Presumption of Guilt

A solid police procedural set in Vermont. It's a very "clean" read with a good mystery at its core. Characters are more mild mannered than many current books in the genre & I enjoyed the lack of backstabbing & office politics. This is a long running series so if you're a fan of previous books, you'll like this as well.

The Joe Gunther series is one I heard great things about back around the time it started, but which never I never clicked with. I own several, but I never did crack any of them open after kind of failing with the first one. Still, I have a hard time scrolling past a book on Netgalley when I have any connection with the author, so I requested, and received, Presumption of Guilt.

And I was glad of it. This was utterly readable, with an interesting and varied cast of main characters and an interesting story.

It all begins with a body discovered buried in cement at an old nuclear power plant in Vermont. Turns out it was a nice guy who disappeared years ago (who was in his day proof that a nice guy can have his pick of most girls), and show more suddenly Gunther and his team have a brand new, very cold case. Usually once organized crime becomes involved in a story, I get bored, but this was kept different enough that I stayed engaged. Not having read the rest of the series (yet), I don't know how much of a presence the wildly unique "asset" Dan is in the rest of the series, but I've discovered that he is the Tag Man of the book of the same name – I'm really looking forward to reading that one in particular. I liked him.

In another one of those odd coincidences that has been popping up in my life over the last couple of years, in this book someone uses small metal stools at a crime scene to allow law enforcement to check things out without contaminating evidence. I'd never heard of them before that I remember, or seen them (or at least noticed them) in any detective show – until a day or so after reading it here. It could just be "I just learned that word and now hear it everywhere" syndrome – but I don't think so. Just odd.

It's funny how much cozier this mystery felt than most books touted as cozy mysteries. It's a procedural, but the interaction of the characters – a long-time team – and particularly the rather laid-back attitude of Gunther is warm, and a solid basis for the mystery. I liked it. I liked it a lot. I hope I get around to the rest of the series before too many more moons.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review. show less

In Mayor’s 28th outing in the Joe Gunther series (the previous book being Presumption of Guilt, which apparently I didn’t review), Joe actually takes a back seat to the rest of his small crew: Lester Spinney, Sam Martens and Will Kunkle. Each is responsible for his/her own case–Lester follows up on a cold case (actually a case which seemed cut and dried previously which now has developed some wrinkles), Sam investigates the murder of a friend of Rachel Hillstrom (the daughter of medical examiner and Joe’s par amour Beverly Hillstrom) and Willie chases the possible sabotage of a supplier of U.S. military equipment. Joe, meanwhile, it out of town in Louisiana with his mother who is in a rehab center, having contracted a rare form show more of Lyme disease.

There are different types of families. There are those that get together quite often, love each other and are animated and there are those who get together once a year and that’s just fine. I’m finding the Joe Gunther family is falling into the latter category. While Trace was interesting, there was no spice to it. It’s tough writing a 28 episode series and keeping it young and fresh. Possibly some new characters are in order. Maybe a little more action. Whatever the missing ingredient, Trace is a lackluster entry into Mayor’s long running series. show less

Joe Gunther and his team are called in to investigate a body discovered buried in concrete at a decommissioned nuclear power plant, and soon find that the 40-year-old crime has reached across the decades to stir up fresh trouble in their Vermont community. Mayor once again weaves a good story with interesting characters.

40 year old murder solved, but only barely with the help of legalized minor criminals and good-old-Joe. Rather pedestrian and less engaging than many others in the Gunther series.

The Joe Gunther series continues to be a good police procedural. Presumption of Guilt is no exception. This story held my attention and is a good read.