Knife Creek: A Mike Bowditch Mystery Paperback – 1 June 2018

Knife Creek got five stars from me as this is the Best Bowdich book I've read (Im' reading through the series).The author wraps Bowdich's personal challenges, career barriers and a really good crime and criminals into a fast moving story. As always, the Maine outdoors serve as a richly developed and well described backdrop to the story. Although Bowdich - in every book - singlehandedly again solves a crime (though is rescued by an officer who may be a future love interest in the end), this is a good story in what has become a pretty formulaic series. Formula isn't particularly bad and the author's descriptive skills and excellent pacing make this a rollicking and enjoyable read.The last action scene is particularly well told and harrowing. Although you can guess how Bowdich is going to work his way out of a death trap, what are almost his last torturous minutes are believable and gripping. Kudos to the author - those types of scenes can go way over the top and stretch believability - not here though.One thing Paul Doiron does well - in addition to his detailed descriptions of flora and fauna local to Maine - is get enough police procedural detail right to make the story credible. The author does his research.I'm not a big fan of the warden's girlfriend Stacy - who is annoying and petulant in the series, but it looks like she may be exiting the stage (at least for a while). I actually think that would be a good development to the story arc.I've become a fan. The Mike Bowdich game warden series is well paced and believable escapism.

I have read all of the books in this series, and look forward to a new book each June which I read on my summer vacation in northern Maine. It's great. His writing has gotten better with each book, particularly his character development which was pretty rudimentary in the first couple books. This book has a great plot concept, which is developed nicely through the book until the ending. I have to agree with reviewer Mike's review of June 27: the ending is ludicrous, and insults the reader's intelligence. It is not plausible.The character Becky, the embodiment of evil, is peculiar in that Mr Doiron never explains her background, or why she would be doing the terrible things she does, seemingly at the the service of another character I will not name so as to not be a plot spoiler. We get no background whatsoever on this major player.One other criticism is that Mr Doiron has developed a nice stable of characters over the years, but his recent books are bogged down by him bringing back many of them and retelling their stories. For example, we do not need Kathy Frost, her history, or the specific brand of wristwatch she wears. (Mr Doiron seems to love to name products - to add authenticity, perhaps?) She has no role in this book's plot.I hope see the next book in this series in the spring of 2018, perhaps with better editing.

Paul Dorian is a great Maine writer this series of books is awesome.

easy read, good plot. stayed interested through whole book

Very good condition.