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Mike Bowditch #11
One Last Lie
A sudden disappearance reveals a startling connection to a 15-year-old cold case in the new thriller from bestselling Edgar Award finalist Paul Doiron.
“Never trust a man without secrets.� These are the last words retired game warden Charley Stevens speaks to his surrogate son, Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch, before the old man vanishes without explanation into a thousand miles of forest along the Canadian border. Mike suspects his friend’s sudden disappearance has to do with an antique badge found at a flea market � a badge that belonged to a warden who was presumed dead fifteen years ago but whose body was never recovered. On a mission to find Charley before he meets a similarly dark fate, Mike must reopen a cold case that powerful people, including his fellow wardens � one of whom might be a killer � will do anything to keep closed.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2020
1,041 people are currently reading
10.6k people want to read
About the author
Paul Doiron
37Ìýbooks2,139ÌýfollowersPaul Doiron is the best-selling author of the Mike Bowditch series of crime novels set in the Maine woods.
His first book, The Poacher’s Son, won the Barry Award and the Strand Critics Award and was nominated for an Edgar for Best First Novel. His second, Trespasser, won the 2012 Maine Literary Award. His novelette “Rabid� was a finalist for the 2019 Edgar in the Best Short Story category. Paul’s twelfth book, Dead by Dawn won the New England Society’s 2022 Book Award for Fiction, as well as his second Maine Literary Award. It was also a finalist for the Barry Award. His books have been translated into 11 languages.
Paul is the former chair of the Maine Humanities Council, Editor Emeritus of Down East: The Magazine of Maine, and a Registered Maine Guide specializing in fly fishing.
His first book, The Poacher’s Son, won the Barry Award and the Strand Critics Award and was nominated for an Edgar for Best First Novel. His second, Trespasser, won the 2012 Maine Literary Award. His novelette “Rabid� was a finalist for the 2019 Edgar in the Best Short Story category. Paul’s twelfth book, Dead by Dawn won the New England Society’s 2022 Book Award for Fiction, as well as his second Maine Literary Award. It was also a finalist for the Barry Award. His books have been translated into 11 languages.
Paul is the former chair of the Maine Humanities Council, Editor Emeritus of Down East: The Magazine of Maine, and a Registered Maine Guide specializing in fly fishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 435 reviews
June 25, 2020
"Never trust a man without secrets."
Charley Stevens has gone missing and Mike Bowditch has very little to go on - an antique badge found by Charley at a flea market and the letter that Charley left for him. He finds out the badge once belonged to a missing warden who is presumed dead and whose body was never found. On his pursuit to find his mentor and surrogate father, Mike learns that many people he knows have secrets, that some will do whatever it takes to keep the past in the past, and that no matter how well you think you know someone, they can still surprise you.
"Some people are more than they appear. And some people are less than they appear. But nobody is the way they appear."
This book is all over the place and I mean that in a good way. It begins with Mike going to Florida to conduct a background search, finds him on a Python hunt and rushing back to Maine to search for Charlie. His search takes him to various locations in the forests along the Canadian Border.
This was another great installment in the Mike Bowditch series. It can be read as a stand-alone or you could give it the "old college try" and go back to the beginning and dive in. I found this book to be a fast, captivating and riveting read. As always, I learn things about Maine, the wildlife there and the demands of being a game warden (it's not all about trapping and relocating animals!)
There is a fair amount of tension and suspense in this well written book which had me turning the pages at breakneck speed to find out if Mike would find Charley, and if the cold case of the missing warden would be solved. Plus, there is some personal drama for Mike which has me excited for the next book to see/read how things are going to turn out.
Tense, Suspenseful, and intriguing. Doiron never disappoints! This series is going strong and I look forward to the next book!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Charley Stevens has gone missing and Mike Bowditch has very little to go on - an antique badge found by Charley at a flea market and the letter that Charley left for him. He finds out the badge once belonged to a missing warden who is presumed dead and whose body was never found. On his pursuit to find his mentor and surrogate father, Mike learns that many people he knows have secrets, that some will do whatever it takes to keep the past in the past, and that no matter how well you think you know someone, they can still surprise you.
"Some people are more than they appear. And some people are less than they appear. But nobody is the way they appear."
This book is all over the place and I mean that in a good way. It begins with Mike going to Florida to conduct a background search, finds him on a Python hunt and rushing back to Maine to search for Charlie. His search takes him to various locations in the forests along the Canadian Border.
This was another great installment in the Mike Bowditch series. It can be read as a stand-alone or you could give it the "old college try" and go back to the beginning and dive in. I found this book to be a fast, captivating and riveting read. As always, I learn things about Maine, the wildlife there and the demands of being a game warden (it's not all about trapping and relocating animals!)
There is a fair amount of tension and suspense in this well written book which had me turning the pages at breakneck speed to find out if Mike would find Charley, and if the cold case of the missing warden would be solved. Plus, there is some personal drama for Mike which has me excited for the next book to see/read how things are going to turn out.
Tense, Suspenseful, and intriguing. Doiron never disappoints! This series is going strong and I look forward to the next book!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 25, 2020
Not too long ago Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ friend Michael Edwards mentioned I might like to read the Mike Bowditch series as I frequently visit the beautiful state of Maine. Written by Paul Doiron, a native of Maine, the series centers around Mike Bowditch’s occupation as a Game Warden now promoted to Investigator Warden. Animals and nature are a wonderful background to his stories.
I came across ONE LAST LIE, Doiron’s latest, on NetGalley and took the opportunity to settle into the call of nature. I couldn’t have chosen better. This novel takes Bowditch to Florida to do a background check on someone applying to the forestry service. Some interesting circumstances come about with the very dangerous wildlife that live in Florida’s untamed locations. Meanwhile, in Maine retired pilot Charley, good friend to Bowditch goes missing after finding a warden’s badge at a flea market. Then all hell breaks loose as Mike follows his trail.
ONE LAST LIE is a very fine reading experience for anyone that has a love of the outdoors, has a keen interest in seeing animals treated well and, loves nature. Amidst these trying times, I really enjoyed being drawn into the life of the wild.
There is no doubt this novel can be read as a stand-alone book, but it is so good that I am looking forward to going back and starting this series from scratch.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of ONE LAST LIE in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date - June 30, 2020
Review posted to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ on May 25, 2020
I came across ONE LAST LIE, Doiron’s latest, on NetGalley and took the opportunity to settle into the call of nature. I couldn’t have chosen better. This novel takes Bowditch to Florida to do a background check on someone applying to the forestry service. Some interesting circumstances come about with the very dangerous wildlife that live in Florida’s untamed locations. Meanwhile, in Maine retired pilot Charley, good friend to Bowditch goes missing after finding a warden’s badge at a flea market. Then all hell breaks loose as Mike follows his trail.
ONE LAST LIE is a very fine reading experience for anyone that has a love of the outdoors, has a keen interest in seeing animals treated well and, loves nature. Amidst these trying times, I really enjoyed being drawn into the life of the wild.
There is no doubt this novel can be read as a stand-alone book, but it is so good that I am looking forward to going back and starting this series from scratch.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of ONE LAST LIE in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date - June 30, 2020
Review posted to Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ on May 25, 2020
December 30, 2019
This one is for the Charley Stevens fans.
May 23, 2020
How do you bite down hard on a lie and not taste its long-lasting bitterness?
One Last Lie opens the door wide on one of the finest books in this series. Paul Doiron does Mike Bowditch proud in an exceptional panorama of life in Maine through the rugged terrain making up the internal workings of Investigator/Warden Bowditch. This one has a lot of action and uncertainty as we travel through multiple counties and small towns at the heels of Bowditch. Doiron knows how to showcase the multi-layered communities and the deep-set history of such a diverse population spread far and wide in Maine. We are certainly aware of the flora and fauna under foot revealing the beauty of its surroundings, yet smudging the footprints of some despicable bad guys on the loose.
But did I mention that our story begins in the Everglades in Florida? A little switcheroo tossed in by Doiron. Mike is down there in an investigator's capacity to do a background check on a candidate for Chief Pilot for the Maine Warden Service. What he uncovers leaves him unsettled. Former Captain Joe Fixico, a Miccosukee Native American, has much to share. And, oh, by the way, there's a mighty Python involved. Yup.
No sooner than Mike returns to Maine, there's trouble brewing. Ora Stevens calls him and reveals that her husband Charley is missing. Charley is a retired pilot for the Warden Service and a solid mentor for Mike over the years. It all has to do with a warden's badge that Charley found on a table at a flea market near the Machias Dike. Something triggered a response in Charley. He was never one to take off on his own. Mike promises to track Charley down. But as Mike investigates, he's coming up with some heavy situations and some heavy-duty individuals in the mix. Looks like they may have to send out the bloodhounds after Mike, too.
One Last Lie strikes all the five bells loudly. Thanks to Doiron you get a feel for the grit and the tilt of the uneven roads. This episode is gonna change Mike for a long time to come.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to the talented Paul Doiron for the opportunity.
One Last Lie opens the door wide on one of the finest books in this series. Paul Doiron does Mike Bowditch proud in an exceptional panorama of life in Maine through the rugged terrain making up the internal workings of Investigator/Warden Bowditch. This one has a lot of action and uncertainty as we travel through multiple counties and small towns at the heels of Bowditch. Doiron knows how to showcase the multi-layered communities and the deep-set history of such a diverse population spread far and wide in Maine. We are certainly aware of the flora and fauna under foot revealing the beauty of its surroundings, yet smudging the footprints of some despicable bad guys on the loose.
But did I mention that our story begins in the Everglades in Florida? A little switcheroo tossed in by Doiron. Mike is down there in an investigator's capacity to do a background check on a candidate for Chief Pilot for the Maine Warden Service. What he uncovers leaves him unsettled. Former Captain Joe Fixico, a Miccosukee Native American, has much to share. And, oh, by the way, there's a mighty Python involved. Yup.
No sooner than Mike returns to Maine, there's trouble brewing. Ora Stevens calls him and reveals that her husband Charley is missing. Charley is a retired pilot for the Warden Service and a solid mentor for Mike over the years. It all has to do with a warden's badge that Charley found on a table at a flea market near the Machias Dike. Something triggered a response in Charley. He was never one to take off on his own. Mike promises to track Charley down. But as Mike investigates, he's coming up with some heavy situations and some heavy-duty individuals in the mix. Looks like they may have to send out the bloodhounds after Mike, too.
One Last Lie strikes all the five bells loudly. Thanks to Doiron you get a feel for the grit and the tilt of the uneven roads. This episode is gonna change Mike for a long time to come.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to the talented Paul Doiron for the opportunity.
November 8, 2020
If you're into slow moving, picky plots this may be for you. 1 of 10 stars
July 6, 2020
One Last Lie by Paul Doiron is the eleventh book in the MIne Warden Inspector Mike Bowditch series. Although this is book eleven, toucan read this one without having read the previous entries in the series.
Bowditch travels to Florida to do background checks on a potential new hire when he is called by his mentor's wife because Charley is missing. Mike travels home to Maine and starts a clandestine search for his mentor and father figure and also hunts for clues in a cold case involving the murder of an undercover warden. This book was a very enjoyable read. I felt like we got enough of the characters' histories that we don't miss much in getting to know these characters. I also liked how the characters interacted with each other. The plot was well developed and the pacing was excellent. Overall a very enjoyable experience.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur, an DC author Paul Doiron for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Bowditch travels to Florida to do background checks on a potential new hire when he is called by his mentor's wife because Charley is missing. Mike travels home to Maine and starts a clandestine search for his mentor and father figure and also hunts for clues in a cold case involving the murder of an undercover warden. This book was a very enjoyable read. I felt like we got enough of the characters' histories that we don't miss much in getting to know these characters. I also liked how the characters interacted with each other. The plot was well developed and the pacing was excellent. Overall a very enjoyable experience.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur, an DC author Paul Doiron for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 29, 2020
Okay, I get excited when I learn that one of my favorite authors has completed a new book. When it's part of a favorite series, I get even more excited. By the end of the first chapter of this one, I had a big smile on my face. Now I've finished - and I want another one. The sooner the better, please and thank you.
Honestly, I don't know why I love the series so much. Of course, the writing is outstanding and the stories are complex enough to be hold my attention every page of the way but simple enough that my aging brain doesn't get lost. The setting of this, the eleventh book, is mostly in relatively remote parts of Maine - appealing on its own but more so to me because my husband and I have spent some quality time there (far too little, sorry to say). The author weaves historical information throughout, adding even more interest.
The main character, game warden investigator Mike Bowditch, is a man I'd love to meet - a bit reminiscent of C.J. Box's game warden Joe Pickett. The stories are full of action and straightforward - no chapter flipping from one time frame or one character to another that tends to drive me up a wall. This one opens with Mike in Florida to do a background check on an Air Force veteran who has applied for a Maine Warden Service job. While there, he runs into the woman who was his significant other for a couple of years; they're still friends and Mike now has a newer love back in Maine, but there's a hint that old flames never burn out completely.
Then, the ex-girlfriend's mother Ora calls Mike - whom they love like a son (more accurately, perhaps, the son-in-law who got away) to say her husband Charley has gone missing. He was last seen, in fact, in a heated argument with a vendor at a local flea market near their home in backwoods Maine. Mike knows Ora isn't a worrier, so he heads back home to try and track Charley down. Problem is, it becomes clear to Mike early on that Charley doesn't want to be found.
Or maybe he does.The old man leaves a cryptic letter to Mike in his seaplane, stressing that Mike shouldn't come after him. But Mike senses that's the opposite of what Charley really means. When he learns that - the flea market fight involved a badge that belonged to a warden who was reportedly killed 15 years earlier, Mike's suspicion that something, perhaps linked to that dead warden, is terribly wrong is strengthened, as is his resolve get to the bottom of things.
The rest of the book follows Mike's efforts to unearth clues and find his old friend and mentor, all the while knowing Charley's life is at stake. But dark forces from the past seem to have made their way to the present, putting the lives of both Charley and Mike on the line. It's a race to the finish with nary a dull moment - and another well-earned notch in the author's belt. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
Honestly, I don't know why I love the series so much. Of course, the writing is outstanding and the stories are complex enough to be hold my attention every page of the way but simple enough that my aging brain doesn't get lost. The setting of this, the eleventh book, is mostly in relatively remote parts of Maine - appealing on its own but more so to me because my husband and I have spent some quality time there (far too little, sorry to say). The author weaves historical information throughout, adding even more interest.
The main character, game warden investigator Mike Bowditch, is a man I'd love to meet - a bit reminiscent of C.J. Box's game warden Joe Pickett. The stories are full of action and straightforward - no chapter flipping from one time frame or one character to another that tends to drive me up a wall. This one opens with Mike in Florida to do a background check on an Air Force veteran who has applied for a Maine Warden Service job. While there, he runs into the woman who was his significant other for a couple of years; they're still friends and Mike now has a newer love back in Maine, but there's a hint that old flames never burn out completely.
Then, the ex-girlfriend's mother Ora calls Mike - whom they love like a son (more accurately, perhaps, the son-in-law who got away) to say her husband Charley has gone missing. He was last seen, in fact, in a heated argument with a vendor at a local flea market near their home in backwoods Maine. Mike knows Ora isn't a worrier, so he heads back home to try and track Charley down. Problem is, it becomes clear to Mike early on that Charley doesn't want to be found.
Or maybe he does.The old man leaves a cryptic letter to Mike in his seaplane, stressing that Mike shouldn't come after him. But Mike senses that's the opposite of what Charley really means. When he learns that - the flea market fight involved a badge that belonged to a warden who was reportedly killed 15 years earlier, Mike's suspicion that something, perhaps linked to that dead warden, is terribly wrong is strengthened, as is his resolve get to the bottom of things.
The rest of the book follows Mike's efforts to unearth clues and find his old friend and mentor, all the while knowing Charley's life is at stake. But dark forces from the past seem to have made their way to the present, putting the lives of both Charley and Mike on the line. It's a race to the finish with nary a dull moment - and another well-earned notch in the author's belt. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
October 2, 2024
Mike is in Florida when the story begins. Just as his Florida trip is almost finished, he gets a call saying that his friend and mentor, Charley, who was still in Maine, is missing. Mike’s investigation and the reminder of the book is about finding Charley and solving a cold case.
The plot is complex enough to diffidently hold your interest, and there are so many twists and turns. Mike has no idea who he can trust, and I gave him the wrong advice several times...but to my credit I was about 25% right. Maybe that's why Paul Doiron didn't asked me to be involved in writing the book:) The way Charley acted at times seemed to be a bit at odds with his usual behavior... but as he says, "Never trust a man that doesn't have secrets". If you have followed this series this far, (book 11), or any series for that matter, then you know how excited you can get as you wait for a new "book baby" to "be born". Over the years I have found that this is indeed one of those types of series. Each addition contains a great lead character, some often unique side characters, a good mystery to help us solve, and even a few members of the "wildlife community".
The plot is complex enough to diffidently hold your interest, and there are so many twists and turns. Mike has no idea who he can trust, and I gave him the wrong advice several times...but to my credit I was about 25% right. Maybe that's why Paul Doiron didn't asked me to be involved in writing the book:) The way Charley acted at times seemed to be a bit at odds with his usual behavior... but as he says, "Never trust a man that doesn't have secrets". If you have followed this series this far, (book 11), or any series for that matter, then you know how excited you can get as you wait for a new "book baby" to "be born". Over the years I have found that this is indeed one of those types of series. Each addition contains a great lead character, some often unique side characters, a good mystery to help us solve, and even a few members of the "wildlife community".
June 30, 2020
I felt as though I couldn't get enough of ONE LAST LIE, which is a thrilling novel! A while back a terrible crime occurred when an undercover game warden was killed and the body never found. Everything begins to come back into play when a warden's badge is discovered at a flea market. I believe everyone will enjoy reading this novel. Beware, there are some bad folks in Maine!!
July 9, 2021
This is an amazing book and well the ending is even better. You will not be disappointed. I love this series and they keep getting better and better. I love the characters they bring this story to life. What a beautiful setting and the story line grips you as you begin Chapter one and gets better as you turn the pages. This one gets personal for Mike as he searches for his surrogate father, Charley Stevens, who has disappeared without an explanation. It all seems to relate to a former game warden and his disappearance from an uncover assignment that Charley was a part of. Plus Mike's old girlfriend shows back up in his life while his current girlfriend is dealing with a situation Mike wishes he could be there for. Paul Doiron writes so beautifully about the backwoods of Maine in this series, and I was fascinated to see that he could do the same about the everglades in Florida. This great book kept me in suspense the whole time. I am waiting for your next great book.
February 22, 2024
To be honest, when I read this, I did not realize this was a series, so you definitely could read this book as a stand-alone.
Mike Bowditch is a game warden in Maine who uses his investigative skills to unravel a complicated mystery concerning the past death of another game warden, as well as the disappearance of his mentor Charlie.
This is...
Solid characterization and sufficiently twisty plot with an amazing vividly executed Maine scene (especially for those of us who have not experienced it).
Mike Bowditch is a game warden in Maine who uses his investigative skills to unravel a complicated mystery concerning the past death of another game warden, as well as the disappearance of his mentor Charlie.
This is...
Solid characterization and sufficiently twisty plot with an amazing vividly executed Maine scene (especially for those of us who have not experienced it).
April 19, 2020
Paul Doiron is one of my favorite writers, and his books just keep getting better. This particular story is about his mentor Charlie's disappearance, and Mike Bowditch uses his detective skills to unravel a complicated mystery concerning the past death of another game warden. Excellent storytelling keeps you guessing how the whole situation adds up to finding Charlie.
August 11, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this 11th book in Paul Doiron's "Mike Bowditch" series!
April 12, 2021
First Sentence: Before I left for Florida, my old friend and mentor Charley Stevens gave me a puzzling piece of advice.
Retired Game Warden Charley Stevens has been mentor, friend, and father figure to Mike Bowditch since early in his career. Disappearing from his wheelchair-bound wife Ora, is enough to bring Mike back from Florida. When he finds Charley didn't take his seaplane and left a note for Mike instructing him not to search, it's an automatic dog whistle for Mike to do everything he can to find Charley.
A book should open with a compelling hook: goal accomplished. The Florida sense of place is distinct�"Never had I encountered nature in such glorious, riotous abundance. An eye-popping, caterwauling carnival of life." This is followed by another good life lesson�"A small fish came up to snap at it. A bigger fish rose from the depths to swallow the smaller fish whole. There's always someone bigger, someone hungrier."
Having strong characters makes all the difference. Eleven books in, Mike is only 31 with that combination of hard experience, intelligence, and skills, yet offset with youthful arrogance, occasional overconfidence, and romantic cluelessness. The women in Mike's world are bright, tough, and intelligent. Not a lot of time is spent on backstory. Instead, the author lets the story fill in the blanks so one never has the sense of coming in at the middle of the series.
Maine is a state most people think they know from photos of the coastline. The author's Maine is one of vast wooded areas, lakes, self-reliant, often dangerous people, and drugs. The action scenes happen fast and there are plenty of them. They are visual and heart-stopping, with barely a pause of relief before one crisis moves to the next. The plot follows Mike's investigation step-by-step, and place to place, which avoids one becoming confused. The inclusion of an investigation report adds realism to the story. However, along with Mike, one must always question who can be trusted.
"One Last Lie" is a literary mystery of many different elements brought together through intelligent writing and a complex protagonist. Mike may be a game warden, but this is a case where the threats come from animals with two legs. Doiron and Mike are unique. One cannot help but want to read more of this exceptional series.
ONE LAST LIE (LicInv-Warden Mike Bowditch-Maine-Contemp) � VG
Duiron, Paul � 11th in series
Minotaur Books, Jun 2020, 320 pp.
Retired Game Warden Charley Stevens has been mentor, friend, and father figure to Mike Bowditch since early in his career. Disappearing from his wheelchair-bound wife Ora, is enough to bring Mike back from Florida. When he finds Charley didn't take his seaplane and left a note for Mike instructing him not to search, it's an automatic dog whistle for Mike to do everything he can to find Charley.
A book should open with a compelling hook: goal accomplished. The Florida sense of place is distinct�"Never had I encountered nature in such glorious, riotous abundance. An eye-popping, caterwauling carnival of life." This is followed by another good life lesson�"A small fish came up to snap at it. A bigger fish rose from the depths to swallow the smaller fish whole. There's always someone bigger, someone hungrier."
Having strong characters makes all the difference. Eleven books in, Mike is only 31 with that combination of hard experience, intelligence, and skills, yet offset with youthful arrogance, occasional overconfidence, and romantic cluelessness. The women in Mike's world are bright, tough, and intelligent. Not a lot of time is spent on backstory. Instead, the author lets the story fill in the blanks so one never has the sense of coming in at the middle of the series.
Maine is a state most people think they know from photos of the coastline. The author's Maine is one of vast wooded areas, lakes, self-reliant, often dangerous people, and drugs. The action scenes happen fast and there are plenty of them. They are visual and heart-stopping, with barely a pause of relief before one crisis moves to the next. The plot follows Mike's investigation step-by-step, and place to place, which avoids one becoming confused. The inclusion of an investigation report adds realism to the story. However, along with Mike, one must always question who can be trusted.
"One Last Lie" is a literary mystery of many different elements brought together through intelligent writing and a complex protagonist. Mike may be a game warden, but this is a case where the threats come from animals with two legs. Doiron and Mike are unique. One cannot help but want to read more of this exceptional series.
ONE LAST LIE (LicInv-Warden Mike Bowditch-Maine-Contemp) � VG
Duiron, Paul � 11th in series
Minotaur Books, Jun 2020, 320 pp.
Read
March 9, 2022Solid characterization (and Doiron is not afraid to let his female characters kick his male characters in the intellectual balls) and sufficiently twisty plot but here the setting reigns supreme. The state of Maine is vividly executed, scenically, historically, agriculturally, and geographically. I wouldn't want to get lost in the backwoods, though. Fun read.
December 25, 2021
My 1st Paul Doiron novel was a winner! Tough, intelligent, sympathetic hero. Great supporting cast. Riveting mystery. I enjoyed it!
September 9, 2020
3.5 stars rounded up because I like this series and have a soft spot for books set in Maine.
This one is loaded with Maine characters and culture as our MC, Mike Bowditch, searches for his beloved mentor, Charley. The mystery of Charley's sudden disappearance sends him to the northern boundary of Maine and immerses him in communities filled with suspicious and quirky people who might be somehow connected to a deadly drug raid years ago. Charley's role in the raid seems cut and dried but something doesn't 'smell right'.
As usual, I enjoyed the writing of this one, but feel some parts could've been better. There's plenty of back story to help those who haven't read any of the other books in the series. This tends to slow the story down a bit, but the action ramps up in the second half. My quibble is that the overly long descriptions tended to feel a bit too educational - trying to paint a picture of the various areas of Maine came off as almost lecture-like. Also, and I say this a LOT, a map would've been helpful since there are so many references to the US/Canadian border, the towns, and the landscape - a visual would've helped the reader see the story better.
It's a good mystery, full of twists and turns, with an abundance of unique characters. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes mysteries that take place in rough, rural settings and enjoys a flawed, tough, good-hearted protagonist.
This one is loaded with Maine characters and culture as our MC, Mike Bowditch, searches for his beloved mentor, Charley. The mystery of Charley's sudden disappearance sends him to the northern boundary of Maine and immerses him in communities filled with suspicious and quirky people who might be somehow connected to a deadly drug raid years ago. Charley's role in the raid seems cut and dried but something doesn't 'smell right'.
As usual, I enjoyed the writing of this one, but feel some parts could've been better. There's plenty of back story to help those who haven't read any of the other books in the series. This tends to slow the story down a bit, but the action ramps up in the second half. My quibble is that the overly long descriptions tended to feel a bit too educational - trying to paint a picture of the various areas of Maine came off as almost lecture-like. Also, and I say this a LOT, a map would've been helpful since there are so many references to the US/Canadian border, the towns, and the landscape - a visual would've helped the reader see the story better.
It's a good mystery, full of twists and turns, with an abundance of unique characters. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes mysteries that take place in rough, rural settings and enjoys a flawed, tough, good-hearted protagonist.
July 21, 2020
Maine Game Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch is down in Florida investigating an applicant for a pilot's job. He receives a call from his mentor's wife Ora. Charley left home and she's had no communication from him. Charley is like a father to Mike and he'll do anything to find him.
The book started out fast, slowed down a little with the investigation, then the action picked up toward the end. Mike has always been good at investigating. He's also good at getting into trouble, although that seems to have been tamped down since he became an investigator.
I've never been to Florida but the description of the swamps and wildlife was beautiful. I enjoyed the python hunt.
Kathy Frost has always been a favorite character in this series. She has a small role in this book. I enjoyed the books better when she was in the warden service. And how about Mike's love life -- can he ever make a decision about who he truly loves.
The book started out fast, slowed down a little with the investigation, then the action picked up toward the end. Mike has always been good at investigating. He's also good at getting into trouble, although that seems to have been tamped down since he became an investigator.
I've never been to Florida but the description of the swamps and wildlife was beautiful. I enjoyed the python hunt.
Kathy Frost has always been a favorite character in this series. She has a small role in this book. I enjoyed the books better when she was in the warden service. And how about Mike's love life -- can he ever make a decision about who he truly loves.
May 8, 2020
Unfortunately, this one was not a favourite for me. I think that is mainly because I have never read anything from this author and I believe this is a new book in a long running series, which I have never read. I had trouble getting invested in the characters. So honestly, it's not the fault of the author at all! Let's start with what I did like about this novel. It definately did have some moments of suspense. I felt like I wanted a bit more from it, but I was kept guessing more than once which I really like. I also enjoyed the writing style and the descriptions of the setting provided very vivid pictures. There were a few minor things that didn't quite work for me. I felt like there were a lot of characters to keep track of at times. This one was also a bit of a slow burn for me. The action definately picked up in the second half which was great but I found the beginning a bit slow for my usual taste. Overall, this was a decent book and if you have read this author's previous work you will most likely love it! I think I just needed more experience with this author and the novels that came before this one to be able to fully appreciate the story.
April 19, 2020
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. A fun mystery exploring past and present. Game warden mike finds out his mentor has gone missing so he sets off to find him and instead discovers a mystery from the past that someone doesn’t want solved. This book was well paced with good characters and an interesting story. The question of whether mike will find charley before it’s too late for both of them keeps the reader turning the pages.
December 1, 2021
A man after finding a badge at a yard sale winds up missing. Another man, who considers the man as a step father goes out to find the missing man
July 1, 2022
Mike’s game warden mentor and father figure (and my favorite character in this series) Charley, is missing. After an argument with a shady character selling items at a flea market in Machias, Charley heads up to The County to investigate a cold case that has haunted him for decades. This leaves his wife Ora and Mike to try to figure out what is going on. This is a haunting tale of murder and will introduce the reader to many colorful characters and the beautiful countryside that makes up Aroostook County, Maine. My son went to college in Presque Isle and the ride from Houlton to Presque Isle is breathtaking. Beautiful family farms and rolling hills of blossoming produce is a site to see. And, if you have ever seen endless fields of sunflowers in August, you know it’s a site to behold. This was one of my favorites from the series and I can highly recommend. Of note, I really thought Dani would be a good match for Mike, but I’ve decided I don’t really like her all that much. I’m back on the Stacy bandwagon again.
April 12, 2020
I absolutely love this series and it just keeps getting better and better. The characters are believable, the setting is beautiful, and the story line grips you from the very first chapter. I love a book like that!
This one gets personal for Mike as he searches for his surrogate father, Charley Stevens, who has disappeared without an explanation. It all seems to relate to a former game warden and his disappearance from an uncover assignment that Charley was a part of. Plus Mike's old girlfriend shows back up in his life while his current girlfriend is dealing with a situation Mike wishes he could be there for.
The book is amazing and the ending....well you just have to read it! You won't be disappointed. I can't wait for the next one!
This one gets personal for Mike as he searches for his surrogate father, Charley Stevens, who has disappeared without an explanation. It all seems to relate to a former game warden and his disappearance from an uncover assignment that Charley was a part of. Plus Mike's old girlfriend shows back up in his life while his current girlfriend is dealing with a situation Mike wishes he could be there for.
The book is amazing and the ending....well you just have to read it! You won't be disappointed. I can't wait for the next one!
July 8, 2022
If you are a fan of nature, animals and well written and developed characters, this book is for you! Fans of the series will enjoy the attention focused in Mike & Charley's relationship. As always, Doiron does a stellar job bringing you right into the great outdoors of Maine. If this sounds like your kind of read, this can be read as a standalone but as always, there is richness from reading the entire series.
Thank you SMP and Netgalley for the gifted eARC to read and review.
Thank you SMP and Netgalley for the gifted eARC to read and review.
February 3, 2023
I missed Mike Bowditch! This was very good, and makes me eager to get back into the series.
May 13, 2020
Paul Doiron writes so beautifully about the backwoods of Maine in this series, and I was fascinated to see that he could do the same about the everglades in Florida. The book starts with Mike Bowditch, former game warden, now investigator, doing a background check in Florida of a pilot candidate for the Maine warden service. The book is bracketed by this investigation, but the main plot deals with Bowditch using his comp time to come to the aid of his friend Ora in finding her husband, Bowditch's friend, Charlie. The search takes him into the most northern regions of Maine, just short of the Canadian border, and back in time to the disappearance and presumed killing of an undercover warden.
As always in Doiron's series, there are plenty of fast-paced scenes with Bowditch in significant danger. There's also incisive characterization and a bit of a love story. And then there's the evocative writing about the wilderness. While long-time readers of the series will find the emotional growth of Bowditch rewarding, this book could also be appreciated as a stand-alone or as an entry to the series. If you start here, though, you won't be able to avoid heading back to read the previous books in the series.
As always in Doiron's series, there are plenty of fast-paced scenes with Bowditch in significant danger. There's also incisive characterization and a bit of a love story. And then there's the evocative writing about the wilderness. While long-time readers of the series will find the emotional growth of Bowditch rewarding, this book could also be appreciated as a stand-alone or as an entry to the series. If you start here, though, you won't be able to avoid heading back to read the previous books in the series.
January 10, 2021
The Maine woods come alive once again in Paul Doiron’s latest Mike Bowditch mystery. Charley Stevens, Mike’s mentor and father-figure, is missing and Mike must follow the scant and cryptic clues in order to locate him. Along the way, he is hindered by unsavory characters who will do everything in their power to prevent him from reaching his goal.
Doiron’s characters are always well-drawn and the wilderness descriptions bring readers right into forest. I could feel the mosquitos and hear the black flies buzzing. He is an excellent writer and is adept at drawing the reader in and holding interest throughout. I’ve enjoyed all of the books in this series, but this might’ve been my favorite because of the way the mystery developed and because Charley Stevens is one of my favorite characters. If you have not read this series yet, now’s the time start!
Many thanks to Netgalley, Minotaur Books and Paul Doiron for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Doiron’s characters are always well-drawn and the wilderness descriptions bring readers right into forest. I could feel the mosquitos and hear the black flies buzzing. He is an excellent writer and is adept at drawing the reader in and holding interest throughout. I’ve enjoyed all of the books in this series, but this might’ve been my favorite because of the way the mystery developed and because Charley Stevens is one of my favorite characters. If you have not read this series yet, now’s the time start!
Many thanks to Netgalley, Minotaur Books and Paul Doiron for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 9, 2020
Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch considers retired game warden Charley to be family, looking up to him like a father. So when Charley vanishes without explanation, Mike investigates and learns that just prior to his disappearance Charley found an antique badge at a flea market. The badge belonged to a warden who was believed to have been murdered fifteen years ago, though his body was never found. Mike reopens the cold case, hoping that resolving it will allow him to find his friend.
The mystery and investigation are interesting and complex. One Last Lie is part of a series and although I think it can be read as a standalone, the longstanding relationships will be clearer with background and there are some spoilers for prior books.
Content Warnings: SPOILERS antisemitism, racism, xenophobia END SPOILERS
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.
The mystery and investigation are interesting and complex. One Last Lie is part of a series and although I think it can be read as a standalone, the longstanding relationships will be clearer with background and there are some spoilers for prior books.
Content Warnings: SPOILERS antisemitism, racism, xenophobia END SPOILERS
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own.
April 8, 2021
Another in the long line of the great Paul Doiron series books. Seemingly written effortlessly but one knows how difficult it is.
July 1, 2020
This is the 11th book in Doiron’s crime series featuring former Maine game warden and now recently promoted warden investigator Mike Bowditch. (In Maine, game wardens are full law-enforcement officers, with all the powers of state troopers: “They are the ‘off-road police.’� A warden investigator, on the other hand, is “for all intents and purposes a plainclothes detective.�)
This book begins with Mike in Florida doing a background check on someone who had applied for a job with the Maine Warden Service. Investigating applicants to the service was one of his duties now; ultimately, he explained, “it was my responsibility to prevent an unfit candidate from acquiring a badge and gun.�
While in Florida, Mike contacted his former long-time girlfriend Stacey Stevens, daughter of his father-surrogate Charley, a retired warden pilot. Although Mike was now involved with Dani Tate, a former game warden who had transferred to the Maine State Police, he had promised Stacey if he were ever in the area he would look her up. Mike doesn’t quite trust his feelings around Stacey, but he accompanies her on a hunt for a Burmese python sighted in the Big Cypress National Preserve. In the process, Mike gets to compare the flora and fauna of Florida to that of Maine, allowing readers to do so as well.
Meanwhile, Mike got a call from Ora, Charley’s wife, telling him that Charley had disappeared. Mike rushed back home to see what he could find out; Charley was his hero as well as his surrogate father. He concluded that Charley was investigating a 15-year-old murder that had never been solved, and that he was in danger. Before long, Mike was investigating the murder also, so he could better follow Charley's trail and find him.
In the process, what Mike found out about Charley taught him that “only small boys and fools worship other men. The point of life is to find heroism in yourself.�
Mike’s personal life was in flux as well. The encounter with Stacey showed Mike he had unresolved feelings about her. Making matters more complicated, Stacey, who came back to Maine when she found out her dad was missing, announced she was moving back. If Mike survived the quest to find Charley, he needed to figure out what and who he really wanted.
Evaluation: I love learning more about the biology of Maine from Doiron’s books, and this one has the bonus of teaching me about Florida biology as well. The crimes in his books are complicated, but hold your attention. I always look forward to more stories in the series.
Rating: 3.5/5
This book begins with Mike in Florida doing a background check on someone who had applied for a job with the Maine Warden Service. Investigating applicants to the service was one of his duties now; ultimately, he explained, “it was my responsibility to prevent an unfit candidate from acquiring a badge and gun.�
While in Florida, Mike contacted his former long-time girlfriend Stacey Stevens, daughter of his father-surrogate Charley, a retired warden pilot. Although Mike was now involved with Dani Tate, a former game warden who had transferred to the Maine State Police, he had promised Stacey if he were ever in the area he would look her up. Mike doesn’t quite trust his feelings around Stacey, but he accompanies her on a hunt for a Burmese python sighted in the Big Cypress National Preserve. In the process, Mike gets to compare the flora and fauna of Florida to that of Maine, allowing readers to do so as well.
Meanwhile, Mike got a call from Ora, Charley’s wife, telling him that Charley had disappeared. Mike rushed back home to see what he could find out; Charley was his hero as well as his surrogate father. He concluded that Charley was investigating a 15-year-old murder that had never been solved, and that he was in danger. Before long, Mike was investigating the murder also, so he could better follow Charley's trail and find him.
In the process, what Mike found out about Charley taught him that “only small boys and fools worship other men. The point of life is to find heroism in yourself.�
Mike’s personal life was in flux as well. The encounter with Stacey showed Mike he had unresolved feelings about her. Making matters more complicated, Stacey, who came back to Maine when she found out her dad was missing, announced she was moving back. If Mike survived the quest to find Charley, he needed to figure out what and who he really wanted.
Evaluation: I love learning more about the biology of Maine from Doiron’s books, and this one has the bonus of teaching me about Florida biology as well. The crimes in his books are complicated, but hold your attention. I always look forward to more stories in the series.
Rating: 3.5/5
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