Dead by Dawn - Paul Doiron
Mike Bowditch, Maine game warden extraordinaire, has made a name for himself among some naturally nasty people. In the opening scene in this novel, his Jeep plunges off the edge of the road and down into the partially frozen Androscoggin river. He and his wolf-dog rapidly submerge in the freezing water.
The chapters in the book alternate between Bowditch's survival efforts and his activities earlier in the day that got him into this predicament. He is just taking his dog (wolf) to the vet, and was just going to make a quick stop to check up on a complaint about a potentially mishandled investigation. But Bowditch is a curious character and follows lead after lead until the sun has set, he begins his journey home, and is ambushed.
Mike Bowditch is a great character and has proven his bravery and curiosity about life through the series of Doiron's books. Another thing I like about this book is that it matches its genres of both mystery and thriller. It is a mystery right from the opening scene as to why this deadly scenario is happening. And it is a thriller as to how Bowditch is going to extricate himself from the multiple 'crucible' situations that Doiron puts his protagonist in, chapter after chapter. Just when you think he has come up with a clever way to get dry and warm and get home for Christmas, his tormentors inflict another wound. One other thing: Doiron keeps fans hanging about Bowditch's situation with women. That may be another author cliff hanger to keep love-story readers hanging from book to book.
This book, written in the first person, alternates between the present and the past tense until the two story lines finally merge. Poul Doiron is one of my favorite contemporary writers. His books are a pleasure to read, and I'm sure that's because he takes pleasure in writing them.
Paul Doiron - Dead by Dawn
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Building Science Resources
One might think that there is little change in the fundamental nature of buildings since Newton had that apple plunk down on his head. Not so. I have been working with this stuff for over forty years now, and I am amazed at how much new information is available every day. It would be great if all of it could be loaded immediately into the head of those just entering the field, but I'm afraid that an enormous amount is ignored or constantly forgotten. Here are a handful of wonderful websites that serve as fundamental resources.
Building Science Corporation: The articles on this site are the go-to resource on a wide range of subjects. Although they are based on engineering principles, they have been generated from years of practical experience, working with people and materials in the field. Dr. Joe Lstiburek has an exceptional sense of humor and doesn't bow to stuffy, professional writing to get his message across.
Energy Vanguard: Allison Bailes has been writing his blog about these topics for years. I have seen him sitting at conferences dashing off daily information about things he has just learned. His newsletter is definitely worth signing up for. And good news: he has just completed pulling all this information together for a book which I am sure will be a bible that people will be able to turn to.
Building America Solutions Center: This is a government website that has survived and grown for years. It is full of articles and drawings that can be used in publications and research papers. There is so much stuff on this site that it can be overwhelming. But you've paid for this. It is truly an authoritative resource you can turn to.
Home Diagnosis TV Show: Then there is Grace and Corbett Lundsford's TV show. You can watch video's about all sorts of building science stuff!
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