The Names of the Streets are Real

Archer Mayor's mysteries featuring Joe Gunther are "regionals" depicting life and crime in Brattleboro and other locales of the upper Connecticut River Valley of Vermont, along the Interstate 91 "ski-way." This installment takes Joe south down I-91, into the Western Massachusetts part of the Valley--which happens to be the region where I happily hang out. The action centers on Northampton, the self-proclaimed "Paradise City" of the book's title, which is generally regarded as the fine arts and fine dining center of Western Mass. (Snobs from Boston need not comment on that statement, thank you.)

I enjoyed reading the portrayals of Northampton, Amherst, Greenfield, and other haunts of my stomping grounds. Most of the places described are real--from Coolidge Cafe to the Summit House, from the abandoned Strategic Air Command post hidden inside Mount Tom to Amity Street and Potwine Lane, the accuracy of the locations was fun (at least for a "local" like me). The art and jewelry gallery that is crucial to the story is fictitious, but certain (noncriminal) elements of it were recognizable in real establishments.

Even though the "taste of home" kept me reading, I found the overall story less than compelling. I also found it very hard to follow the characters. We are introduced in rapid succession to Billie, Willie, Mickey, Bobby, Tony, Jimmy, Dan, and Ed, to name a few. One's a victim, some are cops, and the rest are bad guys. We also have Mina, Anna, Donna, Nancy, Sammie, and Lou. It was a relief to meet Li Anming, an artisan "smuggled in" from China and kept as slave labor, re-setting and re-crafting stolen jewelry; her character at least I was able to recognize readily.

I remember reading a couple of the early Gunther books, and that I enjoyed "Borderlines" and "The Skeleton's Knee." But the series never grabbed me, and there are 15 or 16 books in between "Knee" and "Paradise" that I never read; so it's partly my own lack that I didn't know the characters (beyond Joe Gunther himself) who are series regulars. But even discounting the regulars, the rather flimsy plot seemed overburdened with players. It's a fairly short read with some interesting scenes. Not awful, not great.

5 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Well done episode in this series

Even though I prefer the original narrator of the series, Mr. Dufris is had congee in to his own in his marathon of characters we previously had only heard voiced by Tom Taylorson. He had done an impressive job at keeping the character of each of the main players consistent with the voices Tom endeared is to.

3 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Really good Joe Gunther procedural

The narrator did an excellent job with all the voices—esp the female voices— except for Joe Gunther, who he made sound really elderly and different. If you can look past that it was a very good story, with different strands ghat came together. Much more embracing if diversity and accepting of LGBTQ than some of other novels in the series (or perhaps it’s just Gail’s friend Sue was so unlikable?). Really good and very interesting. Love the Willy and Sami storyline!!

2 persone l'hanno trovata utile

PARADISE CITY

Good story but, once again, very poor performance by Mr Dubris. Please bring back Tom Taylorson!

2 persone l'hanno trovata utile

bad narrator

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

no, the narrator ruins it. bad voices, wishes he was tom taylorson.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of William Dufris?

Tom Taylorson, he IS the voice of Gunther and Co.

2 persone l'hanno trovata utile

Great story

I am loving this series. Joe Gunther is my hero. I will admit that I struggled with the change of narrators, much preferring Tom Taylorson. But the change is not as grating as it was in the beginning, and I’m still able to enjoy the story.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

The Narrator/Performer is very, very poor.

I wasn't able to follow the stories or characters and therefore lost interest because the narration was monotonous and annoying at the same time. If you want to try another of the same series definitely purchase the Tom Taylorson version. He is SUPERB. And the novel will come across as it was meant to.

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

What happened?

Why did this book make Joe sound like a 90 year old man? I enjoyed the story other than the way they portrayed Joe.
I fully enjoy the Joe Gunther series and can’t wait until the end of April when the newest book comes out on Audio

1 persona l'ha trovata utile

I almost abandoned this book....

I was so getting tired of hearing all the yawning and the cast from the Buzz Lightyear cartoon doing the voices. I hang on only till
Taylorson's return. Honestly I was so bored I don't even remember what the story was about.

Nail biting book

I love love the entire Joe Gunther series. They all include humor, suspense, mystery, and tragedy. This book is no different and it s just as good as everyone before it. I will be sad when I have finished all the books.