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The Poacher's Son (2010)

by Paul Doiron(Favorite Author)

3.65 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0312558465 (ISBN13: 9780312558468)

languge

English

genre

Mystery & Thriller

publisher

Minotaur Books

series

Mike Bowditch

review 1: Picked up this book at Books, Lines and Thinkers while in Rangeley, ME earlier this fall. I did enjoy reading this book, and I was hopeful that I would become a fan of the author. The Maine landscape beautifully written and the story held my attention, but I found the characters flat. Especially Mike, the protagonist. With a title like The Poacher's Son, I expected a more compelling journey of discovery and wanted more about why Mike was who he was because of his father. An alternate father figure enters the story, whom Mike saves while failing to save his actual father (though he sets out to save his father in the beginning of the story). Is this the protagonist's transformation? No. The author doesn't build Mike's character enough for us to care about his struggle. ... moreAt the moment that Mike's father dies, and his loyalty shifts, and he saves Charlie, there is almost no emotion. Mike is flat. The journey of the poacher's son is no real journey at all. A better title might have been Rum Pond. Maine and the warden's world are beautifully painted by the author. The mystery keeps my attention and runs it's course. But the promise of a father and son tale falls short and flat. Make me care more about Mike. Make me care about his choices, and help me understand why Mike doesn't care more about the decisions he makes. Felt like a TV script. Disappointing.
review 2: I listened to this book on CD on my commute, which may have affected my appreciation for it. The writing was good, evenly-paced, but the dialogue was a bit predictable. I have to say that I didn't guess the reason things went down like they did, so not everything was predictable! I so enjoyed the author's use of real towns and real geography throughout instead of resorting to made-up or thinly-disguised-to-not-sound-like-Skowhegan place names. This area of Maine is a character in and of itself and it's clear that Mr. Doiron is intimately acquainted with it. I'd read another book in this series. less

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