I really liked the concept of this book. I enjoy any kind of bottleneck episode type of story where people are trapped in one place and have to deal with something/one bad happening. It was easy to listen to with a good narrator. I was unable to finish it before it disappeared from my NetGalley app, but enjoyed what I did get to hear. Thank you for the opportunity!

I should start this out by saying I did not know that this was part of a series until I started reading the book. It worked well as a standalone, however I do feel like I was missing some of the background by not reading the other books. Overall, this was a decent, fast paced read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hatchet Island by Paul Doiron was an entertaining audiobook. At first, I didn't know this book was a part of a series, so I was a bit bummed I didn't realize this. Even so, Hatchet Island can be read or listened to as a standalone!

The novel starts immediately with many unexpected things! It is an intriguing story with reveals and many suspenseful moments; I relished the mystery and plot. The characters were fun! I will read the rest of the series soon! I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook from NetGalley.

A trio of creepy islands just off the coast of Maine has pulls Mike Bowditch right out of a holiday with his best girl, Stacey Stevens, putting him square into his law enforcement role. A kayak weekend to visit one of Stacy's college roommates currently involved in researching migratory birds, A day later, all but one of the research team is found slaughtered on the island, and although the local authorities are focused on the lone survivor, there are plenty of suspects. Excellent mystery, atmospheric, and baffling. With both human foes and nature to overcome, Mike and Stacey find themselves in real danger. Henry Leyva, does his usual wonderful job of narrations. This is another audiobooks I could hardly turn off!

Thank you so much Macmillan Audio for the chance to listen to this audiobook prior to release.

This book is part of a series but also works well as a standalone.

Admittedly, I was not able to finish the book because of lack of interest and some disturbing content.

The audio performance itself was very well done though!

This is out now!

Maine Game Warden, Mike Bowditch and his biologist girlfriend Stacey Stevens have been planning a sea kayaking / camping trip to the Maine Seabird Initiative, a sanctuary to puffins and terns where Stacey had once previously been a project manager. She had received request from her friend Kendra Ballard asking her to come with Mike after the staff has faced some harassment from disgruntled lobstermen recently. Things seem to take a more sinister turn when the project manager goes missing and gunshots during the night lead to the deaths of (2) interns. Mike's job is to figure out what is going on and why a peaceful sanctuary has ended up a crime scene.

This is book #13 in the Mike Bowditch Maine Game Warden series but, this can easily be read as a standalone mystery. What I love about this series is that it's very easy to pick up any title in the series and not feel lost. The writing is always very good and the Maine setting, descriptiveness of the area, the people of Maine and all the little nuances that go along with each mystery just work so well and make me want to come back for more. In this case the peacefulness of the sanctuary for puffins and terns contrasted by the darker, sinister happenings gave the island an eerie feel. The mystery was well-paced, atmospheric and had murder and mayhem to boot; the story held my interest. I liked that it took place over just a couple of days as well. Bowditch fans and newcomers to the series alike should not be disappointed.

Rating - 4.5/5 stars

Hatchet Island by Paul Doiron took me out to the outskirts of Maine, just when I needed the cool escape from my 100 degree heat! This audio narrated by Henry Leyva had me completely forgetting my surroundings. A suspenseful thriller, Hatchet Island is a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and maybe even another 💫!

Seriously, if a story can make me forget how miserable the weather is, it is pretty remarkable.

This is the 13th Mike Bowditch mystery, but my first of this series. I had no problems with it as a standalone, though readers familiar with this Game Warden Investigator might have more insight than I did.

Getting a strange call from an island that Mike's girlfriend Stacey is familiar with, the two check in on the island bird sanctuary to find an odd vibe, but head out and kayak to another island for the night. That night they definitely hear gunshots and head back in the morning to find a grisly scene of a double murder and a missing person. The investigation widens to a neighboring island where a world renowned photographer and his wife have quite a home and the closest village seems to know more than they are letting on.

This was a very well paced story for which I really enjoyed listening. The narration was smooth and transitioned between characters very well. I could feel all the tension building. I recognized several familiar terms as a former outdoorsman and appreciated the realistic aspects.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @macmillan.audio for the advanced audiobook. This is available now, and I definitely recommend it as a smart suspense!

When I first received this book I didn’t realize it was a part of a series. In fact it’s actually part of a series that my husband loves. This is actually book #13 in the series. I think I would’ve liked it even more if I had started with the first book. However, you can totally read this book without reading the earlier installments.

I liked seeing the progression of the relationship between Mike and Stacey. Their chemistry seemed so natural and was well conveyed in the book. I honestly was more interested in the progression of their relationship than the actual mystery. I just really liked them that much.

Something else I really enjoyed was how the author described the setting. The slugs grossed me out. I was able to image everything so clearly.

I also loved that the characters were so passionate about the ecosystem and protecting the wildlife.

I didn't realize this was part of a series, so I was initially a little bummed about that mistake on my part, but I didn't even need to be worried about it. This one can completely be read as a standalone!

The story starts off immediately with surprising things that grab the reader right off the bat! It's a good story that has surprising reveals and suspenseful moments. I enjoyed the mystery and plot, and I thought the characters were great! I'd definitely like to go back and read more of this series!

Hatchet Island by Paul Doiron is the 13th book about Maine game warden/investigator Mike Bowditch. This happens to be my first book in the series and boy have been missing out.

Mike Bowditch and his girlfriend Stacey Stevens go to an island off the coast of Maine that Stacey had previously worked on after she receives a text from one of her former colleagues asking for her. The island is a research center and sanctuary for birds like Puffins and others, and they are being threatened.

Paul Doiron writes a great suspenseful story, full of dangerous situations and thrilling moments. As an animal and nature lover, this book spoke to me. I loved reading about the island and the bits and bobs about the different birds and foliage that was found there.

Both Mike and Stacey were likable and worked well together as a team. Both had characteristics in their personalities that enhanced what the other was missing. The supporting characters were also all interesting, with some very twisted people included.

Plenty of twists and turns in this story that starts off as a bit of a who done it and quickly moves into a police investigation. Full of tension and an even greater atmosphere with the setting of foggy landscapes and isolated islands.

This was a " hard to put down ", quick read with wonderful cohesive writing and a story that will keep you interested until the last page. Oh...and it is book 13, but you will not be lost, it is a great stand-alone, but if you are like me, you will probably go back to the beginning.

The name of this book might give the impression that it's a horror story! But, it's just a good old-fashioned mystery set in the islands off the Maine coast. The story centers around a puffin sanctuary run by an eccentric ornithologist, where some of the staff are feeling threatened by an unnamed force. One of them calls in her friend (a former intern at the site) and her boyfriend (a game warden). They kayak to the site, meeting the three researchers who are at the sanctuary. When camped on a nearby island for the night, they hear a gunshot and upon arrival at the site, find two of the researchers murdered and another missing. The book details their investigation which has several possible suspects, including a famous photographer who owns a nearby island.

The characters in this book help to make what might be an average mystery into one that stands out. They, along with the vividly described setting, are the highlights of the book. It was very easy to imagine being there. The plot is one that could have many different outcomes, holding one's interest. And, the narration accurately depicts the various cultural backgrounds of the characters. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it!

This series keeps getting better. From the kayak on the water to the individual islands, in his latest book, Doiron takes you along for the ride. The cold, wet, wind, waves and of course murder all feel as if you are there with the characters.

Hatchet Island is another atmospheric novel in the Mike Bowditch series. Doiron ones again takes us on a journey riddled with twists and turns. His latest endeavor has Bowditch a bit out of his element on water instead of his usual treks through the woods. When Bowditch and his girlfriend Stacey go out on a kayak overnighter, it turns much more deadly when they hear a gunshot and return to the island hosting a bird sanctuary that they had visited the day before. What they find is completely tragic. When authorities are called in the story quickly evolves into an edge of your seat police procedural. Set in the islands off the coast of Maine, narrated perfectly by Henry Leyva, this book is a great addition to the Mike Bowditch Game Warden Investigator series!

Ahhhh I really enjoyed this audiobook! It was thrilling and compelling, and it hooked me from the very beginning.

Little did I know when I started reading this book that is was the 13th book in the Mike Bowditch series, looks like I have some reading to do to catch me up to date with Mike.

Mike and Stacey have planned a kayaking/camping trip, on their way to their destination their stop to check on a former colleague of Stacey'situated on a endangered bird sanctuary and research center. After their check-in the leader, who they thought was missing, checks in and Stacey and Mike head onto their ultimate destination on a nearby island. They are awakened in the early hours of the morning by the sound of gunshot coming from the direction of the bird sanctuary island. There investigation leads to murder, mayhem and scandal.

This story kept my attention and kept me guessing. A great who done it crime drama!

Another ARC from a series that I have not read before, but now need to go back & rectify that fact! “Hatchet Island” is book # 13 in the Mike Bowditch series. The main character, Mike, is a Maine Fish & Wildlife warden who often finds himself involved in strange homicide cases in Maine. This one on the Maine Bird Initiative island was a great crime who-dunit. I loved the setting of small islands off the coast of Maine and the information about Puffin preservation. Also, Mike’s girlfriend, Stacey, is my new hero and I want to be like her when I grow up! Another bonus is that the cover of this book/audiobook is gorgeous!

Thank you @netgalley @macmillan.audio & @minotaur_booksfor allowing me to read this book & listen to this audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher, producer and NetGalley for the chance to listen to and review this one.
I really enjoyed this audiobook. It was well written, the narrator did a great job and it held my interest throughout the entire thing.
I am aware as well that this is part of a series. I have not read or listened to any other books in the series and still found this one easy to follow. Normally I need to listen or read a series from the beginning to consider it at all but this audiobook made me want to start the series from the beginning because I enjoyed it so much. I didn’t feel like I was missing information or unable to follow along because I hadn’t started from the first book.
Great job on this one. I’ll be checking out the other books in this series.
Great mystery with the right amount of suspense.

Another great installment in the Mike Bowditch series!

In this particular story, Stacey is back and roping Mike into checking in on her friends on a research island when thing go horribly wrong. Teaming up like in the earlier books, Mike and Stacey find themselves knee deep in a dangerous situation. Together, they work to find out who has been harassing the researchers before someone gets hurt.

This series is nothing if not consistent. Every book follows Mike Bowditch through a fun case involving wildlife or someone threatening it. You would think that after so many books it would be boring, but someone Paul Doiron manages to make each one unique and enthralling. As a person who lives in the suburbs, I absolutely love escaping into the world of rural Maine.

Personally, I'm a fan of Mike with Dani, so I was a little disappointed in the return of Stacey as a romantic partner....but I"m pretty sure I'm in the minority of readers on that one. :)

This was my first Paul Doiron and I had no idea there were 12 previous works featuring main character Mike Bowditch. Guess who just added 12 books to her tbr?

Being new to the series, and reading #13 first may have had some impact on my understanding of the character's development, but Hatchet Island was a good read. Located on an island off the coast of Maine, Bowditch, a game warden, and girlfriend Stacey, a former intern on the island, head there at the request of a friend asking for help. I am a fan of locale specific fiction, like all of Philip R. Craig's book on Martha's Vineyard, plus I am a huge fan of Nevada Barr's Anna Pigeon series featuring a National Park Ranger, so I was immediately captivated by Hatchet Island.

It's a mystery inside of a psychological thriller in a beautiful place featuring protected wildlife, natural weather events, suicide and murder. Fast paced and as an audio book one which was easy to listen to for long periods.

As for the audio part of the review, I was not a huge fan of Henry Leyva's female narration. To me, the men in the book sounded like men and the women sounded like girls. It was distracting and did not sit well with me as an adult female listener.

Overall a good way to spend a day.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen in advance of the June 28, 2022 release in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thought because Mike Bowditch was off his familiar turf, that is on a group of islands rather than on the mainland, this might not be as good as previous books. In other series books, I have found that changing the setting is not always a good thing. I also wasn’t sure about Mike being back with Stacey but I am satisfied on all counts.
There is a pretty gory murder scene and some very nasty characters but in all it was a great read and listen. I really enjoy the narrator of this series, Henry Leyva. Looking forward to the next one. Please write faster Paul Doiron.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and ALC.