A Review of "Bad Little Falls" [91]

Bad Little Falls:A Novel by Paul Doiron
 Minotaur Books, ISBN 978-0312558482
 August 7, 2012, 320 pages

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Back for the third time is Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch and fans of the series will be thrilled. This may be my favorite one of the series so far.
Those of you who have not jumped on this series..what are you waiting for?!!

 Mike is a guy who tend to push the envelope, test the limits of his job and not the most popular with the higher ups in the Service. So it is no surprise that he has been transferred from the popular mid- coast to the ends-of-the-earth Maine style, the more rough and ready northern regions up by the Canadian border.

Drug smuggling is a big problem up here and the game wardens are even more unpopular than elsewhere in the state, which is saying something. Since he broke up with his girlfriend at the end of the last book as well, Mike has never felt so alone.

But he will be busy enough to keep him distracted.
A huge snowstorm moves into the region and right at the height of the storm, Mike gets called to the assistance of an older couple living in a remote cabin. A half frozen man...literally...has stumbled up to their door at the height of the blizzard, claiming his friend is still out there in the storm. When he is found, it is too late, but it is soon clear the storm did not kill him. No, his death came at more human hands, perhaps the frozen friend who sent the rescuers. And since the dead man was known to police as a major drug dealer, no doubt something illegal is probably involved.

On the personal side, Mike is getting involved with a beautiful young local woman. It might not be the best idea though...since she is the sister of the frostbitten man..and a woman with more than a few of her own issues. These include the fact that the dead man was her ex-boyfriend, she has her own drug history, and a strange little son who has a lot more secrets than a little boy should have.

I love this series for several reason. Yes, I love the location is Maine, even if this one is not set on the beautiful coast. And Mike is a great character, flawed but with a big heart. Happily, he seems to have realized his own issues with alcohol so apparent in the last book and has that more under control this time around. But while he is a smart guy, he is still often leading with his feelings, which makes for some great situations. And one of my favorite characters, his pilot friend Charley Stevens is back, along with his beautiful biologist/pilot daughter. Ok, she is engaged, but I am sensing a future love interest for Mike here ...I hope...and she is spunky enough that that should be great fun.
The plot is complicated enough to hold the interest, with a number of red herrings, well written, great location, great characters.What is not to like?

Yes, I do really like this series!

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