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And then there's Estelle Doyle. It's true the caustic pathologist has never walked down the sunny side of the street but this time has she gone too far? Shot twice in the head, her father's murder appears to be an open and shut case. Estelle has firearms discharge residue on her hands, and, in a house surrounded by fresh snow, hers are the only footprints going in. Since her arrest she's only said three words: 'Tell Washington Poe.' The Mercy Chair (2024) – Washington Poe has a story to tell. And he needs you to listen. You’ll hear how it started with the robber birds. Crows. Dozens of them. Enough for a murder . . . He’ll tell you about a man who was tied to a tree and stoned to death, a man who had tattooed himself with a code so obscure, even the gifted analyst Tilly Bradshaw struggled to break it. He’ll tell you how the man’s murder was connected to a tragedy that happened fifteen years earlier when a young girl massacred her entire family. There are few things more pleasurable than reading the first book in a great series and realising you have more books to look forward to. Whether you're in a book drought or just looking for something new to add to your TBR (to be read) pile, you're sure to find some great contenders below. 7 Gritty British Crime Novel Series to Try This Summer Tim Sullivan's DS Cross Series The Dentist (2021) Another disgusting person, a racist podcaster, receives the next envelope. Because all of the Botanist's victims are nauseating people, the public loves him/her. T-shirts are sold, clubs are formed, speculation is rampant. Storyline and Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The plot was gripping and written at a pace that controlled and intensified the feeling of fear and terror. I loved that the book was unpredictable and it was only towards the end that the reader could piece together all the treads of the story. As it should be in crime novels.
As if that's not enough pressure on its own, there's also a bit of evidence that suggests Poe himself might be one of the next targets. Writing Style ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I love Craven’s writing style and the way he builds a story. It works brilliantly for my personal tastes, and I often think you couldn’t write any of this differently. The balance of humour and sensitivity, with the fear and tension and a forensically plotted story, put Craven up there as a favourite crime / thriller writer. MW Craven is one of the hottest and most thrilling crime fiction authors around, his latest addition is stupendous, outrageously twisted, and such an exciting outing for our intrepid crime fighters, Washington Poe and the extraordinarily gifted data analyst, Tilly Bradshaw, of the National Crime Agency. It all begins with a baby shower being given for the none too happy and irritable pregnant DI Stephanie Flynn, a baby shower Poe had not wanted to attend, but intense pressure from Tilly meant he had no choice. The party comes to an end as Flynn gets a call that sends them racing to Cumbria. There has been the macabre discovery of three pairs of fingers in three different locations, two female and one male, with the strange #BSC6 left by the serial killer at each of the crime scenes. El Procurador, es la tercera parte de la serie protagonizada por Poe y por Tilly, una de las parejas mejor formadas, que destaca por esa amistad y esa lealtad entre ambos. Plausibility ⭐⭐⭐ The one rub I had with ‘The Botanist’ was the plausibility. Individually all the killings were believable but when you combine and look at the total picture, they start to feel inconceivable. Yes, someone might have a secret room that a killer could hide in. Yes, it might be possible to change someone’s prescription to administer poison but combine all the plot elements and it starts to feel this book was right on the edge of being a bit too far-fetched. In contrast however, the investigative work was convincing. You could imagine these highs and lows in any police investigation, and the way Poe and Tilly unravelled the plot also felt authentic. So mixed.And now meet civilian analyst Tilly Bradshaw. Brilliant, adorably awkward, a social hand grenade; she lives at home with her parents and isn’t allowed out on her own. She has three PhDs but doesn’t know how to boil an egg. Meeting Poe will be her first step into the non-academic world. The world might not yet be ready for her . . . Mike Craven is a popular author from England, who likes to write books of the mystery and fiction genres. He was born in the year 1968 in Cumbria, but spent most of the days growing up in the North East. The school from which he completed his high school education is the same in which the great center-forward player of England and Newcastle, Alan Shearer, has studied. Right after the completion of his school studies, author Craven ran away and enrolled himself in the army. In the army, he underwent rigorous training for a period of 2 years. But, the two years proved too much for him, forcing him to leave the army and live a civilian life. Author Craven spent the next 10 years of his life traveling to different places of the world and visiting the astonishing masterpieces. His traveling was mainly due to his interest in historical monuments. During the travels, he used to indulge in heavy drinking, a habit that he still continues to have. Up to this point in his life, author Craven was mainly involved in writing postcards and spending his time in enjoyable activities. Then, it was in 1995 that he took the decision of trying his hand in something sensible. This thought paved his way to obtain a law degree. In the meantime, Craven was also involved in doing some social work. After continuing this work for 2 years, the naive and pimply-faced Craven started taking his work more seriously and became a probation officer in Cumbria. And after a period of 16 years, Craven accepted redundancy to start writing full time. As of today, author Craven is believed to have a variety of motivations that help him to get into the minds of the criminals. There are 10 books in the series, and new volumes have been coming out every 3-6 months since late 2020. 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.
As hard as it is I can’t share anything more about their findings and the progress in the cases but Poe and Bradshaw are at their best, both in the use of their deduction skills and the socially awkward banter between the two of them. I think it was the funniest out of all the novels so far because there were quite a few awkward remarks and I was happy not be in Poe’s shoes :-). I had no idea about the motive for either of the cases but I did come up with an idea for Estelle’s case which turned out to be the right guess. I guess my Miss Marple / Hercule Poirot switch was on and some logical thinking certainly helped. Even then it was too hard to figure out the rest and I was on pins and needles to be enlightened by Poe. A sensational, daring thriller! Washington Poe is a fierce, compelling new character. I cannot praise this highly enough.” – AA Dhand The best book club books that get conversation (and wine) flowing". Women&Home. 25 May 2021 . Retrieved 17 September 2021. In terms of “heat” level, these books are definitely NOT cozies. Some murders are described in-depth, and there are cases that involve things like rape and child molestation (in a historic sense, not a play-by-play). These parts are mostly pretty contained and easy to skip/skim if you're inclined to do so. The Curator by M. W. Craven – Book Review". Whispering Stories. 14 June 2020 . Retrieved 17 September 2021.
Washington Poe & Tilly Bradshaw, Book 3 | The Curator
The Curator like every other book in this series is as much about the characters as the plot. The relationship between the dynamic duo Poe and Tilly is stronger than ever, their unique personalities compliment each other perfectly. Poe is complex, charismatic, whereas the wonderful Tilly is naïve, painfully honest and just as complex. The dialogue between the couple is endearing, charming and funny, but it’s these moments that add light to the darkness of the plot. They are both such fabulous depicted, compelling characters they are one of the reasons this series is a must read for me. We feel that's worth pointing out only because it bothers some people to see shows and books using “coded neurodivergence” as a plot device without fully committing to the label and an accurate portrayal of the advantages, disadvantages, and traits that go along with it. Others are happy enough to see any part of themselves or their loved ones in books that they don't mind overlooking that. Gritty? Cozy? Where do the Washington Poe Books Fall? A serial killer is burning people alive in the Lake District’s prehistoric stone circles. He leaves no clues and the police are helpless. Someone is torturing and burning wealthy old men alive, then leaving their remains in stone circles around Cumbria. With virtually no evidence to go on, disgraced detective Washington Poe and talented young data analyst Tilly Bradshaw will have to unravel the mystery and stop the killer.
Another intelligently plotted and brilliantly conceived thriller from one of my favourite crime / thriller authors, M.W. Craven. The standout for me in Craven’s books is the storytelling and the way Craven ramps up the tension, thrill, and anticipation, and maintains this to the last word. The layers he builds into the story are meticulously planned, the details and unveiling of evidence and insights into people is forensically plotted, and the characters he has created are likeable and perfectly ‘hinged’. The Killing Field– While having breakfast and debating how to spend the remainder of their holiday, Poe and Tilly are requested to head to a Cumbrian airfield once known as the killing field. Apart from my slight rub, this was another great story from Craven with superb character development superb and another expertly written book by the master of suspense. The fingers removed from the male indicated that he had been brutally tortured prior to death. The forensic analysis of the fingers of the women showed they had been anesthetized before being killed. The victims are identified although the women's bodies are missing. They seem to have nothing in common. The man was a sex offender, one woman had a highly confidential job connected with nuclear subs, and the other woman worked as an assistant clerk in clothing stores. But if I have one critique on the book that would be the last unexpected twist which was for me one too much, even if this was a pretty good and easy to read book that was perhaps rather difficult to put down. The many short chapters did help of course.The Curator is one of the best thrillers I have ever read and in my opinion the best yet in the Washington Poe series. It is gripping, suspenseful, and certainly plays with your mind. It makes you think and there is most certainly a psychological element running the whole way through. Technical details -- 5 stars -- the author's police experience and professional knowledge about poisons is put to good usage. In this book a serial killer is on the loose at Christmas time and is leaving body parts all over Cumbria. Washington Poe and Tilly are on the hunt for the killer but none of the evidence appears to make any 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?
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