This analysis was generated by AI from publicly available reader reviews, literary criticism, and book discussions. It has not been verified by a BookLens community reviewer and may contain errors. Be the first to verify →
Content snapshot
Flag an inaccuracy →What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.
Violence
Some
A murder; the investigation involves the small-town Vermont community
Language
Barely any
Mild language
Sexual Content
Barely any
Mild content
Substance Use
Barely any
Mild content
Emotional Intensity
Some
The specific intimacy of investigating crime in a community where the detective knows the victims and suspects personally; the Vermont landscape as a character in its own right
What this book is about
It's hunting season in Brattleboro, Vermont, and a body is found in the woods — shot in a way that doesn't look like an accident. Detective Joe Gunther investigates in a small New England town where everyone knows everyone else and the investigation quickly becomes personal. Archer Mayor's first Joe Gunther novel establishes the series' distinctive quality: a procedural rooted in the specific texture of small-town Vermont life, where the crimes are violent but the investigation is conducted with a warmth for the community that most crime fiction doesn't attempt.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
first Joe Gunther novel by Archer Mayor
Reader Verification
Be the first to verify
this rating
Have you read Open season? Submit a community rating to confirm or correct the AI estimate. Your review helps other readers make an informed choice.
Rate this book →Free · ~5 minutes · No account required
Similar reads
More Crime Fiction books from the catalog.
Think this AI estimate is off?
Flag an inaccuracy →Where to Buy
Affiliate links — BookLens earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.