She Treads Softly: Skin and Bones

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Skin and Bones

Skin and Bones by Paul Doiron
5/13/25; 368 pages
St. Martin's/Minotaur Books

Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories by Paul Doiron is a very highly recommended collection of eight short stories featuring Maine game warden Mike Bowditch. Don't miss this excellent collection!

Seven of these were previously released and one is brand new. This collection can definitely be read by those new to the series, but expect to be inspired to start reading all the novels featuring Mike Bowditch. Those following the series will certainly enjoy reading this collection.

The writing is top-notch and the plot of these tales are all interesting, complex, and compelling. Not all the stories prominently feature Bowditch, some are via his mentor, Charlie Stevens. All of them provide a perfect introduction to the series or fill in some backstory to the novels. And, since they are short stories, you can choose to leisurely read them as you have time rather than all at once. The stories include:The Bear Trap, Rabid, Backtrack, The Imposter, The Caretaker, Skin and Bones, Snakebite, and Sheep’s Clothing (new).

Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories is a great choice and will be equally enjoyed by fans and newcomers of the series. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.