When I first started at the Norwich Bookstore, lo these many years ago, I hadn't read many mysteries. No reason, they just weren't in my repertoire. But patrons kept coming into the store asking for mystery recommendations, and, never wanting to waste an opportunity to sell a book, I decided to wade into the mystery pool. Paul Doiron was my gateway.
The first of his Mike Bowditch series, Poacher's Son, was published in 2010. Mike Bowditch is a game warden (and who doesn't love a game warden story??) and Poacher's Son was an Edgar Award finalist and won the Barry award. Doiron, who also used to edit Down East magazine, has written a total of thirteen in the series, the latest being Hatchet Island, which came out this week.
Two things in particular I like about these books: As in any good mystery series, the characters repeat and develop over the years. (And this is one series you'll definitely want to start at the beginning, instead of dipping in willy-nilly.) You get to know the cast, and, in some cases, want to meet them.
Second, the mysteries are set in the natural world, and I have learned something about animals, birds, fish, or the woods in every one of them. Not surprising, Doiron is a Registered Maine Guide. And as luck would have it, Doiron will be at the Norwich Bookstore this Thursday night (June 30) at 7 pm to read from and answer questions about Hatchet Island, which is set at an island sanctuary for endangered seabirds. I promise to find out how to pronounce his name prior to introducing him.
Carin Pratt is one of the remarkably knowledgeable crew at the Norwich Bookstore—and an ardent recommender of books. Before she landed in these parts, she spent 27 years at CBS News, including two decades as the executive producer of Face the Nation.