What an opening...

Washington Poe isolated himself in rural Cumbria after being suspended from work for actions which resulted in a man's death. Now he has been called back to investigate a series of bizarre murders, with which he is somehow intertwined.

It's a pacy and addictive thriller, with great characters, fabulous relationships, dastardly motives and plenty of twists and turns, You'll love it

Alright, folks, listen up! I stumbled upon this explosive start to a new crime series, and let me tell you, it's shaping up to be one of my top picks! The characters are on fire, and the plot? Addictive as grandma's secret cookie recipe - I just couldn't put this book down!

Now, let's talk about Tilly - she's the real gem here. She's on the autistic spectrum, and man, is she refreshing to see in this genre! It's like a breath of fresh air in a room full of stuffy detectives. And speaking of detectives, meet Poe - he's got that straight-talking, bold attitude that's hard not to love. But here's the best part - he's not your cookie-cutter stereotype. Nope, he's a bright, fast-thinking guy with real-life problems, and he feels like an actual person. Can you believe it? A detective with personality! He's not afraid to stand up for those in need, even if it means a little trouble for himself. Now that's a detective I can root for!

The plot had me hooked from page one, and even though there were plenty of dramatized moments, it didn't feel like a circus. The setting in Cumbria was a delightful touch, adding an extra sprinkle of atmosphere to the story.

And let's not forget about MW Craven's writing - it's like a magnet pulling you in, making this book utterly compelling. It's like a siren's call, tempting you to keep turning those pages until the very end.

So there you have it, my fellow book-lovers. The Puppet Show is a must-read, and I give it a solid five stars! If you're up for a crime thriller that'll keep you on the edge of your seat, with a dynamic duo that steals the show, this is the book for you. MW Craven has got me hooked, and I'm ready to follow Tilly and Poe on their next thrilling adventure! Happy reading, my friends!

Absolutely enjoyed from start to finish, u didn't want the book to end. Highly recommended, if you like books that keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.

Wow what a start!! You certainly got my attention. A man is set on fire to after first being tortured!!

Washington Poe has been reinstated with the police to work on a case of finding the “Immolation Man” a serial killer that burns his victims inside stone circles at the Lake District. Washington is working with Tilly Bradshaw a data analyst, more used to being at her desk than a crime scenes. She is innocent and seems to be on the spectrum of being Autistic, lacking social skills but hardworking and very determined.

Washington and Tilly make a formidable team. This is going to be an amazing series I am so pleased that I’ve discovered this at book 1.

A dark thriller with twists that will keep you well and truly hooked. Looking forward to the return of Poe and Tilly.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

This is certainly up there with some of the best crime thrillers I’ve read. The characters and plot are engaging with a refreshing feel to them.

You know how everyone has their own dream team of people who would be their saviours if they needed rescuing? For years, mine has been Jack Bauer and Chloe! But, I think I have just found my new team!
Poe and Tilly are perfect together. His grumpy, bitter suit of armour was well and truly dented by her unique, nerdy naivety. They are true opposites and theirs a beautiful relationship to read about.
The story follows them as they try and solve the spate of gruesome murders happening in some of the sacred stone circles around Cumbria. Fast-paced, jam-packed and with lots of twists and turns, it is an excellent first of what I hope will be a very long series.
Not many books have made me laugh out loud, shout, hold my breath and bring a tear to my eye. Just brilliant.

This was a fantastic crime thriller populated by memorable characters and with a well-written plot. I particularly loved the partnership between Poe and Bradshaw. Can't wait for book two!

The Puppet Show is another novel that reached our buddy reading list through word of mouth, and I am so glad we picked it up! From the prologue, I was horrified by the nature of the crimes in this novel, and they are definitely not for you if you want to avoid gore, but as much as I wanted to, I could not stop reading. It is full of tension and I was gripped from the beginning.Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw make an unusual partnership. Poe is outspoken, often rude and has very little respect for authority, whilst Bradshaw is shy, obsessed with statistics and works very literally. She is definitely on the autistic spectrum, although this is never mentioned. It took me some time to get used to Tilly's traits, but I loved seeing her come out of her shell as her and Poe worked together. I am excited to see what they do next!The Puppet Show is very complex. It did take me a while to work out what was happening, but once I did, I realised that it is a very intricate, clever plot that I could not help but read with wonder. I did not see the big reveal coming at all and I read in awe at how it all came together. I will remember this book for a long time to come.

A brutal chiller thriller page-turner, in the first of a new series. Gruesome and graphic in parts, not for faint hearted!

I don't often read police procedurals, I suspect because I'm always a bit nervous they'll just plod on forever in technical detail and lengthy diatribes on how crimes are only ever solved by dull, methodical inches. Contrast this with private detective novels which tend to focus on instinct, charm, and a healthy dose of daring. Lucky for me, the Puppet Show blended both those worlds into a fast-paced and twisty thriller.

While there are loads of plot twists in the story, fans of realism in their crime fiction will no doubt enjoy the details and specificity about the structure and functioning of various law enforcement divisions within the book's setting of Cumbria in England. M.W. Craven populates that world with characters both familiar and strange. His duo of Washington Poe, the unusually named but steadfastly heroic former D.I. (that's Detective Inspector for non-Brits) and now temporary D.S. (Detective Sargent is a demotion in this case) and the brilliant-but-eccentric Tilly Bradshaw (I.Q. 200, social skills -10) exemplifies the book's bombastic nature and appeal.

The prose emphasizes clarity and concision over stylistic trickery. Sometimes I found myself being inducted into more of Poe's moral philosophy on people and issues than I wanted, but I imagine many readers will likely enjoy this a great deal and share in Poe's perspectives. There were a couple of scenes I found myself questioning, specifically dealing with Poe's response to bullying. While lots of people would likely cheer them, I wondered about the agency of the character being protected. Again, though, I suspect more readers will appreciate these scenes than will find cause for complaint.

Fast-paced and cleverly twisty, The Puppet Show will no doubt bring loads of new crime thriller fans back for more of Washington Poe's stoic heroism and Tilly Bradshaw's brilliant quirkiness.

On the surface it's another police procedural series, but what makes this one stand out from the crowd is the characters (especially Tilly!) It's cleverly plotted and the setting in Cumbria is interesting and that little bit different too. I took a couple of times to get into it because I found the first chapter a bit grim (!) but once I got past that I really enjoyed it.

This is the second time that I have read this book and OMG it was so much better the second time around even though I enjoyed it last year when I first read it.

The Puppet Show is the first book in a brand new series, having read the authors previous books I knew what to expect. But I have to say that this one is his best one yet….Mr Craven just got a lot better!

In this story we meet Poe who is on the Hunt for a serial killer who is burning people alive...gruesome or what?! Those of you that follow my reviews will know that I love dark and gruesome so this story was perfect for me, and isn't for the faint hearted.

One of the things that I enjoyed about this story is how the author has brought humour into it through the characters...with one liners which actually made me laugh making it feel realistic and brings them to life…. I don't believe for one second that in real life the detectives on a case would be 100% serious through out.

The author builds up a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish it is fall of OMG moments and twists and turns. Which actually made me gasp…..What a fantastic start to a new series.

If your a fan of Chris Carter then you will love this which I highly recommend.

Thank you to Beth at Little Brown Books for a copy in exchange for a non biased review

I’ve read a few of the author’s previous series featuring Avison Fluke so I was rather excitedly hear about his new series. I’m just gutted it’s taken me this long to read it!!
I sat with a grimaced or disgusted face depending on the point in the book and I even winced a few times. Mike Craven is a sick sick man!! But this brutality really makes this book stand out. The MO of the Immolation Man makes for grim reading but for me that made me want to keep reading. Who was this sick individual causing havoc in beautiful Cumbria?
I love Tilly. Her social awkwardness is so endearing. She asks things in such innocence, similar to that of a child on the constant journey of discovery and learning. But she’s a genius, amazingly intelligent but doesn’t flaunt it
I love Poe (god Mr Craven has created two fantastic characters here). Poe’s protectiveness for Tilly is kind of like that of a big brother or a big brother’s best friend. He keeps her out of trouble and stands up to those who attack her but pushes her out of her comfort zone.
This book is brilliant. For me, it deserves the hype and acclaim it’s received thus far. And I for one can not wait for a Black Summer…..

The Puppet Show is the first in a new series by M.W.Craven featuring detective Washington Poe; what a fabulous name. Washington Poe is suspended at the beginning of this book after problems with a previous investigation, but is brought in to help catch the Immolation Man, who is burning older men alive in the stone circles of the Lake District. He finds himself working with his old sergeant Stephanie Flynn, now his senior officer, and analyst Tilly Bradshaw, in a race against time to find the connection between the murders and catch the killer. This is an intelligent and fast paced thriller that enthralled me and kept me guessing until the end.

M.W.Craven has created some wonderful characters in The Puppet Show, that add to the enjoyment of reading this book. I loved the name Washington Poe, and by the end of this book I loved the whole character. He is a a detective who thinks out of the box and takes chances that others won’t take which frequently makes his un popular with his superiors; but he gets the job done. He has a wonderful and endearing relationship with analyst Tilly Bradshaw, she is a mathematics genius with two PHD’s but who has led a very sheltered life. She has many childlike qualities that give her a certain charm; she tells things exactly as they are and also takes things literally. Some of her observations and one liners add some well needed humour to this dark murder investigation.

The plot is thrillingly dark and disturbing in the way the men are murdered, with so many red herrings along the way that keep you guessing until the dramatic and shocking end to this book. There is plenty of tension, not just because there is a serial killer on the loose, but between the different agencies working on the case; the local Cumbria police, the National Crime Agency and the Serious Crime Analysis Agency. The setting of the Lake District is gorgeous and fits well to the profile of the crime, with the many stone circle sites where sacrifices may have taken place.

The Puppet Show is a gritty, chilling and dark crime thriller. M.W.Craven introduces us to some memorable characters that have endearing traits and relationships that appear heartfelt; especially Poe and Bradshaw. There are plenty of cliffhanger moments and shocks in this book that kept me on the edge of my seat, or should I say mattress as I was reading this in bed until after midnight. If you are a lover of crime thrillers where the plot and character relationships are equally important, then I highly recommend this book. Gritty, shocking twisted and compelling this is a fabulous read.

Disgraced (and suspended) DI Washington Poe is quietly living out his life in the Lake District. When a prolific serial killer dubbed the Immolation Man starts burning his victims around the ancient stone circle sites in the Lakes, Poe is called back into service when one of the victims has Poe's name carved into his chest .

Poe reluctantly returns to the National Crime Agency and is now working under the person who has replaced him - DI Stephanie Flynn. Partnered with the (very) socially awkward Tilly Bradshaw (a crime analyst with the SCAS) they set out to catch a killer that is not only meticulous, it seems that Poe is as much on the killers mind as he is on Poe's...

For a debut novel this is absolutely spectacular. I was completely blown away. I really liked Poe and his slightly unorthodox approach to work. I adored Tilly! Whilst she had the most brilliant mind with her plethora of degrees/PHD's, she had actually led an incredibly sheltered life and had no experience 'in the field'. Speaking whatever is on her mind, she was the star of the show for me. Even though she blunders her way through social situations she was incredibly kind and her fierce intelligence made her a formidable analyst. My heart broke for her when she was bullied by her colleagues and was put back together when Poe stood up for her. Their unlikely friendship really was utterly brilliant and made me incredibly invested in the story, and seeing Tilly come out of her shell was truly wonderful.

Craven has very cleverly written the start to what I hope will be a brilliant series. This book kept me guessing until the last minute, even then the rug is pulled from you as soon as you find your feet. I love that this is a crime book set in the UK as so many are US based and it was refreshing to read an intelligent book about your home turf.

If you like your crime books dark and twisted then this is most definitely for you. I cannot wait for the next instalment.

A blinding 5 star read for me.

I don't think I have ever gasped so much while reading a book. As soon as I finished this I desperately wanted there to be a next book so I could continue. I found the characters likeable and became emotionally invested in them. I very much enjoyed this book and I hope the next book follows sooner rather than larer .

Wow what a great book. Absolutely fantastic. Poe and Bradshaw are fascinating characters . I was hooked from the beginning and I could not put it down. Look forward to reading more from this author.

So here we go springing (or crawling depending on the ratio of fruit:mince pies consumed) into the New Year with a hugely enjoyable serial killer thriller, The Puppet Show from debut author, M. W. Craven. I could easily break this down into a short list of attractive features, as it ticked many boxes for me from the outset. A dryly witty maverick detective with exceptionally cool name, and hints of darkness in his past. Cute doggy called Edgar Poe (great name). Techno nerd providing inadvertent comedic moments. Fire obsessed serial killer. Pagan stone circles with a backdrop of one of my favourite areas of the country, Cumbria. However, as I’m known for my long, yes possibly too long, reviews I’ll tell you why all this worked so effectively throughout the book, so linger a while longer.
This has to be one of the most intensely character driven thrillers I have read of late, and to be honest, Craven has paved the way for a series of books, that will accommodate them in whatever investigation for some time to come. In common with Stuart MacBride’s Logan Mcrae books for example, I have a feeling that these are characters, Poe himself and Tilly Bradshaw (aforementioned techno nerd) that you will immediately pick up on again even if you have to wait the usual year for a new book, and that is a great thing to nail this quickly. He’s also allowed himself a bit of wiggle room to flesh out another of the main characters, DI Flynn, as well as a tantalising opportunity to dig deeper into the darkness of Poe’s unsettled past, as well as building further on the fresh and entertaining interplay between these three characters generally. I really enjoyed the fluidity of the dialogue between the characters, and how Poe and Bradshaw gradually change and influence each other in differing ways but with a real feeling of yin and yang as his darkness is deflected by her light. Pretty deep huh? No, joking aside there is a lovely innocence and gentle joshing underpinning the more difficult sides of their characters, and it works superbly.
As mentioned, Craven has picked a wonderful part of our green and pleasant land as his location, and uses it at every opportunity and extremely effectively to add an air of menace and drama to his dark and twisted tale. Highlighting the desolate and remote nature of the Cumbrian landscape, I felt it both mirrored and heightened the general sense of darkness at play in the killer’s psyche, the unfolding trauma of Poe’s own life, and the fact that Poe lives a solitary life in such a place is wholly in keeping with his own psyche. Using the stone circles that occur in multitudes throughout the region as the perpetrator’s killing sites is a neat touch linking the theme of sacrifice from the past to the present. Too often writers do not manipulate the landscape enough to add depth and colour to their central story, making their stories have the feel that they could just be plonked into any setting, but Craven (alongside authors like Mari Hannah and William Shaw) has definitely mastered the art of landscape in this one.
And so to the plot itself, and with my familiar refrain of no spoilers here, there are no spoilers here! What plays out is a perfectly paced, twisty murder investigation with some surprising reveals, a really quite empathetic killer and (cue host of angels) a killer whose identity remained remarkably well hidden. So another box firmly ticked, and giving an overall feeling of tremendous satisfaction to this reader. I shall be recommending this at work and beyond on its publication later this month, and a cracking good read to start the year. Highly recommended.

I liked this intense, twisty, gruesome crime story. The chemistry between Washington and Tilly was great, it was a real friendship and it was a nice change of relationship. When I thought I knew which direction the book was going in, it decided to go in the other and I love books like that. Although, I say that, I did kind of guess what the motive was. It was fairly obvious where it was going with that one. But I didn’t care in the slightest. It was well written with some great characters. Cannot wait to read the new one in 2019

Totally loved this book. The accuracy & detail of the settings is fantastic (loved the description of Carlisle's Civic Centre!) and the writing style is fluid with a captivating story. I was gripped from page 1 and couldn't put it down. Great characters and a brilliant plot, there is nothing at all to dislike about this one. Have just bought Black Summer (2nd in series) and can't wait to start it, and I really hope we have many more investigations yet to come for Poe & Bradshaw!. This has taken the place of best read of the year for me.