I really enjoyed this book. The writing of the storyline was descriptive an informative. Although it is a thriller, equal focus was put on providing a strong understanding of various birds habitats and habits. The characters were often intense in their beliefs and focus. The mystery was well plotted and engaging. By the end the book left me wanting to know more.

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

This seemed like my kind of story, but I lost interest. I'm sure it will find its audience. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Hatchet Island was my introduction to the Mike Bowditch series which may be why I was unable to connect with any of the characters or the author’s writing style. It is possible the strength of this series has evolved from past iterations. The story dragged, just when I’d find a rhythm there would be another meaningless entry that blocked the flow. I was looking forward to a book describing scenery of one of my favorite states and instead I got another typical gory mystery with little substance.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Paul Doiron for the electronic ARC.
#NetGalley #HatchetIsland

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for the opportunity to read “Hatchet Island” by Paul Doiron. As much as I enjoyed the story I came away from the book feeling as if I was missing a few pieces of the narrative puzzle: in preparing to write a few thoughts about the story I just found to my surprise that I just completed the 13th book in the “ Mike Bowditch” series. I met the aforementioned Mike Bowditch and his lady friend Stacey Stevens as they take a kayaking vacation to a puffin research station on the coast of Maine. Despite the bucolic setting mystery and murder occur, which messes a bit with the peace and quiet of the puffins (and their sanctuary.)
Mr. Doiron is a very good writer. The “whodunit” is solid and the characters are well developed. After an early splash of action the story quiets down for a while. The mystery is not terribly sophisticated and contrasts with the vivid violence (but no spoilers here!). I am glad that I received an Advanced Readers Copy and may go back and read a previous book in the series.

Another wonderful book in this series.Puffin Island was very interesting, the plot and characters spot on as always.

Great descriptions of Maine and as ever, a good tale. Doiron’s characters are believable and interesting. Mike Bowditch has again taken us on quite a journey, he is a compelling hero.

I have read all of Doiron's Mike Bowditch, Maine game warden, series. This is one of the better ones. First, it takes place in islands off the coast of Maine, which seems to invigorate the writing and story-telling. Second, there is a wider cast of characters, and third, Bowditch's girlfriend (who left him 3 or4 books ago) is back and is now more of crime fighting companion.
The story starts out when Bowditch's girlfriend gets a help call from a good friend on an island that is a bird sanctuary. They kayak out to the island, spend the night on another nearby island and discover the next day that the friend and one other person are dead and a third is missing, and the whodunnit begins.
Things went pretty well up to about 70% through the book. At that point, for no reason that aids the storyline, one of the main side characters almost dies of a bee sting and from there through conjecture, intuition, and past stories rumored, the mystery is solved.
Up to the point of the bee sting the book was well written. I'm not sure why the author put in the bee sting event; I can't find any relation between it and the resolution of the book. Nonetheless this is a stronger Mike Bowditch novel and I highly recommend it to Doiron fans and to newcomers as well.

Paul Doiron and Mike Bowditch hit it out of the park yet again. What starts as a weekend getaway devolves into tragedy, but who's the perpetrator and why? A wildlife investigator, Bowditch isn't accustomed to homicide cases but when he's the guy on scene, the investigation falls to him. In typical Doiron fashion, the reader is kept guessing until the end and the case is resolved in spectacular fashion. As someone who works in the field of natural resources law enforcement, I appreciate the research Doiron undertakes and the level of detail he includes. As always, I'm anxiously awaiting the next chapter.

Another good chapter in the Mike Bowditch series. This particular story didn't grab me like the last three did for whatever reason. Maybe it was just me. Still worth a read for sure.

Even though this is book 13 of the series and a new author to me, it can be read as a stand alone. I couldn't put this book down. Lots of twists and turns definitely kept my interest. Very well written. What a great writer. Get this book you will love it!! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book and introducing me to a new author to read!!

#HatchetIsland
#NetGalley

relationships, relationship-issues, family-dynamics, friendship, friction, multiple-murder, closed-circle-mystery, island-life, isolation, Maine, malice, action, game-warden, suspense, suspicion, survivor's guilt, crime-fiction, foul-weather, riveting, bird-sanctuary, "the rich are different", mentor, research, sabotage*****
Tense and riveting most of the time, information gathering and character study the rest. This one really kept my nose to the page for the entire length. The publisher's blurb is honest and teased me into wanting to read it. I've only read one other in the series so I do think that while this one can stand alone it is one of those insidious books that made me want to go back and binge read all from the beginning! Great read.
I requested and received a free e-book from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

First, my thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. The following is my independent opinion.

I found Paul Doiron’s “Hatchet Island” to be a very absorbing mystery. I’d never read anything by Mr. Doiron before, but I certainly will again. He reminds me a little of southern author James Lee Burke. The big difference, of course, is that Mr. Doiron writes about Maine.

Mike Bowditch is a game warden investigator. Stacy, his significant other, is an EMT who once interned at a sanctuary/research station for endangered sea birds located on a small island off the coast of Maine. Kayaking to a nearby island for a camping trip, Mike and Stacy stop off at the station to visit with Stacy’s best friend and find tensions high. Research assistants are being harassed by lobstermen. There’s evidence that someone’s been trespassing. And Dr. Maeve McLeary--the project’s fierce, elderly director who has become increasingly erratic--is now missing. Much later that evening, having continued to their campsite, Mike and Stacy hear a single gunshot from across the water. Returning to the research station, they find two of the three assistants murdered and the other vanished. Now, Mike and Stacy are compelled to find out who committed these atrocities and why.

They say: “Write what you know,” and it’s clear that Mr. Doiron has done exactly that. A resident of Maine, he has given readers a mystery that abounds with information about the Maine seacoast, its flora and fauna, and especially its sea birds. He describes it so well that readers will be able to feel the freezing ocean waters, smell the ocean fog, and taste the salt air.

His characters are well-drawn. The heroes are likable. The villains are reprehensible. Supporting characters add lots of color and flavor.

And there’s plenty of mystery and adventure to keep readers turning the pages to find out what happens next.

Although this is Mr. Doiron’s 13th offering in the Mike Bowditch series, it stands alone well. I didn’t feel at all hindered or lost because I hadn’t read the previous novels.

All in all, "Hatchet Island" is very good entertainment. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Doiron’s work.

I read this as a free advanced free reader copy. This did not influence my review at all.

I had a little trouble getting into this book but about 50 pages in I was hooked and loved it. The only thing I did not necessarily get is why title it Hatchett Island? Very little of this book actually takes place there.

Characters are all interesting.

Thoroughly enjoyed the Maine and island setting of this mystery thriller. The steady pace, well-constructed characters, and unique plot makes for an entertaining story.

I am grateful to Mr. Doiron and St Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for access to this advanced reader copy. I have been a fan of the long-running Mike Bowditch series for his vivid descriptions of the Maine wilderness and the range of people who inhabit it.

Mike seems to have settled into his on-again-off-again romantic relationship, and this novel shows them working together. The remote islands off the Maine coast are another set of characters, with intriguing histories and dangers.

The mystery here is not terribly complex but the violence is jarring, as has been the trend in this series. Justice may be hard to come by, as the elites seem confident they can manipulate the legal issues. That ambiguity gave the ending some welcome tension, as I found this a pleasant if not stellar addition to Mr. Doiron’s series.
3 stars

Hatchet Island by Paul Doiron
Rating: 5 stars

Mike Bowditch is back as series regular up to an amazing 13 book. Mike and his girlfriend Stacey are out on the main coast kayaking to a remote bird San at the request of one of the researches. He’s on high alert when the researcher asks to bring his gun along. All signs lead to big trouble as Mike connects the dots of what exactly is a very weird set of people on the Maine coastal islands

Comments: Doiron is a fun author and continues to build a great series. Doiron compares nicely with Peter Heller or CJ Box. Great books.

I was in the middle of another book when I got the notification that I was receiving an ARC of this book. Needless to say I put the other book away and immediately began this book by one of my favorite writers.

I love this series! I love the settings, and especially the development of the main character. I must admit I am not crazy about this island locale. I enjoy Mike's reconnaissance into the Maine Woods, but that is just a personal reaction. It doesn't take anything away from the story line or the secrets that will put Mike and those he loves in danger.

This one should absolutely go on your to-read list. Highly recommended!

This book was sent to me by Netgalley electronically for review. Mystery…murder…friendship…likable characters and some not so much. Trusting others…not trusting…staying alive…themes running throughout this book… the story is a little slow at times but the guessing continues. Enjoy this mystery…

I really loved the detail and imagery in this book. The plot kept me guessing but I felt I was missing information at times.

Overall, would recommend this book and would love to read more from this author.

This book just wasn’t really my cup of tea. It was a little draggy, overall the storyline was good but a bit predictable.