Game warden Mike Bowditch is first on the scene of two murders, which seem to be related. Victims in both cases have previously escaped punishment for brutal crimes. Text messages from an unrecognized number seem to confirm a vigilante is responsible and, for reasons he can't explain, Mike's own name is on the killer's list.

Law enforcement doesn't take his suspicions seriously, and he's cautioned by state police and his own supervisor not to let his curiosity lead him to attempt a solo investigation.

In Paul Doirin's Storm Tide, Mike had been demoted from his position as a warden investigator and busted back to patrol duties while awaiting a disciplinary hearing on charges related to an earlier incident that could cost him his beloved job. Sticking his nose into this case could result in even more threats to his future as a warden.

Still, when the suspected vigilante gets bolder, Mike takes it personally. Stacey, Mike's wife, is pregnant with their first child, and she's been stalked by someone driving a white van. Security cameras reveal he's also been on their property and watching their house. Even Mike's rescued wolf-dog Shadow has been threatened.

The threat to his wife and their unborn child prompts Mike to ignore warnings and get on the trail of the culprit. His investigation soon reveals the vigilante has allies, and this expands the risk. When Mike identifies one of the suspects and hunts him down, he finds his own life in jeopardy -- a nail-biter that is sure to have the reader rapidly turning pages to see what happens next.

This is the 16th book in Doirin's Mike Bowditch Mysteries series, but there's enough backstory here that you won't be lost if this is the first you read. Storm Tide is vintage Bowditch and sure to please even the most jaded reader. As always, Doiron is spot on with his depiction of character and motivation as well as sense of place. A recommended read.