Trespasser

Paul Doiron, author of The Poacher’s Son, has penned a series of books featuring Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch.  His strength as an author lies in his characterization of the people and landscape of Maine, imbuing his stories with a strong sense of place.  I have always been a sucker for stories that do this well.  Doiron has created a likable main character in the person of Bowditch–an honest man with a very troubled past.  When he makes his bad decisions–which he often does–we as readers are right along with him for the ride.  In this story, Mike is obsessed with the disappearance of a girl from the scene of an accident, only to turn up later as the victim of a grisly murder.  Mike Bowditch blames himself for not pursuing the missing girl and while conducting his own non-official investigation, runs afoul of the police, public officials, and many others (including his live-in girlfriend).  Author Doiron’s portrayal of the brutal poverty of Maine juxtaposed with the natural beauty of the landscape is what keeps me coming back to his stories.  The plot in this one, however, lacked something and the big reveal of the murderer at the end felt motiveless and flat.  That being said, still would pick up one of his novels for an entertaining read.

Capturing the Male Reader

In the mailbox today I found a wonderful surprise: a gift of a book, signed by the author, from a friend who had moved back home to Maine.  It turns out I had discovered a great, new author whose specialty was writing mystery/thrillers which take place in Maine.  I turned her on to the writer, and lo and behold, he was at a local book signing (and I was the lucky recipient).  The gift book is one I have not read: “Bad Little Falls” by Paul Doiron.  The beauty of Doiron’s writing is that he has the ability to create a sense of place to the point that the locale is nearly a character in itself, but he does not sentimentalize Maine.  He can describe the beauty and awe that is Maine, but also the grit, and poverty, and cruelty of nature.  My friend, Margaret, who went to hear the author speak, wrote me an interesting note about his readership: Doiron, who had just given a talk at a local high school (kudos for him doing that) is credited with getting more young men to read, because before they were just not seeing anyone like themselves in most literature.  Writers who set their stories in Maine are often times seasonal visitors, who focus on the pretty, coastal areas.  Doiron’s newly-won readers had no problem with his portrayal of the poorer, rougher side of the Down Easters.   His stories all feature a main game warden, Mike Bowditch, who has had his share of troubles in life.  I read an earlier work of Doiron’s, “The Poacher’s Son” which provided the background on this character’s dark upbringing.  All that aside, the author is capable of spinning a good mystery, full of well-rounded characters and always an interesting setting.  Looking forward to diving into “Bad Little Falls.”