Having been, like many people, a huge fan of The Puppet Show I was keen to engage once more with the world of Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw.

Always tricky, that second novel when the first is so well received, this author overcame that by giving us a truly creative and dastardly mystery, where the dead return to life but are also probably dead. Yes, we are definitely going to need Tilly for this one…

Black Summer is wildly entertaining, mainly because of its two main protagonists, but also because the flow of it is fully charged, the plotting is sublime and the “bad guy” unbearably smug so the thought of Poe and Bradshaw knocking the smile right off his face keeps you avidly turning the pages.

More of a howdunnit than a whodunnit this is almost impossible to put down, apt considering the impossible seems to have occurred, this is a pacy, intelligent thriller and now I’m wondering how the indomitable Mr Craven can possibly up his game in the next book…

Watch this space because whatever happens you’ll want to be along for the ride.

Very much recommended.

Jared Keaton is a charming, handsome celebrity chef with a 3 star Michelin restaurant and a popular tv programme. Jared Keaton is also a psychopath jailed for the murder of his daughter six years ago. DS Poe had never doubted that they had the right man, even though Elizabeth Keaton’s body had never been found. Then one morning Elizabeth walks into the library of a small Cumbrian village looking for the police. Elizabeth is interviewed and her blood is collected for DNA proving that this is the missing woman. However, Poe is not convinced, he knows something isn’t right and that some how Keaton has manipulated events to secure his release and with it Poe’s dismissal and arrest. There’s only one person that Poe truly trusts to help him unravel Keaton’s masterful plan, Matilda Bradshaw. Tilly is a computer analyst whose incredible intelligence and ability to see patterns in data that others can’t, ensures that Poe has a fighting chance to find the proof he needs before Keaton is released from jail.

MW Craven’s debut novel The Puppet Maker was an incredible read and introduced us to the main characters of Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw. Black Summer continues the tale of DS Washington Poe and is as powerful a read. This author has shown us what writing a thriller is all about and I cannot wait for his next novel.

Another great story featuring Poe and Tilly. At the beginning of the books and up to a certain point I struggled to get into it, but once things started moving along quickly my interest was 100% with the book. I’d been dawdling through it, then the next thing I knew I was finishing it.

The story was gripping, with characters that were easy to like or dislike. Keaton was such an unnerving character, the image that Poe creates of him is unsettling. But that’s what makes a good villain. The uncomfortable feeling you get from Keaton is instant, and you know that Poe is right… You just need him to prove it, and to get himself out of trouble.

The chemistry between Poe and Tilly works brilliantly again, with Tilly’s bluntness and little awkwardness mixed with Poe’s sarcasm and his rudeness. I liked Tilly a lot in the first book, but this book makes me like her even more.

Craven’s writing style is gripping and really makes you feel the atmosphere of the book. It leaves you on the edge of your sitting, speed reading to find out what happens next. This book kept me up until the late hours finishing it because I just couldn’t turn my kindle off.

The story…Some of it came across as quite scientific, but not so you couldn’t understand it. I was so intrigued by the how someone can be alive but dead at the same time mystery. And the answer to it was the simplest of things compared to some of the theories in the book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was left wanting more Poe and Tilly at the end and I can;t believe I’ve got to wait. They are definitely up there on the list of favourite duos in crime books.

Tilly and Poe are BACK! An old case of Poe's comes back to bite him and he needs help. Calling in Tilly - Poe has to investigate, delicately, whilst having to answer to his colleagues, judgement and the horrific possibility he got it wrong and an innocent went to jail.

Poe is a good cop, he has great instincts and he knows he put a bad guy behind bars yet proof has come to light he got it wrong. The dynamic duo, Tilly & Poe have to work together to investigate how this could happen.

Chapter one, oh dear Lord, I had the boke! There is a scene in a restaurant and they talk about a dish that is barbaric to the animal in the prep of it. If you struggle with animal cruelty you may want to skip past when they start talking about it, it will stay with me a long time. I thought how lobsters were done was bad, this is the thing of horrors, be warned. That said, there isn't much in the way of animal cruelty after this and we get back to the meat of the story.

The uniqueness that is Tilly Bradshaw and her friendship with Poe is one of my fav things about these books. Tilly is a one of a kind, socially inappropriate at times, funny, caring, innocent, super smart and fiercely loyal. I love their interaction and when the story kicks off I was hooked pretty quick wanting to know how, how could this happen. I think if you snag your reader quickly you know you have a winning formula, Craven seems to have this knack, certainly with this series. I need to check out his other books! Fast paced, interactions with a psychopath, police investigations and the long awaited Tilly & Poe bantz, 4/5 for me, roll on book 3!

I read this immediately after reading the first which had been on my TBR pile for a while. Both books are great. I enjoy that Washington Poe isn’t the typical copper doing chase and arrests but is the puzzle solver cracking the crimes.
In book two DI Flynn and Bradshaw return to help Poe when he’s in trouble. Six years ago Poe convicted a man for the murder of his daughter but his daughter has now turned up alive!
I enjoyed getting to know the characters better and the expansion of Poe’s Back story which must come up in future novels.
I would highly recommend both books and can’t wait for book three to arrive.
Thanks to Little, Brown books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#BlackSummer #NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for a copy of this book.

I'm now thinking maybe I should have read the Puppet Show before this as everyone says how good it was. I really didn't like this one at all. I thought the characters were boring and the and it all fell a bit flat to me.

The sequel to one of my favourite recent books didn't quite reach the soaring heights of The Puppet Show. I'm not saying this wasn't a good read, it was a very good read, but my anticipation might have been too much for it to live up to.
I've read other reviews that said they loved how much Tilly was involved, but I felt she was a little side-lined in this book. One of the best things in the first book was Poe and Tilly's fresh relationship. This outing had Tilly being a bit less naive and so perhaps I didn't warm to her so much.
This story is more of a mystery than the horror of The Puppet Show which kept me guessing all the way.

‘We have a problem, Poe’. How I love to hear these words now! I’m forever and more #TeamPoe now.

While I thought The Puppet Show was brilliant, I have to say this novel is possibly even better. The mystery is sooo big in this one! I loved every single page of this thrilling investigation.

Washington Poe has his work cut out in this novel, that’s crystal-clear from the start! A decision of the past is backfiring in an unbelievable way and now they’re coming after him. Don’t we all love to give our support to the underdog, especially if it’s someone as likeable and good as Poe? He had me in his pocket before he even explained the case or his decision to arrest the chef for murdering his daughter.

But did Poe really mess up? Did he help convict someone for murder, someone who’s innocent but spent the last 6 years in prison? And also one of the most intriguing questions that I really wanted to hear the answer to: can the dead become alive again? I only needed a second to answer that one, but something made me bite my tongue this time as everything points to the opposite as it were. Ah I don’t think there’s a single question more intriguing to explore! What a premise! And what a phenomenal execution too.

There were a lot of how’s and why’s in this novel and I loved how complex the case seemed once again. I also very much enjoyed the setting, the novel takes the culinary road this time and it was great to be immersed into the restaurant world. It was all quite interesting (except for the first chapter where someone eats a little bird in a disgusting way) and once again, it took Poe and Bradshaw to very unexpected places.

M.W. Craven has a brilliant mind. Not once but twice already he managed to overwhelm me with setting, characters and murders. The whole picture makes sense, everything in the plot fits. I also secretly love that the novels are a bit darker than usual, and that the murders are quite eh original. That’s all, I’ll let you all find out the rest for yourself :-).

If you enjoy police procedurals, you would be mad to miss this series! It really stands out from the rest and I for one can’t wait to read his next novel.

I really enjoyed this book and I found the medical aspects of it very interesting.

I loved the relationship between Poe and Tilly, especially the humour, which made me laugh. They are both loveable characters and they work well together.

I highly recommend this book. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful book!

I loved this book, and I much prefered it to The Puppet Show. Well written, informative, intriguing and entertaining. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Love Tilly & Poe.

Having finally read and finished The Puppet Show yesterday, I had to immediately pick up Black Summer and read it and I wasn't disappointed. Another excellent plot and references to the first book in the series and finally Tilly reappears in the story bringing humour to the tale yet again. The plot is complex and Washington Poe is as unpopular as ever with many of his associates. Yet he has his loyal compatriots who always believe in him and his attention to detail and dedication to find the truth. Add to that the setting of Cumbria and what is not to like.
Many thanks to Netgalley/M.W. Craven/Little, Brown Book Company for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was given this book to read from Net Galley in return for an honest & fair review.
This is the second Washington Poe book by Mike Craven. So far I have loved all his books and this is no exception.
The book is based around a famous celebrity chef and Poe’s hunt for the truth while being vilified by one his senior colleagues. I won’t give away any spoilers because the book is so good that you’ll not want to spoil the experience. I know this is clichéd but I literally couldn’t put this down & read it at every opportunity. It was gripping from start to finish. The characters are well written and in particular, you’ll love Tilly. The book itself was obviously really well researched and because of this is creepily believable, to say I’m hooked on Poe & Tilly is an understatement.
Please read this and make all your friends aware of this series, you’ll definitely not be disappointed

Absolutely loved this book, read within two days, cannot wait for more from this author. Enjoyed the Puppet Show but the second instalment was even better. Will be recommending to friends and family *****

Love this book a great read. Love the characters Poe and Tilly as we followed the investigation. I thought the Puppet Show was brilliant but this one really steps up to the mark.

After thoroughly enjoying The Puppet Show, I was very excited to read this second book in the Washington Poe series. Although either book can be read as a stand-alone, I would recommend reading them in order as it does give you the background into how all the working relationships link together.

Like book one this book is unique and extremely well written. It is a compelling read that will hold your attention from the very first page to the last. I was so glad Tilly was reunited with Poe and hope we see them together in many more books.

Totally recommend this book (and book one if you haven't read it)!

The Puppet Show left me reeling. It was brilliant but brutal. The Immolation Man was a savage killer and an unknown quantity. This time round, Detective Sergeant Washington Poe knows who's responsible. At least he thought so until evidence proves otherwise. How can a supposedly dead woman come back to life six years later?

There's a lot less gore in this novel but the plot does not suffer in any way. In fact, I found Black Summer even more compelling. It's a proper mystery that appears insolvable. Even Tilly Bradshaw, Poe's analyst colleague, is scratching her head over this one. There are plenty of curve balls in this story and I genuinely could not work it out. I love I was kept guessing to the very end.

Although this could be read as a standalone, I think it helped that I had read The Puppet Show earlier this year. It meant I was comfortable with Poe and Bradshaw as characters. Tilly's quirkiness is totally endearing and I love how she and Poe bring out the best in each other. They make for a mischievous pairing and DI Stephanie Flynn's exasperation with them both is evident.

Although the Cumbrian countryside is a main feature again, Storm Wendy makes an appearance too. The weather is ominously hot for a Cumbrian summer and the storm is brewing. Mike Craven times it well. The storm hits as the s**t hits the fan for Poe, elevating the tension to fever pitch.

The other thing that really intrigues me about this book is the title. Does Black Summer refer to the sky during the storm or the content of the story? No. It's a truffle. And absolutely key to everything. And that's the only clue I'm going to give you. You'll have to read the book for yourself to find out the rest.

Omg absolutely brilliant. Love Poe and Tilly. Easy five stars. Thank you Netgalley for giving me a chance to read this book

love this follow up to the puppet master. Love the way the main characters complement each other. Tilly and Poe are just a great combination. Its great to see people with differences portrayed in such a great positive way. Its thrilling, its a pressure cooker of a plot and an awesome finale. Sometimes words cannot express how good you think a book was and this is such a book for me, so I wont try to put any ore words down . Except buy it read it love it. A huge 5 stars all the way.

This is the second book in the Poe series, it is great as the second book however can definitely be read as a stand alone. I absolutely love the friendship and work balance Poe and Tilly have, this is was really pulls me into the book. The writing was brilliant and I love all the fact that are stated throughout..
The plot is fast paced, DS Washington Poe helped convict famous celebrity chef Jared keaton of the murder of his daughter 6 years ago. Poe has never been so sure of a conviction until keaton's daughter Elisabeth walks in to police hub alive.

Black Summer by M.W. Craven

Detective Sergeant Washington Poe maintains that celebrity chef Jared Keating is one of the most evil men that he has ever encountered. Evil that stands in striking contrast to the man’s charm and charisma. He’s currently serving a life sentence for the murder in his Cumbrian restaurant of his daughter Elizabeth and Poe was instrumental in catching him, putting him away and throwing away the key. Then one day, six years later, a girl staggers into a library where a local policeman, a community problem solver, keeps a desk. All of the evidence indicates that she is none other than Elizabeth Keating. Poe’s career will be destroyed but even worse than that for Poe is the knowledge that a psychopathic killer will walk free. With the help of analyst Tilly Bradshaw, Poe is determined to prove the impossible and stop that from happening.

Last year, M.W. Craven introduced Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw to the world in the brilliantly dark, atmospheric and beautifully located The Puppet Show. Black Summer is every bit as good. You don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy Black Summer, but I really think you should anyway. Poe, Tilly and their boss DI Stephanie Flynn (and Edgar the dog) are worth your time.

Poe’s job is based in Hampshire but once more he must return to his roots and the stunning, remote Cumbrian countryside. That is a big part of this series’ appeal. M.W. Craven immerses us in the Lake District, although we go well off the beaten track. Poe’s croft is impossible to get to by car. You’ve got to use a quad bike or walk. The weather is awful. The croft is sparse. But Poe is grounded in this place and we feel that. Poe is a fascinating character. He’s troubled, with quite a past, but he’s also thoughtful, determined and kind. And that brings us to Tilly who is a very good reason why I’ll always read these novels. She is an absolute delight. On the spectrum and frequently a social embarrassment, she is a fixated, obsessive, warm genius. She and Poe together are so funny. And when Flynn is with them this wonderful trio of characters is complete. I love all three of them.

The story at the heart of Black Summer is brilliant! I loved the celebrity chef aspect to it. Much of the book takes place in and around his famous kitchen and I really enjoyed the little culinary details and tips. This is very witty writing and the scenario is perfect. The tale is dark, gory, frightening at times and often sinister as Poe and Tilly dig into what it means to be a psychopath. It’s utterly engrossing.

Black Summer is a really excellent, atmospheric, moody and compelling crime mystery, set in a beautiful location and with a pleasingly foody aftertaste. It’s so good to see Tilly, Poe and Flynn again and here we see them investigating a mystery that is fully worthy of them. This is a series to keep close.

Other review
The Puppet Show