Why You Should Read Joe Gunther in Order
Archer Mayor’s long-running Joe Gunther series is one of the most celebrated police procedural sequences in American crime fiction. Set against the atmospheric, atmospheric backdrop of Vermont, the series is renowned for its realism, emotional resonance, and deep attention to local detail. While each book presents a self-contained investigation that is resolved by the final page, reading the series in publication order is highly recommended.
The primary reason to follow the publication order is the profound character development. Over more than thirty novels, Joe Gunther and his close-knit team grow, age, experience personal tragedies, change jobs, and form new relationships. Reading the books out of sequence will spoil major life events and shift the dynamics of the team in ways that can be disorienting. By starting at the beginning, you get to experience the natural, slow-burn evolution of one of mystery fiction’s most enduring detective squads.
The Best Starting Point: Open Season
The ideal place to begin your journey is with the book that started it all: Open Season (1988). This debut novel introduces us to Joe Gunther, a widower, Korean War veteran, and Lieutenant of the Brattleboro Police Department. The story begins with a series of mysterious incidents and murders that seem connected to a controversial trial from three years prior. Open Season sets the tone for the entire series, establishing Gunther not as a tortured, cliché-ridden detective, but as a decent, methodical, and deeply human investigator who relies on teamwork and community connections to solve crimes.
The Major Shift: Brattleboro PD to the VBI
For the first ten books of the series, Joe Gunther operates primarily out of the Brattleboro Police Department, dealing with localized crimes in southeastern Vermont. However, a major turning point occurs in the eleventh novel, The Marble Mask (2000). In this book, Joe transitions to lead the newly created, fictional Vermont Bureau of Investigation (VBI). This change dramatically expands the scope of the series, allowing Gunther and his crew to investigate crimes across the entire state of Vermont, from the ski slopes of Stowe to the Canadian border.
Alongside Joe are key recurring characters who form the backbone of the series: Willy Kunkle, an abrasive, brilliant, and physically disabled detective with a troubled past; and Sammie Martens, a sharp, determined investigator whose military background brings a distinct edge to the team. Witnessing these characters evolve from local cops into seasoned state investigators is one of the greatest pleasures of the series.
The Complete Publication Order of Joe Gunther Novels
Follow the main series in this order to track the characters' lives and careers seamlessly:
- Open Season (1988)
- Borderlines (1990)
- Scent of Evil (1991)
- The Skeleton's Knee (1992)
- Fruits of the Poisonous Tree (1993)
- The Dark Root (1994)
- The Ragman's Memory (1995)
- Bellows Falls (1996)
- The Disposable Man (1997)
- Occam's Razor (1999)
- The Marble Mask (2000) — The VBI is introduced here.
- Tucker Peak (2001)
- The Sniper's Wife (2002)
- Gatekeeper (2003)
- The Surrogate Thief (2004)
- St. Albans Fire (2005)
- The Second Mouse (2006)
- Chat (2007)
- The Catch (2008)
- The Price of Malice (2009)
- Red Herring (2010)
- Tag Man (2011)
- Paradise City (2012)
- Three Can Keep a Secret (2013)
- Proof Positive (2014)
- The Company She Kept (2015)
- Presumption of Guilt (2017)
- Trace (2017)
- Bury the Lead (2018)
- Bomber's Moon (2019)
- The Orphan's Guilt (2020)
- Marked Man (2021)
- Fall Guy (2022)
Where Do the Short Stories Fit?
In addition to the main novels, Archer Mayor has penned two digital short stories that expand on the lives of the VBI team:
- Snow Blind (2012): This short story is set during a massive Vermont snowstorm and takes place chronologically after the events of Tag Man. It follows the team as they deal with a local crime compounded by harsh weather conditions.
- Crosscut (2019): A prequel story focusing on VBI Detective Sammie Martens. It details her life after returning from military service in the 1990s, her path to becoming a police officer, and her first fateful meeting with Joe Gunther. While it functions as a prequel, it was published between Bury the Lead and Bomber's Moon and is best enjoyed after you are already familiar with Sammie's character.
Spin-Offs, Adaptations, and Co-Authored Works
Unlike many long-running mystery series, Joe Gunther does not have any print spin-off series, and Archer Mayor has not co-authored any novels in this universe. In terms of adaptations, the series has long been a target for television development. Archer Mayor has noted ongoing interest from production groups, including efforts under the working title Gunther. However, due to industry challenges, standard development delays, and the author's desire to protect the authenticity of the brand, no television show or movie adaptation has made it to the screen as of 2026.
What to Know Before You Start
Before you jump in, it is helpful to understand the tone of the series. Archer Mayor brings his real-life experiences as a death investigator, flight medic, and deputy sheriff to the pages. The procedural details are highly accurate, and the mysteries focus heavily on forensic realism rather than sensationalized action. Furthermore, Vermont is not just a setting; it is a living character. The changing seasons, the local economics, the rural isolation, and the tight-knit community dynamics dictate how crimes are committed and solved, making this series a must-read for fans of regional mystery fiction.