At last! This is Mayor's first book to make the NYTimes best seller list, and frankly I thought at least a dozen previous mysteries should have been there.
There are 22 novels featuring VT detective Joe Gunther, with details and interesting descriptions of modern Vermont life. This is a particularly creepy chapter of the series with an intriguing character that breaks into people's homes for several hours, seemingly taking nothing, but leaving his calling card 'Tag'. He obviously has a penchant for gourmet food (champers and caviar!) as he chooses affluent houses with well stocked fridges. But then he stumbles on nasty secrets and has to run for his life, while also protecting his daughter. The reader soon learns his identity, as well as develops an affinity for him (which I thought would be nearly impossible after the chapter describing what he does inside peoples houses). There is continued development of all the main characters in this series, which is why I often recommend reading these in order. Interestingly, there were clues perhaps to the next book in the series! If you are a fan of Lucas Davenport or Alan Banks, these mysteries should appeal to you.
Mayor received 2004 the NE Independent Booksellers Assoc Award for best fiction, the first time a crime novel has ever been honored Mayor is also a death investigator for Vt chief medical examiner, deputy Sheriff for Windham County, and an investigator for the Wyndham county state attorney office as well as volunteer firefighter EMT. He appeared in a number of independent booksellers in Vt recently including the Galaxy Bookshop in Hardwick, and Bear Pond books in Montpelier. Up next Mayor will appear at the Fairfax Library on November 17th. In December (10th) he will be in Manchester Vt and on the 11th at the Yankee Bookshop in Woodstock, Vt. Most events are free and open to the public. Check his website for future signings or readings.
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