The Puppet Show

  • Crime; Police Procedural; Thriller

  • June 2018

    • Bengali: Chirkut Publishers

    • ​China: Spring

    • Czech Republic:​ Dobrovsky

    • Croatia: Znanje

    • Denmark:​ Jentas

    • Estonia:​ Kirjastus Pegasus

    • France: L'Archipel

    • Germany: Droemer

    • Greece:​ Harlenic Hellas

    • Hungary: Lettero Kiadó Kft

    • Israel:​ Kinneret Publishing

    • Japan:​ Hayakawa

    • Netherlands: Luitingh Sijthoff

    • North Macedonia: Sakam Knigi

    • Poland:​ Filia

    • Portugal (exc Brazil): 2020 Editora

    • Russia: AST

    • Slovakia: Ikar

    • South Korea: Wisdom Publishing

    • Spain:​ Roca Editoral

    • Sweden: Modernista

    • Turkey: Arkadya Yayinlari

    • UK & Commonwealth: Constable & Robinson

Washington Poe Book 1

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...

  • WINNER OF 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

Selected Praise

It’s not often I allow myself the luxury of a day to read a book, but I literally could not stop reading.
— Michael J. Malone, author of A Suitable Lie
This first book in a new series is a brutal and chilling page-turner.
— The Sun
A thrilling curtain raiser for what’s set to be a great new series.
— Mick Herron, author of the Slow Horses series

Also by M. W. Craven

Washington Poe series

Other books by M. W. Craven