WINNER OF THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2023 'The most joyously exciting
novel I've read in years . . .[The] sense of fun and adventure . . . allied to a remarkable
lightness of touch over nightmarish subject matter makes for the kind of novel that inspired
me to write fiction in the first place..' Chris Brookmyre 'Mesmerising macabre and
murderously funny. The Botanist is M.W. Craven at his sinister best. I couldn't love this
series more' Chris Whitaker '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 . . . ' Another
classy thriller from the king of Cumbrian crime' Paul Finch ' Unputdownable gripping
clever and with a rich seam of trademark Craven humour running through it' Imran Mahmood ' A
sinful treat' Vaseem Khan ' Fast furious and utterly enjoyable. ' Keith Nixon More
Praise for M W Craven: 'Heart-pounding hilarious sharp and shocking Dead Ground is further
proof that M.W. Craven never disappoints. Miss this series at your peril. ' Chris Whitaker
'Dark and entertaining this is top rank crime fiction. ' Vaseem Khan Author of the Malabar
House series and the Baby Ganesh Agency series 'M. W. Craven is one of the best crime writers
working today. Dead Ground is a cracking puzzle beautifully written with characters you'll be
behind every step of the way. It's his best yet.' Stuart Turton 'Fantastic' Martina Cole
'Dark sharp and compelling' Peter James 'I've been following M.W. Craven's Poe Tilly series
from the very beginning and it just gets better and better. Dead Ground is a fast-paced crime
novel with as many twists and turns as a country lane. I can't wait for the next one.' Peter
Robinson ' Dead Ground is both entertaining and engaging with great characters and storyline.
I loved this first dip into the world of Tilly and Poe!' BA Paris 'A brutal and thrilling
page turner' Natasha Harding The Sun 'A thrilling curtain raiser for what looks set to be a
great new series' Mick Herron 'A powerful thriller from an explosive new talent. Tightly
plotted and not for the faint hearted!' David Mark 'A gripping start to a much anticipated
new series' Vaseem Khan 'Satisfyingly twisty and clever and the flashes of humour work well
to offer the reader respite from the thrill of the read.' Michael J. Malone 'Nothing you've
ever read will prepare you for the utterly unique Washington Poe' Keith Nixon
