The Puppet Show

Winner of the CWA Gold Dagger Award 2019

By: M. W. Craven

Narrated by: John Banks

'Fantastic' Martina Cole

'Dark, sharp and compelling' Peter James

'A thrilling curtain raiser for what looks set to be a great new series' Mick Herron

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2019 CWA GOLD DAGGER AWARD*

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2019 BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR IN THE AMAZON PUBLISHING READERS' AWARDS*

A serial killer is burning people alive in the Lake District's prehistoric stone circles. He leaves no clues and the police are helpless. When his name is found carved into the charred remains of the third victim, disgraced detective Washington Poe is brought back from suspension and into an investigation he wants no part of . . .

Reluctantly partnered with the brilliant, but socially awkward, civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw, the mismatched pair uncover a trail that only he is meant to see. The elusive killer has a plan and for some reason Poe is part of it.

As the body count rises, Poe discovers he has far more invested in the case than he could have possibly imagined. And in a shocking finale that will shatter everything he's ever believed about himself, Poe will learn that there are things far worse than being burned alive ...

Find out why everyone loves The Puppet Show

'A page turner' Sun

'A powerful thriller from an explosive new talent. Tightly plotted, and not for the faint hearted!'
David Mark

'A gripping start to a much anticipated new series' Vaseem Khan

'Satisfyingly twisty and clever and the flashes of humour work well to offer the reader respite from the thrill of the read' Michael J. Malone

'Britain's answer to Harry Bosch' Matt Hilton

'Dark, disturbing and so very clever. Highly recommended' Anne Cater©2018 M. W. Craven

Critic reviews

A thrilling curtain-raiser for what looks set to be a great new series. (Mick Herron)

Satisfyingly twisty and clever and the flashes of humour work well to offer the reader respite from the thrill of the read. (Michael J. Malone)

A powerful thriller from an explosive new talent. Tightly plotted, and not for the faint-hearted! (David Mark)

Mike Craven is a forceful new voice in British crime fiction. (Caro Ramsay)

Washington Poe is a name destined to be spoken by crime fiction enthusiasts everywhere: Britain's answer to Harry Bosch. The Puppet Show is a wickedly, twisting and turning, mystery that will have readers breathlessly turning the pages until the final shocking conclusion. (Matt Hilton, author of the Joe Hunter series)

This book is twisted and dark and I loved it - not sure what that says about me (Simon Toyne)

A brilliant start to what promises to be a fantastic series; get it now or kick yourself for missing out (Graham Smith)

Dark, sharp and compelling (Peter James)

Nothing you've ever read will prepare you for the utterly unique Washington Poe (Keith Nixon)

A gripping start to a much anticipated new series (Vaseem Khan)

A page turner

That's a good book

I really enjoy it, likeable characters, despicable fiends, an extensive yarn with more twists and turns then a trip though the Moors
Can't wait to start the next one

Gruesome Crime Novel with Quirky Characters

This is my first time purchase for this author based on positive reviews. Gifted, unorthodox detective Washington Poe and autistic-spectrum genius Tilly Bradshaw team up to solve a complex serial killer crime spree with gruesome murder rituals. It is all you could hope for in a British crime story with many twists and turns, horrid murder details, and absence of gun violence.

Absolutely Amazing. Twists and Turns!

This was amazing. Tons of twists and turns keeping me off balance throughout the story.
It also helped that the Narrator's voice for Washington Poe sounds like Sean Bean!

Great story excellent narrative

My only criticism of this story was the dialogue between the protagonist and the antagonist towards the end. It branched off in a direction that made no sense.

A wonderful mystery

A mystery I didn't see coming. Nomral I can guess who the suspect is and have the plot figured out by halfway, but this I hadn't seen coming. Tilly is my favorite character by far. I loved the ending. At first I didn't understand why the story continued but the end wrapped up nicely.