If you’re trying to read the Paul Doiron books in order, start with the Mike Bowditch novels. Publication order is the cleanest path because Mike’s personal arc builds as the cases go, starting with The Poacher’s Son.
The short stories and collections are optional, but they’re worth reading if you want more of Mike, Charley Stevens, and the Maine woods between the full novels. They work best after the main novels, or between books when you want a shorter Bowditch case.
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Mike Bowditch Books in Order
The Mike Bowditch books are the main Paul Doiron series. Doiron says you don’t have to read them in order, but I would. Mike changes a lot from book to book, and publication order gives you the cleanest version of that character arc.
Skin and Bones is part of the Mike Bowditch line too, but it’s a short story collection rather than a full-length novel. That’s why it belongs with the short fiction instead of the main novel list.
- The Poacher’s Son (2010)
- Trespasser (2011)
- Bad Little Falls (2012)
- Massacre Pond (2013)
- The Bone Orchard (2014)
- The Precipice (2015)
- Widowmaker (2016)
- Knife Creek (2017)
- Stay Hidden (2018)
- Almost Midnight (2019)
- One Last Lie (2020)
- Dead by Dawn (2021)
- Hatchet Island (2022)
- Dead Man’s Wake (2023)
- Pitch Dark (2024)
- Storm Tide (2026)
Mike Bowditch Short Stories and Collections
The Mike Bowditch short stories aren’t required reading. You can skip them and still follow the novels just fine. That said, I’d read them if you like Charley Stevens, want more backstory, or enjoy smaller cases between the full books.
Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories is the easiest catch-up point because it collects eight stories, including Sheep’s Clothing. After that, Blaze Orange continues the short-fiction side of the series.
- The Bear Trap (Short Story, 2014)
- Rabid (Short Story, 2018)
- Backtrack (Short Story, 2019)
- The Imposter (Short Story, 2019)
- The Caretaker (Short Story, 2021)
- Skin and Bones (Short Story, 2022)
- Snakebit (Short Story, 2023)
- Sheep’s Clothing (Short Story, 2025)
- Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories (Collection, 2025)
- Blaze Orange (Short Story, 2026)
Other Paul Doiron Books
Paul Doiron is best known for the Mike Bowditch books, but he also edited Eating Between the Lines: A Maine Writers’ Cookbook before the series began. It isn’t part of the Mike Bowditch series, but it’s worth noting for anyone trying to track down Doiron’s full bibliography.
- Eating Between the Lines: A Maine Writers’ Cookbook (1998, Editor)
Who Is Paul Doiron?
Paul Doiron is the bestselling author of the Mike Bowditch crime novels. He was born and raised in Maine, and that background comes through clearly in the series.
Before writing fiction full-time, Doiron worked as editor in chief of Down East: The Magazine of Maine. He is now editor emeritus. He is also a Registered Maine Guide specializing in fly fishing, which helps explain why the outdoor details in the Mike Bowditch books feel so specific.
The Poacher’s Son, his debut novel, won the Barry Award and the Strand Critics Award and was nominated for several other major mystery awards. Trespasser won the 2012 Maine Literary Award, Rabid was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best Short Story, and Dead by Dawn won the New England Society’s 2022 Book Award for Fiction.
Doiron lives in Maine with his wife, Kristen Lindquist, who is also a writer.
Paul Doiron Books FAQ
What genre are Paul Doiron’s books?
Paul Doiron’s Mike Bowditch books are crime novels with a strong mystery and thriller feel. They’re usually built around murder investigations, missing people, wilderness survival, and law enforcement in rural Maine.
I’d recommend them most to readers who like outdoor mysteries, police-style investigations, and series where the setting matters almost as much as the case.
Where do the Mike Bowditch books take place?
The Mike Bowditch books take place in Maine. The series moves through forests, rivers, lakes, coastal islands, small towns, and remote wilderness areas across the state.
That Maine setting is a huge part of the appeal. Doiron writes about the outdoors with the kind of detail you’d expect from someone who knows the landscape well.
Is Mike Bowditch a real person?
No, Mike Bowditch is a fictional character. He feels grounded because Doiron gives him real flaws, real growth, and a job that comes with believable pressure.
Mike works as a Maine game warden, so the books often involve wildlife, search-and-rescue work, local conflicts, and crimes that happen far from a traditional city detective story.
Are the Mike Bowditch books like the Joe Pickett books?
Yes, they’re a natural fit for many C.J. Box fans. Both series follow game wardens, mix crime with the outdoors, and use wild landscapes as a major part of the story.
The difference is the feel. Joe Pickett is rooted in Wyoming, while Mike Bowditch is pure Maine. Doiron’s books also lean heavily into Mike’s personal growth across the series.
What should I read after Paul Doiron?
After Paul Doiron, I’d start with C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett books if you want another game warden series. William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor books are another strong choice if you want mystery, wilderness, and a strong sense of place.
Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire books can also work well if you like law enforcement mysteries with a rugged setting and a long-running lead character.
Looking for more books in order?
If you want more mystery authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Mystery Books in Order index.