The Bone Orchard

It goes without saying but I’ll say it again anyway: Each Mike Bowditch book is better than the last. If you’ve been with the series from the beginning you’ll find each new story comfortably familiar, but with a brand-new compelling storyline, and experiences and events that continue to shape the man Mike Bowditch is. He’s at something of a crossroads in The Bone Orchard. Still floundering after the death of his mother, he is afraid he’s pushed the boundaries and crossed the lines one too many times in the Warden Service and that maybe he’s just not suited, maybe he should resign before he is fired. He’s still tethered to the woods, though, and doesn’t go far. Working as a fishing guide is undemanding. He’s personable, show more polite, and knowledgeable. The job is not nearly as dangerous as being a game warden. Sadly, not nearly as satisfying either. He’s having a hard time staying within those lines, too, because he wants to investigate and fix things, not just go with the flow or observe and be unable to take what he thinks is needed action.

He really begins to question his decision when his mentor and previous boss Sgt. Kathy Frost is forced to kill a troubled war veteran he knew years ago. After the shooting he goes to check up on Kathy and arrives minutes after she has been shot. Mike doesn’t know if the shooter is still there, if Kathy will survive or how to even begin to find out who did this. This is Kathy; he can’t not act. His instincts and reasoning are just as sharp as ever, which of course puts him in serious danger yet again.

And what about Stacey Stevens? He notes to himself at one point, “I’m not a particularly joyful person myself.” For all his inability to keep his nose out of where it doesn’t belong, to stop himself from acting recklessly, he is a good, conscientious man who has had a lot thrown at him in his young life. He’s earnest and caring and loyal, and it would be so nice to see him joyful. Is Stacey the answer to that? Following the evolution of that relationship, if it in fact is going to become a relationship, is fascinating and fulfilling. It feels like they are meant to be together – and he’s already decided that she just doesn’t yet realize it – but how many bumps will there be?

Solid writing, smooth flowing plot, breathtaking description of the North Woods, detailed data about a day in the life of a warden and always an intriguing mystery to try and figure out. Be sure to start at the beginning because the journey is well worth it. I leave this review voluntarily; all opinions are my own. show less

Mike Bowditch may have left the Warden Service, but it hasn't left him. From his reaction to a couple of sports who think they're above the rules (Mike comes across them in his new life as a fishing guide) to his inability to keep his nose out of an imbroglio involving his former partner, Bowditch shows how easily he can revert to the talented yet unruly persona that kept him in so much hot water in his former law-enforcement life. He does try to control these impulses, but then his former partner is shot and all that goes out the window, it's game on. Things get exciting, as usual.

I've been a big fan since the first of Paul Doiron's Mike Bowditch mysteries. They're consistently well made and engaging, and his depiction of Maine people show more and places rings wonderfully true. I never feel like he's wrestling the characters into some predetermined path, either. The Bone Orchard holds to this high standard, and has the added value of character refinement, as Doiron takes Bowditch in a new direction which might ultimately turn back on itself, but which provides plenty of opportunity for exploration before it does. show less

This was a fun murder/crime mystery. I like that it involved a different agency, game wardens in Maine rather than the police department, FBI or CIA. I also enjoyed the outdoorsy theme with all the references to birds and outdoorsmanship, and that the women in this novel were just about as capable of outdoor skills as the men. Many books I've encountered that involve outdoor skills treat female characters as if it is impossible for women to enjoy camping and fishing and spending time outdoors in wild places, but while it was not the focus, I got the impression that the female wardens were just as capable and interested as the main character, Mike, in this area. Thus, it was easier to relate to the story. The clues that lead to the show more culpret are presented gradually, in a way that allows the reader to figure out what is going on at around the same time as Mike works it out. I did find the resolution a bit too abrupt, with too little foreshadowing, and it was a bit hard to believe that Mike did work out what was going on when he did, as if the author gave his character some extra nudging to point him in the reight direction occasionally 'off-camera', but the result is still plausible and entertaining. show less

I was very happy to see Paul Doiron had written another book in the Mike Bowditch series about a Maine game warden. (In Maine, game wardens are full law-enforcement officers, with all the powers of state troopers: “They are the ‘off-road police.’”)

Mike, 27, was a game warden for three years, but he recently resigned to become a fishing guide in the rugged outland Down East. (In Maine, “Down East” refers to the coast of the U.S. state of Maine from Penobscot Bay to the Canadian border.) Mike had worked in the Midcoast of Maine (between Portland and Acadia National Park) but had been transferred Down East because of a number of acts of insubordination. He got tired, as he said, of being resented and criticized, so he decided show more to change careers.

Two months into his new position, he heard that his former supervisor, friend, defender, and mentor, Sergeant Kathy Frost, had been suspended and was the target of an official inquiry and public outrage after having been forced to kill a suicidal Afghan war veteran. Mike goes down to see her and offer support, and finds himself in the middle of a lethal attack on Kathy by a sniper. Mike is injured, but Kathy may be dead; she is in a coma and no one knows if she will recover.

Mike, as usual, can’t keep himself out of the investigation. He knows a lot of the wardens and police consider him an “arrogant asshole,” but he thinks that if that epithet means he trusts his own intelligence over the collective wisdom of the state police, then he will plead guilty to that description. In addition, he feels obliged to help take care of Kathy’s older brother Kurt, a Vietnam vet with a serious drinking problem. In a nice meta touch (meta in terms of the challenge of creating nuanced characterization), Mike tries to figure out just who Kurt is:

"Every time I thought I’d gotten a handle on who Kurt Eklund was, he’d do or say something to slip from my grasp. He was a miserable mess of a person who deserved understanding or, at least, compassion. No, he was a cruel and manipulative asshole with no regard for others.”

Mike saves some lives, threatens a lot more, and of course, solves the crime. It causes him to rethink leaving the profession, and gets the other wardens to rethink their negative assessment of him.

Discussion: Doiron is a good writer, the former editor of Down East Magazine, and a Registered Maine Guide. He clearly loves his state, and will have you ordering travel literature from the Maine Visitors Bureau!

This series is not without romantic elements, but they were not really of much interest to me. (And in any event, Doiron is much better at limning male characters than females.) Mike’s love affair with Maine is much more compelling, in my opinion.

The title is not really all that descriptive, except in a metaphorical sense.

Evaluation: This is a good detective series with excellent background information on Maine and on what it means to work as a warden there. It is not necessary to have read the previous books, but as with any series, the story is more meaningful if you start it from the beginning. show less

This was a fun murder/crime mystery. I like that it involved a different agency, game wardens in Maine rather than the police department, FBI or CIA. I also enjoyed the outdoorsy theme with all the references to birds and outdoorsmanship, and that the women in this novel were just about as capable of outdoor skills as the men. Many books I've encountered that involve outdoor skills treat female characters as if it is impossible for women to enjoy camping and fishing and spending time outdoors in wild places, but while it was not the focus, I got the impression that the female wardens were just as capable and interested as the main character, Mike, in this area. Thus, it was easier to relate to the story. The clues that lead to the show more culpret are presented gradually, in a way that allows the reader to figure out what is going on at around the same time as Mike works it out. I did find the resolution a bit too abrupt, with too little foreshadowing, and it was a bit hard to believe that Mike did work out what was going on when he did, as if the author gave his character some extra nudging to point him in the reight direction occasionally 'off-camera', but the result is still plausible and entertaining. show less

Mike Bowditch has resigned from the warden service, but when his former mentor Sgt Kathy Frost is gunned down on her front steps, Mike finds himself drawn back into the fray. As the mystery develops, Make faces his demons, and must again make life changing choices.

I was once again lucky enough to meet Paul Doiron at a Maine book fair earlier this month.  I told him how excited I was to see the series continuing and to see that Mike Bowditch is finally maturing. Indeed, the characters are well drawn, and becoming more familiar to us with each volume.  However, it's the glorious descriptions of Maine's varied landscapes from lakes to mountains, from forests teeming with trees to windswept rocky ocean beaches and the rich animal life show more (humans, insects, birds, bugs and four legged critters), that make the reader want to slow down and savor the flavor of the state, while at the same time wanting to rush to the next page to see who the bad guys are to solve the mystery.  They're a great introduction to the Pine Tree State and its people.

Let's hope there are more to come in this series. show less

I had a déjà vu feeling when I started this book. The character reminded me of one that I will never forget. When I was about half way through The Bone Orchard by Paul Doiron, I realized that I had previously read another book in the same series. Of course I did not remember the name of the book or the author but the character stood out! I looked the book up and found out that the other book was Bad Little Falls. I was impressed back then with the author's attention to detail and nature and of course character of Mike Bowditch.

That love of nature and appreciation for the state of Maine that Mike Bowditch had as a Maine Game Warden in the other book was still there. Before, Mike was a reckless man but now he figured a lot of things out show more in life. He still doesn’t understand women but that is a part of his charm and now he has a new conviction. He can see the consequences before they happen. He has come a long way from the boy whose father had taken people’s lives. Now I wish that I had all the books in this series so I could get the whole picture of Mike Bowditch.

Paul Doiron has written a very exciting mystery with many moments where you will probably be holding your breath to see how things resolve. I really enjoyed the mystery and the author tucks important situations like PTSD and spousal abuse in the story. Everything flows seamlessly and it is like you are on a boat that is carried along with the story along with dangers places in the river where the boat could easily overturn.

Paul Doiron is a master with characters. Mike Bowditch has matured since the other book. I was fascinated and interested in the Mike in the earlier book and love Mike in this book. He is finding himself.

The mystery is great, and does have some twists to it but it is the characters that drive me to read the story. I can hardly wait for the next book in this series. show less