I cannot explain how excited I was when I received an early copy of this book; it seems an age since I’ve been in the company of Poe & Tilly. This is number 7 in the series & could be read as a standalone, but don’t do that - start at the beginning & immerse yourself in this fabulous world.

I really don’t want to say too much about the plot except a prolific serial killer is on the prowl & he is a one hit wonder. By that I mean: he aims, he shoots, he kills. 100% record & not a clue who he is.

Once I had settled my stomach after reading the opening, I buckled up for a journey that I knew I was going to enjoy. Not only for Mike’s customary style of writing but also for the characters he creates especially Edgar &, now, Uncle Bertie! Poe & Tilly are my literary comfort blanket & I would always want them on my side.

Frenetic pace. Twists aplenty. Action with a capital A. A brilliant book & long may this series continue.

Wow. The Final vow is book 7 is the fantastic series involving duo Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw. I couldn’t wait to get stuck in as I confess, I just finished the mercy chair as was blown away. So, I couldn’t wait to see what’s next instore for the pair.
After the team disbanding in the last book the pair are brought back together. As there is a sniper on the loose with 100% success rate. He works on his own and has already killed 17 people. The COBRA team has had no leads to catch the sniper, except for one a connection to Gretna Green.
In the meantime, Poe’s love life is getting better. He now moved in with Stephanie Doyle in Highwood and they are preparing to get married…
I was reading this with a bit of trepidation as the title suggests that this might be the last offering of Tilly and Poe. But I found this is another fantastic read from M W Craven with the same characters we have learned to love. This is an outstanding read full of tension. Great storyline and laughing with disbelief some of the one liners in the storyline but it made the story even better. I hope there more to come.
Like other reviewers have said TV executives out there make this into a TV series. I would love it . But I would wonder who would play Tilly and Poe though…

I was so excited to get this, as a new M W Craven book is an absolute highlight of my yearly reading. This is definitely one of the best too, as the characters have grown emotionally. Tilly’s conversational faux pas make me snort with laughter, she really is the best character in all of crime fiction; when she said she was going to be ‘best man even though she didn’t have a penis’ my husband looked up from his book to see what I was laughing at. Poe and Tilly’s friendship is so real that their bond leaps off the page; she really is the person he would enter a burning building for. I was up until stupid o’clock this morning finishing the book as I needed to know how it ended. As always, I was sad when it finished as I wanted to stay in their world for longer. Mr Craven is a must read crime writer and I cannot recommend this book enough.

As a big fan of this author it is great to get this new book coming out and you will need to hold on to your hats as it is a thrilling and emotional read which takes you on a memorable journey. Lots of humour and interesting facts and name dropping along the way which all his readers love.
You could probably read this as a standalone but there is background to the characters so you will soon want to learn more.
I am not going to say too much more as I do not want to spoil the storyline but be prepared as once you start to read the book you will not want to put it down,
Many thanks to Little Brown Book Group, NetGalley, and the author for providing me with an advanced electronic copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
The book will be published on the 14th August in audiobook, e-book and hardback formats. The paperback will be released in February 2026

This latest installment of the hugely popular Washington Poe series has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. The tension, shocks and sadness peppered with dark humour throughout grips you from the very first page to the last. Poe and Tilly are becoming one of my favourite crime-fighting duo's. I loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this before it's available.

I know the author says that (apart from a certain character from a previous book popping up in this one) you can read this series in any order... but... I don't necessarily agree due to the characters' backstories, getting to know them from the start and growing with them as they develop along the way... bonding with them... and cos this series is THAT GOOD that you WILL be reading them all so you might as well capitulate and start from book one...
So, in this book the author is a right *&^*&*&% as you will find out. And not from me. Which also means that I can pretty much not say anything else about this book apart from the band that is Poe, Tilly, and Stephanie all get back together when the powers that be finally concede that they give up trying to catch the sniper whose body count is now nearly 20 and who is decimating the country more that covid ever did... But he's a clever one... big question is, is Tilly cleverer or has she met her match...?
And that's all I am saying and I do recommend that you stop reading reviews and go in as blind as you can for this one. If you have read the previous books, and you have, haven't you? You really don't need to read reviews to decide whether to read this one too... In fact, my review could have just been...
It's as good, if not better, than what has come before, so off you pop and get the book and read it asap... And it's very very clever... and funny...
But I will just give a small note about the wit, humour and banter. There are many authors who include such stuff in their books but none hold a candle to this author... and this book is chock full of it. Making me giggle all the way through. Not one for reading in public! This really helped with what was going on... which was a bit dark...
Oh and I blooming love Uncle Bertie... more of him in future books please...
I'd love to bang on more about it, but I can't. You'll see why soon after you start reading it...
Me... I'm now just left hanging for the next book.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Firstly a great big thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for granting me an early read of 'The Final Vow'.
WOW! Where do I begin? What a plot line....you will be hooked from the very beginning as you are taken on a frantic journey to find the sniper guilty of randomly killing 17+ people. With Poe, Tilly and Flynn back working together (complete with laugh out loud dialogue from Poe and brilliant facts from no filter Tilly) we are treated to a very clever, dark and suspenseful read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't recommend it highly enough. A definite 5 star read!

The Final Vow is another absolute knockout from M.W. Craven! Poe & Tilly are back with their banter, big heart and edge-of-your-seat tension. The pacing is relentless, the humour spot on and the twists keep you guessing right until the end.

If you’re already a fan of the series, this is like the ultimate treat - sharper, funnier, darker and somehow even more heart-punchy than before. If you’re new… I know they are technically standalones, but do yourself a massive favour and go back to the start.

All in all, this was dark, clever and as completely addictive as all the previous instalments, keep 'em coming Mike!

During the build up to his marriage to Lady Estelle Doyle, Washington Poe is brought in from the cold (after his team was previously disbanded) to help the police locate and apprehend a sniper whose victims now number in the late teens. Annoyed that he and his colleagues hadn’t been recommissioned from the off, Poe is his usual awkward and belligerent self when approached. It is only the fact that Tilly Bradshaw and DCI Flynn overseen by the now ‘Commander’ Mathers are also part of the reunited team that makes Poe accept, though constantly smelling of fish may also have swayed the decision!

I absolutely loved this book. Full of facts and figures courtesy of Bradshaw, the dry wicked humour of Poe, clever detective work and the team pulling together is just superb, a fully supportive cast of characters. It’s very clever writing, no review will do it full justice.

Storytelling at its very best. Well done Mr Craven!

5* plus!

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK.

I can’t explain how much anticipation I have when waiting for a new Washington Poe instalment. The Final Vow did not disappoint! This series has improved with age, and the cast of characters never cease to amaze me. Tilly, Flynn, Bethany and Clara all form the most amazing supporting cast in this truly astounding game of cat and mouse. I can’t even begin to give details of the plot without spoiling the surprise. Needless to say this is a must read, whether you have read the previous books or not. Highly recommended and now I just have to wait for the next one again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for giving me the chance to read this ARC.

I've not read a Washington Poe book before but what a beginning. There is a serial killer on the loose and Washington Poe is brought in to help find him. The twists and turns in the book keep you glued to the story. The humour keeps coming as a good rate and the tension ramps up. The characters are well rounded as they have been together for a while. I couldn't wait to get back to the book to finish the story. A well written story. I will now have to get the other stories in the series as I enjoyed this one so much. With thanks to the author, Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for the opportunity to read this book.

WOW, WOW, WOW, Where do I start with this review? From the outset the author has you on the edge of your seat, grabbing the readers full attention. In fact my jaw dropped, with tears, chills and disbelief.


After the team were disbanded at the end of the last book, I had no idea how this one was going to work. Poe is being punished, stuck working on a navy boat, and convinced he permanently smells of fish. Tilly is off somewhere working for one of the agencies like MI5, and Poe hasn’t seen her for months. DCI Flynn has been promoted.

But now, there’s a prolific sniper on the loose, killing at random across different counties in the UK. Poe is called into a COBRA meeting, where the top minds in the country have no idea how to stop him. Then Alistair Locke appears—the very man who dismantled Poe’s team and took Tilly away from him. Now Locke needs Poe’s help. Will Poe accept?

If it means getting the team back together, how could he say no? But can they catch the killer before more innocent people die? Poe feels out of his depth with this one. He even visits a familiar face from a previous book to ask what he’s missing—will this person have the answers?


The killer—known as the man in the ghillie suit—is patient, precise, and lethal. Over six months, he’s killed 17 people with unerring accuracy. He’s a lone wolf, impossible to predict, and even harder to catch.

This is my absolute favourite series. I adore the characters, especially the banter between Poe and Tilly—it’s laugh-out-loud funny. Tilly spends an extraordinary amount of time worrying about Poe’s bowels! She’s also on fine comedic form with other characters, producing moments that will make you chuckle out loud.

A new addition to the cast is ‘Uncle Bertie,’ a relative of Doyle’s staying for a wedding. He’s another gem of a character—fun, quirky, and in some ways, a little like Poe himself. I really hope he makes another appearance.

What I love most about Mike Craven’s writing is how he balances what could be an incredibly dark story with flashes of humour and warmth. The one-liners fly off the page, making you smile, and then—wham—you’re hit with something jaw-dropping and deadly serious.

The plot is beautifully crafted, full of twists and turns, with moments that will have you gasping in disbelief. The suspense is taut, the pacing relentless, and the action non-stop. I devoured this in a single day and didn’t want it to end.

Fast-paced, funny, tense, and full of heart—this is another stunning instalment in a series I never want to end. I look forward to next years instalment. This is without a doubt my favourite crime series there is out there.

I would like to thank #netgalley and @LittleBrowbBooks for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased opinion on this book. All thoughts are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

This is a series I have loved in the past. The previous book to this (number 6) was disappointing, but I felt that it was an outlier in a good series. I had high hopes for this book but was left disappointed. The plot was highly improbable and the characters have lost their charm. Poe has become an irritating character and I feel he is now past his best.

Sublime, completely epic in a way only this author can execute. I can honestly say I enjoyed every single word, from the gory to the geeky and the sarcastic quips inbetween.

The characters are entirely likeable, even the bad guys are ones you’ll absolutely love to hate and the way they interact with each other is such a treat to read and observe. Tilly and Poe are entirely on point as their relationship and loyalties are tested to the brink and back again as they never have been before.

There are lots of suspenseful plot moments, geeky mathematical explanations and psychological twisty bits to get your brain in a twist. I guessed one of the more major twists but this didn’t detract at all, maybe you even wanted me to, I’ll take that
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Po’s unique take on life and people is entirely relatable and laugh out loud funny as are the distinct lack of filters he and Tilly possess. He is entirely my hero, I’m not exactly sure I aspire to be him but his fierce loyalties and complete lack of giving a monkeys about what other people think is hugely aspirational and admirable, oh and very amusing to the casual bystander.

I can’t really do this book justice by review, you absolutely have to read it though, I’m skulking around sadly as I know whatever I read next doesn’t have a hope of coming close.

With many thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Books for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily
Washington Poe sits there with Jane Marple, Tom Thorne and Eddie Flynn as best ever characters in a book. One Matilda Bradshaw sits firmly at the top of that tree. I truly thought the Botanist couldn't be bettered, then came the Mercy Chair and I thought that will be his best. Now I find, having got my breath back, that The Final Vow is now at the top. How Mike Craven keeps delivering is nothing short of genius. From the very start I had the 'what the hell' moment and I had to read it twice to make sure I had read it right leaving me 'don't you dare do this to me,Craven!' The pace is frantic, the plot very, very clever and the dialogue is so on point. The mathematical equations by the wonderful Tilly were spellbinding and Poe is Poe at his brilliant best. The addition of Uncle Bertie was just sublime adding humour to the dark plot line. I could easily write a hundred superlatives on why this book this series this author are so brilliant, but I'll just sum it up in one sentence. Flawless, outstanding and the best read of the year by a mile. Same time next year, Mike? Hell yeah!

Oh wow! Where do I begin to review this absolutely brilliantly constructed crime thriller? Whatever I say will not do any justice to the genius writing and plotting of this masterpiece by the author. My heart was in my mouth and I was on the verge of tears at times, but also laughing at the dark humour and the character of uncle Bertie! There is tension, suspense and a few twists throughout in this superbly crafted, exciting read. Just don't start reading it in bed or you will be up all night! I believe this would make a fantastic tv series and I hope there are plenty more books in the series to come. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Packed with heart, humour, and a killer plot 💥🔍

I bloomin’ loved it! Loved catching up with Poe, Tilly & the gang! These characters, the dynamic, and their little quips and banter are just next level! With the perfect amount of curmudgeon sprinkled in.

The book opens with a sucker punch and doesn’t really let up. Dark in all the right ways but so readable, it’s the kind of story you cannot put down.

It made me laugh out loud more than once and had me nearly crying. Clever, atmospheric, and just brilliantly told from start to finish. Honestly? The world needs more crime books like this.

Five shining stars from me.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

#TheFinalVow #MWCraven #WashingtonPoe #TillyBradshaw #CrimeFiction #MurderMystery #BritishCrimeFiction #Whodunnit #PageTurner #Bookstagram #CrimeFictionLovers

The release of a new instalment from the mighty crime solving duo Tilly & Poe is always an exciting day, and wow - what a read. This being book seven in the series the character dynamics are firmly in place and are, as always, superb. The plotting is incredible, the tension relentless and the twists just keeps coming. All in all, a clever plot, with fabulous twists and more than a smidgeon of dark humour. VERY highly recommended.

WOW The Final Vow (Washington Poe, book 7 of 7) was an absolutely riveting thriller by M.W. Craven.

A sniper who is always one step ahead of his game is terrorising the residents of Gretna Green which leaves it up to Tilly and Poe to bring him down.

He is an incredible marksman who will go to any means to get to his target. He thinks he is so smart that he can outwit anyone and the lives of nearest and dearest are in peril.

I love the sense of humour between Tilly and Poe they always put a smile on my face with their quips.

Following the events of the previous book, The Mercy Chair, the NCA were separated, with Poe, Tilly and Flynn each being re-allocated new positions within the force, but the handiwork of an elusive sniper in a ghillie suit soon has them being brought back into the fold. The authorities know that they are the only ones likely to have a chance in catching the man who, has so far, killed seventeen people and, with nobody knowing where he might strike next, the public are understandably terrified.

The Final Vow is the latest instalment in the Washington Poe series where we see Poe and Tilly brought back to fight another case, but I have to say my nerves have not been so stretched whilst reading the opening pages, since I read Six Graves by Angela Marsons, and I was beginning to wonder whether there was a risk I'd be falling out with another one of my favourite authors by the time I got to the end of Final Vow. As always this is a tense, nailbiting story with a great plot, lots of twists and turns and the re-introduction of some characters from the previous books and a new character, Estelle Doyle's Uncle Bertie who was a real hit, it would be great to see more of him in the future and, in true Craven style, it's a tale that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout, wondering just how it was going to end and if I'd be reaching for the tissues.

I'd like to thank Little Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.