The Bone Orchard
A Novel
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4.4 • 126 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
"The Bone Orchard [is] both a rich exploration of character and a satisfying mystery." —Bruce DeSilva, Associated Press"Excellent . . . Thoughtful plotting and strong characters raise this above the crime novel pack." —Publishers weekly
In the aftermath of a family tragedy, Mike Bowditch has left the Maine Warden Service and is working as a fishing guide in the North Woods. But when his mentor Sgt. Kathy Frost is forced to kill a troubled war veteran in an apparent case of "suicide by cop," he begins having second thoughts about his decision.
Now Kathy finds herself the target of a government inquiry and outrage from the dead soldier's platoon mates. Soon she finds herself in the sights of a sniper, as well. When the sergeant is shot outside her farmhouse, Mike joins the hunt to find the mysterious man responsible. To do so, the ex-warden must plunge into his friend's secret past—even as a beautiful woman from Mike's own past returns, throwing into jeopardy his tentative romance with wildlife biologist Stacey Stevens.
As Kathy Frost lies on the brink of death and a dangerous shooter stalks the blueberry barrens of central Maine, Bowditch is forced to confront the choices he has made and determine, once and for all, the kind of man he truly is, in The Bone Orchard by Paul Doiron.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Having quit the Maine Warden Service for various personal reasons, Mike Bowditch barely ekes out a living as a fishing guide, showing off Maine's North Woods to tourists, in Edgar finalist Doiron's excellent fifth series installment (after 2013's Massacre Pond). Though he still spends most of his time outdoors, Mike is acutely aware that he no longer has the authority to arrest lawbreakers, nor does he have the respect of his former colleagues. Mike realizes just how much of an outsider he is when his mentor and former boss, Sgt. Kathy Frost, kills Jimmy Gammon, a distraught Afghan war veteran and former military policeman, in self-defense. Later, a gunman seriously wounds Kathy outside her farmhouse. Despite his lack of authority, Mike joins the investigation into Kathy's shooting, sorting through the list of suspects, who include members of Gammon's politically connected family, his former platoon mates, and Kathy's vengeful neighbor. Or was Kathy's alcoholic brother with a gambling problem the real target? Thoughtful plotting and strong characters raise this above the crime novel pack.
Customer Reviews
The Bone Orchard. Paul Doiron
Mike Bowditch has left the Maine Warden Service and is working as a fishing guide in the North Woods. His mentor, training officer Sergeant Kathy Frost has been seriously wounded in an assassination attempt on her life at her house and Mike received minor injuries coming to her aide. He also saved her life by stopping her from bleeding to death.Prior to this incident Sgt. Frost and her partner were involved in a shooting incident of a troubled and horribly disfigured troubled war veteran in an apparent case of suicide by cop. The attempt on her life was being handled as a result of her recent shooting possibly one one the dead soldiers platoon mates. Mike begins to investigate on his own and in his typical relentless looks for the clues solves the case AN stupendous case!! My highest recommendation!!
A gifted author coming into his own
A few times while reading the highly engaging Bone Orchard, i felt a hint of a young James Lee Burke. I mean that as a high compliment. Mr. Doiron's use of language reminds me of the way Burke decorates his prose. Not in the sense that he is copying anyone, but that he has a keen ear for the right morsel of a word at the right time. I enjoyed especially his observations of motivation in his characters. This is a fine book by a writer who is already excellent but has the height of his powers in front of him. Watch this author, he has greatness in his future.