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Assume Nothing, Believe Nobody, Challenge Everything: Featuring DI Avison Fluke
Betrayals of trust, poker cheats, ambitious barristers, cyber bullies, lost diplomats and revenge are just some of the themes explored in this collection of short stories. As Mike Craven introduces Detective Inspector Avison Fluke and the rest of his characters from Cumbria’s Force Major Incident Team, in tales where little is at seems, the only thing you can do is Assume Nothing, Believe No One, Challenge Everything.
In F.I.I., Fluke is called to the bedside of a malnourished child. Why is she so thin? Why is her mother so keen to help? Is she ill or is something sinister happening? As Fluke gradually exposes a mother’s shocking secret, his belief in human nature is tested to the absolute limit. But even with a full admission the case might still have one last sting in the tail…
In Under the Gun, Fluke finds himself playing poker at the FMIT monthly get together. These social events are supposed to be fun, a way for the team to relax and enjoy each others company outside the pressures of work. So why is Fluke cheating? Will anyone find out, and more importantly, what will happen if they do? Because this isn’t about money, it’s about bragging rights and bragging rights are priceless…
Mot Juste sees Fluke giving evidence at court. Part and parcel of the job, Carlisle Crown Court is like a second home. The crimes FMIT investigate result in huge prison sentences so it’s no surprise they attract their fair share of not guilty pleas. Called to give evidence, Fluke is questioned by an ambitious barrister who will ask anything, and go anywhere to get his client off. Nothing unusual in that, if you’re facing fifteen years, why not throw the dice? But Fluke’s antenna is up. Because this time he’s been called as a witness for the defence. And he has no idea why…
Skuttlebutt is the new social media site kids are dying to immerse themselves in. Sometimes literally. A farmer, desperate for answers as to why his son killed himself, asks Fluke to investigate. Although he’s convinced the coroner’s verdict was correct, Fluke asks Jiao-long, the team’s resident computer genius, to give the boy’s laptop a cursory examination. But Jiao-long doesn’t do cursory examinations. He takes computers seriously and he finds something. On the other side of the Atlantic, in the middle of America’s bible belt, lives an evil so abhorrent Fluke has no choice but to do something, even if it costs him his job. But how do you stop someone who lives thousands of miles away, who can’t be extradited and hasn't even committed a crime?
In the Sudan, flown in to assist the search effort for a missing diplomat, in Lost and Found Fluke finds himself stranded in the middle of a civil war. The embassy has given him a map, a mobile phone, an old Land Rover and not much else. So far he’s driven over two hundred miles without picking up the scent of Olivia Stone and just wants to get back to the hotel for bath and a beer before starting again the next day. But this is Africa and nothing is ever straightforward. Fifty miles from the hotel, his Land Rover develops a mechanical fault and Fluke is about to find out there are things far worse than breaking down in the African bush at night…
With Fluke in hospital, Detective Sergeant Matt Towler investigates the brutal murder of Eleanor Hobbs. She has been kicked to death in the street. With all evidence pointing to two brothers from the notorious Bunney family, Towler moves quickly to arrest them. But he is too late and the family have escaped justice. They were last seen in the Port of Whitehaven getting on a fishing vessel bound for Ireland. But Towler isn’t convinced. He used to be a Para and he’s heard the name Hobbs before.
In F.I.I., Fluke is called to the bedside of a malnourished child. Why is she so thin? Why is her mother so keen to help? Is she ill or is something sinister happening? As Fluke gradually exposes a mother’s shocking secret, his belief in human nature is tested to the absolute limit. But even with a full admission the case might still have one last sting in the tail…
In Under the Gun, Fluke finds himself playing poker at the FMIT monthly get together. These social events are supposed to be fun, a way for the team to relax and enjoy each others company outside the pressures of work. So why is Fluke cheating? Will anyone find out, and more importantly, what will happen if they do? Because this isn’t about money, it’s about bragging rights and bragging rights are priceless…
Mot Juste sees Fluke giving evidence at court. Part and parcel of the job, Carlisle Crown Court is like a second home. The crimes FMIT investigate result in huge prison sentences so it’s no surprise they attract their fair share of not guilty pleas. Called to give evidence, Fluke is questioned by an ambitious barrister who will ask anything, and go anywhere to get his client off. Nothing unusual in that, if you’re facing fifteen years, why not throw the dice? But Fluke’s antenna is up. Because this time he’s been called as a witness for the defence. And he has no idea why…
Skuttlebutt is the new social media site kids are dying to immerse themselves in. Sometimes literally. A farmer, desperate for answers as to why his son killed himself, asks Fluke to investigate. Although he’s convinced the coroner’s verdict was correct, Fluke asks Jiao-long, the team’s resident computer genius, to give the boy’s laptop a cursory examination. But Jiao-long doesn’t do cursory examinations. He takes computers seriously and he finds something. On the other side of the Atlantic, in the middle of America’s bible belt, lives an evil so abhorrent Fluke has no choice but to do something, even if it costs him his job. But how do you stop someone who lives thousands of miles away, who can’t be extradited and hasn't even committed a crime?
In the Sudan, flown in to assist the search effort for a missing diplomat, in Lost and Found Fluke finds himself stranded in the middle of a civil war. The embassy has given him a map, a mobile phone, an old Land Rover and not much else. So far he’s driven over two hundred miles without picking up the scent of Olivia Stone and just wants to get back to the hotel for bath and a beer before starting again the next day. But this is Africa and nothing is ever straightforward. Fifty miles from the hotel, his Land Rover develops a mechanical fault and Fluke is about to find out there are things far worse than breaking down in the African bush at night…
With Fluke in hospital, Detective Sergeant Matt Towler investigates the brutal murder of Eleanor Hobbs. She has been kicked to death in the street. With all evidence pointing to two brothers from the notorious Bunney family, Towler moves quickly to arrest them. But he is too late and the family have escaped justice. They were last seen in the Port of Whitehaven getting on a fishing vessel bound for Ireland. But Towler isn’t convinced. He used to be a Para and he’s heard the name Hobbs before.
- GenresCrime
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 5, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 12, 2017
I met DI Avison Fluke earlier this year in Bodybreaker and even though I didn’t feel I was missing anything by joining the series partway in, I decided to go back to the beginning and read the first Fluke book.
Assume Nothing, Believe Nobody, Challenge Everything is a collection of short stories that introduces you to Fluke and his team whilst solving crimes in Cumbria. They are all brilliant stories that you can read with a brew for 10/15 minutes. I have to say my favourite story is Skuttlebutt; I won’t say too much but I saw the author’s sense of humour shining through. I’ll be returning to Cumbria and Fluke before long and reading Born In A Burial Gown.
If you fancy a police procedural read that’s snappy and doesn’t keep you waiting, I suggest you get yourself a copy of Assume Nothing, Believe Nobody, Challenge Everything.
Assume Nothing, Believe Nobody, Challenge Everything is a collection of short stories that introduces you to Fluke and his team whilst solving crimes in Cumbria. They are all brilliant stories that you can read with a brew for 10/15 minutes. I have to say my favourite story is Skuttlebutt; I won’t say too much but I saw the author’s sense of humour shining through. I’ll be returning to Cumbria and Fluke before long and reading Born In A Burial Gown.
If you fancy a police procedural read that’s snappy and doesn’t keep you waiting, I suggest you get yourself a copy of Assume Nothing, Believe Nobody, Challenge Everything.
December 29, 2019
Interesting array of short stories. Full review at classicmystery.blog
May 25, 2016
ASSUME NOTHING, BELIEVE NOBODY, CHALLENGE EVERYTHING
Intruiging title, eh? Invigorating. Sometimes hilarious. I’m not fond of short stories, mostly because there’s not enough time to get beyond the punchline, to learn about the lives of the characters. This collection of six short stories in ASSUME NOTHING, BELIEVE NOBODY, CHALLENGE EVERYTHING by Mike Craven ©2015 exceeded my expectations in most particulars. We come to care deeply about Detective Inspector Avison Fluke’s team of police- men and women. They’re a clever and thoughtful bunch.
I dislike writing which focuses on what something is not, but I find myself here comparing what I discovered to what I presumed. I’d noticed Mike Craven around various crime fiction sites and he writes well, so in a flurry of responses, Mike’s tend to be amongst those I read. Mike is from Cumbria UK and has spent many years in the probation service. His work has been described as "gritty"—facts which would seem to identify work I don’t want to read. How wrong could I be? Turns out, completely!
Mike’s first novel was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association 2013 Debut Dagger Award. First thing I did when I finished the short stories this morning was to run out and buy myself a copy.
Amendment: Mike's first novel has some very gritty scenes.
Intruiging title, eh? Invigorating. Sometimes hilarious. I’m not fond of short stories, mostly because there’s not enough time to get beyond the punchline, to learn about the lives of the characters. This collection of six short stories in ASSUME NOTHING, BELIEVE NOBODY, CHALLENGE EVERYTHING by Mike Craven ©2015 exceeded my expectations in most particulars. We come to care deeply about Detective Inspector Avison Fluke’s team of police- men and women. They’re a clever and thoughtful bunch.
I dislike writing which focuses on what something is not, but I find myself here comparing what I discovered to what I presumed. I’d noticed Mike Craven around various crime fiction sites and he writes well, so in a flurry of responses, Mike’s tend to be amongst those I read. Mike is from Cumbria UK and has spent many years in the probation service. His work has been described as "gritty"—facts which would seem to identify work I don’t want to read. How wrong could I be? Turns out, completely!
Mike’s first novel was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association 2013 Debut Dagger Award. First thing I did when I finished the short stories this morning was to run out and buy myself a copy.
Amendment: Mike's first novel has some very gritty scenes.
April 11, 2017
I'm not usually a short story fan and I decided to read this to introduce myself to DI Fluke and the team prior to taking part in the blog tour for Mike Craven's new book, BodyBreakers.
This was probably one of the best collections of short stories in this genre that I have ever read! Each of the 5 short stories is tightly plotted and gripping from start to finish. It was a fantastic introduction to the team and I can't wait to get stuck into the new book - but of course I'm going to read Born in a Burial Gown first!
Mike Craven why did it take me so long to discover you!
This was probably one of the best collections of short stories in this genre that I have ever read! Each of the 5 short stories is tightly plotted and gripping from start to finish. It was a fantastic introduction to the team and I can't wait to get stuck into the new book - but of course I'm going to read Born in a Burial Gown first!
Mike Craven why did it take me so long to discover you!
April 21, 2015
When this book arrived in the post, never did I think it would have evoked the excitement it did when I finished it.
Without running through the synopsis again, I will just say that this book is a brilliant, well written and thought provoking collection of short stories which introduces us to DI Avison Fluke and the Cumbrian Major Force Incident Team.
There are five stories in total and each one gives you a different insight into the characters of Assume Nothing, Believe Nobody, Challenge Everything. What I like is that you are not bombarded with overly descriptive text or procedures and instead, it is like you are personally meeting each charcater through the stories in which they feature.
The book is full of humour, justice, passion and experiences which the reader, on some level, can relate to. I have my favourite stories but won't bias any readers as I think each person will take something different from the pages. That, to me, is what separates a good book from a great book...and this truly is a great book!
I can honestly say that I have not felt this excited about a book or an author in awhile and Mike Craven is certainly an author I am going to keep a close eye on! I really look forward to reading more about Fluke and the Major Force Incident Team!
Without running through the synopsis again, I will just say that this book is a brilliant, well written and thought provoking collection of short stories which introduces us to DI Avison Fluke and the Cumbrian Major Force Incident Team.
There are five stories in total and each one gives you a different insight into the characters of Assume Nothing, Believe Nobody, Challenge Everything. What I like is that you are not bombarded with overly descriptive text or procedures and instead, it is like you are personally meeting each charcater through the stories in which they feature.
The book is full of humour, justice, passion and experiences which the reader, on some level, can relate to. I have my favourite stories but won't bias any readers as I think each person will take something different from the pages. That, to me, is what separates a good book from a great book...and this truly is a great book!
I can honestly say that I have not felt this excited about a book or an author in awhile and Mike Craven is certainly an author I am going to keep a close eye on! I really look forward to reading more about Fluke and the Major Force Incident Team!
February 20, 2019
Gutted. Worst kind of mistake on my behalf.... Short stories NOT the NEXT Fluke. I guess this should teach me a lesson: don’t get greedy and buy anything you can find by a ‘new to me’ author whose work has delighted you!
I was onto the third (maybe fourth) chapter - that was really a story - desperately trying to make sense of the jigsaw when I reread the blurb! I don’t do short stories anymore....
...... That said, these cameos offered insight into both individual and team character so nothing lost and I did revel in Mot Juste! Paid more to manipulate words than politicians, any way to beat barristers at their own game is worth knowing. To leave them with egg on their face is worth a fortune!
You have a wonderful sense of humour, Mike and managed to succeed the most difficult author challenge of this reader: I laughed out loud at the written word!
I was onto the third (maybe fourth) chapter - that was really a story - desperately trying to make sense of the jigsaw when I reread the blurb! I don’t do short stories anymore....
...... That said, these cameos offered insight into both individual and team character so nothing lost and I did revel in Mot Juste! Paid more to manipulate words than politicians, any way to beat barristers at their own game is worth knowing. To leave them with egg on their face is worth a fortune!
You have a wonderful sense of humour, Mike and managed to succeed the most difficult author challenge of this reader: I laughed out loud at the written word!
March 29, 2019
I’ve just discovered this author and have now read all his books and preordered his latest, I think he is great absolutely love Fluke, also have read his Washington Poe books can’t wait to read some more, can’t put them down ,
October 29, 2017
Interesting introduction, but I prefer the full length Avison Fluke novels
May 16, 2021
Six short stories introduce Detective Inspector Avison Fluke and his team from Cumbria's Force Major Incident Team.
July 8, 2026
after years of trying to find this book, I’m so glad I got a copy. Fantastic book, worth the wait and read. Avison Fluke and his team, would love more adventures with them.
August 8, 2023
A blistering set of short stories from M. W. Craven which set the groundwork for his Avison Fluke series of crime novels. This tight collection gives us a glimpse into the dark mindset of Craven and the grim world his characters inhabit, boasting a few genuine shocks and some great character beats.
May 17, 2015
Brilliant! What a fantastic collection of short stories to introduce the Cumbrian Major Force Incident team. And I think they are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the crime writing genre! Gritty, compelling, and brilliantly written detectives combine to create a team that had me engrossed from first page til last. The title of the book is spot on. As I read I learnt to Assume Nothing, Believe Nobody and Challenge Everything. 5 action packed stories are crammed into just 144 pages so it was fast flowing, and certainly kept me interested. I like DI Fluke and his team. I imagine it's not always one big happy investigating team, and there are some large personalities to ruffle feathers. But they certainly intrigued me. All five stories are interlinked and helped me as a reader get an insight into life in the team, as well as a glimpse out into their personal lives.
As a novella it feels quite hard to talk too much about the storyline without giving too much away and spoiling it for others. But the plots were meaty, particularly for short stories. In the first story it twists and I didn't see what was coming. My favourite was Scuttlebutt. It centres on the cyber world and is quite scary how much can be controlled online, and just how you can make or break someone. I was totally hooked.
Mike Craven is a brilliant writer, very clever and brings fiction to life for me. His words jumped off the page and grabbed me. I literally couldn't stop reading until I had finished, and was left wanting more. His descriptions and character building is really strong, and I could almost feel myself as part of the team...infact I would love to retrain and join them! I have a feeling that this is only a brief glimpse of what is to come. I hope we see lots more of DI Fluke and the Cumbrian Major Force Tram. I will definitely be waiting with baited breath for more!
As a novella it feels quite hard to talk too much about the storyline without giving too much away and spoiling it for others. But the plots were meaty, particularly for short stories. In the first story it twists and I didn't see what was coming. My favourite was Scuttlebutt. It centres on the cyber world and is quite scary how much can be controlled online, and just how you can make or break someone. I was totally hooked.
Mike Craven is a brilliant writer, very clever and brings fiction to life for me. His words jumped off the page and grabbed me. I literally couldn't stop reading until I had finished, and was left wanting more. His descriptions and character building is really strong, and I could almost feel myself as part of the team...infact I would love to retrain and join them! I have a feeling that this is only a brief glimpse of what is to come. I hope we see lots more of DI Fluke and the Cumbrian Major Force Tram. I will definitely be waiting with baited breath for more!
April 20, 2015
Brilliant! What a fantastic collection of short stories to introduce the Cumbrian Major Force Incident team. And I think they are going to be a force to be reckoned with in the crime writing genre! Gritty, compelling, and brilliantly written detectives combine to create a team that had me engrossed from first page til last. The title of the book is spot on. As I read I learnt to Assume Nothing, Believe Nobody and Challenge Everything. 5 action packed stories are crammed into just 144 pages so it was fast flowing, and certainly kept me interested. I like DI Fluke and his team. I imagine it's not always one big happy investigating team, and there are some large personalities to ruffle feathers. But they certainly intrigued me. All five stories are interlinked and helped me as a reader get an insight into life in the team, as well as a glimpse out into their personal lives.
As a novella it feels quite hard to talk too much about the storyline without giving too much away and spoiling it for others. But the plots were meaty, particularly for short stories. In the first story it twists and I didn't see what was coming. My favourite was Scuttlebutt. It centres on the cyber world and is quite scary how much can be controlled online, and just how you can make or break someone. I was totally hooked.
Mike Craven is a brilliant writer, very clever and brings fiction to life for me. His words jumped off the page and grabbed me. I literally couldn't stop reading until I had finished, and was left wanting more. His descriptions and character building is really strong, and I could almost feel myself as part of the team...infact I would love to retrain and join them! I have a feeling that this is only a brief glimpse of what is to come. I hope we see lots more of DI Fluke and the Cumbrian Major Force Tram. I will definitely be waiting with baited breath for more!
As a novella it feels quite hard to talk too much about the storyline without giving too much away and spoiling it for others. But the plots were meaty, particularly for short stories. In the first story it twists and I didn't see what was coming. My favourite was Scuttlebutt. It centres on the cyber world and is quite scary how much can be controlled online, and just how you can make or break someone. I was totally hooked.
Mike Craven is a brilliant writer, very clever and brings fiction to life for me. His words jumped off the page and grabbed me. I literally couldn't stop reading until I had finished, and was left wanting more. His descriptions and character building is really strong, and I could almost feel myself as part of the team...infact I would love to retrain and join them! I have a feeling that this is only a brief glimpse of what is to come. I hope we see lots more of DI Fluke and the Cumbrian Major Force Tram. I will definitely be waiting with baited breath for more!
April 19, 2015
This book is a collection of short stories designed to introduce you to the main characters of the Cumbrian Major Incident Team. The characters were all believable and I certainly warmed to them all.
The author clearly has a vast amount of knowledge regarding the criminal and legal system and uses it to his full advantage, which shines through in the book.
This book is really well written and I was surprised to learn that this was the author's first book, as his writing style is that of someone who has written several books. The stories flow well and the issues that are raised in the book are present in everyday life. I was hooked from the first page and in a way I felt that I was a silent member of the team. You could say that I felt right there with them so to speak. Without giving too much away one of the stories deals with internet trolls and the misery that such individuals spread. It was nice to see the tables reversed so to speak.
I really, really enjoyed this little insight into the Cumbrian MIT and I can't wait until June to read the next instalment in the live of DI Avison Fluke and his team. I would definitely recommend this author to anyone and I would certainly award this book five stars.
The author clearly has a vast amount of knowledge regarding the criminal and legal system and uses it to his full advantage, which shines through in the book.
This book is really well written and I was surprised to learn that this was the author's first book, as his writing style is that of someone who has written several books. The stories flow well and the issues that are raised in the book are present in everyday life. I was hooked from the first page and in a way I felt that I was a silent member of the team. You could say that I felt right there with them so to speak. Without giving too much away one of the stories deals with internet trolls and the misery that such individuals spread. It was nice to see the tables reversed so to speak.
I really, really enjoyed this little insight into the Cumbrian MIT and I can't wait until June to read the next instalment in the live of DI Avison Fluke and his team. I would definitely recommend this author to anyone and I would certainly award this book five stars.
March 25, 2026
This delighted me on a couple of levels. One, because having just finished 'Born in a burial gown' I was suffering Fluke withdrawal symptoms - and this collection of short stories went a good way to satisfying that.
Secondly (and for more self-centered reasons) I have a similar collection of background and extra stories for some of my characters and can see the merit of collecting them together.
But I'd rather be reading the next Avison Fluke novel and hope it doesn't take too long to appear.
I read the print not the kindle version but there is no image for that.
A 2026 re-read, once again having just finished 'Born in a burial gown', and also having lent my copy of 'Body Breaker' to my daughter. Have to say I found this not exactly 'delightful'- too much nastiness, but undoubtedly effective.
Secondly (and for more self-centered reasons) I have a similar collection of background and extra stories for some of my characters and can see the merit of collecting them together.
But I'd rather be reading the next Avison Fluke novel and hope it doesn't take too long to appear.
I read the print not the kindle version but there is no image for that.
A 2026 re-read, once again having just finished 'Born in a burial gown', and also having lent my copy of 'Body Breaker' to my daughter. Have to say I found this not exactly 'delightful'- too much nastiness, but undoubtedly effective.
June 25, 2016
Six short stories centered around Detective Inspector Avison Fluke and his team working in Cumbria's Force Major Incident Team. Usually I will really like one or two stories in a book of shorts, enjoy a few others, skip a few, and wish I'd skipped others. I did not skip even one in this book, and I enjoyed everyone of them. These stories had different "themes," each introduced by the author with backstories of how they came to be written. Each subject has a reason for Fluke and his team to use that title of "Assume Nothing . . . " as a mantra to work by, whether it is a case involving what seems to be child abuse, witnesses, technology, or missing diplomats. I don't read too many short story anthologies, but of the few I've read over the past couple of years, this was the best by far.
May 24, 2015
A great and diverse collection of page-turner, crime-related short stories, loosely themed around the Force Major Incident Team and mainly based in Cumbria.
The collection is made up of six short stories, dealing with alleged child abuse, team psychology, expert witness conduct, cyber-crime, diplomat recovery and crime families. The characters are a welcome constant, but the actual stories are all fascinatingly varied.
I'm not normally one for short stories, but this collection was interesting, fast-paced, and joining my Sherlock Holmes collection on the shelf. It's that good.
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
The collection is made up of six short stories, dealing with alleged child abuse, team psychology, expert witness conduct, cyber-crime, diplomat recovery and crime families. The characters are a welcome constant, but the actual stories are all fascinatingly varied.
I'm not normally one for short stories, but this collection was interesting, fast-paced, and joining my Sherlock Holmes collection on the shelf. It's that good.
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
February 18, 2016
Excellent short stories, gripped my attention which I wanted to finish but didn't want to finish as they were so good. Some humourous parts had me sniggering to myself. I need to read the next. Highly recommended.
January 1, 2016
The stories within this compilation are extremely good and serve as an introduction to DI Fluke and his team. Set before Born in a Buriel Gown, Craven introduces some of the characters in more depth. Great reads but as with all short story compilations, leaves me disappointed there isn't more!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews