The Precipice is the sixth book in Paul Doiron's Mike Bowditch series, and the second book I've read by him; I thought it was just as good as Dead By Dawn, which happens to be the twelfth book in this series, but the first Doiron book I read. How's that for convoluted?
The other game wardens fear the girls might have run into trouble along the trail either from wild animals like coyotes, or from a serious fall. Mike's girlfriend Stacey, a wildlife biologist, worries the two hikers ran into something more dangerous--a killer of the two-legged variety. She's even more stubborn and hard-headed than Mike.
Their investigation leads to an injured hiker, a strange church, a crazy backwoods Maine family known and feared for their criminal behavior, and the rumor of a serial killer who's been stalking the AT.
My thoughts: Mike Bowditch is fast becoming a favorite character! I like him, and I find his job as a game warden quite interesting. I didn't like Stacey nearly as much; I found her tendency to overreact and argue and go off on her own kind of off-putting. But Mike likes her. And I really liked Mike's investigation into the two hikers' disappearance. That Appalachian Trail/Maine wilderness setting is also a favorite of mine. It really adds to the mystery. The Precipice is suspenseful, well-written, and it reads fast. And it totally ties in to Dead By Dawn, which was fun for me because I just read that one. I'm really liking this series, and I can't wait to read the next one.
Happy Reading!
Ooooh, I like the sound of this! Do you think NP/trails/nature etc. is fast becoming a crime subgenre?
ReplyDeleteI think it is! I've seen several different series around lately that are set in various National Parks. If it's a trend, I like it. :D
DeleteSounds good.
ReplyDeleteIt is. :)
DeleteOoooo! Sounds fun! I feel like mystery and historical fiction books are kinda big right now. Maybe it is just what all my friends are reading.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of book bloggers read mainly mystery or historical fiction, so I see a lot of it around, too. :)
DeleteSounds good! I like the Mike Bowditch series even though Ive only read 3 of the books and out of order.
ReplyDeleteOut of order seems to work in this series. But I like being able to jump around. :)
DeleteThe Appalachian Trail and missing hikers! I love this kind of mystery. :)
ReplyDeleteMe, too! That's why I picked this one to read next instead of going all the way back to book #1 in this series. :)
DeleteThis sounds really good. And it's so nice to find a series that you can jump into at any point. :)
ReplyDeleteI do really like that in a series, especially in a mystery series like this one. :)
DeleteI think I must get more mysteries into my reading mix. This one sounds like a good place to start.
ReplyDeleteTwo books in and I'm really enjoying this series. And it's nice to have a good mystery series in mind for when you're in the mood for one. :)
DeleteAs a hiker, I think I would enjoy this book...or it would scare me forever from hiking! LOL.
ReplyDeleteI like hiking, too, although I don't think I'll ever be in good enough shape to hike something as long or momentous as the Appalachian Trail. :)
DeleteI'm notorious for reading series out of order, so I feel a kinship with you on this one. Oddly, I just finished a second book in a series after reading the first one. True to form though, I'm currently reading A Blizzard of Polar Bears which I just realized is the second book in the series by Alice Henderson!
ReplyDeleteLately I seem to always be out of order in series. But in mystery series like this one it doesn't seem to matter. I do sometimes manage to read things in order, but it's getting to be a rare occurrence. ;D
DeleteWoo, I haven't walked a bit on the Appalachian trail, I may be tempted!
ReplyDeleteIt's a setting I always find intriguing. :)
DeleteI've read the first three? four? books in this series, and I really enjoy it for both Mike and the setting. Doiron makes me want to visit Maine.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to visit Maine! And since I currently don't have any travel plans, traveling by book is the next best thing. :)
DeleteI live not far from a portion of the Appalachian and it's a wonderful place to get some air and appreciate nature. This book sounds enticing!
ReplyDeleteclaire @ clairefy
I'd love to live close enough to the Appalachian Trail to hike parts of it! That would be so cool. :)
DeleteI love that you are reading it out of order, LOL! It does sound like an interesting series!
ReplyDeleteIt's been fun. And I like being able to pick and choose the plot lines that interest me the most and just read those books, you know?
DeleteI requested the last book in this series after you featured it, but didn't have time to get to it. I'll request it again. I'll try to have patience with Stacy. :)
ReplyDeleteShe's not horrible, her attitude just bugged me at times, especially in her interactions with Mike.
Deletei've done bits of the Cascade Crest trail and hiking stories appeal...
ReplyDeleteI like that hiking setting a lot. And how cool that you've hiked along the Cascade Crest trail! :)
DeleteThis sounds like a great read; partly because I find the wilderness setting so interesting. :)
ReplyDeleteI really like that wilderness setting, too. :)
DeleteI love stories where the weather and the outdoor setting play a large part in the drama. This sounds like a series I would like, and luckily each can stand alone for a good read, apparently.
ReplyDeleteI like when you can jump around in a series like this one and not feel lost. And so far that's been the case with these books. :)
DeleteI really like the premise for this one. It sounds great.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good read! :)
DeleteThis adventurous and suspenseful series is one I would like too.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun one. I'm looking forward to reading some of his other Mike Bowditch books. :)
DeleteSounds like an interesting series...not that I really need to start another one at this point. Can this one be read as a standalone or should I read the other one you mentioned first?
ReplyDeleteThis one can totally be read as a standalone. The other one actually comes five books later in the series. But I had no problems reading either book, even though I hadn't read any of the other books in the series.
DeleteI like the sound of this. I've been interested in Appalachia since I read Adriana Trigiani's Big Stone Gap (although I realise that is a different genre!.
ReplyDeleteBut it sounds like a really good book and one I would like. I need to put it on my TBR list. :D
DeleteWow this sounds fun. I like the game warden angle too. I can see trying these.
ReplyDeleteI was drawn to these books because of the whole game warden thing. And they've been run reads. :)
DeleteThe Appalachian Trail/Maine wilderness setting is very appealing! I will have to check out this series.
ReplyDeleteThe setting is great! And I really like Mike Bowditch, too. :)
DeleteI'm not familiar with this author, but it sounds wonderful. I think I would love the Appalachian Trail as a setting too. Great review.
ReplyDeleteMelanie @ Books of My Heart
Thank you. It's turned out to be a good series. And that Appalachian Trail setting is a favorite of mine. :)
DeleteI have had the first book in this series on my TBR for about nine years now. Really need to get to reading it. The story of my life. I am glad to hear you are enjoying the series.
ReplyDeleteNeeding to 'get to reading' certain books is the story of my life, too! ;D
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