I’ve been looking forward to meeting Detective Sergeant Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw, and this book is great. Poe investigates as he knows how and Tilly provides the proof that solves the case. It’s great to see the friendship between Poe and Tilly evolve, their personalities as contrasting as it’s possible to get. 
A man is beaten to death with a baseball bat in a brothel. At first sight it appears to be a straightforward murder but Poe and Tilly investigate serial killers. Are things as they seem?
Guaranteed Poe and Tilly will answer that question.
M W Craven is prolific and I’ve got used to a Poe and Tilly every year. Hope this continues as long as possible.

Dead Ground MW Craven
It's always a good day when I'm reading the latest escapades of Tilly and Poe, I love these two.
This is book 4 in the series, I listened to the first 3, and if you like audiobooks, then the narrator John Banks is exceptional, I equally love reading this series.
If there ends up being 20 books in this series, I'm sure I will rave about them all.

This is the fourth book in the series featuring 2 of my favourite fictional characters, Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw and if you haven’t read this series yet, I would definitely recommend you start with Book 1 The Puppet Show and read them in order because a) I couldn’t possibly read any series out of order and b) each book gets better and better.

So back to Dead Ground which follows on almost immediately from The Curator and Washington Poe is currently in court trying to save his home when he is requested by M15 to attend a grisly murder which may or may not have serious national security risks involving an important international trade summit.

If you haven’t met Poe yet, the best way to describe him would be a gruff, straight-talking, no-nonsense, determined, dedicated individual who isn’t afraid of anyone or anything and won’t let anything stand in his way with regards to solving crimes and catching the bad guys. He is a law unto himself, bends the rules to suit himself, won’t be told what to do, can’t follow basic instructions but always, always cracks the case. He’s a loner who lives in an isolated croft with his beloved dog, but his relationship with Tilly, gets stronger and stronger with each book and watching their friendship develop is a joy.

Dead Ground covers a lot of ground (see what I did there?), from tortured bodies in pop-up brothels, a bungled bank vault robbery, the Armed Forces and indepth descriptions of the military world during the war in Afghanistan, this book entertains as much as it educates the reader.

It is however, Poe & Tilly’s relationship that makes this series stand out from the rest. There are moments when I can’t help laughing out loud and then there are the tender moments of true friendship and understanding that bring this unlikely duo to life.

Another exciting, entertaining read and I totally recommend it.

Although not my favourite of the series, M.W Craven had done it again with another fast paced and brilliantly written crime-thriller.

The thought and preparation that must go into his novels is amazing and this is such a unique idea for a crime-thriller book.

Definitely worth a read, along with all the others in the Tilly and Poe series!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great storyline with excellent characters. I would highly recommend this book as it was a great read.

I might be a little excitable when writing this review, so apologies in advance. However it’s all because I LOVE this series so much! M. W. Craven has not only created the best series plot wise but also the best characters too! If you haven’t managed to pick up these books yet then please, please do.

I love getting the best of both worlds and discovering a book that not only has darker elements but a humorous side too. Well, Dead Ground had that in abundance and I enjoyed every single moment! I have to admit I always enjoy trying to play detective and see if I can figure it all out. Admittedly I’m not always very successful but the thing is I didn’t care when it came to this book. That’s all down to the fact I was having way too much fun sitting back and enjoying the experience. M. W. Craven expertly takes the reader on a very intriguing journey and I had no clue where I was being taken. It was brilliant!

I can’t write my review without mentioning Poe and Tilly because quite simply, they are amazing! I can’t help but smile or laugh at their interactions. Whether it is Tilly’s questions or the genuine friendship that they share. It is all written extremely well. My kitten, Callie often curls up on me when I read in the evening. However I don’t think she was too impressed at me laughing my way through Tilly and Poe’s conversations while she tried to nap, oops!

There is a little bit of everything in Dead Ground. From a puzzling mystery that completely captured my attention. To the fun, laugh inducing moments that entertained and brought a smile to my face. Then add in the twisty, darker side and you are guaranteed a brilliant balance throughout. I really can’t ask for more than that! Dead Ground easily gets five shiny, bright stars from me. I’m already counting down the days till The Botanist. I guess I’ll just have to be patient!!

After finishing the curator last week I couldn’t wait to dive straight into this one and what can I say, this is yet another excellent book in the series which ends on a perfect set up for the next one…

This book is wonderful more Poe and Tilly than before and I absolutely love both characters. It perfectly weaves in from earlier books in the series.

Another mystery to be solved with lots of twists on the way and some side stories which kept it very gripping. I didn’t see the ending coming and again, it was very clever but at this point I’d expect nothing less do Craven.

Can’t wait for the next one!

Really enjoying this series, and Dead Ground is no exception! Love the recurring characters (particularly Tilly), the humour and the plotting. Can't wait for the next Washington Poe outing.

Brilliant! What more can I say? M.W. Craven has done it again: Dead Ground is another outstanding Poe and Bradshaw page-turner that had me gripped from start to finish. It feels like Mike Craven has upped the ante with his fourth novel in this brilliant series by adding intricate layers of cleverness and complexity to the plot that really gave my old grey matter a good workout.

You could definitely read Dead Ground as a standalone as it's a mighty fine mystery thriller in its own right, however, it's the development of the characters throughout the series that sets it head and shoulders above other books in the genre. Opening with a very unusual historical crime that seems to have a link with a present day murder the investigating agency calls upon Poe and Bradshaw to assist them. Working with another agency has its challenges as information is not as free flowing as Poe would like, so it's just as well that Tilly has her own way of finding things out.

Reading the Washington Poe books in order shows the stunning character development that has taken place over the course of the series. Poe's fiercely loyal relationship with Tilly Bradshaw is so protective that it's almost fatherly. Tilly is so honest and naive that she is often the target of jokers and the way that Poe seems to have a sixth sense about such things taking place is awesome. Tilly is lucky to have Poe on her side and vice versa as Tilly is an invaluable asset in solving crimes. The pair usually work alongside DI Stephanie Flynn but Flynn is on maternity leave so the terrific trio are a dynamic duo in this instalment.

I loved the personal story involving Poe's home that had me fist pumping the air when he gets his day in court but like real life, it doesn't quite go to plan and he is forced to swap his court case for a murder case. The murder mystery part of the book is simply outstanding and I had no idea what direction it was going in, surprising me at every twist and turn. It's another standing ovation from me when I finished the book and realised just how clever it actually was.

Dead Ground is an exceptional novel; it's fast-paced, gripping and unputdownable (especially with little cliffhangers at the end of each chapter ensuring that you read 'just one more' chapter until there are none left). With twists and turns that left me dizzy, M.W. Craven proves that he is the Master of Misdirection in this impossible to predict and action-packed novel. So very highly recommended - both this novel and the whole series.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Dead Ground is the latest in the spellbinding crime thriller series from Mike Craven. It is such a joy to read a captivating thriller with two characters in Tilly and Poe that are awash with fascination, excitement, capability and humour.

I will return to give a more detailed glowing review when God gives me 54 hours in a day. I couldn’t remove this line considering the comments below, but here’s the full review. Dead Ground follows The Curator in the series, a point often referred to in this story, so a bit of advice is to read that book beforehand if you want to understand certain background references.

With an international trade summit planned for Scarness Hotel in Cumbria, the security services from the US are in full preparation when a partner of the helicopter firm they are using for transporting the political leaders is found brutally tortured and murdered in a pop-up brothel in Carlisle. Not sure if this is related to the summit, an investigation is launched into determining the full exposure before the US services commit to participation. FBI agent Melody Lee, now reinstated after The Curator murder hunt (I told you it would crop up), requested Detective Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw from the Crime Analysis Unit with the National Crime Agency. Poe questions this request considering MI5 are all over this with their top agents, but the American’s want someone who will tell it as it is and will not be controlled by MI5 or UK government. Everyone will soon realise that with regards to Poe.

“They tried to keep him in their carefully contained box. Assumed they could point at what they wanted him to look at, shield him from what they didn’t. Which showed just how badly they’d misjudged him.”

The extent of the investigative plot starts with US and UK forces in Afghanistan years previous. A major incident saw the recovery of a war hero from certain execution and the unfortunate death of the whole unit that saved him Tango Two Four from a suicide bomber on a mission they didn’t need to be involved in. The plot then delves into the local criminal underworld and activities surrounding the Summit. Mike Craven draws fascinating characters that wrestle with the many restrictions of the job, secrecy, ambition, personal relationships, especially with Tilly and Poe, and ego.

The plot underscores this as a multi-level mystery and a remarkable crime investigation in its authenticity, scope, and deviousness. But what really takes this story to an outstanding level are the characters that I love spending time with. Poe is a detective with fantastic insight and an ability to sense the manipulation of others and the recognition of the smallest of details that often become crucial in an investigation. Tilly is a real treasure, and over the series, we can see her develop from that shy, refrained, slightly autistic woman, of serious intelligence (“as clever as Stephen Hawking’s wheelchair”), to someone who is now outspoken but retains that awkward social discourse and an inability to lie. The humour flows mainly from her and her brutally honest description of people and situations. Neither suffers fools gladly, but they have tremendous loyalty to each other. Mike Craven shared a scene with me back when the Puppet Show was just released, and it was great to see it delivered in this story – the scene is where Tilly is trying to explain Quidditch to Poe, and I can visualise that interaction with a rooted smile.

Dead Ground is a highly entertaining thriller from a master storyteller that is sharp and compelling as it blends the dark side of crime with humour. I can highly recommend this book, and I would like to thank Mike Craven, Little Brown Group, Constable and NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review.

The fourth in the Washington Poe series, Dead Ground finds National Crime Agency detective Poe and genius analyst Tilly Bradshaw dragged into a matter of national security after a man's body is found. Initially assumed to be a workaday crime - after all, why would the NCA be interested in the case of a customer beaten to death in a brothel? - it soon becomes clear that this murder has links both to an important international summit taking place in Cumbria, and to a mysterious bank heist conducted three years earlier in which nothing was taken.

For long time fans of this series there is much to enjoy. If you are new to the Poe books, although I think it would work reasonably well as a standalone, much of the enjoyment is in the friendship between Poe and Tilly and so I would recommend starting from the beginning if possible.

MW Craven is one of those authors where I’d buy any of his books without even looking at the cover or the blurbs such is my faith in his talent.
Dead Ground is the fourth of his novels featuring Washington Poe and his sidekick Tilly Bradshaw. You can read this as a standalone but to be honest if you don’t read the others then there is something far wrong with you! It is a DYNAMITE series.
This author always manages to drop kick his readers with his killer hook openings and Dead Ground is no exception to the rule. If you’ve got plans and you pick this up then cancel your plans immediately as you are going nowhere!
There is so much to say about this plot and so much that cannot be said as I want the reader to experience it for themselves but let’s just say that once again MW Craven has produced an enthrallingly, intelligent, nailbitingly tension laden plot! Conspiracies, politics and the military all feature in Dead Ground and leave the reader with a racing heart and a jaw that clatters off the floor more than once or twice!
He has an incredible talent not only for storytelling but also for creating a cast of characters who are simply drawn to perfection.
On the surface Poe and Tilly are probably the most unlikely crime fiction pairing; he’s a maverick who isn’t always the most subtle while Tilly is a stickler for rules and quietly unassuming. Yet they are made for each other, they complement each other and they are actually the most perfect crime fiction duo out there! Like tea and toast!
Tilly might be Poe’s sidekick in this series but she steals the limelight every single time for me. Readers have taken this quirky and relatable character to their hearts and if the author ever lets anything happen to her I reckon there would be hell to pay! He never openly states that Tilly is on the spectrum, but in her he has created a character who flies the flag for Autism and Aspergers across mainstream crime fiction and for this I salute him.
If Dead Ground was a recipe I’d sum it up as the following: Characters baked to perfection: sense of place rises to the occasion every time and whisked into the mix is an intelligent and authentic storyline. This author has all the ingredients for the perfect story and not only has he all the ingredients he has the magical touch too, as he takes them and he creates a crime fiction masterpiece that has his peers weeping and wailing with envy! Deliciously moreish, it tastes devine and you will want to gorge yourself silly on this criminal feast of evilness and storytelling.
Don’t miss it!

absolutely love this series so couldn’t wait to read the next installment.

Gripping and chilling, this is a addictive read . Unpredictable and twisty .

Love the characters and with each book we get to know more about them . I whizzed through as I always do with his books!

Cleverly written and a fascinating insight into a world otherwise not available.

I already can’t wait to read his next instalment! Published 3rd June

It was, of course, very nice to see Poe and Tilly again, but overall the book was a little disappointing. Too many characters, a plot that was dense and - at times - a bit boring, and a LOT of info dumping. Tilly is in danger of becoming a caricature, there mostly to tell us things that we might not have heard of before. Most of the action was explained in very long conversations. No-one really jumped off the page. It was, though, a good enough read for the day I was recovering from my covid vaccine.

Craven 👏 NEVER 👏 disappoints! Dead Ground delivers another excellent Poe and Tilly story that ventures into military and international conspiracies, when a foreign pilot attached to the biggest political summit of the year, turns up dead in a makeshift brothel. So it’s fair to say Craven keeps you on your toes and makes you eager to get to the bottom of it all.

Dead Ground literally reads like Craven has taken a boxed jigsaw, gave it a good margarita shake, and then opened and upended it onto the floor for crime readers to obsessive over and solve. It’s clever and entertaining in how intricately plotted it is, and impressive how this is balanced with an equally entertaining comical tone too.

Poe and Tilly are still the dream team we’ve come to know and love, bouncing off and complimenting each other like the best crime busting duos do. The Scooby gang in this instalment is probably my favourite to date, with the return of FBI Special Agent Melody Lee, along with newcomers Alastor Locke and Hannah Finch. The dynamics and rapport of the characters, old and new, were simply superb and made the story all the more enjoyable and readable. I really, really hope to see the return of Alastor Locke in future instalments... or maybe a spin-off of his own? *fingers crossed*

I always like how Craven connects all of the Poe novels by making subtle references to them in his books, if not outright connecting them. It makes the journey of these stories feel well aged as each year another mystery arrives to go wild for, but doesn’t feel separate to or out of touch with the previous instalments. In other words, you’d be missing great context and links to past mysteries and characters if you didn’t read these in order.

And as usual, whilst I’m on the right track and get some scores in the score column, Craven always ends up pulling the wool over my eyes and leaving me stunned. I didn’t predict the entire ending, which at this stage in the series, I should really accept as being the norm. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Craven is the ultimate curator of mind bending arcs and left field twists. In short, Dead Ground is crime fiction at its finest. Black Summer remains my favourite instalment, but this is definitely a close second.

I’ve already saved the date for the 5th book, The Botanist, which honestly sounds like the best is yet to come. Thank you Mike for writing another incredible story. Roll on June 2022!

Thank you kindly to Constable and Netgalley UK for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve been a huge fan of this series from the start, so a new Poe & Tilly book is always cause for great excitement. This book was no exception as I thought it was a hugely enjoyable, intriguing and gripping read.

It was great to be back solving a case with the fantastic Tilly and Poe. I have always loved the special relationship they have and the hilarious banter between them. Some of their conversations actually made me laugh out loud at times which helped break up some of the darker moments in the book. It was nice to see some old characters return and to meet some new ones too. Despite not initially liking Hannah I found myself warming to her and hope that she makes an appearance in a future book.

The murder case was a very interesting one and I really enjoyed following it. As you might expect from this series it was incredibly well plotted with lots of red herrings that kept me guessing who the murderer was until the end. There was also some fascinating descriptions of some of the technology available now which I loved learning about, although my hardware engineer husband wasn’t enthusiastic about all my questions.

This was a bit of slow starter as the author sets the scene but I didn’t mind this as I was enjoying getting to know the case. It soon picks up though and the pace gets faster as the story goes on. I read half the book in one evening as I was so caught up in the story and really wanted to see how it ends. The ending of the book was brilliant and very dramatic with lots of surprises right until the end. There are hints at the end about a new case for Tilly and Poe which I can’t wait to read!

Huge thanks to Little Brown for my copy of this book via netgalley. If you are looking for a new crime series I highly recommend this one!

At a glance: Craven really is in a league of his own!! This is funny, fast & absolutely fan-fucking-tastic. Gets all the stars from me again! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟⠀
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In detail...⠀
Plot: Poe & Tilly's latest case faces them with unanswerable questions: despite being heavily vetted for a high-profile job, why does nothing in the victims background check out? Why was a small ornament left at the murder scene - and why did someone on the investigation steal it? And what is the connection to a flawlessly executed bank heist three years ago where nothing was taken?⠀
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Craven has set the bar high from day one just keeps getting better & better. This is the best installment yet (yes, I do say that everytime but it's true!). ⠀
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This is another absorbing compulsive mystery you won't want to end! There isn't a dull moment in sight with dramatic plot twists, suspense & humour this is a page-turner at it's very best.

People: Poe & Tilly are quite simply the best crime fighting duo about. I love their relationship, how fiercely protective they are of each other (refreshingly with no romantic element) they are. Their banter is second to none, Poe with his deliberate sarcasm & Tilly with her innocent cutting honesty. This duo are funny, dynamic & won't fail to steal a piece of your heart. ⠀
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The rest of the cast are well rounded believable characters that keep you guessing till the end.
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Pace: Fast-paced & totally engrossing. If there is one crime novel you pick up this year make sure it's this one. Craven is in a league of his own, a mastermind of crime fiction & once again gets all the stars from me!
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Disclaimer: A huge thanks to Little Brown Books & Beth Wright for sending me this title. All opinions are my own.⠀
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If only I could get away with writing a review that says " This is just brilliant" as that sums up my feelings after finishing this latest book from master wordsmith, M.W. Craven. I thought that after reading The Curator the author had excelled himself but this story really does takes the series up a whole other notch.

Dead Ground literally hits the ground running with one of the most imaginatively described opening chapters I have read in a long time and the scene is then set for an engrossing and utterly compelling crime thriller which sees Detective Sergeant Washington Poe and his computer expert assistant, Tilly Bradshaw having to go right into the heart of a mystery which, with every tantalising clue, just gets weirder, and weirder.

When a man's body is discovered in a seedy Carlisle brothel, Poe initially thinks that this is merely a run of the mill murder inquiry but once he and Tilly realise the significance of an object found at the scene, the whole plot start to twirl and dance with all the twists, turns, complicated plot shifts and mesmerising characteristics which we have come to expect from this talented author.

To spoil any of the plot would be disgraceful so I’m not going to say anything about what happens when and why, except to say that I read the book in two sittings as I really couldn’t put it down and even though I desperately wanted to see how the plot played out, I really didn’t want the book to end as that would mean saying goodbye to Poe and Tilly.

There really is no end to this writer's talent for giving us clever and intricately plotted crime thrillers and even though each book succeeds on its own merits, it is still part of the superb partnership that is, Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw. They’re just a great double act whose distinct and rather special personalities shine through with every well written word.

If you haven't read this series yet, and you really are missing a treat if you haven't, but be warned even though they are dark and very gritty, and not for the faint hearted, they are also seriously compulsive. So.. let Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw take you on a very special journey through some of the darkest recesses of picturesque, Cumbria.

In my opinion these books are a TV series waiting to happen ...just saying!

Poe and Tilly are back!
After a very intriguing open involving several James Bonds and a heist where nothing was taken, we catch up with the crime-fighting duo in a court room where Poe is fighting to keep his home. Tilly is in her element schooling the prosecution, when two men walk into the court and whisk then away on a more pressing matter that needs their expertise. When it becomes apparent who has summoned them, Poe is sceptical as to whether he can even work with them, but the case is right up their street and he is soon drawn in. They love to solve the unsolvable, but is this one too hard for even them?

I am a massive fan of this series and the time between it hitting by door mat and being finished was definitely under 24 hour! From start to finish it is hilarious, plotted to perfection and with some excellent new and returning extra characters. But, as ever, the shining beacon in this series is the relationship between Poe and Tilly. The dynamic between them is perfect and although they come across as, and actually are to an extent,  total opposites, they work together so brilliantly and neither could do as good a job without the other. I still love how the author uses both of them to explain complicated things to the reader through explaining it to the other character, so it comes across as natural and not in any way condescending. Aside from their working relationship, their friendship has blossomed throughout the series to the point where I am nervous now that something might happen to spoil it! I really hope not because I really can't wait for the next one now!

Dead Ground opens in the same way as the previous books in the series, with a clever, memorable prologue. However, this is a less gruesome opening than in the past and features what at first appears to be a classic heist. A group of men in James Bond masks have broken into a high security, purpose-built vault containing safety deposit boxes. It's a professional job that seems to be going to plan until a man is killed - and a small ceramic ornament is left at the scene.
After the traumatic events in The Curator, Washington Poe has a more personal concern to deal with; the pressing matter of the court case which will determine the fate of his beloved home on Shap Fell. Before the verdict can be called, Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are whisked away to a location that's so secure, Poe quickly works out where they have been taken. After making it clear that he won't be intimidated, he is told of a murder of a man whose body has been discovered at a brothel. It's apparently a more straightforward case than Poe is usually called upon to investigate - this isn't a serial killer at work, it's the death of a man in seedy circumstances. However, a familiar face from The Curator, FBI Special Agent Melody Lee has specifically asked for him to lead the investigation.
Christopher Bierman's violent, sordid demise has attracted the attention of the FBI and the British security services because his company had been employed to provide executive helicopter travel to an impending trade summit which is due to be held nearby. What follows is a perplexing, complex case which is somehow connected to the earlier murder. It is further complicated by discrepancies, misdirection and the shadowy world of international relations. .
In the absence of DI Flynn, who is still recuperating following her ordeal in The Curator, Poe and Bradshaw are joined by two very different women; the aforementioned Melody Lee and MI5 agent, Hannah Finch, both of whom need reassurance that it's safe for the summit to proceed. Melody Lee works well with Poe, she also has her own no-nonsense turn of phrase and a singular determination to get to the truth which, like him makes her an indispensable thorn in the side of authority. Meanwhile, Hannah Finch is arrogant, ambitious and perhaps answers too much to her superiors to be fully relied upon. This brings us to a character whose introduction I particularly enjoyed despite never quite knowing how far he can be trusted. Alastor Locke appears to be an old-school spook and his verbal sparring with Poe reveals him to be just as artful - their meeting of minds adds a fascinating dimension to the book which I would welcome being revisited in the future.
Something that isn't new but is the enduring highlight of this series, is the relationship between Poe and Tilly Bradshaw, which is as warm and witty as ever. M.W. Craven's wonderful gift for interspersing the drama with humour is an integral part of these books. Poe's characteristic sarcasm and caustic one-liners underline his candid temperament whereas the guileless Tilly's questions often result in more unintentional comedy - although there are moments here of her developing a knowing wit too, now she increasingly has the measure of Poe.
This is a multilayered case involving the unsettling use of technology for good and ill - I'm sure I won't be the only person to be more careful around charging cables... This isn't the work of a cold-hearted genius though, there are raw emotions at play here too. It's a more political investigation for Poe, with the murders linked to events that occurred years ago in Afghanistan, the truth of which has never fully been revealed. As a former military man himself, he naturally feels an affinity with those affected and his concern for the bereaved involved ensures he is determined to see justice served. The global implications of the case are incendiary, however, it's less the relations between nations which concerns him than the emotional ripples of choices that engulf families.
Tilly's incomparable brain and Poe's own acute eye for detail are needed more than ever in this superbly crafted mystery which keeps the surprises coming right up to the stunning conclusion. There are numerous reasons why this series is so beloved of its many fans but ultimately it's because each book is an outstanding demonstration of compelling plot, excellent pacing, astute characterisation and perhaps most importantly, is written with enormous heart. Absolutely unmissable; like its predecessors, Dead Ground is compulsive crime fiction of the very highest quality.