Interesting storyline with plenty of twists and turns. I'm usually a cozy mystery reader, but this was a fun change in mystery genres. I didn't realize there were so many previous books in the series, but I had no trouble following along.
I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

I enjoyed this next book in the Maine game warden Mike Bowditch series. During an engagement celebration at Mike's stepfather's lake home, he and Stacey hear a boat crash into something and upon investigating (with the help of Charley) find a severed arm in the lake, followed by a body. Later on, another body is discovered and the investigation is on to find the boat and then figure out how these two people died and whodunit. This has a healthy dose of my favorite character, Charley, and it also comes with a health scare for Ora. This is a page-turner right down to the last page, and I also loved the ending!

I am happy to have discovered this mystery series by Paul Doiron. This is the 14th book in the series, and the first book in the series that I'd read. I had no trouble at all following the plot, and the author introduces each character so skillfully that the reader is not lost. The setting of the story is in rural Maine.

The author does an excellent job of introducing the topography of the region without it becoming a lecture, and his descriptions of various places made me want to visit this state. Maine has it all, from mountains to beaches, and so much water - many streams, rivers and it borders on the Atlantic Ocean. This book was set in a part of Maine where the roads were frequently washed out and most of the transportation by the main characters was on foot or by canoe or boat. Their large fauna include bears including Grizzly bears and moose (also dangerous). One unique difference in this part of Maine is that a lot of transportation is by boat.

Mike Bowditch is a game warden investigator, which is similar to a police detective. Mike and his fiance Stacy see a man run over by a boat, which leaves the scene.The next day, two corpses are retrieved from the lake - a man and a woman who were suspected of having an affair. The plot is complicated with multiple suspects and several people behaving oddly. I was not able to guess the culprit.

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher St. Martin's Press vis NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Oh this was good! Fun cover and very suspenseful. Full of murder and danger, this will keep you hooked and on your toes!

I didn't realize this book was the 14th book in the Mike Bowditch series when I was requesting it. I just genuinely thought it sounded like a great read. I found that even though this was an established series, it was easy to jump in and I didn't feel like I missed anything. This book was great and I will absolutely be starting the series from book 1 eventually. 4 stars.

📖 Just finished "Dead Man's Wake" by Paul Doiron and it's another thrilling mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat! 💥 When a man is seemingly run over by a boat near Mike and Stacy's engagement dinner, it sets off a chain of events that lead to multiple investigations and plenty of chaos. 🕵️‍♂️ With its engaging plot and dynamic characters, this latest installment in the series is a must-read for mystery lovers! 🌟 Can't wait for more adventures with Paul and companions! #DeadMansWake #PaulDoiron #Mystery #BookReview 🚤

Dead Man's Wake has an intriguing premise that revolves around a hit-and-run speedboat accident that transforms into a murder investigation. However, the story fails to live up to its potential and leaves the reader underwhelmed. Despite my hopes that the storyline would change directions and captivate me, it never quite delivered. While it had its occasional moments, it ultimately left me wanting more.

Voluntarily reviewed after receiving a free copy courtesy of NetGalley, the Publisher, and the author, Paul Doiron.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Mysteries and thrills are abundant in this novel, which was riveting start to finish.

I was not informed that this was the 13th book in a series when i was offered this title by the publisher.

Mike Bowditch and his fiancé Stacey having an engagement party but as the evening is progressing, the two witness a hit and run on the lake. Once the two of them arrive at the scene they notice an arm floating detached from a body and Game Warden Bowditch is now on the hunt for a murderer. When the dive team arrive to find the remains, they find two bodies instead of one. The swimmers were out at dusk swimming but Mike thinks that they were intentionally hit.
There are several suspects and it is up to Mike to figure it out. Could it be the dead woman’s husband. She was out with another man……..right? This is another great book by Doiron and it has everything needed to make for a great murder mystery.


4 stars

I would like to start this off by saying that this is the 14th book in the series and I went into reading this without knowing that. Due to this, I obviously had not read the previous books. While I was able to get by okay without reading the previous books, I definitely missed some.

A solid three, not great but not bad. I might have enjoyed it more if I had read the previous books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first Mike Bowditch book I've read. It's not bad but I found it slow and the plotline a bit obvious. That being said, it is a book that most readers will enjoy. I always like books with lake resort settings. Boats and water please me.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me an advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

DNF for me. I hadn’t read the others in the series and it was getting very confusing with so many characters being introduced at once. The full detail of boats and lakes got me extremely bored as well and I could keep going unfortunately.

Mike Bowditch and his fiancée, Stacey Steven, hear what sounds like a boat collision on an otherwise quiet lake, and a quick survey of the location reveals a severed human arm. Mike enlists the warden dive team and some over-eager local law enforcement as well as his own family circle in investigating what turns out to be an apparent double homicide. The result is another expertly done procedural from this author. These books are so well written that I’m going to enjoy them no matter where the crimes take place, but I do miss the ones set closer to Mike’s home (and wolf!).

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for a digital advance review copy.

Dead Man's Wake by Paul Doiron is book number fourteen in the Mike Bowditch crime novel series, but I dived right into this one without reading any of the others that had come before. I feel like there would have been extra layers and added character history if I had read the other books first, but the story was written well enough that I didn't feel anything was missing without that added previous background information.

There were many components in this story, but it was laid out well and not at all confusing. I found the main character, a game warden investigator, to be supportive to others in law enforcement around him, and not pompous although he clearly has a lot of knowledge. Bowditch is a great character, and I now want to read more in the series!

I was shocked to learn in the Author's Note that Doiron mainly educated himself on aspects of his novel from reading books. There was a lot of information about bodies and how they react in water upon death, and this was so fascinating to me; I feel like I learned a lot with this novel.

It was a good thriller that reads more as a mystery and I love how the Maine lake setting really lured me in! The air around me was almost humid as I read - Doiron's writing really is that descriptive!

Thank you NetGalley. St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the complimentary copy to read and review.

Another interesting, outdoorsy, thriller with Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch and his fiancé Stacy. I love that this series always takes place in a picturesque setting, Interesting and fun read.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an electronic ARC and the opportunity to review this book.

This was the first book from this series I had read. That might have affected my view of the story some. I felt I was missing some of the background of the main character and therefore missing some of why he did things the way he did. I do enjoy detective stories and this one was well written. Once you get into it you can't wait to read the next page to see where the story goes. A quick read with just the right amount of details.

review
This book is number 14 in the series. I was able to read it without reading the previous books, but I think it might have helped create the backstory of the characters and their relationships a bit better. This was 100% on me because I didn't read the fine print or maybe the bold print when I requested the ARC of this book. 

On the night of his engagement party, Game Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch witnessed a hit and run on the lake. While I don't like on a lake  I do live on an island, so  I am familiar with vessel accidents. My job also makes me familiar as well. This sounds bad, but I wanted to see if the author did his research, and in fact, he did! Since accidents of any kind involving a vessel aren't common to most people, I was prepared for the details to be sparse. But Mr. Doiron did well!!

This was another Arctober book that I didn't get to until November. I listened and read this book, and while I enjoyed both versions, I think the audio wins out for me personally. The narrator, Henry Leyva, did a great job!

This book would be a great gift for the dad, stepdad, grandpa etc  in your life! Maybe don't start with number 14 like I did, but pick up the first few books as a gift!

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.