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.

Such a good read - I really enjoyed this book. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

I received this book from NetGalley for my unbiased review.

This is my first book by Paul Doiron, and obviously the first of the Mike Bowditch series.

This was a good book and I enjoyed the story from the beginning to the end. My only criticism, which is more on me than on the writer, is that the character development was a bit lacking. I am blaming that on myself as this is the 14th book in the series. I am sure the characters were brought into play with a development stage in earlier books. There was some background which sufficed but I am sure a better grasp would have been afforded me if I had read the earlier books.

I would gladly read more from Mr. Doiron!

A new author for me and found it draws you into the story from the beginning.
Involves families and we begin with the engagement of Mike and Stacey.
He is a warden, searching truth no matter what, and Stacey father is a retired warden.
The plot involves murder, secrets, with plenty of twists in this story.
Given ARC by Net Galley and Minotaur for my voluntary review.

What starts as a small family gathering to celebrate Mike’s engagement turns into an investigation into a deadly aquatic hit and run. What seems a straightforward incident to others raises questions for Maine Game Warden Mike, and the more he pokes around, the more sure he is that nothing is quite as it seems.

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest in the series. Regular characters like Mike, Charlie and Ora continue to develop while new players are well drawn. Dorian’s settings always convey a wonderful sense of Maine’s varied nature, and I love that I learn a few new words in each novel. Underwater investigation techniques were also interesting to learn. Most importantly, plot twists, red herrings and lots of action kept me engaged from a great opening line to the very end. Give this to fans of C.J. Box and Lee Child. Highly recommended

"So last night, you watched a speedboat run over a swimmer, retrieved a dismembered arm from a lake, and located a dead body in the dark by skin-diving until you felt a corpse?"
I absolutely love the Mike Bowditch series and this latest installment does not disappoint. Bowditch is a Maine Game Warden and on the night of his engagement party he and his fiancee witness a boat collision on the lake. However it is after dark and they are mostly relying on what they heard and by the time they get to the scene, the boat is gone. All they find is a severed arm floating near Mouse Island.
The investigation into the accident, the victim(s), and the family-owned island is complicated from the get-go. As in previous novels, Doiron does a great job of taking the reader through the investigative process and presenting a plethora of believable suspects. I read a lot of police procedural novels and I really enjoy how this series also incorporates so much information about the Warden Service and the history, wildlife, and natural beauty of Maine as well. Great writing, interesting characters, vivid imagery and scenery, and lots of action make this another great addition to the series. #Netgalley #Deadmanswake