Note: Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Paul Doiron for the advanced reader copy of the book.  What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

Pitch Dark is the fifteenth book in Paul Doiron’s series about Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch. Much has changed from the first book in the series. While I think you can read Pitch Dark without having read the earlier books, the character’s development in those books makes it easier to understand why he makes some of the choices he does here.

Mike is enjoying a night at home with his wife Stacy when he receives a call from a rookie Warden in the northwest part of the state of Maine. There’s a report of a missing ATV rider from one of the lodges up there. This is unusual because spring season (or mud season) usually isn’t a time when people descend on the state to ride ATVs on logging roads. Before he disappeared, the man was asking around about a father and daughter living off the grid in the area.

Josie Jonson is a bush pilot who has someone matching that description building a log cabin for her in that remote location. Worried that someone nefarious might be looking for the father and daughter and with no other way to get up to them, Mike and his father-in-law Charley, a former Game Warden pilot himself, travel by helicopter with Josie up to the location.

What follows is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat tale that kept me turning the page until I reached the end. Paul Doiron has always been able to craft a tale with twists and turns that had me guessing, incorrectly, what was going on. Here, I can honestly say I did not see the end coming.

Doiron’s descriptions of the Maine Woods in this area is accurate. I’ve been up this way and traveled on the Golden Road, which he refers to frequently. It’s really amazing how desolate it is. He details the spring season with patches of green amidst the brown and the dreariness of the frequent rain as well as the power of the rivers and streams draining off the snowmelt. The story is told from Mike’s perspective, so the descriptions are his observations of what he sees around him as he’s tracking people through the woods. It’s the perspective of someone who notices things others miss and makes for a great setting.

There were a number of times I really had to suspend disbelief. Mike isn’t quite the “Superman” surviving injuries that would kill most, but he does seem to have an unusual amount of good luck as he’s tracking his quarry through the woods at this time of year. Many times I thought he should have turned back or given up, but where would the story be if he had? Although his personal story ends on something of a cliffhanger, the way the pursuit and its consequences resolve itself seems a little too convenient. However, it’s also good to know the series will continue.

Pitch Dark is a great addition to the story of Mike Bowditch. He asks some questions about his future that he’s not sure of the answers just yet. Should he blow his career as a Warden Investigator for one case, even if it means saving the life of a child? The reckless Mike of earlier books definitely would, but here he hesitates. He’s grown and evolved but there’s still that stubborn, headstrong streak that sometimes leads him to make choices most people wouldn’t. It’s this well-developed character that keeps me coming back to the series.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Josie loves her job. When Josie takes Mike to a remote area where they are captured. It is up to Mike to try to keep up with the kidnapper who has been one step ahead the whole time. A guessing game up until the very end.

This is a real thriller. What a chase!! The reader should expect many twists and turns and surprises! Just when you think you know the story, a wrench is thrown in. Mr. Doiron outdid himself on this one. Congratulations on a story well done. I have to highly recommend this one!!!

Another great read! If you like this series with Maine Warden Bowdich, you will really like this newest book. In it, things go in a whole new direction from most of the other books except there are law breakers and a hunt in this one two. Mike is finally growing up. Can't say much more without spoiling the read for you except this was a fun, adventure filled quick read.

Pitch Dark by P. Doiron, published by St. Martin's Press, is a stand alone and book 15 in the Mike Bowditch Series.
Bush pilot Josie just purchased land and is in luck when a builder agrees to build her dream cabin. His only request is to be left alone to raise his daughter.
Game Warden Mike Bowditch becomes suspicious, the secrecy is troubling him. And voila, the reader is in the middle of a fast paced, breathtraking, twisty read that had them guessing till the last page.

I’ve read Mike Bowditch series books before but this one is the best yet. Paul Doiron has really fully developed the character and I can’t wait to go back and read them again.

This one starts off with just a small idea of the investigation we are about to be a part of but Boditch’s instincts were right on. It’s unputdownable. So dig in with a blanket because the weather in this one is a full blown character. Enjoy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received an advanced copy from the publisher St. Martin’s Publishing Group.

Tense battle for survival, battling mother nature in the wilderness, danger around every corner, and human danger even more of a threat. True evil can be hiding in plain sight. Quite the ride, and nothing is as you expect. An exciting read!

This is the 15th in the Mike Bowditch series. I have only read one other so far. This one will work as a standalone.

Mike is a Maine Game Warden Investigator engaged to Stacey, an EMT. Mike’s assistance is requested when he is notified a questionable stranger has gone missing while searching for the reclusive and secretive man who lives deep in the woods while building a log cabin for an acquaintance of Mike’s wife and father in law. When he learns the recluse lives with his young daughter who is never seen in town and doesn’t attend school, his interest in the man deepens. What is he hiding? And, thus he is off on a menacing, dangerous and thrilling hunt in the north Maine woods and neighboring Canada.

I like this unique take on a police procedural featuring a game warden investigator. It is fast paced and engrossing with lots of action. An atmospheric read, Doiron conveys a good sense of place and danger. Bowditch is a great character. Persistent, he tries to respect the rules, can often be brash and annoying to others, displays a good sense of humor. Some of the situations and actions are a bit over the top, but that does make for a good thriller.

I have added this series to my list of must reads.

I did enjoy some of the more atmospheric aspects of the book. However- I was not grabbed in and didn’t relate to any of the characters. Would definitely try another by this author though

I requested this book as it takes place in Northern Maine and the main character is a Game Warden. It was a bit of a disappointment. It is number 15 in the series.The author is better than C.J. Box, but nowhere near the level of William Kent Krueger. The main character lacks common sense to a large degree and fails to listen to advice that is provided him. A number of reviewers have a much different take, but I will not be reading any more in this series.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this captivating eARC.

If you are a fan of CJ Box (only with a bit more action) check out this high-octane thriller featuring Game Warden Mike Bowditch.

Mike is dedicated, he will get those who break the law (or die trying). If you add fuel to his fire by hurting those he cares about, then he becomes a powerful nonstop force of dedication to his task

Not only are there jaw dropping twists in this clever mystery, the writing is top quality, and the supporting characters are well-rounded, loyal, and just interesting and flawed enough you would be proud to call them your friends.

I especially enjoyed the supporting cast of Josie Jonson, the pilot, and Charlie (Mike's father-in-law).

Another thing I enjoyed about this book is it was about nature, action, loyalty, and staying on course - what it WASN'T was a half-baked unrealistic romance novel masquerading as an unrealistic mystery novel.

Actually Mike is married and might be expecting his first child, but this fact is only casually mentioned as part of his life, I love that the author focused on the main storyline.

5 stars from this reader, and a grateful kudos to this talented author, bravo, for this excellent and engaging novel! 🌹

Wow hold on to your seat, this book moves fast! Pitch Dark is book 15 of a series with Mitch Bowditch, a Game Warden investigator in Maine. I have to say this one was intense, a lot of action and I did NOT see that twist coming!! Mike is alerted from another game warden about a missing heavily armed man. Long story short (your read the synopsis) this book grabbed me, and I read it easily in a day. So much happening it was impossible to put down. No garbage filler in this series. Thank you, S.E. at St. Martins and Net Galley for the ARC. Side note, I think you could read this as a standalone, however I would highly recommend binging the series.

This was not the book for me, I did not enjoy it.
This is the 15th book in a series about Mike Bowditch, a game warden in Maine. I found Mike to be very unlikable, he was very arrogant, and really showed no type of emotion whatsoever. I could have done without the gun and vehicle descriptions, which I found boring and unnecessary.
I don’t think there was anything wrong with the book, and past readers of the series will probably enjoy this one as well. But if you’re new to Mike Bowditch, I hope you enjoy arrogant stoney know it alls, otherwise you won’t enjoy this.

false-identities, false-conclusions, false-information, mental-health-issues, relationships, relationship-issues, relatives, unputdownable, lies, secrets, Maine, law-enforcement, game-warden, family-drama, family-dynamics, riveting, action-adventure, wilderness, crime-thriller, suspense, suspicion, friends, friendship, poisons, bounty-hunter, multiple-murder*****

Totally addictive and unputdownable! So many murders. So many who did murder one way or another for one reason or another and all in cold rainy weather up in the woods of Maine. Hold on to your coffee, because this is one wild ride!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Super!

Mike Bowditch is a game warden investigator who lives in a part of Maine where the easiest way to get around is by water or flight. He hears that one of his friends, Josie Jonson, has a man and his daughter living on her property. The father is building her a beautifully constructed cabin. Mark Redmond is home-schooling his daughter, and they don't want any visitors. This concerns Mike, particularly since he hears stories about an armed man offering money to find the man and his daughter. What are they hiding from? When the father and daughter take off for Canada, Mike gives chase.

I highly recommend this suspenseful and surprising story where so much was not as it seems. I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Game warden Mike Bowitch is interested in meeting reclusive builder Mark Redmond and his daughter
due to the disappearance of a man offering large sums of money for their location. The meeting results
in Redmond and his daughter going on the run. Mike chases them through Maine and into Canada,
wondering at their true identities and why all the secrecy.
Fast paced story.
#Pitch Darke #Minotaur #NetGalley

Mike Bowditch is a powerhouse of a character. He isn't just a game warden, he is a crusader for truth and justice that is ruled more by his internal moral compass than he is by any law. He begins his day by investigating a Maine visitor that may or may not be missing. The little details found about the missing man spark a hunt to find a reclusive man and his daughter living in the woods. Not much is known about the three people except that none are who they present themselves to be. In no time, this little investigation becomes a high action, no-rest search for the the people and the truth of their identities. This nail-biting, high energy, danger at every turn action does not let up until the last man falls. I could not put the book down once I started it! There are limited characters, but the manhunt is so intense and vivid that you hear the snap of twigs as you run through the woods with them. What an incredible and exciting read!

Maine Game Warden Detective Mike Bowditch is back in this pulse pounding chase through the northern Maine woods that proves Paul Doiron is at the top of his game. Bowditch may be in over his head as he tracks a fugitive with little more than his skills. I read this book in two sittings and can’t wait to sell it!

What starts as a simple injury into some suspicious activity concerning a local recluse rapidly turns into a life-or-death struggle for Game Warden Mike Bowditch. Mike & his friend turned father-in-law, Charley, enlist the help of their pilot friend Josie to head up a remote section of Northern Maine to check in on a builder working in the area, but upon arrival they're met by a very dangerous man. Drugged, knocked out, and tied to a tree, Mike, Charley & Josie must fight to survive. Freeing himself, Mike works to untie his friends before rushing off to catch the man responsible. Racing through the extremely remote part of Maine that borders Canada, Mike must move quickly without being spotted. It's cold, wet, and muddy, and on his way, he encounters several other complications.... both environmental and human. Moving quickly and maintaining the suspense, readers won't be able to put this one down as they follow Mike to the border!

I absolutely loved this one! It's fact paced and reminded me a lot of Dead by Dawn, which I also really enjoyed. While I'm aware this is not a popular opinion, I am not a huge fan of Stacey (I strongly preferred him with Dani) and this book had very little Stacey in it which really worked for me. I do love Charley, but having Mike chasing the bad guy alone- rather than with an eighty-year-old man tagging along- allowed for the pacing to stay consistently fast and made it very difficult to put down from the very beginning. The only thing I didn't love about this book is that at the end, on the Candian Border, the name choices for the people and places were primarily French and multi-word (L'Auberge Lac Portage, Saint-Georges-de-Beauce, Nadeau, Prolux) which I understand from a setting perspective (there are Candian words and people at the Canadian Border, obviously) but as an American reader actually reading (not listening) my brain tripped over so many words and the bits of French and I ended up looking them up to see how to pronounce them so it really put the brakes on the speed of the story. There are so many Canadian surnames or camp sites that would be less of a mouthful, In the end it didn't have any impact on how much I loved the story, just something I personally struggled with a bit.

Overall, absolutely 10/10, I am a huge Mike Bowditch fan but this one is right up there with The Precipice & Dead by Dawn for my favorite in the series!

Well that escalated quickly.

There's practically no set up before you're haggling with a persnickety lady for a ride to a remote logging house to a murder, kidnapping, international crimes etc. You'll learn a lot about rural Maine and things just keep happening. There's no stopping point, even when I'm like how is this dude (no spoiler bc you'll have no idea which one I mean) still up and moving. It's a lot and goes by super quickly. I've never read anything else by this author so I don't know if it's a series but I didn't need a lot of backstory to get engaged.