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Mike Bowditch #9
Stay Hidden
Narrator Henry Leyva keeps listeners on the edge of their seats with his delivery of a story with more murder suspects than Maine has pine trees. -- AudioFile Magazine on The Precipice
In Paul Doiron's Stay Hidden, a supposed hunting accident becomes a dangerously complicated murder investigation in this intricately-plotted new audiobook thriller featuring Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch.
A woman has been shot to death by a deer hunter on an island off the coast of Maine. To newly promoted Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch, the case seems open and shut. But as soon as he arrives on remote Maquoit Island he discovers mysteries piling up one on top of the other.
The hunter now claims he didn't fire the fatal shot and the ballistic evidence proves he's telling the truth. Bowditch begins to suspect the secretive community might be covering up the identity of whoever killed Ariel Evans. The controversial author was supposedly writing a book about the island's notorious hermit. So why are there no notes in her rented cottage?
The biggest blow comes the next day when the weekly ferry arrives and off steps the dead woman herself. Ariel Evans is alive, well, and determined to solve her own "murder" even if it upsets Mike Bowditch's investigation and makes them both targets of an elusive killer who will do anything to conceal his crimes.
In Paul Doiron's Stay Hidden, a supposed hunting accident becomes a dangerously complicated murder investigation in this intricately-plotted new audiobook thriller featuring Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch.
A woman has been shot to death by a deer hunter on an island off the coast of Maine. To newly promoted Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch, the case seems open and shut. But as soon as he arrives on remote Maquoit Island he discovers mysteries piling up one on top of the other.
The hunter now claims he didn't fire the fatal shot and the ballistic evidence proves he's telling the truth. Bowditch begins to suspect the secretive community might be covering up the identity of whoever killed Ariel Evans. The controversial author was supposedly writing a book about the island's notorious hermit. So why are there no notes in her rented cottage?
The biggest blow comes the next day when the weekly ferry arrives and off steps the dead woman herself. Ariel Evans is alive, well, and determined to solve her own "murder" even if it upsets Mike Bowditch's investigation and makes them both targets of an elusive killer who will do anything to conceal his crimes.
352 pages, Paperback
First published July 3, 2018
1265 people are currently reading
6619 people want to read
About the author
Paul Doiron
38 books2,279 followersPaul 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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May 28, 2024
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
May 7, 2018
Mike Bowditch has been newly appointed as Warden Investigator when the call comes in that a woman has been shot to death in a hunting "incident" on Marquoit Island off the coast of Maine. The dead woman is the controversial Author, Ariel Winters. She was believed to have been staying on the island to interview another controversial person on the island - a once Hollywood insider who now lives like a hermit with his sheep. Initially the case appears cut and dry. Apparently, a hunter mistook the woman, who was hanging laundry, for a white-tailed deer. But later claims he did not shoot her. Ballistic testing shows he is telling the truth. So, if he didn't shoot the woman who did?
To further complicate the investigation, Ariel Winters steps off a boat the next day and sends the entire island into shock. If Ariel Winters is alive, who is the dead woman? Not only is Ariel Winters alive, she is also determined to identify the shooter who killed "her".
The island is a tight knit community of lobster fishermen and their families who take care of their own. They don't like outsiders poking into their business and aren't too friendly or forthcoming with information. Those in the community have lived there all their lives and have their own way of dealing with things.
Bowditch holds his own even when there are those who questions his ability to solve this case. He is up against lies, secrets, deception, mistrust and that dang fog that lingers everywhere not to mention the ticks and overabundance of deer.
This was a fast read for me. There is not a huge amount of action in this book but there is the quest to find the killer. This book is a quiet page turner. I had to keep reading to learn the how and why of this case. I had several theories along the way but ultimately it was Bowditch and not me who solved this case! The island is full of some interesting characters and I was intrigued by the creepy notes left for Bowditch by his "host/hotel" managers. This book is atmospheric, and I could almost see the fog hoovering and lingering over the coast and in the forest. It adds to the story and feeling of gloom on the island. It provides the perfect cover for those up to no good to hide and even possibly get away with murder.
Well written and intriguing, stay hidden does not disappoint. This book is also #9 in the series but worked extremely well as a stand alone book for me.
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
To further complicate the investigation, Ariel Winters steps off a boat the next day and sends the entire island into shock. If Ariel Winters is alive, who is the dead woman? Not only is Ariel Winters alive, she is also determined to identify the shooter who killed "her".
The island is a tight knit community of lobster fishermen and their families who take care of their own. They don't like outsiders poking into their business and aren't too friendly or forthcoming with information. Those in the community have lived there all their lives and have their own way of dealing with things.
Bowditch holds his own even when there are those who questions his ability to solve this case. He is up against lies, secrets, deception, mistrust and that dang fog that lingers everywhere not to mention the ticks and overabundance of deer.
This was a fast read for me. There is not a huge amount of action in this book but there is the quest to find the killer. This book is a quiet page turner. I had to keep reading to learn the how and why of this case. I had several theories along the way but ultimately it was Bowditch and not me who solved this case! The island is full of some interesting characters and I was intrigued by the creepy notes left for Bowditch by his "host/hotel" managers. This book is atmospheric, and I could almost see the fog hoovering and lingering over the coast and in the forest. It adds to the story and feeling of gloom on the island. It provides the perfect cover for those up to no good to hide and even possibly get away with murder.
Well written and intriguing, stay hidden does not disappoint. This book is also #9 in the series but worked extremely well as a stand alone book for me.
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
May 5, 2018
Like the flick of a white-tailed deer, you may be in range of the receiving end of a bullet. Hunting season and all, you know.....
Was it a careless accident of bad judgment and circumstances or was the unfortunate victim an actual victim?
Mike Bowditch, newly sporting the credentials of Maine Warden Investigator, is called out to Maquoit Island off the coast of Maine. Maquoit is the foggiest place on the Atlantic seaboard with that same dense fog having a highly corrosive effect on both metal and on its people. Residents here are set in their ways with generations claiming the land and the sea air as their own.
A young woman from Manhattan has rented a cabin during the off season to write about the local hermit, Blake Markman, who lives on Stormalong Island surrounded by his sheep and the wildness of his existence. But she doesn't get too far in her research when she is found dead while hanging up laundry on the back clothesline. Perhaps this woman will have her own story clipped to an endless line of events in the making.
Bowditch flies to the island with Charlie Stevens, an ace Cessna pilot and friend. On board are Maine State Police investigator, Steven Klesko, and Warden Ronette Landry. Rutted roads and lack of transportation come into play. Stevens, Klesko, and Landry must get back to the mainland before a torrential rainstorm hits. Orders given, Bowditch is left to his own means on the island.
Paul Doiron creates a far different and challenging setting for this ninth edition in the series. Bowditch is usually up to his elbows in the dense Maine woods surrounded by familiar landscape. This time Bowditch is shook out into very deep waters with commercial fisherman, stoggy residents, decrepit surroundings, the dark shade of drugs, and a few Neo-Nazis living on the edge in multiple ways. Oh, and did I mention a possible murder in the mix?
Doiron is known for his snappy dialogue and cutting retorts. He does a stellar job of honing his characters in the light of island living. This is an upward battle for Bowditch as he meets head-on with the locals while trying to get a foothold in his ever-mounting investigation. Bowditch has a lot to prove here with his superiors breathing down his neck and the high threshold that he continuously sets out for himself.
Smart, atmospheric, and an electrically charged zig zag of a storyline, Stay Hidden is another hit for the talented Paul Doiron. It can be read as a standalone as well. But you may just want to check out the beginning books of this series to see what all the buzz is about. Bravo, once again, to Paul Doiron. Can't wait for the next one.
Was it a careless accident of bad judgment and circumstances or was the unfortunate victim an actual victim?
Mike Bowditch, newly sporting the credentials of Maine Warden Investigator, is called out to Maquoit Island off the coast of Maine. Maquoit is the foggiest place on the Atlantic seaboard with that same dense fog having a highly corrosive effect on both metal and on its people. Residents here are set in their ways with generations claiming the land and the sea air as their own.
A young woman from Manhattan has rented a cabin during the off season to write about the local hermit, Blake Markman, who lives on Stormalong Island surrounded by his sheep and the wildness of his existence. But she doesn't get too far in her research when she is found dead while hanging up laundry on the back clothesline. Perhaps this woman will have her own story clipped to an endless line of events in the making.
Bowditch flies to the island with Charlie Stevens, an ace Cessna pilot and friend. On board are Maine State Police investigator, Steven Klesko, and Warden Ronette Landry. Rutted roads and lack of transportation come into play. Stevens, Klesko, and Landry must get back to the mainland before a torrential rainstorm hits. Orders given, Bowditch is left to his own means on the island.
Paul Doiron creates a far different and challenging setting for this ninth edition in the series. Bowditch is usually up to his elbows in the dense Maine woods surrounded by familiar landscape. This time Bowditch is shook out into very deep waters with commercial fisherman, stoggy residents, decrepit surroundings, the dark shade of drugs, and a few Neo-Nazis living on the edge in multiple ways. Oh, and did I mention a possible murder in the mix?
Doiron is known for his snappy dialogue and cutting retorts. He does a stellar job of honing his characters in the light of island living. This is an upward battle for Bowditch as he meets head-on with the locals while trying to get a foothold in his ever-mounting investigation. Bowditch has a lot to prove here with his superiors breathing down his neck and the high threshold that he continuously sets out for himself.
Smart, atmospheric, and an electrically charged zig zag of a storyline, Stay Hidden is another hit for the talented Paul Doiron. It can be read as a standalone as well. But you may just want to check out the beginning books of this series to see what all the buzz is about. Bravo, once again, to Paul Doiron. Can't wait for the next one.
January 1, 2019
This is a quiet mystery with a Erie vibe to it!🌫
An atmospheric book filled with fog and intrigue... this is the ninth book in the Michael Bowditch series, But the first book I have read, can definitely be read as a standalone... Bowditch is a game warden in Maine... I really liked his character and I liked this different approach to a crime thriller....
A woman is killed on a small island off the shore of Maine, mistaken for a white tailed deer while hanging her laundry... initially it looks like a open and shut case, a hunter accidentally shot an author visiting the island, Ariel Winters.... but when the hunter is certain he did not shoot that fatal shot and ballistics prove it... and then when Ariel Winters shows up alive and well, things go a little sideways... Ariel is on the island to write a book about one of its elusive citizens, a former Hollywood insider.... so does this have something to do with the murder, And who is the true victim? Bowditch is on unfamiliar territory dealing with a tightknit community.... not to mention on the foggiest island on the Atlantic coast.... but he is determined and so is Ariel to figure out who was trying to take her life...
The island in this book was a character itself, it added so much atmosphere and a thickness to the story.... no joke I felt the damp and the fog seeping through my Pages.... The island community was fascinating and added another layer to the story! Simply a wonderful crime thriller that makes me want to go back and read the previous books in the series! A mystery that had me guessing until the end, I did not have the foggiest idea who done it! Absolutely recommend!
*** Big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***
An atmospheric book filled with fog and intrigue... this is the ninth book in the Michael Bowditch series, But the first book I have read, can definitely be read as a standalone... Bowditch is a game warden in Maine... I really liked his character and I liked this different approach to a crime thriller....
A woman is killed on a small island off the shore of Maine, mistaken for a white tailed deer while hanging her laundry... initially it looks like a open and shut case, a hunter accidentally shot an author visiting the island, Ariel Winters.... but when the hunter is certain he did not shoot that fatal shot and ballistics prove it... and then when Ariel Winters shows up alive and well, things go a little sideways... Ariel is on the island to write a book about one of its elusive citizens, a former Hollywood insider.... so does this have something to do with the murder, And who is the true victim? Bowditch is on unfamiliar territory dealing with a tightknit community.... not to mention on the foggiest island on the Atlantic coast.... but he is determined and so is Ariel to figure out who was trying to take her life...
The island in this book was a character itself, it added so much atmosphere and a thickness to the story.... no joke I felt the damp and the fog seeping through my Pages.... The island community was fascinating and added another layer to the story! Simply a wonderful crime thriller that makes me want to go back and read the previous books in the series! A mystery that had me guessing until the end, I did not have the foggiest idea who done it! Absolutely recommend!
*** Big thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***
July 12, 2020
Set on an island (named Maquoit) off the coast of Maine, a famous journalist is shot while hanging clothes in a rented cabin. The story is that it is a case of her being mistaken for a deer, which in Maine, could easily happen. Mike Bowditch is the Warden Investigator assigned along with a detective from the Maine State Police, Steven Klesko, and a fellow warden, Ronnette Landry, who collects the evidence and body. They are there to investigate whether it was an accident or homicide. Due to circumstances, Mike ends up as the only investigator on the island and has to battle island politics, along with a 'closed to outsider' mentality among the locals. The case was initially called in by the island village constable but later was recanted upon the arrival of the investigative team. This only provokes more suspicion for Mike and the cut-off detective, Klesko, stuck on the mainland.
As this is #9 in the series, there is obviously a lot of backstory with Mike and how he has just been promoted to a Warden investigator. He is also battling some office politics of his own including the uncertainty of his abilities by Klesko.
This novel could stand alone, but it may help to read the previous books in the series in order to understand Bowditch's lack of self confidence and almost self-defeatist attitude, which both annoyed me somewhat. There is a lot to be said for humanizing detectives but I get impatient when they seem to falter and waste time with introspection to the detriment of the case.
From other reviews, I take it this may not be everyone's favorite Mike Bowditch book. As it was a good detective novel and I enjoy a true mystery in trying to solve the case too, I would give another one a try.
As this is #9 in the series, there is obviously a lot of backstory with Mike and how he has just been promoted to a Warden investigator. He is also battling some office politics of his own including the uncertainty of his abilities by Klesko.
This novel could stand alone, but it may help to read the previous books in the series in order to understand Bowditch's lack of self confidence and almost self-defeatist attitude, which both annoyed me somewhat. There is a lot to be said for humanizing detectives but I get impatient when they seem to falter and waste time with introspection to the detriment of the case.
From other reviews, I take it this may not be everyone's favorite Mike Bowditch book. As it was a good detective novel and I enjoy a true mystery in trying to solve the case too, I would give another one a try.
June 30, 2018
STAY HIDDEN is the ninth book in the Mike Bowditch series and I was thrilled once again step into Mike's world. Now, I have only read two books previously in this series, but I enjoy this series very much. Especially since reading about a game warden is a bit different from the usual police or sheriff novels I usually read.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
August 30, 2018
I enjoy suspense and thriller novels that deal with murder or crime investigations. I especially enjoy them if they throw something unusual, new or creative into the mix. My newest obsession is crime thrillers with main characters in park ranger or wildlife officer positions. It's breathing a bit of new life into the genre for me, as straight cop/bad guy stories can get old hat after awhile.
Stay Hidden is the 9th book in the Mike Bowditch series. This is the first book in this series I've read...and I'm glad I did! The main character is a Game Warden in Maine. Fatal hunting accidents aren't that unusual. People get mistaken for deer or other animals all the time. Mike Bowditch even remembers a case of a lady getting shot because a hunter mistook her white gloves for the white tail of a running deer. But this time.....the shooting death of a controversial author.....the death is a bit more than just a hunting accident. The case soon turns into something much more serious....and dangerous.
I loved this book! The story had so many surprises and twists that the suspense was constant. I love the location and the fact that the main investigator is a wildlife officer.
I was able to follow the story just fine even though I haven't read the previous 8 books in this series. But, I could tell that there has been a lot of character and background plot development since the start of the series. Because I enjoyed this book so much, I'm going to backtrack and read the rest of this series. Then portions of this story and the main characters will make more sense. It isn't necessary to have read the other books to enjoy this one, however.
Great book! Lots of action and a wonderfully complex and suspenseful plot! I will definitely read more by this author!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martins Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Stay Hidden is the 9th book in the Mike Bowditch series. This is the first book in this series I've read...and I'm glad I did! The main character is a Game Warden in Maine. Fatal hunting accidents aren't that unusual. People get mistaken for deer or other animals all the time. Mike Bowditch even remembers a case of a lady getting shot because a hunter mistook her white gloves for the white tail of a running deer. But this time.....the shooting death of a controversial author.....the death is a bit more than just a hunting accident. The case soon turns into something much more serious....and dangerous.
I loved this book! The story had so many surprises and twists that the suspense was constant. I love the location and the fact that the main investigator is a wildlife officer.
I was able to follow the story just fine even though I haven't read the previous 8 books in this series. But, I could tell that there has been a lot of character and background plot development since the start of the series. Because I enjoyed this book so much, I'm going to backtrack and read the rest of this series. Then portions of this story and the main characters will make more sense. It isn't necessary to have read the other books to enjoy this one, however.
Great book! Lots of action and a wonderfully complex and suspenseful plot! I will definitely read more by this author!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martins Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
January 16, 2020
This one didn't quite measure up to the Doiron books I've read in the past, but I finished it - albeit much slower than I've finished other books in the series.
First, my number one problem with it: it depicts Mainers in a really negative light - the residents of Maquoit Island come across as so secretive and creepy that they reminded me of characters from a few cult novels I've read. None of them is remotely likeable (they hate all outsiders messing with their little community and seem to be controlled by the powerful harbor master, Harmon). I found I didn't care what happened to any of them. As others have said, there are too many characters, many of whom have similar names (which also confused the proof reader - many typos).
Mike Bowditch, Game Warden Investigator, newly promoted and out of his element, botches many aspects of the investigation and alienates himself quickly. I understand that he's new to the job, but it would've been a more engaging if he seemed a LITTLE more confident and didn't seem to just drift here and there trying to talk to all the characters and divine a confession. That said, he does solve the crime in the end and the last scenes on the water finally give us the action that has been lacking in the rest of the book.
Descriptions of the rocky coastline, the muted fog, the wildlife all add up to a great sense of the true rustic nature of Maine. Unfortunately, that didn't elevate this one enough for me to give it more stars. I would've liked more depth, less stereotypes, and more action to hold my interest.
First, my number one problem with it: it depicts Mainers in a really negative light - the residents of Maquoit Island come across as so secretive and creepy that they reminded me of characters from a few cult novels I've read. None of them is remotely likeable (they hate all outsiders messing with their little community and seem to be controlled by the powerful harbor master, Harmon). I found I didn't care what happened to any of them. As others have said, there are too many characters, many of whom have similar names (which also confused the proof reader - many typos).
Mike Bowditch, Game Warden Investigator, newly promoted and out of his element, botches many aspects of the investigation and alienates himself quickly. I understand that he's new to the job, but it would've been a more engaging if he seemed a LITTLE more confident and didn't seem to just drift here and there trying to talk to all the characters and divine a confession. That said, he does solve the crime in the end and the last scenes on the water finally give us the action that has been lacking in the rest of the book.
Descriptions of the rocky coastline, the muted fog, the wildlife all add up to a great sense of the true rustic nature of Maine. Unfortunately, that didn't elevate this one enough for me to give it more stars. I would've liked more depth, less stereotypes, and more action to hold my interest.
Read
September 22, 2019Dnf
July 8, 2018
Among a seemingly skyrocketing trend of domestic noir, unreliable narrators, and unlikable characters, Maine author Paul Doiron offers something rather timeless: an engaging series centred on an honourable and interesting detective operating in a distinct and well-evoked setting.
STAY HIDDEN is the ninth Mike Bowditch mystery, and it sees the Maine game warden finding his feet in his new role of Warden Investigator. Doiron, who was a longtime magazine editor in Maine and is a keen outdoorsman (fisherman) himself, has a really great touch for the rural and wilderness setting of his home state. This is not your fictional Maine of Jessica Fletcher and Murder, She Wrote fame - it is wilder, grittier, filled with more struggle among some spectacular scenery.
Bowditch is flown to remote Maquoit Island off the Maine coast following the fatal shooting of a controversial journalist during hunting season. He's still dealing with debris from a broken relationship, making the journey tougher given his ex's father is also on board. What Bowditch and his superiors first think is an open-and-shut hunting accident turns into anything but, especially when the purported culprit turns out to just be a witness. So a killer is still at large. Things get even more complicated when the dead woman later arrives on the island ferry, planning to interview a notorious hermit who fled his Hollywood lifestyle many years ago following his wife's suspicious death.
So who pulled the trigger and killed the victim, and who was the victim?
Hemmed in by feuding islanders and a building media furore - not to mention his bosses back on the mainland who are keen for a quick resolution that doesn't create too much hassle - Bowditch struggles to prove himself in his new role, stumbling through the fog, figuratively and literally.
This is an intriguing and clever mystery that flows along wonderfully. Throughout the unfolding story, Doiron fashions a really exquisite portrait of isolated communities on the Atlantic seaboard, island towns full of lobstering families and traditions who face many challenges while leading a modern frontier lifestyle. You can feel the salt spray, the ruggedness of the landscapes and the people who populate them. Strong and nuanced characterisation blends with a striking sense of place.
This is the first Mike Bowditch mystery I've read, but it certainly won't be the last. Doiron is a great storyteller, and this is astute and multifaceted crime writing. Recommended.
STAY HIDDEN is the ninth Mike Bowditch mystery, and it sees the Maine game warden finding his feet in his new role of Warden Investigator. Doiron, who was a longtime magazine editor in Maine and is a keen outdoorsman (fisherman) himself, has a really great touch for the rural and wilderness setting of his home state. This is not your fictional Maine of Jessica Fletcher and Murder, She Wrote fame - it is wilder, grittier, filled with more struggle among some spectacular scenery.
Bowditch is flown to remote Maquoit Island off the Maine coast following the fatal shooting of a controversial journalist during hunting season. He's still dealing with debris from a broken relationship, making the journey tougher given his ex's father is also on board. What Bowditch and his superiors first think is an open-and-shut hunting accident turns into anything but, especially when the purported culprit turns out to just be a witness. So a killer is still at large. Things get even more complicated when the dead woman later arrives on the island ferry, planning to interview a notorious hermit who fled his Hollywood lifestyle many years ago following his wife's suspicious death.
So who pulled the trigger and killed the victim, and who was the victim?
Hemmed in by feuding islanders and a building media furore - not to mention his bosses back on the mainland who are keen for a quick resolution that doesn't create too much hassle - Bowditch struggles to prove himself in his new role, stumbling through the fog, figuratively and literally.
This is an intriguing and clever mystery that flows along wonderfully. Throughout the unfolding story, Doiron fashions a really exquisite portrait of isolated communities on the Atlantic seaboard, island towns full of lobstering families and traditions who face many challenges while leading a modern frontier lifestyle. You can feel the salt spray, the ruggedness of the landscapes and the people who populate them. Strong and nuanced characterisation blends with a striking sense of place.
This is the first Mike Bowditch mystery I've read, but it certainly won't be the last. Doiron is a great storyteller, and this is astute and multifaceted crime writing. Recommended.
August 27, 2018
Paul Doiron didn't miss a single negative stereotype about lobster men and islanders when he wrote Stay Hidden. I really found his sweeping generalizations offensive. I also found his main character, Mike Bowditch, a poor representation of the Maine Warden Service. Some of Bowditch's exploits were quite stupid (especially the kayak episode).
Doiron's writing style seemed choppy and stilted, but the plot did hold my interest. In the end, the Bowditch character solves the case, mostly by dumb luck, I think.
I noticed that other people complained that his name selection for the Reed family characters was confusing. Most of them began with the letter H (Harmon, Hiram, Holly, etc.). I didn't have a problem with it until he used the wrong name for one of them and I realized that it was either a typo ( I found quite a few typos, by the way) or the author was confused himself.
Doiron's writing style seemed choppy and stilted, but the plot did hold my interest. In the end, the Bowditch character solves the case, mostly by dumb luck, I think.
I noticed that other people complained that his name selection for the Reed family characters was confusing. Most of them began with the letter H (Harmon, Hiram, Holly, etc.). I didn't have a problem with it until he used the wrong name for one of them and I realized that it was either a typo ( I found quite a few typos, by the way) or the author was confused himself.
April 14, 2023
I really enjoyed this 9th book in Paul Doiron's "Mike Bowditch" series!
August 10, 2018
Oh my. Mike Bowditch seems finally to be coming into his own. I always forget how young he is. His life experience makes him seem so much older...not necessarily wiser. I really enjoy this series.
July 19, 2018
ok - there was so much I didn't like about this book...where to begin?
Mike is an experienced game warden but has recently been promoted to investigator..and throughout the book he acted like he didn't know what he was doing; like he was someone completely new and out of the academy with no background. He is someone who has moved up the ladder - he has experience and training -instead we are subject to his self-doubt; to others wondering if he can handle the case - it was silly.
The characters on the island were so fake...like cardboard. The dialog was stilted and trite. The one character telling Mike at the end that she hopes his plane crashes...my god- what is she two years old? Most annoying though, was Ariel. Her faux-feminist dialog drove me up the the wall - and she was such an unpleasant person.
I read the first Mike Bowditch book years ago - I can't remember anything about it - but I looked up my review and I liked it. I have not read any others in this series and I read a lot of mystery series and know that not every book in a series is a gem. This was is not a gem.
Mike is an experienced game warden but has recently been promoted to investigator..and throughout the book he acted like he didn't know what he was doing; like he was someone completely new and out of the academy with no background. He is someone who has moved up the ladder - he has experience and training -instead we are subject to his self-doubt; to others wondering if he can handle the case - it was silly.
The characters on the island were so fake...like cardboard. The dialog was stilted and trite. The one character telling Mike at the end that she hopes his plane crashes...my god- what is she two years old? Most annoying though, was Ariel. Her faux-feminist dialog drove me up the the wall - and she was such an unpleasant person.
I read the first Mike Bowditch book years ago - I can't remember anything about it - but I looked up my review and I liked it. I have not read any others in this series and I read a lot of mystery series and know that not every book in a series is a gem. This was is not a gem.
October 28, 2018
Newly promoted Warden Investigator, Mike Bowditch, is called to remote Maquoit Island when a visiting journalist is shot dead in the backyard of her rental house. He seems to get no support in his investigation from either the locals, who are more than happy to alibi each other, nor from his superiors who seem to take pleasure in their critique of his methods. Stubborn as always, Bowditch rattles enough chains that eventually the truth comes out. A solid series addition.
February 28, 2019
Maine Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch is the only one in the office when a call comes in that a woman has been shot on a island off the coast. The first information indicates the woman, Ariel Evans, was hanging out clothes in the back yard during hunting season. She's a famous journalist who has been renting there for several weeks. Since the entire population of the island is only 89 people, everyone knows her well. Imagine everyone's surprise when the real Ariel Evans walks off the ferry.
I've read every book in this series and wish there were more. This was Bowditch's first murder investigation since his promotion from game warden to warden investigator and it seemed like everyone expected him to fail. True enough, Bowditch has always made some stupid decisions but his heart is in the right place. In this book, I missed Kathy Frost and Stacey. Dani only appeared in emails but Bowditch's mentor Charley Stevens was in a few scenes. The last quarter of the book really ramped up the action.
I've read every book in this series and wish there were more. This was Bowditch's first murder investigation since his promotion from game warden to warden investigator and it seemed like everyone expected him to fail. True enough, Bowditch has always made some stupid decisions but his heart is in the right place. In this book, I missed Kathy Frost and Stacey. Dani only appeared in emails but Bowditch's mentor Charley Stevens was in a few scenes. The last quarter of the book really ramped up the action.
November 27, 2019
This one felt forced and contrived. The plot was interesting - I'd give that a 3. But the writing and the pace of the plot reveals was awkward. I'd like to know more about the hermit and the journalist. The culture of Maine locals is also captivating. But it's almost like a wet dream for the game warden. Oh he's so tough. And the ladies all love him. He can row a boat, survive freezing water, keep his gun dry, save the lady, and keep his job. He just can't stop the publicity! Damn.
August 27, 2019
Another great read in the Bowditch saga!
September 9, 2018
The Maine deer hunting season has barely begun as Stay Hidden: A Novel by Paul Doiron begins, and already there are two deaths. The deaths are not are not hunting accidents. The warden service refers to them as what they are--- homicides. The reason a person is dead is because the person, the shooter, maybe both made a mistake that could have and should have been avoided.
Out on Maquoit Island, Ariel Evans lies dead in the yard behind the house she was renting. For Mike Bowditch, who was recently promoted to warden investigator four months ago, this is his first hunting homicide case. At least the case should be relatively easy one as the hunter involved has already confessed to firing the shot that killed the woman as she stood hanging laundry in the backyard. According to the constable on the island, the controversial author was hanging white underwear on the clothesline and should have known she could be mistaken for a white tailed deer running away. The flash of white caused by her hanging of her underwear may have so mimicked the movement of a deer tail, the hunter made a fatal mistake.
Sent out to the island with Ronette Landry of the warden service and Steve Klesko of the Maine State Police, the trio has plenty of work to do even if the case is as simple as described. Upon arrival on the island they learn the hunter has recounted. There are other problems as well making it very clear this is not the simple open and shut case they had been led to believe before they headed out to the island.
For one thing, the controversial author, who recently wrote a book about living undercover with the Nazis in Idaho, is living on the island as part of her research into the island’s notorious hermit. Yet, the cottage she rented contains no evidenced that she is a writer or working on any project. It does contain evidence of her recent partying, something the locals have made clear she is well known among the residents for, as well as other items that do not fit the impression one would expect of her. Then there is the fact the next day the real Ariel Evans arrives on the island determined to find out what her sister was doing and who killed her.
Stay Hidden: A Novel by Paul Doiron is a turning point novel for the character of Mike Bowditch. In this mystery, Bowditch has a new job with increased scrutiny and pressure, his long term relationship with Stacy has abruptly ended, and there are other issues. He is a man with a lot of pressure, conflicted feelings about many different things, and very little help or an island where the locals deal with their own issues in their own way and don’t like outsiders. Especially law enforcement types.
The latest book in the series that began with The Poacher’s Son is another good one. Stay Hidden: A Novel is a read that, as they all do, quickly pulls the reader into the natural beauty of the Maine landscape. Things are always complicated in these books because of Bowditch’s past as well as the complicated characters in both minor and major roles. Nobody in this series is a generic placeholder character. Then there are the actual mysteries themselves to solve. A series that can only be fully appreciated if read in order, Stay Hidden: A Novel is another very good installment.
Stay Hidden: A Novel
Paul Doiron
http://www.pauldoiron.com
Center Point Large Print
http://www.centerpointlargeprint.com
August 2018
ISBN# 978-1-68324-874-3
Large Print Hardback (also available in audio, digital, and print formats)
478 Pages
$38.95
Material supplied by the good folks of the Dallas Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018
Out on Maquoit Island, Ariel Evans lies dead in the yard behind the house she was renting. For Mike Bowditch, who was recently promoted to warden investigator four months ago, this is his first hunting homicide case. At least the case should be relatively easy one as the hunter involved has already confessed to firing the shot that killed the woman as she stood hanging laundry in the backyard. According to the constable on the island, the controversial author was hanging white underwear on the clothesline and should have known she could be mistaken for a white tailed deer running away. The flash of white caused by her hanging of her underwear may have so mimicked the movement of a deer tail, the hunter made a fatal mistake.
Sent out to the island with Ronette Landry of the warden service and Steve Klesko of the Maine State Police, the trio has plenty of work to do even if the case is as simple as described. Upon arrival on the island they learn the hunter has recounted. There are other problems as well making it very clear this is not the simple open and shut case they had been led to believe before they headed out to the island.
For one thing, the controversial author, who recently wrote a book about living undercover with the Nazis in Idaho, is living on the island as part of her research into the island’s notorious hermit. Yet, the cottage she rented contains no evidenced that she is a writer or working on any project. It does contain evidence of her recent partying, something the locals have made clear she is well known among the residents for, as well as other items that do not fit the impression one would expect of her. Then there is the fact the next day the real Ariel Evans arrives on the island determined to find out what her sister was doing and who killed her.
Stay Hidden: A Novel by Paul Doiron is a turning point novel for the character of Mike Bowditch. In this mystery, Bowditch has a new job with increased scrutiny and pressure, his long term relationship with Stacy has abruptly ended, and there are other issues. He is a man with a lot of pressure, conflicted feelings about many different things, and very little help or an island where the locals deal with their own issues in their own way and don’t like outsiders. Especially law enforcement types.
The latest book in the series that began with The Poacher’s Son is another good one. Stay Hidden: A Novel is a read that, as they all do, quickly pulls the reader into the natural beauty of the Maine landscape. Things are always complicated in these books because of Bowditch’s past as well as the complicated characters in both minor and major roles. Nobody in this series is a generic placeholder character. Then there are the actual mysteries themselves to solve. A series that can only be fully appreciated if read in order, Stay Hidden: A Novel is another very good installment.
Stay Hidden: A Novel
Paul Doiron
http://www.pauldoiron.com
Center Point Large Print
http://www.centerpointlargeprint.com
August 2018
ISBN# 978-1-68324-874-3
Large Print Hardback (also available in audio, digital, and print formats)
478 Pages
$38.95
Material supplied by the good folks of the Dallas Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018
February 4, 2023
A who done it set on a remote island off the coast of Maine. Warden investigator Mike Bowditch is tasked with investigating what appears to be a death by rifle. A visiting author has been shot dead in the yard of a cabin. Was this an accident or had someone targeted the victim?
Amidst foggy sodden skies, Mike is flung into the clannish inhabitants of Maquoit Island. Hard to imagine a worse place to visit. The deer 🦌 population is starving and, of course, teeming with ticks. There’s an unacknowledged drug problem amid the island natives. The salty sea water wreaks havoc on skin, autos and boats. To add to the ambiance is an eccentric recluse and two brothers who sell Nazi memorabilia as a pastime. Ugh.
Amidst foggy sodden skies, Mike is flung into the clannish inhabitants of Maquoit Island. Hard to imagine a worse place to visit. The deer 🦌 population is starving and, of course, teeming with ticks. There’s an unacknowledged drug problem amid the island natives. The salty sea water wreaks havoc on skin, autos and boats. To add to the ambiance is an eccentric recluse and two brothers who sell Nazi memorabilia as a pastime. Ugh.
January 27, 2022
Even though I'm reading them "out of order," Mike Bowditch's adventures haven't lost any of their magic for me. Another winner! . . . (Now my only chore is to slow down so that I don't work my way through this series too quickly. 😉)
September 25, 2018
My first book by this author and it won't be the last. Apparently one can read this series out of order as I started with #9. I really enjoyed Mike Bowditch and thought the characters were very "real" which is another reason to continue with the series. The descriptions of the landscape, weather and people in Maine made you feel like you were there with them.
July 23, 2021
First book I’ve read in the Bowditch series. Really liked this murder mystery. Game warden Bowditch serves as the lead investigator because a woman’s shooting death was reported as a hunting accident. The book is replete with interesting characters and its remote Maine island setting is phenomenal. The author keeps you guessing about “whodunnit.” And the ending really works.
July 10, 2018
Excellent new entry in this fine series featuring game warden (now promoted to warden investigator) Mike Bowditch.
Author Doiron has added some great twists to this one. This is also different than the previous entries in that it is essentially a traditional "locked room" murder mystery. The "room" is a sparsely-populated island off the coast of Maine. All the residents are, by definition, suspects. Due to circumstances, Bowditch finds himself the lone investigator on the case and must solve it before assistance arrives...to be the hero or the goat. Mike digs in to learn the island's secrets.
Doiron always writes well of the outdoor life; this one has wonderful descriptions of life on an island getting ready for winter lobstering season.
Author Doiron has added some great twists to this one. This is also different than the previous entries in that it is essentially a traditional "locked room" murder mystery. The "room" is a sparsely-populated island off the coast of Maine. All the residents are, by definition, suspects. Due to circumstances, Bowditch finds himself the lone investigator on the case and must solve it before assistance arrives...to be the hero or the goat. Mike digs in to learn the island's secrets.
Doiron always writes well of the outdoor life; this one has wonderful descriptions of life on an island getting ready for winter lobstering season.
May 22, 2018
Read this review and more at www.TheRealBookSpy.com
In his latest adventure (the ninth of the series), Mike Bowditch adjusts to his new role as an investigator while trying to solve the most head-scratching murder case of his career.
No longer a game warden, Bowditch recently accepted a job promotion to become Maine’s newest warden investigator. When readers catch back up with Mike, he’s got a lot more going on than just trying to get used to the shirt and tie his new gig requires him to wear on a near-daily basis. Recently split from his longtime girlfriend, Stacey, he’s also adjusting to life as a bachelor.
It’s only a few days into deer season, and there have already been several reported deaths. First, a grandfather tripped and accidentally shot his grandson in the head. Seeing what he’d done, the old man went into cardiac arrest, leaving the boy’s father alone in the woods and scrambling for help. With resources being poured into that investigation, Mike is assigned the other fatality, where a woman on Maquoit Island, located twenty miles off the coast of Mount Desert, was shot and killed while hanging her wet laundry on the line to dry.
Before leading a small team of various members of local law enforcement to the island, Mike was told the case was a slam dunk. A man had apparently confessed to accidentally shooting the woman, whom he’d mistaken for a deer. But, as readers might expect, nothing goes according to plan.
Taking a fifteen-minute plane ride in Charly Steven’s Cessna, which is awkward for Bowditch due to the fact that Charly is Stacy’s father and the two haven’t exactly been the best of friends since he split with his daughter. . .
Continue reading: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/05/21...
In his latest adventure (the ninth of the series), Mike Bowditch adjusts to his new role as an investigator while trying to solve the most head-scratching murder case of his career.
No longer a game warden, Bowditch recently accepted a job promotion to become Maine’s newest warden investigator. When readers catch back up with Mike, he’s got a lot more going on than just trying to get used to the shirt and tie his new gig requires him to wear on a near-daily basis. Recently split from his longtime girlfriend, Stacey, he’s also adjusting to life as a bachelor.
It’s only a few days into deer season, and there have already been several reported deaths. First, a grandfather tripped and accidentally shot his grandson in the head. Seeing what he’d done, the old man went into cardiac arrest, leaving the boy’s father alone in the woods and scrambling for help. With resources being poured into that investigation, Mike is assigned the other fatality, where a woman on Maquoit Island, located twenty miles off the coast of Mount Desert, was shot and killed while hanging her wet laundry on the line to dry.
Before leading a small team of various members of local law enforcement to the island, Mike was told the case was a slam dunk. A man had apparently confessed to accidentally shooting the woman, whom he’d mistaken for a deer. But, as readers might expect, nothing goes according to plan.
Taking a fifteen-minute plane ride in Charly Steven’s Cessna, which is awkward for Bowditch due to the fact that Charly is Stacy’s father and the two haven’t exactly been the best of friends since he split with his daughter. . .
Continue reading: https://therealbookspy.com/2018/05/21...
March 24, 2019
In compliance with FTC guidelines: I received a finished hard copy of this book upon release of the paperback version free from a Goodreads Giveaway in exchange for an honest review. The content of this review is not influenced by that fact. The feelings expressed are solely mine. I sincerely appreciate the chance to read and review this book.
This is the second book in the Warden Mike Bowditch series I've read. I've decided I really like this character ,in fact, I think I've developed a literary crush on him. Also before reading the first book in the series I was a bit hesitant because I thought it would be geared toward a male audience. I should not have feared as it was very similar to most police procedurals that are extremely popular right now. The main character is a Warden Investigator so essentially a detective. The only difference is the crime revolves around the outdoors/ hunting/ animals.
I'm a bit anal about reading my series in order but I went ahead and read this book now because I received the free copy and had made a commitment to review it honestly. I'm happy to say that this book worked just fine as a stand alone. So if you can only find a later installment in the series don't hesitate jumping right in. Personally, I can't wait to back up and fill in with the rest of the series.
4.5* (5*)/3.87*
This is the second book in the Warden Mike Bowditch series I've read. I've decided I really like this character ,in fact, I think I've developed a literary crush on him. Also before reading the first book in the series I was a bit hesitant because I thought it would be geared toward a male audience. I should not have feared as it was very similar to most police procedurals that are extremely popular right now. The main character is a Warden Investigator so essentially a detective. The only difference is the crime revolves around the outdoors/ hunting/ animals.
I'm a bit anal about reading my series in order but I went ahead and read this book now because I received the free copy and had made a commitment to review it honestly. I'm happy to say that this book worked just fine as a stand alone. So if you can only find a later installment in the series don't hesitate jumping right in. Personally, I can't wait to back up and fill in with the rest of the series.
4.5* (5*)/3.87*
July 27, 2018
I love this series and every year I wait eagerly for the next one. It's about Mike Bowditch, formerly a game warden in rural Maine, now recently promoted to Warden Investigator. He travels to Maquoit, a small island off the coast of Maine, to investigate a hunting incident in which a young woman has been shot and killed. However when he arrives he finds that the shooter has not come forward and there is a possibility that the shooting was not even accidental.
Hindering his investigation are the patchy communications on the island, the almost permanent fog and the locals who seem unwilling to co-operate.
This series is a favourite of mine, but I have to say I think it's one of the weakest in the series. The characters seemed more like caricatures and Bowditch seemed to bumble around without any purpose. It seemed to drag a bit and then come together in an overly convenient way. Oh and the dust jacket carried a major spoiler. Boo hiss.
Hindering his investigation are the patchy communications on the island, the almost permanent fog and the locals who seem unwilling to co-operate.
This series is a favourite of mine, but I have to say I think it's one of the weakest in the series. The characters seemed more like caricatures and Bowditch seemed to bumble around without any purpose. It seemed to drag a bit and then come together in an overly convenient way. Oh and the dust jacket carried a major spoiler. Boo hiss.
August 25, 2024
I didn't realize that I had already read this, but I enjoyed it again.
I really enjoy the action of this series, but Mike may be wearing a tad thin on my. He is, as they mention, an arrogant ass sometimes. Having been married to a game warden I might note that it is a major skill required by the job.
In this one Mike is still in the first five years of his career and making rash choices. He has resigned from the Warden Services. But when his ex Sgt is involved in s shooting he rushes to support her, and she is shot as is he, outside of her home.
He goes forward and of course solves the attempted homicide with lots of action, some humility and lots innocence.
As with all of Doiron's books, it is a great story, even if it is a second time around.
4 Stars
Happy Reading!
I really enjoy the action of this series, but Mike may be wearing a tad thin on my. He is, as they mention, an arrogant ass sometimes. Having been married to a game warden I might note that it is a major skill required by the job.
In this one Mike is still in the first five years of his career and making rash choices. He has resigned from the Warden Services. But when his ex Sgt is involved in s shooting he rushes to support her, and she is shot as is he, outside of her home.
He goes forward and of course solves the attempted homicide with lots of action, some humility and lots innocence.
As with all of Doiron's books, it is a great story, even if it is a second time around.
4 Stars
Happy Reading!
July 30, 2018
Once the confusion about one of the main character's death and subsequent r"resurrection" are resolved the story line is pretty straightforward but the descriptions of the island off the Maine coast as well as the permanent residents of the island provides some interest.
July 31, 2018
Newly promoted to warden investigator, Mike Bowditch is sent to Maquoit, a remote Maine island, after a woman identified as a controversial journalist is shot and killed in what appears to be a hunting-related incident.
Bowditch, who had been a game warden for six years, is a rookie investigator and is, understandably, nervous about this, his first hunting homicide. Adding to his distress is being flown to the island by Charley Stevens, his mentor and old friend from whom he's been estranged since breaking up with Charley's daughter.
Ariel Evans, the supposed victim of the shooting, had written a book exposing neo-Nazis and had taken a cottage on the island in hope of interviewing for another book a hermit with his own mysterious background.
Mike's first surprise on landing is that his impression the shooter had confessed is incorrect. The island's constable had misunderstood information provided in initial reports. A second surprise comes when the real Ariel Evans arrives and identifies the victim as her sister, Miranda, a woman with a history of alcohol and drug abuse.
Rather than an unfortunate accident, it soon appears the shooting may have been intentional and Maquoit abounds in suspects. The close-knit islanders aren't inclined to give Mike much help and his digging into their secrets ruffles feathers and may be putting him and the real Ariel in danger.
This is the ninth in the Bowditch series and, as usual, Doiron provides an intriguing selection of characters and sense of place. The fogbound island setting of this novel adds to the suspense and tension. If you like something a little different in your mysteries, you'll enjoy Stay Hidden as much as I did.
Bowditch, who had been a game warden for six years, is a rookie investigator and is, understandably, nervous about this, his first hunting homicide. Adding to his distress is being flown to the island by Charley Stevens, his mentor and old friend from whom he's been estranged since breaking up with Charley's daughter.
Ariel Evans, the supposed victim of the shooting, had written a book exposing neo-Nazis and had taken a cottage on the island in hope of interviewing for another book a hermit with his own mysterious background.
Mike's first surprise on landing is that his impression the shooter had confessed is incorrect. The island's constable had misunderstood information provided in initial reports. A second surprise comes when the real Ariel Evans arrives and identifies the victim as her sister, Miranda, a woman with a history of alcohol and drug abuse.
Rather than an unfortunate accident, it soon appears the shooting may have been intentional and Maquoit abounds in suspects. The close-knit islanders aren't inclined to give Mike much help and his digging into their secrets ruffles feathers and may be putting him and the real Ariel in danger.
This is the ninth in the Bowditch series and, as usual, Doiron provides an intriguing selection of characters and sense of place. The fogbound island setting of this novel adds to the suspense and tension. If you like something a little different in your mysteries, you'll enjoy Stay Hidden as much as I did.
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