very good about the small details. Not only are they not boring, but often it’s the sort of thing where one thinks, “Oh, I’d forgotten about that.†A lot of the methodologies and technologies employed are very clever.
Trace contains three cases each of which is interesting and stands on its own with details and suspense building at a nice pace. It also ends with a nice homage to the vast majority of good, honest, hard-working police officers who really do work to protect and serve.
October 9th, 2017 at 7:49 pm
A good series, but I always hate those episodes of television series where the hero steps aside so the rest of the cast can shine. It reminds me of when series would hire big name stars who then barely appeared in episodes themed by others.
I respect and like Mayor’s work, but this is a pet peeve.
October 9th, 2017 at 8:49 pm
I can only agree. I seldom read police procedurals, and I haven’t read any of Mayor’s books. The only way I can gauge the quality of the series is by noting how many there are of them, which is more than quite a few.
His work has to be good. I’ve been tempted to try something by him every once in a while, but I most certainly wouldn’t start with this one.
October 9th, 2017 at 10:59 pm
An quality series that deserves to be much better known. Mayor has moved Gunther in different jobs around the state to give the series some realism. In one of the earlier books Joe Gunther’s girlfriend is raped, and the author handles the aftermath both respectfully and realistically.
October 10th, 2017 at 7:43 am
I have to agree with David here. I’ve read the series from the beginning and I thought the last few books were particularly good, but I read this one last week and found it disappointing. I couldn’t wait until Joe got back. I found the three separate stories just not that interesting.