Open Season

Joe Gunther, a police lieutenant in Brattleboro, Vermont, investigates a series of murders involving a group of women. The crimes appear unrelated at first, but Gunther follows the mounting evidence into dark corners of his small town. The investigation forces Gunther to navigate both professional and personal challenges as he works to protect his community. His efforts reveal hidden connections between victims and suspects while exposing tensions within local law enforcement. Mayor draws on his background in death investigation and crisis intervention to create an authentic police procedural set against the backdrop of small-town Vermont. The book establishes recurring characters and locations that become fixtures of the long-running Joe Gunther series. The novel explores themes of justice, loyalty, and the complex relationship between public servants and the communities they protect. Through its examination of small-town dynamics, the story raises questions about how well people truly know their neighbors.

Readers appreciate Mayor's authentic portrayal of police work in Vermont and his detailed knowledge of local geography and culture. Many note his strong character development, especially of protagonist Joe Gunther. Multiple reviews mention the book's methodical pacing and focus on procedure rather than action. Readers pointed to slow plot development in the first third and some found the writing style too descriptive. A few reviews noted dated elements, given the 1988 publication. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,427 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (538 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (289 ratings) Sample reader comments: "The attention to police procedure feels real" - Goodreads reviewer "Takes time to get going but worth sticking with" - Amazon reviewer "Mayor nails the Vermont setting and local characters" - LibraryThing reviewer "Too much scene-setting early on slows the momentum" - Goodreads reviewer

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🔍 Joe Gunther, the series protagonist, serves in the fictional Vermont Bureau of Investigation (VBI) - a clever variation on the real Vermont State Police Criminal Division. 📚 Author Archer Mayor works as a death investigator for Vermont's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and as a detective for the Windham County Sheriff's Office, bringing authentic law enforcement experience to his writing. 🏔️ "Open Season" (1988) is the first of over 30 books in the Joe Gunther series, which has earned praise for its authentic portrayal of police work in rural New England. 🗺️ The book is set in Brattleboro, Vermont, and Mayor's detailed descriptions of the region have made the setting itself almost like another character in the series. 🎭 The story weaves together multiple plotlines - including a string of burglaries, a suspicious suicide, and political corruption - reflecting the complex nature of real police investigations.