Synopses & Reviews
Set in the wilds of Maine, this is an explosive tale of an estranged son thrust into the hunt for a murderous fugitive—his own father
Game warden Mike Bowditch returns home one evening to find an alarming voice from the past on his answering machine: his father Jack, a hard drinking womanizer who makes his living poaching illegal game. An even more frightening call comes the next morning from the police: they are searching for the man who killed a beloved local cop the night before—and his father is their prime suspect. Jack has escaped from police custody, and only Mike believes that his tormented father might not be guilty.
Now, alienated from the woman he loves, shunned by colleagues who have no sympathy for the suspected cop-killer, Mike must come to terms with his haunted past. He knows firsthand Jacks brutality, but is the man capable of murder? Desperate and alone, he strikes up an uneasy alliance with a retired warden pilot, and together the two men journey deep into the Maine wilderness in search of a runaway fugitive. But the only way for Mike to save his father is to find the real killer—which could mean putting everyone he loves in the line of fire.The Poachers Son is a sterling debut of literary suspense. Taut and engrossing, it represents the first in a series featuring Mike Bowditch.
Review
“[Doirons] first novel comes with stunning vistas of the dense forests and wild rivers that have impressed visitors to Maine ever since Benedict Arnold passed through on his march to Quebec in 1775. . . . The novels eye-popping scenes, idyllic and otherwise, are conveyed by Doirons narrator, Mike Boditch.”—New York Times Book Review
“With precise and evocative prose, Paul Doiron weaves a riveting tale set deep in the wilderness that can be the tenuous bond between father and son. This is a compelling, moving, and utterly impressive debut!”---Andre Dubus III, author of House of Sand and Fog
“A gripping, original, and literate tale of love and loyalty, betrayal and redemption. You wont want to put it down.”---John Lescroart, author of A Plague of Secrets
“The Poachers Son is one of the best-written debut novels Ive read in years. This story has it all---a great plot, a wonderful Maine woods setting, and a truly remarkable and believable cast of characters.”---Nelson DeMille, author of The Gate House
“A fast-paced outdoor adventure filled with murder, betrayal, and a terrific sense of place. Welcome aboard, Mr. Doiron.”---C. J. Box, Edgar Award--winning author of Blue Heaven
“The Poachers Son is a haunting tale, and Paul Doiron is a powerful and evocative writer.”---Tess Gerritsen, author of The Keepsake
“Paul Doiron is a spellbinding new storyteller whose literate, intelligent novel will have readers begging for more.”---Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar finalist and author of I Shall Not Want
“Down East editor-in-chief Doiron takes a provocative look at the ties between fathers and sons, unconditional love, and Maines changing landscape in his outstanding debut. . . . Fans of C.J. Box and Nevada Barr will appreciate the vivid wilderness scenes. Equally a story of relationships and an outdoor adventure, this evocative thriller is sure to put Doiron on several 2010 must-read lists.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A Maine Game Warden [Mike Bowditch] fights to clear his no-account father of murder charges in this deeply felt actioner. . . . His decision leads to a series of disastrously self-destructive actions that Doiron makes perfectly credible, all interspersed with a series of flashbacks to Mikes childhood that are both tender and chilling. C.J. Box goes East. Like Box, Doiron will have his hands full trying to top his accomplished debut.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A richly imagined portrait of the vanishing wilderness in New Englands farthest reaches, Doirons well-written debut is also a taut thriller and thoughtful examination of the complicated relationship between father and son. Of a piece with Castle Freeman Jr.s All That I Have about a Vermont sheriff, this will also appeal to fans of CJ Boxs Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett.”—Library Journal (starred review)
"With realistically flawed characters and a strong sense of place—both on the coast and in the woods—the novel avoids tourist stereotyping, of Maine itself and its citizens. As a game warden, Mike is devoted to upholding the law, and as a conflict appears to develop between that responsibility and his love for his estranged father, he finds himself with both his job and life on the line. One hopes this fine novel is the first in a series starring Warden Bowditch, who could quickly become the East Coast version of C. J. Boxs game-warden hero Joe Pickett, who patrols the range in Wyoming.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Impressive. . . . The setting is wildly atmospheric, the pacing swift and the characters well drawn. The Poachers Son is easily one of the best debut novels in recent memory.”—BookPage
“[An]impressive debut . . . there are plenty of twists and surprises to keep the reader guessing until the very end.”—Romantic Times (four stars)
“Ive never been to Maine, but now I feel like I have. Twigs were cracking underneath my feet as I settled in to read this one. Doiron creates great scenery to surround an impressive debut. Well done, sir.”—Library Journal “Book Cheer” column, editor's choice
“An outstanding gripping debut . . . Doiron skillfully melds an outdoor adventure with a personal story of families. The Poachers Son moves at a brisk pace with unpredictable but realistic twists that reach a crescendo at the shocking finale. The Poachers Son is proving to be one of the best debuts of the year. Doiron will likely be compared to C.J. Box and Nevada Barr.”—Sun Sentinel
“Paul Doiron's debut novel explores the strange territory between fathers and sons with this tale of a game warden who refuses to believe that his ne'er-do-well father is guilty of a double murder. Doiron also paints an all-too-familiar picture of corporations profiting from destroying a way of life - this time, in the wilds of Maine. It's an engaging story, with a flawed hero whose childhood issues overwhelm his good judgment over and over again.”—Charlotte Observer
“Debut novels often show weaknesses in characterization, in dialogue, in plotting. But Paul Doiron has written a seamless thriller in The Poacher's Son. . . . This is a debut novel that never takes a wrong turn.”—I Love a Mystery newsletter
“Ive never been one for the outdoorsy sub-genre, although I certainly understand the attraction of CJ Box and his ilk. Yet somehow Paul Doirons debut novel The Poachers Son transcends its setting, lending a bleak austerity to its milieu while simultaneously infusing its main character with Steinbeckian humanity. . . . The author, who devoured Sherlock Holmes as a kid and Raymond Carver and Tim OBrian as a younger man, has managed to craft a novel that lies somewhere between the two, a crime novel that encompasses the full range of human emotion.”—Bookslut.com
“The Poacher's Son is stocked with excitement and trepidation . . . pure nail-biting fun. Paul Doiron expertly takes hundreds of miles of largely uninhabited terrain and pares them down to a veritable base camp providing readers with easy access to both the thrill of the story and the breathtaking beauty of Maine's northern exposure. Loaded with unexpected twists, The Poacher's Son takes you to the edge and leaves you begging for more. . .”—BookBrowse “Doiron does an excellent job of establishing the setting and using its attributes in a way that leads to escalating suspense. The descriptive passages are beautifully rendered; I was often swept away by the power of his prose . . . the writing is very literate and smooth flowing. . . . As a crime fiction fan, its really a great bonus to come across a debut author who clearly has the writing chops to sustain a long career. Hopefully, this first book will establish Doiron as an author to watch.”—Deadly Pleasures
“Engaging . . . Doiron could do for Maine what the late Tony Hillerman did for the Southwest in his mysteries featuring Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee . . . the author takes readers into ‘the real Maine from their armchairs.”—Bangor Daily News
“Books like The Poachers Son are not to be read but cherished. The Poachers Son, Paul Doirons debut novel, is pure, unadulterated literary suspense. Beautifully crafted and perfectly paced . . . Doirons writing is exceptional . . . The Poachers Son is a great read with a fantastic ending.”—PopMatters
Review
“With precise and evocative prose, Paul Doiron weaves a riveting tale set deep in the wilderness that can be the tenuous bond between father and son. This is a compelling, moving, and utterly impressive debut!”---Andre Dubus III, author of House of Sand and Fog
“A gripping, original, and literate tale of love and loyalty, betrayal and redemption. You wont want to put it down.”---John Lescroart, author of A Plague of Secrets
“The Poachers Son is one of the best-written debut novels Ive read in years. This story has it all---a great plot, a wonderful Maine woods setting, and a truly remarkable and believable cast of characters.”---Nelson DeMille, author of The Gate House
“A fast-paced outdoor adventure filled with murder, betrayal, and a terrific sense of place. Welcome aboard, Mr. Doiron.”---C. J. Box, Edgar Award--winning author of Blue Heaven
“The Poachers Son is a haunting tale, and Paul Doiron is a powerful and evocative writer.”---Tess Gerritsen, author of The Keepsake
“Paul Doiron is a spellbinding new storyteller whose literate, intelligent novel will have readers begging for more.”---Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar finalist and author of I Shall Not Want
“Down East editor-in-chief Doiron takes a provocative look at the ties between fathers and sons, unconditional love, and Maines changing landscape in his outstanding debut. . . . Fans of C.J. Box and Nevada Barr will appreciate the vivid wilderness scenes. Equally a story of relationships and an outdoor adventure, this evocative thriller is sure to put Doiron on several 2010 must-read lists.”Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A Maine Game Warden [Mike Bowditch] fights to clear his no-account father of murder charges in this deeply felt actioner. . . . His decision leads to a series of disastrously self-destructive actions that Doiron makes perfectly credible, all interspersed with a series of flashbacks to Mikes childhood that are both tender and chilling. C.J. Box goes East. Like Box, Doiron will have his hands full trying to top his accomplished debut.”Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A richly imagined portrait of the vanishing wilderness in New Englands farthest reaches, Doirons well-written debut is also a taut thriller and thoughtful examination of the complicated relationship between father and son. Of a piece with Castle Freeman Jr.s All That I Have about a Vermont sheriff, this will also appeal to fans of CJ Boxs Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett.”Library Journal (starred review)
"With realistically flawed characters and a strong sense of placeboth on the coast and in the woodsthe novel avoids tourist stereotyping, of Maine itself and its citizens. As a game warden, Mike is devoted to upholding the law, and as a conflict appears to develop between that responsibility and his love for his estranged father, he finds himself with both his job and life on the line. One hopes this fine novel is the first in a series starring Warden Bowditch, who could quickly become the East Coast version of C. J. Boxs game-warden hero Joe Pickett, who patrols the range in Wyoming.”Booklist (starred review)
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Review
“[An] excellent debut . . . filled with murder, betrayal, and a terrific sense of place.”—C. J. Box
“. . . stunning vistas . . . eye-popping scenes.”—New York Times Book Review
“With precise and evocative prose, Paul Doiron weaves a riveting tale set deep in the wilderness that can be the tenuous bond between father and son. This is a compelling, moving, and utterly impressive debut!”—Andre Dubus III, author of The House of Sand and Fog
“The Poachers Son is a gripping, original, and literate tale of love and loyalty, betrayal and redemption. You wont want to put it down.”—John Lescroart, author of A Plague of Secrets
“One of the best-written debut novels Ive read in years. This story has it all—a great plot, a wonderful Maine woods setting, and a truly remarkable and believable cast of characters.”—Nelson DeMille, author of The Gate House
“Doiron takes a provocative look at the ties between fathers and sons, unconditional love, and Maines changing landscape in his outstanding debut. . . . Fans of C.J. Box and Nevada Barr will appreciate the vivid wilderness scenes.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The Poachers Son is a haunting tale, and Paul Doiron is a powerful and evocative writer.”—Tess Gerritsen, author of The Keepsake
“Paul Doiron is a spellbinding new storyteller whose literate, intelligent novel will have readers begging for more.”—Julia Spencer-Fleming, Edgar finalist and author of I Shall Not Want
“A Maine Game Warden [Mike Bowditch] fights to clear his no-account father of murder charges in this deeply felt actioner. . . . His decision leads to a series of disastrously self-destructive actions that Doiron makes perfectly credible, all interspersed with a series of flashbacks to Mikes childhood that are both tender and chilling. C.J. Box goes East. Like Box, Doiron will have his hands full trying to top his accomplished debut.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A richly imagined portrait of the vanishing wilderness in New Englands farthest reaches, Doirons well-written debut is also a taut thriller and thoughtful examination of the complicated relationship between father and son.”—Library Journal (starred review, editors choice)
“An outstanding gripping debut . . . The Poachers Son moves at a brisk pace with unpredictable but realistic twists that reach a crescendo at the shocking finale. . . . one of the best debuts of the year.”—Sun Sentinel
“With realistically flawed characters and a strong sense of place the novel avoids tourist stereotyping, of Maine itself and its citizens. . . . One hopes this fine novel is the first in a series starring Warden Bowditch, who could quickly become the East Coast version of C. J. Boxs game-warden hero Joe Pickett, who patrols the range in Wyoming.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Impressive. . . . The setting is wildly atmospheric, the pacing swift and the characters well drawn. The Poachers Son is easily one of the best debut novels in recent memory.”—BookPage
“[An]impressive debut . . . there are plenty of twists and surprises to keep the reader guessing until the very end.”—RT Book Review (four stars)
“Stocked with excitement and trepidation . . . pure nail-biting fun. . . . Loaded with unexpected twists, The Poacher's Son takes you to the edge and leaves you begging for more. . .”—BookBrowse
“Engaging . . . Doiron could do for Maine what the late Tony Hillerman did for the Southwest in his mysteries featuring Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.”—Bangor Daily News
“Pure, unadulterated literary suspense. Beautifully crafted and perfectly paced . . . Doirons writing is exceptional.”—PopMatters
Synopsis
Set in the wilds of Maine, this is an explosive tale of an estranged son thrust into the hunt for a murderous fugitive—his own father.
Synopsis
Set in the wilds of Maine, this is an explosive tale of an estranged son thrust into the hunt for a murderous fugitivehis own father
Game warden Mike Bowditch returns home one evening to find an alarming voice from the past on his answering machine: his father Jack, a hard drinking womanizer who makes his living poaching illegal game. An even more frightening call comes the next morning from the police: they are searching for the man who killed a beloved local cop the night beforeand his father is their prime suspect. Jack has escaped from police custody, and only Mike believes that his tormented father might not be guilty.
Now, alienated from the woman he loves, shunned by colleagues who have no sympathy for the suspected cop-killer, Mike must come to terms with his haunted past. He knows firsthand Jacks brutality, but is the man capable of murder? Desperate and alone, he strikes up an uneasy alliance with a retired warden pilot, and together the two men journey deep into the Maine wilderness in search of a runaway fugitive. But the only way for Mike to save his father is to find the real killerwhich could mean putting everyone he loves in the line of fire.The Poachers Son is a sterling debut of literary suspense. Taut and engrossing, it represents the first in a series featuring Mike Bowditch.
About the Author
Paul Doiron is the editor-in-chief of Down East: The Magazine of Maine. A native of Maine, he attended Yale University, where he graduated with a degree in English, and he holds an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College. Paul is a Registered Maine Guide and lives on a trout stream in coastal Maine with his wife, Kristen Lindquist. John Bedford Lloyd, a graduate of Yales School of Drama, has appeared in a host of major motion pictures, including The Bourne Supremacy, Crossing Delancey, The Abyss, The Manchurian Candidate, and Philadelphia. His television credits include Suits, Pan Am, Law & Order, Spin City, and The West Wing. His critically-acclaimed audiobook narration includes reading for authors such as Michael Crichton, Nicholas Sparks, Paul Doiron, and Atul Gawande, among others.