Black Summer (Washington Poe Book 2)

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.--- The door behind her opened and the huge frame of Edward van Zyl, Director of Intelligence, National Crime Agency, filled the space next to Flynn. His expression was as grim as a cancer diagnosis. ‘We have a problem, Poe,’ he said. Why am I not surprised? he thought. It's the soundtrack to my life. . .What a horrible couple of weeks for D.S. Washington Poe. Six years ago, he began investigating a missing persons case that he changed into a homicide investigation and ended up arresting the woman's father for murder. He was convicted and received a life sentence. But now, a young woman has come forward claiming to be the not-at-all-murdered woman with a tale of being held captive for years by a rapist she just escaped from. DNA appears to back her claim.The question now is, why did Poe's investigation go so wrong? Was it because of a grudge against the father? Was he lazy, or just incompetent? Poe has to wrestle with self-doubt, but he knows he did everything right with this case. Worse than not understanding what happened to get the investigation on the wrong track is the idea that if Elizabeth Keaton is actually alive, then her father, celebrity chef, Jared Keaton, will be released from prison. That thought chills Poe. How on earth did you describe Jared Keaton to someone who didn’t know him? Charming. Charismatic. Highly intelligent. A genius chef. No conscience whatsoever. The most dangerous man Poe had ever met. He’d taken an instant dislike to him. He was too superficial, too well groomed, too polished. He’d reminded Poe of a fake Irish pub. Pretty, but of no real substance.Poe goes on to explain to a detective looking into the claims of the woman claiming to be Elizabeth that Jared Keaton was warm and outgoing in public/on TV, but in reality, was cold and sadistic. Not anyone he wants walking free—especially as he'll be carrying a grudge.Poe has mere days to prove this woman isn't who she says she is and keep Keaton in prison (and save his career, or at least his reputation). A few days later, when Elizabeth goes missing and the evidence points to Poe doing something to her, he realizes it's worse than all that. He's in a fight for his freedom. He's going to need some help, so he calls in his new friend Tilly.She'd already appeared via videoconference, but Tilly showing up makes all the difference. I was already hooked—riveted, really—by the story, don't get me wrong, but within half a scene or so of her showing up at Poe's, I was enjoying the book. It's a fine distinction, but it was something I registered at the time. Poe's a strong character, Tilly's delightful—but there's something about the combination of the two of them that just really ticks all of my boxes. Bradshaw had spent most of her working life, and a large part of her childhood, in academia undertaking research in mathematics. As brilliant as she was, until she’d joined the National Crime Agency there’d never been any need to learn the social skills that everyone else took for granted, the skills everyone began learning in the schoolyard. And, as maths was a binary science with little room for selective interpretation, she had never grasped how to express an argument. Maths didn’t have subtlety. It didn’t need discretion and it didn’t need empathy. It was either right or wrong. Maths told the truth and therefore so did she. It would never occur to her to do anything else.I'm not sure that Tilly's contributions are as valuable to this case as they were in the previous novel—not that she doesn't make many, nor that they're not important—but the clinchers here come from putting the pieces together as Poe does. This is a Poe vs. Keaton showdown, and the big moments have to come from him.The two jump into their investigation, reworking the original to the best of their ability, while also examining the evidence and circumstances around Elizabeth's return and disappearance. How could Keaton be orchestrating all this? How could he be succeeding at it? What's his end game? Yes, it has to be Poe's working hypothesis that Keaton's behind it all. If he starts with a position of self-doubt he'll never get anywhere—or if he does, it'll be too late to do any good.Soon, Poe begins to realize that he's asking the wrong questions as he's looking at the pile of evidence. But what are the right questions? Once he starts asking those, we're off to the races for a great finish. Most good mysteries—especially in the police procedural realm—have this kind of moment, but it's rarely so self-consciously done. It's generally the result of the ever-so-convenient new witness coming forward, a forensic test finishing at a convenient time, a piece of evidence the detective should've picked up on 150 pages earlier dropping out of thin air or something like that. Here, it's Poe realizing that he's not getting anywhere and taking steps to fix that. It's a minor thing, but it's this kind of minor thing that when combined all the other minor and major things going on that takes a good mystery novel and turns it into a great one.There are some great supporting characters—D.I. Flynn isn't in this book as much as she was The Puppet Show, but she's still as vital to the plot. Ditto for her boss. Detective Superintendent Gamble returns, as well—as a major supporter of Poe. But the best characters (that aren't Poe or Tilly) are a couple of new ones. The first we meet is DC Andrew Rigg, who's the one to initially interview Poe about the original case and prosecution, the returned Elizabeth, and everything else. He's convinced that Poe botched the initial investigation and is disgusted with him and full of righteous anger (Poe understands and assumes he'd act the same way in Rigg's shoes), but he's not a simple two-dimensional antagonist, he's a good cop and that governs his actions and reactions. The second is Estelle Doyle, a forensic pathology lecturer and a pathologist extraordinaire. She's brilliant, no mistake—but she's got one of the darkest and strangest senses of humor, an extreme type of gallows humor. She sets Poe on edge ("incredibly sexy and utterly terrifying"), but there's a mutual trust and affection, too.I have to talk briefly about Poe's springer spaniel, Edgar. I mentioned Edgar in my Favorite 2018 Fictional Dogs post, and he's back again, bringing a little joy into this pretty dark book. The few paragraphs we get devoted to him when Poe goes to pick him up from his neighbor who was watching him might send a few readers to a breeder or a shelter before they finish the book. But Edgar does more than just bring happiness to the book—there's a huge chunk of story that works only because of Edgar. I can't get into it, just take my word for it. Which is just one more of the nice moves that Craven executed in the design of this novel.You've got yourself a very clever mystery—or more, actually, most of it depends on how you want to count them. A fantastically creepy murderer (or is he?), some great supporting characters, and a couple of dynamite central protagonists—what more do you need? How's about a breakneck pace and tension that doesn't really let up? The first note I made about this book was, I'm "glad Craven gave us all of zero pages to get comfy before getting all morbid and creepifying." It's pretty relentless from there—right up until the last interview, which might elicit a chuckle or two from a reader enjoying watching a brilliant criminal get outsmarted.But beyond the plot and character, Black Summer features some dynamite writing. A lot of book bloggers, myself included, focus on plot and character—or theme—and we frequently overlook the actual writing—the prose, the execution of the book, that sort of thing. I frequently get hung up on voice, style, and tone and don't get beyond that when considering the writing. But there was something about the quality of this novel that made me pay attention. This is one of the best-written books I've read in 2019. A little sample (I'm restricting myself to one example, and I'm not including as much of this as I want to), from Poe and Tilly going to interview a person connected to Elizabeth's past in a nasty, "grubby pub called the Coyote" (better known as the Dog): Poe pushed open the door and stepped inside. His nose went into shock. The Dog smelled worse than a toilet. He didn’t want to know what the actual toilets smelled like. The air was hot and smoky and perfumed with the cloying scent of cannabis. The windows and ceiling were stained yellow with nicotine. Fat bluebottles feasted on something wet and organic on the worn, frayed carpet. Poe’s money was on blood. Probably from the bare-chested man using his own T-shirt to stem the flow coming from what looked like a recent head wound. Despite his injury, he continued to drink and chat with the man sitting next to him. It was that kind of place.By the time Craven's really done describing the place (a little less than a page later), you feel like you're in the room with them and want to hurry home to take a long shower to get the grime off and to wash your clothes to get the stench out. The first three pages are enough to elicit a visceral reaction and may make you consider a vegan diet (for at least a few days). Can I tell you exactly what it was that Craven did that others don't? No. Maybe if I'd gotten around to getting that post-graduate degree I'd have the tools, but I don't. Still, as Justice Stewart said, "I know it when I see it." I see it here.I was blown away by The Puppet Show last year, and Black Summer shows that it wasn't a fluke. I'm already losing patience for the 2020 arrival of The Curator, and am only mollified by the repackaging/republishing of Craven's earlier series this winter. If you're at all inclined to Crime Fiction, you need to track down M. W. Craven's work in general and Black Summer in particular.

The characters are really fun to read as well as the storyline. I’m looking forward to the next book. Would have given 5 stars but a few of the interactions were a bit odd as the story got wrapped up.

This is my 2nd book in a row by this author and the 2nd in this series, and I cannot remember the last time a new author grabbed me this much that I sit here ignoring work I should be doing & instead turning pages in my kindle.I never do that, I always cut myself off as there’s so much to do, but nope it’s 3 hrs past when I should of been hard at work, and all I was working on was my theories for how this crime was committed!In all honesty this author & the characters he has created are so brilliant, that they’ve become people in my mind and I’m sure in many others, they’re endearing, they have faults and flaws and much as the author himself has said .. We wouldn’t have them any other way.

This was a really good story couldn't put it down it gripped you until! The end. Recommend the series. Great

I am hooked on Mr. Craven’s Washington Poe series. He has fashioned one of the best detective characters since Sherlock Holmes. And surrounded him by a thrilling cast of support roles - both colleagues (my favorite is super geek Tilly Bradshaw) and malevolent villains. Highly recommended.

After that very disturbing opening scene I had to look up "ortolan bunting," and, yes, it is a thing, even including the strange practice of putting the napkin over your head. But I was a bit heartened to read that it is illegal in a growing number of countries (including France where it originated). The scene is described in such detail that it is really stomach-churning. That and a later scene where the reader is hit with a very vivid description of ... let's just say the aftermath of a murder ... is haunting and will stay with you for awhile. "Black Summer" is the second in Craven's Washington Poe series, and is a great detective story with a locked room type mystery that seems impossible to solve. The brilliant analyst Tilly Bradshaw is back and delightful as ever. I would not say it ends on a cliffhanger (which are extremely annoying) but the last few pages do open the door to further the sub-plot that makes the reader eager to get to the third installment.

I always know that when I read a book that is written by this author, I am in for a heck of a rollercoaster ride. And so it was with this one as well.A young woman staggers into a library and tells the police officer there that her name is Elizabeth Keaton. The same Elizabeth Keaton whose father is in prison for murdering her.Naturally enough, Poe put Jared Keaton in prison and doubt hangs over his head now that he botched up the case, back then. It is up to him and Tilly Bradshaw (and some sympathetic colleagues) to try and figure out this mystery.I had absolutely no idea where this book was going but I enjoyed it, very much. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Mike Craven's mind is a scary place, lol.4.5 stars from me.

Washington Poeシリーズの2作目。娘のElizabethを殺した罪でPoeが逮捕し、有罪になって投獄されていた料理人Jared Keaton。しかし6年たってElizabethを名乗る女性が現れ、血液検査でDNAがElizabethのものと一致したため事件が見直されることになった。Elizabethは父親に殺されたと確信しているPoeは再びFlynnやBradshowとタッグを組み、この「血液の謎」との格闘を開始する。大きな目標がひとつあって、それを達成するためにBradshowが素早く現状を把握し、明らかにすべき点をささっと列挙するところは彼女の面目躍如。読者も頭を整理できる。あれこれとっちらかった、手掛かりになるかどうかもわからない数多の事実で読者を惑わすという、本来この手の小説がとる手法の逆をいく斬新なテクニックには今回も唸らされた。それでいて手掛かりはあらゆる角度から分析され、躊躇するまもなく事件は動き続け、その端から畳み掛けるように思いがけない事実が明らかになっていく躍動感。沈滞などという言葉はこの作品には表出しない。だいたい、ただ人が殺されました、誰が殺したのでしょう、ではないユニークな発想で最初からがーっと読者を引きずり込んでいくのが、もうなんというか見事でしかない。そして留めが意表を突きすぎる真相である。本作もあっという間に読み終えてしまった。すっかり中毒になってしまい、3冊目をさっそく注文した次第である。余談だか、本作には家を建てるのに使われる石の話がでてくる。Poeがこだわりを持っているのである。Anne Cleevesの小説にも家の念入りな描写がひんぱんに登場するし、AnthonyHorowitzの最新作でも「家に関しては皆なかなかうるさいものである」というような記述が見られるしで、英国人の家に対する意識というのは格別高いようだ。そんなところに注目して読むのもまた私は楽しい。

WOW I really enjoyed Black Summer (Washington Poe, book 2) by M W Craven.The first part of the book is not for the squeamish as it is told in great detail about a dish served in a three star Michelin restaurant.Tilly Bradshaw has a new position and is head of her section of analysts whom she calls the Scooby Gang as they all watch Buffy the vampire show but everyone knows them as the Mole People.Jared Keaton chef to the stars is serving a life sentence for the murder of his daughter Elizabeth even though her body was never found and Detective Washington Poe's testimony was more than enough to keep him locked up for good.After six years a young woman walks into a police station claiming to be Jared Keaton's daughter and all the evidence is going to make Poe's testimony obsolete and also end his career.Tilly, DI Flynn and Poe have their work cut out as they try to prove whether this is actually Elizabeth or not and there is an amazing twist at the end.I love the way M W Craven describes Cumbria and the weather conditions so vividly.

This was just what I needed. Poe, the hero of the stories, is an obnoxious but sympathetic hero who loves cumberland sausage and winds up almost everyone he comes in contact with. His visual memory helps him to find lateral solutions to crimes, while his geeky sidekick, Tilly, provides the scientific and technical underpinning.The plots are wildly improbable and there is a tendency for the super-villains to be manipulative Moriarty types who can bend things around to keep the plots going. Nothing wrong with that though. The books are easy and fun!

I fell on my first Craven book by perusing through the Amazon offers. It was nr.4 and i chose it because ofthe interaction with Poe and his brilliant but social live handgrenade Tilly. I'm a bibliophile, i love and crave the written word in any genre. I have several writers on an automatic buy list. After my first WW Craven book, i did something i never did before , i bought every book from this man in one batch. I even bought the new one in advance. I simply crave (pardon the pun) the Craven books. In this one Poe is in trouble, not again you say, well thanks to him a psycho was put in jail for murdering his daughter. Okay, good job you say. But what do you say when the murdered daughter steps into a police station. Poe will need his best friend Tilly and all his other friends and collegues to stay out of prison, as the girl disappears again and guess who is accused of killing her.

Good book good characters. Not quite as good as the last one and a tiny mistake by the author. He says heroin leaves the system in A matter of hours when I know from experience it takes at the very least 48hrs.