Synopsis
Winner of the CWA Gold Dagger Award 2019
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
Publisher information
- Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
- ISBN: 9781472127457
- Number of pages: 368
- Dimensions: 196 x 126 x 40 mm
- Weight: 249g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
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A Super Introduction to the World of Washington Poe
I cannot wait for another dose of Washington Poe, a most engaging detective. The story here is set in the Lake District and the Immolation Man haunts its p... READ MORE
Thriler of the year - so far! Can it hold the title until 31 Dec?
Firstly, thank you to the lovely Mari Hannah for suggesting I might enjoy this! How right she was.
I had never heard of M W Craven before. Thank you to him... READ MORE
A gripping and very descriptive thriller
A gripping and very descriptive debut novel. Be prepared to put your life on hold while you read this book. Follow Poe and Tilly while they journey into th... READ MORE
If you enjoy gritty police procedurals, a touch of the macabre, horror or serial killer thrillers then this is a book for you!
This is a belter of a debut novel and I am already burning (hahaha) for the next in the series! The main characters are so well written and fleshed out tha... READ MORE
Brilliant start to what promises to be a great series!
A little over a year ago I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing a book called Body Breaker written by Mike Craven (that's Mike Craven as in M.W. Crave... READ MORE
This is a belter of a debut novel and I am already burning (hahaha) for the next in the series!
The main characters are so well written and fleshed out that you cant help but like them, especially Tilly. For me she stole the show!
Poe makes an intere... READ MORE
Crime mystery at its best
I read this book within 7 days and I did not see that ending coming! I was gripped from start to finish trying to figure out who the serial killer was. I n... READ MORE
Gruesome fun
A serial killer, dubbed The immolation Man, is burning people alive in the Lake District’s prehistoric stone circles. The police are helpless as the kille... READ MORE
HUMDINGER of a debut
This is a HUMDINGER of a debut.
The Puppet Show was a MUST READ for me as I'd heard rave reviews on several Facebook Crime Book Clubs. Despite this I foun... READ MORE
An exciting, vivid, technicolour read with great characters, brilliant plotting and lots of action.
Excellent. Just loved it. The Puppet Show is really good storytelling married with strong and coherent plotting and a couple of protagonists who really eng... READ MORE
Loved Tilly and Poe!
Thanks to Fiona for recommending this terrifyingly dark read. The plot was well developed with a very clever ending set in my favourite part of the country... READ MORE
Come meet the 'Immolation Man'
I cannot wait for another dose of Washington Poe, a most engaging detective. The story here is set in the Lake District and the Immolation Man haunts its p... READ MORE
Loved it
This is a truly fabulous dark thriller, a debut from M.W Craven which I sure is going to be a bestseller for 2018.
The characters are well written and you... READ MORE
The desolation of the Lake District alongside the horror of the method of killing work so well together!
There are three reasons why I requested this - firstly, the endorsements of Peter James and A.A. Dhand, both authors I love. Secondly, the cover, and final... READ MORE
Unputdownable...
It was stunning! This novel was dark and twisty in all the right places, after all, they are hunting a terribly vicious serial killer, but it also has laug... READ MORE
Brilliant, just brilliant!
Oh My Goodness Me! Having read a couple of the authors other books, I knew I would be in for a good reading experience, I hadn't been prepared to be totall... READ MORE
Deliciously dark and chilling
The Puppet Show is the first in a new series by M.W.Craven featuring detective Washington Poe; what a fabulous name. Washington Poe is suspended at the be... READ MORE
detective books go, this has to be in my opinion one of the best
Washington Poe was the Detective Inspector of the National Crime Agency (NCA) until a mistake saw him put on suspension whilst an investigation began into ... READ MORE
Great characters
This is a good story, well told but what sets it above the many others in this genre is Poe and Tilly. They are definitely an odd couple but a good example... READ MORE
Great Read.
Having recently read the second novel in the D.S.Washington Poe series, Black Summer, I just had to read the first book, The Puppet Show. I was not disappo... READ MORE
Fab Debut! Five Stars!
Call me a psychic! A five star psychic! I predicted that The Puppet Show was going to be brilliant, and I was right! I knew it! I just knew it!
It gave me... READ MORE
This is a belter of a debut novel and I am already burning (hahaha) for the next in the series!
This is a belter of a debut novel and I am already burning (hahaha) for the next in the series! The main characters are so well written and fleshed out tha... READ MORE
5/5
Cover very intriguing! Really enjoyed this novel, plenty of twists and turns throughout. Recommended, 5/5.
Great start to a new series
Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are two names worth remembering for all the right reasons. He's a discredited detective, currently suspended from the pol... READ MORE
Bradshaw and Poe are wonderful!
If you have not yet discovered Tilly Bradshaw and Washington Poe go and seek them out — it will be worth it. They are wonderful, especially Tilly who, amo... READ MORE
A Truly Memorable Pairing
I've just finished this book which I read after seeing it had won the Golden Dagger in 2019, quite a new fan of crime fiction so not that aware of the vari... READ MORE
The Puppet Show
Excellent if gruesome new crime fiction, so good I immediately ordered the next one.
Great. Outside my usual reads.
Was gifted a box set of MW Craven books by a mate at work. I rarely read crime thrillers, probably only 2-3 before this and they’ve never sat with me.
... READ MORE
A Superb introduction to the series
I picked this book up because I had heard such great reviews. I was not disappointed, in fact this may turn out to be my favourite book series ever!
The P... READ MORE
Superb
The best crime fiction I've read in a long time. Craven is a Cumbrian genius!
A brilliant start to a compelling series
Whilst I know I am late to this series, it is a treat to have the rest of the books to look forward to.
The characterisation of Washington Poe, a detec... READ MORE
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