New York Times Bestselling Mystery Writer Archer Mayor To Speak at Library Fundraiser

Mystery writer Archer Mayor will be the guest speaker on Saturday, April 6, 2013, at 6:30 p.m., at the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries’ eleventh annual “Dinner with Friends,” at the Du Bois Library at UMass Amherst.  Archer Mayor is the author of The New York Times bestselling, Vermont-based mystery series featuring detective Joe Gunther, which the Chicago Tribune describes as “the best police procedurals being written in America.”  He will be reading from and autographing copies of his new novel, Paradise City (2012), which takes place in Northampton, Massachusetts.  The evening includes a champagne and hors d’oeuvre reception with music by UMass Amherst student jazz musicians, live and silent auctions, a gourmet meal, and a book signing.

Archer Mayor’s Joe Gunther detective series, 23 books in all, is one of the most enduring and critically acclaimed police procedural series being written today.  For years, Archer has integrated actual police methodology with intricately detailed plot lines into novels that The New York Times has called “dazzling,” and Booklist has said are “among the best cop stories being written today.”  Whereas many writers base their books only on interviews and scholarly research, Mayor’s novels are based on actual experience in the field.  The result adds a depth, detail and veracity to his characters and their tribulations that has led The New York Times to call him, “The boss man on procedures,” and the Arizona Daily Star to write, “Few deliver such well-rounded novels of such consistent high quality.”  In 2011, Mayor’s 22nd Joe Gunther novel, Tag Man, earned a place on The New York Times bestseller list for hardback fiction. 

The Dinner with Friends is the Libraries’ signature fundraising event.  This year’s proceeds will help fund the creation of a Multimedia Production Center.  Tickets are $150 per person and $275 for two (of which $100 is tax-deductible and $175 for two).  Complimentary passes for the parking garage are available by request.  Handicapped accessible parking is available next to the Library. 

For more information and to make reservations contact Carol Connare at (413) 545-0995, email friends@library.umass.edu, or visit the Dinner with Friends web site http://www.library.umass.edu/dinner.  Individual and corporate sponsorships are available starting at $250.  For more information about the Libraries visit http://www.library.umass.edu.