Pitch Dark is faded paced and suspenseful. Great characters too, with a twisty end. Fun reading. Well done.

With his latest mystery/thriller, “Pitch Dark,” author Paul Doiron has given us a very absorbing, suspense-filled entertainment.

When Game Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch learns that a man has disappeared searching out a father and teenage daughter in Maine’s North Woods, he has three questions: Who is the man, who is he hunting, and why?

Turns out, the father, Mark Redmond, and his daughter, Cady, are custom-building a log cabin for an old, close friend of Mike’s family, bush pilot Josie Johnson. Josie agrees to fly Mike and his father-in-law, Charley Stevens, up to the site so that Mike can ask Redmond if he knows of the investigator, his whereabouts, or what might have happened to him.

Gathering around the cabin’s newly installed, state-of-the-art wood-fired cooking stove, the five chat pleasantly about the beauty of Redmond’s craftsmanship and the circumstances that might have led to the investigator’s disappearance, which is the last thing Mike remembers until waking up tied to a tree alongside a still-unconscious Charley and a convulsing Josie while Redmond and his daughter flee the scene—which is when Mike’s hunt for the Redmonds through the Maine and Canadian wilderness begins.

It's a hunt that’s filled with danger and suspense and more than a few reversals and surprises. Paul Doiron’s writing is straightforward and a pleasure to read. The pages fly by. Some of the plotting did strike me as a bit outlandish. But this is vastly outweighed by Mr. Doiron’s knowledge and descriptions of the various elements he includes in his story. Whether it be flying a bush plane; or building a log cabin with infinite precision; or manufacturing maple syrup; or law enforcement organizations and procedures; or North Woods flora and fauna, Doirons writes about it with specificity and authority.

My thanks to NetGalley, author Paul Doiron, and publisher St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for providing me with a complimentary ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.

A nice easy read and a good thriller. Twist and turns like most but some were so good! It’s good to have a thriller that keeps you intrigued.

4.5 Stars
I had no idea that there was a new Paul Doiron book coming out and was so excited to get to read and review this!

Mike Bowditch started his career as a Game Warden in Maine, but is now a Game Warden Investigator. As such he investigates crimes that involve fish, wildlife and game within the state, as well as assisting with search and rescue for those missing in the Maine wilderness. He receives a call about a man that may be missing for the past two days and is asked to come to northern Maine to determine if a search is warranted. He becomes suspicious of the man who is building a cabin for a friend, and begins asking questions. This leads Mike into a case of kidnapping, murder, and a wilderness chase that tests his physical and mental limits.

One of my favorite genres to read are murder mysteries set in the wilderness, with a main character that is a game warden, wildlife biologist, park ranger, etc. The Mike Bowditch series is an excellent example of these. Doiron is accomplished at bringing to life the setting of rural Maine and the turmoil of his characters. If you too enjoy a wilderness mystery, this is a series you should pick up!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author of the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! What a ride! This is another fantastic addition to the Warden Mike Bowditch series. I couldn't wait as the story unfolded and Mike found himself in all sorts of dicey situations. The author is able to set the scene (and what a beautiful location!) and keep the reader interested as everything unfolds. The twists and turns with a bit of humor thrown in made this a super fun read. I look forward to the next installment and hope it's here soon. Many thanks to the Author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this excellent story in exchange for my honest review. Don't miss this one!

An investigation into a possible missing person threatens to turn into an international incident when Warden Bowditch discovers that Mark Redmond and his daughter Cady are not who they seem to me. The father and daughter duo have some rather significant secrets. Mark (or rather, Paul) has planned for numerous contingencies and he has allies on both sides of the American-Canadian border. He is resourceful and ruthless, and despite the efforts he has taken to protect his daughter, he is willing to kill her rather than allow her to be taken into custody. Cady (or Chloe) is also more ruthless than expected. It will be a race to see who can get to the border first. Add in a Mormon bounty hunter to make the situation more complicated.

As always I love this one . I just love Mike and Charley and this one was no exception. The author drags you in and the plot keeps you engaged. This book shows the dangers of preppers and homeschoolers and how abuse is covered up in these cults .
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

Some prolific writers have a tendency to lose steam as their series goes from one book to another. Not Paul Doiron and his iconic Maine games warden, Mike Bowditch. In this new, upcoming addition to the series Mike finds himself in another dangerous situation in the middle of a rain storm. I found myself right there with Mike in his pursuit of an unstable father and daughter and to an ending that….well I’ll stop here. Get ready for a thrill ride of the highest caliber.

Highly recommended!

This is maybe the 9th or 10th novel I've read in this series, and I have to say, I devoured this. It just felt alive to me, and I couldn't wait to read the next page. I enjoy the realness of the characters, the fact that they aren't perfect, and the setting makes me dream. I haven't enjoyed a novel like this for a long time, and with the amount of books I read, that's saying something.

I'm already excited for the next installment of Mike Bowditch's adventures.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

The characters, setting, and premise of this story are truly unique, and I've relished the few chapters I've managed to dive into. The author skillfully paints a vivid picture of the inhabitants of Maine, capturing their resilience, politics, stubbornness, and fortitude, all wrapped in a way of life distinct to the region. The plot thrusts game warden Bowditch into an unexpected international manhunt, weaving a narrative that is both dark and deeply emotional, revealing twists that even a seasoned thriller enthusiast like myself found shocking.

I enjoyed Paul's writing, and I'm looking forward to reading more in this series!

Yes, this sounds like a simple statement, but fun books make for fun reading.

I thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for making this great novel available for an advanced read this past weekend. With a well-paced and engaging plot and interesting characters, this was a one-day read on my Kindle.

I've read other Bowditch novels (although I want to read more) and this one seems to me to be the best of the batch so far. Our protagonist shows his true character when he fights (literally) for a young girl that has had a difficult past. Bowditch is taken prisoner and overall put through the wringer to do the good thing amidst a bad situation.

The interaction between the U.S. characters and the Canadian authorities seemed to be a bit exaggerated, but that is a minor quibble for this very entertaining book.

An important caveat to preface my review: I have only read one of the previous 14 books in this series, so my enjoyment of it may have been impacted by that fact.
With that said, I feel this was fine as a standalone and I knew enough about the peripheral characters to gain a bit more understanding.
The author clearly has a thorough knowledge of the subject matter and I found the descriptions of the setting quite immersive. The storyline lagged for me at times and I ultimately didnt find myself caring much about what happened next. I didn't feel all that connected to the characters, either. For me this was a fairly quick read but not one that will likely stick with me.

Game Warden Mike Bowditch must chase down a cunning and dangerous fugitive in the North Maine Woods. Legendary bush pilot Josie Jonson can’t believe her luck when a skilled builder just happens to show up after she purchases land near Prentiss Pond. All Mark Redmond asks in return for building Josie’s dream cabin is that he be left alone to homeschool his 12-year-old daughter, Cady.
This book was a good read! It had suspense, intrigue, action packed, murder, mystery, great high speed chases, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Paul Doiron is a new-to-me author and after seeing his author event at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore on FB feed, I was interested in reading his work. I appreciate having the opportunity to read this ARC of his newest book Pitch Dark. My goodness! It had my attention from the first page and I read it in two days. That's pretty quick for me, so that shows it really kept my interest. Great variety of characters, loved the description of the locations, the danger and suspence had my heart jumping and I could feel the cold water! I look forward to reading more of Paul Doiron.

PITCH DARK
Josie Jonson, Maine’s legendary female pilot, can’t believe her luck when the skilled builder Mark Redmond happens to show up in town after she purchases land in Prentiss Pond Maine. He agrees to build the cabin of her dreams but asks in return that he be left alone to do his work without any outside visitors. When he arrives on site to begin work, he brings his 12-year-old daughter Cady with him.
Jonie’s close friend Maine, game warden investigator Mike Bowditch, is suspicious of the intensity of Redmond’s secretiveness especially in light of the troubling suspicious criminal activity that has recently been taking place in the area.
Josie becomes alarmed when an armed man comes around looking for Redmond and his daughter. She immediately contacts Mike and his father-in-law Charley Stevens who fly to her home in a secluded area of Maine to protect Redmond and his daughter against this intruder. Shortly after their arrival they witness a gut-wrenching murder and are taken captive by the killer. When they can escape their captivity, they make the treacherous journey through the Maine woods to stop the killer who has a young girl as his hostage. Faced with death defying obstacles and numerous injuries they continue their race against time to stop the killer and prevent the death of another innocent victim.
This edge of the seat thriller is guaranteed to keep you up all night until you finish the last page. Once again, Paul Doiron doesn’t disappoint the reader. A fantastic addition to the Mike Bowditch Mystery series.

There is no better escape than to read and be transported into the North Woods of Maine with Game Warden Mike Bowditch and author Paul Doiron. The adventure is non-stop. Impossible to put down until you know what happens next. Great plot development and a jaw dropping resolution. Wonderful read. Don’t miss it!

I discovered this series late and didn’t read most of the first installments. Now that I’ve found it, I’m hooked. It’s characters, setting and premise is unique and I’ve enjoyed the few I’ve gotten to read. I think the author does a splendid job of describing the type of people that live in Maine. You get a sense of their resilience, politics, stubbornness, fortitude and a way of life particular to place. The plot has game warden Bowditch inadvertently caught up in an international fugitive manhunt. It’s dark, disturbing, deeply emotional with revelations that dumfounded even a hard core thriller addict like me. I had no prior knowledge of the climate or terrain of the Maine/Canadian area in this story. After following Mike’s campaign through the rugged forests, lakes and mountain ranges I now know where to hide if I ever need to escape. Mike’s journey to apprehend a man he suspects of criminal activity only covers a very short time period of time but left me absolutely drained and exhausted. It’s a story packed with harrowing events, murder, kidnapping, surprises at every turn. Some of the situations and events are a stretch of the imagination, it is after all fiction. The heart of the plot for me highlights the lengths and depths a parent will go to in order to protect their child. You will be blown away with the outcomes. It’s not a cliffhanger, but ends perfectly set up for the next stage in the warden’s personal and professional life. I found the themes thought provoking and the characters are people you want to know more about.
An advance reader copy of “Pitch Dark” a Mike Bowditch Mystery #15, by Paul Doiron, St. Martin’s Publishing, Minotaur Books, publication expected 06/25/2024, was provided by NetGalley. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

I’ve been a fan of Paul Doiron since The Poacher’s Son. He has done an excellent job of giving Mike Bowditch a character arc that not only works for the character but also gives the stories more depth. In this one Mike has a moment of reflection where he’s thinking he should be a better man. Well, Mike, you are becoming better. And if it’s possible, so are the books. I especially love how Doiron brings in and makes nature a character in the series. This one is one of my favorites
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Well Doiron does it again. What a crazy, wild ride this was. The whole story kept
Me glued to my Kindle. Can’t wait for Bowditch #16.

I have read all of the Game Warden Mike Bowditch novels and they just keep getting better and better. I believe this is the best yet.

When MIke hears about an armed man with a lot of cash asking questions about a man and his daughter, living in a tent and building a log cabin for Josie Johnson, he is curious as to who both of the parties are. The man with the cash rented an ATV and never returned with it. The area has been hit with storm after storm and Mike decides to check out the builder and warn him about the man searching for him and at the same time see if the man on the ATV has come to harm.

Josie agrees to fly Mike and his father-in-law in her helicopter to the cabin site. Thus begins a very strange and dangerous story. This is definitely a thriller and I could not put it down. Mike may have met his match in the builder, Mark Redmon, who is not who he claims to be.

Excellent read! If I could give it more than five stars, I would.

I would like to thank Minotaur books and NetGalley for the invite to this early read!.