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*WINNER OF THE CWA GOLD DAGGER AWARD 2019 FOR BEST CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR*

'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

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

'So dark and twisty' Elly Griffiths

'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

About the Author

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Multi-award-winning author M.W. Craven was born in Carlisle but grew up in Newcastle. He joined the army at sixteen, leaving ten years later to complete a social work degree. Seventeen years after taking up a probation officer role in Cumbria, at the rank of assistant chief officer, he became a full-time author. He is an instant Sunday Times bestseller and, for his Cumbria-set Washington Poe series, a recipient of the 2019 Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger, the 2022 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2023. The series has now been translated into twenty-seven languages

Instagram: @m.w.craven
Twitter :@mwcravenuk
Facebook: MikeCravenAuthor

Praise For…

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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