Widowmaker is up close and personal even more so than usual. Mike Bowditch’s struggles and flaws are always front and center, out in the open, fodder for gossip and interfering with his desire to just get his job done. But in Widowmaker it’s even worse: he’s hit in the head with something he never even imagined – that his father had another son with a woman not Mike’s mother. Amber Langstrom shows up on Mike’s doorstep, asking for his help to find who she claims is his half-brother. A man who is also a convicted sexual predator, recently released from prison and living at a work camp in the woods. Well, living there until he disappeared. Amber fears for his life. Mike doesn’t know whether to believe her or not. She doesn’t seem very reliable but anything was possible with his father. Mike has just barely managed to put some of the past troubles and heartache with his father behind him, has been trying to do his job and stay out of trouble, trying to inch his relationship with Stacey further along. But he never gets a break, does he?

He's not sure if he even likes the idea of having a half-brother, but it’s a tantalizing idea that has worked its way into his brain, and as always curiosity gets the better of him. He needs to find the answer to just one more question, to see justice done and of course save anyone and everyone in need.

Widowmaker is another stellar addition to the Mike Bowditch Maine game warden series. Full of excitement as we go with Mike on his hunt for answers, danger as he gets himself on the wrong side of a vigilante group, and drama as he tries to shelter Stacey and isn’t as open with her as he should be. As always, the Maine woods are a main character in the story, vivid descriptions that drop you right in the middle of the action, and the story is full of perfectly written sentences like, “Someone had once painted its cedar shingles bright blue, but the color had faded and had now turned a color I associated with the lips of people who’d frozen to death,” that just make you want to read them again to savor them. Every story is a great standalone but get the maximum pleasure and read this excellent series from the start. ( )

This is the first book that I read in this series, and I immediately put the rest of the author's book on my TBR list. He met my criteria for mystery writers of having a predictable worldview, and being charming enough that I felt like reading the next book in the series was like picking up a conversation with an old friend. ( )

Fantastic! Edge of the seat! And we learn some background of Mike's. His books get better and better. AND I listened to this book and got a wonderful surprise. Paul interviews Nevada Barr! I did a happy dance. Nevada Barr is exactly why I found Paul Doiron's books in the first place. Right now I am feeling completely satisfied by a great book and an awesome surprise. Life is so good! :) ( )

Bowditch is moving around the state. Here he is in the Rangeley area. He takes liberty with geography and ski resort names but he has a great sense of place and evokes memories for me of my work up north. Host of possible bad guys and you weren't sure until the end. And a very good ending. ( )

Afraid the I just don't like (or care about) Mike Bowditch. For a few novels, he was impossible, but tolerable hoping that he would mature and act reasonably/responsibly. However, he has not. Biggest pain in the ass I could imagine. I see no hint of the positive value that seems to keep him employed by the Warden's Service.
Love the concept and the locale, but am finished with the character. ( )