“Every mark tells a story. This one ends in blood..
A MONSTER. A MOTHER. A MURDER?
When Vice Admiral Boyer, RN (retd) died without leaving a will, his estranged daughter inherited his – not inconsiderable – estate. Called home to sort through his belongings, she found an AegisBox – a tamper proof safe within a safe designed to self-destruct if anyone without the code attempts to open it. Unable to walk away without the truth, she uncovered something so horrifying it launched the biggest investigation in the National Crime Agency’s history.Five years later, Washington Poe is unwittingly, and unwillingly, sucked into its gravity…
Finally able to escape the authority they railed against, Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are enjoying their new jobs as private detectives or – as the sign on their door says – ‘Gumshoes for Hire’. When a teenage girl walks into their office, looking for the mother she long believed to be dead, they agree to take the case. As Poe and Tilly investigate the girl’s claims, they find themselves drawn into a murky world of trafficking, pornography and prostitution. Will they be able to help the girl find her mother, or will the dark forces at work, who will stop at nothing to protect themselves, get there first…“
Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of The Killer’s Mark by M.W. Craven. The Killer’s Mark is published by Constable today (that’s Thursday 13th August 2026) and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats with the paperback to follow. I chose to read a free eARC of The Killer’s Mark but that has in no way influenced my review.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the publication of a new Tilly and Poe thriller is the highlight of my bookish year. No exaggeration at all. I confess, I do wax lyrical about this series. That’s because it’s the best thing out there for crime fiction fans by a country mile, and knowing there are readers out there who would LOVE this series as much as I do but are completely in the dark, kind of breaks my heart. You’re missing out on greatness. It has everything you could possibly need. Peril, tension, grit (bucketloads of the stuff), humour, darkness in abundance, violence, suspense, humour; all alongside two of the greatest fictional creations this century has seen. I did warn you that I’m a little bit in love with this series, right? The Killer’s Mark is the eighth book and (I think I’ve said this with each new book the author has published) this is the best book yet! I don’t know how that’s possible. With each new release, that bar is pushed higher and higher. When you have something that’s already exceptionally good, how do you better it? I don’t know how. But M.W. Craven certainly does.
So, the eighth book isn’t always the best place to start a new series. Not when there has been so much going on before this point. I think you *could* read this book as a standalone. You could, but you would be missing out on a helluva lot of background information. Washington Poe, Tilly Bradshaw and friends (not forgetting the enemies!) have been through a lot to get to this point. If you’re comfortable knowing that, and still want to start with the eighth book, then knock yourself out. However, my advice would be to start at the beginning of the series. Get to know the characters, watch how Tilly and Poe’s friendship builds over time, see how the unshakable trust and mutual respect between these two outsiders becomes the cornerstone of the entire series. It’s worth the investment. They’ll make you laugh, maybe cry; they’ll blind you with Tilly’s stellar intelligence and Poe’s quick-thinking. The books, as a whole, are a thrilling, enthralling, compulsive joy to read in order. I’m really quite jealous if you’re new to this series. You’re in for a treat. But yeah. Sure. You *could* just dive in with book eight! 😉
Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw have turned their backs on the National Crime Agency and have started their own Private Investigation business. They’re gumshoes for hire. Business, however, is…slow. Mostly due to Poe’s complete lack of interest in any of the cases that come their way. That is until Emerée Blue walks through their door. Feisty, fifteen years old, and simmering with anger, she’s looking for her mother. A mother she believed was dead but is very much alive in the adult movie clip she’s just seen. There’s something about the case, and something about Emerée, that brooks no argument. This is a case our intrepid gumshoes will be accepting. A missing persons case quickly spirals into something much, much bigger and much, much darker. With the NCA, FBI, Interpol and Europol all keeping a close eye on proceedings, this could be Tilly and Poe’s most deadly case yet. Because the forces they’re dealing with this time will stop at nothing to protect their own interests…
My favourite book of the year without a shadow of a doubt. Outstandingly good, utterly riveting, and the most gripping storytelling I have experienced in a long time. Wow. The pacing is top-notch with moments of light in amongst the dark (and oh boy, it’s dark). Craven’s laugh-out-loud moments of humour run alongside some of the most unpleasant ways humans can treat one another and it works so incredibly well. The characters are sublime. I can’t help but feel I’ve already shared my thoughts on our lead protagonists, so I’m going to concentrate more on the supporting cast. I completely believed in every single character in the book. They were real people to me. You have Estelle, of course. Poe’s wife. Who, with each book, takes a step closer to the spotlight. I find her so intriguing and I love that the author is working her towards the front of the pack and making her one of the main characters. Then there’s Emerée Blue, who has an instant connection with Poe and Estelle (Tilly understandably takes a little longer to warm to her). She’s fiery, American and quite unfamiliar with how British life rolls. I found her equal parts endearing and equal parts frustrating! But what a character. And I can’t forget Matt Towler, who I first met in another of the author’s series featuring DI Avison Fluke. Towler did make an appearance in this series in the seventh book, The Final Vow, and now he’s back for more bad-ass, gun-totting, fear-inducing threat, and I bloody loved it! The man doesn’t give a monkey’s, and I was cheering him on from the sidelines.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I loved everything about The Killer’s Mark. It’s a thrilling, exhilarating dive into the darkest pits of humanity, and I couldn’t tear myself away from Craven’s beyond excellent storytelling. I know what you’re thinking, ‘Emma is clearly a fan of this series so she’s biased’. If that’s the case, check out the other reviews. Don’t just take my word for it. Everything worked for me in this book and I can’t see another being as good as The Killer’s Mark to knock it off its ‘book of the year’ perch. Good luck trying other books! Superb characters, a twisty, totally compulsive, perfectly paced plot with some truly dark themes running throughout. Craven brings Cumbria and the North East vividly to life for the reader. I’ve never visited, but through these books, I feel I have (in a strange way). All in all, The Killer’s Mark is testament to what a talented writer M.W. Craven is. I would give this book all the stars if I could (why stop at five…?). Nerve-racking, propulsive, irresistible and totally addictive. Beautifully intense but also brilliantly funny throughout. Another crime fiction masterclass. Highly recommended. Don’t mind me, I’m off to Gregg’s for a sausage flat. See you later!
I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Killer’s Mark. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
M. W. Craven was born in Carlisle but grew up in Newcastle, running away to join the army at the tender age of sixteen. He spent the next ten years travelling the world having fun, leaving in 1995 to complete a degree in social work with specialisms in criminology and substance misuse. Thirty-one years after leaving Cumbria, he returned to take up a probation officer position in Whitehaven, eventually working his way up to chief officer grade. Sixteen years later he took the plunge, accepted redundancy and became a full-time author. He now has entirely different motivations for trying to get inside the minds of criminals . . .
M. W. Craven is married and lives in Carlisle with his wife, Joanne. When he isn’t out talking nonsense in the pub, he can usually be found at punk gigs and writing festivals up and down the country.
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