I've always had mixed feelings about long-running series. On the one hand, I appreciate the depth of following characters across multiple books. On the other hand, starting a new series can be daunting, especially with annual releases. With this trepidation, I approached Paul Doiron's latest book, Pitch Dark. The premise of a game warden investigating a crime in the remote wilderness intrigued me, and when his publisher offered me a review copy, I was eager to dive in. However, I was also apprehensive because Pitch Dark is the 15th novel in Doiron's Mike Bowditch series. I wondered if I could jump into the story and still follow along.
As the novel begins, Mike Bowditch, an investigator for the Maine Bureau of Warden Services, receives a call from a young warden about a potentially missing man. This man was searching for Mark Redmond, a skilled builder working on the property of Mike's friend and experienced bush pilot, Josie Johnson. Upon arriving at the scene, Mike finds Mark missing. Josie mentions Mark's exceptional craftsmanship, a rare skill in this remote area. Mark had agreed to build Josie's home in exchange for living on the property and homeschooling his 12-year-old daughter, Cady.
Mike immediately senses something amiss, and his suspicions are soon confirmed by a gruesome murder shortly after his arrival. He sets off through the dense Maine forest towards Canada with only his experience and instinct to help him chase down the allusive fugitive. Mike marvels at his adversary's superior bushcraft skills as he navigates the dense terrain. As he tries to save the life of a young girl, Mike faces the unsettling question: is he the hunter or the hunted in this deadly game?
Paul Doiron immerses readers in the rugged landscape of the Maine wilderness, plunging them straight into the heart of the action. As someone new to the series, it took me a while to grasp the characters and their dynamics, yet this initial unfamiliarity did little to diminish my enjoyment of the narrative. The explosive start captivated me, and I eagerly anticipated each twist and turn. While familiarity with the preceding novels would provide deeper context, Pitch Dark reads just fine on its own merits. If anything, it left me eager to explore the earlier installments from the beginning.
Pitch Dark delivers a tense cat-and-mouse chase through rugged wilderness, unafraid to explore its darker depths. The conclusion is satisfying yet leaves a tantalizing cliffhanger, setting the stage for the next book. I approached this novel with some trepidation, unsure of diving in without prior knowledge, but now I can't wait to see where Doiron will take the story next.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2024, 50)
