The Puppet Show

Winner of the CWA Gold Dagger Award 2019

M W Craven author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Little, Brown Book Group

Published:24th Jan '19

£9.99

Available for immediate dispatch.

The Puppet Show cover

'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

Welcome to the Puppet Show . . .

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 ...

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

David Mark

'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

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

A thrilling curtain-raiser for what looks set to be a great new series.
A thrilling curtain-raiser for what looks set to be a great new series.
Satisfyingly twisty and clever and the flashes of humour work well to offer the reader respite from the thrill of the read.
Satisfyingly twisty and clever and the flashes of humour work well to offer the reader respite from the thrill of the read.
A powerful thriller from an explosive new talent. Tightly plotted, and not for the faint-hearted!
A powerful thriller from an explosive new talent. Tightly plotted, and not for the faint-hearted!
Mike Craven is a forceful new voice in British crime fiction.
Mike Craven is a forceful new voice in British crime fiction.
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.
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.
This book is twisted and dark and I loved it - not sure what that says about me
This book is twisted and dark and I loved it - not sure what that says about me
A brilliant start to what promises to be a fantastic series; get it now or kick yourself for missing out
A brilliant start to what promises to be a fantastic series; get it now or kick yourself for missing out
Dark, sharp and compelling
Dark, sharp and compelling
Nothing you've ever read will prepare you for the utterly unique Washington Poe
Nothing you've ever read will prepare you for the utterly unique Washington Poe
A gripping start to a much anticipated new series
A gripping start to a much anticipated new series
A page turner * Sun *
A page turner * Sun *

  • Short-listed for The Whodunnit Award - The Dead Good Reader Awards 2019 (UK)
  • Short-listed for CWA Gold Dagger for Best Crime Novel 2019 (UK)
  • Long-listed for Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2019 (UK)

ISBN: 9781472127457

Dimensions: 196mm x 126mm x 40mm

Weight: 249g

368 pages