The title, of this 16th novel in the series, is derived from the manifesto of a madman. The manifesto is called Storm Tide Rising, by The Merchant of Vengeance. In this action-packed thriller, the bodies keep falling violently.  It seems that there are lots of people who want some kind of revenge for crimes that they believe were resolved unsatisfactorily.
Mike Bowditch is a game warden in Maine. He is almost constantly facing danger, even though he is no longer an investigating warden. He is dealing with a disciplinary action and investigation into his own behavior and has been replaced by the first female investigator to ever be hired. Somehow, he manages to be thrust into the most dangerous situations anyway, the ones that scream out for the need of further inquiry, even when the investigations have officially ended. Whether by design or accident, Bowditch seems to always be at the scene of a crime.  
Many people believe that Bowditch was quite unfairly benched. Although he is known as kind of a loose cannon. Although he expects those in his jurisdiction to obey the rules, he often bends them for himself. He has soldiered on as a game warden without investigatory responsibilities, hoping to be reinstated, but the scuttlebutt is that the woman who replaced him may not be easy to remove. As the first woman ever in his job, politics may require her retention. He continues on in his demoted position, hoping to be rehired.
The events that unfold consistently involve Bowditch in the ongoing investigations and controversies, even though he is told not to intervene. When he witnesses criminal activity, he cannot help but investigate. One would think he would be rewarded for his heroic behavior, but instead, he is reprimanded and warned to stay out of the investigations or to face further discipline or possibly the loss of his job entirely.
Regardless, of the rules, he often risks his life, even when not required, or when told not to, but he is never rewarded for his courage. Rather, he is reprimanded, disciplined, and often ridiculed by his colleagues because of his recalcitrant reputation.
One night, he actually witnesses a fire and attempts to rescue one of the badly burned victims. In the process, he is also burned. A husband and wife have died in a house fire that has supposedly been started by faulty wiring in an appliance. Their infant is found in the arms of a neighbor and her story about how the child wound up with her is suspicious to Mike Bowditch. He cannot resist following up to find out the truth. How did the fire start? Was it really accidental or should it be investigated as a homicide? The couple is not well liked because many in the remote community believe that they got away with the previous murder of his illegitimate child. Soon, other suspicious deaths follow, and each seems to be a person who got away with a crime for which everyone seems to think they escaped punishment.
Mike’s very pregnant wife, Stacey, would like him to stay safe, as he is soon to be a father. However, he can’t resist getting involved in criminal investigations and soon has several near-death experiences that he somehow survives, often by sheer will alone. When Stacey confesses that she believes she has been followed by a massively built and unknown stranger in a white van, he grows concerned. Who would follow her and why? Then he gets a series of unusual phone calls, and he becomes even more suspicious about the recent violence occurring in this remote location of Maine. As he begins to search for clues and to follow up on his fears, he seems to have nine lives. He also seems to be involved, but he cannot discover a connection.
The novel is constantly action-packed as it raises many questions. Should Mike disobey the rules to safeguard his family and other possible victims? Should he be lenient and turn a blind eye to certain behavior or always go by the book, even when good people seem to be punished for actions they could not avoid. Should politics alter the eventual outcome of his future? Do the varied punishments of the law enforcement officers seem to fit their crimes or are they even fair? Will he be forever doomed to be just a game warden in this remote location? Does the birth of his child, Charles, nicknamed Chase, bring about a change in his thoughts about his future? Are future novels going to involve Chase as he grows up? Will he follow in his father’s footsteps? Is this novel an accurate reflection of how politics today is changing the lives of many people, often promoting those less qualified because they fit a demand for a certain profile instead. Are the scars of a troubled childhood permanent? Does the trauma and seething anger persist into adulthood. After the pain and suffering of the past, do they ultimately cause continued tragedy in later life?
I liked the book, but sometimes it seemed to be written more for an audience of young adults. There was a bit too much dialogue and description that seemed extraneous and simplistic. Overall, however, I recommend this book for its action and think it would be a great book to take on a vacation. Be warned, however, it is pretty violent and descriptive as the evil intent of the murderer is exposed, and it is often gruesome. The book explores good and evil in its many nuances.