Book Review: ‘The Orphan’s Guilt: A Joe Gunther Novel’ By Archer Mayor

When John Rust is pulled over and arrested for drunk driving in Vermont, it opens up a whole can of worms that never would have been thought about. John’s brother Pete died earlier that day. He was born with a brain injury and needed care his whole live, something John took care of. Now John’s lawyer is looking into the arrest to see about getting him a lighter sentence or off completely. He has Sally, his P.I>, looking into the case and it brings up lots of questions.

Questions that get told to Joe Gunther and Rachel the local reporter. Joe questions what might have really happened to Pete and how John had money all these years to take care of him. It leads to Willy, Sammie, Lester and Jon opening the investigation into something that might be nothing. They dig into the past and it opens up a whole lot of interesting faces, including where is John and Pete’s father Darryl and could Pete have been born alright but something happened to him after he was born. It leads to their late mother Laura and things she might have done. And when Darryl is found dead it now opens up a murder investigation.

The more digging they do it seems to lead to one conclusion but things keep changing and soon people’s lives are in danger and shocking details are revealed.

I love these Joe Gunther novels. Joe and his three co-workers are really fun to read and follow along. With a few placed twists and turns along the way and fun supporting characters in Rachel and Beverly, always enjoyable to read.

In stores on Tuesday, September 29th from Minotaur Books.