If you enjoy police procedural novels that really immerse you in the setting, you may already be familiar with Archer Mayor. He is the author of the Joe Gunther mysteries, all of which take place in Vermont.
His books are known for their attention to detail when it comes to police investigations and for characters that feel incredibly authentic. For readers searching for authors with a similar approach to crime fiction, here are a few names to explore.
If you enjoy Archer Mayor’s Joe Gunther series, Craig Johnson is another author worth exploring. Johnson brings to life Sheriff Walt Longmire, a thoughtful lawman who navigates crime and justice in rural Wyoming.
In “The Cold Dish,” Longmire faces a tricky investigation when a young man convicted of assault is found dead under suspicious circumstances. What at first seems simple evolves into a deeper puzzle tied to community secrets and buried conflicts.
Johnson creates characters and places that feel authentic, mixing suspenseful storytelling with reflections on human nature and small-town life.
Readers who enjoy Archer Mayor’s atmospheric mysteries may also appreciate books by William Kent Krueger. Krueger creates vivid crime stories set in the rugged landscapes of northern Minnesota.
In “Iron Lake,” the first entry in his Cork O’Connor series, former sheriff Cork deals with personal setbacks and small-town secrets as he investigates the disappearance of a local boy.
The snow-covered forests, Ojibwe culture, and tense community dynamics make the novel atmospheric and engaging. Fans of well-crafted detective fiction set in authentic rural communities will likely find Krueger’s storytelling satisfying.
Readers who enjoy Archer Mayor’s detailed crime narratives may also appreciate C.J. Box. Box crafts vivid mysteries set against rugged rural backdrops. His novel “Open Season” introduces Joe Pickett, a Wyoming game warden known for his honesty and strong sense of justice.
When Joe finds a local hunting guide dead in his own woodpile, he’s drawn into a twisting case of hidden secrets and dangerous agendas. The mystery unfolds through well-drawn characters, believable conversations, and surprising plot shifts.
Readers familiar with Mayor’s attention to realistic storytelling and strong regional flavor will find similar satisfaction in Box’s work.
Readers who enjoy Archer Mayor’s detailed mysteries set in vivid local cultures may find Tony Hillerman appealing. Hillerman’s novels often explore the landscape and traditions of the American Southwest, focusing on Navajo tribal police detectives Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.
In “Dance Hall of the Dead,” Leaphorn tackles a puzzling case involving two missing boys: one Navajo and one Zuni. Leaphorn’s search soon introduces him to complex tribal rituals, cultural misunderstandings, and a series of troubling discoveries.
Hillerman’s thoughtful storytelling gives the reader both a suspenseful mystery and an authentic picture of Native American life and beliefs.
Michael Connelly is a crime fiction author known for his authentic portrayal of police procedure and intense storytelling. Readers who enjoy Archer Mayor’s Joe Gunther series might appreciate Connelly’s attention to realistic detective work and strong character development.
In “The Black Echo,” detective Harry Bosch investigates the death of a fellow Vietnam War veteran found in a drainage pipe. As Bosch digs deeper, he uncovers a bank robbery from the past, a dangerous criminal conspiracy, and secrets buried since the war.
The careful plotting, complex twists, and vivid scenes of Los Angeles life make this story a memorable introduction to Connelly’s writing.
John Sandford is a skilled crime novelist known for his fast-paced thrillers that often focus on investigative detail and intriguing character dynamics. If you enjoy Archer Mayor’s blend of intricate detective work and strong characters, try Sandford’s book “Rules of Prey”.
This novel introduces detective Lucas Davenport, a smart, tough Minneapolis cop tracking down an elusive serial killer who calls himself the “maddog”. The killer enjoys taunting the police with his own twisted set of rules, turning the investigation into a tense battle of wits.
Sandford creates a believable and layered story filled with suspense, realistic police procedures, and compelling personalities that pull you into Davenport’s world.
Louise Penny is a Canadian author known for her mystery novels set in the quiet village of Three Pines in Quebec.
Her characters are complex and richly developed, particularly Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, a thoughtful detective who solves crimes using insight into human nature.
In “Still Life,” the first novel of the Gamache series, the quiet town is shaken when a beloved local artist, Jane Neal, is found dead in the woods. Inspector Gamache arrives from Montreal and gradually uncovers hidden secrets among the villagers.
Louise Penny’s mysteries often highlight small-town relationships and psychological depth. Fans of Archer Mayor’s detective Joe Gunther will appreciate Penny’s sharp insights, dark settings, and carefully built suspense.
Readers who appreciate Archer Mayor’s blend of vivid storytelling, solid characters, and authentic atmosphere might also enjoy James Lee Burke. Burke excels at crafting crime fiction set in the American South, especially with his series featuring detective Dave Robicheaux.
His novel “The Neon Rain” introduces Robicheaux, a complex and determined detective from New Orleans whose discovery of a murdered woman sends him deep into a world of corrupt politics, drug trafficking, and organized crime.
Burke draws you into Robicheaux’s life with rich settings and layered supporting characters, giving the story both grit and emotional depth. The mystery is tense, the New Orleans atmosphere vibrant, and the detective’s personal journey engaging and nuanced.
Readers who enjoy Archer Mayor’s well-crafted detective mysteries might find Peter Robinson’s novels similarly appealing. Robinson is a British-Canadian author known for his Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks series, set in the Yorkshire countryside.
In “In a Dry Season,” Banks investigates skeletal remains uncovered in an abandoned village after a prolonged drought reveals a decades-old crime.
The atmospheric storytelling mixes past and present investigations and gives readers a deeply satisfying mystery with intriguing characters and vivid settings. Fans of Mayor’s intricate plots and relatable detectives could appreciate Peter Robinson’s approach to crime fiction.
Readers who enjoy Archer Mayor might also appreciate Donna Leon. Leon’s crime novels follow Commissario Guido Brunetti, a thoughtful detective living and working in Venice.
In “Death at La Fenice,” Brunetti investigates the mysterious poisoning of a celebrated conductor during an opera performance. The investigation exposes secrets behind Venice’s glamorous opera world.
Leon’s storytelling gives readers a vivid glimpse of Venetian life, detailed police work, and characters with believable depth. If Archer Mayor’s authentic settings and procedural-style mysteries draw you in, then Donna Leon’s work will likely resonate too.
Tana French is a talented mystery author known for her atmospheric Dublin Murder Squad series, filled with well-crafted characters and psychological depth. If you enjoy Archer Mayor’s clever storytelling and detailed police procedurals, you’ll appreciate French’s style.
In her book “In the Woods,” detective Rob Ryan investigates the troubling murder of a young girl near a wooded area outside of Dublin. The same forest where, decades earlier, Ryan himself was found traumatized as a child, his two friends missing without a trace.
As Rob tries to untangle this complex case, unsettling memories of his own past resurface, and old secrets return to haunt him. French creates a suspenseful thriller with vivid settings, engaging dialogue, and strong emotional layers.
The mystery stays with you long after the final page.
Readers who enjoy Archer Mayor’s crime fiction filled with real detective work, believable characters, and twists that keep you guessing would likely appreciate Karin Slaughter. She writes intense thrillers featuring complex and authentic characters.
Her novel “Pretty Girls” tells the story of two estranged sisters, Claire and Lydia, who must reconnect after tragedy strikes their family again twenty years after their older sister mysteriously vanished. When Claire’s husband is murdered, dark family secrets begin to surface.
The sisters team up out of necessity and begin to uncover shocking truths that make them question everything they thought they knew.
The story is fast-paced with detailed investigative elements, similar to Mayor’s novels, but uniquely charged by Slaughter’s exploration of family trauma and powerful emotional stakes.
Ian Rankin is a Scottish author famous for his dark, atmospheric detective novels set in Edinburgh. Fans of Archer Mayor’s authentic police storytelling may appreciate Rankin’s Detective Inspector John Rebus series, especially in books like “Knots and Crosses.”
In this first novel of the series, Detective Inspector Rebus must untangle a disturbing string of murders in Edinburgh. The investigation leads him through difficult memories and a series of cryptic clues that hint at a more personal connection.
Rankin builds a complex and vivid narrative rich in Edinburgh’s gritty underworld and authentic police procedures.
Julia Spencer-Fleming is known for her mysteries set in small-town New England. Her novel “In the Bleak Midwinter” introduces readers to Clare Fergusson, an Episcopal priest and former Army helicopter pilot.
Clare teams up with police chief Russ Van Alstyne when a newborn baby is abandoned at her church. Amid the cold upstate New York winter, their investigation uncovers secrets and tensions hidden below the town’s surface.
With well-drawn characters and sharp plotting, this is a mystery that should appeal to fans of Archer Mayor’s series featuring Joe Gunther.
Readers who enjoy Archer Mayor’s detective novels may also appreciate Elizabeth George. George is known for her Inspector Lynley series set in England. Her novels combine complex characters, careful plotting, and rich settings.
One standout in the series is “A Great Deliverance,” her first book. In this novel, Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sergeant Barbara Havers investigate a brutal murder case in a quiet Yorkshire village.
At the heart of the story is a shocking family secret, and as the detectives unravel clues, the layers of the village’s quiet façade slowly come apart. Those who appreciate careful detective work and psychological depth will find Elizabeth George’s work appealing.