Short stories of game wardens from Down East Maine and I found that the titles for the stories are true definitions for the subject of each of the stories. While I learned a massive appreciation for these wardens not only from the investigative skills, knowledge of floral and fauna, the writing style of Paul Doiron is a pure delight to read. This is a laugh out loud book even though there are some gruesome details at times. Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books and author Paul Doiron for an ARC of this book; the review is my honest opinion.

This book holds eight short stories.
All Mike Bowditch as a primary character. A Game Warden in the Maine Wilderness at various stages of his career. Which doesn’t always go smoothly. Sometimes he has the effect of rubbing co-workers and superiors the wrong way.
His interactions with his mentor and a good friend are interesting to follow.
Sometimes you feel in the mood for short stories and these fit the bill. You might enjoy them enough to want to look at the full-length novels starting with The Poacher’s Son, the first book in the Mike Bowditch series.

Skin and Bones is a collection of short fiction featuring Mike Bowditch and ensemble supporting characters written by Paul Doiron. Released 13th May 2025 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is a wonderfully written series with an intelligent and honorable protagonist who works as an investigator for the Maine Warden Service (game warden). Although it has more thriller elements than the usual shopfront cozies, it's so well written, so redolent of the area and the outdoors, that it's an immersive and enjoyable read. Readers who are already fans of procedural thrillers will be right at home.

This is a collection of 8 stories; 7 previously published, and one new to this collection. All are top shelf fiction and fill in background for the main characters from the series, and some are set in Bowditch's early career as well as more focused on his mentor Charley and his experiences from the early days in the warden service.

The stories are in the four-five star range and all are engaging and well written.

Four and a half stars. It would make an okay introduction to the style of the main books in the series but probably should be read after more familiarity with the main characters. It would make an excellent choice for public library acquisition, home use, or a buddy read.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

I always enjoy the Mike Bowditch books and this short story collection is great. I had read one (Bear Trap) previously but the others were new to me. If you are a fan, this is a nice quick set of reads.

I'm a huge fan of this series, and I love that all the short stories are finally in one place!
I love Mike and his adventures as a game warden. He is a great MC to follow, always keeping me on the edge of my seat with whatever he's investigating. These short stories pack a whole lot of story in just a few pages. They are all fun and entertaining, and I especially love the ones from Charlie's POV.

If you're already a fan of this series, you'll enjoy Skin and Bones. I enjoyed them all, with my favorites being the ones involving Charlie and the newest one, Sheeps Clothing.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Skin and Bones by Paul Doiron in exchange for an honest review. This was a wonderful short story that gave me a glimpse of the past events and how what our parents do can affect our lives.

These are all amazing short stories, featuring veteran bush pilot and Maine woodsman Charley Stevens and heroic, compassionate, Game Warden Mike Bowditch. Set in the north woods of Maine, Paul Doiron has written eight excellent short stories. Each of the stories has a complex and twisting plot, and wonderful character development. I loved all of the stories, but Snakebit and Skin and Bones were my two favorites. Snakebit was chilling as Mike's investigation delved into both the crime and the family involved. In Skin and Bones, Charlie recounts the killing of a Bald Eagle that led to an investigation, with Mike's father Jack, of a horrendous crime that haunts him still. The other stories involve a thieving hermit, a search for a missing person, family violence, an imposter, revenge, and an eerie case of deceit, manipulation and murder in the backwoods. The stories vary in length and are fast paced and full of suspense! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of this review are my own.

I liked all the stories included in this book but my favorite was the last one. There were so many components that lead to the murder and it was interesting to see the thought process of figuring out what role each person involved played and their motivation behind their actions. This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed so I will be checking out their other works.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

I received an ARC of this book. This is the first book I've read by this author. I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved reading the short stories. I will definitely be reading more of his work.

Skin and Bones by Paul Doiron is a selection of short stories featuring Charlie Stevens and Mike Bowditch who were both game wardens in Maine. Charlie was sort of Mike’s mentor as well as his eventual father-in-law. The dates and times are scattered over many years. Some of the stories featured both men, some only one or the other. All were in the same vein, stories of how people seem to think that committing a crime in the woods means they will never get caught, and of course, there are those that make their homes in the woods. All were satisfying stories for the “thriller” fan, although they do take some different turns from the typical.

The Maine woods are close to Canada. That can sometimes cause some concerns. Mike started his career, as many young men do, as kind of a know-it-all. It didn’t make him friends. He was quick to open his mouth and to assume. Charlie tried to temper that in him, having learned firsthand that waiting and watching was a better strategy. It has been an entertaining journey for the two of them over the years, much of it encapsulated in this compilations of stories. Some are mere anecdotes and some nearly novellas. All filling in the gaps of a character already popular. Loved it!
Great characters! Great criminals! Great setting!

I was invited to read Skin and Bones by St Martins Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #PaulDoiron #SkinAndBones

✨📚 RELEASE DAY REVIEW 📚✨

Skin and Bones by Paul Doiron is officially out today! 🎉

I’m a new reader to Paul Doiron’s work, but I was instantly captivated by the compelling short stories in Skin and Bones. It was a pleasure diving into these eight engaging tales without needing to commit to eight full-length novels! Doiron’s writing is truly a work of art—vivid, suspenseful, and immersive. You’ll find yourself transported right into the heart of Maine, experiencing every moment alongside the characters.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for powerful storytelling and thrilling narratives. This collection is a fantastic way to get acquainted with Paul Doiron’s writing.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Skin and Bones" by Paul Dorian is an absolute masterpiece of short storytelling. Each tale, intricately woven with the haunting allure of forest settings, pulls you into an immersive world where nature itself becomes a character. Dorian's prose is both vivid and atmospheric, effortlessly capturing the eerie beauty and underlying tension that forests evoke.

The collection showcases a brilliant range of emotions and twists, keeping readers on edge while exploring human nature against the backdrop of untamed wilderness. Every story feels fresh yet connected, unified by Dorian's sharp, evocative writing style.

A must-read for fans of atmospheric fiction and thought-provoking narratives!

Captivating stories in the dark woods!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the eight short stories in Paul Doiron's Skin and Bones collection. I had read some of them before, but they are so well-written that re-reading them is a pleasure. The interactions between Mike Bowditch and retired game warden Charley Stevens are so entertaining. From “The Bear Trap,” in which Stevens tackles a woods legend with sinister results, to “Snakebit”, they all have surprising twists.
In the new story “Sheep’s Clothing”, we discover the consequences for Mike of the events in Pitch Dark. Mike's wellness check on a dirt-poor family in the Maine backwoods turns up two bodies. Mike’s habit of finding trouble finds him again. He can’t help but investigate even though his superiors have told him to stay away.

These stories are like sitting around a campfire and having a favourite uncle telling tales. Some are scary, some intriguing, but all are captivating. I like visiting with old friends: Mike and his wife Stacey, Charlie and his wife Ora and Mike’s wolf-dog Shadow. This collection can be read alone, but I highly recommend the whole Mike Bowditch series.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC.

Skin and Bones by Paul Doiron

This book, comprised of eight short stories, is a real treat. Who doesn’t like to listen to a good storyteller? Ok, it’s a book, but Paul Doiron writes so well, that you’ll feel like you’re in the story. His characters feel real and his descriptions of Maine, the homes, scenery, cars,clothing and so forth will make you think you’re there.

My favorite story was probably Rabid because of its unexpected ending. My least favorite was Skin and Bones. There are others about Mike Bowditch and Charley Stevens, Mike’s longtime mentor. They are/were Game Wardens for the State of Maine, so their stories are work related oddities. The humor is superb and is mostly because of Doiron’s word choices and keen perception of human nature.

A solid five stars from me for this do-not-miss quick and fun read.

This book has all the ingredients I have come to love about this series. A great storyline, marvelous characters and great setting. I read the book in one sitting, it is that good. Well written and captivating with a lot of personal developments in the characters lives.
I thought that it was a fairly original storyline and I liked the setting of the Maine area as it added to the thrill and excitement of the story.
The reveals here was a nice shocker that I didn’t suspect at all. None of it detracted from my enjoyment and it was perfectly wrapped up at the end in a fun and action packed finale.

***ARC received from Minotaur Books and NetGalley, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

Skin and Bones is a collection is a collection of eight short stories set in the same world as the main series, most have been previously published but one is brand new to the book. They are all new to me though.

The majority of the stories are set prior to the most recent book with one having taken place after the most previous book. Not all the books have Mike as the main character, four are set when his mentor Charley was a game garden. All the stories are familiar.

I think out of all the stories Skin and Bones short story is probably my favorite. This takes place during the past and is centered on Charley and Jack Bowditch, Mike’s father. I haven’t read the prior books, I believe its book one that has Jack in it but I would read a full book of Charley and Jack. They are two very different characters and even though they want the same outcome one goes about it through the law and one their own version of the law. This is also the creepiest story in the book, more are just the straight through variety similar to the other books I’ve read. Granted thats not many, I have a few to go back through this one definitely draws on more of a horror element.

The rest of the stories are a little more mystery without the horror elements. One of the things that I liked the most about these short stories is how character driven they are. Most of a tinge of sadness to them, in particular the final story in the book.

This is a fun collection of short stories that take you in the past and present of Mike and the characters that make up the majority of the books.

Skin and Bones by Mike Bo..., er, Paul Doiron is our latest superb offering!! Originally, GENIUS was my initial book assessment; then I considered SUPER, next GREAT! I settled on SUPERB! I know not everybody has read some of the Mike Bowditch/Maine Game Warden.books, so this could be a great place to begin..Of course,you'll miss over 15 books, I really really enjoy Paul Doiron's writing and this compilation will provide just a taste. It's like snapshots only with words and antics of Mike Bowditch, Maine Game Warden, through the years. Titles like The Imposter,, Snakebit*, Sheep's Clothing, The Caretaker; all fine literary options, but my choice for best of the book is Snakebit. Different in ways from.the other seven. And while I'm giving my recommendations, I'm advancing on the limb: BEST STORY....SNAKEBIT. Might.be I 'm 74 and come from generation of order: 1st base, second base; Truman Eisenhower, So, read the first BOOK!! I highly recommend Sin and Bones by Paul Doiron! OUTSTANDING

Paul Doiron’s Skin and Bones is a captivating collection of eight short stories that further enrich the world of Maine game warden Mike Bowditch, the beloved protagonist of Doiron’s long-running mystery series. Known for his atmospheric settings, tight plotting, and deep psychological insight, Doiron delivers more of what his fans love—this time in bite-sized doses that still pack a punch.

Each story offers a self-contained mystery, yet all contribute to a deeper understanding of Bowditch’s character, his evolution, and the world he inhabits. Whether he’s chasing down poachers in the backwoods or stumbling into crimes that blur the line between wilderness and civilization, Bowditch remains a compelling and refreshingly complex lead. The stories range from tense and action-driven to reflective and character-focused, showcasing Doiron’s versatility as a writer.

Standouts include the titular story Skin and Bones, a chilling tale with a survivalist edge, and Backtrack, which cleverly explores the thin line between justice and revenge. Doiron’s prose remains clean and evocative, immersing readers in Maine’s rugged natural beauty while exploring the moral and emotional terrain of his characters.

While the stories are best appreciated by those already familiar with the Bowditch series, newcomers will still find plenty to enjoy—and may be tempted to explore the full-length novels afterward.

In all, Skin and Bones is a well-crafted companion to the main series, offering both loyal fans and new readers a gripping, atmospheric journey into the darker corners of the Maine wilderness.

I was absolutely thrilled when I received an advance copy of Skin and Bones: A Mike Bowditch Short Story Collection by author Paul Doiron and I was just as thrilled when I finished reading it. I have read some of these stories before, but all of them in a row, one after the other, including the brand new SHEEP’S CLOTHING, was so satisfying. Took me right back into Mike Bowditch Land, with a huge helping of the spellbinding, captivating, not-sure-if-you-can-believe-them tales told by Charley Stevens.

As always author Doiron takes us deep into the gruesome, rugged, raw, violent, graphic world of a Maine game warden. It’s beautiful but it’s hard and unforgiving. I’ve never been to Maine, but when reading Doiron’s books I feel like I am right there, enjoying the stillness and the magnificence of the terrain – and the ever present danger.

The little peeks into Mike's unique personality were delightful; he is such an interesting man, a one of a kind old soul, and we’ve literally gotten to watch him grow up. Reading these stories took me back in time through Mike’s life: his career, his growth, his mistakes. Made me once again see that green, new game warden, that impulsive young man, always fighting for justice and fairness, dedicated to saving the woods and the animals that live in them while serving and protecting the citizens of Maine, to a somewhat older man, not quite as impulsive but still never hesitating to speak when he thinks he must, taking any risk when necessary, and seeing the fulfillment of some of his most important, personal goals and dreams. The bonus: more time with Mike’s mentor and friend, Charley Stevens. Mike is interesting; Charley is beyond interesting. His stories always entertain, often teach a lesson, and usually leave you wondering just how much you can believe.

The eight stories in this collection range from Mike’s time as a rookie to more insight into Charley’s past and include many exciting tales of the wardens having to deal with not only the game in the woods but the most dangerous animal of all – man.

Each story is a perfect standalone or a satisfying trip down memory lane. Doiron’s phrasing, word pictures, descriptions of the surroundings and the excitement, complexity and danger are stellar as always. Skin and Bones left me ready to read entire series again and very eager for the next full-length novel. I received an advance copy of Skin and Bones from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. This is one of my all-time favorite series and I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. I recommend it and the entire series without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Skin and Bones is a complication of eight short stories based on the Mike Bowditch series. Mike is game warden in rural Maine who works to solve crimes that sometimes disagrees with the opinions of his superiors. At times, he puts himself in danger but he gives his all when he's working on a case. So far there are 15 books in this series. I've only read a few of them and I don't think that I enjoyed these short stories as much as a person who has read the entire series. If you are a real fan of this series, I think that you'll really enjoy these short stories. If you haven't read the series, it might be time to give it a try.