Tuesday, July 20, 2021

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Dead By Dawn; Paul Doiron

 


Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews
Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book we are reading or plan to read.  This week I selected a mystery that was just released last month.

                                                                Dead By Dawn; Paul Doiron
                                                                   Minotaur Books - 2021

1

The hill is steep here, and there is no guardrail above the river. I think I am being careful, keeping a light touch on the wheel, feathering the brakes. But then I come around the curve and see the spiked objects scattered across the asphalt in my headlights.  They look like barbaric versions of children's jacks. Or medieval caltrops laid on battlefields to maim horses--that these hunks of metal have been welded from box nails and placed here for the malign purpose of blowing out automobile tires.

The front wheels of the Jeep run over the first of them before I can react, and the sound is like two muskets being fired in tandem. The wolf dog in his enormous crate in the rear lets loose a strangled yelp. And now the back tires are bursting, too, and the steering wheel tugs one way, then the other, and when I pump the brake pedal nothing happens because I'm going too fast. I am over the edge before I can exhale.

What do you think, read more or pass?   This is book #12 of the mystery series featuring Mike Bowditch, a Maine Game Warden.  I've read only a few of the books in this series and enjoyed them a lot. What I liked was you really don't need to read the series in order to enjoy the stories.

19 comments:

  1. Great excerpt! I am now intrigued. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the intro. I'm enjoying the story a lot already.

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  2. I've only read one book by Doiron, and it was several years ago, but the opening paragraph does sound interesting! I'm curious about the wolf dog in the crate.

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    1. Jen, it's a good series and the author knows how to use setting and surroundings to engage you. He also throws some humor in from time to time as well.

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  3. I'd probably read some more, it sounds interesting.

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  4. Very descriptive. The intro brings you right into the story. I haven't read the previous books so I'm not sure I would want to jump into #12, but it does sound like a good series.

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    1. The writing is such that it's pretty easy to pick up anywhere.

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  5. Oh man. I mean, if you're on book 12 of a series, you might as well continue. :)

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    1. Joy, I've only read a few of the 12 but, it really isn't all that important to read in order IMO.

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  6. What an intense opening! Haven't heard of this series or author before.

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    1. This is a a really good series even though I've only read a few. The audios are well done too generally.

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  7. I'm more interested in the dog. Yes I will read more.

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    1. I know I am more of an animal person that a people person - at times.

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  8. It's not a book for me. I tend to go with books with little action in the story. I'm odd like that!

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    1. I get it now, but, at first I was thinking there wasn't enough action for you. LOL

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  9. Wow, if that's the beginning I can only imagine what's ahead for this character. I've never read his books but a bit curious now!

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  10. Very exciting and descriptive! I had to google "caltrops."

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  11. I would definitely keep reading! I want to know what's going on and I like the writer's voice in this paragraph.

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