I've been struggling with reading during lockdown, and this is the first book I've managed to smash through. Somehow I've managed to read Washington Poe #2 and #3 (this one) without reading #1 so I must go back and rectify this. I really enjoy the characters of Poe and Bradshaw who take an unusual approach to solving crimes and are interesting characters. In this book they try to solve multiple linked murders where the solution just seems far too easy. I'm not sure I loved the last 1% of this book, but the previous 99% was so good that it didn't really bother me.

I first heard Mike Craven read from his work when he appeared in a Bloody Scotland panel in 2019, and was blown away. His background is fascinating, and you can tell from his writing that he really knows his stuff when it comes to investigating serious crime.

The Curator is the third in Mike’s Washington Poe series (coming after The Puppet Show, which won the CWA Gold Dagger Award in 2019, and Black Summer). Here’s what the book is about:

It's Christmas and a serial killer is leaving displayed body parts all over Cumbria. A strange message is left at each scene: #BSC6. Called in to investigate, the National Crime Agency's Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are faced with a case that makes no sense. Why were some victims anaesthetized, while others died in appalling agony? Why is their only suspect denying what they can irrefutably prove but admitting to things they weren't even aware of? And why did the victims all take the same two weeks off work three years earlier?
And when a disgraced FBI agent gets in touch things take an even darker turn. Because she doesn't think Poe is dealing with a serial killer at all; she thinks he's dealing with someone far, far worse - a man who calls himself the Curator.

It’s a complex plot, but Mike Craven’s writing is superb, and he brings you right into each scene as though you’re one of the characters. The setting, across the north west of England was fascinating, too, and expertly drawn. In this book, we’ve got characters who work well together, all the gruesome detail you’d want from a murder investigation, and plenty of atmosphere. My only regret is I didn’t read the first two books first - but there’s a simple way to remedy that!

It's not your average Christmas in Cumbria as random body parts seem to be turning up in the most bizarre places and other than leaving only a strange sort of calling card at the scene there are no other clues as to the identity of the killer. From the very start of The Curator I was absolutely gripped by another exciting glimpse into the world of murky crime, and as National Crime Agency investigator's Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are about to discover, crime doesn't get much murkier than what's happening in their current investigation.

As we have come to expect from this author, the story moves along at an absolutely cracking pace and both Poe and Tilly find that they are constantly thwarted by a killer who seems to be able to keep one step ahead of them at every twist and turn. There's so much going on that I can't even begin to recount the story, so I am not going to disturb any of the crime scene by telling you details of the plot other than to say be prepared to do absolutely nothing until the whole of this incredibly complex investigation has come to its VERY dramatic conclusion.

With each successive story this talented crime writer just goes from from absolute strength to strength, and just when you think Cumbrian crime can't get any darker, along comes another story which blows everything out of the water. Taut, tight and so very, very dark, The Curator had me, quite literally, on the edge of my seat, and even though I was reading this book on one of the hottest days of the year, in my mind, I was chilled to the bone in icy, cold Cumbria with Poe and Tilly as they search and search for a ruthless killer.

If you enjoy gritty crime novels, and be warned, these aren't stories for the faint hearted, and if you haven't read any of the Washington Poe series of novels before, then I urge you to start at the very beginning to fully appreciate this series from the start. You won't be disappointed.

This is such a great series and Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are back again as the wonderful complimentary duo in the author’s third book. The start of the novel gave me an immediate jolt with a crime that was happening before my own eyes, giving me an utter feeling of powerlessness. But what is it exactly that is being performed? In the next chapters there are different sets of the same body parts found at different places accompanied with a cryptic message (ah I think you’ll get the gist now) and it gets even more mysterious when it turns out these belong to more than one person and also, the colorful pathologist Estelle Doyle finds them to be extracted with different tools and post as well as ante-mortem. Intrigued yet?

If you think the previous novel (Black Summer) was baffling (it had an opening chapter that stays fresh in my mind btw) then you’ll be happy to hear The Curator is just as brain spindling this time with absolutely no discernable pattern to connect the crimes in the current investigation. And yet, there is, of course. It was a thrill to follow Poe, Bradshaw and their boss Flynn and see them take the meandering path towards The Curator.

I wish I could talk to you about all the new, nifty things I learned about in this book that can give away someone’s involvement in a case but sadly, I can’t. I’ll give you one thing though, I’ll tell you the bottom line of it all… it’s actually thanks to Edgar (Poe’s dog) that the case is cracked open, you’ll see when you read it, it made me smile that he was the unintentional instigator. It’s all in the details and Poe is always paying attention to the details, I love him for it!

All the books in the series have plotlines that you can sink your teeth in and that pose such great mysteries. They let you forget about the world completely. They take you to places and cover subjects you never imagined reading about and, ah before I forget, I even managed to finally have an answer to the eternal Chicken or the Egg conundrum. The question was answered in two seconds flat by the ever so brilliant Tilly of course.

Overall I can say that the whole of the series is wonderfully intoxicating, I love the complexity of the cases and the plot is always clever and air-tight. I can’t believe we have to wait another year for the next novel but it’ll be well worth the wait I’m sure.

The Curator by M.W. Craven

Somebody is going around chopping off the fingers of men and women and leaving them in the most inappropriate places across Cumbria. Analysis shows that each victim, none yet found, has lost two fingers, one taken off before death and the other afterwards. Some fingers show signs of anaesthesia, others don’t. It’s a disturbing case, not just because it means that there are at least three murdered people to discover, but also because the crime seems inexplicable. DI Stephanie Flynn of the National Crime Agency is called in to investigate, along with her team of DS Washington Poe and analyst Tilly Bradshaw. As they begin to unravel a complex and baffling case, they get a call from an FBI agent in the US who warns them that they are dealing with a deadly killer, the Curator.

The Curator is the third novel in the brilliant Washington Poe series (aka the Poe and Tilly series). The book stands alone very well and so you don’t need to have read the others – The Puppet Show and Black Summer – but you really should anyway! Like so many other people, I adore Poe, Tilly and Flynn. The relationship between loner Poe (and Edgar his dog) and the socially-challenged and utterly adorable Tilly is one of the most irresistible in crime fiction. I couldn’t wait to read The Curator and spend time with them again. It came as no surprise to me that it is every bit as wonderful as the previous two books.

While Poe and Tilly are undoubtedly the main draw in this series – you must meet them if you haven’t already – they’re not the only one. The Cumbrian landscape is beautifully portrayed. The Curator is set in winter. The countryside and coast are stunning, impossible to leave for most people in the book, while they are also harsh and even dangerous. M.W. Craven writes so well and not just in creating fabulous characters. You can feel the cold and isolation in these pages and also the glory of it.

The Curator tells a very clever story. The premise is macabre and fascinating and the plot is intricate and complex. Poe and Tilly are the perfect team and it takes all of their combined skills to tackle this killer. There are moments of true horror in the book. There are difficult moments for Poe and Tilly, especially Poe, and there are some dark times when I could hardly bear to look. It’s traumatic, it’s compelling and it’s immersive. It’s also warm and gently humorous at times. We’re under no illusion of how far Poe will go to protect those he cares for. That’s more apparent than ever in The Curator but, as always, there is Tilly who keeps Poe grounded by caring for him in a way that Poe is now comfortable with. I have always had a soft spot for Flynn, perhaps even more so now. This is such a fantastic series. I cannot wait for the next.

PS, I particularly love the cover of this one.

Other reviews
The Puppet Show
Black Summer

If anyone ever asks me if I have a favourite book character I answer straight away with yes, I have two, Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw. Ever since I read The Puppet Show back in January 2019 this pair have stayed with me, they’re unforgettable and an absolute joy to read about.

The Curator is book three in the Washington Poe series and by now I know to expect the unexpected with Cravens writing. I know what I will read will be quite shocking and have me on the edge of my seat but I’m always surprised, I’m always biting my nails and turning those pages as fast as I can and he’s an expert at letting you think you’ve solved what’s going to happen and then throwing in a curve ball or two or three.

In The Curator Poe and Tilly are helping with an investigation where body parts have been found with a cryptic message in three different locations. Who do the body parts belong to? Who is doing this? Will there be more? Well I’m obviously not going to tell you, you’ll have to read it to find out.

I’m not sure how this author comes up with his story lines, honestly they make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and I’m surprised I don’t have nightmares. This is a complex story, it’s gruesome, it’s shocking but it’s absolutely fascinating and it’s clear it’s been very well researched. I couldn’t put it down. It’s unique and very, very clever.

I think the reason I don’t have nightmares is because Poe and Tilly balance things out. The story may be shocking and gruesome but this pair are just fantastic characters. Tilly comes out of her shell a bit in this book and I’ve loved watching her progress. Poe and Tilly have a friendship that is strong, they are completely different but work so well together. They make you laugh and bring a bit of humour to the story. You really can’t help caring for them.

The Curator is filled to the brim with tension, suspense and down right good story telling. It will have you on the edge of your seat and holding your breath. It’s another brilliant addition to the series that had me turning the pages into the wee hours thinking I’d only read a couple of chapters, ha who was I kidding.

If you’ve not read any of the series then I highly recommended you do, The Curator could easily be read as a stand alone but The Puppet Show and Black Summer really let you get to know the characters, it’s almost like reading about friends and they are brilliant books as well. So I’ll definitely be recommending The Curator, it’s up there in my top reads this year and I can’t blooming wait to see what Mr Craven has in store next.

This is the third in a series that simply gets better and better.

The writing is excellent and the relationship between the two eccentric and totally different main characters is brilliantly and sympathetically drawn.

The plot is rather convoluted but it is good to read about the beautiful locations in Cumbria and be royally entertained at the same time.

A true page turner!

The Curator is the third in the Washington Poe series, following The Puppet Show and Black Summer, both of which I loved, so I was very excited to get an early read of the latest installment.

Like the rest of the series, The Curator is set almost entirely in Cumbria, and is very dark, often quite nasty, crime fiction. The setting always plays such a large role in these stories, and I do love Cumbria, so this is something I always particularly enjoy about these books. This story is set in winter, and the remoteness and the sudden and often bitter weather has a significant impact at times. I love the contrasts in the scenery too, from the Shap fells that Poe calls home to the coast and islands of Barrow-in-Furness.

At the heart of the Washington Poe series is the relationship between Poe, the toughened detective, and Tilly, the socially awkward genius analyst. It's great to see this being developed further in The Curator. I can see them both changing, because of the other, and the character development and relationship development is absolutely spot on. I particularly like seeing how Poe now sees other people reacting to Tilly, his defensiveness of her.

On with the case, and this is a cracking one. It opens with a fantastically unpleasant scene, at least it does after a rather gruesome prologue. It then unfolds with pace and mystery, as the pieces are slowly slotted together. There are some enticing diversions before it builds into a series of dramatic climaxes and a totally shocking finale.

I did feel that there were a few balance issues however. One of the murder victims gets a lot of attention in the story, with careful walkthroughs of her property. Another is dealt with mostly by another team, off-screen. Another plot point is the #BSC6 element (I'm going to carefully avoid spoilers here, don't worry.) I thought this was a fascinating element of the story, but was left feeling like it had all been a bit underdeveloped as the story moved on at pace. I'd have loved to see a longer, darker treatment of this particular subject, something I've been gripped by when I've come across similar things in other thrillers.

Maybe they're sacrifices worth making though, because it keeps the pace of the novel so fast and relentless, and I do love that about it.

Oh, and the ending. That ending. I'll be honest, I was unsure about the ending. But after thinking about it for a bit, I decided it came down to one thing. I trust M.W. Craven. I trust that he knows where he's going with these characters, that there'll be repercussions for their actions, and consequences for their decisions, and I'm excited to see what they'll be.

Bring on book four!

‘It could begin now.
The other pawns were in position.
They just didn’t know it yet’

The Curator by M.W. Craven is Book 3 in the outstanding Washington Poe series, one that deserves all the awards and recognition it has already garnered and more. Published with Constable (Little, Brown Imprint) on June 4th, M.W. Craven has set a new bar with his trademark wit and his sophisticated and complex approach to crime fiction. I only very recently discovered that there are many future books in this series in various stages of completion and a possible TV adaptation on the cards which is all very exciting and wonderful news.

Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw have a perfectly in-tune partnership with various quirks in their personalities complimenting each other and making them a very compelling and convincing duo. Working for the National Crime Agency gives them a bit more leeway when uncovering crimes as they can work somewhat independently of the regular police force. Poe does not cope well with taking direction. He works off his own instinct with the wonderful quirky Tilly Bradshaw by his side. Tilly is an outsider with an uncanny ability to analyse and uncover online information that is beyond the capabilities of others. With Poe and Tilly together on a case, there is very little that can stop them. Until they face The Curator….

Again Mike Craven grabs his reader with an opening that is gruesome and stomach-churningly twisted.

‘The man walked around and held her left hand. He stroked it affectionately.
“I’ve had to wait for the anaesthetic to wear off so this is going to hurt, I’m afraid. Believe me when I say I wish I didn’t have to”‘

It’s Christmas time and a gruesome discovery is made. Body parts are left in three random locations in Cumbria with a message attached to each. Is it symbolic? Is it a serial killer at work? What does it mean? With no obvious identity available, Poe and Tilly are brought onto the case and they soon discover that they are up against a most devious individual.

“If you think you know what’s happening, you’re where he wants you to be”

Three victims mutilated but why? Brutally tortured but why? As the duo gather information, their discoveries lead them to a suspect but this person is not as expected. Gathering any trace of evidence in whatever means available to them leads them down some treacherous paths but fear does not impede Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw. They want answers and literally nothing will stand in their way.

The Curator takes the reader into the depths and depravity of M.W. Craven’s mind. This is a book that grabs the undivided attention with an overshadowing darkness permeating the pages. I have no idea how such a story can still have elements of humour injected throughout but these moments are necessary to rescue the reader from the visual that is clearly depicted.

Poe and Tilly are a seriously dynamic combination. Their ability to be one step ahead of everyone else is uncanny yet believable. Their view of the world is different to the rest of us allowing them to go to places where the majority of us would just be incapable of processing.

The Curator is another disconcerting, heart-in-mouth, gripping and disturbing read from the master of this genre, M.W. Craven. The writing is quite simply superb immersing the reader in a hair-raising story that will discombobulate (love that word!) and disgust, shock and disturb, totally capturing the undivided attention of the reader.

‘It was worse than anything Poe had dared fear’

Compelling. Addictive. Furious. 5-Star Fabulous….

Highly recommend!

I loved this excellent story and I found it gripping and entertaining.
It's a book I wasn't able to put it down and read it as fast as I could.
It's gripping, kept me on the edge till the surprising end and I throughly enjoyed what I read.
The author is a talented storyteller and delivers excellent story full of twists and turns.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing, the characters are well thought and I liked the humour and the style of writing.
I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book early. Once again I absolutely loved this book. Poe and Tilly are just my favourite duo and I can’t get enough of them, when I found the first book in the supermarket I wasn’t expecting to love these books as much as I do, just everything about them from book one to book three is amazing and I highly, highly recommend. Couldn’t ask for better. 5 stars all round.

I have to say right now that if you haven’t had chance to start reading this series then you really must! M. W. Craven has created the most brilliant and puzzling stories in this series. That alone is definitely worth reading for and adding to your bookshelf. However when you add both Tilly and Poe to the mix that’s when you get something extremely special. I absolutely love their friendship!

What can I say about Poe and Tilly. Well, I’ll try and keep it short because I could be here all day singing their praises. I’ll start by saying that they have the best interactions. Everything works from the one liners to the way they just look out for each other. The Curator just cements this friendship and made me love them even more. As soon as I began reading it felt like I was catching up with old friends. Then when you add in an intriguing and dark mystery it just made me all the more excited to try and attempt to figure it all out. Not that I’ll ever make a good detective but I could pretend I was while I was fully immersed in the story. The Curator was the kind of story that made me feel as if I was right there with Tilly and Poe getting tangled up in the case alongside them.

The plot itself is addictive and draws you in completely. With a story that is both mystifying and dark in its subject matter. It’s safe to say that a couple of questions kept playing on my mind throughout. First of all what the hell is going on? Then secondly who is behind it all? However I knew that before long even though I probably wouldn’t get anywhere near figuring it all out that Poe and Tilly would get to the bottom of things and in a creative and entertaining way. I guess just like Sherlock Holmes would and if you have read The Curator already I’m sure you will know the quote I’m thinking of. Best line ever!! 😂

From start to finish I loved the surprises, twists and characters that brought this story to life. The Curator really did provide a brilliant escape. If you want a story with a difference then go grab yourself a copy! The Curator managed to be so many things but above all else it had an edgy, witty and dark twisty nature that I loved. Highly recommend!

A phenomenally good read!

I have been eagerly anticipating the release of The Curator by M.W. Craven and I fully expected it to be equally as good as his first two books in this incredibly magnificent series, The Puppet Show and Black Summer. I am delighted to be able to say that it was well worth the wait, as it was an absolute masterpiece!

The plot-line for this novel, so cleverly devised by M.W. Craven was in another league. I was fascinated as to how this amazing author could have come up with yet another ingenious and inventive story-line as this crime-thriller possesses. The characterisation is truly wonderful, especially that of the enigmatic Detective Sergeant Washington Poe. All of the characters have their quirks and personality traits but Poe really fascinates me to the point where I am rather infatuated with him. I love all of his idiosyncrasies and even his eating habits appeal to me. Tilly Bradshaw is also a stand out character for me, with her brilliant technological prowess and lack of social skills. I felt totally immersed in this story and would have loved to have enjoyed a drink or two with these detectives in Poe’s local - the Shap Wells Hotel.

The setting, Cumbria in England’s North-West was wonderfully portrayed by M.W. Craven and this also contributed heavily towards my total absorption of the story, having visited the area on many occasions.

M.W. Craven writes in such an absorbing manner that I was lured in immediately and the whole story was believable and highly addictive. The pacing was perfect and there was always something happening - the next lead to chase up, some more fact-finding or another place to visit.

Craven had the tone exactly right, a sly, wicked sense of humour and solid knowledge of procedure as well as the geographical area, all added up to a really enjoyable novel. I am totally in awe of this clever author who for me is a master of his craft. I am already excited about the fourth book in the Washington Poe series, Dead Ground, which will be beckoning to be read. If you have yet to acquaint yourself with Poe and Tilly, I encourage you to do so post-haste, as you are massively missing out!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Little, Brown Book Group UK/ Constable via NetGalley at my request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

5 Stars from me!

Mike Craven has out done himself with The Curator - the Washington Poe series has improved with every book and this one, the third, is fantastic!

This is one of those books that you'll have a real dilemma with, you will want to race through the pages and devour the story yet at same time you will be desperately trying to slow down so that you can enjoy Poe and Tilly's world for longer. I know I did.

The thing with The Curator, is that it is not as much a novel, or a well constructed plot, as it is a masterclass!

But, more importantly, black pudding on a jacket potato?!

I love how the relationship between these two has developed and frankly I would read it if they solved bog standard whodunnit stuff - yet M W Craven goes the extra mile and creates huge plot lines, deep and complex stories, well rounded side characters and more red herrings than you could expect to see in a, er, herring shop.

Before you read The Curator, I would recommend starting with The Puppet Show and Black Summer so that you fully understand Tilly and Poe.

Needless to say, I thought The Curator was absolutely brilliant and I give it a hearty five stars!

It’s Christmas time and Poe and co. are faced with a mysterious killer leaving severed fingers and the elusive message #BSC6 at random places.

Well, the third instalment of Washington Poe is here! And it’s interesting, nerve-racking and just as unforgettable as its predecessors, The Puppet Show and Black Summer.

The Curator sees the return of beloved characters and the introduction of new ones. Beyond Poe and Tilly, we have DI Stephanie Flynn and the brilliant Estelle Doyle – and the show stealing spaniel Edgar – as well as new characters DS Jo Nightingale and Melody Lee.

The thing that makes Craven’s series different from the rest, is this cast of characters.
Craven has nurtured Poe and Tilly so much that they feel like they are real people rather than fictional characters, and this also contributes to the story and other characters feeling true too. Something worthy of note about The Curator was, for the most part, I felt like we finally get to see Poe work more as a team player, which I really liked.

Craven utilised setting well in this instalment; we have Cumbrian landscape covered in blizzards and snow, grey skies, and an isolated island with perilous sea. I found this illustrated so well it was easily imaginable (and very contrary to reading the book on a hot summer’s day, I may add!)

The Curator’s story was a bit like a rollercoaster for me. The beginning was engaging, the middle was sluggish and then the ending was explosive. I hate to say this, but I didn’t find The Curator’s early case developments to have as much of a magnetic pull on me as a reader. I didn’t find the discoveries or data used to build the case easily engaging –
when compared to the evidence and hypothesising in Black Summer and The Puppet Show.

The last 70%ish was taut on my nerves. I don’t think a book has ever caused me to faint, but I’m telling you, it was definitely touch and go at the build-up of this book. Once the main events arrive and unfold, the book is unputdownable. Utterly and truly unputdownable. So, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I 100% encourage readers to fully commit when reading these books. They deserve your entire attention so you can be fully immersed in the story to try and theorise with the characters as to what is happening.

But, in saying that, I think it would be fair to give Craven his own Curator mantle. Throughout the story, he has you just where he wants you, before he pulls the rug out from under your feet. I found some bits foreseeable, which I suspect Craven discreetly gives away, in order to stun the reader when the real twist arrives. Did I predict the twist? Yes… But did I predict the twist within the twist? Absolutely NOT! It was chilling to the bone (especially in the aftermath of the climax).

All in all, I’m still reeling from The Curator. It was atmospheric, clever and underpinned by good friendship. I don’t know how Craven does it. Yes, while I had some difficulty getting through the middle of the story, Craven has delivered another brilliant instalment of this crime series. It’s “Classic Poe” to quote our beloved Tilly.
I’m excited for book 4! I wish it was here too! And I can’t wait for this series to be adapted to the big screen. Well done Mike.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book, in exchange for this honest review.

As the previous two books in the series The Curator is a twisty, compulsive and intelligent read. Mr Craven doesn’t cease to surprise me with the ingenuity, diversity and originality of the storylines. However, this book should come with a warning that it’s definitely not for the faint hearted. I already miss Tilly and Poe and burning with anticipation of book 4.

O. M. G. This book is phenomenal. I thought The Puppet Show and Black Summer were fantastic but this is even better!

I love how Tilly's personality comes to life in this book. And Poe is just a great character.

The plot was so dark and twisted and when I found out who was behind it all I was absolutely gobsmacked.

I wanted to read slowly to enjoy every word but I found myself racing through it.

Worthy of several awards. Cannot recommend this highly enough.

M W Craven is a genius!

This is the third Washington Poe book and is every bit as brilliant as the previous two.

As usual Tilly Bradshaw is with him doing amazing things with her many computers.

The Story is complex and surprising and I loved it.

When my proof copy of The Curator arrived I was ridiculously excited as Poe and Tilly are my favourite crime fighting duo. M.W Craven brilliantly balances the the plot line with all its twists and turns with the personalities of Poe and Tilly. In The Curator Poe and Tilly are still best friends with Tilly even making him come with her to DI Flynn’s baby shower, not an event he would have ever see himelf going to. Their relationship is like father and daughter, whose closeness is endearing and sees them defenfding and looking out for each other. Of course there are many Tillyisms, where she says the wrong thing at the wrong time and her observations that really make me laugh, and when she meets pathologist Estelle Doyle she finds a fellow, analyitical mind who cares for Poe as much as she does. DI Flynn, takes a smaller part in this investigagion being eight months pregnant, making her more grumpy and less tolerant than she usually is. Together Poe, Tilly and DI Flynn are very different, but as a team they are formidable.

To say that this is the darkest and most twisted book yet is an understatement. The plot is intelligent and cleverly complex, with many layers that build up gradually until the shocking conclusion. I have no idea where M.W Craven gets his ideas, but they are brilliant, perfectly executed and detailed. The descrptive prose also brings the ragged and desolate landscape of Cumbria and Shap Fell into the readers mind. I loved the beautiful contrast of the bright white snow and the darkness of the bare Hawthorne trees. Humour is also apparent in his observations, like the fact that Geordies don’t wear coats even in winter, and as a Geordie I can confirm that this is true so it made me laugh.

Finishing The Curator has left me bereft, I am already missing the dynamic partnership of Poe and Tilly. I was so immersed in this book that I read in one day barely raising my head out of the book. I love these books and their combination of intelligent and heartstopping plots and wonderful characters, and this is the most complex and thrilling yet with its exhilarating race to the shocking conclusion. For me this is the perfect crime novel and I can’t wait for book number four, so get writing M.W Craven.

If crack cocaine were a book, it would be The Curator. Immensely anticipated, even better when it arrives and as soon as you have devoured it, you know you’re going to have to have more. Honestly I got a major book high from reading this. It’s addictive, adrenaline raising, delicious, exciting stuff.

Right from the off there’s a killer scene that hooks you in- yes I do mean Poe at a baby shower – and then that hook takes hold in your gut and carries you along, twisting, feinting and leaving you completely wiped out. We start with what turns out to be three sets of unidentifiable body parts and work from there.

Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are called in when only clue to what might be happening is the hashtag #BSC6 left at the scene of each discovery. DI Flynn is seriously, ankle swellingly, on the cusp of giving birth but nothing is going to stop her being involved in this case.

The three victims do not appear to have anything in common and Poe can’t grasp what the motive might be or what the hashtag means. Outstanding work by the brilliant, on the spectrum, Tilly Bradshaw gives them some leads but is only when Poe receives a phone call from a disgraced FBI agent that he starts to consider that he and Tilly may have been led up the garden path.

I love this pairing so much. Poe, dark, determined, brusque to the point of studied rudeness and Tilly, loyal, literal, super-intelligent with a stubborn streak and in this book, displaying a courage that is awesome. Tilly has developed so much as a character that it’s hard to imagine her as she was back in the Puppet Show; now her talents have been recognised by the NCA and she has a team of her own. But she will always be first and foremost loyal to Poe and we love her all the more for it. In his own way, Poe repays that loyalty and so we have one of the best pairings in contemporary crime fiction.

Craven has a real sense of place too. His books are suffused with the isolation of the Cumbrian landscape and the atmosphere of bleakness and wildness that is the island he visits adds to the darkness. What makes it all work, apart from the immaculate plotting, (the deviousness of his plotting structure is profound) and the gory bits that add to the full horror sequences is the wonderful juxtaposition of light and shade that runs through the whole book.

The humour elevates the reading experience and allows us time to breathe as we appreciate what a remarkable duo Poe and Bradshaw really are.

Nothing, though, is going to let you guess where this plot is headed. As the FBI agent tells Poe, ‘whenever you think you have a handle on this case, you’ll know the Curator has you right where he wants you.’

Verdict: I loved The Puppet Show. Black Summer was sublime, but Craven has outdone himself with The Curator. A fabulous. mind-blowing tour de force that is a must read for every crime fiction fan.