Dead by Dawn

Maine game warden Mike Bowditch returns in this 12th adventure (after One Last Lie), where he seemingly innocuously reopens an old accidental drowning case that soon takes a dangerous turn. After running over a barbed metal trap, Mike loses control of his Jeep and plunges into an icy river. Summoning his survival training, he frees himself from the car and the river, but this is only the beginning. In wet clothes and freezing temperatures, his body can only take so much. An ice fishing hut provides shelter, and he’s able to start a fire using his cell phone battery. Then the gunshots begin. Now it’s not only a fight against the elements, it’s a fight against humankind. Alternating timelines reveal an interesting contrast in the periods before and after Mike’s ensnarement. Part survival story, part mystery-suspense, Doiron’s narrative is fast-paced and engaging, but the ultimate resolution is somewhat disappointing, as it is only loosely related to Mike’s case.