The beginning of the novel is not for the faint hearted and I did worry that the gruesome details of burning bodies would be dominant throughout. I needn't have worried, yes there were gruesome bits but it wasn't a pervading theme, it was concerned more about the investigation to find the Immolation Man, a person who burnt his victims literally to the bone.
The novel had a wonderful cast of characters and Washington Poe was your typical detective, who always did a good job but did not always follow procedure, resulting in suspension until his name is found carved on one of the victims and he is brought in ot assist with the investigation. He was a character that was instantly likeable and his solitary life on Shap Fell with his dog Edgar was wonderfully described by Craven. In fact that was one of the main assets of the novel, Craven was so brilliantly skilful at depicting the wild and remoteness of the Lakeland Fells, and perfectly created a very dark, chilling and at times dramatic feel.
I loved analyst Tilly Bradshaw, her intense high intelligence made her socially awkward and to see her emerge from her shell provided some much needed light relief.
The clashes between the Cumbrian police and the special crimes unit meant the investigation did not always run smoothly and Craven used it to great effect to add even more twists and turns.
It was a novel that kept you guessing, although I did work out who it was but not the reasons why. The reasons why did not make for pleasant reading but it did make me question my feelings towards the murderer which you don't often to in crime novels.
The Puppet Show is fast paced , a real page tuner and a little different from all novels in its genre.

Don’t you just love picking up a book and being instantly gripped and grabbed from the first chapter? Well The Puppet Show is one of those books and I literally couldn’t put it down until I finished it.

What can I say that hasn’t already been said? The setting in Cumbria is atmospheric and it was easy to imagine yourself in the midst of the prehistoric stone circles; the characters were wonderful and I’m not sure who I fell in love with more; Washington Poe and his “couldn’t give a sh*t attitude” or Tilly Bradshaw, the socially awkward but uber brilliant analyst assigned to help Poe and the team catch a brutal serial killer.

The serial killings were pretty gruesome and once you find out exactly how the victims are murdered and what is done to them it’s quite difficult to get that image out of your head (urrrggghhhh!).

There’s not much else I can say, except if you love a brilliantly plotted police crime thriller with a sick serial killer, some fabulous and quirky characters and the start of what should be a very successful series then pick up The Puppet Show and read it next.

A very enjoyable read, great characters that were very believable, a fast pace page turner! Get it quick!

An enjoyable yarn, setting the scene for future titles, and I am looking forward to them. This was suspensful and disturbing, but enjoyable

One of my books of the year, easily. So much heart, very special characters and one of the most satisfying and fulfilling stories I've read in a while.

An outstanding read.
This story of a policeman, sidelined out of the force, having to come back to solve a serial killer's set of murders, without any help from his superiors who dislike his being there sounds like many other stories of this genre. Yet there is something about this book that elevates it above the others. I think it's Poe's relationship with Tilly. It is most certainly this author's writing skills. I read it in August and it's my favourite book of the year.
And the best cover too.

Oh. Oh, oh, oh. Now anyone who knows me, (that's about three people - all siblings - but trust me this is actually true) knows that on occasion I do delight in reading a book which is a little on the darker side. I like a bit of cosy crime from time to time, I like a good old fashioned Detective thriller (amongst my favourites) but I also like, and I mean really like, those books which take my favoured Detectives and take them to the edge of my go to genre as a child - the horror novel. Now, I don't mean horror in a ghosties and ghoulies, oh look there's a vampire kind of way, but the kind that taps into the darker side of human nature, preferably without venturing into the gratuitous or just plain nasty. There have been a few books these past few years which have ticked all of those boxes for me, and I am very happy to be able to add The Puppet Show to that list. 

Now I don't know what exactly I was expecting when I picked this book up, but I'd heard good things about it from so many authors and readers and I was intrigued. It felt like there was a great set of characters to get behind and the story sounded like it was right up my street, and so I gladly added it to the TBR list. The opening of this book leaves little doubt as to how this story is likely to progress, and we are quickly introduced to the killer's modus operandi - torture first and then death by fire. But as the tale evolves we learn that there is much more to the kill than first declared and that there is a rather unique signature with somewhat unpleasant connotations. I don't want to say any more about that, as to me you need to read the book for yourself and slowly unravel, not just the story, but the clues as they are drip fed to you, as they are done so in a very skilful way. 

What I did find though is a rather interesting and perhaps slightly unusual cast of characters, starting with hero of the piece, Washington Poe, a disgraced former Detective who is reluctantly dragged back into the investigating team due to an unexpected clue found upon one of the victims. We also have a very unlikely heroine, and possibly one of the greatest characters I have read in a long while, Tilly Bradshaw. It is her discovery which brings POoe back to the fold as it were. Poe is a straight talking, no-nonsense kind of guy with a very keen sense of right and wrong. He cannot abide bullies and will defend anyone he feels is a victim by whatever means necessary. His friendship with Tilly is unorthodox and they are truly mismatched, and yet there is something so absolutely right and believable about it too.

Why is it unorthodox? Well, Tilly is a rather unique character. She is quite literal in all interactions, obsessively so. She is sheltered, perhaps a touch too naive for her new role alongside Poe, but she is also refreshingly honest, lacking the ability or skill to lie effectively to anyone. Her innocence is appealing but her intelligence fierce and she is able to see patterns and understand things that no-one else can. Between them, she and Poe are brilliant and their interactions provide some quite humorous moments, Tilly lacking the social filter we tend to take for granted and saying exactly what is on her mind. She is intelligent, wise beyond her years, but also stronger than people give her credit for. She's fab.

The pacing in the story is spot on, balancing the complex but perhaps slower speed of the investigation against some really high tension, high stakes moments where your heart will be in your mouth. Plotting is tight, the story complex and twisted, with so many false leads and moments of misdirection that sometimes you find yourself doubting what you think you know and other times you are so absolutely positive you are right, only to have the wool pulled over your eyes once more. Now I won't deny that there were one or two clues which gave me a bit of an inkling as to where the story may lead, but there were also some things in there that I missed too, that the author had hidden so perfectly, that I found myself with an overwhelming feeling of doh! as I listened to the end of the book.

Combining a great dose of the perfect police procedural with gripping and complex story, featuring brilliant characters I found myself immediately drawn to, and providing the perfect balance of touches of light humour and the very dark nature of the central storyline, this is a book I would definitely recommend. I can't wait to read more about Poe and Tilly when it's sequel is released next year. That seems an awfully long time away ...

Fantastic novel. Really loved getting to know both Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw. Fast paced namrrative and great twists made this a highly enjoyable read

I listened to The Puppet Show through the Audible app – usually while driving to and from work each day. I say “usually” because I also make efforts to find ways to listen to The Puppet Show at other times too, walking round the shops, tidying the house etc. This is something I NEVER normally do – my audiobooks are for the commute to work only, it takes something special for me to break that pattern.

I felt The Puppet Show merited that change to my routine, it was special enough to make me want to keep listening when my “normal” listening time was over. In short – I loved it.

Washington Poe (and the author does explain the name) is called back to work to investigate a series of murders in Cumbria. Poe has been suspended from duty pending investigation into an accidental release of a suspect’s name to a victims family. An accident which had serious repercussions for those involved. Why is Poe recalled from suspension? Well his name has been carved onto the body of a victim and it looks like the killer has named Poe as a future target.

Poe accepts a return to duties and finds himself paired with a brilliant but awkward crime analyst who has never worked “in the field” before. The pairing of Poe and Tilly (his analyst) is great reading. Tilly is an expert at tech, stats and probability while Poe is a seasoned cop with sharp instincts and street savvy. He also bucks at authority and has no time for bullies so the entitled and arrogant people who cross his path in The Puppet Show are in for a bit of a shock!

This book has been one of my standout reads of 2018 (thus far). The perfect blend of police procedural, serial killer and engaging characters with a well balanced supporting cast made it a joy to read.

As I mentioned, I read The Puppet Show as a talking book so I need to address the “listening experience” too. The audiobook is narrated by John Banks. He gave Poe a wonderfully booming and confident voice which now defines how I imagine the character. He also made Tilly sound vulnerable and innocent which contrasted her perfectly with Poe. The story was expertly handled under his care and this is easily one of the best titles in my Audible library.

A five star review is a certainty. I was hooked by the story, loved the characters and I just did not want it to end.

WOW! words cannot express how much I loved this book. I absolutely loved Poe and I have my fingers and toes crossed that he will return in another book. As soon as Poe stuck up for Tilly when she was being bullied they both became my favourite characters, the way they bounced off each other worked so well. For me this book had it all, suspense, murder, so many plot twists and turns I literally shouted out across the room to my poor husband who had no idea what I was talking about. There were things I never even saw coming to this story I was in utter shock. Absolutely fantastic book it really is. I could imagine This book being a movie or even a TV series with Poe as the main character. I will be recommending this book to absolutely everyone. FANTASTIC STORY!

One of the best I’ve read this year so far. A cracking pair in Poe and Tilly coupled with a storyline that gets darker as the book goes on - what’s not to love. Can’t wait for the next instalment.

First in s new crime series which is looking to be a cracker !! This book kept me hooked from the offset ! The characters really steal the show with Tilly being an absolute star and the friendship that is built with Poe is just lovely . The author has uncovered a gem with this and I cannot wait to ready the next instalment of this unlikely , loveable duo . Would make a great tv series . Hurry up with the next one !! My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my chance to read. An easy 5 stars

Absolutely brilliant. Can't wait to read the next in the series. Loved how Poe and Bradshaw friendship was formed and the storyline kept me guessing to the end. Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown book group for giving me the chance to read this book

What an amazing book! It's twisted and dark and the most satisfying book I've come across all year. M W Craven has a natural talent for writing crime and I'm excited to see more from this author.
If you read one book this year make sure it's The Puppet Show!

About this book…

Welcome to the Puppet Show . . .

A serial killer is burning people alive in the Lake District’s prehistoric stone circles. He leaves no clues and the police are helpless.

When his name is found carved into the charred remains of the third victim, disgraced detective Washington Poe is brought back from suspension and into an investigation he wants no part of.

Reluctantly partnered with the brilliant, but socially awkward, civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw, the mismatched pair uncover a trail that only he is meant to see. The elusive killer has a plan and for some reason Poe is part of it.

As the body count rises, Poe discovers he has far more invested in the case than he could have possibly imagined. And in a shocking finale that will shatter everything he’s ever believed about himself, Poe will learn that there are things far worse than being burned alive …

My review…

Oh my days!!!! The Puppet Show is one of those books that you want to start messaging people about the very minute you finish it to tell them how bloody brilliant it is and that they need to read it RIGHT NOW!! Which I did and then wondered how the hell I was going to write a review to do this book justice and get everyone else to read it too! So forgive me if I can’t convey how AMAZING this book is but I’m going to try!

The Puppet Show is the full package for lovers of gruesome crime thrillers! It’s gory, twisty and addictive with perfectly pitched characterisation all wrapped up in a darkly humorous narrative that will have you falling in love with Washington Poe. Set in the Lake District, the disgraced former detective lives in self inflicted solitude until he is brought back to investigate a serial killer who seems to want Poe on the case for some inexplicable reason. He teams up with the socially inept but breathtakingly brilliant Tilly Bradshaw to follow the clues to catch a murderer who disposes of his victims with a precision of violence that just has to be personal, hasn’t it? And Poe is about to discover just how much he has become part of this vindictive campaign of horror.

I loved loved LOVED this book!! Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw made a perfect team and their working and personal relationship really did become the pivot point that this thriller revolved around. I came to truly care about them and felt as if I actually knew them as the author painted such a perfect picture of their foibles and personality traits that they practically came alive off the page. The taut dialogue kept the plotline sharp and controlled as not a word was wasted without adding something important to the narrative. I couldn’t put it down and was amazed that the awe I felt in those first few pages that quickly drew me in didn’t let up for the whole time I was reading it. The shocking twists and turns were unexpected and flawlessly set up and I was practically purring with enjoyment the more the plot unfolded to my satisfaction!

I’m telling you now that there is no way this book won’t be sitting on my favourite books of the year list for 2018! It’s just PERFECTION! And to add to my excitement, I found out when I finished it that Washington Poe 2 is going to be out later this year! I can’t wait and fingers crossed it will be as good if not better than The Puppet Show.

Very highly recommended by me!

Can someone drag me out of the darkness, my mind is on fire, the sense of awe has struck like a match, burning an irreparable path through my very imagination, The Puppet Show has left an imprint, a mark, a void I will find hard to fill.

Holy Moly M.W. Craven has written a belter of a crime thriller which has set my heart racing, my mind and soul languishing in the depths of depravity where the killer instinct encased The Puppet Show, producing a phenomenally imaginative plotline.

Lately I have read several fantastic books, many from authors old and new, some books are always worth that extra shout and boy am I going to Shout in fact I may have to SCREAM OUT LOUD……..THE PUPPET SHOW by M.W.CRAVEN.

I’m not one for giving away spoilers or too much information about any book as I always want the next reader to feel the purest start, to read, feel, imagine what the author is trying to convey in the prologue or first chapter. Well Craven has managed this with the utmost ease, the stroke of a pen, the flair of imagination, poured straight into the first few pages and lodged firmly in the centre of my brain, ticking over, mulling over, trickling down impregnating every synapse, sparking and firing my every thought.

What I will give you is a short brief of what The Puppet Show entails, a lead character, disgraced Detective Washington Poe, deaths by burning, a message, Poe is involved but how, then we have the socially awkward Tilly Bradshaw, a constant by Poe’s side. The death’s, what’s the connection to Poe, what’s the plan and who only wants Poe to see the truth and follow the clues to the very end no matter what.

Poe and Bradshaw are two very different characters but work well together, they both have issues but the awkwardness of Tilly has ignited a fire in Poe that had been dampened down due to a previous incident in his last investigation. Reading about the interactions between Poe and Bradshaw was hilarious at times, it certainly made me smile and a giggle or two escaped. I sincerely hope Craven writes more about Bradshaw and Poe as they are such a well matched crime fighting duo and I would be sad if this didn’t transpire.

The Puppet Show is a dark, deviously intense crime thriller that will hold no prisoners, once you are in the very bowels of this book you have no chance of giving up, sleep won’t come, even after the very last page……..

Thank you to NetGalley, M.W. Craven and Little Brown Book Group UK for the advanced readers copy of The Puppet Show, it has been an honour to read and review The Puppet Show, review written with an unbiased opinion. I look forward to the next in the series and hopefully it won’t be a long time in coming.

I wouldn't usually request a book with puppet in the title but this looked so good i just had to. It was definitely worth it. Poe and Tilly are brilliant characters and the story was so compelling i wanted to savor every page of it. This is going to be a series i love i can tell.

What a creepy first novel from M R Craven featuring a first class detective in the strangely named Washington Poe. You might be forgiven for thinking this is an American novel with an all American hero, but no this book is set in Cumbria and the Lake District mostly.
The story involves a serial killer leaving mutilated bodies on various Lake District burial grounds, with a recent one having the name of our hero burned onto the body! To say more would spoil it for you, but if you like police procedurals with a touch of Chris Carter, you will certainly enjoy this.
Apparently this is the first in a series and I can’t wait to read the next Washington Poe. I just hope his brilliant assistant in this book, Tilly, makes a return too. Her character is one of THE best characters I have come across in crime fiction and turns this book from 4 stars into 5!
When the denouement comes, it may not be as much as a surprise as you had hoped for but it still makes for addictive reading full of refreshingly honest characterisation.
Well done Mr Craven, and thank you thank you thank you for keeping the narrative in the third person past tense.
I hate present tense first person narratives with a vengeance!!!
Thank you also to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Puppet Show is the first novel in a new series (I hope). It features DS Washington Poe and civilian analyst Tilly Bradshaw. The duo compliment each other perfectly and it truly makes this a fantastic new series. Where Poe is brash and rugged, Tilly is socially awkward, yet intelligent and direct.
I can’t praise the creation of Poe and Tilly enough!

The novel opens with a scene of a man being set alight. It sets the tone for the nature of the crimes detailed within the novel. This is no Nancy Drew, the murders and are dark and they are brutal.
The press name the killer the ‘Immolation Man’ and the victims begin to stack up!

Washington Poe is currently residing in Cumbria, serving out a suspension, from his last case a violent torture/murder case that saw Poe lose his rag!

When DI Stephanie Flynn informs him, his name was carved into the chest of one of the victims. If he doesn’t help the team, they have to issue him an Osman warning as his life is at risk. . .

‘I need you to re-join the human race’ – Steph

The novel then goes on to detail all the victims and the savage murders that took place. It is not for the faint hearted! As said above these are violent murders. But the novel does focus more on the skills of the detectives than scenes of graphic violence.

Matilda (Tilly) Bradshaw obtained her first degree at Oxford University at just 16yrs old. Since then she has acquired a masters and two PHD’s. she specialises in computers and mathematics. She has virtually zero social skills and is routinely bullied by fellow police staff. Something Poe does not take kindly too.

Poe and Tilly attempt to fathom a connection between the victims. They are all wealthy men, of the same age and were staked and burnt in the exact same manner. Yet they struggle to establish what links these men. Then Poe receives a postcard, with a sinister message. . .

The message leads the police to a case from the past. How this ties into the current murders they are not sure. Did someone make a mistake in a past case? Do the murders have a revenge theme? If so who is targeting Poe? And why?

This is a brilliant debut novel, with a phenomenal ending! I very much look forward to the rest of the series and I can see it having a long and prosperous life.
I applaud the author on his usage of inclusive characters. I am a huge fan of Tilly Bradshaw and can’t wait to watch her develop throughout the series! 5*

I loved this. Great intriguing characters & dark thrilling storyline which kept me hooked to the very end.
Would love to read another novel with the same characters.
5 stars ⭐️