The Imposter

Mike Bowditch #10.5

by Paul Doiron

In this original short story in the bestselling Mike Bowditch mystery series by Paul Doiron, Mike is confronted with a case of stolen identity.When the body of a young man is pulled from a submerged car in Roque Harbor, rookie game warden Mike Bowditch is shocked when the man’s driver’s license identifies him as none other than…Mike Bowditch. For weeks, Mike and his colleagues have been fielding reports of a man terrorizing the locals while posing as a game warden, wielding a plastic pin-on badge and claiming to be “Warden Bowditch”. Who is the imposter, and how did he end up dead in the bottom of a harbor? Mike must uncover the truth in order to clear his own name.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Short Stories, Audiobook, Thriller, Novella, Mystery Thriller

49 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2020

About the author

Paul 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.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I'm certainly not going to give something I wrote fewer than five stars!

Seriously, I hope you enjoy this previously untold story from Mike's early years as a game warden.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mike Bowditch is on the dock at Roque Harbor watching as a man's body is recovered from the water. The state police divers eventually bring the body to the surface, and they find that a is a driver’s license is still on the body which tells then the dead man’s name...or who he was claiming to be and that was a surprise. It allowed them to determine what he had been doing these past few weeks.

This is without a doubt the shortest story that I have ever encountered. I have always liked the Mike Bowditch series; it is never a disappointment. The story was simply way, way too short. It literally took less than an hour to listen to someone else read the entire thing. Then I read that it was a "teaser" for the next full-length book, I could have done without that...I hate those "previews of coming attractions" with movies, and I don't need it with my books.

If you are a fan of Mike Bowditch and are familiar with, and really like the series, you may enjoy this tale that is set in Mike's earlier days...it just didn't appeal to me.

I'll give the story content and the subject of the story 3 stars... but the idea behind the way it was presented would only get 2.

[Frosty61 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
As always with Doiron's books, I loved the Maine setting in this short story (but am not sure lupines bloom in July - just a niggling detail) and the mystery surrounding Mike's imposter grabbed me from the start. The writing and pace are great, but I think the strength lies in the grizzled characters. I'm not used to the short story format so was caught by surprise at the abrupt ending, but it was still an enjoyable read.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella (10.5) in Paul Doiron's "Mike Bowditch" series!

[Arianna Mclaughlin (arianna.reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul Doiron is a great writer who excels at creating atmosphere and complex characters. This novella gives you a taste of his talents and brings you into the world of Mike Bowditch and the game warden life in Maine.

After reading a few of his books, I’ve realized the subject matter isn’t for me. but this is completely based on personal preferences. His writing is stellar and the stories are complex and insightful.

[Kevintipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Imposter: A Mike Bowditch Short Mystery is set many years ago when Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch was new to Down East Maine. In those early days, he had a bit of a reputation and his new boss is less than friendly. As the short story opens, Bowditch is on the dock at Roque Harbor watching as a body is recovered from the water.

It is a pretty July morning as the state police divers are eventually successful in bringing the body to the surface. The body has a driver’s license with the dead man’s name on it. Who he was claiming to be and what he was doing these past few weeks is the driving focus of this entertaining short story.

This read also includes a preview of the coming release this June of One Last Lie. The preview has the first two chapters of what appears to be a very engaging read. The book is currently scheduled to be released June 30, 2020.

The Mike Bowditch Series never disappoints and Imposter: A Mike Bowditch Short Mystery is a good one. A fast and fun read, it can safely be read as a standalone if you have never read the series. If you are familiar with the series, you will enjoy this tale set from Bowditch’s early days.


I purchased the eBook using funds in my Amazon Associate account.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2020

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything about this character and about this series!

[Q · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending was super abrupt. Like, 'are we sure that's the ending and the audiobook didn't accidentally cut out?' abrupt.

The story was enjoyable until the end. I did not get any closure since we were in the middle of investigating a crime and did not see it resolved, which gave the mystery a 'what's the point?' vibe. The story concluded by finding another body tied into the case and then cutting out. It went 🤷‍♀️ 'good enough!' 🤷‍♀️ and rolled into a preview for the next book in the series. This left me wondering if the killer had been revealed and I had just missed it somehow, because surely a book wouldn't end without a hint of resolution 🤔 yet this one seems to have done that. Wild.

I liked the premise and what existed of the story, but that "ending" felt incomplete. It took the fun out of the mystery leaving the case unresolved.

[Adrianne M · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok, prefer the novels, love the character of Mike....I guess I just want more..🤓

[Michael Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short incomplete story

Usual Paul Doiron, have read All to date. Keeps it interesting and Mike Bowditch is a legend by now. Location of imposter is very close to home which adds interest. Wish it hadn't ended so soon.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Imposter is another short story set in the universe of Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch. Unlike many of the other stories in this series, this one actually features Mike. It’s set at a time when he is stationed in an area known as Downeast Maine. There are a few plot points that refer back to the books in the series, so this is one I don’t think you could pick up and understand some of the finer points without being invested in the series already.

Mike gets a call one evening after reports that a Maine Game Warden pulled over a car filled with teenage girls and frightened them. It’s in his territory, and the man who pulled them over identified himself as Maine Game Warden, Mike Bowditch. However, the driver of the vehicle says it wasn’t Mike when he appears for verification.

There are more reports of this mysterious person passing himself off as Mike Bowditch. When the body is removed from a submerged truck in Roque Harbor, they find identification in the man’s wallet that says he’s Mike Bowditch. Mystery solved, or is it?

Mike feels a connection to this man who impersonated him, and wants to get to the bottom of why he killed himself. This takes him on a quest that involves some names familiar to those who have read the series.

To read my complete review, please go to The Imposter by Paul Doiron – A Deep Dive into the Consequences of Child Neglect

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this as I grab anything I can from this series. I will say that if you listen to it don't sneeze or you will miss the story. It is by far the shortest short story I've read. More like a couple missing chapters from a day in the life of Mike. Still well written and still Mike. But short enough that I listened twice thinking I had truly missed something. It is only about an hour long.

[Cherise · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story line was OK, although it wasn't something I would normally read. There were problems with the recording. Twice during the narration, there were audio files overlapping one another for a few seconds. I even heard the narrator say, "Start on page 18." I was a little startled. This lack of attention to detail was quite a distraction.

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this short story about one of my favorite game wardens. This is an earlier story but as usual well written. I already got the next one in the series that will be released later this year. I strongly recommend that y'all try this.

[Tad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is interesting and the narration is very good. It is less a short story, however, than an incomplete book. It feels more like the beginning of a longer story but just leaves you hanging at the end.

[Tyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good while it lasted, but I felt like this story was not finished. We still don't know why the car the was in the water or how exactly the guy ended up with Mike's ID. The first book I am bummed about.

[Paris (kerbytejas) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt it ended rather abruptly.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very short. Not enough time to develop characters. This was my first Mike Bowditch read, so I knew nothing about him. I liked him, but the other characters were not good people. Felt sorry for the guy who was impersonating Mike, but his dad was a terrible person. Would have liked more info on their relationship which I may have missed by not starting at the beginning of the series. Also a very abrupt ending to this short story. I’m not convinced that my questions of why this happened, were really answered.
I’m going back to the first book in the series and forgetting about this story. Hope it will make more sense after I’ve read the start of the series.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing The Imposter I felt like I'd read a whole book. It's a short read, made even shorter by how fast I flew through the pages. Paul Doiron writes with such skill and flow that 20 pages can seem like hundreds and characters you meet only briefly stay with you long after the story is over. Just pick up any Doiron book and be swept away, eager to be on to the next tale. Thank goodness he can pump out a book a year, because any longer would be a wait too long for me.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of the Mike Bowditch series. This short story however was mediocre. It did not have much of an ending. Also, it was an audio book. The guy who read the book had no concept of the Maine accent big fan and made the characters sound like bad Italian gangsters. If you are a solid fan, you might like it. If you are looking to get the flavor of Paul Doiron, read one of his full-length books.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good short story

I've enjoyed the Mike Bowditch series. Read every one and never got bored. This story is about a young man using Mike's name and a fake game warden ID to harass teen drivers, among other bad acts. Doiron excels at quirky Maine characters and well drawn descriptions that leave me feeling like I actually spent time in the backwoods and small towns of Maine.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great start to a short story, but the author never finished the story. It abruptly ended without any resolution to the story. Could be really good with an ending. Otherwise I have enjoyed all of the other books by this author in the Mike Bowditch series and am looking forward to the next book.

[Emily Roderick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting look into Washington County Maine and a realistic one I might add. I didn't think this added as much to the series as others have, but nonetheless it's fun to listen to books about Maine.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads like a good start to a book. The end appears the author was rushed to submit something and ran out of time to finish. He added an excerpt from a later book to use as filler. I was disappointed. the full length books are very good. Just got a little lazy or had a rushed deadline.

[Marseydoats · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate audio books in general, but this one was especially grating with the horrid accents. The story itself was sad, and none of the supporting characters I like so much. Should have probably skipped this one...

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, short story that leads into another book.. it was great as a stand-alone, but was also a great book.

Always lots of action, adventure and thrills with this series.

5 stars

Happy Reading!

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The imposter by Paul Doiron
.
A super short story. Pulling a body up from the water has Mike scratching his head. Someone running around saying they are in deed Warden Mike Bowditch. Now the real Mike has to clear his name and find out why someone is pretending to be him.

[Elaina R. Matthews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listen to this book on a road trip. I did not like the narrator’s voice. Story was okay. The description of this book, according to the author, was not as mysterious. The identity theft angle was about two sentences long.

[Dave Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good action, but too short to really get into. It was over before I really got into it. And the unanswered question: Who dunnit? I really enjoy Paul's stories, but the protagonist Bowditch is such a callous prick!

[Rachel Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another short story--since Goodreads counts them as books, it's an easy and fast way to binge finish my idiotic yearly goal with only 3 days left. Anyway, didn't love this one--sad all the way around, but oh well--it counts