Mike Bowditch is a game warden in Maine, a surprising career move as his dad was a famous poacher in the area. Mike has found an eagle shot and on his weekly visit with his mentor, Charley Stevens, who is retired now. That brings back memories for Stevens of a time that he joined forces with Bowditch's father.

Jack Bowditch flagged down Stevens one day with a bald eagle in the back of his truck, outraged that someone had killed the nation's symbol. Both men had been in the armed forces but took different paths afterward. Bowditch insisted he knew who had done it, a young boy who was making his way after his parents were killed by living with his abusive older brother and making a little cash on the side by poaching and selling his catch. Stevens went to their house to check it out but Bowditch followed him and things escalated It ended with the abusive brother in jail that night and the younger one, having been beaten by the older, running off into the woods.

Bowditch comes back in a day or so saying now he really knows who did it, an Indian who is a cook in a notorious bar. But by then, the young boy has been missing for a few days. His girlfriend said he wanted them to run off but she hadn't heard anything else from him. Stevens puts the blame for whatever happens to the boy on Bowditch's shoulders due to his false accusation.

This novella tells a story that adds more information to the backstory of Mike Bowditch who is the hero of Paul Doiron's series. Mike has devoted his life to the Forestry Service and taken Stevens as his hero since his own father scoffed at the law and did whatever he wanted. It is an interesting story and fans of the series will enjoy it. I listened to it and the narrator did an excellent job. This book is recommended for mystery readers, especially fans of the Mike Bowditch series.

When Mike Bowditch discovers an the body of a bald eagle shot by an ice fisherman, he takes the carcass to his old mentor, Charley Stevens. Filled with outrage, Mike takes time to talk and Stevens relates a long ago and fairly grim story about Mike's father in a similar situation. Doiron has written a number of shorter works about his main character, each of which has revealed back story that hasn't fit into the longer novels. This novella is particularly tight and well plotted. As the action is set well before the series start, it can be plugged in anywhere as a free standing tale. Another excellent narration by Henry Leyva.

As I listen to the well narrated short story Skin and Bones, I can not help but wonder if author Paul Doiron is testing the waters of a prequel series. Charley Stevens has been prominently featured in the Mike Bowditch series, though there is a huge backstory that has yet to be told. This short story ties in Jack Bowditch, Mike's father, a poacher with his own skewed idea of a moral code.

The narration is good and I would recommend the format to those who like to listen instead of read. The voice actor gives the characters life and does a great job of expressing feelings and emotions. I would like to know more of the background of both Charley and Jack, so I hope that the author is planning on expanding out his idea.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Audio Copy of Skin and Bones by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to listen to and review this book was entirely my own.

Taking one character and have him tell a story to another character was great. Going back to the beginning of his career and share difficult times with his protege made for a great change.

When his protege, Mike Bowditch, finds a bullet-ridden Bald Eagle, Retired Warden Charley Stevens is reminded of a similarly distressing case from his past. In this story, set years prior to the current series, we follow a young Charley as he finds an unlikely ally in the form of Mike's Dad, infamous poacher Jack Bowditch and the two of them try to get to the bottom of the slain birds.

I loved everything about this. Charley is my favorite character in the current series (Sorry, Mike!) and I absolutely loved seeing him (and Ora!) as their younger selves.

The only note I have is that as much as I love Charley, I wouldn't burn an Audible credit on a Novella. I'd definitely prefer to buy it separately at a novella price.

I'm a big Paul Doiron fan and this was my first audiobook of his. The narrator was excellent and held my attention throughout. This is a novella, which I've also not read before. Despite it's short length, it packed a good punch and was very easy to follow. There wasn't a huge mystery, but that would've been difficult to pull off in a novella. I will recommend this to library patrons. It'd be an excellent audiobook to listen to on a short car ride.

Eek! Kind of gruesome but still a good addition to the Mike Bowditch featuring Charley Stevens and Jack Bowditch in the early part of Charley’s career.
Henry Leyva is the right narrator for this series.