Reviews & Recs of books about Maine, set in Maine, and by Maine authors.
The Precipice
The sixth in Paul Doiron’s Maine Game Warden series, The Precipice is a suspenseful page turner that holds the reader’s attention with strong characters, a compelling setting, and a story that has twists, turns, ups, and downs.
Haunted Portland: From Pirates to Ghost Brides
A quick read, Haunted Portland has many historical anecdotes but is fairly light on the hauntings. Divided into short chapters by location, you’ll learn about historic locations in Portland (and further afield), but don’t expect to be wicked spooked.
Three Fascinating Maine ‘Quick Fact’ History Books
Eminent Mainers, as noted on the cover of the book, includes “succinct biographies of thousands of amazing Mainers, mostly dead
Knock Down
Knock Down is an installment in the Home Repair is Homicide cozy mystery series by Sarah Graves. The series follows former Wall Streeter Jacobia (Jake) Tiptree and her son who have moved to the town of Eastport, Maine.
Six Cozy Mystery Book Series Set in Maine
We all know Maine makes a great setting for ultra-spooky, suspenseful stories (thanks Stephen King!). However, the state is also an ideal spot for lighter mystery books.
Shadows on the Coast of Maine
An engaging mystery set in a fictional town in what appears to be Lincoln County, Shadows on the Coast of Maine paints a picture of a beautiful place where the long history simmers below the surface, adding tension to the ideal coastal summer.
From Away
A compelling, fast-paced ghost story, From Away tells the story of Sammy Kehoe, his sister, and his niece as they return to the family summer home on an island off the coast of Maine. They quickly meet up with old friends from childhood, make new ones, and start to establish a life on the island.
Cross of Snow
An engaging, educational read, Cross of Snow seems more than a biography of Longfellow.
Fairy Tale
This book presents a conundrum for reviewing, because it started out so strong and I would have read an entire novel based just in the real world of the characters of Mr. Bowditch and Charlie and Charlie’s dad and, of course, Radar the dog.
Close-up on Murder
Hollywood comes to Cabot Cove in Close-up on Murder, providing a new set of characters for Cabot Cove to gossip about and, of course, the requisite murder for Jessica Fletcher to solve.
How Many Books on Down East’s 100 Maine Books List Have You Read?
This isn’t exactly a traditional recommendation post, but the Down East 100 Maine Books list can certainly give you a good starting point for Maine books to read. Have you read them all? More than half? Just the Stephen Kings and the ones we all read in school?
This Cider Still Tastes Funny
This Cider Still Tastes Funny is retired Game Warden John Ford’s second book of anecdotes/essays/tales from his years in the warden service.
Murder On The Rocks
Newcomer (aka she’s From Away - in this case, Texas) Natalie Barnes is running herself ragged operating a barely-surviving B&B on Cranberry Island by herself, with the exception of some help from her visiting niece. In comes an out-of-state developer wanting to build a large resort on the island that would threaten both Natalie’s livelihood and the environment of an imperiled bird species. When he’s found dead, Natalie is a prime suspect.
A Little Yuletide Murder
A death at Christmas time rocks Cabot Cove - even moreso because the victim, Brent, is the man who played the town’s Santa Claus. Jessica Fletcher is home for the holidays and she’s ready to start digging into the motives of the murderer and figure out who the murderer actually is.
Stowed Away
Stowed Away is the sixth book in the Maine Clambake Mysteries series by Barbara Ross. It’s a cozy mystery, set in fictional Busman’s Harbor on the coast of Maine and centered on the main character Julia who, along with her family, operates a lobster and clambake on the island off the coast. Her family has been in the area for generations and owns property including the abandoned mansion, Windsholme.
The Poacher’s Son
The Poacher’s Son is our introduction to Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch, now the protagonist of a dozen novels by Paul Doiron. Warden Bowditch had a tough upbringing - his father was an aggressive drunk, he and his mother escaped and moved to southern Maine where his mother remarried, but throughout the book we see that Bowditch has never really escaped that past.
Mystery In Longfellow Square
Long a classic read for local schoolkids, Mystery In Longfellow Square is a good story and a compelling read for older elementary students or younger middle school students. Though it might be a bit old-fashioned for today’s kids - what, these kids are allowed to play outside by themselves?
Chickens, Gin, and a Maine Friendship
A book that includes writing from E.B. White, do I have to say much more? Probably not, but I will.
Chickens, Gin, and A Maine Friendship is a compilation of the letters sent between E.B. White and Edmund Ware Smith during the 1950s and 1960s. Though the two lived within driving distance of each other in coastal Maine, they were not frequent visitors of each other.
Dolores Claiborne
Let’s just start out by saying this is not your typical Stephen King supernatural horror story. There are hints of the supernatural - much of the book works toward the culminating event which takes place during an eclipse - but if you’re expecting vampires, zombie pets, or demons, this isn’t the book for you.