In this 3rd book in the 'Mike Bowditch' series, the game warden investigates a murder. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Twenty-six year old Maine game warden Mike Bowditch has a habit of bending the rules and showing bad judgement. As a result, Bowditch has been transferred to the boondocks of Washington County where he (hopefully) can't get into too much trouble.
When Bowditch stops at McDonald's one morning, he's immediately attracted to the pretty shift manager, Jamie Sewell, who serves him his Mcmuffin and coffee.
As Bowditch is eating, he sees two men - a big ruffian with a facial tattoo and a smaller sidekick - enter McDonald's, approach Jamie, and cause a kerfuffle.
Jamie quickly escorts the men out, then brings them a bag of food in the parking lot.
Bowditch soon learns that the tattooed man is Jamie's ex-boyfriend Randall Cates, and the other man is Jamie's brother Prester Sewell. Both men are suspected of dealing drugs, which is a HUGE problem in the area, causing all manner of crimes.
A day or so later, during a nighttime blizzard, a man suffering from extreme hypothermia and frostbite stumbles up to the home of Ben and Doris Sprague.
The Spragues call their veterinarian friend Doc Larrabee, for assistance, and Larrabee asks Bowditch to drive him over.
The frozen man, who turns out to be Prester Sewell, is hardly conscious, but mumbles something about a friend being stranded in the storm. Bowditch sets out to rescue the marooned motorist, and after a harrowing search, finds an abandoned car.....and then Randall Cates - who's been murdered.
This leads to a police investigation, with Prester Sewell as the main suspect. As a result, Bowditch comes into close contact with Jamie Sewell....who appeals to him for help. Using his usual poor judgement Bowditch gets overly friendly with Jamie and her 9-year-old son Lucas - an odd little boy who likes to journal.
Jamie insists that Prester is innocent, and Bowditch makes it his business to look for the 'real killer.' Bowditch's boss and the sheriff disapprove of his interference in a police investigation, and the situation is exacerbated by nasty 'gifts' from an anonymous person with a grievance.
All kinds of trouble follows, and Bowditch has to deal with Jamie's antagonistic ex-husband; a survivalist university professor; an injudicious hunting guide; the unprincipled owner of an animal preserve; and more.
As the story unfolds, Mike makes good use of his well-honed ranger skills, such as tracking people through snow in sub-zero conditions; traveling on ice-covered lakes; searching for missing persons; and more.
This is a compelling thriller, set in picturesque (but very cold) environs. 🙂 Recommended to fans of the genre.
Rating: 3 stars
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