A Flattering Review

After a winter lull, The Poacher's Son is getting press again thanks to the award nominations it has received and the recent paperback publication. I have to say that among the excellent reviews I have received this one made me especially happy:

I read a lot of books. A lot. But I don’t think I have ever found a new author that had such a stunning debut. Doiron’s ability to create such vivid, intense characters and scenes is amazing.

The Poacher’s Son isn’t just another suspense thriller, but just as much a coming-of-age, so to speak, novel about a young man coming to terms with a neglectful father and the past that made him who he is today.

I spoke to a group of readers the other day and said that I was surprised by authors who didn't enjoy doing public events. You work so long and hard in solitude when you write a novel. Why wouldn't you want to meet someone who was deeply moved by your book?

Trespasser Is a RT Book Reviews Top Pick!

Trespasser is many things, but it's definitely not a romance. (I do try to handle Mike's rekindled relationship with Sarah Harris with a bit more realism than I usually find in crime novels.) Nevertheless, I'm thrilled that RT Book Reviews has chosen my book as one of their Top Picks and gives it 4.5 out of 5 stars! They say:

Doiron’s second thriller featuring Mike Bowditch makes effective use of Maine’s ‘mud season,’ that time when the weather is unpredictable and new life struggles to emerge from the snow, as a metaphor for Mike’s internal struggle to put his life back on track. Doiron’s sense of place, and of the people of Maine, adds lush nuance to this suspense-filled read. Well-paced, with an interesting array of elegantly rounded characters, this effort more than lives up to the promise of Doiron’s debut.

Only subscribers can read the full review for the time being, but an insightful review like this one sure seems like a good reason to subscribe to me.

Edgar Awards

Andrew Martin, Charles Spicer, Kristen Lindquist, Paul Doiron

Well, I didn't win the 2010 Edgar Award for "Best First Novel," but I was pleased that Bruce DeSilva received the award for Rogue Island. Bruce is a great guy, and I heartily recommend his entertaining journey into Providence's heart of darkness.

The party was a real blast, too. I met Otto Penzler. Sara Paretsky dropped a glass of wine on my wife's shoe. And Steve Hamilton offered a moving tribute to the late legendary editor Ruth Cavin.

Also, I had the best cheering section in the entire room. In my time I've heard plenty of authors bitch about their publishers for assorted reasons. But I have had nothing but great experiences with the people at Minotaur Books. Thank you, guys, for everything.