KILLING MAINE by Mike Bond

I enjoyed KILLING MAINE by Mike Bond, although a lot of the story was a little graphic for my taste with the gruesome flashbacks to the time the main character, Pono, spent in the war.   I thought I knew Maine as an ecological haven and was very surprised to learn Mr. Bond's take on the nefarious interplay between big wind power and government.

According to the story, most of the big players in the wind power industry got their start at another notable company, Enron.  Once the jig was up at Enron, those that were not arrested, made their way over to the next big energy scheme, big wind power.  Seems like a good energy alternative and appartently has the "greenies" in their back pocket, but in truth it is devastating to the surrounding environment both human and animal alike.  The mutilation and murder of the eagles was pretty unsettling.

Pono goes back to Maine from his relaxing existence in Hawaii to help the husband, Bucky, of his old girlfriend, Lexie, who has just been arrested for shooting out several wind turbines and potentially killing a man.  From here, the plot is pretty twisted and confusing with wind power as the enemy and the time Bucky and Pono spent in the Special Forces as the ultimate backdrop.  Although Pono despises Bucky for submitting testimony that put him in prison and for stealing his girlfriend, he finds he has no choice but to help prove his innocence.  Why?  Because at one point in the war, Bucky saved his life.    I am not sure this entirely plausible considering the circumstances and incredible risk this puts Pono at considering his criminal record, but I suspended disbelief.

It is an interesting story if you can wind (long i not short like in sit!)  your way through it.  I understood after I started reading it that it is the second book in a series.  I believe this book stands on it own.

Thanks to Net Galley, Mike Bond, and Mandevilla Press for the ARC for an honest review.