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GENRE
Crime; Thriller; Police Procedural

UK PUBLICATION
June 2018
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More by M.W. Craven

The Puppet Show (Washington Poe 1)
M.W. Craven

A serial killer dubbed the Immolation Man is burning old men alive in the middle of the Lake District's prehistoric stone circles.

When the name of disgraced detective Washington Poe is found carved deep into the chest of the third victim, Poe is forced back from suspension and into an investigation in which he wants no involvement. Reluctantly partnered with the brilliant but socially awkward civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw, Poe begins to uncover a trail only he is meant to see. The Immolation Man has a plan and, for some reason, Poe is part of it.

As the body count rises, Poe realises that he has far more invested in the case than he could possibly have imagined. And in a shocking finale - one that will change his life forever - he learns that there are far worse things than being burned alive...

​Rights Sales

Czech Republic:​ Dobrovsky
Germany: Weltbild
Greece:​ Harlenic Hellas
Hungary: Lettero Kiadó Kft
Japan:​ Hayakawa
Poland:​ Filia
Portugal (exc Brazil): 2020 Editora
Russia: AST
Slovakia: Ikar
Spain:​ Roca Editoral
Sweden: Modernista
Taiwan: Spring
Turkey: Arkadya Yayinlari 
UK & Commonwealth: Constable & Robinson

Praise

Shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger Award 2019

​Shortlisted for the Capital Crime / Amazon Publishing Best Crime Novel of the Year Award 2019

Goldsboro Books Book of the Month - June 2018

Shortlisted for the Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award 2019

"This first book in a new series is a brutal and chilling page-turner."
The Sun

"A brutal and thrilling page-turner."
Natasha Harding, The Sun

"Fantastic."
Martina Cole, bestselling author of The Ladykiller

"It's not often I allow myself the luxury of a day to read a book, but I literally could not stop reading.Tilly and Poe are surely set to become firm favourites with crime fiction aficionados. The setting worked well with the murders - brutality set among England's finest scenery. The plot was satisfyingly twisty and clever and the little bright-spots of humour worked well to offer the reader a little respite from the thrill of the read."
Michael J. Malone, author of A Suitable Lie

"Dark, sharp and compelling."
Peter James, author of the bestselling Roy Grace series

"A thrilling curtain raiser for what's set to be a great new series."
Mick Herron, author of Spook Street

"This book is twisted and dark and I loved it - not sure what that says about me."
Simon Toyne, author of The Boy Who Saw

"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