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Washington Poe #5
Der Botaniker
'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 . . .
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 . . .
556 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published June 2, 2022
552 people are currently reading
5306 people want to read
About the author
M.W. Craven
48 books2,787 followersM. 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 with his springer spaniel, or talking nonsense in the pub, he can usually be found at punk gigs and writing festivals up and down the country.
M. W. Craven is married and lives in Carlisle with his wife, Joanne. When he isn’t out with his springer spaniel, or 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,038 reviews
December 9, 2022
Another intelligently plotted and brilliantly conceived thriller from one of my favourite crime / thriller authors, M.W. Craven. The standout for me in Craven’s books is the storytelling and the way Craven ramps up the tension, thrill, and anticipation, and maintains this to the last word. The layers he builds into the story are meticulously planned, the details and unveiling of evidence and insights into people is forensically plotted, and the characters he has created are likeable and perfectly ‘hinged’.
A serial killer who is as elusive as he is famous, daring in his actions as he is methodical in his planning. A man with a grudge but we don’t know how and why he chooses his victims; we just know he is able to penetrate the most secure and protected of places and people.
Captivating, immersive and brazen.
The Plot
Personal friend of the gritty detective Washington Poe is charged with murder. With all the evidence pointing to Estelle Doyle’s guilt, this amounts to the perfect set-up or the truth that Estelle did in fact murder her father.
Meanwhile, back in London the body bags start to accumulate as a new killer comes onto the scene. A killer who remains elusive and faceless with little traces of who he is and why he is carrying out this string of murders. Even his means of delivering the poison is every bit as mysterious.
Fear not though because Poe with his nerdy sidekick Tilly are on the case and bring the same wit, humour and unconventional style, that I have come to love.
Review and Comments
Storyline and Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The plot was gripping and written at a pace that controlled and intensified the feeling of fear and terror. I loved that the book was unpredictable and it was only towards the end that the reader could piece together all the treads of the story. As it should be in crime novels.
Plausibility ⭐⭐⭐ The one rub I had with ‘The Botanist’ was the plausibility. Individually all the killings were believable but when you combine and look at the total picture, they start to feel inconceivable. Yes, someone might have a secret room that a killer could hide in. Yes, it might be possible to change someone’s prescription to administer poison but combine all the plot elements and it starts to feel this book was right on the edge of being a bit too far-fetched. In contrast however, the investigative work was convincing. You could imagine these highs and lows in any police investigation, and the way Poe and Tilly unravelled the plot also felt authentic. So mixed.
Main Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recently criticised the trendy pairing of the flawed detective and nerdy sidekick. However, Craven does this better than most and you could well believe he created the concept. Poe is unconventional although flawed, but it is his intelligence that allows him to push the boundaries on acceptable levels of engagement and permissible police work. Tilly is the perfect companion with perfectly timed responses and actions that makes this feel like the perfect marriage rather than a detective duo.
Writing Style ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I love Craven’s writing style and the way he builds a story. It works brilliantly for my personal tastes, and I often think you couldn’t write any of this differently. The balance of humour and sensitivity, with the fear and tension and a forensically plotted story, put Craven up there as a favourite crime / thriller writer.
Apart from my slight rub, this was another great story from Craven with superb character development superb and another expertly written book by the master of suspense.
Intense, calculated, and immersive.
4.5 rounded up as it is Craven.
A serial killer who is as elusive as he is famous, daring in his actions as he is methodical in his planning. A man with a grudge but we don’t know how and why he chooses his victims; we just know he is able to penetrate the most secure and protected of places and people.
Captivating, immersive and brazen.
The Plot
Personal friend of the gritty detective Washington Poe is charged with murder. With all the evidence pointing to Estelle Doyle’s guilt, this amounts to the perfect set-up or the truth that Estelle did in fact murder her father.
Meanwhile, back in London the body bags start to accumulate as a new killer comes onto the scene. A killer who remains elusive and faceless with little traces of who he is and why he is carrying out this string of murders. Even his means of delivering the poison is every bit as mysterious.
Fear not though because Poe with his nerdy sidekick Tilly are on the case and bring the same wit, humour and unconventional style, that I have come to love.
Review and Comments
Storyline and Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The plot was gripping and written at a pace that controlled and intensified the feeling of fear and terror. I loved that the book was unpredictable and it was only towards the end that the reader could piece together all the treads of the story. As it should be in crime novels.
Plausibility ⭐⭐⭐ The one rub I had with ‘The Botanist’ was the plausibility. Individually all the killings were believable but when you combine and look at the total picture, they start to feel inconceivable. Yes, someone might have a secret room that a killer could hide in. Yes, it might be possible to change someone’s prescription to administer poison but combine all the plot elements and it starts to feel this book was right on the edge of being a bit too far-fetched. In contrast however, the investigative work was convincing. You could imagine these highs and lows in any police investigation, and the way Poe and Tilly unravelled the plot also felt authentic. So mixed.
Main Characters ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I recently criticised the trendy pairing of the flawed detective and nerdy sidekick. However, Craven does this better than most and you could well believe he created the concept. Poe is unconventional although flawed, but it is his intelligence that allows him to push the boundaries on acceptable levels of engagement and permissible police work. Tilly is the perfect companion with perfectly timed responses and actions that makes this feel like the perfect marriage rather than a detective duo.
Writing Style ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I love Craven’s writing style and the way he builds a story. It works brilliantly for my personal tastes, and I often think you couldn’t write any of this differently. The balance of humour and sensitivity, with the fear and tension and a forensically plotted story, put Craven up there as a favourite crime / thriller writer.
Apart from my slight rub, this was another great story from Craven with superb character development superb and another expertly written book by the master of suspense.
Intense, calculated, and immersive.
4.5 rounded up as it is Craven.
May 23, 2022
MW Craven gives us another stellar addition to his wonderful DS Washington Poe of the NCA and genius analyst, the polymath Matilda 'Tilly' Bradshaw series. Poe finds himself with 2 frustrating locked room mysteries he refers to as 'black magic', Northumbria Police have arrested his friend and eminent pathologist, the caustic Estelle Doyle, for the murder of her father, the lack of footprints in the snow point to her as the only suspect, not to mention there is GSR (Gun Shot Residue) on her hands. Doyle's response is to ask the police to tell Poe, he doesn't need to think twice, he knows she is innocent, he just has to work out how she has been set up and by whom. Then there a serial killer on the loose, named The Botanist, who is targeting unpleasant victims, the kind who plague our contemporary realities, who struggle to garner any sympathy from the public, or from the police for that matter, but they have the task of hunting down the elusive killer.
A notorious misogynist, Kane Hunt, reveals a death threat, a pressed dried flower and appalling poetry, prior to dying on a live TV talk show, he is found to have been poisoned. This is followed by the shamelessly corrupt and disgraced Tory MP for Sheffield East receiving the same type of threat, and despite being closely guarded, found dead in his bath. A far right social media commentator, monetising racism, claiming truth and facts are 'fake news', is isolated and closely monitored in hospital by both medical staff and the police, yet once again The Botanist manages to slip through the net. DI Stephanie Flynn, Poe and even Tilly struggle to find any leads, how is the botanist getting away with his crimes, he has surfaced out of the blue, how did he get to be so good? Surely he must have committed similar crimes before? In a twisted narrative a popular killer develops a cult following and Doyle is charged with murder, the pressure is on to solve 2 impossible time sensitive cases.
Craven has engaged in impressive research in this thrill ride of a crime read, it has his trademark comic moments, banter and hilarity, with the guileless, on the spectrum, Tilly often being the source with her unfiltered comments. This is a riveting crime read, entertaining and engaging, with Poe's character seeing some serious development as he finally ventures into territory he has been so wary of. The author continues to write crime fiction that delights and shows him at the top of his game. Highly Recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
A notorious misogynist, Kane Hunt, reveals a death threat, a pressed dried flower and appalling poetry, prior to dying on a live TV talk show, he is found to have been poisoned. This is followed by the shamelessly corrupt and disgraced Tory MP for Sheffield East receiving the same type of threat, and despite being closely guarded, found dead in his bath. A far right social media commentator, monetising racism, claiming truth and facts are 'fake news', is isolated and closely monitored in hospital by both medical staff and the police, yet once again The Botanist manages to slip through the net. DI Stephanie Flynn, Poe and even Tilly struggle to find any leads, how is the botanist getting away with his crimes, he has surfaced out of the blue, how did he get to be so good? Surely he must have committed similar crimes before? In a twisted narrative a popular killer develops a cult following and Doyle is charged with murder, the pressure is on to solve 2 impossible time sensitive cases.
Craven has engaged in impressive research in this thrill ride of a crime read, it has his trademark comic moments, banter and hilarity, with the guileless, on the spectrum, Tilly often being the source with her unfiltered comments. This is a riveting crime read, entertaining and engaging, with Poe's character seeing some serious development as he finally ventures into territory he has been so wary of. The author continues to write crime fiction that delights and shows him at the top of his game. Highly Recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
June 13, 2022
4.5 Stars! Whenever a new book by M.W. Craven is published, I know I can always expect top-notch, compelling entertainment. The Botanist, featuring Detective Sergeant Washington Poe, is the 5th book in this outstanding crime series. These books are rarely action-packed. The mysteries are mainly solved through careful observation of clues and intelligent deductive reasoning.
Detective Poe is a glum, sullen man with few friends, but his character shows tremendous growth during this book. He can count his friends on one hand, but he is dedicated and loyal to all, and they return that loyalty with trust and support. The returning cast includes the indispensable and adorable Tilly Bradshaw, whose genius computer skills and memory are unsurpassed. She is naive, lacks social skills and is oblivious to social cues. Her unfiltered comments are hilarious. Poe is supportive of his reclusive boss, D I Stephanie Flynn and friends with the abrasive pathologist, Estelle Doyle. He also counts his closest neighbour and sheep farmer, Victoria, who acts as his dog-sitter among his few friends.
Estelle Doyle's father has been shot to death in his study. Estelle is the only suspect. She has gun residue on her hands, the murder weapon is missing, and only her footprints are observed on the newly fallen snow. On her arrest, she asks the police to tell Poe. He thinks she has been set up but has no idea the perpetrator or the motive. Poe has no hesitation in believing his friend is innocent despite all the facts pointing toward her guilt. He is facing a 'locked-room' puzzle, which is something he hates and likens such mysteries to black magic.
He is also involved in another very complex locked-room situation. This ongoing mystery seems impossible to solve with logic and scientific facts. Three notorious victims have died by poison by an unknown villain nicknamed the Botanist. He has sent each intended victim a poem and a pressed flower as a warning.
The first victim, a hateful misogynist, collapses on a live TV show and later is found to have died from poison. A corrupt Tory MP was involved in pharmaceutical fraud resulting in deaths. He is found dead in his bath from poison despite being heavily guarded. An extreme right-wing social commentator with vile racist views, claiming opposing facts are 'false news,' dies in hospital while heavily guarded by police and hospital staff. The Botanist seems to be capable of poisoning his chosen victims, who were under heavy security measures and surveillance. Now another intended victim is under guard. Will he survive?
Poe, Tilly, and Flynn need to solve an insurmountable puzzle.
Poe suggests the Botanist must be invisible and able to walk through walls. A new character has been added. He is a former journalist who has reached rock bottom as a drunk, living in filth and squalor. He is allowed to tag along on the investigation if he can remain sober and will write about this complicated case if it can ever be solved.
Highly recommended!
Detective Poe is a glum, sullen man with few friends, but his character shows tremendous growth during this book. He can count his friends on one hand, but he is dedicated and loyal to all, and they return that loyalty with trust and support. The returning cast includes the indispensable and adorable Tilly Bradshaw, whose genius computer skills and memory are unsurpassed. She is naive, lacks social skills and is oblivious to social cues. Her unfiltered comments are hilarious. Poe is supportive of his reclusive boss, D I Stephanie Flynn and friends with the abrasive pathologist, Estelle Doyle. He also counts his closest neighbour and sheep farmer, Victoria, who acts as his dog-sitter among his few friends.
Estelle Doyle's father has been shot to death in his study. Estelle is the only suspect. She has gun residue on her hands, the murder weapon is missing, and only her footprints are observed on the newly fallen snow. On her arrest, she asks the police to tell Poe. He thinks she has been set up but has no idea the perpetrator or the motive. Poe has no hesitation in believing his friend is innocent despite all the facts pointing toward her guilt. He is facing a 'locked-room' puzzle, which is something he hates and likens such mysteries to black magic.
He is also involved in another very complex locked-room situation. This ongoing mystery seems impossible to solve with logic and scientific facts. Three notorious victims have died by poison by an unknown villain nicknamed the Botanist. He has sent each intended victim a poem and a pressed flower as a warning.
The first victim, a hateful misogynist, collapses on a live TV show and later is found to have died from poison. A corrupt Tory MP was involved in pharmaceutical fraud resulting in deaths. He is found dead in his bath from poison despite being heavily guarded. An extreme right-wing social commentator with vile racist views, claiming opposing facts are 'false news,' dies in hospital while heavily guarded by police and hospital staff. The Botanist seems to be capable of poisoning his chosen victims, who were under heavy security measures and surveillance. Now another intended victim is under guard. Will he survive?
Poe, Tilly, and Flynn need to solve an insurmountable puzzle.
Poe suggests the Botanist must be invisible and able to walk through walls. A new character has been added. He is a former journalist who has reached rock bottom as a drunk, living in filth and squalor. He is allowed to tag along on the investigation if he can remain sober and will write about this complicated case if it can ever be solved.
Highly recommended!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2022
This is a cracking read from beginning to end as the dynamic trio ride again! There’s DS Washington Poe of the NCA, his long suffering boss DI Stephanie Flynn and let’s not forget the inimitable, total genius that is Tilly Bradshaw. I love these three!
When Poe’s favourite pathologist Professor Estelle Doyle is arrested in Newcastle for the murder of her father, he rushes North to assist. It’s clearly a set up but why and how can they refute the damning evidence? As if that’s not enough there’s an incredibly clever serial killer nicknamed The Botanist who seems to be invisible. He’s targeting high profile unsympathetic (not the word Poe uses but I’ll keep it clean!) characters such as a misogynist, a corrupt MP and a racist social media ‘influencer’. The team have absolutely no idea how The Botanist is getting to them and the team and associated police forces are totally up against it but this is no ordinary team … Yes, we have us a locked room style mystery MW Craven style….
There’s so much I love about a Poe/Bradshaw read. First of all, you can be sure the plot will be clever, well researched and fast paced. This one has me gripped and in its thrall throughout with some really good twists and you think MC has done and then he hits you with a clever final one right at the end. Well played! Secondly, the characterisation is impeccable and as for the dialogue. let’s settle for smart. The trademark humour is present throughout whether via Tilly’s unfiltered delightful innocence or Poe’s more curmudgeonliness or Flynn’s wisecracks that make me hoot with laughter. This is one of the things that makes these books stand out for me.
It must be obvious I’m a huge fan of the series and I can’t wait for number 6. Highly recommended.
When Poe’s favourite pathologist Professor Estelle Doyle is arrested in Newcastle for the murder of her father, he rushes North to assist. It’s clearly a set up but why and how can they refute the damning evidence? As if that’s not enough there’s an incredibly clever serial killer nicknamed The Botanist who seems to be invisible. He’s targeting high profile unsympathetic (not the word Poe uses but I’ll keep it clean!) characters such as a misogynist, a corrupt MP and a racist social media ‘influencer’. The team have absolutely no idea how The Botanist is getting to them and the team and associated police forces are totally up against it but this is no ordinary team … Yes, we have us a locked room style mystery MW Craven style….
There’s so much I love about a Poe/Bradshaw read. First of all, you can be sure the plot will be clever, well researched and fast paced. This one has me gripped and in its thrall throughout with some really good twists and you think MC has done and then he hits you with a clever final one right at the end. Well played! Secondly, the characterisation is impeccable and as for the dialogue. let’s settle for smart. The trademark humour is present throughout whether via Tilly’s unfiltered delightful innocence or Poe’s more curmudgeonliness or Flynn’s wisecracks that make me hoot with laughter. This is one of the things that makes these books stand out for me.
It must be obvious I’m a huge fan of the series and I can’t wait for number 6. Highly recommended.
June 14, 2022
In my review of Book 4 in the series, I made a point of doubting that Craven would ever be able to top that in Book 5. I was so wrong. This one is about as good as it gets and is now my favorite in the series. Everything about it works for me; the interesting complexity of the crimes; the gentle side humor that keeps things flowing; and finally for once, the fact that Craven seems to overcome his difficulty of bringing things together smoothly at the end. All good!
August 10, 2025
Plot -- 4 stars -- lots of unexpected twists and turns, but the criminal mind behind the evil doings is a bit too perfect to be true; everything is twisted a bit too well to have a realistic feel to it.
Entertainment/unputdownability (if it's not a word, it should be! :) ) -- 5 stars -- fast-paced and gripping.
Technical details -- 5 stars -- the author's police experience and professional knowledge about poisons are put to good usage.
Characters -- 3 stars -- there isn't much character development or interesting characterization; the characters are a peculiar bunch, but most are based on a cliche: a female scientist with the brain of a genius and zero social skills; a tough and lonely down-to earth policeman with troubled past; a sexy, mysterious and super-clever pathologist; an evil genius criminal etc.
Writing -- 3 stars -- solid, neither is there anything special about it, nor is it particularly well-done.
So why 3 stars? Because I liked it but didn't love it.
I might still read the first book in the series one day -- the interactions between the main characters are probably quite interesting there, as they come to know each other. Actually, I thought this one was the first, but only because I messed it up with The Naturalist, which is also on my to read list.:)
Read in 2023.
Entertainment/unputdownability (if it's not a word, it should be! :) ) -- 5 stars -- fast-paced and gripping.
Technical details -- 5 stars -- the author's police experience and professional knowledge about poisons are put to good usage.
Characters -- 3 stars -- there isn't much character development or interesting characterization; the characters are a peculiar bunch, but most are based on a cliche: a female scientist with the brain of a genius and zero social skills; a tough and lonely down-to earth policeman with troubled past; a sexy, mysterious and super-clever pathologist; an evil genius criminal etc.
Writing -- 3 stars -- solid, neither is there anything special about it, nor is it particularly well-done.
So why 3 stars? Because I liked it but didn't love it.
I might still read the first book in the series one day -- the interactions between the main characters are probably quite interesting there, as they come to know each other. Actually, I thought this one was the first, but only because I messed it up with The Naturalist, which is also on my to read list.:)
Read in 2023.
May 21, 2024
4,5⭐
Thriller de la factoría Craven. No defrauda.
Dice la sinopsis:
El sargento detective Washington Poe puede contar a sus amigos con los dedos de una mano, y una de ellos es Estelle Doyle, la mordaz patóloga forense a la que acude cada vez que tiene preguntas sobre algo húmedo y orgánico. Cuando el padre de Estelle aparece muerto en su domicilio con dos tiros en la cabeza, Poe no dudará en acudir en su ayuda. Estelle tiene residuos de pólvora en las manos y sus huellas son las únicas que aparecen entrando a la casa. Mientras tanto, un envenenador al que la prensa ha apodado "el Botánico" envía poemas y flores prensadas a personas famosas. Poe odia los misterios de crímenes imposibles, pero ahora le toca resolver dos.
Mis impresiones.
Quinta entrega de la serie protagonizada por Washington Poe y Tilly Bradshaw. Una saga que a pesar de los que lleva publicados sigue enganchando cosa mala. Esta última novela es de las que más me han gustado.
La fórmula es más o menos la misma de entregas anteriores: una trama bien armada, ritmo muy vivo, giros bien colocados y, brillando sobre todo lo demás, el carisma de los dos protagonistas. Poe sigue siendo intuitivo, inteligente y con sentido del humor. Tilly ingenua y brillante. En esta ocasión Poe tiene un mayor protagonismo que Tillly. Si en las dos novelas anteriores le reproché a Craven el que lo fiara todo demasiado a las habilidades informáticas de Tilly, en esta última ha moderado bastante ese aspecto. Bradshaw sigue siendo brillante, sus habilidades informáticas siguen presentes, pero, esta vez, el autor ha hecho mayor hincapié en su capacidad de razonamiento, deducción y proyección, lo que le ha conferido una mayor credibilidad al desarrollo argumental.
La novela se articula en dos tramas de crimen de habitación cerrada. Este tipo de argumentos no son sencillos, pero Craven se ha desenvuelto bien en ese terreno. Todos los interrogantes que plantea encuentran respuesta lógica, más o menos retorcida, pero coherente y plausible. Como suele ser habitual en el autor, no abusa de las casualidades ni hace trampas. Nos deja pequeñas pistas convenientemente dosificadas. La novela no pierde interés en ningún momento, ni antes de saber el quién y sus motivos ni después. La intriga se mantiene de principio a fin.
Por supuesto sigue presente el otro pilar en el que se asienta esta serie, los toques de humor, los diálogos entre los protagonistas o las intervenciones de Tilly, que nos arrancan más de una carcajada. Los detractores de la serie argumentan que Tilly Bradshaw no es un personaje creíble. Entiendo que para gustos colores y no seré yo quien le reproche ni sus gustos ni su opinión a otros lectores. Sí decir que no es mi caso. El encanto del personaje me conquistó desde la primera entrega y hasta hoy. Creo que ese es el secreto del éxito de las novelas de Craven, si te dejas conquistar por Poe y Tilly te los crees y el disfrute está garantizado.
El final, como ya he comentado coherente y plausible. Me ha gustado el recurso que utiliza Craven para presentar el desenlace con la alternancia adelante y atrás en el tiempo.
En conclusión. Un thriller bien armado, que engancha cosa mala. Buen ritmo, tensión que se mantiene de principio a fin y el carisma de Poe y Tilly. Recomendable.
Thriller de la factoría Craven. No defrauda.
Dice la sinopsis:
El sargento detective Washington Poe puede contar a sus amigos con los dedos de una mano, y una de ellos es Estelle Doyle, la mordaz patóloga forense a la que acude cada vez que tiene preguntas sobre algo húmedo y orgánico. Cuando el padre de Estelle aparece muerto en su domicilio con dos tiros en la cabeza, Poe no dudará en acudir en su ayuda. Estelle tiene residuos de pólvora en las manos y sus huellas son las únicas que aparecen entrando a la casa. Mientras tanto, un envenenador al que la prensa ha apodado "el Botánico" envía poemas y flores prensadas a personas famosas. Poe odia los misterios de crímenes imposibles, pero ahora le toca resolver dos.
Mis impresiones.
Quinta entrega de la serie protagonizada por Washington Poe y Tilly Bradshaw. Una saga que a pesar de los que lleva publicados sigue enganchando cosa mala. Esta última novela es de las que más me han gustado.
La fórmula es más o menos la misma de entregas anteriores: una trama bien armada, ritmo muy vivo, giros bien colocados y, brillando sobre todo lo demás, el carisma de los dos protagonistas. Poe sigue siendo intuitivo, inteligente y con sentido del humor. Tilly ingenua y brillante. En esta ocasión Poe tiene un mayor protagonismo que Tillly. Si en las dos novelas anteriores le reproché a Craven el que lo fiara todo demasiado a las habilidades informáticas de Tilly, en esta última ha moderado bastante ese aspecto. Bradshaw sigue siendo brillante, sus habilidades informáticas siguen presentes, pero, esta vez, el autor ha hecho mayor hincapié en su capacidad de razonamiento, deducción y proyección, lo que le ha conferido una mayor credibilidad al desarrollo argumental.
La novela se articula en dos tramas de crimen de habitación cerrada. Este tipo de argumentos no son sencillos, pero Craven se ha desenvuelto bien en ese terreno. Todos los interrogantes que plantea encuentran respuesta lógica, más o menos retorcida, pero coherente y plausible. Como suele ser habitual en el autor, no abusa de las casualidades ni hace trampas. Nos deja pequeñas pistas convenientemente dosificadas. La novela no pierde interés en ningún momento, ni antes de saber el quién y sus motivos ni después. La intriga se mantiene de principio a fin.
Por supuesto sigue presente el otro pilar en el que se asienta esta serie, los toques de humor, los diálogos entre los protagonistas o las intervenciones de Tilly, que nos arrancan más de una carcajada. Los detractores de la serie argumentan que Tilly Bradshaw no es un personaje creíble. Entiendo que para gustos colores y no seré yo quien le reproche ni sus gustos ni su opinión a otros lectores. Sí decir que no es mi caso. El encanto del personaje me conquistó desde la primera entrega y hasta hoy. Creo que ese es el secreto del éxito de las novelas de Craven, si te dejas conquistar por Poe y Tilly te los crees y el disfrute está garantizado.
El final, como ya he comentado coherente y plausible. Me ha gustado el recurso que utiliza Craven para presentar el desenlace con la alternancia adelante y atrás en el tiempo.
En conclusión. Un thriller bien armado, que engancha cosa mala. Buen ritmo, tensión que se mantiene de principio a fin y el carisma de Poe y Tilly. Recomendable.
January 14, 2023
The Botanist is another great addition to the Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw series (I'm a little sad we have to wait until next year for book 6)
It's a typical Poe Washington book its dark, it's humourous, it has that good old race against time feel to it which keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The crimes are horrific and the killer is just crazy.
The characters are a joy to read which makes it hard to put down, (it was a bit of a shock that Tilly didn't have to save Poe )
There's plenty of laugh out loud and eye rolling moments, and even a tiny bit romance.
This series is definitely for anyone who enjoys crime/thrillers with a bit of humour and unforgettable characters 📚
It's a typical Poe Washington book its dark, it's humourous, it has that good old race against time feel to it which keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The crimes are horrific and the killer is just crazy.
The characters are a joy to read which makes it hard to put down, (it was a bit of a shock that Tilly didn't have to save Poe )
There's plenty of laugh out loud and eye rolling moments, and even a tiny bit romance.
This series is definitely for anyone who enjoys crime/thrillers with a bit of humour and unforgettable characters 📚
February 13, 2023
Washington Poe, accompanied by Matilda Bradshaw, is faced with not one but two locked room mysteries in one of the most compelling thrillers I’ve read in recent times. These types of mysteries are typically mind-bending conundrums that demand some careful detective work to solve. The seemingly impossible crime that has been cunningly pulled off requires a good deal of lateral thinking and a clever author to pull off. M.W. Craven proves that he is very clever indeed in his construction of The Botanist.
The acerbic wit of Poe and the off-beat genius of Tilly continues to ensure that there’s endless entertainment while tasked with the serious job of tracking down a serial killer.
The first of the locked room mysteries actually involves three murders with the promise of more to come. The person known only as The Botanist prefaces each murder with the delivery of a dried flower and some very ordinary verse that serves as an early warning describing the method of the forthcoming death, each time by poisoning. Despite the early warnings and a blanket police protection around the victim, The Botanist succeeds each time. Making this an even more difficult case is the fact that each of the targeted victims are contemptible people and consequently, and very unusually, the public is decidedly on the side of The Botanist who is fast developing a huge social media following.
The second locked room mystery comes to Poe when his friend and colleague, eminent pathologist Estelle Doyle is arrested, accused of murdering her father. The damning evidence comes from the fact that there is a single trail of footprints in the snow outside the house in which he was shot. The only people in the home were Estelle and her father. On top of that, Estelle was found to have GSR (gun-shot residue) on her hands, evidence that she had recently fired a gun.
Each of the cases that have fallen at Poe’s feet require his immediate attention with quick and decisive action required either to attempt to save a life or prevent a close friend from being wrongly convicted. The fact that the two cases are in different parts of the country means that we, along with Poe, are wrenched from one city to the next with a suddenness we risk whiplash. In short, this is an extremely fast-paced story that constantly challenges you to keep up.
Those of us who have read the earlier 4 books in the series will understand that one of the big draw cards to the series is the interaction between all of the main characters. Poe and Tilly’s verbal jousting (mainly down to the lack of social filtering on the part of Tilly) is endlessly amusing. But the clever plotting and diabolically perplexing mysteries are superior enough to keep the puzzle-solvers among us completely engaged from the first page to the last.
You can tell that even Mike was impressed with what he had achieved when reading the opening of his Acknowledgements…
“Well, what do you know, you wait your whole career to write a locked room mystery, and two come along in the same book. I had a lot of fun writing The Botanist…”
Well played, Mike Craven, well played indeed.
The acerbic wit of Poe and the off-beat genius of Tilly continues to ensure that there’s endless entertainment while tasked with the serious job of tracking down a serial killer.
The first of the locked room mysteries actually involves three murders with the promise of more to come. The person known only as The Botanist prefaces each murder with the delivery of a dried flower and some very ordinary verse that serves as an early warning describing the method of the forthcoming death, each time by poisoning. Despite the early warnings and a blanket police protection around the victim, The Botanist succeeds each time. Making this an even more difficult case is the fact that each of the targeted victims are contemptible people and consequently, and very unusually, the public is decidedly on the side of The Botanist who is fast developing a huge social media following.
The second locked room mystery comes to Poe when his friend and colleague, eminent pathologist Estelle Doyle is arrested, accused of murdering her father. The damning evidence comes from the fact that there is a single trail of footprints in the snow outside the house in which he was shot. The only people in the home were Estelle and her father. On top of that, Estelle was found to have GSR (gun-shot residue) on her hands, evidence that she had recently fired a gun.
Each of the cases that have fallen at Poe’s feet require his immediate attention with quick and decisive action required either to attempt to save a life or prevent a close friend from being wrongly convicted. The fact that the two cases are in different parts of the country means that we, along with Poe, are wrenched from one city to the next with a suddenness we risk whiplash. In short, this is an extremely fast-paced story that constantly challenges you to keep up.
Those of us who have read the earlier 4 books in the series will understand that one of the big draw cards to the series is the interaction between all of the main characters. Poe and Tilly’s verbal jousting (mainly down to the lack of social filtering on the part of Tilly) is endlessly amusing. But the clever plotting and diabolically perplexing mysteries are superior enough to keep the puzzle-solvers among us completely engaged from the first page to the last.
You can tell that even Mike was impressed with what he had achieved when reading the opening of his Acknowledgements…
“Well, what do you know, you wait your whole career to write a locked room mystery, and two come along in the same book. I had a lot of fun writing The Botanist…”
Well played, Mike Craven, well played indeed.
January 9, 2023
I really enjoy M W Craven's Washington Poe series with its quirky characters, well-developed and quite clever plots, and quality but not ¨look how smart I am¨ writing. I suspect that I would enjoy having a beer with Craven and not talking about anything special.
Poe is a Detective Sargeant in the hinterlands of northern England. He, his everpresent brilliant digital genius and their boss, DCI Stephanie Flynn (who once worked for Poe, prior to his suspension for behavior inappropriate to his job. Now he works for her and everyone seems to find that very workable although there is a lot of kvetching. But that is largely because Poe is intolerant of many things, like those people who do not agree with him and he clearly does not suffer fools gladly so he frequently pisses off others.
A well-known and outspoken misogynist dies during an interview on television. He seems to have been poisoned. In the investigation following his death, a pressed flower and an odd poem are found among his belongings as well as the envelope in which they were sent to him. Very few mourned his death but Poe is a cop and it is his job to solve mysteries such as this one.
A revolting politician (aren't they all) then receives a similar envelope containing a poem and a pressed flower clearing indicating that he is the Botanist's, as the killer has become known, next victim. The politician is then guarded by a squadron of English best security people but, nonetheless, he dies of poison. How is this possible?
Then, in a parallel event, one of Poe's few friends, brilliant pathologist Estelle Doyle is arrested for murdering her father. Poe rushes to her side to try to help disprove the charges. Throughout the remainder of the book, Poe rushes back and forth between Newcastle (Yeah Magpies!!!) where Doyle is imprisoned, and London, where the Botanist's victims seem to be.
Another disgusting person, a racist podcaster, receives the next envelope. Because all of the Botanist's victims are nauseating people, the public loves him/her. T-shirts are sold, clubs are formed, speculation is rampant.
Can Poe stop the Botanist? Can he also prove Doyle's innocence? Is she innocent?
The Botanist is a fun book that I very much enjoyed reading. I'm not certain whether four or five stars are appropriate so I'll base my rating on the degree to which I enjoyed it. If you like cop investigations with a bit of mirth, I would strongly recommend this book BUT, as always, I suggest that you start with the first book in the series.
Fini
Poe is a Detective Sargeant in the hinterlands of northern England. He, his everpresent brilliant digital genius and their boss, DCI Stephanie Flynn (who once worked for Poe, prior to his suspension for behavior inappropriate to his job. Now he works for her and everyone seems to find that very workable although there is a lot of kvetching. But that is largely because Poe is intolerant of many things, like those people who do not agree with him and he clearly does not suffer fools gladly so he frequently pisses off others.
A well-known and outspoken misogynist dies during an interview on television. He seems to have been poisoned. In the investigation following his death, a pressed flower and an odd poem are found among his belongings as well as the envelope in which they were sent to him. Very few mourned his death but Poe is a cop and it is his job to solve mysteries such as this one.
A revolting politician (aren't they all) then receives a similar envelope containing a poem and a pressed flower clearing indicating that he is the Botanist's, as the killer has become known, next victim. The politician is then guarded by a squadron of English best security people but, nonetheless, he dies of poison. How is this possible?
Then, in a parallel event, one of Poe's few friends, brilliant pathologist Estelle Doyle is arrested for murdering her father. Poe rushes to her side to try to help disprove the charges. Throughout the remainder of the book, Poe rushes back and forth between Newcastle (Yeah Magpies!!!) where Doyle is imprisoned, and London, where the Botanist's victims seem to be.
Another disgusting person, a racist podcaster, receives the next envelope. Because all of the Botanist's victims are nauseating people, the public loves him/her. T-shirts are sold, clubs are formed, speculation is rampant.
Can Poe stop the Botanist? Can he also prove Doyle's innocence? Is she innocent?
The Botanist is a fun book that I very much enjoyed reading. I'm not certain whether four or five stars are appropriate so I'll base my rating on the degree to which I enjoyed it. If you like cop investigations with a bit of mirth, I would strongly recommend this book BUT, as always, I suggest that you start with the first book in the series.
Fini
March 12, 2024
Washington Poe returns with his little band of odd but very talented people in an investigation of a serial killer however his favorite pathologic person is also in trouble because she is accused and arrested for the murder of her father.
What the murders have in common is basicly that they are Locked room mysteries.
The Botanist as is the given monicker of the serial culprit has a knack of killing people that are protected and impossible to get at. So Poe has his hands full while hé also wants to help his friend in trouble.
Once again a well written book that is easy and fun to read, it also makes to keep reading because the writer tells his story in such a way that it is difficult to put the book away.
Certainly a good book in a more than good series, well advised if this is your genre.
What the murders have in common is basicly that they are Locked room mysteries.
The Botanist as is the given monicker of the serial culprit has a knack of killing people that are protected and impossible to get at. So Poe has his hands full while hé also wants to help his friend in trouble.
Once again a well written book that is easy and fun to read, it also makes to keep reading because the writer tells his story in such a way that it is difficult to put the book away.
Certainly a good book in a more than good series, well advised if this is your genre.
June 5, 2022
Detective Sergeant Washington Poe returns in another fine thriller from the mind of Mike Craven. When a serial killer the press dub The Botanist is on the loose it's up to Poe & the amazing civilian analyst Tilly Bradshaw to catch him. The Botanist seems to be able to kill his victims no matter how securely they are protected & if that's not enough of a problem things only get worse. Poe's pathologist friend Estelle Doyle is accused of murdering her father....& if there's one thing Poe hates more than a locked room mystery it's two of them!!
Mike Craven gives the reader another gripping page turner with lashing of humour throughout. Like the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, some of Craven's solutions are a little contrived. However, like Christie, the author's sense of humour & fast pacing carry the reader over these before they have time to consider the weaknesses.
If. like me, you feel sad when you get to the end of another Washington Poe adventure there's some good news: at the end of the story there's a sneak peak at the opening chpater of Poe & Tilly's next outing, The Mercy Chair, due for publication i n 2023.
Mike Craven gives the reader another gripping page turner with lashing of humour throughout. Like the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, some of Craven's solutions are a little contrived. However, like Christie, the author's sense of humour & fast pacing carry the reader over these before they have time to consider the weaknesses.
If. like me, you feel sad when you get to the end of another Washington Poe adventure there's some good news: at the end of the story there's a sneak peak at the opening chpater of Poe & Tilly's next outing, The Mercy Chair, due for publication i n 2023.
September 8, 2024
8/10
Reconozco que esta serie me gusta mucho y la disfruto una barbaridad, no es que sea la mejor que he leído, pero la suma de sus diferentes puntos fuertes le da una armonía que me tiene enganchado.
Si habéis seguido mis reseñas ya sabréis que la pareja protagonista me encanta, a pesar de los clichés, forman un dúo muy interesante y que de momento no se me hace nada pesado. La trama en este caso me ha gustado más que el anterior, aunque si es cierto que para que estos libros fueran de 10 le faltaría tener más contexto y sospechosos, para que el lector fuera dudando sobre quien es el culpable conforme iba leyendo. Pero tampoco creo que sea el estilo que busca su autor, aunque a mi si me gustaría una novela estilo Agatha Christie con estos dos protas.
A pesar de las 4 estrellas no veo ningún punto realmente mejorable, salvo pequeños detalles muy personales, que igual a otra persona no le gustarían.
Con ganas ya de que publiquen el sexto en castellano para hacerme con él.
Reconozco que esta serie me gusta mucho y la disfruto una barbaridad, no es que sea la mejor que he leído, pero la suma de sus diferentes puntos fuertes le da una armonía que me tiene enganchado.
Si habéis seguido mis reseñas ya sabréis que la pareja protagonista me encanta, a pesar de los clichés, forman un dúo muy interesante y que de momento no se me hace nada pesado. La trama en este caso me ha gustado más que el anterior, aunque si es cierto que para que estos libros fueran de 10 le faltaría tener más contexto y sospechosos, para que el lector fuera dudando sobre quien es el culpable conforme iba leyendo. Pero tampoco creo que sea el estilo que busca su autor, aunque a mi si me gustaría una novela estilo Agatha Christie con estos dos protas.
A pesar de las 4 estrellas no veo ningún punto realmente mejorable, salvo pequeños detalles muy personales, que igual a otra persona no le gustarían.
Con ganas ya de que publiquen el sexto en castellano para hacerme con él.
June 14, 2022
5th book of series fully deserving of 5 stars
A compelling read start to finish featuring the usual beloved characters in the series with some interesting newbies. This one involves the race between a twisted evil man and the forces of law and order headed by Poe and his team as they try to stay ahead of him.
There is a good deal of medical science in this story adding to the many engrossing themes within the covers including a locked room murder.
Can't wait for the next Poe adventure!
A compelling read start to finish featuring the usual beloved characters in the series with some interesting newbies. This one involves the race between a twisted evil man and the forces of law and order headed by Poe and his team as they try to stay ahead of him.
There is a good deal of medical science in this story adding to the many engrossing themes within the covers including a locked room murder.
Can't wait for the next Poe adventure!
May 6, 2024
Nueva entraga de Poe y Tilly.
Por un lado, asesinan a personas pese a estar protegidos. Nadie sabe como lo hacen.
Por otro lado, un asesinato sin que nadie haya salido y sin que aparezca el asesino. Muy al estilo Agatha Christie.
Caso complejo y a contrareloj que te tiene enganchada hasta el final.
Tilly, como siempre, el personaje que más me divierte.
Esperando que llegue pronto otra de sus aventuras.
Por un lado, asesinan a personas pese a estar protegidos. Nadie sabe como lo hacen.
Por otro lado, un asesinato sin que nadie haya salido y sin que aparezca el asesino. Muy al estilo Agatha Christie.
Caso complejo y a contrareloj que te tiene enganchada hasta el final.
Tilly, como siempre, el personaje que más me divierte.
Esperando que llegue pronto otra de sus aventuras.
April 24, 2023
Always a fan of M.W. Craven and his Washington Poe series, I raced to get my hands on the latest thriller. Each novel in the series has been highly unique and this was no exception. Someone is killing people through highly complex toxins, though the means by which they are administered remain the greatest mystery. Washington Poe and his team work to decipher what’s going on and how they can stay one step ahead of a killer given the moniker The Botanist. A chilling story that reads so easily, proving Craven’s superior abilities.
While he works very hard, Detective Sergeant Washington Poe has few friends on which he can rely. His civilian analyst at work, Tilly Bradshaw, would surely be on top of his friends list. This is why it seems so odd when he receives a call from Estelle Doyle, the long-time pathologist. Estelle’s father has been shot twice in the head and she has gunshot residue on her hands. The authorities see this as an open and shut case, though Estelle espouses her innocence and hopes Poe can prove it.
What’s more baffling than anything, Estelle has been in the house with her father and a sprinkling of fresh snow remains undisturbed. All the while, a mysterious poisoner has been sending high-profile celebrities poems and pressed flowers, explaining how they will die. Their deaths soon follow, though no one can explain how it happened. Enter Poe and Tilly Bradshaw, who begin deciphering the poems, as well as the means by which this poisoner, called ‘The Botanist’, has been completing the task. No amount of police presence or surveillance appears able to help victims, which makes the killings all the more troubling.
The case will require the technical savvy of Tilly Bradshaw, the deductive reasoning of Washington Poe, and the patience neither of them possess to determine what they are missing. It’s a locked room case like no other, something Poe dislikes at the best of times. A thrilling conclusion by M.W. Craven is sure to keep the reader on the edge of their seat until the final page turn.
I have always enjoyed the work of M.W. Craven, as his mysteries push the boundaries of all things in the genre. He is able to effectively craft stories that keep the mind spinning, through use of a strong foundational narrative. The story moves well under his leadership, though it would be nothing without the likes of Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw. These protagonists offer countless moments of humour and deductive reasoning, while also providing a sense of entertainment just when things are getting too serious. Poe knows how to handle Bradshaw, a feat in and of itself, while also proving that he is not the most connected individual. The plot of the story develops well, offering moments of clarity and fogged confusion at the same time. There is so much to take into account that the reader will have to pay special attention to everything in order not to miss any clue or change in the story’s direction. I cannot wait for more, as the characters and the northern setting both appeal to be greatly. Like Tilly and Poe, patience is not my friend.
Kudos, Mr. Craven, for another exceptional read. I was hooked from the opening pages and could not stop.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
While he works very hard, Detective Sergeant Washington Poe has few friends on which he can rely. His civilian analyst at work, Tilly Bradshaw, would surely be on top of his friends list. This is why it seems so odd when he receives a call from Estelle Doyle, the long-time pathologist. Estelle’s father has been shot twice in the head and she has gunshot residue on her hands. The authorities see this as an open and shut case, though Estelle espouses her innocence and hopes Poe can prove it.
What’s more baffling than anything, Estelle has been in the house with her father and a sprinkling of fresh snow remains undisturbed. All the while, a mysterious poisoner has been sending high-profile celebrities poems and pressed flowers, explaining how they will die. Their deaths soon follow, though no one can explain how it happened. Enter Poe and Tilly Bradshaw, who begin deciphering the poems, as well as the means by which this poisoner, called ‘The Botanist’, has been completing the task. No amount of police presence or surveillance appears able to help victims, which makes the killings all the more troubling.
The case will require the technical savvy of Tilly Bradshaw, the deductive reasoning of Washington Poe, and the patience neither of them possess to determine what they are missing. It’s a locked room case like no other, something Poe dislikes at the best of times. A thrilling conclusion by M.W. Craven is sure to keep the reader on the edge of their seat until the final page turn.
I have always enjoyed the work of M.W. Craven, as his mysteries push the boundaries of all things in the genre. He is able to effectively craft stories that keep the mind spinning, through use of a strong foundational narrative. The story moves well under his leadership, though it would be nothing without the likes of Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw. These protagonists offer countless moments of humour and deductive reasoning, while also providing a sense of entertainment just when things are getting too serious. Poe knows how to handle Bradshaw, a feat in and of itself, while also proving that he is not the most connected individual. The plot of the story develops well, offering moments of clarity and fogged confusion at the same time. There is so much to take into account that the reader will have to pay special attention to everything in order not to miss any clue or change in the story’s direction. I cannot wait for more, as the characters and the northern setting both appeal to be greatly. Like Tilly and Poe, patience is not my friend.
Kudos, Mr. Craven, for another exceptional read. I was hooked from the opening pages and could not stop.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 11, 2022
This is the 5th instalment in this, has to be said,brilliantly written series and its great to meet up with Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw again, anyone who has read these books almost always falls for these 2, they are just a readers dream and this readers love for them both continues in this book
Then there’s Estelle,of course she is back but this time she is in real trouble…..
‘The Botanist’ is another perfectly crafted sinister character from the author, why are they sending toxic poems and flowers to victims…before they kill them?
As said I love these books,the characters,the writing,the settings,the dialogue,everything about them is pretty perfect tbh and Book 5 just leaves you with one problem….when is Book 6 due
10/10
5 Stars
Then there’s Estelle,of course she is back but this time she is in real trouble…..
‘The Botanist’ is another perfectly crafted sinister character from the author, why are they sending toxic poems and flowers to victims…before they kill them?
As said I love these books,the characters,the writing,the settings,the dialogue,everything about them is pretty perfect tbh and Book 5 just leaves you with one problem….when is Book 6 due
10/10
5 Stars
June 30, 2022
All things are poison and nothing is without poison.
They call him the Botanist. He is a self-appointed judge, jury and executioner and hunts the misogynists, the corrupt and the morally bankrupt.
Once again Washington Poe and the socially awkward Tilly Bradshaw must team up to find this merciless serial killer and put an end to his sick games.
They call him the Botanist. He is a self-appointed judge, jury and executioner and hunts the misogynists, the corrupt and the morally bankrupt.
Once again Washington Poe and the socially awkward Tilly Bradshaw must team up to find this merciless serial killer and put an end to his sick games.
May 20, 2024
Finalizada. Reconozco mi parcialidad con esta saga. Tilly es mi debilidad. En esta entrega es más ella que nunca. La devoré en un par de días. Nota 5/5. FIN.
May 21, 2024
Una auténtica delicia volver a leer a Poe y Tilly, son mi debilidad. Me encanta como interactúan y me he reído mucho, como siempre, con su sentido del humor. El caso es de los imposibles, de habitación cerrada y no solo uno, sino dos casos. Muy bien hilado y explicado. En resúmen recomendable para disfrutar de una buena lectura.
September 12, 2023
The Botanist is an engrossing read, and a worthy winner of the 2023 British Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. It’s the first book by CWA Gold Dagger Award-winning author M.W. Craven that I’ve read, but won’t be the last.
The prologue and first chapter set two divergent but equally shocking scenes. A group of guided trekkers stumble upon a macabre discovery in a long-abandoned military bunker on the remote Japanese island of Iriomoté-jima. Eighteen months later, a notorious men’s rights activist appears on a British chat show, reveals a mysterious death threat he’s received, then promptly dies a horrible death on live television.
Meanwhile, the Serious Crime Analysis Section of the British National Crime Agency (NCA) are conducting a stakeout in Watford. D.S. Washington Poe, his superior D.I. Stephanie Flynn and polymath crime analyst Matilda “Tilly” Bradshaw are becoming somewhat fractious as they enter the third day of their surveillance in pursuit of a vicious serial rapist. Then Poe receives a desperate summons from his friend and associate Estelle Doyle, Europe’s foremost forensic pathologist. Estelle has been arrested in Northumberland for the shooting murder of her father, a member of the landed gentry. Poe has no doubt of Estelle’s innocence, despite all the evidence pointing towards her guilt.
As Poe begins his own enquires into the curious circumstances of Professor Elcid Doyle’s death, which resembles a fictional “locked room” mystery, a second victim emerges in the mysterious poison letter case. Poe spends the remainder of the narrative shuttling back and forth between the two cases, one official NCA business, the other decidedly not.
The series of poisoning cases is absolutely fascinating, giving the novel its title as an unknown villain targets unpleasant public figures with plant-based poisons. While the victims receive prior warning of their imminent demise, accompanied by an intricate botanical diagram and pressed plant specimen, even Tilly is struggling to determine exactly how the poisonous substances are being administered, even to victims provided with around-the-clock protection.
Poe, Tilly and Flynn make an engaging central trio, with the embattled Estelle playing more of a direct role towards the end of the narrative. Their quirky banter had me laughing out loud at times, despite the gritty subject matter. The intertwined mystery storylines are superlative, providing a robust structure that makes The Botanist a compelling read that’s hard to put down once started.
I’d strongly recommend The Botanist to any lover of quality crime fiction. I’m yet to read the first four books plus a novella in the Washington Poe series, but certainly found no issue with this book as an entry point or standalone read.
The prologue and first chapter set two divergent but equally shocking scenes. A group of guided trekkers stumble upon a macabre discovery in a long-abandoned military bunker on the remote Japanese island of Iriomoté-jima. Eighteen months later, a notorious men’s rights activist appears on a British chat show, reveals a mysterious death threat he’s received, then promptly dies a horrible death on live television.
Meanwhile, the Serious Crime Analysis Section of the British National Crime Agency (NCA) are conducting a stakeout in Watford. D.S. Washington Poe, his superior D.I. Stephanie Flynn and polymath crime analyst Matilda “Tilly” Bradshaw are becoming somewhat fractious as they enter the third day of their surveillance in pursuit of a vicious serial rapist. Then Poe receives a desperate summons from his friend and associate Estelle Doyle, Europe’s foremost forensic pathologist. Estelle has been arrested in Northumberland for the shooting murder of her father, a member of the landed gentry. Poe has no doubt of Estelle’s innocence, despite all the evidence pointing towards her guilt.
As Poe begins his own enquires into the curious circumstances of Professor Elcid Doyle’s death, which resembles a fictional “locked room” mystery, a second victim emerges in the mysterious poison letter case. Poe spends the remainder of the narrative shuttling back and forth between the two cases, one official NCA business, the other decidedly not.
The series of poisoning cases is absolutely fascinating, giving the novel its title as an unknown villain targets unpleasant public figures with plant-based poisons. While the victims receive prior warning of their imminent demise, accompanied by an intricate botanical diagram and pressed plant specimen, even Tilly is struggling to determine exactly how the poisonous substances are being administered, even to victims provided with around-the-clock protection.
Poe, Tilly and Flynn make an engaging central trio, with the embattled Estelle playing more of a direct role towards the end of the narrative. Their quirky banter had me laughing out loud at times, despite the gritty subject matter. The intertwined mystery storylines are superlative, providing a robust structure that makes The Botanist a compelling read that’s hard to put down once started.
I’d strongly recommend The Botanist to any lover of quality crime fiction. I’m yet to read the first four books plus a novella in the Washington Poe series, but certainly found no issue with this book as an entry point or standalone read.
September 23, 2022
4 brilliant stars!
Another great entertainment by M. W. Craven.
I didn’t think he could, but he surprised me.
This was brilliant, quite ingenious and very engrossing.
The are 141 chapters, and mostly are very short, so don’t feel intimidated by the number of pages.
As I read the other 4 books not too long ago, I did find it a bit repetitive, especially when talking about the main characters’ traits, regardless, I enjoyed the storyline and its pace. I didn’t have a moment of boredom.
But I did wish that Tilly had a bigger part in here.
If you have not “met” Washington Poe, Tilly Bradshaw and Estelle Doyle, I do recommend the first two books of this series.
Another great entertainment by M. W. Craven.
I didn’t think he could, but he surprised me.
This was brilliant, quite ingenious and very engrossing.
The are 141 chapters, and mostly are very short, so don’t feel intimidated by the number of pages.
As I read the other 4 books not too long ago, I did find it a bit repetitive, especially when talking about the main characters’ traits, regardless, I enjoyed the storyline and its pace. I didn’t have a moment of boredom.
But I did wish that Tilly had a bigger part in here.
If you have not “met” Washington Poe, Tilly Bradshaw and Estelle Doyle, I do recommend the first two books of this series.
June 28, 2022
Having really enjoyed the early books in this series I'm afraid they are now turning rather formulaic, and the main characters becoming annoying rather than quirky.
Tilly is so brilliant there's nothing she can't do, and Poe's difficulty with authority has turned into a refusal to obey even the most sensible requests. He has become a bully, attempting to blackmail a good police officer just trying to do her job, trying to break into a crime scene and showing no sign of being the brilliant detective they all say he is.
The denouement was like something out of Hercule Poirot mystery, as Poe explains his cunning deductions to the killer. The ending was really disjointed, flicking between two timelines, and losing all sense of tension.
This very nearly got two stars but there were moments I still enjoyed, and I still hold out hope for a return to form.
Tilly is so brilliant there's nothing she can't do, and Poe's difficulty with authority has turned into a refusal to obey even the most sensible requests. He has become a bully, attempting to blackmail a good police officer just trying to do her job, trying to break into a crime scene and showing no sign of being the brilliant detective they all say he is.
The denouement was like something out of Hercule Poirot mystery, as Poe explains his cunning deductions to the killer. The ending was really disjointed, flicking between two timelines, and losing all sense of tension.
This very nearly got two stars but there were moments I still enjoyed, and I still hold out hope for a return to form.
July 19, 2024
4,5
Esta claro que para buen thriller está Craven… con tramas complejas, pero bien hiladas, con una narración que te tiene en tensión y enganchado hasta el final, todo está meticulosamente planificado, desde los detalles hasta la revelación, con personajes perfectos y coherentes.
En esta novela, la quinta entrega de esta serie, vamos a tener dos casos que aparentemente no tienen relación, en ambos estará implicado nuestro detective Poe. Por un lado, una gran amiga suya es acusada de matar a su padre, y por otro en Londres, un asesino en serie esta matando sin saber el por qué y de forma un poco misteriosa,
Poe y Tilly aportaran juntos su humor, su ingenio y ese estilo que tanto les caracteriza para resolver un caso que no hay por donde cogerlo.
Si algo destaca Craven son sus tramas, el ritmo que tienen, y que hasta el mismo final no se unen todas las piezas de la historia. Con un trabajo de documentación impresionante. Ni que decir tengo de los personajes… tenemos a Poe y a Tilly, el detective imperfecto, gruñón, imperfecto, inteligente, con su gran compañera “empollona”, con respuestas y acciones que parecen un matrimonio perfecto.
LA forma de escribir y de narrar me encanta, hay un equilibrio entre el humor y la sensibilidad, con miedo, angustia, tensión que hace que Craven para mí, sea uno de los mejores en novela negra.
Esta claro que para buen thriller está Craven… con tramas complejas, pero bien hiladas, con una narración que te tiene en tensión y enganchado hasta el final, todo está meticulosamente planificado, desde los detalles hasta la revelación, con personajes perfectos y coherentes.
En esta novela, la quinta entrega de esta serie, vamos a tener dos casos que aparentemente no tienen relación, en ambos estará implicado nuestro detective Poe. Por un lado, una gran amiga suya es acusada de matar a su padre, y por otro en Londres, un asesino en serie esta matando sin saber el por qué y de forma un poco misteriosa,
Poe y Tilly aportaran juntos su humor, su ingenio y ese estilo que tanto les caracteriza para resolver un caso que no hay por donde cogerlo.
Si algo destaca Craven son sus tramas, el ritmo que tienen, y que hasta el mismo final no se unen todas las piezas de la historia. Con un trabajo de documentación impresionante. Ni que decir tengo de los personajes… tenemos a Poe y a Tilly, el detective imperfecto, gruñón, imperfecto, inteligente, con su gran compañera “empollona”, con respuestas y acciones que parecen un matrimonio perfecto.
LA forma de escribir y de narrar me encanta, hay un equilibrio entre el humor y la sensibilidad, con miedo, angustia, tensión que hace que Craven para mí, sea uno de los mejores en novela negra.
December 30, 2022
OMG. When I say this series keeps getting better, I'm not kidding.
I have been desperate to get to this since its release. This book is one of the reasons I am trying to cut back on my blog tours in 2023 so I can read some of my own TBR.
This book will be my last book of 2022 and oh wow, did I finish with a bang!
I was half way through when I put my order in for the next book, which isn't even out until 2024!
There are 2 of my favourite characters Poe and Tilly, (although I am obsessed with spaniels so Edgar deserves a mention!) and I have loved my latest outing. Their relationship is wonderful, I laughed so much at the amazing one liners. Craven's fantastic humour oozes out of the pages once again.
But what makes this book such a stellar read is the plot.
There is CONSTANT action and suspense. There are two stories that go along side by side, and usually I would prefer one story over the other, but this book is the prime example of masterfully weaving two stories together. I was obsessed with both. I have been off work this week due to health problems, and I have gotten up every morning at 6am to read.
This was my last read of '22 and goes straight into my 'books of the year' pile for certain.
M.W. Craven, take a bow.
I have been desperate to get to this since its release. This book is one of the reasons I am trying to cut back on my blog tours in 2023 so I can read some of my own TBR.
This book will be my last book of 2022 and oh wow, did I finish with a bang!
I was half way through when I put my order in for the next book, which isn't even out until 2024!
There are 2 of my favourite characters Poe and Tilly, (although I am obsessed with spaniels so Edgar deserves a mention!) and I have loved my latest outing. Their relationship is wonderful, I laughed so much at the amazing one liners. Craven's fantastic humour oozes out of the pages once again.
But what makes this book such a stellar read is the plot.
There is CONSTANT action and suspense. There are two stories that go along side by side, and usually I would prefer one story over the other, but this book is the prime example of masterfully weaving two stories together. I was obsessed with both. I have been off work this week due to health problems, and I have gotten up every morning at 6am to read.
This was my last read of '22 and goes straight into my 'books of the year' pile for certain.
M.W. Craven, take a bow.
June 28, 2025
De las mejores de la serie, disfruté puro de principio a fin en un caso de habitación cerrada exquisitamente desarrollado. Y Tilly, claro, más Tilly que nunca…
No es perdáis esta serie, ningún tiene desperdicio.
No es perdáis esta serie, ningún tiene desperdicio.
June 16, 2022
Clever, compelling and best of all, for a crime novel - cracking comedy. The UK Crime Book Club Facebook group’s favourite duo are back, chasing another fiendish serial killer in this fifth instalment of the Washington Poe series. I’ve seen lots of claims that it’s the best yet - I’m not sure, but it certainly lives up to the hype. While technically this could work as a stand-alone, I recommend reading the series from the beginning - they’re all excellent. We listened to the audiobook, ably narrated by John Banks, in the car.
A devious poisoner is targeting infamous or newsworthy people, racists, misogynists, and callous corrupt capitalists, who are criminals in the court of public opinion, but not the eyes of the law. Somehow he gets to them despite police protection - he’s so confident of success that he sends a warning in the shape of a pressed flower and a poem. DS Poe of the National Crime Agency, and his brilliant sidekick Tilly, are charged with catching him. Then Poe is distracted by the arrest for murder of his friend, pathologist Estelle Doyle - a crime he knows she can’t have committed, despite apparently incontrovertible evidence to the contrary. How will Poe and Tilly catch this most devious of killers?
The joy of this series is in the characters - dogged maverick Poe, with his scathing put downs, naive genius Tilly, with her hilarious questions, and prickly Goth-doc Estelle. They’re each super-smart, and fiercely loyal. We’re also introduced to some intriguing new players, like the washed-up alcoholic journalist and irritable but diligent Northumbria DI who both hinder and help our heroes in equal measure. This features two locked room type conundrums - one of my favourite mystery tropes - and the team working out how they were executed is half the fun. I also enjoyed the medical aspects - a well researched blend of genuine and made-up conditions and pharmaceutical details. 4.5 stars rounded up for keeping us guessing and for the development in Poe’s world which has been a long time coming.
A devious poisoner is targeting infamous or newsworthy people, racists, misogynists, and callous corrupt capitalists, who are criminals in the court of public opinion, but not the eyes of the law. Somehow he gets to them despite police protection - he’s so confident of success that he sends a warning in the shape of a pressed flower and a poem. DS Poe of the National Crime Agency, and his brilliant sidekick Tilly, are charged with catching him. Then Poe is distracted by the arrest for murder of his friend, pathologist Estelle Doyle - a crime he knows she can’t have committed, despite apparently incontrovertible evidence to the contrary. How will Poe and Tilly catch this most devious of killers?
The joy of this series is in the characters - dogged maverick Poe, with his scathing put downs, naive genius Tilly, with her hilarious questions, and prickly Goth-doc Estelle. They’re each super-smart, and fiercely loyal. We’re also introduced to some intriguing new players, like the washed-up alcoholic journalist and irritable but diligent Northumbria DI who both hinder and help our heroes in equal measure. This features two locked room type conundrums - one of my favourite mystery tropes - and the team working out how they were executed is half the fun. I also enjoyed the medical aspects - a well researched blend of genuine and made-up conditions and pharmaceutical details. 4.5 stars rounded up for keeping us guessing and for the development in Poe’s world which has been a long time coming.
July 27, 2023
This book is The Bomb Diggity!!! This dude can seriously write! I find myself slacking on my domestic duties every single time I open this guy's stuff up. M.W Craven is a genius storyteller. He never ever disappoints.
Someone is sending an envelope with a flower and a poem inside. The recipient is someone with heinous transgressions. Then they die. The media calls him The Botanist and they are cheering him on.
Another crime has been committed, Estelle Doyle, the brilliant pathologist's father has been brutally murdered. She is the number one suspect. Poe is racing against time to help prove her innocence.
Poe and Tilly once again are a brilliant duo. These two are my favorite combo out of any series. They blow me away and they will blow you away too! I'm just irritated I didn't read this sooner. Thank goodness for Facebook and the book groups I'm in for their recommendations. This is a stellar series with a top tier author. I highly recommend this series. Bravo, Craven!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Someone is sending an envelope with a flower and a poem inside. The recipient is someone with heinous transgressions. Then they die. The media calls him The Botanist and they are cheering him on.
Another crime has been committed, Estelle Doyle, the brilliant pathologist's father has been brutally murdered. She is the number one suspect. Poe is racing against time to help prove her innocence.
Poe and Tilly once again are a brilliant duo. These two are my favorite combo out of any series. They blow me away and they will blow you away too! I'm just irritated I didn't read this sooner. Thank goodness for Facebook and the book groups I'm in for their recommendations. This is a stellar series with a top tier author. I highly recommend this series. Bravo, Craven!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 18, 2024
I love this special series so much. The author has done it again with a crime mystery and is of the same standard as the other books. My loveable characters are back. Washington Poe, the brilliant crime brain police detective and his side kick Tilly Bradshaw, a civilian geek analyst. DI Flynn is also back amongst the thick of it, following her maternity leave along with Estelle Doyle, a pathologist who has been arrested for the murder of her father. Poe is determined to clear her name and has another maddening case where a poisoner is murdering hated people/celebrities sending them flowers and poems before they die, not one but 2 locked room mysteries to solve. The only slight flaw is Poe always takes his coffee black but somehow manages to drink Flynns breast milk in a stake out, but I can forgive this as the rest is fabulous and I love the books humour usually via the quirks of Tilly. Dark, compelling, fast-paced, twisty crime fiction at its finest. I can't wait for the next book currently on order from the library. Utter brilliance. Loved it.
July 13, 2022
This is one of my favourite crime series EVER and M.W.Craven is a genius he comes up with the most original plots and takes you on a thrilling journey. Poe and Tilly are the stars of this series and I absolutely love them. They are as different as chalk and cheese but they compliment each other perfectly. The banter between the two offers some light relief from this dark tale. The Botanist is one of the most deliciously complicated locked room thrillers I've had the pleasure to read. It’s dark, suspenseful with twists and turns aplenty. The Botanist is a book I would recommend without hesitation and for those of you who love a crime thriller that’s taut and brilliantly twisted it’s a ‘must read’
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