The Orphan's Guilt

A Joe Gunther Novel

In Archer Mayor’s intriguing new Vermont-based mystery, The Orphan’s Guilt, a straightforward traffic stop snowballs into a homicide investigation after Joe Gunther and his fellow investigators peel back layer upon layer of history and personal heartbreak to learn a decades-old hidden truth.

John Rust is arrested for drunk driving by a Vermont state trooper. Looking to find mitigating circumstances, John’s lawyer hires private eye Sally Kravitz to look into the recent death of John’s younger brother, purportedly from a childhood brain injury years earlier. But what was the nature of that injury, and might its mechanism point more to murder than to natural causes? That debate brings in Joe Gunther and his team.

Gunther’s efforts quickly uncover an ancient tale of avarice, betrayal, and vengeance that swirled around the Rust boys growing up. Their parents and the people they consorted with - forgotten, relentless, but now jolted to action by this simple set of circumstances - emerge with a destructive passion. All while the presumably innocent John Rust mysteriously vanishes with no explanation.

©2020 Archer Mayor (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Loved it

What a Great Joe Gunther book! Although Joe wasn’t front and center in this book he still played a pivotal role while helping Racheal along the way. This book seemed to have flown by unlike some of the other Gunther novels. I hope there will be more where this came from.

Good mystery and performance

Very good story and performance. Sad, but the bad guys get their just rewards throughout story. And TT always gives a good performance either the JG voice that I like.

interesting intricate plot

only problem I had with it was telling all the resolutions of plot lines in a quick summary in an epilogue at the end rather then weaving them into the story. But the plot was intriguing.

See review for book 32 - I enjoyed them all

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

Great book

I really like the story and the characters. The story was predictable but still could hold your attention. I would recommend this book.