Chat

Critical Praise

"Chat is by far the best Archer Mayor novel in a while. Someone who wants to discover this author would do well to start with the very early mysteries like The Skeleton's Knee, Borderlines, or Open Season, but Chat is also a good place to start."
-Themysterysite.com

"It's a tight plot. Suspense reigns. Characters are finely drawn, including one or two you'd like to give a quick boot in the seat of the pants. What more could one ask? Chat is a fine read."
-Bookloons.com

"CHAT is an entertaining read as it recaptures some of the characteristics that appeared in Archer Mayor's earlier books."
-Reviewingtheevidence.com

"This is an excellently written police procedural with a complicated plot. It demonstrates the dangers of the chat rooms with their cloak of anonymity. The ruggedness of Vermont is vividly described. Joe and Leo's inner character is assumed to be a result of this ruggedness."
-Myshelf.com

"This excellently written novel is up to the series' high standards, and the descriptions of the author’s beloved Vermont are penetrating. It is always a joy to read a Joe Gunther mystery, and Chat has been no exception."
-Spinetinglermag.com

"Chat" is a winner. I've already read my copy twice."
Kingdom Books, Mysteries & Poetry

"Rich in suspense and local flavor, read this curled up with a cup of hot chocolate as Mayor beguiles readers with accurate descriptions of New England's Green Mountains, crisp winter air and rural life. The plot twists and characters are well conceived, the pacing steady with the interpersonal relationships adding a warm, realistic touch to this great addition to the Gunther series."
-Monstersandcritics.com

"As a mystery, CHAT is like a mid-morning snack: not wholly satisfying, but just enough to hit the spot. The climax may not be an earth-shatterer, but it's the procedural part that keeps you reading until you reach it."
–Bookgasm.com

"Archer Mayor is a great read, and a fantastic addition to the ranks of mystery sleuths on the shelves. If you haven't read a Joe Gunther novel, feel free to dive into the series anywhere. Even when you find out things about the characters that were revealed in earlier books, it's not really a big deal. You'll still enjoy Mayor's conversational writing and the well-plotted mysteries."
-Blogcritics.org

"As always, the strong cast of supporting characters that Mayor has built up around Gunther are on hand – smart ass but loveable Willy Kunkle; Gunther's gal Friday, Sammie Martens; medical examiner Beverly Hillstrom; straight arrow Lester Spinney; even Gunther's ex-love, Gail Zigman, pops up for a few tense but touching scenes. Added to the mix this time is young law man Rob Barrows, a character worthy of a novel or two of his own. Another great Joe Gunther novel from Archer Mayor."
-Thecountycourier.com

"This is the 18th novel in Archer Mayor's Joe Gunther series. I was immediately pulled into the novel due to its comfortableness. It reminds me of Margaret Maron's Deborah Knott series, solid cozy mysteries with a strong base.Chat stands well on its own. Past characters are brought in enough for new readers to learn about them but not over introduced for those readers who have read all of them. The murder mystery is crafted nicely, eventually centering around Internet chat rooms. The process to come to the conclusions is well built and followed properly. It's a believable mystery that brings the reader right along. I recommend Chat. I know I'll be reading other novels in the series as well."
-Jandysbooks.com

"Intriguing plots, complex characters, and a vivid landscape are the foundation of Archer Mayor's award-winning New England thrillers. Now in this suspenseful new novel two investigations will lead Mayor's popular hero Joe Gunther to the shady realm of Internet chat rooms, where relationships are formed and broken, and nothing is as it seems."
-Fantasticfiction.co.uk

"Archer weaves his web of mystery and intrigue with an assortment of characters, good and evil. For some he gives us only a sketch of what they are like, for others he takes us right into the heart of what makes them tick. Each mystery is solved and every solution carries with it a surprise. Chat is an interesting story well- told and well worth reading."
-Compulsivereader.com

"CHAT has more mysteries and dangerous situations in store for Joe. But somehow Joe manages to find a little time to mix a little business with some pleasure. I definitely enjoyed how Archer Mayor mixed in the sordid world that some online chat rooms can be. There sure are many untrustworthy individuals in the world today. CHAT has the makings of being a movie of the week. I hope that Archer Mayor will continue to write more Joe Gunther mysteries for years to come."
-Strictly Romance Reviews