The Mercy Chair by M W Craven

The Mercy Chair by M.W. Craven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - in and out over 4 days

Pages - 485

Publisher - Constable

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin . . .

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.

And finally, he'll tell you about the mercy chair. And why people would rather kill themselves than talk about it . . .
Poe hopes you've been paying attention. Because in this story, nothing is as it seems . . .



My Review

Book six in the Tilly and Poe series, we open with Poe talking to a mental health professional after he has had a traumatic case. Whilst Poe takes us back to before, during and after the incident, in between reliving it and back and forth to the doctors office. A religious fanatic/leader is found murdered, tied to a tree and stoned to death. Poe has to figure out who targeted him and why kill him in such a way. Someone new is assigned to the team and following Poe and co as they delve into the case, Poe is untrusting as is his way and actually quite funny (and rude) to the new guy.

I love Tilly and Poe, no secret at all they are polar opposites and work so so well together. Now on the case they have to look into the past and the dead mans community/followers - secrets, shady behaviours galore so walls flung up at every corner.

Some of the backstory and things Poe discovers is pretty shocking, hate filled, bile, horrific like I can't go into it without spoilers but absolutely shocking hate/violence/torture/homophobia. As usual Craven is really good at weaving a twisty tale but prepared to be angry/outraged. 4/5 from me this time, not sure where Craven is going to take the story next but we look forward to it!

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The Botanist by M W Craven

The Botanist by M.W. Craven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 448

Publisher - Constable

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

'I swear I'm one bad mood away from calling it black magic and going home . . .'

Detective Sergeant Washington Poe can count on one hand the number of friends he has. And he'd still have his thumb left. There's the insanely brilliant, guilelessly innocent civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw of course. He's known his beleaguered boss, Detective Inspector Stephanie Flynn for years as he has his nearest neighbour, full-time shepherd/part-time dog sitter, Victoria.

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.'

Meanwhile, a poisoner the press have dubbed the Botanist is sending high profile celebrities poems and pressed flowers. The killer seems to be able to walk through walls and, despite the advance notice he gives his victims, and regardless of the security measures the police take, he seems to be able to kill with impunity.

For a man who hates locked room mysteries, this is going to be the longest week of Washington Poe's life . . .



My Review

Hello Tilly and Poe, if you haven't read the previous four books, go do it, seriously they are fab and you need the backstory so you love/appreciate the dynamic duo. Someone is murdering people, poisoning them and doing it with "flare" and the whole world watching. Their targets are high profile/celebrity style individuals who are bad/horrible people, so bad that normal folk would be rooting for the bad guy and Tilly and Poe have to help try and crack the case. Where do you even start when you have no idea how they are doing it or who will be next unless the baddy tells you?

As in true Craven fashion we don't just get one thread to follow/focus on, this time we have another case, the quirky/unique pathologist, Estelle, friend of Poe, is accused of murder. Not only accused but the case is looking pretty water tight. Poe is up to his eyes with this high profile poisoner but no way is he going to leave a friend going down. Regardless of how much evidence or how strong the case may be, nor his commitments, Poe isn't going to leave his friend hanging.

Engaging, grabs you pretty much from the opening - the Tilly and Poe books are a big fave in here. We have shady bad guys and I am not talking about the killer, like the folk chosen to die/be targeted are some of society's absolute horror bags. Racism, sexist, folk who think they are above the law, people who say just about anything, the more offensive and sick (for them) the better because it gives them more attention/profile/views. Ugh I got really annoyed at some of them & the flower/poems sent one might say poetic justice? Ooft. I can normally read these books in one sitting/day, I just took a bit of time with stuff going on. Tilly remains Tilly, socially awkward at times, no filter but with a heart of gold and Poe, Poe gets under many folks skin and sometimes treads the line of the law but always from a good place and he is a good/loyal guy. Banter, funnies, shocking, murder, vile people, good people, a whole mixed bag and as per, a page turner, very much looking forward to the next installment, 4/5.

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The Curator by M W Craven Blog Tour

Today is my stop on the blog tour for "The Curator" by author M W Craven, for my stop I have my review.

About the book



A serial killer is leaving displayed body parts all over Cumbria.
A strange message is left at each scene:
Called in to investigate, the National Crime Agency's Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are faced with a case that makes no 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? And when a disgraced FBI agent gets in touch things take an even darker turn. Because she doesn't think Poe is dealing with a serial killer at all; she thinks he's dealing with someone far, far worse - a man who calls himself the Curator. And nothing will ever be the same again . . .




About the author




A brand-new voice in British crime fiction, M. W. Craven was born in Carlisle but grew up in Newcastle. He joined the army at sixteen, leaving a decade later to complete a social work degree and spent seventeen years as a probation officer in Cumbria, rising to the rank of assistant chief officer.




Available to buy NOW, treebook and ebook, from Amazon.

Criss Cross by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 389

Publisher - Little Brown and Company

Source - Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads

A killer with all the skills of a master detective has made Alex Cross the subject of his deranged "investigation."
In a Virginia penitentiary, Alex Cross and his partner, John Sampson, witness the execution of a killer they helped convict. Hours later, they are called to the scene of a copycat crime. A note signed "M" rests on the corpse. "You messed up big time, Dr. Cross."

Was an innocent man just put to death? Alex soon realizes he may have much to answer for, as "M" lures the detective out of the capital to the sites of multiple homicides, all marked with distressingly familiar details -- details that conjure up decades-old cases. Details that conjure up Cross family secrets. Details that make clear that M is after a prize so dear that -- were the killer to attain it -- Alex's heart would no longer have reason to beat.


My Review

An execution, a family convinced Cross and the state are killing the wrong man and soon after another murder, taunting Cross he got the wrong guy. M has been playing with Cross for years and is back, this time the stakes are higher and much is at risk.

I love the Cross books, the family, the pace and the chapters are only a page or two long so perfect as I have, like many, been struggling to read during lock down. This has brought my mojo back, we see more of our beloved Cross family, yet another cat and mouse type case. A murderer taunting the police and taunting Alex specifically. Is this another copycat? Did Alex catch and convict the wrong man?

As always a good pace, engaging, roping the reader in from the opening pages. 27 books in and I still love the series, if you have enjoyed the previous books you will enjoy this one. If you haven't read Patterson before you could start here but I would advise heading back as so many great stories before this one and you get all the back history. 4/5 for me this time, I look forward to the next in the series! I wish they would make more films of the Cross books, every time I read Cross talking I hear Morgan Freeman's voice, we need more of Mr Cross on the big screen!

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The Curator by M W Craven

The Curator by M.W. Craven
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 384

Publisher - Constable

Source - Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads

It's Christmas and a serial killer is leaving displayed body parts all over Cumbria. A strange message is left at each scene: #BSC6. Called in to investigate, the National Crime Agency's Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are faced with a case that makes no 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?

And when a disgraced FBI agent gets in touch things take an even darker turn. Because she doesn't think Poe is dealing with a serial killer at all; she thinks he's dealing with someone far, far worse - a man who calls himself the Curator.

And nothing will ever be the same again...



My Review

You guys know I LOVE Tilly and Poe so I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, if you haven't read them before The Puppet Master is book one, go back and start there. You can pick up from here as a standalone but you miss so so much so do yourself a favour and go read one and two first. Heads up - the books are graphic and have horrific dodgy killers so not for the faint hearted.

A killer who seems to be taunting the police, fingers left in very prominent places, one body easily found, others hidden. Not gender specific, drugs found in the system - no what, how or why. Poe and Tilly get on the case and soon hear rumours of "The Curator" a killer so difficult to find purely by their modus operandis and equally hard to identify how victims are chosen. Teamwork, danger and getting into the heart of it, as per, the team may be facing their biggest most threatening challenge.

You can't help but be drawn into Craven's stories (must be something in the name eh!) I love the team, the bad guys are always horrific and give you the absolute boak, graphic, deadly, dangerous and you are left with no illusions of exactly what has transpired. Always gruesome and boggin, fans of dark crime will love it and if you have read Craven before, you know what is coming and you won't be disappointed, 4.5/5 for me this time.

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The Puppet Show by M W Craven Blog Tour

Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Puppet Show by M W Craven, please check out the other stops as we all offer different content and it is a belter of a book!


The Puppet Show by M.W. Craven
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1.5 days

Pages - 352

Publisher - Constable

Source -Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

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...


My Review

Poe is a cop who gets things done, no matter how many toes he needs to step on. If "The truth is out there" had a human representative, Poe would be it (non supernatural). Pulled from suspension after special focus from a killer, Poe is on the case. A serial killer who is burning his victims alive and leaving them on display, un linked and with no idea who is next the team need all the help they can get. Meet Tilly Bradshaw, genius, socially innocent, one of the best analysts the force has and a misfit. Two total opposites come together to try and find the killer before they can strike again.

Guys, I hope this is one of the series that goes on for a long long time. I LOVE Tilly, she is a genius but total innocent, speaking the truth as she finds it with no thought for social reaction she is both refreshing and hillarious whilst being totally unaware. Poe is a man of the world, he knows exactly what kind of vile creatures are out there, polar opposite and I can't think of a better duo to bounce off each other. You know how kids tend to have no filter and say things in pure innocent that adults can baulk at, that is Tilly but she is off the charts smart. I loved her and could have read about her all day. Poe is a wee bit rogue but quick to stand up for the underdog or anyone being treated badly, again who doesn't love that, two good guys but in non conventional style.

The murders themselves are brutal and the reader is taken along with the police to try and figure out the who and why, why are these victims selected. Why is the bad guy so smart and seemingly miles ahead of the police. Office politics, police procedure, bullying, justice, banter and some laugh out loud moments are only some of the things this book has to offer.

It is busy, it has action, moral character and a few scenes that make you a bit uncomfortable, I hate anyone bullying folk and Tilly is such an easy target. We see her go on a wee journey, actual journey and a wee self discovery, I was whooping and cheering along the way, Poe is pretty epic too, under the gruffness he has a heart of gold.

This was my first time reading this author, I will check out his other books and wait with baited breath for book two. Super stoked to see what is in store for the characters, if I hadn't had stuff to do I would have sank this in one sitting, 5/5 for me. Pacy, gritty, funny, horrific, enthralling and a page turner pretty much through and through, when a book makes you air punch you KNOW you have found an epic read!

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