BAD LITTLE FALLS

Henry Leyva gives a solid performance in this third book in the Mike Bowditch mystery series. Bowditch, a Maine game warden, is on a new assignment in Washington County, the eastern-most county in the state, known for its unemployment, epidemic drug trade, and violent poaching. When Bowditch begins to quietly investigate the death of a man he found frozen in a storm, he finds himself fighting for his career and his life. Leyva's varied Maine accents are convincing and interesting, and make each character distinct. His portrayal of Lucas Sewall, an odd child who figures prominently in the story, is perfect. Leyva is at his best, however, portraying the complicated Bowditch with a quiet, even voice that captures the capable but struggling game warden. A.C.P. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2012]