I was excited to read a book in this series, having never read one before! I enjoyed the read thoroughly, and even bought a physical copy of the book to keep after reading the advanced e-copy!

Though this is book 31 in a series, I didn't find that it was confusing to me and I appreciated that there were some brief introductions of characters for those of us who hadn't previously had the pleasure of reading one of Mr. Mayor's previous entries.

I really enjoyed Mr. Mayor's writing style, and felt like the characters were likable and engaging. I didn't feel lost from not reading prior entries (which is good for me because that means I have 30 books on my TBR list from this series!), and I really enjoyed reading a book that took place in Vermont. I really enjoy a book that vividly paints a picture of surroundings, I think it adds to the characters and the experience. To me, this can be read as a stand-alone, but I think that it is probably even better when you are already into the series.

What starts as a DUI arrest evolves into a multi-layered story of death, old grudges, child abuse, kidnapping, and even fraud. There are multiple characters, from police to private investigators, to lawyers, but I wasn't lost in the plot, nor did I feel like there was too much going on for my liking. The mystery was a good one, with twists and turns that kept the pages turning. I enjoyed the character of Rachel and it seems from other readers that I can find her in other books as well.

Overall I think this was a solid police procedural, and has made me interested in going through the series in preparation for next year's release!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advance

“The Orphan’s Guilt” drops readers into Vermont, famous for cows, trees, ice cream, and opinionated politicians. This book is part of a continuing series, but all characters are briefly introduced, and previous relationships fold easily into current scenarios. New readers can jump right in without any problem. There is plenty of friendly everyday interactions and banter that make characters likeable, personable and appealing. Readers get to know them almost as friends.

Joe Gunther of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation finds that what started as an unremarkable DUI stop, has ballooned into something very different. Mayor adds Rachel Reiling of “The Brattleboro Reformer” and Sally Kravitz, private problem-solver, to the mix of regular investigators. These are familiar characters, having played small roles in the past, but these are players from outside the “law enforcement clubhouse” so the mood is different, and they are not always governed by the rigid rules of “official” procedure. The details of the case are not as clear cut as it first seems, and a troubling picture gradually emerges. The Investigation uncovers past events that if true, point to a previous “accidental death” as actually being a homicide.
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“The Orphan’s Guilt” is rich in complexity and moral challenges. The characters are tenacious and believable. This book is an excellent of Mayor’s exceptional storytelling skills. I received a review copy of “The Orphans Guilt” from Archer Mayor, St Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books. I recommend the entire series.

This is hard. I've read, and loved, until now, every book Archer Mayor has written. I enjoyed Sally Kravitz when he introduced her, and was okay with Rachel. But now we have Scott, the attorney who only defends the innocent, Sally who only investigate the ones who need her help. I mean; it's nice to know such characters exist, but they're not particularly interesting in a mystery.

I'll admit maybe it's me and that I need some pandemic conflict, but this just wasn't doing it for me.

This enjoyable novel begins with a seemingly benign incident, a drunk driving arrest without incident, and then spins, occasionally somewhat wildly, out of control, as various interested parties try to learn more about this driver. Why was he drunk that night? Who is his family and what is his background? Eventually the question becomes what was his family’s background? A straight forward story becomes a complex investigation of a complicated “simple” man and his past. And his family’s past. Everything is set in Vermont, in the picturesque areas seen on postcards and the back streets beyond visitors’ views.

I have read and enjoyed Mayer’s Joe Gunther novels in the past but now realize I should return and fill in the gaps. He is an excellent writer, keeping a complicated plot moving smoothly with a cast of interesting and well developed characters, many of whom are regulars.

I do recommend this book to those who enjoy procedurals, especially of the unusual variety. It can be read as a stand-alone because of the background information provided throughout the novel.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The book opens with the arrest of John Rust for DUI. But the reason behind the arrest - the death of his brother - opens a whole can of worms for Joe Gunther and his team and associates to explore. There is the possibility of former child abuse that lead to Peter Rust's death. Then there is Daryl Hicks, father, possible abuser, and definite person of interest. Karen Taylor, deceased mastermind, possible abuser, definite tease. In all, an interesting puzzle for everyone to piece together.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. I'll be posting my review on Goodreads and Amazon

The characters in this book have clearly known each other for awhile, as evidenced in their complicated and detail descriptions. It’s a fast read, with elements of danger and history blended together.

I love the series that stay strong over the years. This series is a bit less gritty as Joe gets older but the other characters continue to evolve. The mystery was good and I really liked the ending.

Just a fun way to spend a day reading.

I was given a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Rather abrupt ending, but brimming with details only a real life police officer could provide. This latest entry in the Joe Gunther series features an ensemble cast of noteworthy characters. A good police procedural.

The newest addition to the Joe Gunther series, I enjoyed this book for the same reason I enjoyed Bomber's Moon, its predecessor; the plot is unique to previous additions of this series, and begins with PI Sally Kravitz & upcoming reporter Rachel Reiling, the series' female dynamic duo. Joe's team does not come in until much later into the story. A great change of pace!

Okay so this is the 31st book in the Joe Gunther series by Archer Mayor. This series is a fan favorite and while the story was good, this lacked the suspense of a police novel for me. There are also a ton of characters, which if you’ve read the rest of this series, you’re probably familiar with. You know the characters, their backstories, and how they all fit together. This was my first Joe Gunther book thought so I did not have these intial connections to the characters, thus I felt a bit lost.

There are a ton of characters, and they all relate and/or are tied together in various ways. This took away from the story for me. I was too caught up in remembering who was who to really focus and commit to the plot line.

Overall the story and plot is wonderfully woven and I was pleasantly surprised by the ending, but this lacked a bit of suspense for me. If you’ve dived into the Joe Gunther world already, then I think you’ll really enjoy this one, but it didn’t do it for me and ultimately I gave it ★★★.

I hope you enjoyed my thoughts on The Orphan’s Guilt If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books. This book comes out September 29th, big thanks to Minotaur Books for my Advanced Copy.

I was a fan of the Joe Gunther novels when they first came out. However, after reading the first 13 (!) in the series, I felt burned out – and I’m not sure if it was me or Mr. Mayor that was getting tired.

So it was a pleasant surprise to come back to the familiar characters in the 31st novel, “The Orphan’s Guilt”. This is a slow and study build of how a crime in the past makes its way slowly into the present.

A routine DUI traffic stop leads John Rust to hire a lawyer to get him out of trouble (this isn’t his first DUI). His lawyer hires private eye Sally Kravitz to dig up some information to help plead the case, but what Sally uncovers leads to a hidden story of child abuse, blackmail, and robbery, stretching back decades. When John disappears and the digging leads to murder in the present, Joe and his squad need to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again.

This is a slow reveal, mostly focused on the uncovering of past history. Mr. Archer does a great job of featuring his returning characters: the private eye, the cub reporter, and the members of Joe’s squad. In fact, Joe Gunther plays a minor supporting role in this book – the focus is really on Willy Kunkle (the gruff detective with a perpetual chip on his shoulder), Sally Kravitz (private eye), and Rachel Reiling (the reporter). Those three really propel the story forward and do most of the hard work. I enjoyed this police procedural, the twist of a murder taking place 20+ years after the initial incident was an interesting plot device.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

The Orphan's Guilt is the 31st Joe Gunther novel by Archer Mayor. Due out 29th Sept 2020 from Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
I've read some (not all) of the previous books in the series and this one is similar in some ways. It's a procedural with the VBI playing a central role. The ensemble cast is well written and the characters are believable and three dimensional. The opening sequences seemed a little slow to me (it starts with a traffic stop leading to a DUI arrest) and just the setup for this extremely convoluted mystery takes about 30% of the book. The writing is (as always) top notch, so it's a pleasure to read, but it is quite slow to start.

I liked the fact that so many disparate characters had active and important roles in the book - investigative journalist, detectives, lawyer, private investigators and others. The witnesses they interview are well written and more than window dressing. I really like it that the author doesn't feel the need to spell it out explicitly that some witnesses are lying, hiding things, changing stories, or misleading for their own reasons and allows the investigators to figure things out.

The content is somewhat gritty, there's a fair bit of violence in context, and PG-13 strong language. There's also alcoholism, substance abuse, and torture murder (which happens off-scene).

Four stars. Very well written and engaging (if slow paced) murder mystery/procedural.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I really liked the plotting here as well as the familiar Vermont settings but miss seeing Joe Gunther at the enter of the action. Big fan of Mr. Archer here in western Massachusetts.

Archie Mayor is a master. The Orphan’s Guilt, 31st in the Joe Gunther series set in Vermont, is a satisfying thriller featuring familiar characters, and a complicated plot.

A DUI arrest puts in motion events that will lead to torture, child abuse, murder, kidnapping, fraud and theft before this multilayered mystery is solved. Joe Rust, facing his fourth DUI and probable jail time, tells the trooper who pulled him over that his brother Pete died earlier that day. Pete was brain damaged and lacked physical and verbal skills. Joe was his brother’s sole caregiver for the last 22 years. Scott Jezek, a local lawyer, takes Joe’s case and hires a private investigator, Sally Kravitz. Scott and Sally hope to keep Joe out of jail by presenting him sympathetically as a loving but stressed man totally responsible for the care of his brother. However, much more than this is discovered. Joe and Pete were indirectly involved in a much darker, twisted case and Pete’s death unleashes forces that have been silent for decades, waiting.

I love police procedurals and this is a great one. There are added elements showing the work of private investigators. A feisty reporter working on a story related to this case is added to the investigative mix. This is another 5 star read from a legend.

Thank you to NetGalley, St.Martin's Press and Archie Mayor for this ARC.

A DUI arrest opens up a huge old can of worms in tis latest installment in this terrific series that's just fine, btw, as a standalone. John Rust is way drunk when he's pulled over but it's the night that his little brother Peter. who he cared for for 30 years. was buried so he's given a break. And then he disappears. The Vermont Bureau of Investigation, however,. largely in form of Willie at first and then the rest, thinks something is amiss with Peter's death-as do Rachel, a journalist, and Sally. the investigator for John's attorney. Turns out Peter wasn't "born that way" but rather that someone abused him when he was a baby making this a murder case. But who? His mother is dead and his father hasn't been seen for years. Until he's found murdered too. How did John pay for the wonderful care Peter received all those years? No spoilers from me! This is twisty and filled with as many red herrings as there are terrific characters. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's a great read that Mayor fans will relish and new readers will use as a springboard to seek out more of his work.

The Orphan’s Guilt – Archer Mayor

This novel starts with a young man being pulled over for a DUI. Passive and quiet, John Rust accepts his arrest, seemingly not really caring about the future. He’s just lost his handicapped brother Peter, whom he was devoted to, and was the sole caretaker of, for many years. He’s taken to the police station and processed, and eventually released on his own recognizance, and takes a taxi home.

John’s attorney, Scott Jezek, is hoping to find a loophole – some way to keep John out of jail. He calls his best investigator, Sally Kravitz, explains John’s situation, and asks for her assistance. He also asks her to delve into Peter’s story in attempts to garner sympathy for his client. However, as Sally starts digging into the past, she learns that John & Peter came from a very volatile living situation as children, and that Peter’s handicap wasn’t something he was born with – it was inflicted. With Peter’s death now potentially being a years-old murder, Joe Gunther and his VBI team are notified and begin their own investigation.

Meanwhile, reporter Rachel Reiling receives a call from the local funeral home, suggesting that Peter & John Rust’s story would make a great human interest piece. Sighing to herself, Rachel politely takes the information and begins to do a little digging on her own. In doing so she meets Sally, and the two join forces in their search for answers. But now, no one can find John Rust – he seems to have disappeared.

As the VBI gets involved, a sad but strange story emerges. A mother, Karen, who died of a drug overdose, a father Daryl, who walked out on his sons, and a few shifty companions, who either did time, or are deceased. As Joe & Willy look for these past players, Sally & Rachel dig deeper as well, bringing a 20 year old theft to light, and reawakening old grudges with a vengeance!

I have always enjoyed the Joe Gunther series, and this newest addition is no exception! As always, it is set in beautiful southern Vermont, and while the story starts a bit slower than some, I was very quickly drawn into the characters, their hardships, and the familiarity of Joe and his crew as if they were old friends – which in a manner of speaking, they are! A satisfying ending, and as, always, a great read from Archer Mayor!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from St. Martins Press & Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.

This book starts off differently than the typical Joe Gunther police procedural. There’s no crime scene, no rallying of Joe’s team to start an investigation. Instead, there’s a routine traffic stop for a DUI. John Rust was definitely driving over the limit, for the fourth time. Sally Kravitz, a character that has appeared in prior books, is asked to help his lawyer find mitigating circumstances. Meanwhile, another peripheral character, Rachel Reiling, young reporter and daughter of Beverly Hillstrom, Joe’s significant other, has been given a lead on a feel good story about John and his recently deceased brother Peter.
It’s a while before Joe’s team is even brought in, when it appears Peter might have suffered brain damage from violence as a baby and then died from complications.
From there, it’s back to the normal deep dive investigations we expect from this team. Where did the money come from that allowed John to care for Peter? And where has John disappeared to? As always, Mayor did a great job creating characters and situations that kept me engaged. His scenes are detailed enough that I always feel I can see them in my mind’s eye. He also prefers the realistic to the dramatic. “He’d been taught early on that his most powerful weapons were his mouth to speak and his pen to take notes.”
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

This is the thirty-first in Archer Mayor's ever popular Vermont police procedural series. This episode begins with a cordial traffic stop that morphs into a cold case homicide investigation.

It takes careful, thorough investigation, not only by VBI detectives, but also by PI Sally Kravitz and journalist Rachel Reiling (who scents a big story) to get to the bottom of what happened so many years before, as violence erupts in the present day.

Very, very well written. I used to read Archer Mayor years ago, then the book Occam’s Razor, turned me off of him. However, after reading this entry, I may have to go back and read some more of his books. This one held my attention from the first page and kept it throughout. I’m happily giving this one (5) stars.