The Imposter is another short story set in the universe of Maine Game Warden Mike Bowditch. Unlike many of the other stories in this series, this one actually features Mike. It’s set at a time when he is stationed in an area known as Downeast Maine. There are a few plot points that refer back to the books in the series, so this is one I don’t think you could pick up and understand some of the finer points without being invested in the series already.

Mike gets a call one evening after reports that a Maine Game Warden pulled over a car filled with teenage girls and frightened them. It’s in his territory, and the man who pulled them over identified himself as Maine Game Warden, Mike Bowditch. However, the driver of the vehicle says it wasn’t Mike when he appears for verification.

There are more reports of this mysterious person passing himself off as Mike Bowditch. When the body is removed from a submerged truck in Roque Harbor, they find identification in the man’s wallet that says he’s Mike Bowditch. Mystery solved, or is it?

Mike feels a connection to this man who impersonated him, and wants to get to the bottom of why he killed himself. This takes him on a quest that involves some names familiar to those who have read the series.

These short stories all seem to portray dysfunctional human beings. In this case, the impersonator is someone who has been failed by society. He was adopted as an infant, and it was apparent that early on, his father did not embrace him as his son. He also appears to be on the autism spectrum, but was never diagnosed and therefore, never accommodated. He didn’t graduate from high school, and every job he’s had, he’s been unable to keep.

There are themes of child abuse/neglect as well as drug use in the story. It’s a tragic story in many ways. I could sympathize with the imposter. Although what he did was completely wrong, he really didn’t stand a chance at a good life. The placement with his adoptive family looked good on paper, but really wasn’t. This is the case for so many adoptees, especially in the “baby scoop” era. His mother loved him, but his father did not. I don’t know if it would have been different for a biological child, as he has a streak of cruelty in him.

The Imposter is a good story where Mike transcends emotions. He’s angry at first, until he delves deeper into the imposter’s life. In the end, he feels sorry for him. It’s showing growth for Mike as a human being in that he can learn more about someone and develop compassion for him, even when he’s committed a crime against Mike himself. That’s something sorely lacking in our society.