Botanist

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