This book is about a game warden in Maine, Mike Bowditch, and revolves around people living on a lake. For the past 20 or so years, I've vacationed on a lake in Maine, primarily Parker Pond, after having put in some 15 or so years on a lake in New Hampshire, Bow Lake. So, obviously, the setting has great appeal. But, in addition, it's really a rather <em>>Good Read</em>.

Mike Bowditch is celebrating his engagement to Stacey along with his step father, Neil Turner and Turner's new spouse, Jubilee Bartchelder, and also with Stacey's parents, Charley and Ora Stevens. Charley Stevens, it appears was once a sort of mentor for Mike in the warden business.

Some idiot is screaming around to a jet ski in the twilight, a recipe for disaster given that there are also speed boats on the lake and visibility is all but gone. They hear a loud crash, and some other noises and assume some kind of accident. When they investigate, they can't find signs of a crashed jet ski, nor a crashed boat, but they do find a recently severed arm. Eventually, they find the body from which the arm was severed. It belonged to one Kipling Whitcomb, aka Kip, who had been staying at the house on Mouse Island that had been in his spouse's family for a number of generations. When they explore Mouse Island, they discover another corpse, that of Gina Randazza, who had, apparently, been having an affair with Kip at the time. Kip's spouse, Diane Fenton Whitcomb was an invalid and had stayed behind in Massachusetts.

Mike's purview is to investigate boating accidents. Actual cops were brought in to investigate the murders. But, of course, Mike can't keep from following up on the murder side of things, and his future father-in-law, Charlie, also has a penchant for sticking his fingers into the pie from time to time.

Anyway, they have exciting times tracing down the villains, excitement that includes being shot at and being involved in the crash of a small plane whose fuel had been adulterated with water.

I won't go on any longer, but I do want to reiterate that this is a rather fun book. Apparently, it's also the 14th or so in a series about Mike Bowditch. I'm pretty sure that I'll be reading some of his earlier adventures fairly soon. After all, I've got to get in shape for my time in Maine this coming August.


#DeadMansWake
#Net Galley

Thank you to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I have read all the Mike Bowditch series and thoroughly enjoy the characters, the varied plotlines and most of all Doiron’s writing style and the way his writing is so descriptive it helps me visualize the landscape and scenery.

Mike and girlfriend Stacey Stevens are finally engaged. His stepfather and his in-laws to be (Charlie and Ora Stevens) have planned an engagement party for them deep in the Maine countryside by the side of a lake. The evening is about to commence and while they are taking in the view, Mike and Stacey witness some type of crash or boating incident on the lake. It’s dark and therefore difficult to see what exactly happened, but by the sound of it – a crash, it wasn’t good. They immediately head to the scene to see if they can help.

Not long after, they spotted a severed arm floating like flotsam and jetsam in the lake that they suspect was caused by the boat propeller. Realizing that this means there is more – they continue searching and come upon not only the body that was once attached to the arm – but the body of a woman as well. Something isn’t right about the entire scene, as it doesn’t seem as if it were a murder/suicide -- more likely a murder. But why? And what about the boater who is now nowhere in sight?

Among the obvious suspects are the wide of the now one-armed man and the biker-gang husband of the woman found nearby. Neighbors who had a view of the lake aren’t cooperating and a lake patrol officer who is a Warden wannabe (he applied but was turned down) is creating a mess.
It was a good book. The plot is a bit dark and to me, the book culminates with a weird kind of out of nowhere conclusion.

Well-executed book, good character build, and a nice, original story! I was pleasantly surprised with this one.

Dead Man’s Wake is the newest mystery in the Game Warden Mike Bowditch series and would probably be best read as part of the series for background information. Mike and his fiancé Stacey are celebrating their engagement with a small party at the lake house of his stepfather. A quiet evening with his stepfather and his wife and Stacey’s parents takes a horrific turn when Mike and Stacey hear a boat hit something in the water. Taking a closer look, Mike finds a dismembered arm floating in the water and a quick dive locates a body. Calling in the local wardens, the constable, and the state police begins an investigation into the murder of a wealthy, philandering home owner. The case twists and turns to bring about a shocking showdown between Mike and the bad guy in an action packed, adrenaline driven mystery. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

My Thoughts

I learned a valuable lesson this time that I will keep in mind for future invitations from publishers or my requests.

I will remember that diving into a well established book series by accepting the chance to read one this far into it is not a good idea for me anymore.

A book written in a series have never read anything from and so many characters in it that I felt adrift in a sea of information that at times didn’t make sense to me and at others did.

Character Maine Game Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch turns out to be a cross between a pit bull and a terrier both tenacious creatures who have different abilities that include a stubbornness to give up.

That turns out to work in his favor more than not but it also puts him in harm’s way more than normal.

This story had a very different feel to me than expected but it was also filled with so many side characters that I felt out of tune with its flow here and there at times.

I however did enjoy Bowditch as a character whose ability to think on his feet was only surpassed by his ability to find himself in precarious situations.

The final investigation outcome was not a disappointment but also quite quick after such a lengthy buildup to get there.

The end results were satisfactory and our hero did his job well.
[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

I've long been a fan of Maine fiction thanks to the great Gerry Boyle so I'm not sure how I've missed the books by Paul Doiron. Thankfully, Dead Man's Wake righted that wrong. What an introduction to the Mike Bowditch series! It has all the things I look for in a great thriller. It's the proverbial page turner. It immediately grabs your attention. The pacing is perfect. It features a strong lead and great supporting cast. It has a satisfying conclusion. It makes you want to immediately read other books in the series. Kudos to Doiron for one of the best books I'll read in 2023. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, & NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

(3). I always enjoy the Mike Bowditch books. I don’t know what it is about the game warden type of profession, but they certainly make good subjects for many authors. This one has lots of twists and turns, and Mike has to spin around many times. Sometimes to figure stuff out, others to deal with issues of the heart, and a little political work as well. I was really glad to get this on an advanced copy. Good stuff.

Dead Man's Wake is #14 in a series about Mike Bowditch, a game warden in Maine. During a boat ride following their engagement party, he and his fiancee come across what appears to be the aftermath of a boating accident, with two dead victims. Of course, there's much more to the story! Although I haven't read the previous books in the series, I found that this didn't really matter; I was able to easily follow along.

I really enjoyed the setting and the fast-paced action. The characters didn't seem especially well-developed, and I thought the writing was somewhat flat. But if you're looking for an easy read (this would be perfect for an airplane flight), this book might be for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Another good one by Paul Doiron. I have read several of his books and have never been disappointed. This was entertaining and kept me wondering what was going to happen next and who were the killers. There are enough characters in the story you will not figure it out. Mike Bowditch again has his work cut out for him. Recommended. I received an ARC copy for an honest review. Paul is one of my favorite authors.

How wonderful to be vacationing in the same Midcoast Maine while reading Paul Doiron’s latest book. I’m a big fan. Love the wildlife and bird talk. The author always mentions what birds Mike Bowditch hears while out and about as a Detective Inspector in Maine’s beautiful Midcoast region. This area is fantastic. Wonderful place for couples that are foodies. Awesome seafood…great lighthouses.

Mike Bowditch is a favorite character of mine. I can’t get enough of the landscape and ocean inlets. Beautiful country. Mike has a dog that is part wolf, or mostly wolf…a very interesting addition to the series. Love his style of investigating crimes.

If you like detective stories and want to hear about New England life, go for it…you won’t be disappointed.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in return for a review.

Posted April 22, 2023 on Goodreads.

5 out of 5 stars

I want to thank the publisher, author Paul Doiron, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of this work. What follows is my own unbiased review of Dean Man's Wake.

Dean Man's Wake is the latest in a series of books centering on Maine Game Warden Investigator Mike Boditch. This is the first time I have read anything in this series, so that tells you that you can enjoy this book without reading the others books first, although I am sure there are some continuing characters developed in previous books.

Regardless, I devoured this book in a week. The writing is very crisp and engaging, and you get in to the plot very quickly. Boditch and his girlfriend are visiting with friends and family on a popular lake in Maine familiar to "On Golden Pond" when one night they hear what is clearly some sort of collision on the lake. Bowditch and his soon-to-be father in law and girlfriend Stacy Stevens hop on her dad's boat and head to the scene where they locate a severed human (male) arm that had to be involved in a boating accident. Bowditch immediately jumps in to investigator mode and the story takes off from there.

This is a hard review to write to avoid spoilers, which I always try to avoid. The investigation moves quickly, and with it a number of other interesting characters appear in the story. The nude body of the male is recovered, and by daylight a second body is also found of a nude woman. But the woman appears to have been strangled given the marks around her neck. So who committed these murders? Are they connected? What is the motive?

The story takes many twists and turns. Bowditch reminds me of Harry Bosch (I hope you recognize that name) in that he is headstrong and doesn't exhibit a lot of patience. He is constantly clashing with others as the evidence slowly starts to unfold. But as the evidence becomes clear so do the number of suspects.

It is a good who-done-it and moves very fast. You don't find out all the connections until the very end, which is what I like about a good mystery. It is no fun when you figure out who the killer is halfway through a book.

I'm not usually drawn to this type of character, similar to the Joe Pickett/Walt Longmire lawman-in-nature. Nothing wrong with either of those series they are just not my first choice. I'm more in to the detective/lawyer and true crime types of books. But I did enjoy reading this book, and would certainly consider reading other books in the series.

Dean Man's Wake.is a good read that you may have trouble putting down.

Apparently I'm late to the Mike Bowditch party as this is the first I've read in the series, but I really liked it! Mike attends his engagement party only to later discover a dead body and a dismembered arm in the lake! Fortunately his bride-to-be is a great sport and always willing to lend a hand so they make a good team. Lots of characters to keep track of but it kept my attention throughout so I'll need to read more of these as Mouse Island sounds so mysterious!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Although I'm late to the Mike Bowditch party, I'm very glad I got invited. This is a police procedural with a twist - the Game Warden Investigator details were utterly fascinating. The description of the lake, country roads and underwater scenes brought me to my own cottage roots, which I absolutely loved. A thrilling read, I can't wait for the next one.

Game Warden, Mike Bowditch, is about to get married. The whole family is in town. But before the big event, the family hears a gruesome sound. It's the sound of a body being run over by a boat's propeller. Mike jumps into action But it appears that some shenanigans were taking place prior to the "accident". More bodies begin to show up.

Mike, along with his fiancee, and her fiancee's father, spring into action. But someone doesn't like that they are getting too close. Things get toasty for Mike.

A well-written story, this novel will keep you on the edge of your seat. The ending is unpredictable. The characters are likeable and well-developed. All in all, it's a ripping good story.

I was very excited to read this latest Mike Bowditch novel from author Paul Doiron.

I was not disappointed. Great cast of characters, Maine woods/lake locale for atmosphere and a good plot. It was a fast read but now I will tell you what I missed. I wanted more of Shadow his wolf dog. I also wanted more action, which this author writes very well. Oh well, you can't have everything and this one had Stacey and her parents, Charley and Ora. Wonderful, well written characters. And even Mike Bowditch's step father and his new fiancee, Jubilee (can the names like this next time Mr. Doiron).

All in all a good, quick read.

A boating accident and a gruesome discovery….what a start to a good book.
Maine Game Warden, Mike Bowditch and fiancée E are celebrating their engagement when they hear a loud noise from a fast moving boat. Investigation reveals a severed arm floating in the water. Then another body is found. Fast paced and informative (especially if you are interested in boats and water currents) there are a lot of suppositions before the surprising conclusion to this mystery. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books for an early copy. The comments and review are my honest opinion.

This is the first book I've read in the Mike Bowditch series, but I think I'll be picking up some of the earlier books. Since this is the 14th book in the series, it looks like I've been missing out. This one was interesting and I enjoyed the investigation by Mike Bowditch. Here's the published description:

"On the evening of their engagement party, Maine Game Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch and Stacey Stevens witness what seems to be a hit-and-run speedboat crash on a darkened lake. When they arrive at the scene, their spotlight reveals a gruesome sight: a severed arm beneath the surface. As day breaks, the warden dive team recovers not one but two naked corpses: the dismembered man and the married woman with whom he was having an affair. Mike begins to suspect the swimmers' deaths were not a senseless accident but a coldly calculated murder. Alone among his fellow officers, Mike begins to sense the involvement of a trained professional, smarter and more dangerous than any enemy he has faced. As Mike and Stacey get closer to identifying the killer, their own lives are suddenly put on the line, leading to a confrontation designed to silence them forever."

Mike seems to be quite resourceful and has a good background of experience to draw on. It helps that his fiancée Stacy is smart as a whip. My favorite character was Mike's father-in-law, Charley Stevens. He just seemed to know what to do for everything and had good instincts. The plot moved at a good pace and kept my interest. I enjoyed all the boating information and the lake setting.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on June 27, 2023.

DMW by new to me author Paul Doiron, published by St. Martin's Press, is book 14 in the Mike Bowditch Series. This is a stand-alone and can easily be read as such.
This is a mystery/thriller of its finest. The author masterfully managed to keep me guessing till the very end. His love to detail is found written in every chapter without being boring at all. Contrary, I was intrigued, couldn't put the book down, had to know what happens next. This one's a winner.
I recommend the book, 5 stars.

This is my first reading of Paul Doiron and found it engrossing. Picking up in the midst of a series is always a problem. You miss the growth and fleshing out of characters. Even with the lack of previous encounters I found the characters believable and the story line pulling me in. Looking forward to reading more.

"Dead Man's Wake" is a good addition to the series. Mike and Stacey's intimate engagement party -- just them, Stacey's parents, and Mike's stepfather and new wife -- is interrupted when they hear a collision on the lake and observe a speedboat driver acting suspiciously. Mike is an investigator for the Maine Warden Service, and boating accidents are among the things he investigates, so he decides to check out the scene, with his bride-to-be, his soon-to-be father-in-law (who is a retired warden and a mentor), and his stepfather (as they are at his lake house and using his boat). What they find is a severed human arm. The local constable (who wants to be a warden but was rejected), Galen Webb, recognizes the watch on the arm as belonging to Kip Whitcomb, who owns Mouse Island with his wife, Diane Fenton-Whitcomb (the daughter of the original owners). The rest of the body will soon be located, but will create its own series of mysteries -- why was Mr. Whitcomb in the water, where is the boat that hit him, was he dead before the boat him, and what happened to the woman (not his wife) who was with him on the island and who is dead as well? Answering these questions will become more difficult (and potentially deadly) as some people seem too eager to provide assistance and cast blame on others, some people seem to be hiding things, and others are clearly hiding things. Also, one of the state police officers who is involved in the investigation has a personal connection with a possible suspect (the husband of the murdered woman), and his actions and omissions will cloud the investigation. The identity and motive of the mastermind is both surprising and not surprising. Wealth and social status will play a big role in the ensuing events.

In addition to the criminal investigations that the story centers around, the author also provides the reader greater insight into Mike and Stacey's family, including the dynamic between Mike and his stepfather, and how this will be changed by the events of the story.