Fall Guy: A Joe Gunther Novel

The discovery of a body in the trunk of a stolen car propels bestseller Archer’s expertly plotted 33rd Joe Gunther novel (after 2021’s Marked Man). Aided by other members of the Vermont Bureau of Investigation, Joe soon identifies the victim as a petty thief who’s stolen from targets all over Vermont and New Hampshire. A number of suspicious items found at the crime scene, including discarded cell phones, lead to the arrest of a child pornographer and a link to a child’s unsolved disappearance. Gunther and his team work across state lines as part of a task force, and Archer’s skill at researching and writing about police procedure is on full display as the case grows more complex and disturbing. As always, the author takes an unsparing view of life in northern New England, capturing the region’s beauty and economic disparity, while spinning a heart-pounding tale in which each character, clue, and subplot comes together with purpose. Even this far into the series, the supporting characters surrounding Gunther continue to grow and surprise. New and returning readers alike will be richly rewarded. Agent: Molly Friedrich, Friedrich Agency. (Sept.)