Stay Hidden – Paul Doiron

I was fortunate to receive this novel as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.

Mike Bowditch is a member of the Maine Warden Service and has been recently promoted to investigator in the Bangor office. While the majority of the team is out investigating a hunting accident, Mike fields a call for yet another hunting mishap – a young woman has reportedly been shot dead on a remote Maine island, and the hunter is in custody. When Mike arrives to investigate the shooting, he learns that the alleged shooter denies the incident, but admits to finding her on the ground, leaving the investigation wide open for Mike. Was it really a hunting accident? Or something much more sinister?

Anyone who’s ever spent time in rural Maine knows how secretive and protective of another that Mainers can be. As Mike attempts to get to the bottom of the incident, he finds himself thwarted at every turn – even by the island’s constable himself. Then, out of the blue, the victim’s sister arrives, stunning the islanders with her resemblance to her sister – and she starts looking for her own answers…

I very much enjoyed this book, the characters, and the multi-dimensional aspect of their lives. Mike Bowditch is a strong, solid character and I look forward to seeing him in future novels spent quite a few years living in central Maine, so reading of places I was familiar with made this book extra special for me. A fabulous read, and a must for mystery/crime/thriller fans!!

I had never read anything by this author and was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was surprised to learn it is part of a series because I didn't feel I was missing anything as is often the case in series books.

The writing is so descriptive I could practically hear the characters talking. Mike is an appealing main character (I was surprised when it was revealed he is only 29. He seemed older and more mature than that). The story has delightful twists and turns leaving the reader guessing as to 'whodunnit' until the very end.

A very enjoyable read!

Newly appointed Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch is called to investigate a woman who has been shot to death in a "hunting incedent" off the coast of Maine. As it turns out, the woman is a controversial author who was staying on the island to interview a once-Hollywood insider now turned island recluse. The next day, the same author steps off a boat alive and sends the entire island population into shock. If she is alive, who is the dead woman?

Stay Hidden was a quick read full of twists and turns. I was surprised to find that it was part of a series because it reads very much like a stand-alone. The island setting is extremely creepy and really enhanced the creep factor in the book. Overall I definitely recommend this book for those who enjoy mysteries and thrillers.

An intriguing murder mystery set on a remote island in Maine. Mike Bowditch is a Game Warden investigating an accidental shooting while hunting, but...what happens next is anything but accidental. A good old fashioned detective story, this book is filled with a cast of secretive suspects, plot twists, and subtle humor. The island of Maquoit is someplace I hope to never visit!! While part of a series, this is the first book I’ve read by Doiron and it read well as a stand alone. A very good read from start to finish!

Maquoit Island is not a friendly place, not to journalists, not to outsiders, and not to Mike Bowditch who has been sent there to investigate a hunting incident. The person everyone THOUGHT was shot by a hunter- Ariel Winters- is alive so the mystery expands. Some of this is a tad repetitive but there were enough twists to keep me engaged. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I liked the details about the deer and the island. This is for fans of the park service/wildlife expert procedural genre.

Thank you St. Martins Press/Minotaur Books for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.  This title is set to hit shelves July 3.

This was my first book by author, Paul Doiron, and my first true crime detective story.  

It was a very slow burn  for me - but I guess that is how real-life crime investigations go.  I found the author took a little long on unveiling things and spent a lot of time on descriptions of the island and overall geography of the story's setting (which was pretty darn creepy I must admit), but overall I thought it was well written, quick and easy to read.  

I  enjoyed going through the motions of the investigation with Warden Investigator, Mike Bowditch, and experiencing the twists and turns that he faced with his long list of probable suspects.  

The plot was well thought out, and although the ending was somewhat satisfying I expected a bit more punch. I think I have just been reading such fast-paced thrillers lately, I was expecting some of the same excitement.  Regardless, this one had my attention from cover to cover.

The book is the ninth instalment in a series by the author, which I haven't read, and might explain my lack of appreciation for the details; but I didn't feel lost in any way with the characters given I didn't have the background from his previous books.

A great mystery overall, and a great pick for true crime investigation lovers.  If you are a suspense thrill seeker, this may be a bit too slow for you but an enticing read nonetheless.

My Rating: 3.5/5

This story is a murder mystery, set in Maine on a remote island, only accessible by boat or fair weather plane travel. It is written very well and I enjoyed the story. The character development for Mike Bowditch, the new investigator and Ariel Evans, the journalist, along with the locals on the island was done very well. You could actually envision the clothing they wore, trucks they drove, the boats and the morning café where all the locals gathered to catch up on the news.
It was a quick and easy read, held my interest and I was not able to figure out the murderer until the end. The author dropped enough hints and motives that it could have been several of the suspects.
This is the first book I’ve read by Paul Doiron and was not disappointed. I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This one gets 4****s.

I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.
I loved this book, This book drew me in from the first page and I couldn't read fast enough to get to end. I was on the edge of my seat. I did not figure out who did it till the reveal. I like when that happens.

Among a rising tide of unreliable narrators and unlikable characters, Maine author Paul Doiron offers something timeless: an engaging series centred on an honourable detective in a distinct setting.

STAY HIDDEN is the ninth Mike Bowditch mystery, and sees the game warden newly promoted to Warden Investigator and sent to remote Maquoit Island following the fatal shooting of a controversial journalist during hunting season. The open-and-shut case turns into anything but, especially when the dead woman later arrives on the ferry, intent on interviewing a notorious hermit who fled Hollywood years before following his wife’s death. Hemmed in by feuding islanders, a media furore, and impatient bosses, Bowditch struggles to prove himself as he fights the fog, figuratively and literally.

Throughout an intriguing and clever mystery, Doiron fashions an exquisite portrait of isolated communities on the Atlantic seaboard, full of hardy lobstering families facing many challenges while living a modern frontier lifestyle. Strong and nuanced characterisation blends with a striking sense of place.

This is astute and multifaceted crime writing.

Stay Hidden is the 9th book in the Mike Bowditch series by Paul Doiron. I have read all the books in this series and it is definitely one of my favorites. Paul Doiron is an excellent writer and story teller. Every book in this series is a fantastic read. Stay Hidden is a compelling addition to the series.

Mike Bowditch, now an investigator with the Maine Game Wardens, is sent to a remote island off the Maine coast where someone has been shot and killed by a hunter. But was it a hunting accident? Or murder?

Maquoit Island is far offshore. Lobstermen populate the island but it is also home to summer homes. One of the summer homes was rented by a famous author and she is found dead. The twists in this book keep coming and Bowditch has plenty of suspects including an old hermit, her lobsterman lover, the lobsterman's wife...the list goes on. And there is a rivalry on the island between two families that divide the islanders.

This book was quite the ride. Everything takes place within a few short hours. Mike is tested over and over again and comes through every time. I could not put this book down. So good!!!

Highly recommend Stay Hidden by Paul Doiron.

Doiron writes another exciting mystery featuring Maine game warden Mike Bowditch, now a detective investigator. As always, Doiron's sense of place, here an isolated island off the coast of Maine, and wonderful characters from Maine who just pop off the page highlight this outstanding mystery of an alluring investigative writer shot while renting out a house for the winter. Full of twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing until the end, this is a solid A+ entry in the series. My readers who love CJ Box and William Kent Krueger are bound to enjoy this.

Paul Doiron continues to give us new assignments for Maine Warden Mike Bowditch, as well as another new area of the state. This time Mike finds himself as the only available law enforcement person called to an isolated island off Maine's coast to investigate the (accidental??) death of a young woman by an unknown deer hunter . There's a real plot bombshell about 1/3 of the way through the story that kept me up half the night reading. We are treated to an expose of the problems of unregulated deer populations, unregulated family feuds and the angst of jurisdictional in-fighting. Warden Bowditch continues to battle his inner devils and the author continues to enhance our knowledge and love of the Maine wilderness. It has something for everybody- romantics, wild life environmentalists and police procedural buffs.

Thanks once again to NetGalley and the Publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review "Stay Hidden" but Paul Doiron.
Mike Bowditch is back, and now he's been promoted to Warden Investigator. When the wardens are called to Maquoit Island - a remote, insular and forbidding little East Coast island to investigate an apparent Hunting Incident (not Accident, as is stressed over and over), Warden Investigator Bowditch finds himself fogged in and the only law enforcement presence on the Island (except for the local constable, who seems to be less than useless).
It appears that a noted Journalist and Author - Ariel Evans - has been shot in the back yard of her rental; possibly by a hunter who mistook her for a deer (apparently, that happens a lot!). Ostensibly, Ms. Evans was on Maquoit to track down and interview a former Hollywood star-turned-hermit, who was accused but never convicted of his wife's murder.
As the investigation begins - and is hampered by the entire population's reluctance to speak and everyone's supposed alibis - the ferry arrives; with Ariel Evans on board!
Surprise! It was her almost identical sister Miranda, who had stolen Ariel''s identity and decided to wreak havoc on the island.
This story has it all: infidelity, drugs, alcohol, unrequited love, Nazis, fishermen, strongmen.....
Beset on all sides: by his bosses who don't think he's up to the task; by the Islanders who are downright hostile; by the victim's sister, who is single-minded in her pursuit of the killer, Warden Bowditch attempts to get to the truth of the matter (and eventually does).
There's a nail-biter of a boat chase at the climax of the investigation, and the truth comes out.
Recommended.

Short Take: Wait, who was that guy?

*Note - I received a free advance copy of this book to review.*

Living on an island seems like it should have a lot of perks. I mean, you have 360 degrees of beach, right? Unfortunately, according to Stay Hidden, that’s about the only thing going for island living (at least islands off the coast of Maine), because it sure does seem to be pretty miserable for everyone.

Newly minted Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch is on his first case. A woman has been shot to death outside her rented cabin on a small remote Maine island, and although it appears to be a simple hunting accident (excuse me, INCIDENT, this is Very Important and repeated many times), things quickly take a turn for the complicated.

First off, when Mike takes the call, he gets the impression that someone has already confessed to the shooting, but of course that isn’t the case. Secondly, although the corpse is identified as super-famous journalist Ariel Evans, she turns up the next day, alive and well and ready to dig into another juicy story.

It’s a very intriguing setup, but it just doesn’t work.

I can’t exactly say that Stay Hidden was bad, but there were just so many things that could have made it better. For example, all of the descriptions of the book online state that Ariel is not the woman who was murdered, and to me, that would have much for a much better surprise-reveal.

There’s also far too much of a lecturing tone to many passages. I’m sure that Mr. Doiron knows a lot of stuff about a lot of stuff, but long sections on minutiae of forensics, or what happens when deer are overpopulated, or meteorological trivia and so on just slow the pace. Throw in adding a new character or five every couple of pages, and my brain just wanted to quit.

Which brings me to my biggest problem with this one - the massive cast of characters. The book takes place on an island with a population of eighty-nine, and I swear, over the course of a slim 300 pages, we are introduced to every one of them, and also given their relationships to everyone else on the island, which is especially fun when it’s a prominent family whose names all sound alike. I got tired of having to stop and try to remember or flip back to where I first encountered that character, to the point that I gave up and just trusted that whatever they were doing/saying in any given scene would be sufficient to jog my memory eventually.

All in all, Stay Hidden is a serviceable, although somewhat dull and formulaic mystery.



The Nerd’s Rating: TWO HAPPY NEURONS (and a nice venison steak. Because I live in an area where deer do a lot of damage, and screw those mangy jerks.)

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.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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 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 fishermen, 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.

Stay Hidden was a tough book for me to complete. When I requested the book after reading the blurb, I didn't realize it was book 9 of a series. I felt extremely lost not knowing the backstory of the main character.
The story itself dragged out. It is an extremely slow paced book and I found myself getting bored with it.
I have not posted my review on Goodreads yet. Thank you for the opportunity of reading an advanced copy though.

Didn't realize this was part of a series when I picked it up. That made it a little more difficult to get invested in the story since I always felt like I was missing something.

The writing is solid. Characters are good and a few twists and turns round it out well.

As a lifelong Mainer, Paul Doiron is a writer that I absolutely love. Although many of his settings are fictional , they are taken from real Maine places. The books are very relateable and fun to read. I really enjoyed the latest in the series and will recommend to others Thank you to the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Shades of the 40’s movie-noir LAURA, Stay Hidden is a modern day who-dunnit from author Paul Doiron.

Set on the isolated Maine island of Maquoit, where the residents are distrustful, set in their ways, and every single one is a suspect, STAY HIDDEN features Game Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch as the primary investigator of what every resident on the island says is a standard hunting accident, but proves to be something much more.

Called to Maquoit after a woman is shot and killed during deer hunting season, the pieces of her death don’t add up to a simple accident. The woman, an investigative reported named Ariel Evans, was supposedly writing a new book, but Bowditch finds no computer in her rental house, or anything else depicting a writer’s life. What he does find are dozens of drawings of the island’s supposed hermit.

It doesn’t take him long to discover that the murdered woman was a drug addict, having an illicit affair with one of the island residents, and that the population as a whole disliked her.

They day after he arrives, a woman gets off the island ferry who is a dead ringer for the murdered woman, and this is why I likened the book to LAURA. This is the real Ariel Evans. The woman murdered was her sister, MIranda. Just like in that famous film-noir, the wrong woman was murdered.

Or was she?

Did someone kill Miranda thinking it was her famous sister because of a grudge against Ariel? Bowditch isn’t sure, but the more questions he asks of the island inhabitants, the more he is convinced Miranda was murdered intentionally.

This was the first book I’ve read by Doiron. The character of Mike Bowditch is a recurring one, and although I haven’t read any of the previous in the series, there were enough crumbs of backstory built into this one that I felt as if I was caught up on the world the author has created.

A little long on exposition and island descriptions for my taste ( But that’s me and nothing negative about the book itself) this story was face paced and intriguing. The ending was satisfying and well plotted out.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this work.