True Rating 3.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in the Washington Poe series. I am kicking myself for not realising before I read this as I haven’t read the second book.

Three pairs if fingers have been found on three consecutive days around Christmastime. Washington Poe & Tilly Bradshaw from the National Crime Agency are called in to help investigate.

This is part police procedure and part thriller. It is fast paced with all sorts of twists and turns along the way. I did not enjoy this quite as much as The Puppet Show. I personally felt this book was a little darker which I didn’t enjoy as much. I will be reading Black Summer which I missed soon and look forward to the rest of the series.

You guys know I LOVE Tilly and Poe so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, if you haven't read them before The Puppet Master is book one, go back and start there. You can pick up from here as a standalone but you miss so so much so do yourself a favour and go read one and two first. Heads up - the books are graphic and have horrific dodgy killers so not for the faint hearted.

A killer who seems to be taunting the police, fingers left in very prominent places, one body easily found, others hidden. Not gender specific, drugs found in the system - no what, how or why. Poe and Tilly get on the case and soon hear rumours of "The Curator" a killer so difficult to find purely by their modus operandis and equally hard to identify how victims are chosen. Teamwork, danger and getting into the heart of it, as per, the team may be facing their biggest most threatening challenge.

You can't help but be drawn into Craven's stories (must be something in the name eh!) I love the team, the bad guys are always horrific and give you the absolute boak, graphic, deadly, dangerous and you are left with no illusions of exactly what has transpired. Always gruesome and boggin, fans of dark crime will love it and if you have read Craven before, you know what is coming and you won't be disappointed, 4.5/5 for me this time.

This is simply an incredible book and part of an incredible series. I enjoy the setting, characters and plotting that is presented by such an accomplished author. This story helps to develop the main characters further and there is such pace, twists and turns, that you both want to read it all in a day and equally take time to cherish and savour each page. Another winner.

It feels like ages since I got my last fix of Washington Poe and his brilliant companion Tilly Bradshaw. The Curator sees them united back in Cumbria to solve another grisly crime.

At a Christmas party one secret santa present doesn’t go as planned. When a mug, which should contain an engagement ring, is opened, two severed fingers fall to the floor. In a font, two more are found in a font in the local church. At a butchers in a food hall, two more fingers appear. Six fingers, three people. It looks like Cumbria has another serial killer within it’s midst.

The call goes out to the National Crime Unit and Washington Poe, along with Tilly Bradshaw and DI Stephanie Flynn are once again brought together to try to find the perpetrator before another body is discovered.

I have to admit i get excited when a new Washington Poe novel comes out. It’s probably the highlight of the crime novel calendar now. MW Craven has breathed new life into the genre with this series of books. There’s just the right amount of gruesome details, fast paced action, but yet probably it’s down to the chemistry between Tilly and Poe. The greatest crime fighting team since Batman and Robin.

The Curator is a story made for this era. Taking its inspiration from the Blue Whale internet game, the story is another breathless chase to solve the crime before the body count is increased. It’s a fast paced book that spreads enough misdirection in the writing to make the ending a real explosive affair. A good book always gets you guessing to the end and MW Craven is a master of the false flag.

I actually enjoyed the book more than the last one, always a good sign in a series. There’s still a brightness in the writing, a refreshing change from the norm of crime writing. The Curator is my book of the year so far. Tilly Bradshaw and Washington Poe are the best crime partnership. Enough said, buy this now.

Oh Mike Craven, what on earth do you do to me! Drawing me in with your killer hook and dangling me on a piece of string right until the very end. You kill me every time in this series! I love it! The Curator is one of those books that you cannot put down, with every chapter leaving you hanging on a cliff edge it definitely keeps you on the “just one more chapter” rollercoaster!
Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw, what can I say, probably one of the most unlikely character pairings ever, he’s brusque, rough and ready to break the rules at every stage of the game and along comes Tilly, his exact opposite and together they work perfectly. Did I mention I love this duo, ying and yang they complement each other perfectly, as characters they fit like a glove; Poe, brusque and offhand, Tilly obsessively logical and literal. I know the writer never says if Tilly is on the spectrum and in book three it really doesn’t matter anymore (but if she is then MW Craven has hopefully smashed down some barriers that people on the spectrum face through her character).
I also love the relationship between Tilly, Poe and DI Stephanie Flynn, what a combination and despite Flynn’s advanced pregnancy she is still heavily involved in the Curator. The three characters are a perfect combination and Flynn cements them all together, she has always got her back and they, hers, which very much comes to the fore in The Curator but again…my lips are sealed!
There is so much going on in this plot that I am scared to say anything in case I give away any spoilers, so read the blurb to find out what it is all about. But what I can say is Mike Craven put me through an emotional wringer with The Curator! It is complex, it’s clever and it is so exquisitely devious and twisted! But despite the darkness there are real little gems of humour in there as each of the characters bring their own little quirks of human nature to the story. My heart stopped beating a few times and bloody hell! What an ending!!! It may take me a year to recover!
What I really love about this series is that the characters are all relatable, I feel as though I’m getting to know them more and more as the series develops and won’t be long until I’m part of the team. Because the team are real, right? I love MW Craven’s writing style, I honestly don’t know how he does it but he picks you up and places you in the heart of the books and the lives of the characters. I mean I am seriously worried about Poe’s housing situation; how he will react if Tilly ever enters into a relationship...these are questions I find myself asking as I read as I have become so emotionally invested in the lives of his characters.
Anyway, should you read The Curator? Well, hello…YES! Of course you should! Can you read it as a standalone (this is the third in the series)? Well, yes you can, but why would you deprive yourself of reading the other two which are just as brilliant as this one!

My review will be on my blog closer to publication date

Washington Poe and tech wizard Matilda (Tilly) Bradshaw of the National Crime Agency are called in when, over Christmas, three sets of severed fingers turn up in very different places. The case turns into a murder investigation and the local DI, Stephanie Flynn, can’t resist joining in, despite her heavily pregnant state. The case becomes complex, detailed and very interesting, with plenty of plot twists, turns and tension. There are red herrings galore too, but the clincher for me is the relationships, Poe and Bradshaw, with Flynn and her superior, Nightingale. It’s always a pleasure when a story combines plot and character. This third in the Washington Poe series won’t disappoint fans garnered by the first two.

Complex but clever - so very clever!

Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw of the National Crime Agency, are called in to support a very strange investigation - three pairs of fingers have been discovered on three consecutive days in three locations over the Christmas holidays in Cumbria. At the scene of each crime, a piece of paper was found with #BSC6 written on them. Internet searches bring them no nearer to understanding exactly what this message means.

There are no bodies initially to assist the inquiry, but Poe and Bradshaw, in conjunction with Cumbria police, put in all the man hours possible to discover who the victims are, and where their bodies might be. As the investigation gathers pace, including contact and information from a disgraced FBI agent, it becomes clear that they are being forced to play some very weird psychological game with someone very scary and extremely dangerous - who’s nicknamed the Curator.

Wow! This was, without question, an absolute page turner, the storyline, though complex, was breathtaking, The relationship between Washington and Tilly was brilliant. Washington, a deep thinker who’s able to make sense of what others can’t see, isn’t afraid to go out on a limb, defying the rules, if it gets him a result, while sidekick Tilly, a slightly quirky character, is exceptionally gifted in the field of data analysis. The dialogue between them ( indeed the dialogue between Tilly and ANY of the characters) makes an interesting and amusing addition to the narrative.

M.W.Craven plots with skill, and keeps you turning the pages, and you can throw whatever adjectives you can think of at this book - exciting, gripping, surprising, suspenseful etc - they’ll all fit, and one thing you can be certain of - you’ll be holding your breath right through until the end. Brilliant!

I think this is my favorite book of the series so far, even though they’re all brilliant. The Curator just grabbed me from early on and I couldn’t put it down. Tilley and Poe are a formidable team, and that’s really evident in this one. I wasn’t expecting the direction The Curator took, but I loved it. Dark, a bit grisly but with real heart, The Curator is definitely a brilliant book. These books just keep getting better and better!

My favourite duo are back !!!!! Poe and Tilly have another case to solve. Cancel everything, switch off your phone and get comfortable. From the first stomach churning page there was no way I was putting it down. Horrific crimes that make no sense and a killer known as the Curator. A nail biting, gut wrenching read. A fantastic plot with an ending I never saw coming. A dark and twisted crime thriller par excellence but at the same time still full of humour and humanity. Another well deserved fantastic five star read and so highly recommended. A MUST READ AND I LOVED IT!!!!!
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for the ARC.

Oh my giddy aunt - this is a stonker. Poe and tilly are my absolute favourite crime busting duo and I can't describe how much I loved this book.
From the laugh out loud moments to the tense, edge of your seat moments, to the dogged investigative moments to the beautiful scenic moments, Craven's mastery is apparant.
The plotting is fantastic - and as for that ending - well - Hold on to your breeches - it's a whammy.
I don't know how much time Craven spends researching the 'Tillyisms' but, hats off to him - they certainly make her character so beautifully three dimensional.
I always have a bit of a bet with myself as I'm reading to see which Tillyism is my favourite - without spoiling it for others, I've finally decided on the 'leaking' references. Read the book to find out what I mean. You'll be rolling about on the floor, I'm sure.
The concept of The Curator , based on real-life events, is brilliantly executed and all the more chilling because it isn't immediately apparant what's going on. It's also a cautionary tale about how easily the human psyche can be messed with.
I found myself , genuinely perplexed as to who The Curator was and although all the clues were there, I have to say that until the end, I was flummoxed.

Of course, Tilly and Poe get five stars - as does The Curator

It was good to be back with Poe and Tilly again for a third time. In this new case pairs of fingers are found at three different crime scenes. If that wasn’t strange enough there is also a note with a hashtag left with them too. The hashtag - #BSC6 - proves hard to get a handle on - even with Tilly’s help. Is this something fundamental to the case? Maybe halfway through you get to the point where you think you know what is going on - you don’t! After that the tale gets deeper and darker. Poe get a call from an FBI agent. Law enforcement in the USA do not believe her but she tells Poe a strange story. The sheer deviousness of this tale takes some beating.

Once again Poe himself is an investigator par excellence. He manages to look in places that others don’t. Tilly and her partnership with Poe are aspects of these books that I really enjoy too. We also have Estelle Doyle - Poe’s ”go to” pathologist from the last book - back. She is a very rich and colourful character in her very particular way. Estelle gives Poe some chilling advice that he should maybe pay attention to...

As with the previous books in this series there is a fairly slow pace for the early part of the book. However after that the book is very hard to put down. These stories about Poe and Tilly are deceptively simple. At first sight that is - then they hit you with a brick between the eyes. Indeed Poe says that "the difference between a thing and a weapon is intent". The author does seem to have a fairly twisted mind (!!) which means that the cases are very twisted too - it all adds an extra something for me.

I thought that the first book in this series was good. The second book was very good. This book is to me the best of the series so far. I was strongly suggest that anyone coming to this series fresh should consider reading them in order. The development of the characters is part of the enjoyment. It is a series that has steadily got under my skin and become one of my favourite UK based police reads. They are good tense stories and highly entertaining too. I certainly hope that this author can sustain and develop these for some time to come.

Favourite of the year so far. . It’s the third outing for Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw, and is a fabulous continuation of one of the best series out there. Poe and Tilly are the unlikeliest of pairings, perfectly matched in a case that pits Poe against his most cunning adversary to date. Cumbria is as much of a defining part of the story as the characters, and you’re taken on a dark and twisted trail through some striking scenery, that will cement this series on your got-to-have list.

The Curator by M W craven is the third in the Poe and Tilly series and what an outstanding read it is. When I received a copy of this I whooped with joy. This I think is the best one in the series yet.
It is Christmas time Poe and Tilly are attending their bosses DI Stephanie Flynn’s baby shower. Poe is feeling quite uncomfortable being there.
When there is an incident at a Christmas office party. Like every year the company gave gifts through Secret Santa but instead of a small present they got a mug which contained two severed fingers. With a folded piece of paper with hashtag BSC6 written on it. There are another two cases across Cumbria regarding severed fingers turn up with the same inscription, so there must be a serial killer on the loose. The National Crime agency are called in the form of Tilly and Poe. They are asked to head the investigation. Which at first is quite complex but, with Poe’s knowledge and Tilly’s expertise the clues start to unravel.
This is another compelling thriller from M.W. Craven. With its unique storyline and professionally researched story. I loved this and what makes it even better is the great relationship between the two main characters. Poe and Tilly are like Chalk and cheese, but they make a brilliant team together. Tilly more open minded then the previous two novels but I loved her outbursts they were hilarious. I highly recommend this book. A big Five star from me.

These books just get better and better, Tilly coming into her own yet again.
Would highly recommend this series of books.
5 stars

Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are back! This is the 3rd in the series featuring the unconventional detective duo and this time they face a ghoulish opponent.
The story begins innocently enough. It's Christmas and Poe and Tilly are attending a baby shower for their boss DI Stephanie Flynn organised by her sister Jessica.
But soon they are part of a 40 strong task force investigating 3 separate crime scenes at which someone has placed two severed fingers in very public places - a Secret Santa party, a butcher's shop and the font of a church during Midnight Mass. The victims are 2 females and 1 male. One has died an agonising death, but the others have been anaesthetized.
These horrific crimes make no sense. Even when Poe and Tilly have their prime suspect in custody, they realise things are not what they seem.
To add to their confusion, Poe receives a phone call from a female FBI agent who tells him of a man known as "The Curator" - an extremely clever killer for hire.
As a result, he and Tilly begin a separate investigation but the more they dig, the more twists and turns they uncover.
Despite their best efforts, it's "The Curator" who seems to be pulling all the strings. Using her amazing computer wizardry, Tilly discovers the 3 murder victims have something in common. As she and Poe battle their way through a welter of cryptic clues, they zero in on another likely murder victim who needs their protection before the killer strikes again.
As the story hurtles towards a shattering conclusion, it reads more like a horror story than crime fiction. Just when you think it's all over, there's a sting in the tail as Poe faces a difficult decision before this case can finally be closed.
This is a truly breathtaking thriller - the best of the series (so far!). It's shot through with dark humour and beautifully written. Highly recommended.
My thanks to the publisher Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

Really big twist no one will ever see coming ends The Curator on a high. The final showdown setting with The Curator raises this book to the next level. Poe and Tilly a team you will have followed from previous stories (well worth catching up on). Tilly with her mathematical brain and Poe who can fit the jigsaw pieces together even when the case runs into a dead end.
This will be one of your must reads of 2020 then check out the wonderful Cumbria setting.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

M.W.Craven does it again with this fantastic crime thriller. As always a strong plot that keeps you gripped and nothing short of two brilliant main characters. Poe and Tilly have a relationship that you can’t help to route for, her quirky ways and Poe strong instincts make them a lovable and engaging crime fighting team. While the story at times was dark it was also eye opening, knowing venerable people and the internet can be so damaging, I applaud the author on mixing fantasy and reality into a plot for this fantastic book.

This is such a strong series and this may well be the best so far. Its Christmas and there’s a serial killer in Cumbria leaving body parts with a coded message. The National Crime Agency in the form of Poe and Tilly are called on to investigate. I had forgotten just how much I enjoy spending time with this slightly mismatched duo. Both are terrific characters in their own right but working together they are at another level. I know from having read the first 2 books that there’s no point in trying to workout the who or why and it’s best just to let the author lead you through to the end. This one kept me reading well past my bedtime, highly recommended.

The Curator is the third book in the Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw crime fighting partnership, the first two books were excellent and The Curator is no exception. It’s Christmas and someone has left 3 sets of severed fingers in 3 different places with a cryptic message left at each different place. The National Crime Agency, with the compelling partnership of Poe and Tilly Bradshaw,
are called in to assist with the investigation which initially makes no sense. However Tilly, an exceptionally talented data analyst and Poe who has one of the keenest inquisitive minds, soon begin to unravel the crime. Whilst carrying out the investigation Poe receives a phone call from a disgraced FBI agent who convinces Poe that they are not looking for a serial kill but a person who calls himself The Curator, the investigation then takes a more sinister turn. Poe soon finds signs where no-one else sees them and with Tilly’s data expertise they soon begin to unravel the murders, or so they believe. The books is fast paced, has lots of twists and turns. The Poe and Tilly partnership goes from strength to strength, both characters are well drawn and very likeable. The book is a cracking good read, I couldn’t put it down, it is a brilliantly plotted dark and twisted crime thriller which grabs your attention from the very first page. MW Craven is a hugely talented writer and if you haven’t read the previous 2 books I recommend you do although you can read The Curator as a stand-alone book, it is no surprise that MWCraven won the CWA Gold Dagger Award for Black Summer his books are dark and compelling. Many thanks to Little Brown, and Net Galley for the ARC and to MW Craven for another impressively well written book

The Curator is one of 2020’s MUST reads. This is an exhilarating, chilling thrill ride with a devastatingly dark plot. With characters to love, action in abundance and suspense galore, you won’t be able to put this thriller down.

Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are back, called in to support an investigation into three potential homicides after three pairs of fingers are discovered over three consecutive days. The only clue to what might be happening are sheets of paper with #BSC6 written on them, left at each scene. As Poe and Tilly work with the Cumbrian police to unravel the mystery, they begin to discover the unsettling meaning of #BSC6. Piecing together the evidence, they are drawn into protecting a suspected next victim...but is all that it seems in this case, or is an even darker and more sinister truth buried deeper?

Craven just keeps getting better and better and The Curator is another astounding, heart-pumping and clever thriller. The inspiration from the real life Blue Whale Challenge adds an additional layer of atmosphere and authenticity to the plot. The pace is perfect - chapters are short and snappy, mainly ending on cliffhangers that mean you can’t help but read 1 (or maybe 10 more!) there and then. There’s a brilliant blend of action, mystery and police procedure, which helps propel the narrative through to a shocking and satisfying ending.

The characters of Poe and Tilly are well established - now on their third case - and they never disappoint. Poe is a slightly more level-headed Luther type and Tilly is a refreshingly to the point analyst, who says the kind of brutally honest things that we all wish we could. As well as the well crafted and exciting plot, these characters make the novel. Their relationship is akin in part to a father-daughter dynamic and their mutual respect and care for each other adds substance and - without being corny - heart to the narrative. They also provide plenty of humour and light-heartedness at times, which is always well placed in the plot and welcomed by the reader. Too often, thrillers of this nature are so dark and devoid of humour that they can be heavy going. Craven’s real skill is creating a disturbingly depraved central crime, whilst still retaining humanity and comedy. This makes The Curator a crime thriller that’s well above your average fare.

I couldn’t have enjoyed this captivating, clever, original and authentic novel more - get reading...you won’t regret it!!