I loved it! These are excellent short stories that don't feel short at all. They are fully complete without missing any of the action or smart aleck and smart investigating as the full novels in this series. The piece actually called Skin and Bones stands out because early on I thought I knew why it was titled that but the full meaning didn't sink in until I'd started the next story. I had to set my reader down for a few minutes to get past that intensely dark realization. Amazing author!

It was a pleasure spending time with Mike again. This was a series of short stories revolving around a wisecracking, trouble stirring, refuse to back down forestry worker and the things he encounters in his daily travels. The stories are written in a folksy manner which works well in this setting. I was a bit disappointed that Charlie did not play a more prominent told in the majority of the stories since these two characters play off each other well.

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

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the chance to read "Skin and Bones" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a collection of 8 short stories from Paul Doiron. All exciting and thrilling, out in nature as one expects from Mr. Doiron. Bats with rabies, snowstorms, rattlesnakes and bald eagles, along with killers and even someone posing as Mike Bowditch through identity theft. A great opportunity for the new reader of Mr. Doiron's books to be introduced to his brand of books.

Skin and Bones is an extraordinary collection of short stories from the Mike Bowditch universe of stories. It's a lot of fun because each of the stories is engaging. It offers us welcomed looks at some of the characters and events which have influenced the main character. I think the best thing about this collection is it can be enjoyed by readers who are already fans and also by those who are new to the series. It's a stellar starting point for the latter. Favorite stories? My personal favorites are The Imposter, The Caretaker, & Skin and Bones. But, you'll enjoy all of them. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am thankful to Steve Erickson of St. Martin's Publishing Group (Minotaur Books) for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of Skin and Bones. I have enjoyed the adventures of Mike Bowditch so far from the previous books that I have read, and this collection of short stories actually helps to fill in some background gaps in the series. Since not every story is told in Bowditch's point of view, you get a more colorful feel for the motley inhabitants of the Maine backwoods. The different stories also map out the lay of the land encompassing the warden's district. Mike's rebel character is more evident as his early days are recounted, as his personal code is still being developed under Charley's mentorship. The short story format allows for quick little mysteries to be solved without a deep dive into the action involved or the final outcomes - and I admit that I was unsatisfied with more than one of the conclusions. But such is the life of a Maine Game Warden, right? These stories also give little pointers about surviving the backwoods and the elements which I like to squirrel away in my mind should I ever find myself lost in the woods. Despite the stories being short, they are involved and have twists in their investigations - I enjoy when the wardens act 'hick' because you know they are peeling back layers of the mystery while they downplay their intelligence. Even if you haven't read the previous Bowditch tales, this book provides an afternoon of excitement and adventure as you solve mysteries of the Maine Backwoods!

Overall, I really enjoy the Mike Bowditch series, which I first read with book #14, Dead Man's Wake. I've got a lot of backlist titles to catch up on!

This set of short stories was a quick, engrossing read, and helped develop the characters in the series a bit more for me, having a limited history with them.

My biggest gripe with these books is how the female spouses tend to serve as an unpaid, behind-the-scenes sidekick to the job. For example,

"He appreciated his wife's willingness to serve as both a sounding board and a spur to action."

The skeptical feminist in me bristles at notes like these; it's as if the husband is pat-patting the little wifey on the head in a gesture of thanks for the unpaid emotional labor of listening to her husband word vomit his theories and investigative discoveries, all while the man gets the glory for solving the case.

I've noticed this formula used in multiple books in the series now and it's beginning to emerge as a trend I don't love. Other than that, I really do enjoy the storytelling and mysteries and twists.

This review appears on my blog (link below):

Charley Stevens as a young Maine game warden, tracking down a mysterious hermit. His wife, Ora, driving to a remote homestead to help a woman in peril. Shadow, the wolf-hybrid, helping out on a case. And Warden Mike Bowditch investigating the bizarre appearance of rattlesnakes in Maine—as described by a third-person narrator.

Skin and Bones, an absorbing collection of short stories by Paul Doiron (and the title of one of those stories), is a kind of through-the-looking glass trip. It has the comfortable familiarity of the novels in Doiron's popular mystery series featuring Bowditch, but it’s served up with a twist.

The tales add the backstories of characters readers have come to know, and fills in some spaces between the novels. The final story, Sheep’s Clothing, picks up where 2024’s Pitch Dark left off. It doesn’t significantly advance Bowditch’s life except in one important way, which I won’t reveal here.

Several of the stories feature Charley, Bowditch’s crusty, fearless mentor—in his salad days. His daughter Stacy, who eventually marries the younger warden, is a kid. Charley’s wife, Ora, has yet to be seriously injured in a plane accident. In Skin and Bones, Charley is approached by Mike’s father, Jack, who was a poacher and all around bad ‘un. In this story, however, Jack has found a dead bald eagle, is outraged, and wants Charley’s help in finding who killed it.

Bowditch is the protagonist in other stories, at various stages in his career. He’s working in the Sebago Lake region when he gets a report there’s a rattlesnake on the loose. As every Mainer knows, there are no deadly snakes in Maine…but then a young man is attacked by a rattler and may lose a leg. When Mike gets to the scene, he meets up with a memorable character from one of the novels (Knife Creek?)— Ricky Elwell, the young diamonds-in-the rough taxidermist and butcher who, it turns out, knows a lot about snakes. Though the novels are told by Bowditch, this story is told by a third-person narrator, which provides an interesting perspective on the sometimes reckless warden.

All the stories have the same strong sense of place as the novels; Doiron is adept at painting the varied landscape of Maine. There are general stores, rough shacks at the end of dirt roads, rich people from away, snowmobiles, lakes and mountains. Doiron’s use of real locations—Grand Lake Stream, Lake St. George—always adds richness to his fiction.

I thoroughly enjoyed what felt like an inside look at some of my favorite characters in mystery fiction. And though I live right here in Maine, it really is a great place to visit. Despite all the murders.

Skin and Bones will be published in May; I read an advance copy through the NetGalley program.

Skin and Bones And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories
Paul Doiron
Minotaur Books
Available 5/13/2025

Thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this title which I gave 4.5 stars.

Although Paul Doiron has written several other books, this is my introduction to his work. Frankly, I was astonished at how quickly my interest was piqued. From the first short, The Bear Trap, I was hooked! Since I’m not an outdoors person at all, other than for walking and admiring Nature, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed these stories.

The title, Skin and Bones, refers to the longest of the short stories, which comes more than midway through the book. Blending the skills of Stephen King and Agatha Christie combined, the author spooks the reader with descriptions of creepy characters and scenarios with a payoff would make Mrs. Christie proud. Every story is replete with credible dialogue and the action is well paced, moving along as appropriate for each cast of characters.

The author has a new fan and I will be reading more of his work.

What a great collection of short stories! There truly is something for everyone inside of this book - a little horror, a lot of nature, good old fashion campfire lore. This a great book. Oh, and did I mention it's by Paul Doiron? Yeah...

It's been a while since I've read Doiron's books. Sometimes I get caught up in shiny new things and forget that the really great writers that I've always loved are still out there, so thank you Paul Doiron, for giving me a poke and reminding me how wonderful your story telling is!

Normally, when I read a collection like this, I go through each story and tell why I liked one over the other or not at all. Every tale in Skin and Bones is equally well written and interesting. Some are throw backs to the days of Charlie, some are catch-ups with Mike in between the current books, but every one of them is well told and really interesting. If you're already a fan of Doiron then, of course, you must read Skin and Bones. If you've never heard of him - where have you been - then this is a great introduction. You don't have to know who the characters are or anything about them. Reading it is like gathering around the camp fire and listening to everyone tell an amazing story from their past. So settle in and enjoy the tale. A couple of s'mores wouldn't hurt.

I am huge fan of the Mike Bowditch novels, and have recommended them to several people I know that are avid outdoor enthusiasts. . As I result I was super excited to be approved to read the next installment in the series. So image my disappointment when I discovered that this was not that, but rather a collection of the short stories often labeled as .5 that are released as place holders between books in a series. I generally skip those as rarely add anything of significance to the characters or cannon. Unfortunately, I felt the same about this collection. While they are well written, they are at times odd and as a whole add little of import to the Mike Bowditch saga.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

My first experience with Mr, Bowditch. These are short stories and all interesting good reads. There is the feeling that Mr, Bowditch is under appreciated in his line of work and who knew being a game warden was so intense. Enjoyed these very much. A definite addition to your TBR list.

I loved these, but, full disclosure, I love the author in general. I think the short story is the perfect delivery for Mike Bowditch's stories, and I loved the several offerings from Charley's viewpoint. Bowditch is a great character, human, flawed but moral, and I always enjoy his adventures. The stories make me miss New England, where we lived for 35+ years :(

Highly recommended.

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

C.J. Box, favorite author. Crisp concise sparse paragraphs. This collection of short stories certainly hits the mark for page turner and interesting stories. Really enjoyed reading adventures of Joe Picket and his mentor Charley. The stories take place in no particular timeline. Always original, Mr. Box does a really good job of punching in a good story. Great read for snowed in couple of days.

These stories were a pleasant surprise for me. I have read every one of Doiron's Bowditch mysteries. As the series moves along I find the writing more and more bogged down in histrionics, mawkish romanticism/sentimentalism and extreme violence aka James Lee Burke-Dave Robicheaux. In short, Doiron has become somewhat bogged down in fabulism.
However, these stories, for the most part were devoid of that stuff and were rather straight forward. They gave some good incite into poor people in Maine and into the landscape. While not rising to the level of Mavis Gallant, Alice Munro or Flannery O'Connor I think they do add weight to the Bowditch saga. I am sure that most fans of Doiron/Bowditch will enjoy these stories. It seemed to me that the story "Imposter" could be part of a new book.

This is a very enjoyable book about Mike and Charlie. Each is cram-packed with incites about them and the adventures they went through. Well worth reading. Highly recommended, as are all Paul Doiron's books.

Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories by Paul Doiron, published by St. Martin's Press/ Minotaur Books, is a collection of short stories - Mike Bowditch 4.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5
Including The Bear Trap; Rabid; The Imposter; The Caretaker; Skin & Bones; Snakebit and Sheep's Clothing.
A wonderful goosflesh giving collection That I greatly enjoyed reading.
I recommend the book, 5 stars.

Skin and Bones is a collection of eight short stories set deep in the Maine woods, written by seasoned outdoorsman Paul Doiron. These stories continue the life of Mike Bowditch, a game warden and the central character in Doiron’s long-standing series. However, you don’t need to be familiar with the series to get invested—each story stands alone. I hadn’t read Doiron’s previous work before picking up Skin and Bones, but I’ve started a few novels in the series and I like the atmosphere.
The stories often unfold as characters reminisce about their careers as game wardens, reflecting on the most pivotal moments. One of the most intriguing figures is Charley, Mike’s older mentor and father figure. A bush pilot and former prisoner of war in Vietnam, Charley has escaped the torment with a strong moral compass. Yet, there’s an undercurrent to these stories of trying to do the right thing during difficult or nebulous circumstances- it’s not always clear how they will uphold a sense of justice.
What sets Skin and Bones apart is Doiron’s masterful ability to craft a moody, somber atmosphere against the backdrop of Maine’s pristine forests. He reveals a side of Maine that challenges the state’s "Vacationland" image. No idyllic beach cottages here— Mike’s policing the gritty, tangled Maine wilderness, and he runs into some harrowing circumstances. Of course Mike’s confronted with plenty of game warden-y ecological issues like poaching, rabies and hikers stranded in the snow. There’s also (a surprising) amount of macabre crimes and grisly deaths that take place in a rugged, fiercely beautiful, authentic Mainescape
This was my first NetGalley review! I’m so happy to receive the ARC from my fellow Mainer Mike Doiron.

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

From warnings for newly-minted game warden Mike Bowditch to rabid bats to a hunter missing in a snowstorm to a dead man . . . with Mike’s driver’s license.

From sinister prowlers to a missing man with a physically abusive brother to rattlesnakes to a gruesome murder-suicide . . . these are Mike Bowditch's stories.

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In this captivating book readers will find eight short stories, each featuring Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch and retired game warden Charley Stevens, all mysteries providing tidbits of background information for the characters while keeping the reader engrossed in the telling of these tales. Here are the characters readers have come to know and love; the strong setting anchors the stories while the intriguing plots keep those pages turning as fast as possible.

While this unputdownable book works well as a standalone, readers who have followed Mike Bowditch’s adventures are sure to find much to appreciate here as will readers new to the series.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley
#SkinandBones #NetGalley

We venture deep into the rugged Maine wilderness once more with Edgar Award-nominated author Paul Doiron in Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories. This collection showcases the adventures and mysteries featuring Mike Bowditch, Charley Stevens, and more.

For the first time in print, Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories features a collection of eight gripping original short stories in the bestselling Mike Bowditch series―including one brand new, never-before-published story. The stories include The Bear Trap, Rabid, Backtrack, The Imposter, The Caretaker, Skin and Bones, Snakebit, and Sheep's Clothing.

Paul Doiron takes us back to familiar stomping grounds—the majestic yet often unforgiving terrain of Maine in Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories. This collection is an anthology of tales that draws deeply on the landscape and wildlife's raw beauty to shape stories filled with mystery. Each tale is crafted with the hallmark Doiron attention to detail, painting vivid scenes that are easy to slip into for dedicated Mike Bowditch readers, Mainers, and newcomers alike. The Maine setting becomes more than a backdrop, but a character in its own right, influencing events and shaping outcomes.

Tales in this book that standout in my mind are The Caretaker and the collections namesake Skin and Bones. This stories immediately ensnared me with its edge-of-the-seat tension and mystery. In the former, Bowditch tracks down a sinister prowler turning a couple's dream vacation home into a nightmare while the latter sees the killing of a bald eagle unearthing ties to a tragic case from Mike's mentor Charley Steven's past.

Each story has their own feel while also cohesively adding depth to the overall Mike Bowditch lore. These tales are great to add context or bits to Doiron's other Bowditch stories, but can also standalone. This especially goes for Sheep's Clothing which offers insights into the aftermath of previous events from Pitch Dark, creating continuity within this universe while introducing fresh tensions that kept me guessing until the very end. These narrative threads cleverly bind past novels with present tales without alienating those who might be new to Doiron’s work.

A nice touch in Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories is the stories where Charley Stevens takes center stage. This provides us fans of the series an intriguing shift from our usual protagonist-centric narratives focused entirely on Mike Bowditch. Stevens' presence adds depth to these tales; his seasoned wisdom contrasts beautifully against Bowditch’s youthful vigor seen elsewhere in the series.

It wouldn't be right if I didn't mention how much I love these tales as they take place in my backyard. Maine is a beautiful and wonderful state with a ton of wildlife, adventure, and mystery. Doiron's love for the state shines on every page of a Bowditch tale and this goes for this collection of short stories.

Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories by Paul Doiron is an enthralling reading experience that's both satisfying for longtime fans waiting for another full-length installment and enticing enough for those new to Mike Bowditch to get a glimpse into the universe. Doiron takes several previous published tales and combine them into one great collection featuring a brand new story with ease.

I'm a big fan of Paul Doiron and his fallible but compelling lead character, Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch. Having read the entire series, I've thoroughly enjoyed Doiron's evolution as a writer. I eagerly wait for each new release, and find myself impatient for the next installment. This collection of short stories is a perfect addition to the series—it fills in the gaps, deepens our connection to the already well-drawn characters, and expands Bowditch’s world. Reading it feels like slipping into a well-worn, comfortable slipper—you just want to curl up in a cozy spot and savor the experience.