Review: The Puppet Show

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

I was thrilled when I received a paperback of this book to read. I'd seen some of the hype around this book on social media, and was eager to get started. I seem to take longer when reading a paperback as I don't tend to take them out with me all the time, so I purchased the kindle copy so I could read the paperback in the comfort of my home and carry on reading while I was out and about at various appointments. It really is a bloody gripping read. To start with I wasn't sure what to expect but once I started, it turned in to a read me now type of book, meaning I had to read at every opportunity.

Set in beautiful Cumbria, bodies are being set on fire in prehistoric stone circles. When one is found to have the name of disgraced Detective Washington Poe (what a fab name that is) carved in to his body, Washington Poe is called back for duty with his suspension lifted. Having been suspended for allowing documents to get in to the wrong hands, Poe returns to work. Working with The Serious Crime Unit it's down to Poe and the team to try and piece together what the hell is going on, and why.
The killer has been named as The ‘Immolation Man’
Poe is teamed up with Tilly Bradshaw a data analyst, who literally says what she is thinking, she has no brain to mouth filter and some of what she comes out with is first class. I love the way this character has been developed through this book and I have to say this series is going to be one I'm following for Tilly alone. I adored her. A first class character. The relationship that grows between Poe and Tilly is fascinating. It's refreshing to see a character like Tilly in books. And I think the author has done an amazing job portraying her character. I'll not go into anymore detail, i'll you read the book to understand what I mean.
Getting to know Poe through the story was brilliant, learning his back story and what makes him tick, this has all been set up nicely for future books.
Poe and Tilly are lead by DI Stephanie Flynn who has temporarily replaced Poe after his suspension. Poe is now working under her. Flynn is another great character, How will things work out between her and Poe now the roles are reversed.
This book, the story was highly entertaining, gripping, captivating, gruesome and one I didn't want to end, if I could have had 100 more pages, I still don't think it would have been enough to feed my want for more. One of the best police procedurals I have read. Why have I not read anything by this author before? OMG he can write. #NewFanHere
This book is the first one this year to get put in to my 2019 Must Reads.

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