This book was well worth the wait! A great follow up to The Puppet Show and nice to be back with Poe and Tilly. M Craven hasn't lost the ability to build the suspense and keep you tearing your hair out, then dropping a bombshell.

At the start, we have Poe being arrested for the murder of Elizabeth Keaton. We are in the once celebrity chef Jared Keaton's restaurant, where Poe and he had been sitting at a table conversing before the police arrived. Jared had called them once Poe was outside. Previously Jared had been serving a life sentence for his daughter's brutal murder until she walked into the library a few days ago, apparently unharmed after going missing 6 years ago. Jared had been convicted mainly on the testimony of Washington Poe although they never found her body.

The book then backtracks a few days and takes you on a hair raising few days through the investigation and Poe realises he needs the help of his team, especially Tilly. Tilly is her usual herself and she is just great!

I was riveted to this book as the I wanted to know what happened, the writing is brilliant. The description to detail is superb and you feel you are there, living the moment, the tension, everything. Be prepared to want to read in one sitting!

Brilliant follow up to The Puppet Show
This was a gripping and fast paced book with an original story line.
Loved it
A must read

I loved The Puppet Show and put it straight in to my top three books read in 2018 so for me Black Summer, the second book in the Washington Poe series was one I had been waiting for!!

I love the team of Poe and Tilly and I was eager to catch back up with them, and delighted to see that they were again on top form in this story, they work brilliantly together and I love their interaction, Tilly is one of my favourite characters in all crime thrillers and I would love to give her a big hug, although I think she might just stand there looking awkward whilst I did it!

I loved this story, Black Summer is well crafted and it had me guessing right through to the end. Poe finds himself in a lot of trouble in this book and I was really keen to see how it would develop, what would happen to him? Could they get it resolved? Could Tilly rescue him? There are twists and turns and oooh and ahhh moments a plenty as the story starts to unravel as you race towards the end which I though was superb and very well done.

The author has a brilliant writing style and he brings the area and his characters to life clearly drawing on his local knowledge to make it a genuine and believable series. Personally I feel that this is fine to be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading both books if you do get an opportunity as they are both excellent in their own ways.

It is five stars from me, it is a cracking story, so well developed, plenty to keep me fully engaged and it is a truly addictive story - I adore Tilly and Poe and can't wait for the third book to be released in 2020, after the first two in the series it has a lot to live up too!! Very, very highly recommended!!

Black Summer by M. W. Craven is a sensational follow up to The Puppet Show. This story is packed with twists and turns and has great characters. Washington Poe’s relationship with his sidekick Tilly is brilliant and quirky. This series has the potential to run and run, I can see Washington Poe being an iconic character in years to come just like Ian Rankin’s John Rebus or Michael Connolly’s Harry Bosch. A truly brilliant book.

Wow, what a great read, I Read it immediately after finishing The Puppet Show, amazing characters, fantastic storylines.. What's not to like? Really hoping for more Poe and Bradshaw.

Black Summer is supremely visceral, expertly delivered, yet laced with a keen humour, and warm in the subtlest of ways. Beyond compelling, and brilliant to the point of outrageous. This will be massive.

I know one should end the book before reviewing it but when the book is good you cannot put it down and you miss not one but 4 bus stops it means that is book is amazing.
I can list all the possible positive adjectives but I only want to say that is a page turner that you won't be able to put down.
More to come.
Highly recommended.

It was one of Washington Poe’s most complex cases. A murder without a body. Poe was convinced that Jared Keaton, the celebrity chef, had murdered his own daughter. Despite the lack of a body, Elizabeth’s disappearance soon became a murder enquiry, and Keaton became Poe’s prime suspect. The case was successful, and Keaton began a life sentence in prison. But Elizabeth was never found…

… until six years later, when she walked into a library, where the police were holding a drop-in session. Elizabeth Keaton was alive. Jared Keaton was innocent. And Poe was wrong. And it seems things are going to get a lot worse for him very quickly indeed.

I reviewed The Puppet Show last week – an absolutely cracking book, apart from the brief bit about the testicles – because I had this lined up. It is so often the case that when books are praised as much as The Puppet Show seems to be, I end up disappointed by it to various degrees. For example, as much as I enjoyed Steve Kavanagh’s Thirteen, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was all a bit silly. But The Puppet Show delivered on all counts – a well-plotted edge-of-the-seat thriller, coupled with a whodunit, plus a what-the-hell-was-going-on ideal. And while the villain’s plan is hugely complicated, it didn’t seem that way while reading it – just in hindsight. And that is the art of a great mystery/thriller writer – pulling the reader along with them without making them look over their shoulder during the ride.

But on to Black Summer. We’ve moved on a little from the end of The Puppet Show, but Poe finds himself dragged back to Cumbria by the Keaton case, bringing along Tilly Bradshaw, the probably-autistic analyst, now apparently Poe’s best friend (and vice versa) and heading up her own team of analysts. Oh, and Edgar the dog, he’s back too, even if he misses out on any really character development. Shame.

It’s nice to read about a maverick cop whose colleagues actually trust him, and who he trusts. Rather than keeping secrets and “going rogue”, he has a team around him that believe in him, and even learn to trust him after mistakes made during the Immolation Man case. Yes, Poe has issues, but they always play in support of the narrative, rather than replacing it.

And the plot is a cracker. With the reader kept guessing all the way through as to who is doing what to who, it’s a genuine page-turner, just like its predecessor.

If I had a niggle, I’d have liked to have seen a little more of Tilly in the narrative – the focus is always on Poe but Tilly seems in this one to be relegated to more of a supporting character, rather than almost a co-lead as she was in the first book. In that one, her relationship with Poe (and indeed almost everyone else) was still developing, whereas here she seems much more sorted and accepted. Hopefully next time round (and Book Three is on the way), she will get a little more development.

But apart from that minor niggle, this is just as outstanding as the first book. This has rapidly become my favourite new crime fiction series, so roll on Book Three! And presumably the author finding a third way of doing the testicle thing…

After reading The Puppet Show earlier in the year I have eagerly been waiting for the sequel and the return of Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw. When you love the first novel in a series so much there is always the fear that the second book may not live up to your expectation, but Black Summer didn’t disappoint, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it was even better. This book sees Washington Poe called back to Cumbria after the daughter of Celebrity Chef, Jared Keaton, whom Poe put away for her murder, suddenly turns up. Poe has questions to answer which get more complicated when Elizabeth Keaton goes missing again, and he finds himself a suspect in her disappearance. With the help of Tilly Bradshaw they have to investigate how a girl believed to have been murdered six years before can suddenly turn up alive and then disappear again. This is a fast paced, intelligent and thrilling read that can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend you read the first book to get more from the book and characters.

I was so happy when I picked this book up, being back in the company of Poe and Bradshaw felt like meeting up with old friends. Poe, as usual is in trouble and Tilly is the one who he trusts to help him. The relationship between Poe and Tilly is what makes these books so special for me, Poe is sarcastic, charming, dogged and anti authority which is what frequently lands him in trouble with his superiors. Tilly is a genius, highly educated, but has limited social skills that sees her make some wonderful faux-pas and give far too much personal information. Together they make a formidable team, there is a loyalty and respect between them, and their relationship is endearing like father and daughter. Their nemesis is Jared Keaton, charming, egotistical, and charismatic in character but also a psychopath who holds a grudge against Poe for putting him in Prison six years ago.

M.W Craven’s plot line is indisputably intelligent and gripping; it is definitely one of the best crime plot lines I have ever read. The twists, turns and complexity of the investigation in to Elizabeth Keaton’s murder/disappearance had me gripped and there is no way I could have guessed where this story was going or how it was going to be concluded. Set in the beautiful, but harsh at times Cumbrian countryside during a storm adds to the atmospheric feeling of this book, whilst also being a metaphor for the trouble Poe finds himself in.

Black Summer is one of the best crime thrillers that I have read in along time, and I am sure will be on my top ten reads of 2019. Not only does it have a complex, intelligent and fascinating plot but also characters with a depth to them, who bring out different sides to each others personalities, and feel personable. The intensity of the investigation is complimented by the humour, wit and sarcasm of Poe and Tilly that you won’t be able to help but laugh at. This is an amazing read, that had me gripped from the first page and had me on the edge of my seat by the finish; this is simply brilliant, amazing and fabulous!!! I can’t believe I have to wait another year for the next book in the series.

A fantastic follow on from the puppet show. Loved the way that each of the characters developed in this latest novel. Great storyline which was fast paced and intriguing throughout. Can’t wait for the next!

This is the second book in the Washington Poe series, following on from debut novel ‘the puppet show’.

Craven does not disappoint with this blistering follow up which finds Poe looking over a case he thought was long closed. This novel has it all - great prose, excellent characterisation (with Tilly being a highlight) and a truly excellent psychopath as the villain.

Highly recommended and 5* from me!

Five huge stars for this brilliant book.
Poe and Tilly are back and it felt like I was catching up with some great friends who I’d not seen for a while.
Poe calls Tilly and asks for help when a psychopath is about to be released from prison, as his daughter he was charged with murdering, has just been found.
Poe checks the blood tests and they all indicate it’s her - but how can it be?
Even Tilly is puzzled by this one and with the help of Flynn they get stuck in to researching how this has happened.
In the meantime someone has got it in for Poe and is making his life very difficult.
There’s a race against time at the end that will have you racing through the pages and holding your breath at the same time!
A brilliant read and I loved the way the story is brought together at the end and all the loose ends are tied up.
I also loved reading the acknowledgements and getting an insight into MW Craven’s world.
This is an addictive series made special by the characters and I can’t wait to read the next book.
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back down into the LAke District…

The Puppet Show was good…..OMG this was super good. Dark, dark and dark some more. I devoured this on a rainy Saturday and if that rain didn’t add to the overall sense of darkness and gloom, I don’t’ know what did.

The premise was exciting from the off - a woman walks into a police station who everyone thought was dead. Washington Poe’s cold case literally comes back to haunt him and it’s his neck on the line this time.

In the time of Celebrity chefs…this novel also ticks the boxes as the case revolves around a story of murder in a celebrity kitchen. A posh restaurant in the middle of a nice cosy Lake District village sounds lovely doesn’t it? It’s the chef’s daughter who went missing and has seemingly now returned. When her blood test come back and confirms it’s her..the plot thickens…and then

There’s some very interesting science in this novel! Tilly Bradshaw, the brains behind the investigative duo creates some fascinating forensic scenes. I picture her like Abby Sciuto from NCIS and she’s just as quirky and memorable. She and Poe make a great team one of the best of the crime fiction world I think. The investigation is quite like any other I’ve read before and the stunning remote setting really adds to the dark undertones of the story. Add to that the myriad of flavours and textures of the restaurant setting and you have a feast for any criminal fiction fan.

If this novel were a dish it would have a rich base, dark chocolate layers of light and dark, hundreds and thousands of delicious moments and an undertone of chilli, spice and something otherworldly.

You’ll be left wanting more…..

Well, from the opening chapter, it is abundantly clear that the excellent ‘Puppet Show’ was not a fluke, an anomaly or some kind of bizarre one-off. M. W. Craven has created a cast of characters so entertaining, it should probably be illegal. ‘Black Summer’ follows on from the events of ‘The Puppet Show’ with a fascinating premise. Six years prior to the events of the book, Washington Poe secured the conviction of a man for the murder of his daughter, despite her body never having been found. Poe was convinced that the celebrity chef was guilty of the crime but has to reconsider the case when the presumed victim walks into a library and reveals her identity to the local copper. Just as engaging and gripping as the first, this would work fine as a stand-alone novel but I would beseech you to read ‘The Puppet Show’ first as you are just letting the best in life pass you by if you don’t! If you are a fan of slick crime thrillers with fantastic characters, I can’t recommend this series enough!

Black Summer is the eagerly awaited second book in the Washington Poe series from Mike Craven. It is an outstanding return for Poe and his colleague, Tilly Bradshaw, in a thriller that is as captivating, dazzling and edgy as any crime mystery I’ve read this year. Poe and Tilly have such a wonderful partnership that exudes humour, loyalty and great personal charm. They are both highly capable investigators, but from different ends of the spectrum – Poe who plays by hunches and his gut feeling, and Tilly who is a remarkable data scientist who operates through logic. As outliers, they don’t always fit well with others but have an affinity and stubborn loyalty to each other.

Six years earlier, Washington Poe led on the conviction of celebrity chef Jared Keaton for the death of his daughter Elizabeth. Her body was never recovered but the amount of blood found in Jared’s kitchen confirmed the location and she couldn’t have survived that amount of blood loss. Poe assessed Keaton as a charismatic, talented, psychopath, and deemed him the manifestation of evil.

Back in present times a dishevelled woman walks into a police facility and claims to be Elizabeth and she’s been held captive for over 6 years, where she has been abused and malnourished. DNA tests prove beyond doubt, she is Elizabeth Keaton, and Jared Keaton was, therefore, convicted for a crime that didn’t happen.

With Jared Keaton being released from prison, the finger of blame is pointing towards Poe. With revenge and incrimination converging on Poe, he reacts the only way he can.

“It was time to stop messing about. He needed to play his wild card. His nuclear option. He unlocked his Blackberry, typed out a four-word message, and sent it into the ether. Four words Keaton couldn’t have planned for, Tilly, I’m in trouble.”

Tilly arrives without delay with her arsenal of computers, peripherals and software that just puts her in a zone where data patterns and data enrichment, provide insights that few can comprehend. Can the skill and resourcefulness of Poe and Tilly resolve the mystery and the looming threats from a psychopath and a legal system both seeking retribution?

In an atmosphere of uncertainty, the tension and menace mounts as Elizabeth disappears again and the criticism falls on Poe. Mike Craven does a masterful job in providing nonstop suspense and suspicion as his plot winds its way through a story that is full of hostility and apprehension. The characters continue to evolve and in particular, Tilly is maturing in her social etiquette, not completely, as this is still causing some light humour. She also has her own team of techie geeks back at the NCA supporting police investigations. I loved the personal battle Poe has with himself, moving from a position of pity and anger at his own past to acknowledging his responsibility and power to change his life. It is brilliant characterisations that draw a reader into admiring or being frustrated at the growth, or not, of a character.

I would highly recommend reading this book and I’d like to thank Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

What a great book. Read this straight after The Puppet Show and it was as good as that, if not better! The characters were already known and understood from the first book so it could get straight into the middle of the tale. The storyline then moved to the start, moving through to how the middle of the story had been arrived at and then took it through to a conclusion. Didn’t get to guess who had done it, which I always like in a crime novel, so really enjoyed this fast moving novel. I particularly like the easy writing style, which is descriptive and detailed enough, without being excessively detailed and flowery. Bring on the next in the series, surely there is more to follow!!

Wow! Having loved The Puppet Show, I was really looking forward to this one, and I was not disappointed.
Starting from a point where you don't quite know what's going on, you then go back two weeks and follow the story up to the present. The characters we know and love from the first book are gradually introduced, and when Tilly turns up you know it's going to get better and better. Highly recommended

To say that Black Summer hooked me is an understatement. For four days straight, I made sure that my kindle was in constant reach, so I could squeeze in another chapter whenever I had a spare minute (and more often than not, when I should have been doing something else).

It’s hard to talk about the plot without revealing spoilers as M.W. Craven’s clever story twists and turns like stormy Cumbrian lane, but at its heart is an impossible crime that – for all the technology available to Special Crimes Unit sergeant Washington Poe thanks to his socially unaware sidekick Tilly – is solved by good old-fashioned Sherlockian detective work.

Fiendishly ingenious, the investigation is brought to life by a superb cast, including a villain worthy of Fleming and my new favourite character, the brilliant and eccentric Estelle Doyle, a pathologist who chooses her nail varnish by painting the toe nails of corpses. Along the way, we are treated to atmospheric descriptions, fine food and even some fascinating tidbits of trivia that I guarantee you’ll be telling your mates in the pub (but hopefully not a drinking establishment as seedy as the wonderfully drawn Dog as visited by Poe halfway through the book.)

While maybe not as dark as its predecessor, the second Washington Poe mystery is eminently binge-worthy.

Now, how long have I got to wait for the next?

Just finished this fantastic book! I thoroughly enjoyed readying more about Tilly and Poe from start to finish! The book starts in the middle of the story and then goes back to the start- the anticipation of how it gets to that point only adds to the urgency of the story. Loved it and highly recommend it!

Brilliant, full of suspense
Loved the description of the Lake District as its where I'm from.
Definately keen to read more from this author.