Almost Midnight

Another amazing novel by Maine author Paul Doiron. Having read all of the series, I'm convinced this is the best yet. I enjoy seeing the recurring characters from previous books, and as a Mainer, can relate to the places mentioned in the book!

It is not hard at all to give 5 stars to this marvelous series that I love so much. Mike Bowditch is the kind of man I would want on my side and as a friend. In this thriller he finds himself multitasking as he responds to an old friend's concerns of malfeasance while serving time behind bars, and the malicious attack on Shadow, the hybrid wolf Mike had taken under his wing for a one time.

Wonderful writing, a beautiful setting and a heck of a ending will keep me coming back for more. Please keep this series going Mr. Doiron!

This book will be published in July, 2019.

I made the mistake of skipping the last couple of Bowditch adventures. It was a mistake as Almost Midnight reminded me quickly why I have enjoyed Doiron’s past work. Now it’s time to back read. Thank you for this fine effort. Great read. Highly recommended!

Paul Doiron doesn't disappoint in the latest installment of his Mike Bowditch series. With each new book you see Mr. Doiron grow as a writer and Mike Bowditch grow as a human being. The story as always, is fast paced and rooted in today's headline. An all around great read.

Almost Midnight is an intriguing story about wolves and best friends. Add in corruption and bullies. This makes for interesting read. The characters will draw you into their lifes and the way they live them.

Doiron balances two intriguing mysteries and changes in Bowditch's personal life and produces one of his most satisfying books yet. This is a great series and Doiron keeps getting better.

Another great book featuring Mike Bowditch. His vacation is cut short by a call from a friend. Cronk shares a concern about the prison. Soon afterwards Cronk saves a CO during an inmate attack. One leg of the story follows the events surrounding Cronk and the prison.

Mike gets a call from someone about a wounded wolf. He finds it is Shadow, the wolf dog hybrid, whom he rescued years ago. Who shot Shadow? Was it the newly settled Amish? The constitution spouting town bully/savior? Or the young couple living off the land?

It is a pleasure to see the growth in the character over the years. His friendships and family reflections have shaped a mature man who does the right thing. The description of wildlife in Maine is breathtaking.

Love, love, love this series - and this, the 10th book, certainly does nothing to change that enthusiasm. Game Warden Mike Bowditch is in fine fettle - even if he's dithering a bit in his relatively new relationship with Maine state trooper Dani Tate. I've said this in other reviews, but Mike reminds me of author C.J. Box's game warden Joe Pickett, and in this book I picked up some tinges of Michael Lister's former prison chaplain John Jordan as well. But make no mistake: Mike is his own person - and a very capable, likable one at that.

Mike is an investigator with the Maine Warden Service, and as this story begins, he visits old friend and prison inmate Billy Cronk. Cryptically, Billy tells Mike that the new prison CO, Dawn Richie, needs to be investigated - but he stops short of explaining why. Mike is skeptical, but he also feels responsible for Billy's being in prison and somewhat reluctantly decides to look into the matter. Not long after his visit, Mike learns of a prison fight, during which both Billy and Dawn are injured. As it turns out, Billy was credited for saving the day (and Dawn's life), and now the governor says he'll issue a pardon.

Meantime, Mike - who's on vacation at the moment - must deal with a mystery of a very different sort; a wild wolf-dog with whom Mike once had a relationship of sorts has been shot with a wicked crossbow arrow and is expected to die. Both sad and furious, Mike vows to track down the archer. He uses his remaining free days to head for the deep backwoods, where some nasty characters and (surprise!) a group of Amish are ensconced. With help from an old friend, Mike even makes a rustic home for himself in the middle of a very scenic nowhere.

Billy's issues and the search for the wolf-killer run side by side for most of the book, coming together near the end when Billy's wife and children, who are trying to hide from some baddies who want to do them and Billy serious harm, take shelter in Mike's backwoods shack. At that point, all heck breaks loose - and readers are treated to a literal bang-up ending that happened way too soon to suit me.

Another terrific series entry is in the can - one thoroughly enjoyed by me as expected. Many thanks (once again) to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

I truly enjoy this series. Having lived in northern Maine, I appreciate the author's grittier, unromanticized descriptions about the land and its people. This series is highly recommended for those who like their mysteries set in the outdoors. - Posted to GoodReads

Almost Midnight is the 10th installment in Paul Doiron’s series featuring game warden Mike Bowditch, but it was the first one I’ve read. As a longtime fan of the Joe Pickett series by C.J. Box, I expected to like this story about a game warden covering the completely different terrain of the Maine woods. I was not disappointed. The story stands on its own even to those unfamiliar with the characters. The plot features a feral wolf-dog hybrid in need of emergency veterinary care (who could resist?) as well as suspicions of criminal activity among the wardens of the local prison (a literal “who will guard the guards?” scenario). Add in Mike’s complicated relationship with his occasionally-paranoid friend Billy, who is incarcerated thanks to Mike’s own testimony. There’s plenty there to keep the characters off-balance and the story moving along, even if the story isn’t a thriller in a stay-up-all-night sense. The characters are strong enough that I will probably start from the beginning and read the series in order.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance digital review copy.

Time after time, I'm astounded at how good this series is. The humanity of the characters, especially Mike Bowditch is where this series excels. The stories are ALWAYS unique and different and told with the love of an author who is dedicated to his work. Genuine and thought provoking. I absolutely love this series.