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Mike Bowditch #13
Hatchet Island
An eerie, windswept island off the coast of Maine becomes the site of a double murder and a disappearance in Hatchet Island, the next thriller in Paul Doiron's bestselling Mike Bowditch series.
A call for help from a former colleague leads Maine game warden investigator Mike Bowditch and his girlfriend Stacey Stevens on a sea kayaking trip to a research station far off the coast. Stacey spent summers interning on the island, a sanctuary for endangered seabirds, and they are shocked by what they hear when they come ashore. The biologists are being threatened by local fishermen and stalked by a mysterious boatman who seems intent on trespassing on the refuge. Even worse, their leader, whose mind is slowly unraveling after the unexplained suicide of a young intern, has now gone missing.
Camped on a nearby islet for the night, Mike and Stacey waken to the sound of a gunshot. When they return to the refuge at dawn, their darkest fears are confirmed: two of the three researchers have been brutally murdered and the third has disappeared, along with the island skiff. Mike’s quest to find the missing man reveals new suspects including a Marine Patrol officer with a history of violence and the sanctuary's enigmatic founder, who conveniently reappears after the killings. The search expands to a nearby island owned by a world-renowned photographer with a scandalous reputation. The artist and his equally brilliant wife wield a powerful hold over the inhabitants of their private kingdom, and Mike increasingly comes to believe that someone in the village knows more about the killings than they dare admit.
With no one to trust and miles from shore, Mike Bowditch must stop a ruthless murderer determined to make sure a terrifying secret never sees the light of day.
A call for help from a former colleague leads Maine game warden investigator Mike Bowditch and his girlfriend Stacey Stevens on a sea kayaking trip to a research station far off the coast. Stacey spent summers interning on the island, a sanctuary for endangered seabirds, and they are shocked by what they hear when they come ashore. The biologists are being threatened by local fishermen and stalked by a mysterious boatman who seems intent on trespassing on the refuge. Even worse, their leader, whose mind is slowly unraveling after the unexplained suicide of a young intern, has now gone missing.
Camped on a nearby islet for the night, Mike and Stacey waken to the sound of a gunshot. When they return to the refuge at dawn, their darkest fears are confirmed: two of the three researchers have been brutally murdered and the third has disappeared, along with the island skiff. Mike’s quest to find the missing man reveals new suspects including a Marine Patrol officer with a history of violence and the sanctuary's enigmatic founder, who conveniently reappears after the killings. The search expands to a nearby island owned by a world-renowned photographer with a scandalous reputation. The artist and his equally brilliant wife wield a powerful hold over the inhabitants of their private kingdom, and Mike increasingly comes to believe that someone in the village knows more about the killings than they dare admit.
With no one to trust and miles from shore, Mike Bowditch must stop a ruthless murderer determined to make sure a terrifying secret never sees the light of day.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2022
578 people are currently reading
6067 people want to read
About the author
Paul Doiron
38 books2,297 followersPaul Doiron is the best-selling author of the Mike Bowditch series of crime novels set in the Maine woods.
His first book, The Poacher’s Son, won the Barry Award and the Strand Critics Award and was nominated for an Edgar for Best First Novel. His second, Trespasser, won the 2012 Maine Literary Award. His novelette “Rabid” was a finalist for the 2019 Edgar in the Best Short Story category. Paul’s twelfth book, Dead by Dawn won the New England Society’s 2022 Book Award for Fiction, as well as his second Maine Literary Award. It was also a finalist for the Barry Award. His books have been translated into 11 languages.
Paul is the former chair of the Maine Humanities Council, Editor Emeritus of Down East: The Magazine of Maine, and a Registered Maine Guide specializing in fly fishing.
His first book, The Poacher’s Son, won the Barry Award and the Strand Critics Award and was nominated for an Edgar for Best First Novel. His second, Trespasser, won the 2012 Maine Literary Award. His novelette “Rabid” was a finalist for the 2019 Edgar in the Best Short Story category. Paul’s twelfth book, Dead by Dawn won the New England Society’s 2022 Book Award for Fiction, as well as his second Maine Literary Award. It was also a finalist for the Barry Award. His books have been translated into 11 languages.
Paul is the former chair of the Maine Humanities Council, Editor Emeritus of Down East: The Magazine of Maine, and a Registered Maine Guide specializing in fly fishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 540 reviews
April 1, 2024
What can I say? I did my best. I hope you enjoy it.
June 13, 2022
Paul Doiron brings suspense, danger, and intense moments to his atmospheric
Hatchet Island
, a gripping crime thriller and police procedural that is the thirteenth book in the Mike Bowditch series. If you like action-adventure, nature, mysteries, and danger; then this book is one to check out.
Maine game warden investigator Mike Bowditch and his girlfriend Stacey Stevens head to an island off the coast of Maine after Stacey receives a text from a former colleague asking for help. They decide to travel via sea kayak to the sanctuary for endangered birds and its research station that studies puffins, terns, and other birds. Upon arrival, they find the leader is missing and may have mental health problems. Additionally, the biologists are being threatened by local lobstermen and a boatman is harassing them. However, this is just the beginning of what Mike and Stacey find the next day. After camping on a nearby islet, Mike and Stacey return to the refuge only to find disaster has struck.
Mike and Stacey are likeable characters and work well together. Stacey was a bush pilot, biologist, emergency medical technician, photographer, and a kayaking guide. She can intimidate others because she is so talented. Mike is a great tracker and wants to believe the best of others, but he can be fiery and bold.
The prologue is dark and gritty, but it takes a while for readers to discover how it relates to the rest of the story. The setting is mainly on four islands off the coast of Maine as well as the sea kayak trip to get there. There are many nature references including birds, flowers, frogs, and shrubs, as well as weather details that make the reader feel as if they are in Maine with Mike and Stacey. The author captured the characters and lifestyles in a way that brings them to life.
This riveting crime thriller and police investigation keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The novel builds suspense in a way that pulls readers into the lives of the characters. The plot is suspenseful, full of chasing down leads and interviewing suspects and witnesses as well as plenty of danger for those involved. I enjoyed how the author twisted the plot points and provided unpredictable moments in the story. The conflict moves the story forward at a rapid pace. Who can be trusted? How many people are telling lies? Who will survive? Will you see that ending coming? Themes include death, relationships, families, secrets, harassment, and much more.
Overall, this briskly paced novel was engaging and atmospheric with diverse characterization and great world-building details. Even though this is part of a series, it is a great stand-alone read too. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Mike and Stacey. I recommend this to those that like crime thrillers and police procedurals with relatable and likeable main characters.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Paul Doiron provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently expected to be June 28, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Maine game warden investigator Mike Bowditch and his girlfriend Stacey Stevens head to an island off the coast of Maine after Stacey receives a text from a former colleague asking for help. They decide to travel via sea kayak to the sanctuary for endangered birds and its research station that studies puffins, terns, and other birds. Upon arrival, they find the leader is missing and may have mental health problems. Additionally, the biologists are being threatened by local lobstermen and a boatman is harassing them. However, this is just the beginning of what Mike and Stacey find the next day. After camping on a nearby islet, Mike and Stacey return to the refuge only to find disaster has struck.
Mike and Stacey are likeable characters and work well together. Stacey was a bush pilot, biologist, emergency medical technician, photographer, and a kayaking guide. She can intimidate others because she is so talented. Mike is a great tracker and wants to believe the best of others, but he can be fiery and bold.
The prologue is dark and gritty, but it takes a while for readers to discover how it relates to the rest of the story. The setting is mainly on four islands off the coast of Maine as well as the sea kayak trip to get there. There are many nature references including birds, flowers, frogs, and shrubs, as well as weather details that make the reader feel as if they are in Maine with Mike and Stacey. The author captured the characters and lifestyles in a way that brings them to life.
This riveting crime thriller and police investigation keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The novel builds suspense in a way that pulls readers into the lives of the characters. The plot is suspenseful, full of chasing down leads and interviewing suspects and witnesses as well as plenty of danger for those involved. I enjoyed how the author twisted the plot points and provided unpredictable moments in the story. The conflict moves the story forward at a rapid pace. Who can be trusted? How many people are telling lies? Who will survive? Will you see that ending coming? Themes include death, relationships, families, secrets, harassment, and much more.
Overall, this briskly paced novel was engaging and atmospheric with diverse characterization and great world-building details. Even though this is part of a series, it is a great stand-alone read too. I can’t wait to find out what is next for Mike and Stacey. I recommend this to those that like crime thrillers and police procedurals with relatable and likeable main characters.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and Paul Doiron provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently expected to be June 28, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
May 13, 2022
Fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly.....(Billie Holiday)
Paul Doiron must have been humming a different tune when it came to his 13th edition of the Mike Bowditch Series. Hatchet Island is completely crossing into an unexpected lane in this latest offering. Those of us who have been long time fans still visualize Mike tracking the bad guys through the thick woods of Maine. From his original position of game warden to his present job of game warden investigator, Mike has trekked on solid ground. Stay tuned.....
Prologue: Young Evan Levandowski has been hitting into brick walls as of late. He's returned from college to Bar Harbor to take a break from things. He's informed his mother that he's taking a short trip to pursue the rare boreal owl. But Evan will never experience that. For some astounding reason, he's stopped traffic on the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and jumped from its rails to his death. The greatest secret is one never to be known.
Pivot the storyline to Mike Bowditch and his girlfriend, Stacey, who are kayaking toward Baker Island. Stacey was a former project manager on the island for the Maine Seabird Initiative. She's been contacted by her friend, Kendra Ballard, to bring Mike with her to investigate some strange happenings there. Baker Island is home to puffins and razorbills and other species of birds. Dr. Maeve McLeary is in charge there. Strangely, McLeary has been missing for several days after taking her boat out. She's not answering her phone.
After spending some time on the island, Mike and Stacey take off only to return the next day. What meets their eyes will be one of shock and horror at a tragedy that has unfolded there. Never would they expect such a scene. One call, even with weak reception, brings on the Coast Guard, the local sheriff, the Maine State Police, and the Marine patrol officers. And our Mike Bowditch is shuffled between all these officers. Doiron keeps Mike front and center, but it's a lot of individuals to sort through.
Hatchet Island turns into a psychological thriller in response to what happened on Baker Island. We'll meet a whole gamut of some twisted characters while Mike is trying to keep Stacey safe. It's complete with twists and turns, but Hatchet Island is not my favorite of this series. While the island and the kayaking delivered a different tone, I wish to return to the woods once again. It's there that Bowditch has the greatest impact. Still I recommend Hatchet Island because of the superb writing of Paul Doiron.
I received a copy of Hatchet Island through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Paul Doiron for the opportunity.
Paul Doiron must have been humming a different tune when it came to his 13th edition of the Mike Bowditch Series. Hatchet Island is completely crossing into an unexpected lane in this latest offering. Those of us who have been long time fans still visualize Mike tracking the bad guys through the thick woods of Maine. From his original position of game warden to his present job of game warden investigator, Mike has trekked on solid ground. Stay tuned.....
Prologue: Young Evan Levandowski has been hitting into brick walls as of late. He's returned from college to Bar Harbor to take a break from things. He's informed his mother that he's taking a short trip to pursue the rare boreal owl. But Evan will never experience that. For some astounding reason, he's stopped traffic on the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and jumped from its rails to his death. The greatest secret is one never to be known.
Pivot the storyline to Mike Bowditch and his girlfriend, Stacey, who are kayaking toward Baker Island. Stacey was a former project manager on the island for the Maine Seabird Initiative. She's been contacted by her friend, Kendra Ballard, to bring Mike with her to investigate some strange happenings there. Baker Island is home to puffins and razorbills and other species of birds. Dr. Maeve McLeary is in charge there. Strangely, McLeary has been missing for several days after taking her boat out. She's not answering her phone.
After spending some time on the island, Mike and Stacey take off only to return the next day. What meets their eyes will be one of shock and horror at a tragedy that has unfolded there. Never would they expect such a scene. One call, even with weak reception, brings on the Coast Guard, the local sheriff, the Maine State Police, and the Marine patrol officers. And our Mike Bowditch is shuffled between all these officers. Doiron keeps Mike front and center, but it's a lot of individuals to sort through.
Hatchet Island turns into a psychological thriller in response to what happened on Baker Island. We'll meet a whole gamut of some twisted characters while Mike is trying to keep Stacey safe. It's complete with twists and turns, but Hatchet Island is not my favorite of this series. While the island and the kayaking delivered a different tone, I wish to return to the woods once again. It's there that Bowditch has the greatest impact. Still I recommend Hatchet Island because of the superb writing of Paul Doiron.
I received a copy of Hatchet Island through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Paul Doiron for the opportunity.
April 8, 2022
Mike Bowditch and his girlfriend Stacey Stevens just can't seem to take a relaxing vacation together. They seem to come across trouble wherever they go, every single time! They were supposed to be on a kayaking vacation to a puffin research station far off the Maine Coast. Stacey was an intern on the sanctuary for seabirds once and she and Mike were shocked to learn that the researchers were being threatened by local fishermen. Plus, their leader is missing. After hearing a gunshot in the night, they return to the island and find bodies.
This quickly becomes a whodunit, with local authorities and Mike Bowditch attempting to solve the crime. While investigating, the plot as they say, thickens. The search for truth takes them to a nearby island owned by a world-renowned photographer who wields power and influence.
This was another great installment in the Mike Bowditch series. I enjoy Mike's character and I am beginning to warm up to Stacey who used to annoy me in previous books. I enjoyed this whodunit and how they plot unfolded. I love the character development and cast of supporting characters, mainly Stacey's parents.
This book has tension and tension. The islands and fog create atmosphere and add a chilling vibe to certain scenes. As with the other books, this book was well written, well thought out and nicely paced. I loved that nothing was rushed nor drawn out.
Fans of the series will not be disappointed. If you haven't read the series, I highly recommend it. Could this be read as a stand-alone? Yes, but you will be missing out on the references to things that occurred in previous books.
I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
This quickly becomes a whodunit, with local authorities and Mike Bowditch attempting to solve the crime. While investigating, the plot as they say, thickens. The search for truth takes them to a nearby island owned by a world-renowned photographer who wields power and influence.
This was another great installment in the Mike Bowditch series. I enjoy Mike's character and I am beginning to warm up to Stacey who used to annoy me in previous books. I enjoyed this whodunit and how they plot unfolded. I love the character development and cast of supporting characters, mainly Stacey's parents.
This book has tension and tension. The islands and fog create atmosphere and add a chilling vibe to certain scenes. As with the other books, this book was well written, well thought out and nicely paced. I loved that nothing was rushed nor drawn out.
Fans of the series will not be disappointed. If you haven't read the series, I highly recommend it. Could this be read as a stand-alone? Yes, but you will be missing out on the references to things that occurred in previous books.
I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 9, 2022
Maine game warden investigator Mike Bowditch and his girlfriend Stacey have been planning their nature trip for weeks. Stacey gets an email from her college roommate asking for some help on Baker Island off the coast of Maine. As they are kayaking to the island, they hear gunshots. They get to the island and meet the 3 interns working there but the director is missing. They learn of a stalker taking photos and a lobsterman who bullies one of the interns. Despite their misgivings, they leave and carry on with their trip. While on the next island, they hear gunshots during the night and go back to find 2 interns dead and one missing. The murder investigation begins.
Paul Doiron always does an outstanding job with his descriptions of the outdoors. Birders should love this tale with descriptions of puffins, gulls, sparrows, petrels, terns, razorbills, eiders, cormorants, wrens, parulas. Never heard of some of these. We sure don't have these species in Central Texas. Much of the first part of the book deals with nature and the mid to last part deals with the murder mystery. The last half kicked into gear and I definitely enjoyed it.
Paul Doiron always does an outstanding job with his descriptions of the outdoors. Birders should love this tale with descriptions of puffins, gulls, sparrows, petrels, terns, razorbills, eiders, cormorants, wrens, parulas. Never heard of some of these. We sure don't have these species in Central Texas. Much of the first part of the book deals with nature and the mid to last part deals with the murder mystery. The last half kicked into gear and I definitely enjoyed it.
April 24, 2022
Even though I miss the days when Mike Bowditch was an ordinary game warden I still love his new status as an investigator. It is always good when characters evolve. Hatchet Island by Paul Doiron is the 13th installment in the series about Bowditch and his beloved Maine. I really like the fact that not all mysteries has to have a dysfunctional police officer or private detective, there are other people investigating crime. It also make me as a reader learn new stuff and that must be a good thing, right? Doiron is one of my absolute favorite authors and he has a way of describing the scenery and crimes in Maine that makes me want to both visit and stay away at the same time. If you by some misfortune have missed this author and his books I recommend that you fix that mistake at once, this is a great series. I have to thank #Edelweiss #MacmillanUSA and #MinotaurBooks for giving me an advance copy of #HatchetIsland and #PaulDoiron for writing it.
April 20, 2022
Paul Doiron is without a doubt an excellent writer. His descriptions of the Maine sea and woods are always well-versed and captivating. I was attracted to the descriptions of the bird sanctuary island and other surrounding islands. There is one descriptive scene of a violent storm while Mike and his girlfriend Stacy are camping that drew me right into the setting. With that said, this was not my favorite book in the Mike Bowditch series. Unfortunately, I did not connect with any of the characters, other than the regulars, and I found some of their actions to be far-fetched. I also didn't love the story line. It was a little "out there" and the ending was kind of confusing and abrupt. Despite these drawbacks, fans of this series will definitely want to read this as Mike Bowditch never fails to deliver!
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, St. Minotaur Books and Paul Doiron for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, St. Minotaur Books and Paul Doiron for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 5, 2022
This was my least favorite Mike Bowditch book. Part of the problem was the author decided to bring politics into the storyline. Note to authors: we see enough politics on the news, we do not want to read about it!
July 7, 2022
You didn't really get to know any of the characters and (despite being full of death and running scenes) is actually kind of boring at times.
Love his descriptions of the natural elements, like the ocean and the trees.
Love his descriptions of the natural elements, like the ocean and the trees.
July 16, 2023
A pretty entertaining mystery. The islands off the coast of Maine sound really pretty. Ready for the next one now.
November 26, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this 13th book in Paul Doiron's "Mike Bowditch" series!
April 25, 2022
This is a favorite series of mine, but I must say this latest entry - the 13th - isn't my favorite of the bunch. Still, Maine game warden Mike Bowditch retains his perch near the top of my favorite heroes list, even if the rest of the cast are for the most part rather unlikable characters.
This one begins as Mike and his significant other, Stacey Stevens, are kayaking to an island that's a sanctuary for endangered seabirds and the site of a research project in which Stacey was once involved as an intern. The project, the Maine Seabird Initiative, is headed by Dr. Maeve McLeary; Stacey's good friend, an intern there, tells Stacey that strange things are happening. Most curious of all, Maeve seems to be missing - and her unexplained disappearance follows on the heels of the death by suicide of a young male intern.
As they camp for the following night, Mike and Stacey are awakened by a gunshot; when they pull up stakes to get to the island, they find a total disaster. Of the three researchers on the island, two have been brutally murdered. The third - now a person of interest - either escaped being a victim or himself was the perpetrator. Several other law enforcement entities are called in to help, including the Marine Patrol and an officer who's got a violent streak. On a nearby island is a community that's dominated by a powerful but secretive photographer and a wife who will do anything to protect her husband. A third island, the rather inhospitable Hatchet Island, is the site of said photographer's "studio," which may hold a few secrets of its own.
The action starts at the beginning and doesn't let up till the end, with Mike and Stacey in the middle and, on occasion, threatened with extinction just like some of the seabirds (the details of which, of course, I won't reveal). In the overall scheme of things, the "big reveal" left me a little underwhelmed, but I will say getting there was a whole bunch of fun. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it - already looking forward to the next.
This one begins as Mike and his significant other, Stacey Stevens, are kayaking to an island that's a sanctuary for endangered seabirds and the site of a research project in which Stacey was once involved as an intern. The project, the Maine Seabird Initiative, is headed by Dr. Maeve McLeary; Stacey's good friend, an intern there, tells Stacey that strange things are happening. Most curious of all, Maeve seems to be missing - and her unexplained disappearance follows on the heels of the death by suicide of a young male intern.
As they camp for the following night, Mike and Stacey are awakened by a gunshot; when they pull up stakes to get to the island, they find a total disaster. Of the three researchers on the island, two have been brutally murdered. The third - now a person of interest - either escaped being a victim or himself was the perpetrator. Several other law enforcement entities are called in to help, including the Marine Patrol and an officer who's got a violent streak. On a nearby island is a community that's dominated by a powerful but secretive photographer and a wife who will do anything to protect her husband. A third island, the rather inhospitable Hatchet Island, is the site of said photographer's "studio," which may hold a few secrets of its own.
The action starts at the beginning and doesn't let up till the end, with Mike and Stacey in the middle and, on occasion, threatened with extinction just like some of the seabirds (the details of which, of course, I won't reveal). In the overall scheme of things, the "big reveal" left me a little underwhelmed, but I will say getting there was a whole bunch of fun. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review it - already looking forward to the next.
February 10, 2023
One of the best in the series, second only to The Poacher's Son! This has the best murder mystery out of all of them. Mike and Stacey take a kayaking vacation off the coast of Maine on one of its many islands. Along the way, they stop at a nearby island at the request of Stacey's friend and former roommate. That particular island is where research is being done on puffins and also a place that Stacey had interned at when she was younger. Unfortunately, their little vacation takes a tragic turn and they are thrown into a murder investigation. There aren't a whole lot of characters to like in this story, but that just makes the suspect pool even deeper. This was quite the page-turner and I can highly recommend.
Side note: I'm very glad to see that Mike and Stacey are back together again and seemingly stronger and better having had time apart.
Side note: I'm very glad to see that Mike and Stacey are back together again and seemingly stronger and better having had time apart.
July 10, 2022
Man alive…Mike Bowditch is a character who keeps on evolving and becoming a man to admire. These books make me wish he were someone I could meet and get to know. This story is full of horrible moments that are redeemed by watching Mike and Stacey.
July 15, 2022
Not my favorite in the series although i liked it. Taking Bowditch out of the woods and onto the water was ok but I just couldn't get into the bird stuff. Missed the moose.
July 1, 2022
Ominous, intricate, and creepy!
Hatchet Island is an engrossing, menacing thriller that takes you back into the life of Maine game warden Mike Bowditch as he and his significant other, biologist Stacey Stevens find themselves heading to the islands off the coast of Maine and embroiled in a tragic, disturbing case involving some disgruntled fishermen, a famous photographer with a dark side, and a double homicide when Stacey’s old roommate working on the Maine Seabird Initiative asks for her help locating her missing boss.
The prose is tight and intense. The characters are resourceful, clever, and persistent. And the plot is a sinister tale of mayhem, murder, coercion, deception, tragedy, suspicious personalities, abusive behaviour, suicide, and loss.
Overall, Hatchet Island is another atmospheric, pacey, thrilling tale by Doiron that, with its well-drawn characterization and entertaining storyline, is sure to be a big hit with longtime fan of the Mike Bowditch series.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Press for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Hatchet Island is an engrossing, menacing thriller that takes you back into the life of Maine game warden Mike Bowditch as he and his significant other, biologist Stacey Stevens find themselves heading to the islands off the coast of Maine and embroiled in a tragic, disturbing case involving some disgruntled fishermen, a famous photographer with a dark side, and a double homicide when Stacey’s old roommate working on the Maine Seabird Initiative asks for her help locating her missing boss.
The prose is tight and intense. The characters are resourceful, clever, and persistent. And the plot is a sinister tale of mayhem, murder, coercion, deception, tragedy, suspicious personalities, abusive behaviour, suicide, and loss.
Overall, Hatchet Island is another atmospheric, pacey, thrilling tale by Doiron that, with its well-drawn characterization and entertaining storyline, is sure to be a big hit with longtime fan of the Mike Bowditch series.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Press for gifting me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2022
These islands off the coast of Maine provide a very different terrain for Mike Bowditch. The challenges of kayaking between the islands humbles Mike, but he is comfortable letting Stacey take the lead. This sets the tone for the entire mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed the ease of them back together and the blending of their different skills to solve the murders.
September 3, 2022
Mike Bowditch teams up with girlfriend Stacey Stevens as they investigate a research station on an island that was a sanctuary for endangered birds.
What they find was shocking; two researchers were found murdered and a third one was missing.
Trying to find the murderer lands them in murky waters.
What they find was shocking; two researchers were found murdered and a third one was missing.
Trying to find the murderer lands them in murky waters.
July 31, 2022
I've read all of the Mike Bowditch books, and when I reviewed DEAD BY DAWN, the previous book in the series, I felt that Mike and the series were at a crossroads. In HATCHET ISLAND, there is a shift from the high velocity action of previous books to a slightly more contemplative stage in Mike's life. Don't get me wrong, there is still plenty of danger and action and, as always, Doiron writes vividly about nature. But Mike has taken on a more responsible role in Maine's Game Warden Service, he's reconnected with an old love and is thinking about settling down, and this time the nature relates to the ocean and the action to kayaking.
Mike and his ex/new girlfriend, Stacey, have decided to take a romantic idyll on a remote Maine island when an old friend of hers asks for help at a nearby island that serves as a puffin sanctuary. Mike and Stacey stop by on the way to their campsite, finding leaderless staff members worried about their safety. This is nothing compared to what they find when they return the following day. What happened in those intervening hours, and who is responsible, is the source of the action in the book, while what happens at their remote campsite is the source of Mike's relationship ruminations. Mike's responses to these events demonstrate a relatively newfound maturity.
Doiron does a wonderful job of evoking the sights, sounds, and feelings of the ocean setting. Whether it's on top of the water or under it, the dangers it holds feel very real to the reader. And Doiron's descriptions of the birds at the sanctuary are as menacingly evocative as any of his previous writing about Maine's forest and its dangerous predators. Mike and Stacey are center-stage in this book, with Stacey helping Mike more than in previous books. Their characters continue to be well written and ever-evolving. The secondary characters are somewhat less than fully developed, in many cases, and there are a lot of them with occasionally mind-stretching motives. This is a quibble in a hugely engaging book, however.
The Bowditch books always finish their plots within the book, but nonetheless leave the reader wanting more. The ends of this mystery are tied up, but now I'm anxious to see what Mike will be up to in book 14 of the series in the future (hopefully sooner rather than later). HATCHET ISLAND could easily be a standalone, but having developed a relationship with Mike (and Stacey to some extent) over the previous dozen books of the series definitely added to my appreciation. Start here, and then go back to book 1 (THE POACHER'S SON), and you will be fortunate to build your own relationship with Mike Bowditch and the backwoods of Maine.
You can find this and other great reviews at reviewingtheevidence.com.
Mike and his ex/new girlfriend, Stacey, have decided to take a romantic idyll on a remote Maine island when an old friend of hers asks for help at a nearby island that serves as a puffin sanctuary. Mike and Stacey stop by on the way to their campsite, finding leaderless staff members worried about their safety. This is nothing compared to what they find when they return the following day. What happened in those intervening hours, and who is responsible, is the source of the action in the book, while what happens at their remote campsite is the source of Mike's relationship ruminations. Mike's responses to these events demonstrate a relatively newfound maturity.
Doiron does a wonderful job of evoking the sights, sounds, and feelings of the ocean setting. Whether it's on top of the water or under it, the dangers it holds feel very real to the reader. And Doiron's descriptions of the birds at the sanctuary are as menacingly evocative as any of his previous writing about Maine's forest and its dangerous predators. Mike and Stacey are center-stage in this book, with Stacey helping Mike more than in previous books. Their characters continue to be well written and ever-evolving. The secondary characters are somewhat less than fully developed, in many cases, and there are a lot of them with occasionally mind-stretching motives. This is a quibble in a hugely engaging book, however.
The Bowditch books always finish their plots within the book, but nonetheless leave the reader wanting more. The ends of this mystery are tied up, but now I'm anxious to see what Mike will be up to in book 14 of the series in the future (hopefully sooner rather than later). HATCHET ISLAND could easily be a standalone, but having developed a relationship with Mike (and Stacey to some extent) over the previous dozen books of the series definitely added to my appreciation. Start here, and then go back to book 1 (THE POACHER'S SON), and you will be fortunate to build your own relationship with Mike Bowditch and the backwoods of Maine.
You can find this and other great reviews at reviewingtheevidence.com.
April 7, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the copy of Hatchet Island. This was the first book I have read in this series and I really loved the story. It was action-packed and there was always something happening. I’m not sure how I feel about Mike Bowditch - he was too good to be true. Everything he knew, everything he did just felt over the top. There was one thing in particular that he did that should have been something for Stacey to do. That was my first inkling that this was a male-centric book. After that, it just became more and more obvious. I would have loved it if Stacey had been more of a partner and not just a sidekick. The writing was great though and I really enjoyed reading this book. I would read another to see if Bowditch continues to be perfect or if he has flaws. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
July 10, 2022
Ok, not my favorite
April 28, 2022
I always enjoy the books in this series. However, this time around I didn't much care about anyone in the story. More amusing was my annoyance with Stacey, Mike's constant commenting on his love for her, and the author's insistence in telling the reader how talented she is. I chuckle because I, along with other readers, asked Paul to give Mike a true love interest. I think I prefer him single.
July 5, 2022
I waited for this book because I love Paul Doiron as an author. His earlier works were great. I cannot connect with this book. This one I could barely made it through the 2nd chapter. I am greatly disappointed. I know he has many great reviews but I am the outcast. It seems like some of the authors I have been reading for a while have lost their mojo. I may go back and reread one of his earlier ones again. I like Mike Bowditch but not in this one.
January 15, 2023
I found the whole story very shallow. There were way too many characters, and the island hopping was confusing to say the least. Hatchet Island is mentioned briefly a few times, but the action doesn’t get there until 269 pages of a 308 page book. By the time the murderer was revealed, you don’t even care. Plus I’m still unsure of the motive. Characters were one dimensional. If you want a good mystery with great writing read Louise Penny.
April 15, 2022
Even though this is book 13 of the series and a new author to me, it can be read as a stand alone. I couldn't put this book down. Lots of twists and turns definitely kept my interest. Very well written. What a great writer. Get this book you will love it!! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book and introducing me to a new author to read!!
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December 22, 2023
The entire book reads like an L. L. Bean catalog. It's as if Doiron wants the reader to know he's knowledgeable about wildlife and the gear used to appreciate it. Moreover he sprinkles in random island names, animal species, and boat names constantly; it becomes borderline tiring. WAY too many characters that figuratively peek their head in and are never heard from again.
July 21, 2022
Hatchet Island by Paul Doiron took me out to the outskirts of Maine, just when I needed the cool escape from my 100 degree heat! This audio narrated by Henry Leyva had me completely forgetting my surroundings. A suspenseful thriller, Hatchet Island is a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and maybe even another 💫!
Seriously, if a story can make me forget how miserable the weather is, it is pretty remarkable.
This is the 13th Mike Bowditch mystery, but my first of this series. I had no problems with it as a standalone, though readers familiar with this Game Warden Investigator might have more insight than I did.
Getting a strange call from an island that Mike's girlfriend Stacey is familiar with, the two check in on the island bird sanctuary to find an odd vibe, but head out and kayak to another island for the night. That night they definitely hear gunshots and head back in the morning to find a grisly scene of a double murder and a missing person. The investigation widens to a neighboring island where a world renowned photographer and his wife have quite a home and the closest village seems to know more than they are letting on.
This was a very well paced story for which I really enjoyed listening. The narration was smooth and transitioned between characters very well. I could feel all the tension building. I recognized several familiar terms as a former outdoorsman and appreciated the realistic aspects.
Thank you to @NetGalley and @macmillan.audio for the advanced audiobook. This is available now, and I definitely recommend it as a smart suspense!
Seriously, if a story can make me forget how miserable the weather is, it is pretty remarkable.
This is the 13th Mike Bowditch mystery, but my first of this series. I had no problems with it as a standalone, though readers familiar with this Game Warden Investigator might have more insight than I did.
Getting a strange call from an island that Mike's girlfriend Stacey is familiar with, the two check in on the island bird sanctuary to find an odd vibe, but head out and kayak to another island for the night. That night they definitely hear gunshots and head back in the morning to find a grisly scene of a double murder and a missing person. The investigation widens to a neighboring island where a world renowned photographer and his wife have quite a home and the closest village seems to know more than they are letting on.
This was a very well paced story for which I really enjoyed listening. The narration was smooth and transitioned between characters very well. I could feel all the tension building. I recognized several familiar terms as a former outdoorsman and appreciated the realistic aspects.
Thank you to @NetGalley and @macmillan.audio for the advanced audiobook. This is available now, and I definitely recommend it as a smart suspense!
July 21, 2023
I guess I read this book accidentally. On vacation I ran out of books and Amber had just finished it so I had no other option. I absolutely loved it. A very thrilling mystery with a realistic timeline and characters. I loved the Maine setting and the protagonist, Warden Bowditch. I will definitely be checking out the other novels in the series (this was #13, whoops).
December 5, 2025
It was okay.
August 25, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this Mike Bowditch adventure set on the small islands off the coast of Maine.
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