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Mike Bowditch #10
Almost Midnight
In this thrilling entry in Edgar Award finalist Paul Doiron's bestselling series, the death of Maine's last wild wolf leads Game Warden Mike Bowditch to an even bigger criminal conspiracy.
Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch already has a troubling mystery on his hands: finding the archer who mortally wounded Maine's only wild wolf. Then he learns his best friend, Billy Cronk, has been released from prison after heroically defending a female guard from a stabbing. Mike comes to believe the assault was orchestrated by a wider criminal conspiracy. When the conspirators pursue Billy's wife and children to a "safe" cabin in the woods, Mike rushes to their defense only to find himself outnumbered, outgunned--and maybe out of options.
Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch already has a troubling mystery on his hands: finding the archer who mortally wounded Maine's only wild wolf. Then he learns his best friend, Billy Cronk, has been released from prison after heroically defending a female guard from a stabbing. Mike comes to believe the assault was orchestrated by a wider criminal conspiracy. When the conspirators pursue Billy's wife and children to a "safe" cabin in the woods, Mike rushes to their defense only to find himself outnumbered, outgunned--and maybe out of options.
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First published July 2, 2019
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About the author
Paul Doiron
38 books2,283 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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July 4, 2019
Almost Midnight is the tenth book in the Mike Bowditch series, but it reads as a stand-alone novel. So please, don't let the fact that you have not read the previous books in this series deter you from picking up this one. You may even find you enjoy it so much that you want to go back and read the previous books (heck, it might also make you want to visit Maine)!
In Almost Midnight, Mike Bowditch, who is an investigator with the Maine Warden Service, is enjoying his vacation when he receives a phone call from Aimee Cronk, his best friend's wife, informing him that Billy needs to see him immediately. His best friend, Billy Cronk, who is serving time, mentions a female guard to Mike. Still feeling guilty for testifying against his friend in court, Mike agrees to investigate CO Dawn Richie and her transfer to the Maine penitentiary where Cronk is housed. Soon thereafter, an attack at the prison occurs which lands the female guard and Billy in the hospital.
Bowditch is also informed that Shadow, a hybrid wolf, he saved years ago from a drug den has been shot with an arrow and may not survive the night. Mike goes on a mission to not only locate the person who shot Shadow but to also locate the female wolf who has been seen with Shadow to determine if she is still alive.
Dorian can pull off the two separate story lines effortlessly while giving us a glimpse into Mike's private life. Using his free time, Mike begins his investigation and manages to ruffle some feathers along the way (seriously, what investigation doesn't ruffle feathers?).
I was fully invested in this story and enjoyed how everything came together in the end. I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. Nothing felt rushed nor did anything feel drawn out. His descriptions of the landscape are vivid making the landscape a character in this book as well. Beautifully written with a well thought out plot, this was an absorbing read which did not disappoint. I also enjoyed how the females, especially Aimee were portrayed in this book. Aimee is the leader of her pack and does not let Mike get away with anything in this book.
"Wolves and women are relational by nature, inquiring, possessed of great endurance and strength. They are deeply intuitive, intensely concerned with their young, their mate and their pack. Yet both have been hounded, harassed and falsely imputed to be devouring and devious, overly aggressive, of less value than those who are their detractors." -Clarissa Pinkola Estes.
Riveting, engaging and well written. I highly recommend.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press 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.
In Almost Midnight, Mike Bowditch, who is an investigator with the Maine Warden Service, is enjoying his vacation when he receives a phone call from Aimee Cronk, his best friend's wife, informing him that Billy needs to see him immediately. His best friend, Billy Cronk, who is serving time, mentions a female guard to Mike. Still feeling guilty for testifying against his friend in court, Mike agrees to investigate CO Dawn Richie and her transfer to the Maine penitentiary where Cronk is housed. Soon thereafter, an attack at the prison occurs which lands the female guard and Billy in the hospital.
Bowditch is also informed that Shadow, a hybrid wolf, he saved years ago from a drug den has been shot with an arrow and may not survive the night. Mike goes on a mission to not only locate the person who shot Shadow but to also locate the female wolf who has been seen with Shadow to determine if she is still alive.
Dorian can pull off the two separate story lines effortlessly while giving us a glimpse into Mike's private life. Using his free time, Mike begins his investigation and manages to ruffle some feathers along the way (seriously, what investigation doesn't ruffle feathers?).
I was fully invested in this story and enjoyed how everything came together in the end. I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. Nothing felt rushed nor did anything feel drawn out. His descriptions of the landscape are vivid making the landscape a character in this book as well. Beautifully written with a well thought out plot, this was an absorbing read which did not disappoint. I also enjoyed how the females, especially Aimee were portrayed in this book. Aimee is the leader of her pack and does not let Mike get away with anything in this book.
"Wolves and women are relational by nature, inquiring, possessed of great endurance and strength. They are deeply intuitive, intensely concerned with their young, their mate and their pack. Yet both have been hounded, harassed and falsely imputed to be devouring and devious, overly aggressive, of less value than those who are their detractors." -Clarissa Pinkola Estes.
Riveting, engaging and well written. I highly recommend.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press 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 21, 2019
The Native American Seneca tribes believe that a wolf sung the moon into existence. And is its long-noted howling just a reminder that it will always be there even on moonless nights?
Almost Midnight rejoins us with Mike Bowditch, an investigator for the Maine Warden Service. Bowditch is a character that we've eagerly followed through this outstanding series centered on Mike's painstaking transformation from entry level Maine warden into quite the investigator with a sixth sense.
Bowditch is enjoying his last few days of vacation with fly rod in hand along the river. I guess it's kind of like the amusement park operator who relishes riding on the rollercoasters on his day off. Bowditch has just been informed that a hybrid wolf named Shadow had been seriously wounded by an arrow from a crossbow. Bowditch had a connection with Shadow after rescuing him from a drug den three years ago. He visits Shadow who has undergone surgery. The outlook is pretty bleak, but Bowditch is determined to investigate on his own time and in his own manner.
Paul Doiron adds another layer to Almost Midnight. Bowditch gets a call from his longtime buddy, Billy Cronk, who is serving time in the Maine Penitentiary. Billy, a family man and a veteran who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, urgently asks Bowditch to visit him. It seems like a certain female guard who was recently transferred from the Downeast Correctional Facility may have a story that follows her. As Bowditch starts to look into Dawn Richie's background, Billy unexpectantly saves her life during an attack in the laundry area. Was there a target on Richie's back or was this payback from the other facility? Doiron will dig deep once again when Bowditch gets involved.
Almost Midnight reads as a standalone as Paul Doiron craftily fills in the backstories. Ideally, grab a few of the earlier books to give you a feel for the constantly evolving character of Bowditch. This is a series that remains solid over the years in the highly talented hands of Doiron. Doiron knows the ins and the outs of his beautifully wooded state. He has an uncanny ability to register the pulse of its people both the honorable and the pond bottom feeders as well.
You'll find yourself reading the last words on the last page.....yearning for the next encounter with the likes of Mike Bowditch once again.
I received a copy of Almost Midnight through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Paul Doiron for the opportunity.
Almost Midnight rejoins us with Mike Bowditch, an investigator for the Maine Warden Service. Bowditch is a character that we've eagerly followed through this outstanding series centered on Mike's painstaking transformation from entry level Maine warden into quite the investigator with a sixth sense.
Bowditch is enjoying his last few days of vacation with fly rod in hand along the river. I guess it's kind of like the amusement park operator who relishes riding on the rollercoasters on his day off. Bowditch has just been informed that a hybrid wolf named Shadow had been seriously wounded by an arrow from a crossbow. Bowditch had a connection with Shadow after rescuing him from a drug den three years ago. He visits Shadow who has undergone surgery. The outlook is pretty bleak, but Bowditch is determined to investigate on his own time and in his own manner.
Paul Doiron adds another layer to Almost Midnight. Bowditch gets a call from his longtime buddy, Billy Cronk, who is serving time in the Maine Penitentiary. Billy, a family man and a veteran who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, urgently asks Bowditch to visit him. It seems like a certain female guard who was recently transferred from the Downeast Correctional Facility may have a story that follows her. As Bowditch starts to look into Dawn Richie's background, Billy unexpectantly saves her life during an attack in the laundry area. Was there a target on Richie's back or was this payback from the other facility? Doiron will dig deep once again when Bowditch gets involved.
Almost Midnight reads as a standalone as Paul Doiron craftily fills in the backstories. Ideally, grab a few of the earlier books to give you a feel for the constantly evolving character of Bowditch. This is a series that remains solid over the years in the highly talented hands of Doiron. Doiron knows the ins and the outs of his beautifully wooded state. He has an uncanny ability to register the pulse of its people both the honorable and the pond bottom feeders as well.
You'll find yourself reading the last words on the last page.....yearning for the next encounter with the likes of Mike Bowditch once again.
I received a copy of Almost Midnight through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Paul Doiron for the opportunity.
August 7, 2019
I received a free e-copy of Almost Midnight (Mike Bowditch Mysteries Book 10) by Paul Doiron from NetGalley for my honest review.
This is the first book I have ever read by Paul Doiron not to mention the only one I have read in this series. This is easily a stand alone read but I really want to go back and read them all because I enjoyed this one so much.
A wonderful mystery full of suspense, corruption and a prison conspiracy that will keep you reading through the night.
This is the first book I have ever read by Paul Doiron not to mention the only one I have read in this series. This is easily a stand alone read but I really want to go back and read them all because I enjoyed this one so much.
A wonderful mystery full of suspense, corruption and a prison conspiracy that will keep you reading through the night.
June 1, 2019
Love, love, love this series - and this, the 10th book, certainly does nothing to change that enthusiasm. Game Warden Mike Bowditch is in fine fettle - even if he's dithering a bit in his relatively new relationship with Maine state trooper Dani Tate. I've said this in other reviews, but Mike reminds me of author C.J. Box's game warden Joe Pickett, and in this book I picked up some tinges of Michael Lister's former prison chaplain John Jordan as well. But make no mistake: Mike is his own person - and a very capable, likable one at that.
Mike is an investigator with the Maine Warden Service, and as this story begins, he visits old friend and prison inmate Billy Cronk. Cryptically, Billy tells Mike that the new prison CO, Dawn Richie, needs to be investigated - but he stops short of explaining why. Mike is skeptical, but he also feels responsible for Billy's being in prison and somewhat reluctantly decides to look into the matter. Not long after his visit, Mike learns of a prison fight, during which both Billy and Dawn are injured. As it turns out, Billy was credited for saving the day (and Dawn's life), and now the governor says he'll issue a pardon.
Meantime, Mike - who's on vacation at the moment - must deal with a mystery of a very different sort; a wild wolf-dog with whom Mike once had a relationship of sorts has been shot with a wicked crossbow arrow and is expected to die. Both sad and furious, Mike vows to track down the archer. He uses his remaining free days to head for the deep backwoods, where some nasty characters and (surprise!) a group of Amish are ensconced. With help from an old friend, Mike even makes a rustic home for himself in the middle of a very scenic nowhere.
Billy's issues and the search for the wolf-killer run side by side for most of the book, coming together near the end when Billy's wife and children, who are trying to hide from some baddies who want to do them and Billy serious harm, take shelter in Mike's backwoods shack. At that point, all heck breaks loose - and readers are treated to a literal bang-up ending that happened way too soon to suit me.
Another terrific series entry is in the can - one thoroughly enjoyed by me as expected. Many thanks (once again) to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
Mike is an investigator with the Maine Warden Service, and as this story begins, he visits old friend and prison inmate Billy Cronk. Cryptically, Billy tells Mike that the new prison CO, Dawn Richie, needs to be investigated - but he stops short of explaining why. Mike is skeptical, but he also feels responsible for Billy's being in prison and somewhat reluctantly decides to look into the matter. Not long after his visit, Mike learns of a prison fight, during which both Billy and Dawn are injured. As it turns out, Billy was credited for saving the day (and Dawn's life), and now the governor says he'll issue a pardon.
Meantime, Mike - who's on vacation at the moment - must deal with a mystery of a very different sort; a wild wolf-dog with whom Mike once had a relationship of sorts has been shot with a wicked crossbow arrow and is expected to die. Both sad and furious, Mike vows to track down the archer. He uses his remaining free days to head for the deep backwoods, where some nasty characters and (surprise!) a group of Amish are ensconced. With help from an old friend, Mike even makes a rustic home for himself in the middle of a very scenic nowhere.
Billy's issues and the search for the wolf-killer run side by side for most of the book, coming together near the end when Billy's wife and children, who are trying to hide from some baddies who want to do them and Billy serious harm, take shelter in Mike's backwoods shack. At that point, all heck breaks loose - and readers are treated to a literal bang-up ending that happened way too soon to suit me.
Another terrific series entry is in the can - one thoroughly enjoyed by me as expected. Many thanks (once again) to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
August 10, 2019
This series keeps getting better and better. Mike is a character who is both complicated and straightforward. He is very much his own man who nonetheless has become surrounded by great friends. I really enjoy these books.
September 11, 2024
Mike Bowditch’s friend, Billy Cronk, who’s serving time in prison for murder, asks Bowditch to look into the background of Dawn Richie, a female prison guard, but refuses to tell him why. A short time later, two inmates attack Richie and another guard in the prison’s laundry room, killing the male guard and wounding Richie with prison made knives. She only escapes with her life because Cronk, who happens to be close, kills one of the attackers and wounds the other, receiving injuries of his own in the process. Another prison guard dies at home, supposedly a mishap, along with his sister and mother. By then, Cronk has fled the prison where he was transferred after the governor promised to pardon him for saving Richie. As the state police search for Cronk, he is revealed to be a suspect in the mysterious triple deaths, which may have been acts of murder designed to look like an accident.
Now the plot line appears to switch and becomes a bit confusing. Mike Bowditch is now searching for the culprit who shot Shadow, a wolf-dog hybrid that escaped from his care years earlier and had been living in the wild. Shadow has been taken to an animal hospital by a game warden. Shadow has surgery but it seems that he's unlikely to live. I almost stop reading at this point. A thousand folks can die in the story but DON'T KILL THE DOG!
If you are looking for perfect, flawless characters or a story that always has a "happy ever after" fairy-tale ending...look elsewhere. If you like flawed, "real" characters and stories that the good guy doesn't always win...you will probably enjoy meeting Mike Bowditch.
Now the plot line appears to switch and becomes a bit confusing. Mike Bowditch is now searching for the culprit who shot Shadow, a wolf-dog hybrid that escaped from his care years earlier and had been living in the wild. Shadow has been taken to an animal hospital by a game warden. Shadow has surgery but it seems that he's unlikely to live. I almost stop reading at this point. A thousand folks can die in the story but DON'T KILL THE DOG!
If you are looking for perfect, flawless characters or a story that always has a "happy ever after" fairy-tale ending...look elsewhere. If you like flawed, "real" characters and stories that the good guy doesn't always win...you will probably enjoy meeting Mike Bowditch.
July 19, 2019
Mike Bowditch cuts his vacation short when the wife of Billy Cronk calls and tells him Billy needs to see him. Billy has a favor to ask Mike, a favor that Mike just can't do for him. However, shortly after this a female guard attacked and Billy saves her life and now the governor wants to pardon Billy. Mike is thrilled to learn this since he feels responsible for sending Billy to prison in the first place because he had to testify against him. However, he is also worried since he can't stop thinking about how anxious Billy had been in prison and the favor he had asked Mike. Could it be that someone is out to get Billy?
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November 10, 2021
The tenth book in the Mike Bowditch series.
It's vacation for Mike, however there are events in the community that take his attention.
The fight at the jail that injures many and kills two.
Next his wolf dog is found badly injured with an arrow thought his body. He may not live.
The Amish in the community have been harassed and their donkey possibly kill by a wolf.
Mike is using all his energy trying to find out who shot is wolf dog.
Will Mike get any vacation, after all that has happened in his community.
It's vacation for Mike, however there are events in the community that take his attention.
The fight at the jail that injures many and kills two.
Next his wolf dog is found badly injured with an arrow thought his body. He may not live.
The Amish in the community have been harassed and their donkey possibly kill by a wolf.
Mike is using all his energy trying to find out who shot is wolf dog.
Will Mike get any vacation, after all that has happened in his community.
June 11, 2023
Loved this 10th book in Paul Doiron's "Mike Bowditch" series!
August 6, 2019
First Sentence: I passed the coroner's meat wagon on the way up the hill to the prison.
Maine Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch receives a request from inmate Billy Cronk, a former friend he helped imprison for murder. Billy wants him to investigate a new female prison guard who then suffers a brutal attack. Another call comes from a mountain community where wolf-hybrid Shadow has been shot by a crossbow and is barely clinging to life. The two investigations endanger Mike's life, as well as his loved ones.
Doiron has a wonderful voice—"It was one of those New England hamlets with a full graveyard and an empty schoolhouse. Half a mile from my place, a crumbling old farm had an actual family plot in its front yard. No wonder the dump had scared off potential buyers for the past decade."
One thing which would have helped would be for the author to have explained more about the role of the Maine Warden Investigator, but that could be due to this being the 10th book in the series. For those interested, there is a good explanation at https://www.maine.gov/ifw/warden-serv.... That didn't necessarily detract from the plot, but knowing the role provides a bit of clarity.
The change of scene from the prison to the situation with the wolf is very effective. One almost has a sensory reaction to it. That takes skill, and Doiron has it.
What is nice is that this is not the Maine of tourists. This is the Maine of those who live inland, in the parts of the state tourists don't see where life, and the people, can be hard. It's survival country of hunting, fishing, and now, drugs.
Doiron characters are strong and interesting, particularly Mike's girlfriend Maine State Trooper Danielle "Dani" Tate, and Alcohol Mary. He also has a wonderful way of making one truly care about Shadow, the hybrid wolf, and making one feel Mike's emotions.
While the plot is exciting, full of twists and danger, it truly is the author's style which keeps one engaged. Doiron's humor—"Across the room, I could see her children, the four platinum-blond Cronklets, ages five to ten… Someone had tuned the TV station to a financial news network, and the five backwoods ragamuffins were watching it with the intensity of day traders waiting for the next big earnings report to drop."—is subtle, but it works. He has an excellent ear for dialogue—"I am required to ask this, Mrs. Gowdie. …I need to know if you own a crossbow." "Who do you think I am, Maid Fucking Marian?"--, as well as a sense of insight—"When my own heart started to break, I lifted my face to the sky, letting the flakes melt as they landed on warm skin, admitted my own arrogance and ignorance, and surrendered to the mysteries of a universe I knew I would never comprehend."
"Almost Midnight" has very good characters and well-done suspense. Wonderful dialogue, a great turn of phrase, and a nice touch of emotion may make one decide to read the series from the first book, as well as future books to come.
ALMOST MIDNIGHT (WardenInvest-Mike Bowditch-Maine-Contemp) - VG
Doiron, Paul – 10th in series
Minotaur Books – July 2019
Maine Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch receives a request from inmate Billy Cronk, a former friend he helped imprison for murder. Billy wants him to investigate a new female prison guard who then suffers a brutal attack. Another call comes from a mountain community where wolf-hybrid Shadow has been shot by a crossbow and is barely clinging to life. The two investigations endanger Mike's life, as well as his loved ones.
Doiron has a wonderful voice—"It was one of those New England hamlets with a full graveyard and an empty schoolhouse. Half a mile from my place, a crumbling old farm had an actual family plot in its front yard. No wonder the dump had scared off potential buyers for the past decade."
One thing which would have helped would be for the author to have explained more about the role of the Maine Warden Investigator, but that could be due to this being the 10th book in the series. For those interested, there is a good explanation at https://www.maine.gov/ifw/warden-serv.... That didn't necessarily detract from the plot, but knowing the role provides a bit of clarity.
The change of scene from the prison to the situation with the wolf is very effective. One almost has a sensory reaction to it. That takes skill, and Doiron has it.
What is nice is that this is not the Maine of tourists. This is the Maine of those who live inland, in the parts of the state tourists don't see where life, and the people, can be hard. It's survival country of hunting, fishing, and now, drugs.
Doiron characters are strong and interesting, particularly Mike's girlfriend Maine State Trooper Danielle "Dani" Tate, and Alcohol Mary. He also has a wonderful way of making one truly care about Shadow, the hybrid wolf, and making one feel Mike's emotions.
While the plot is exciting, full of twists and danger, it truly is the author's style which keeps one engaged. Doiron's humor—"Across the room, I could see her children, the four platinum-blond Cronklets, ages five to ten… Someone had tuned the TV station to a financial news network, and the five backwoods ragamuffins were watching it with the intensity of day traders waiting for the next big earnings report to drop."—is subtle, but it works. He has an excellent ear for dialogue—"I am required to ask this, Mrs. Gowdie. …I need to know if you own a crossbow." "Who do you think I am, Maid Fucking Marian?"--, as well as a sense of insight—"When my own heart started to break, I lifted my face to the sky, letting the flakes melt as they landed on warm skin, admitted my own arrogance and ignorance, and surrendered to the mysteries of a universe I knew I would never comprehend."
"Almost Midnight" has very good characters and well-done suspense. Wonderful dialogue, a great turn of phrase, and a nice touch of emotion may make one decide to read the series from the first book, as well as future books to come.
ALMOST MIDNIGHT (WardenInvest-Mike Bowditch-Maine-Contemp) - VG
Doiron, Paul – 10th in series
Minotaur Books – July 2019
August 7, 2019
Mike Bowditch is a Warden Investigator who has two pressing mysteries, and they are both priorities. On the one hand he must identify the archer who struck down Maine's only known male wolf, and find a female wolf he is certain is out there.
At the same time, his best friend, Billy Cronk, currently imprisoned due to testimony Mike had no choice but to give, begs his help and protection from a female guard. Ironically, the guard is seriously wounded, and Billy saves her life. This results in Billy being pardoned. However, there is a level of corruption so deep that the lives of Billy's wife and children are in serious danger.
Can Mike work hard enough - and fast enough - to keep Billy's family safe?
Can Mike find whoever it was that mortally wounded the wolf?
One thing Mike quickly determined is that there is danger on many levels. This is in large part due to the vast area and peoples there in Maine. Furthermore, there is a high level of corruption and Mike almost single-handedly must sort it all out. Fortunately, Mike has uncanny skills and this proves to be life-saving.
Almost Midnight is the 10th book in the Mike Bowditch series. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to read the previous titles. I am really happy that I got to read this book as I managed to find an author that I enjoy. So, I will add this to my series spreadsheet and one day read the prior titles so that I can follow this in the future.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
At the same time, his best friend, Billy Cronk, currently imprisoned due to testimony Mike had no choice but to give, begs his help and protection from a female guard. Ironically, the guard is seriously wounded, and Billy saves her life. This results in Billy being pardoned. However, there is a level of corruption so deep that the lives of Billy's wife and children are in serious danger.
Can Mike work hard enough - and fast enough - to keep Billy's family safe?
Can Mike find whoever it was that mortally wounded the wolf?
One thing Mike quickly determined is that there is danger on many levels. This is in large part due to the vast area and peoples there in Maine. Furthermore, there is a high level of corruption and Mike almost single-handedly must sort it all out. Fortunately, Mike has uncanny skills and this proves to be life-saving.
Almost Midnight is the 10th book in the Mike Bowditch series. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to read the previous titles. I am really happy that I got to read this book as I managed to find an author that I enjoy. So, I will add this to my series spreadsheet and one day read the prior titles so that I can follow this in the future.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 3, 2019
Here comes the latest book in one of my favorite series starring Maine Game Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch. I've read and posted reviews of every book in this series. If you have a love of the outdoors or you love animals, try this series.
While on vacation, Bowditch gets called to the prison by his inmate friend Billy Cronk. Cronk wants him to investigate a new female prison guard but won't say why. Bowditch hasn't decided if he will follow through. He gets a call from another game warden. Shadow, the wolf dog Bowditch rescued in an earlier story has been shot with an arrow from a crossbow and is not expected to survive. Bowditch starts looking for the she-wolf that accompanied Shadow.
In this book, Bowditch met some interesting characters. There are some Amish families and a young couple living in a yurt. He meets Mary Gowdie who makes moonshine and maple syrup. What a combination. I got to see a little bit of old favorites Charlie Stevens and his wife, plus Kathy Frost. Bowditch's personal life is still up in the air with romance of state trooper Dani Tate. Who knows where this will go in the future. As always, Doiron increases the action in the latter part of the story to make the book more exciting. The ending was perfect in many ways.
While on vacation, Bowditch gets called to the prison by his inmate friend Billy Cronk. Cronk wants him to investigate a new female prison guard but won't say why. Bowditch hasn't decided if he will follow through. He gets a call from another game warden. Shadow, the wolf dog Bowditch rescued in an earlier story has been shot with an arrow from a crossbow and is not expected to survive. Bowditch starts looking for the she-wolf that accompanied Shadow.
In this book, Bowditch met some interesting characters. There are some Amish families and a young couple living in a yurt. He meets Mary Gowdie who makes moonshine and maple syrup. What a combination. I got to see a little bit of old favorites Charlie Stevens and his wife, plus Kathy Frost. Bowditch's personal life is still up in the air with romance of state trooper Dani Tate. Who knows where this will go in the future. As always, Doiron increases the action in the latter part of the story to make the book more exciting. The ending was perfect in many ways.
May 27, 2019
I must say, this series is only getting better and better. I am so hooked that I started watching North Woods Law to see what the game wardens of Maine looks like.
February 4, 2022
Fast-paced & entertaining. A classic Mike Bowditch adventure.
September 14, 2019
As Almost Midnight by Paul Doiron begins, Mike Bowditch is on vacation and fishing. He deserves it and needs it after being promoted to Warden Investigator and moving to his new area. He was enjoying his rare break until he got a phone call about Billy Cronk. Billy wants to see him and as always with Billy the matter is urgent and can’t be spoken about over the phone. Which makes sense since Billy Cronk is in prison as a result of the actions he took as he saved Mike Bowditch’s life.
The legal system saw Cronk’s actions as excessive and he is now serving a prison sentence. The fact that locking up a man who, at the best of times, wasn’t the most mentally stable weighs heavily on Mike as does his guilt over testifying as there was no around the truth of what Billy did that fateful day. By telling the unvarnished truth, which Bowditch felt he had to do; his testimony was a major point for Billy’s conviction.
Billy has been known to relate unhinged conspiracy theories before and Mike Bowditch has no idea if the latest situation is another one of those deals or not. On the face of it, maybe not. Billy explains that they have a new CO, Dawn Ritchie. She is a sergeant and a transfer in from another facility that was recently closed by the Governor. Billy wants Bowditch to investigate her and to do it fast, but quietly. Frustratingly, Billy absolutely refuses to say and then plays the trump card that Bowditch owes him.
Bowditch is very aware of that, but for him to stick his neck out, Billy has to give him a reason. The blowback he would get over an unauthorized investigation would be immense and with zero justification he just can’t do it. Bowditch refuses.
That is until with hours, chaos erupts at the prison with severe consequences for Billy, Richie, and others. What happened inside and later at the hospital is very complicated as are the background events that led up to the violence. As things escalate, Bowditch uses his vacation time to conduct his own unauthorized investigation into the case as well as deal with some other situations in two separate and meaningful secondary storylines.
.
The result of all these complicated situations and characters makes Almost Midnight another very good read in the series. As always, the human dynamics of various characters are interwoven with the beauty, often a stark and potentially fatal beauty, of the Maine wilderness. The character of Bowditch, as well as his relationships with others, continues to evolve making it very important to read this series on order. Those already familiar with the books and short stories will find another compelling and enjoyable read in Almost Midnight: A Novel.
Almost Midnight: A Novel
Paul Doiron
http://www.pauldoiron.com
Center Point Large Print
https://www.gale.com
ISBN# 978-1-64358-283-2
Hardback
455 Pages
$38.95
My reading copy came from the Polk-Wisdom Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2019
The legal system saw Cronk’s actions as excessive and he is now serving a prison sentence. The fact that locking up a man who, at the best of times, wasn’t the most mentally stable weighs heavily on Mike as does his guilt over testifying as there was no around the truth of what Billy did that fateful day. By telling the unvarnished truth, which Bowditch felt he had to do; his testimony was a major point for Billy’s conviction.
Billy has been known to relate unhinged conspiracy theories before and Mike Bowditch has no idea if the latest situation is another one of those deals or not. On the face of it, maybe not. Billy explains that they have a new CO, Dawn Ritchie. She is a sergeant and a transfer in from another facility that was recently closed by the Governor. Billy wants Bowditch to investigate her and to do it fast, but quietly. Frustratingly, Billy absolutely refuses to say and then plays the trump card that Bowditch owes him.
Bowditch is very aware of that, but for him to stick his neck out, Billy has to give him a reason. The blowback he would get over an unauthorized investigation would be immense and with zero justification he just can’t do it. Bowditch refuses.
That is until with hours, chaos erupts at the prison with severe consequences for Billy, Richie, and others. What happened inside and later at the hospital is very complicated as are the background events that led up to the violence. As things escalate, Bowditch uses his vacation time to conduct his own unauthorized investigation into the case as well as deal with some other situations in two separate and meaningful secondary storylines.
.
The result of all these complicated situations and characters makes Almost Midnight another very good read in the series. As always, the human dynamics of various characters are interwoven with the beauty, often a stark and potentially fatal beauty, of the Maine wilderness. The character of Bowditch, as well as his relationships with others, continues to evolve making it very important to read this series on order. Those already familiar with the books and short stories will find another compelling and enjoyable read in Almost Midnight: A Novel.
Almost Midnight: A Novel
Paul Doiron
http://www.pauldoiron.com
Center Point Large Print
https://www.gale.com
ISBN# 978-1-64358-283-2
Hardback
455 Pages
$38.95
My reading copy came from the Polk-Wisdom Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2019
August 1, 2019
Ten books into this series, ALMOST MIDNIGHT is rife with the familiar. Readers who have followed author Paul Doiron from the beginning--and I have, ever since my oldest daughter Ronni gave me the first book in the series, THE POACHER'S SON, as a birthday present many years ago--will find much that is recognizable. Maine, in its many manfestations, is still a central character. We've followed Mike Bowditch through his twenties, and seen his professional life stabilize and his personal life remain inchoate. The cast of supporting characters can be re-introduced with the briefest of background. We know them already. The result is a good book, in a comfortable sort of way. You will not regret the read. It will entertain unobtrusively. But this is not the strongest entry in the series, nor will it leave you ruminating about choices and conclusions after the last page is turned.
There are two eventually connected plots in this story. One involves the wounding of Shadow, a wolf-dog hybrid introduced several books ago. Bowditch's interest in the animal is understandable. The depth of that concern is not. He is willing to go to great expense and to upend his life on Shadow's behalf, something he is unwilling to do in his human relationships, seemingly. It is borderline selfish, not an attribute readers typically associate with Bowditch.
The second plot line involves Billy Cronk, Bowditch's imprisoned friend. Cronk is one of those characters, not quite deus ex machina, who has almost superhuman abilities that come in handy when looking to resolve the inevitable fight between the good guys and the villains. Cronk is beset by frailties however, that not even the unending love of his wife, Aimee, can protect him from, including emotional demons that are a legacy of his war service and a good natured personality that seems to attract people who want to take advantage of him. Bowditch both protects Cronk and in turn is saved by him. This plot line seems contrived initially, but the Cronks--the entire family--are one of the best things in ALMOST MIDNIGHT. There is a suggestion that this plot line is not entirely resolved in this book. As an aside, Maine's governor plays a role in this part of the story, and he is immediately recognizable.
Finally, I look forward to the next story in this series but I miss Stacy. She is mentioned occasionally in this book but not anything more. There is the faintest whiff that she may have moved on from Bowditch completely, though it doesn't appear he has done the same.
Two mysteries solved
by Bowditch in just one book.
All on vacation.
There are two eventually connected plots in this story. One involves the wounding of Shadow, a wolf-dog hybrid introduced several books ago. Bowditch's interest in the animal is understandable. The depth of that concern is not. He is willing to go to great expense and to upend his life on Shadow's behalf, something he is unwilling to do in his human relationships, seemingly. It is borderline selfish, not an attribute readers typically associate with Bowditch.
The second plot line involves Billy Cronk, Bowditch's imprisoned friend. Cronk is one of those characters, not quite deus ex machina, who has almost superhuman abilities that come in handy when looking to resolve the inevitable fight between the good guys and the villains. Cronk is beset by frailties however, that not even the unending love of his wife, Aimee, can protect him from, including emotional demons that are a legacy of his war service and a good natured personality that seems to attract people who want to take advantage of him. Bowditch both protects Cronk and in turn is saved by him. This plot line seems contrived initially, but the Cronks--the entire family--are one of the best things in ALMOST MIDNIGHT. There is a suggestion that this plot line is not entirely resolved in this book. As an aside, Maine's governor plays a role in this part of the story, and he is immediately recognizable.
Finally, I look forward to the next story in this series but I miss Stacy. She is mentioned occasionally in this book but not anything more. There is the faintest whiff that she may have moved on from Bowditch completely, though it doesn't appear he has done the same.
Two mysteries solved
by Bowditch in just one book.
All on vacation.
June 3, 2019
Just as his vacation is wrapping up, Maine Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch is pulled from the river he’s been fly fishing on when his old pal Billy Cronk, who is currently doing time in the Maine Penitentiary for killing a man who once attacked him and Bowditch years back, suddenly reaches out.
A military combat veteran with solid instincts and a touch of paranoia, Cronk tells Mike that he needs a favor—which involves checking into a female prison guard named Dawn Richie, who recently transferred from another corrections facility. With no coherent reason to suspect anything, Mike nearly discards the request from Billy, until he finds out that Richie was attacked in the prison and narrowly saved by Cronk. Unsure whether the attack has to do with Dawn making fast enemies in her new work environment or is something carried over from her last job, Mike starts digging around.
Meanwhile, another call sparks Mike’s interest when he learns that . . .
Continue reading this review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2019/06/03...
A military combat veteran with solid instincts and a touch of paranoia, Cronk tells Mike that he needs a favor—which involves checking into a female prison guard named Dawn Richie, who recently transferred from another corrections facility. With no coherent reason to suspect anything, Mike nearly discards the request from Billy, until he finds out that Richie was attacked in the prison and narrowly saved by Cronk. Unsure whether the attack has to do with Dawn making fast enemies in her new work environment or is something carried over from her last job, Mike starts digging around.
Meanwhile, another call sparks Mike’s interest when he learns that . . .
Continue reading this review here: https://therealbookspy.com/2019/06/03...
September 23, 2019
I have been reading all of the adventures of game warden/investigator Mike Bowditch and there is never a dull moment. A good book to read, stand alone and better yet read all of the series!
June 22, 2022
There are two parallel storylines going on in this Mike Bowditch book. The first revolves around Mike’s incarcerated friend Billy Cronk and the other around Shadow, the wolf-dog. In the case of Billy, Cronk is involved in a deadly melee at the prison, which results in injury and suspicion. As far as Shadow goes, he is gravely injured by a unique arrow from a cross bow. While trying to figure out what took place and why at the prison, Mike is also torn between Shadow’s well being and the worry he has for his companion, the she-wolf. Fortunately for him, Mike is on his vacation and can dabble in both mysteries. I enjoyed this one very much, minus the politics around the governor. Anybody living here in Maine knows who Doiron is talking about when he refers to “The Penguin” and his political opponent who also happens to be the current state AG. Without this, I would have given the book 5 stars.
August 19, 2019
Almost Midnight by Paul Doiron
Mike Bowditch the Maine Game Warden is back again! Although this is part of a series it can and does stand alone, set in Maine this is a great, fast paced read that doesn't let you down. This time Mike is called by his friends wife who tells him her husband (who is in prison thanks in part to Mike's testimony) needs to see him right away, this sets things in motion and at the same time he is called about Shadow part dog mostly wolf who has been shot with a crossbow and is not expected to live, who shot Shadow and what exactly is going on with Mike's friend. ...thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book and leave my honest opinion.
Mike Bowditch the Maine Game Warden is back again! Although this is part of a series it can and does stand alone, set in Maine this is a great, fast paced read that doesn't let you down. This time Mike is called by his friends wife who tells him her husband (who is in prison thanks in part to Mike's testimony) needs to see him right away, this sets things in motion and at the same time he is called about Shadow part dog mostly wolf who has been shot with a crossbow and is not expected to live, who shot Shadow and what exactly is going on with Mike's friend. ...thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this book and leave my honest opinion.
July 7, 2019
Setting is a huge factor in this story, and it's handled exceptionally well. I felt like I was there in Maine, with all the quirkiness of the people, culture, and weather patterns. Having grown up in New England, I really enjoyed this jaunt through Maine.
We have two separate plots that occasionally intersect. In one storyline, we travel with Bowditch as he tries to figure out who shot a wolf. This is the least complex of the two plots, but it's also where we spend the most time. Consequently, the pace is slow as we drive throughout the state battling weather conditions while trying to track where the wolf had been.
The second storyline, featuring Bowditch's best friend who's in prison, is far more intricate. But Bowditch is a Game Warden, not a prison official or cop, and so his investigation remains on the periphery, and so do we.
I didn't love or dislike Mike Bowditch. He behaves immaturely regarding personal relationships. He has an interesting job, but he's otherwise forgettable.
This is the 10th book in this series, but it reads fine as a stand-alone.
*I received a review copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine.*
We have two separate plots that occasionally intersect. In one storyline, we travel with Bowditch as he tries to figure out who shot a wolf. This is the least complex of the two plots, but it's also where we spend the most time. Consequently, the pace is slow as we drive throughout the state battling weather conditions while trying to track where the wolf had been.
The second storyline, featuring Bowditch's best friend who's in prison, is far more intricate. But Bowditch is a Game Warden, not a prison official or cop, and so his investigation remains on the periphery, and so do we.
I didn't love or dislike Mike Bowditch. He behaves immaturely regarding personal relationships. He has an interesting job, but he's otherwise forgettable.
This is the 10th book in this series, but it reads fine as a stand-alone.
*I received a review copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine.*
March 1, 2020
The latest book in the series - just keeps getting better.
September 24, 2019
Solid series set in Maine where the vivid descriptions of the majestic wilderness add so much to every story. Two separate plot lines in this one:
Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch's friend Billy Cronk is involved in an attack at the prison where he remains an inmate. An attack in which a guard and another inmate are killed. Details about Cronk's role in the melee are murky and Mike gets involved in peeling back the layers of exactly what happened behind those prison walls. Also.....a few books ago, Bowditch rescued a wolf dog from drug dealers and befriended the enormous animal before setting it free. "Shadow" turns up early in this story shot with a crossbow bolt that is still embedded. Mike makes it a personal mission to find out who is responsible as Shadow fights for his life. My only negative comment would be the high number of characters as I had a little trouble towards the end of the book keeping everyone straight.
Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch's friend Billy Cronk is involved in an attack at the prison where he remains an inmate. An attack in which a guard and another inmate are killed. Details about Cronk's role in the melee are murky and Mike gets involved in peeling back the layers of exactly what happened behind those prison walls. Also.....a few books ago, Bowditch rescued a wolf dog from drug dealers and befriended the enormous animal before setting it free. "Shadow" turns up early in this story shot with a crossbow bolt that is still embedded. Mike makes it a personal mission to find out who is responsible as Shadow fights for his life. My only negative comment would be the high number of characters as I had a little trouble towards the end of the book keeping everyone straight.
June 29, 2019
Almost Midnight – Paul Doiron
Years ago, Maine State Warden Mike Bowditch was forced to provide testimony that landed his best friend, Billy Cronk, in prison. Now he receives a message from Billy’s wife, stating that Billy desperately needs to see him. Billy is asking him to investigate the background of a new prison guard, telling Mike that it’s a matter of life and death. Mike is reluctant to do so, and Billy ends the conversation telling his friend not to come back. Feeling a bit guilty, Mike does a cursory search on the prison guard, finding little information on her and heads back to the prison, only to learn that Billy is now in the hospital after being stabbed by another inmate. Upon arrival, he learns that Billy saved the life of the guard he had asked Mike to research and is in surgery. As Mike begins to learn of the events leading up to the stabbing, he feels that something is off with the situation.
Meanwhile, he receives an early AM call from an old Warden friend, Gary Pulsifer, who calls to tell Mike that Shadow, a wolf-dog hybrid that he’d had as a pup, has been mortally injured. Shadow had escaped confinement as a pup and has been running free in the woods of Maine for years. The vet fully anticipates Shadow’s death is imminent and gives Mike the crossbow that she removed from his body, Mike wants answers, and is hopeful that he can track the female wolf Shadow’s been seen with, to ensure her safety.
As Mike attempts to locate Shadow’s shooter, he meets resistance at every turn. He also manages to get on the bad side of the town terror, Gorman Peaslee, who wants nothing but revenge. Then Billy, who is awaiting a pardon from the governor, suddenly escapes prison, and Mike knows that there’s only one reason why – because his family is in danger…. As Mike rushes to protect the Cronk family, he puts himself right in the crosshairs of a dangerous gang that will stop at nothing to silence Billy – and Mike…
This is my second book in the Bowditch series, and I am hooked! I love Mike’s character and having spent some time in Central Maine, I love re-visiting that time in my life with all the familiar landmarks! Mike is a bit of a backwoods Lucas Davenport, mixed with a little Jack Reacher! Great read! You will NOT be disappointed!!
I was fortunate to receive this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.
Years ago, Maine State Warden Mike Bowditch was forced to provide testimony that landed his best friend, Billy Cronk, in prison. Now he receives a message from Billy’s wife, stating that Billy desperately needs to see him. Billy is asking him to investigate the background of a new prison guard, telling Mike that it’s a matter of life and death. Mike is reluctant to do so, and Billy ends the conversation telling his friend not to come back. Feeling a bit guilty, Mike does a cursory search on the prison guard, finding little information on her and heads back to the prison, only to learn that Billy is now in the hospital after being stabbed by another inmate. Upon arrival, he learns that Billy saved the life of the guard he had asked Mike to research and is in surgery. As Mike begins to learn of the events leading up to the stabbing, he feels that something is off with the situation.
Meanwhile, he receives an early AM call from an old Warden friend, Gary Pulsifer, who calls to tell Mike that Shadow, a wolf-dog hybrid that he’d had as a pup, has been mortally injured. Shadow had escaped confinement as a pup and has been running free in the woods of Maine for years. The vet fully anticipates Shadow’s death is imminent and gives Mike the crossbow that she removed from his body, Mike wants answers, and is hopeful that he can track the female wolf Shadow’s been seen with, to ensure her safety.
As Mike attempts to locate Shadow’s shooter, he meets resistance at every turn. He also manages to get on the bad side of the town terror, Gorman Peaslee, who wants nothing but revenge. Then Billy, who is awaiting a pardon from the governor, suddenly escapes prison, and Mike knows that there’s only one reason why – because his family is in danger…. As Mike rushes to protect the Cronk family, he puts himself right in the crosshairs of a dangerous gang that will stop at nothing to silence Billy – and Mike…
This is my second book in the Bowditch series, and I am hooked! I love Mike’s character and having spent some time in Central Maine, I love re-visiting that time in my life with all the familiar landmarks! Mike is a bit of a backwoods Lucas Davenport, mixed with a little Jack Reacher! Great read! You will NOT be disappointed!!
I was fortunate to receive this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.
May 20, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the eARC.
This was my first book in the Mike Bowditch series; it appealed to me because of the hybrid wolf...I'm a sucker for books about wolves and dogs.
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough about the hybrid wolf, Shadow, (who got shot and is fighting for his life) and his female wolf companion, now on her own, howling for him. On the whole I mildly enjoyed the book, the rural Maine setting was quite interesting, but the characters didn't really engage me, therefore my rating is 3.5 stars.
This was my first book in the Mike Bowditch series; it appealed to me because of the hybrid wolf...I'm a sucker for books about wolves and dogs.
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough about the hybrid wolf, Shadow, (who got shot and is fighting for his life) and his female wolf companion, now on her own, howling for him. On the whole I mildly enjoyed the book, the rural Maine setting was quite interesting, but the characters didn't really engage me, therefore my rating is 3.5 stars.
August 21, 2019
This is the tenth book in Doiron’s crime series featuring former Maine game warden and now newly 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.”)
There have been other changes in Mike’s life recently besides his promotion. His long-time girlfriend Stacey Stevens, daughter of his father-surrogate Charley, a retired warden, left him and moved to Florida. Mike got a cottage near Bangor for his new job and has been dating Dani Tate for two months. Dani, also a former game warden and now a Maine state trooper assigned to southwestern Maine, would like more from Mike than occasional assignations, but he is still adjusting to life without Stacey. He appreciates the two-hour distance between him and Dani, at least for the present.
Mike is on a fishing vacation when the story begins, but interrupts it after a summons from Billy Cronk, his buddy who is has been in prison for four years serving a seven-to-ten year sentence for manslaughter. Mike feels responsible for the prison sentence: Billy was defending Mike during the killing, but Mike felt compelled to testify to the truth of what happened. Now Billy asks for his help: there’s a new prison guard, Sergeant Dawn Richie, and Billy is suspicious of her. Billy claims it’s a matter of life or death. But Mike also knows Billy has gotten paranoid in prison so he feels reluctant to go on a wild goose chase.
Mike’s vacation gets cut short by a second issue as well: a fellow warden found Shadow, the wolf-dog hybrid rescued by Mike. Shadow had been shot by an arrow and is in mortal danger. A vet is tending to Shadow but told Mike she didn’t hold out much hope for his survival.
Things got more complicated fast. Soon after Mike’s visit, there was a big fight at Billy’s prison and two guards were killed and one was wounded; Billy was in the room when it happened and was also wounded. It was he, however, who was credited with saving the life of the one guard who lived, none other than Dawn Richie. The Governor, in return for Billy’s actions, and also to score political points against his electoral running mate who convicted Billy in the first place, promises to pardon Billy.
But Billy isn’t out of the woods yet. Someone wants revenge for what happened in the prison, and both he and his family are in danger.
Mike uses the rest of his vacation to investigate these two sources of concern: who shot Shadow and why? And what really happened in the prison? The latter is particularly important so he can protect Billy and his large family, with whom Mike is close.
Other issues relevant to Maine are also in play as usual in Doiron’s books, such as the fate of wolves and coyotes in the state. (Doiron quotes Swedish humanist Axel Munthe: “The wild, cruel beast is not behind the bars of the case. He is in front of it.”) In addition, Doiron touches upon the opioid epidemic, and the increasing population of Amish and treatment of them by long-time Mainers. (Maine has the fastest-growing population of Amish in the Northeast.)
And as always, because Mike is sticking his nose into criminal activities the perpetrators would rather stay hidden, his own life soon is in danger as well as the lives of the Cronk family.
Evaluation: I love learning more about Maine from Doiron’s books. I always look forward to more stories in the series.
Rating: 3.5/5
There have been other changes in Mike’s life recently besides his promotion. His long-time girlfriend Stacey Stevens, daughter of his father-surrogate Charley, a retired warden, left him and moved to Florida. Mike got a cottage near Bangor for his new job and has been dating Dani Tate for two months. Dani, also a former game warden and now a Maine state trooper assigned to southwestern Maine, would like more from Mike than occasional assignations, but he is still adjusting to life without Stacey. He appreciates the two-hour distance between him and Dani, at least for the present.
Mike is on a fishing vacation when the story begins, but interrupts it after a summons from Billy Cronk, his buddy who is has been in prison for four years serving a seven-to-ten year sentence for manslaughter. Mike feels responsible for the prison sentence: Billy was defending Mike during the killing, but Mike felt compelled to testify to the truth of what happened. Now Billy asks for his help: there’s a new prison guard, Sergeant Dawn Richie, and Billy is suspicious of her. Billy claims it’s a matter of life or death. But Mike also knows Billy has gotten paranoid in prison so he feels reluctant to go on a wild goose chase.
Mike’s vacation gets cut short by a second issue as well: a fellow warden found Shadow, the wolf-dog hybrid rescued by Mike. Shadow had been shot by an arrow and is in mortal danger. A vet is tending to Shadow but told Mike she didn’t hold out much hope for his survival.
Things got more complicated fast. Soon after Mike’s visit, there was a big fight at Billy’s prison and two guards were killed and one was wounded; Billy was in the room when it happened and was also wounded. It was he, however, who was credited with saving the life of the one guard who lived, none other than Dawn Richie. The Governor, in return for Billy’s actions, and also to score political points against his electoral running mate who convicted Billy in the first place, promises to pardon Billy.
But Billy isn’t out of the woods yet. Someone wants revenge for what happened in the prison, and both he and his family are in danger.
Mike uses the rest of his vacation to investigate these two sources of concern: who shot Shadow and why? And what really happened in the prison? The latter is particularly important so he can protect Billy and his large family, with whom Mike is close.
Other issues relevant to Maine are also in play as usual in Doiron’s books, such as the fate of wolves and coyotes in the state. (Doiron quotes Swedish humanist Axel Munthe: “The wild, cruel beast is not behind the bars of the case. He is in front of it.”) In addition, Doiron touches upon the opioid epidemic, and the increasing population of Amish and treatment of them by long-time Mainers. (Maine has the fastest-growing population of Amish in the Northeast.)
And as always, because Mike is sticking his nose into criminal activities the perpetrators would rather stay hidden, his own life soon is in danger as well as the lives of the Cronk family.
Evaluation: I love learning more about Maine from Doiron’s books. I always look forward to more stories in the series.
Rating: 3.5/5
November 12, 2021
I guess I am reading this series backwards, last week book 11, this week book 10.
Now I know where Shadow, Mike Bowditch's wolf-dog came from.
Bowditch finds Shadow, the wolf-dog hybrid near death, with an arrow still in him. He takes the animal to a local vet who performs surgery, but promises nothing about the wolf-dog's recovery. Now he must find the shooter to learn of the she wolf that Shadow had been seen with throughout the years.
At the same time, Mike is summoned to a local prison at the request of his best friend Billy Cronk, and the man who was put in prison by Mike's testimony. Mike fears his friend is loosing his grip on reality, only to learn something is truly wrong at the prison, when his friend is taken to a local hospital for wounds received while protecting a female CO, the same female CO that he had recently asked Mike to investigate.
Mike has put Billy's family up at a local hotel, then sends them to his house. When Billy escapes prison on the eve of being released, Mike finds Billy's family at his safe cabin, where they are being pursued by the prison's own criminal conspiracy group....
hes to their defense only to find himself outnumbered, outgunned--and maybe out of options.
Now I know where Shadow, Mike Bowditch's wolf-dog came from.
Bowditch finds Shadow, the wolf-dog hybrid near death, with an arrow still in him. He takes the animal to a local vet who performs surgery, but promises nothing about the wolf-dog's recovery. Now he must find the shooter to learn of the she wolf that Shadow had been seen with throughout the years.
At the same time, Mike is summoned to a local prison at the request of his best friend Billy Cronk, and the man who was put in prison by Mike's testimony. Mike fears his friend is loosing his grip on reality, only to learn something is truly wrong at the prison, when his friend is taken to a local hospital for wounds received while protecting a female CO, the same female CO that he had recently asked Mike to investigate.
Mike has put Billy's family up at a local hotel, then sends them to his house. When Billy escapes prison on the eve of being released, Mike finds Billy's family at his safe cabin, where they are being pursued by the prison's own criminal conspiracy group....
hes to their defense only to find himself outnumbered, outgunned--and maybe out of options.
July 23, 2019
In the tenth of the Mike Bowditch series, Mike is on vacation when Aimee Cronk calls to tell him that Billy needs to see him (in prison), a matter of ‘life or death.’ Billy has had paranoid delusions in the past, and Mike is ready to pass this one by, but then there is an altercation at the prison, one Correctional Officer is killed, another injured. One prisoner is dead, two injured including Billy. Billy is seriously wounded.
As Mike races to the hospital, more violence ensues resulting in the death of another inmate. At the same time, the wolf dog Shadow, rescued by Mike, then an escapee, has also been wounded and probably will not survive. Mike has two mysteries to solve: what was going on in the prison and who shot Shadow?
This installment pulls together two storylines from the series, but doesn’t quite resolve them. It’s still a good read and fans will enjoy catching up with Billy, Shadow, and Mike’s shaky relationships. Recommended.
Readalikes:
William Kent Kreuger’s Cork O’Connor mysteries; C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett novels; Cam Richter novels by Peter T. Deutermann; Nevada Barr’s Ann Pigeon stories; Marcia Muller - The Dangerous Hour; Laura Lippman - The Sugar House; Stuart M. Kaminsky – People Who Walk in Darkness; Rick Riordan – Big Red Tequila; Eliot Pattison – Bone Rattler.
Disclosure: Reading copy provided by the publisher.
Pace: Fast; Intensifying
Characters: Well-developed; strong backstories over the series
Story: Intricately plotted
Language/writing style: Compelling; Descriptive; Richly detailed
Tone: Strong sense of place; Suspenseful
Frame: Maine; contemporary
Theme: Solve the puzzle; vacation interrupted
As Mike races to the hospital, more violence ensues resulting in the death of another inmate. At the same time, the wolf dog Shadow, rescued by Mike, then an escapee, has also been wounded and probably will not survive. Mike has two mysteries to solve: what was going on in the prison and who shot Shadow?
This installment pulls together two storylines from the series, but doesn’t quite resolve them. It’s still a good read and fans will enjoy catching up with Billy, Shadow, and Mike’s shaky relationships. Recommended.
Readalikes:
William Kent Kreuger’s Cork O’Connor mysteries; C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett novels; Cam Richter novels by Peter T. Deutermann; Nevada Barr’s Ann Pigeon stories; Marcia Muller - The Dangerous Hour; Laura Lippman - The Sugar House; Stuart M. Kaminsky – People Who Walk in Darkness; Rick Riordan – Big Red Tequila; Eliot Pattison – Bone Rattler.
Disclosure: Reading copy provided by the publisher.
Pace: Fast; Intensifying
Characters: Well-developed; strong backstories over the series
Story: Intricately plotted
Language/writing style: Compelling; Descriptive; Richly detailed
Tone: Strong sense of place; Suspenseful
Frame: Maine; contemporary
Theme: Solve the puzzle; vacation interrupted
August 8, 2019
I received a copy of this book from Goodreads in exchange for a review.
A Phone call from an old friend brings Warden Inspector Mike Bowditch from his vacation to meet up with his friend, inmate Billy Cronk. Mike still feels guilty for his part in the incarceration of his friend so there isn’t much he won’t do for Billy. Except maybe investigate a prison guard. But the next day, two prisoners attempt to murder the female guard, and if it hadn’t been for Billy, Dawn Richie would be dead. Now his heroics are going to get Billy Cronk released from prison, unless someone murders him first.
Exactly what is going on behind the bars of that prison, and who’s behind it? Mike is faced with a playlist of possible suspects to choose from. But protecting his friends Billy and Aimee Cronk, along with a passel of little Cronks, isn’t Mikes only problem. He’s also trying to find out who shot ‘his’ wolf Storm. And if that isn’t enough, his girlfriend has asked him where their relationship is going. Mike finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place as he tries to run two investigations.
The wilds of Maine are the perfect backdrop for the raw, intense story that will keep you guessing to the absolutely perfect ending. Kudos to master storyteller Paul Doiron who has crafted another powerful tale with characters that are realistic and a setting that only adds to the story.
A Phone call from an old friend brings Warden Inspector Mike Bowditch from his vacation to meet up with his friend, inmate Billy Cronk. Mike still feels guilty for his part in the incarceration of his friend so there isn’t much he won’t do for Billy. Except maybe investigate a prison guard. But the next day, two prisoners attempt to murder the female guard, and if it hadn’t been for Billy, Dawn Richie would be dead. Now his heroics are going to get Billy Cronk released from prison, unless someone murders him first.
Exactly what is going on behind the bars of that prison, and who’s behind it? Mike is faced with a playlist of possible suspects to choose from. But protecting his friends Billy and Aimee Cronk, along with a passel of little Cronks, isn’t Mikes only problem. He’s also trying to find out who shot ‘his’ wolf Storm. And if that isn’t enough, his girlfriend has asked him where their relationship is going. Mike finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place as he tries to run two investigations.
The wilds of Maine are the perfect backdrop for the raw, intense story that will keep you guessing to the absolutely perfect ending. Kudos to master storyteller Paul Doiron who has crafted another powerful tale with characters that are realistic and a setting that only adds to the story.
August 9, 2019
Doiron is a passionate author who writes eloquently about the wilderness and the creatures who inhabit it in his beloved Maine. With his descriptions the forests spring to life before the readers' eyes and the sounds fill your ears. His creation of Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch has given readers a hero all of us can admire and pull for. (Who could resist someone who cares for a gray wolf?)
The story opens when Mike receives an SOS phone call from one of his oldest friends - Billy Cronk. With reluctance Mike had put Billy in prison (leaving his wife and six children.) Nonetheless, Billy wants Mike to investigate a female prison guard with a suspicious background. Mike can't turn his friend down but all too soon there is a brutal outbreak at the prison and the guard is seriously injured.
A second phone call spells more trouble for Mike when he learns that Shadow, a wolf-hybrid, he had befriended, is on the brink of death - shot by an arrow of all things. As soon as Shadow is in the hands of a caring doctor Mike tries to find whoever had done the shooting but is blocked at every turn.
Almost Midnight is fast-paced, rich in suspense with a nail-biting finish all wrapped in the remarkable Maine countryside as only Doiron can describe it.
Don't miss it!
Posted by Gail Cooke
The story opens when Mike receives an SOS phone call from one of his oldest friends - Billy Cronk. With reluctance Mike had put Billy in prison (leaving his wife and six children.) Nonetheless, Billy wants Mike to investigate a female prison guard with a suspicious background. Mike can't turn his friend down but all too soon there is a brutal outbreak at the prison and the guard is seriously injured.
A second phone call spells more trouble for Mike when he learns that Shadow, a wolf-hybrid, he had befriended, is on the brink of death - shot by an arrow of all things. As soon as Shadow is in the hands of a caring doctor Mike tries to find whoever had done the shooting but is blocked at every turn.
Almost Midnight is fast-paced, rich in suspense with a nail-biting finish all wrapped in the remarkable Maine countryside as only Doiron can describe it.
Don't miss it!
Posted by Gail Cooke
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