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DI Avison Fluke #1
Born in a Burial Gown
Detective Inspector Avison Fluke is a man on the edge. He has committed a crime to get back to work, concealed a debilitating illness and is about to be made homeless. Just as he thinks things can’t get any worse, the body of a young woman is found buried on a wet, Cumbrian building site.
Shot once in the back of the head, execution style, it is a cold, calculated murder. When the post-mortem reveals she has gone to significant expense in disguising her appearance, and the only clue to her identity is a strange series of numbers, Fluke knows this is no ordinary murder.
With the help of a psychotic ex-Para, a gangland leader and a woman more interested in maggots than people, Fluke must find out who she was and why she was murdered before he can even think about finding her killer. As the body count rises and his investigation takes him from poverty stricken estates to picture perfect Lake District villages, he realises his troubles are only just beginning.
Because someone, somewhere has a plan and if Fluke can’t figure out what’s happening, he may just be next.
Shot once in the back of the head, execution style, it is a cold, calculated murder. When the post-mortem reveals she has gone to significant expense in disguising her appearance, and the only clue to her identity is a strange series of numbers, Fluke knows this is no ordinary murder.
With the help of a psychotic ex-Para, a gangland leader and a woman more interested in maggots than people, Fluke must find out who she was and why she was murdered before he can even think about finding her killer. As the body count rises and his investigation takes him from poverty stricken estates to picture perfect Lake District villages, he realises his troubles are only just beginning.
Because someone, somewhere has a plan and if Fluke can’t figure out what’s happening, he may just be next.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
303 people are currently reading
1260 people want to read
About the author
M.W. Craven
48 books2,750 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 323 reviews
March 28, 2020
After discovering the wonders of M.W. Craven’s thrilling police procedural including Washington Poe, I went in search of more. Digging up an earlier penned duology under the name Mike Craven, I wanted to see if the author’s stunning writing had evolved. In this series debut, the reader can see Craven’s earlier writing was just as gripping as some of the more recent work, with wonderfully crafted plots and interesting characters to keep the pages turning. DI Avison Fluke has just returned to work in Cumbria, battling some personal and medical demons. His first homicide case is truly a baffling one, when a woman is discovered stuffed in a bag and tossed into an open hole. With few identifying marks, Fluke and his team have the dual tasks of identifying the victim and locating a suspect. A hesitant junkie, who alerted the authorities to knowing something, has clammed up, partially out of fear and likely also as withdrawal takes over. Fluke is not yet dissuaded, as he uses every angle he can to make some headway, while pressure from on high increases. Drawing on some minute evidence found by an intern during the post-mortem, Fluke learns a little more about the victim and is soon able to identify her, though the motive for the crime remains somewhat of a mystery. When another police report by the victim, on an unrelated matter, comes to Fluke’s attention, he is able to sketch out a better idea of what happened and a list of suspects begins to take shape. Juggling all this, Fluke must also come to terms with his ongoing health limitations and some decisions he took to return to the force that might put others in jeopardy. Just as the case seems to be sailing towards an arrest, a wrench is tossed into it all, leaving Fluke to second guess everything he and the team have uncovered up to this point. A gripping first novel in the series (and perhaps the first publication by Craven?) that will keep the reader guessing and wanting to learn more. Recommended to those who like a police procedural that offers plot and character development continuously, as well as the reader who has enjoyed Washington Poe novels and awaits the next instalment with some degree of impatience.
It was a fluke, if you pardon the pun, that I came across this series. I had been wondering about Craven and noticed that a new novel in the series that got me hooked was still a few months away. I located both novels in the Avison Fluke series and thought I ought to give them a try. I am happy to have delved into this novel, as it packed a punch from the opening pages. DI Avison Fluke is quite the character, with a great deal of backstory offered throughout this piece. Former military and with a gritty way of handling situation, his police work is almost as intense as the battles he has faced in his personal life. Almost trying to be invincible, Fluke tries to compartmentalise that which impedes on his ability to do his job, somewhat unsuccessfully. However, he is determined to get answers and refuses to be blocked by anything else, which helps propel both his character and the larger story throughout. Other characters serve to complement Fluke and enrich the reading experience. I have a few on my radar that I hope return in the second book, as they create wonderful banter in their dialogue and are just as gritty as DI Fluke. The story was wonderfully paced and kept me wanting to know a little more. Set outside the ‘big city UK’, Craven is able to concoct a tale that is impactful while also being somewhat more relaxed, using Cumbria as the setting. I am eager to see what Craven has in store for Fluke and the others, as this debut piece was gripping until the final pieces all fell into place.
Kudos, Mr. Craven, for dazzling the reader at every turn. I knew I had not made a mistake in becoming a fan and this piece proves to me that you are not a flash in the pan.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
It was a fluke, if you pardon the pun, that I came across this series. I had been wondering about Craven and noticed that a new novel in the series that got me hooked was still a few months away. I located both novels in the Avison Fluke series and thought I ought to give them a try. I am happy to have delved into this novel, as it packed a punch from the opening pages. DI Avison Fluke is quite the character, with a great deal of backstory offered throughout this piece. Former military and with a gritty way of handling situation, his police work is almost as intense as the battles he has faced in his personal life. Almost trying to be invincible, Fluke tries to compartmentalise that which impedes on his ability to do his job, somewhat unsuccessfully. However, he is determined to get answers and refuses to be blocked by anything else, which helps propel both his character and the larger story throughout. Other characters serve to complement Fluke and enrich the reading experience. I have a few on my radar that I hope return in the second book, as they create wonderful banter in their dialogue and are just as gritty as DI Fluke. The story was wonderfully paced and kept me wanting to know a little more. Set outside the ‘big city UK’, Craven is able to concoct a tale that is impactful while also being somewhat more relaxed, using Cumbria as the setting. I am eager to see what Craven has in store for Fluke and the others, as this debut piece was gripping until the final pieces all fell into place.
Kudos, Mr. Craven, for dazzling the reader at every turn. I knew I had not made a mistake in becoming a fan and this piece proves to me that you are not a flash in the pan.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
May 3, 2020
3.5 stars.
I recently discovered and read the first two books by W.H Craven featuring Detective Washington Poe and his unlikely, captivating paring with Tilly Bradshaw. These clever crime novels we're witty, gritty, brilliantly plotted complex police procedural which absorbed and delighted me. I gave both books a 5-star rating.
While eagerly awaiting the third book in that series to be published next month, I learned that the author had written previously two crime books with the lead character being DI Avison Fluke.
Fluke is a troubled man with serious health issues. He committed a crime to return to his role of police detective when deemed not ready by medical officials. He is on the verge of losing his home. Fluke is an intelligent, intriguing character. His partner, Towler, has the potential to be a lead character in his own series. We get glimpses that the rest of this efficient, hard-working team that could use further development.
It may be due to my present locked-down status and distractions caused by the virus, but I had difficulty in concentrating on this very complex crime. The detectives, also, had much difficulty solving its somewhat convoluted mysteries. They worked to the point of exhaustion. I thought that as a police procedural it worked well, detailing the teams’ investigations through interviews, forensics including Fingerprint and DNA matching, computer searches, and team meetings to discuss and to connect information and clues.
The case involved a nameless woman, shot execution-style and buried at a construction site. She had undergone extensive facial surgery to reconstruct her facial features to hide her identity. The murder case brought the detectives from poverty-stricken haunts of drug addicts and male prostitutes to the wealthy Lake District homes of under the radar organized crime. Their extensive search finally connects and solves the identity of the woman and the motive for the crime. They discover that the crime leads far beyond Cumbria.
Before the end of the story, there were two more very brutal murder scenes that I found most disturbing to read.
I am considering reading the second book in this series while looking forward to the next Washington Poe crime novel.
.
I recently discovered and read the first two books by W.H Craven featuring Detective Washington Poe and his unlikely, captivating paring with Tilly Bradshaw. These clever crime novels we're witty, gritty, brilliantly plotted complex police procedural which absorbed and delighted me. I gave both books a 5-star rating.
While eagerly awaiting the third book in that series to be published next month, I learned that the author had written previously two crime books with the lead character being DI Avison Fluke.
Fluke is a troubled man with serious health issues. He committed a crime to return to his role of police detective when deemed not ready by medical officials. He is on the verge of losing his home. Fluke is an intelligent, intriguing character. His partner, Towler, has the potential to be a lead character in his own series. We get glimpses that the rest of this efficient, hard-working team that could use further development.
It may be due to my present locked-down status and distractions caused by the virus, but I had difficulty in concentrating on this very complex crime. The detectives, also, had much difficulty solving its somewhat convoluted mysteries. They worked to the point of exhaustion. I thought that as a police procedural it worked well, detailing the teams’ investigations through interviews, forensics including Fingerprint and DNA matching, computer searches, and team meetings to discuss and to connect information and clues.
The case involved a nameless woman, shot execution-style and buried at a construction site. She had undergone extensive facial surgery to reconstruct her facial features to hide her identity. The murder case brought the detectives from poverty-stricken haunts of drug addicts and male prostitutes to the wealthy Lake District homes of under the radar organized crime. Their extensive search finally connects and solves the identity of the woman and the motive for the crime. They discover that the crime leads far beyond Cumbria.
Before the end of the story, there were two more very brutal murder scenes that I found most disturbing to read.
I am considering reading the second book in this series while looking forward to the next Washington Poe crime novel.
.
October 28, 2021
Detective Avison Fluke is tasked with solving an execution styled murder of a young woman while hiding the facts about his medical problems from both his colleagues and his superiors. I came to Craven’s debut novel after running out of books in the Washington Poe series, and was happily surprised. It is just as well structured as the Poe books, is brimming with clues, and is totally addictive. It would have been a complete five stars had the denouement been stronger— something Craven still has difficulty with but which he has been developing over time. I will definitely read the next one.
August 29, 2016
Mike Craven is an author who I've heard so much about, mainly from my blogging buddy Noelle over at Crime Book Junkie. Having seen her rave so many times about him I thought it was time to give his books a go.
Born In A Burial Gown is a brilliant police procedural novel. Most crime books I tend to read tend to be more the action side or a mixture of reading between the criminal and the detective so reading this authors novels was a very pleasant surprise as I didn't think one concentrating mainly on the procedural side could ever be so riveting.
Through Fluke and Lucy I learned so much about how they work out how long a body has been dead for which for some might be a bit morbid, personally I found it fascinating.
The author spends quite a bit of time letting the readers get to know Fluke so that we pretty much know all that there is to know, which to a certain extent builds up a respect between the reader and the character.
Towler, Fluke's sidekick is a character that I absolutely loved. He reminded me slightly of being a Rottweiler on a lead that Fluke at times has to rein in as he can get a bit carried away. Rottweiler lovers don't fret as I know they can be very loving animals also which is a side that you do get to see of Towler briefly throughout the novel also. He brings a bit of light hearted relief in areas as he is a stereo typical bloke who speaks before he thinks and jokes about inappropriate things but I don't think Fluke or the readers would have him any other way.
The death that Fluke and his team are investigating turns out not to be as straight forward as they first thought and how they work out who the murderer is was just brilliant. It was almost like a jigsaw that all the little snippets of findings and information all of a sudden reveals the bigger picture and it just left me craving for more.
Born In A Burial Gown really is a gripping novel. It is very much the thinking 'mans' crime book as it concentrates mainly on the procedural side yet manages to still feel as fast paced at times as an action one. With a great line up of characters, this is one crime series that has left me desperate for more as well as being excited about what else is to come.
Born In A Burial Gown is a brilliant police procedural novel. Most crime books I tend to read tend to be more the action side or a mixture of reading between the criminal and the detective so reading this authors novels was a very pleasant surprise as I didn't think one concentrating mainly on the procedural side could ever be so riveting.
Through Fluke and Lucy I learned so much about how they work out how long a body has been dead for which for some might be a bit morbid, personally I found it fascinating.
The author spends quite a bit of time letting the readers get to know Fluke so that we pretty much know all that there is to know, which to a certain extent builds up a respect between the reader and the character.
Towler, Fluke's sidekick is a character that I absolutely loved. He reminded me slightly of being a Rottweiler on a lead that Fluke at times has to rein in as he can get a bit carried away. Rottweiler lovers don't fret as I know they can be very loving animals also which is a side that you do get to see of Towler briefly throughout the novel also. He brings a bit of light hearted relief in areas as he is a stereo typical bloke who speaks before he thinks and jokes about inappropriate things but I don't think Fluke or the readers would have him any other way.
The death that Fluke and his team are investigating turns out not to be as straight forward as they first thought and how they work out who the murderer is was just brilliant. It was almost like a jigsaw that all the little snippets of findings and information all of a sudden reveals the bigger picture and it just left me craving for more.
Born In A Burial Gown really is a gripping novel. It is very much the thinking 'mans' crime book as it concentrates mainly on the procedural side yet manages to still feel as fast paced at times as an action one. With a great line up of characters, this is one crime series that has left me desperate for more as well as being excited about what else is to come.
June 12, 2022
I love the ‘Washington Poe’ series by this author and wanted to read more of his work so decided to try this series. Just like the Poe series the writing is excellent, plot interesting and the characters addictive, I can see this is going to be another of my must read series.
The series is set in Cumbria and the lead character is Detective Inspector Avison Fluke who is suffering from an illness that he hides in order that he can return to work. He is called into action when the body of a young woman is found buried on a building site. The woman was shot in the back of the head in the style of hitman murder and the post-mortem reveals further shocks. It can seen that she has gone to great lengths and expense to disguise her appearance. The one clue to her identity is a series of numbers.
Fluke must discover who she was, why she was murdered and who killed her. In typical M.W. Craven style there are many excellent characters and in this novel Fluke deals with s psychotic ex-Para, a gangland leader and a woman who is obsessed with maggots.
This is not going to be a straightforward case and as the body count rises troubles start to mount for Fluke.
This is an excellent read and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Once again the author produces another fascinating character to entertain us readers.
The series is set in Cumbria and the lead character is Detective Inspector Avison Fluke who is suffering from an illness that he hides in order that he can return to work. He is called into action when the body of a young woman is found buried on a building site. The woman was shot in the back of the head in the style of hitman murder and the post-mortem reveals further shocks. It can seen that she has gone to great lengths and expense to disguise her appearance. The one clue to her identity is a series of numbers.
Fluke must discover who she was, why she was murdered and who killed her. In typical M.W. Craven style there are many excellent characters and in this novel Fluke deals with s psychotic ex-Para, a gangland leader and a woman who is obsessed with maggots.
This is not going to be a straightforward case and as the body count rises troubles start to mount for Fluke.
This is an excellent read and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Once again the author produces another fascinating character to entertain us readers.
August 9, 2020
To say this novel was thrilling is doing it a massive injustice.
Totally addictive and brilliantly constructed.
I started this book having read only 50 pages on Saturday thankfully I was off work Sunday and after taking my dog for a early morning walk and being lucky enough to have the house to myself all day I thought I would, read a few chapters how wrong was I before I knew it it was 8 o'clock in the evening and the book finished
W.S.Craven writes one hell of a novel the title intrigued me and you discover its meaning near the end of the book.
I am way to tired to start the next Avison Fluke novel but can not wait to jump into Body Breaker.
Compelling, Fascinating,brilliantly constructed and totally addictive highly recommended.
Totally addictive and brilliantly constructed.
I started this book having read only 50 pages on Saturday thankfully I was off work Sunday and after taking my dog for a early morning walk and being lucky enough to have the house to myself all day I thought I would, read a few chapters how wrong was I before I knew it it was 8 o'clock in the evening and the book finished
W.S.Craven writes one hell of a novel the title intrigued me and you discover its meaning near the end of the book.
I am way to tired to start the next Avison Fluke novel but can not wait to jump into Body Breaker.
Compelling, Fascinating,brilliantly constructed and totally addictive highly recommended.
December 19, 2024
I came to this series via his other wonderful series of Washington Poe, which I devoured. This is his earlier work initially published under the name Mike Craven. This duo of books concerns Avison Fluke and his team of misfits. Avison is battling ill health, having fought an aggressive cancer, which he is hiding from both his bosses and his colleagues, lying about his fitness whilst returning to work. His team is great. However, whilst I enjoyed his side kick Towler, I did miss Tilly Bradshaw from the Washington Poe series. There were other similarities, including it being set in Cumbria and Avison having a secluded log cabin set in woods. The investigation itself was well plotted and written, starting with a junky witnessing a disposal of a woman's body. It's a compelling read and interesting that the books were republished. I suspect after the later series became popular. It's interesting to see where his later writing comes from. A fantastic read, brilliant, inventive, and a thrilling ride. I wish I had found this duo earlier as it's brilliant, but his later publications hold my heart.
August 10, 2015
Born In A Burial Gown was longlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger Award and it’s easy to see why. This is a consummate police procedural and for several very good reasons. First is the significant depth of detail into investigative processes rarely seen elsewhere. If you’re into the whys and wherefores, Burial Gown has it, although Craven manages not to bog the reader down in detail.
Second is the characterization, Fluke in particular is great. Suitably damaged, suitably driven he pushes the already fast-paced story along in his own way.
Third is the setting. Cumbria (aka The Lake District) is a beautiful (albeit wet) area in the North West of England more known for its tourist attractions than criminal fraternity. Craven offsets the two beautifully.
Finally there’s the plot itself. The woman’s murder and the mystery that ensues is compelling and Craven reveals just enough to keep pulling the reader through to the very satisfying end.
Simply superb.
Originally reviewed for Books & Pals blog. May have received free review copy.
Second is the characterization, Fluke in particular is great. Suitably damaged, suitably driven he pushes the already fast-paced story along in his own way.
Third is the setting. Cumbria (aka The Lake District) is a beautiful (albeit wet) area in the North West of England more known for its tourist attractions than criminal fraternity. Craven offsets the two beautifully.
Finally there’s the plot itself. The woman’s murder and the mystery that ensues is compelling and Craven reveals just enough to keep pulling the reader through to the very satisfying end.
Simply superb.
Originally reviewed for Books & Pals blog. May have received free review copy.
August 3, 2020
A debut novel with myriad twisted and turns,an addictive page turner.
Nothing is as it seems and as the intrigued of this tale are explored,we get glimpses of the clever mind that would launch the heartwarming and wonderfully drawn Tilly and Poe,in a subsequent series.
Highly recommended.
Nothing is as it seems and as the intrigued of this tale are explored,we get glimpses of the clever mind that would launch the heartwarming and wonderfully drawn Tilly and Poe,in a subsequent series.
Highly recommended.
February 6, 2020
Ένα αστυνομικό αρτιότατο,με έναν επιθεωρητή τρελό παιδί,βασανισμένο,ξύπνιο,που δεν πίνει σταγόνα για όλους τους στενάχωρους και απεχθείς λόγους,που μεταχειριστηκε ανεπίτρεπτα μέσα για να επιστρέψει στην υπηρεσία,που σε μαγεύει και θες ξαφνικά αυτή η σειρά να αποκτήσει καμιά πενηνταριά επεισόδια!😍
5⭐
(Παρόλο που όσον αφορά τον ύποπτο μου θύμισε άλλα δυο βιβλία που διάβασα παλαιότερα,το βρήκα ίσως πιο ενδιαφέρον και εντυπωσιακό από τις Μαριονέτες του ίδιου.Που ήταν και αυτές πάρα πολύ ωραίες!)
5⭐
(Παρόλο που όσον αφορά τον ύποπτο μου θύμισε άλλα δυο βιβλία που διάβασα παλαιότερα,το βρήκα ίσως πιο ενδιαφέρον και εντυπωσιακό από τις Μαριονέτες του ίδιου.Που ήταν και αυτές πάρα πολύ ωραίες!)
April 12, 2023
Very good indeed, and dare I say that I might prefer Avison Fluke to Washington! Recommended.
June 12, 2022
I love the ‘Washington Poe’ series by this author and wanted to read more of his work so decided to try this series. Just like the Poe series the writing is excellent, plot interesting and the characters addictive, I can see this is going to be another of my must read series.
The series is set in Cumbria and the lead character is Detective Inspector Avison Fluke who is suffering from an illness that he hides in order that he can return to work. He is called into action when the body of a young woman is found buried on a building site. The woman was shot in the back of the head in the style of hitman murder and the post-mortem reveals further shocks. It can seen that she has gone to great lengths and expense to disguise her appearance. The one clue to her identity is a series of numbers.
Fluke must discover who she was, why she was murdered and who killed her. In typical M.W. Craven style there are many excellent characters and in this novel Fluke deals with s psychotic ex-Para, a gangland leader and a woman who is obsessed with maggots.
This is not going to be a straightforward case and as the body count rises troubles start to mount for Fluke.
This is an excellent read and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Once again the author produces another fascinating character to entertain us readers.
The series is set in Cumbria and the lead character is Detective Inspector Avison Fluke who is suffering from an illness that he hides in order that he can return to work. He is called into action when the body of a young woman is found buried on a building site. The woman was shot in the back of the head in the style of hitman murder and the post-mortem reveals further shocks. It can seen that she has gone to great lengths and expense to disguise her appearance. The one clue to her identity is a series of numbers.
Fluke must discover who she was, why she was murdered and who killed her. In typical M.W. Craven style there are many excellent characters and in this novel Fluke deals with s psychotic ex-Para, a gangland leader and a woman who is obsessed with maggots.
This is not going to be a straightforward case and as the body count rises troubles start to mount for Fluke.
This is an excellent read and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Once again the author produces another fascinating character to entertain us readers.
October 1, 2015
I have another ‘favourite’ lead character with what I think is possibly one of the coolest names. Meet Detective Avison Fluke. I realise right from the start there is something medically wrong with Avison but that isn’t revealed straight away. The only thing the reader is certain of at the beginning is a murder that has taken place and Avison and his team in Cumbria (better known as FMIT, Force Major Investigation Team) are trying their utmost to find a killer.
There are a few characters which stood out, one of them being Avison’s colleague Matt Towler who I particularly liked. Mike Craven’s writing is effortless and captivating, a combination which is difficult to find. His experience on a personal level, being in the army, as well as a probation officer is clear to see and resonates with the story and characters. The plot was weaved and unravelled in a slow methodical way and I found myself still unaware of things until the last minute.
I am annoyed at myself for waiting so long to read this and am eagerly looking forward to future books featuring Fluke and his team. Mike Craven is without a doubt going on my ‘must read’ list. This was a fantastic book that had me absorbed from the first to the very last page. In addition to how great the book is, the icing on the cake was some absolutely cracking one-liners which inject some much needed humour into such a sinister story. Roll on the next book, and if you haven’t heard of or read Mike Craven I suggest you take a look, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
There are a few characters which stood out, one of them being Avison’s colleague Matt Towler who I particularly liked. Mike Craven’s writing is effortless and captivating, a combination which is difficult to find. His experience on a personal level, being in the army, as well as a probation officer is clear to see and resonates with the story and characters. The plot was weaved and unravelled in a slow methodical way and I found myself still unaware of things until the last minute.
I am annoyed at myself for waiting so long to read this and am eagerly looking forward to future books featuring Fluke and his team. Mike Craven is without a doubt going on my ‘must read’ list. This was a fantastic book that had me absorbed from the first to the very last page. In addition to how great the book is, the icing on the cake was some absolutely cracking one-liners which inject some much needed humour into such a sinister story. Roll on the next book, and if you haven’t heard of or read Mike Craven I suggest you take a look, I don’t think you will be disappointed.
April 28, 2021
It's been a while since I was so engrossed in a book that I sat outside, indoors, anywhere I could, and just read and read and read. I don't know why I didn't read the DI Avison Fluke novels earlier, having read and loved this author's Washington Poe series, but I'm glad I didn't because it's been such a treat!
M W Craven combines a likeable if somewhat unusual team of characters with an extraordinary plot, which races along in beautifully crafted narrative. Some of the vivid descriptions of crime scenes may not be for the more sensitive of heart... one can skim over them.
All in all, my best read of this year. 5 glittering stars. Would I read it again? Of course, and I've just embarked on the sequel.
M W Craven combines a likeable if somewhat unusual team of characters with an extraordinary plot, which races along in beautifully crafted narrative. Some of the vivid descriptions of crime scenes may not be for the more sensitive of heart... one can skim over them.
All in all, my best read of this year. 5 glittering stars. Would I read it again? Of course, and I've just embarked on the sequel.
July 17, 2020
Rather good. I picked this up as I couldn’t wait for the next Poe and whilst delighted that it’s another tale in the same vein, it’s not quite as polished, and frankly, it’s not Poe.
Remarkably unfair comment and I’m fully aware of that but hey, it’s still 4 stars.
So it goes!
Remarkably unfair comment and I’m fully aware of that but hey, it’s still 4 stars.
So it goes!
April 16, 2022
Thought I would like it since I liked the second book of series, but didn't. I had just visited the art institute's marvelous Egypt Gallery and dropped in to library to pick up this book I had reserved and instead sat down with it to read. Admittedly I read it very fast, but that was because I just didn't like it as I thought I would. It is very dark and very complicated and Fluke's life is hanging by a thread, but that is due to him being careless with his life and not waiting for armed backup. Too much to not like in unlikely scenarios.
Library Loan
Library Loan
May 20, 2022
After enjoying MW Craven’s more recent books I decided to give this one a try.
This is a crime thriller with Avison Fluke as the main character. He’s a Detective with a few issues with his health and a dislike for some of the rules.
He’s a great character and I really liked his partner Towler as well.
In this book, a woman’s body is found buried at a building site and it’s clear she’s been murdered.
Once they establish who she is it’s not clear why anyone would want to murder her until further investigations reveal what she had been doing.
This is a great crime thriller and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
This is a crime thriller with Avison Fluke as the main character. He’s a Detective with a few issues with his health and a dislike for some of the rules.
He’s a great character and I really liked his partner Towler as well.
In this book, a woman’s body is found buried at a building site and it’s clear she’s been murdered.
Once they establish who she is it’s not clear why anyone would want to murder her until further investigations reveal what she had been doing.
This is a great crime thriller and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
August 20, 2022
I didn't find any difference between Avison Fluke and Washington Poe. The location is the same (Cumbria) and so is their problems with the council regarding the cottage they built on a forest land. Tilly was the only one missing and I did miss her badly.
The police procedural was excellent. I liked how Fluke and his team pieced together the evidences and found the killer. The things that didn't work for me were -
1. Too much personal details of the detectives. About Avison's health condition, his partner's military background, the ME and his daughter's story. I know many readers prefer to know the characters in depth, but I read detective series 'SOLELY' for the mystery, not to know about the protagonist and their sob stories. I stopped reading Wallander and Coromoran Strike series for this reason only.
2. Extreme violence - Even after the reason for this was revealed, it seemed unnecessary overkill.
A strange thing I notice with M.W. Craven books, after reading the reviews, I always feel I read a different book than what the others read and enjoyed. I will continue reading Craven's books though, because they are page turners.
The police procedural was excellent. I liked how Fluke and his team pieced together the evidences and found the killer. The things that didn't work for me were -
1. Too much personal details of the detectives. About Avison's health condition, his partner's military background, the ME and his daughter's story. I know many readers prefer to know the characters in depth, but I read detective series 'SOLELY' for the mystery, not to know about the protagonist and their sob stories. I stopped reading Wallander and Coromoran Strike series for this reason only.
2. Extreme violence - Even after the reason for this was revealed, it seemed unnecessary overkill.
A strange thing I notice with M.W. Craven books, after reading the reviews, I always feel I read a different book than what the others read and enjoyed. I will continue reading Craven's books though, because they are page turners.
September 3, 2018
This is Mike Craven’s debut novel, I believe, though you wouldn’t guess. It’s a well-rounded story with DI Avison Fluke returning to work after serious cancer treatment. We see his working relationships and the link he has forged with his oncologist and these sum up for us the man he is, and why he’s so good at his job. A note in a site office alerts them to a body on a building site. The unravelling of the clues is well done and the pace kept me reading. An enjoyable lead character and a good plot make this book fly.
October 14, 2021
Having absolutely loved Cravens books featuring Washington Poe and Tilly, I read through that series in a couple of weeks. When I saw that this earlier novel was available, I eagerly jumped on it. It became rather quickly obvious that this book was an early attempt at the same kind of thriller that the Poe/Tilly pairing does so well. This one doesn’t have the same pacing, imagination or appeal for me that his later books do. Perhaps if I had read this first I would’ve rated it higher than three stars. It’s not a bad book, it’s just far out shined by his later ones.
February 11, 2021
Enjoyed this one but not as much as his Washington Poe books, found myself missing Tilly. A fab read none the less. Here Fluke with some serious health problems investigates the death of a woman found on a building site in Cumbria. Great read.
February 25, 2022
[5 stars] This was written a few years before the Series with Washington Poe but there are quite a few similarities between Poe and Avison Fluke. And the writing was equally captivating with a few really gruesome and cruel details. Right from the start there was enough tension to keep me going and all the open questions were answered in the end. Loved it!
September 2, 2022
I finally picked this up because I’m out of Washington Poe books again and that made me sad :<
This was a really fun read with some great (and occasionally familiar!) ideas. I definitely feel that the author’s writing has improved in the years since.
I don’t want to compare this book to the Washington Poe series too much, but some comparison is unavoidable. Fluke shares more than a few similarities with Poe, and Fluke’s team (apart from Towler) feels a little like a prototype of Tilly and her ‘mole people’. This isn’t a complaint by the way, just an observation. I really enjoy those sorts of characters and the team dynamic. I actually find it really awesome to see how the author’s creative process went from series to series.
All in all, a lot of what I love about the Washington Poe series is here, but the Poe series feels more ‘punched up’, with a livelier cast, more comedy, and more comprehensive mysteries (more on that last point later).
Regarding one of the reveals in this book, it’s impossible to talk about it without spoiling both this and one of the Poe books. All I’ll say outside of spoiler brackets is that the Poe series reuses this same reveal at one point, and as a result of this, I was able to spot it in this book the moment it was hinted at.
Luckily, this reveal was only part of many, so it didn’t hugely impact my enjoyment of the book overall, although obviously I do wish it hadn’t been later reused.
I’m about to complain a lot, so I just want to say in advance that my complaints are mostly about details of the story and personal preferences/nitpicks. They detracted from my enjoyment of the book, but only slightly. The story as a whole was still enjoyable, the mystery was well constructed and paced, and the ending felt satisfying.
An issue I often have (and constantly bring up in my reviews) with the Poe series is that I find the mysteries too easy to solve due to the author being extremely conspicuous about his clues. This book is different though, while the author is even more obvious about what clues the readers should pay attention to, (he basically puts a flashing sign with ‘NOTICE ME’ right next to all crucial pieces of evidence), the solutions to the mysteries themselves are far more obscure and therefore difficult to solve, or at least they were for me. I also didn’t find all of the solutions to be completely satisfying, but there was nothing that bothered me too much.
This is entirely subjective rather than objective, but I actually prefer the Poe series in this aspect. If an author is going to put a big neon sign next to all the clues, I’d rather those clues be solvable for the average person with common knowledge and/or common sense, rather than obscure and relying on potentially faulty logic.
There were some details that I did like though, including the characterisation of even a minor character like Chambers who turned out to be far less of a boring cliche than I expected. Funny enough he actually reminded me of one of my favourite TV characters , as well as the fact that the author actually gives a solid in-story reason for providing a long exposition section at one point! I really appreciated that, since it’s a pet peeve of mine in books when characters give long exposition dumps for no good in-story reason, only for the purpose of explaining the plot.
Complaints aside, I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely be reading the continuation! If, like me, you’ve finished the Washington Poe series and are in with withdrawal, I would recommend giving this one a go. It’s not quite on the same level, but it’s still an enjoyable read in a familiar setting.
This was a really fun read with some great (and occasionally familiar!) ideas. I definitely feel that the author’s writing has improved in the years since.
I don’t want to compare this book to the Washington Poe series too much, but some comparison is unavoidable. Fluke shares more than a few similarities with Poe, and Fluke’s team (apart from Towler) feels a little like a prototype of Tilly and her ‘mole people’. This isn’t a complaint by the way, just an observation. I really enjoy those sorts of characters and the team dynamic. I actually find it really awesome to see how the author’s creative process went from series to series.
All in all, a lot of what I love about the Washington Poe series is here, but the Poe series feels more ‘punched up’, with a livelier cast, more comedy, and more comprehensive mysteries (more on that last point later).
Regarding one of the reveals in this book, it’s impossible to talk about it without spoiling both this and one of the Poe books. All I’ll say outside of spoiler brackets is that the Poe series reuses this same reveal at one point, and as a result of this, I was able to spot it in this book the moment it was hinted at.
Luckily, this reveal was only part of many, so it didn’t hugely impact my enjoyment of the book overall, although obviously I do wish it hadn’t been later reused.
I’m about to complain a lot, so I just want to say in advance that my complaints are mostly about details of the story and personal preferences/nitpicks. They detracted from my enjoyment of the book, but only slightly. The story as a whole was still enjoyable, the mystery was well constructed and paced, and the ending felt satisfying.
An issue I often have (and constantly bring up in my reviews) with the Poe series is that I find the mysteries too easy to solve due to the author being extremely conspicuous about his clues. This book is different though, while the author is even more obvious about what clues the readers should pay attention to, (he basically puts a flashing sign with ‘NOTICE ME’ right next to all crucial pieces of evidence), the solutions to the mysteries themselves are far more obscure and therefore difficult to solve, or at least they were for me. I also didn’t find all of the solutions to be completely satisfying, but there was nothing that bothered me too much.
This is entirely subjective rather than objective, but I actually prefer the Poe series in this aspect. If an author is going to put a big neon sign next to all the clues, I’d rather those clues be solvable for the average person with common knowledge and/or common sense, rather than obscure and relying on potentially faulty logic.
There were some details that I did like though, including the characterisation of even a minor character like Chambers who turned out to be far less of a boring cliche than I expected. Funny enough he actually reminded me of one of my favourite TV characters , as well as the fact that the author actually gives a solid in-story reason for providing a long exposition section at one point! I really appreciated that, since it’s a pet peeve of mine in books when characters give long exposition dumps for no good in-story reason, only for the purpose of explaining the plot.
Complaints aside, I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely be reading the continuation! If, like me, you’ve finished the Washington Poe series and are in with withdrawal, I would recommend giving this one a go. It’s not quite on the same level, but it’s still an enjoyable read in a familiar setting.
April 14, 2020
I loved Craven's two Washington Poe crime novels and thought I'd try his earlier books while I wait for the The Curator to come out in June. I wasn't disappointed. Avison Fluke is similar to Washington Poe. They are both capable loners who live off the beaten track. The case is also similarly intriguing. Clues are given but putting the pieces of the puzzle together was beyond me. I had a few, "wow, that was clever," moments, as some elements of the story were revealed. While the book is not quite as good as the Washington Poe series it's not far off. I'm about to read Avison Fluke #2.
February 9, 2016
A complicated case is solved in an intelligent way I never expected. With DI Fluke Mike Craven has created an interesting character, altough the crime or better it's solution seems a bit farfetched.
I want to thank Mike and Maxine for this free copy.
I want to thank Mike and Maxine for this free copy.
August 12, 2022
plot was great but they took forever to solve it.
February 21, 2022
The body of an unidentified woman is found and that turns out to be the least of DI Avison Fluke’s problems. Between his own secrets and the victim’s, he’ll have his hands full trying to track down a killer who’s as cold and calculating as they come…
British crime fiction largely falls into two camps - the beloved cozy mystery style of Agatha Christie and the gritty crime stylings of the modern police procedural, itself broken down into subheadings such as ‘Tartan Noir’, etc.
The latter are much less concerned with crafting a whodunnit (although the earlier Alan Banks stories definitely had a toe in both genres) than they are the flawed detective who still gets the job done, typically overcoming the bureaucracy of their fellows.
And Fluke is a wonderfully flawed, wonderfully good cop who definitely is not without his dark side - we learn early on that he is involved in something shady, though the revelation of just what that was manages to be something new to me, which I always love. He’s the classic detective whose job is his life and his life outside of that is an absolute mess - this book has one of the most awkward dinner parties ever written.
Fluke works with the cast-offs in his department, a bunch of anti-social, anti-careerists who nonetheless work together like a well-oiled team. It’s nice to have one of these stories that focuses on the team just as much as the lead - the burly Towler is a particular standout along with Chinese workhorse Longy. Solving a crime takes a team of people and this story acknowledges all the contributions these people put in.
Actually, all the characters in the book are quite good and memorable, which is a rare triumph. Fluke is good at his job, but not amazing, believably sharp rather than super humanly so. He’s also gone through some things and is visibly wrestling with some PTSD and I like that portrayal of him as functional, but troubled.
The crime is suitably gritty and well done, although I can definitely see the truth of the matter being an eyebrow raiser for some people. It definitely paints the whole case in a light that might be hard for some people. There’s also some fair amount of gore, most of it matter-of-fact, although some at the very end is horror novel levels of gruesome.
Still, this book was positively riveting and I tore through it with gusto. I love a good British crime story and this is, frankly, a great one. It manages to make suspense out of things that are normally routine and while it doesn’t have an especially classic showdown at the end, it sneaks in a ‘how was it done’ denouement that makes sense and the climax is certainly short, but that feels a bit truer to real life too (okay, not all cases close with that much action, or likely the vast majority, even).
4.5 stars - a stellar character debut. I had the second book ordered literally two thirds of the way through and I’ll definitely be getting the author’s other crime series. Definitely a worthwhile entry in the genre.
British crime fiction largely falls into two camps - the beloved cozy mystery style of Agatha Christie and the gritty crime stylings of the modern police procedural, itself broken down into subheadings such as ‘Tartan Noir’, etc.
The latter are much less concerned with crafting a whodunnit (although the earlier Alan Banks stories definitely had a toe in both genres) than they are the flawed detective who still gets the job done, typically overcoming the bureaucracy of their fellows.
And Fluke is a wonderfully flawed, wonderfully good cop who definitely is not without his dark side - we learn early on that he is involved in something shady, though the revelation of just what that was manages to be something new to me, which I always love. He’s the classic detective whose job is his life and his life outside of that is an absolute mess - this book has one of the most awkward dinner parties ever written.
Fluke works with the cast-offs in his department, a bunch of anti-social, anti-careerists who nonetheless work together like a well-oiled team. It’s nice to have one of these stories that focuses on the team just as much as the lead - the burly Towler is a particular standout along with Chinese workhorse Longy. Solving a crime takes a team of people and this story acknowledges all the contributions these people put in.
Actually, all the characters in the book are quite good and memorable, which is a rare triumph. Fluke is good at his job, but not amazing, believably sharp rather than super humanly so. He’s also gone through some things and is visibly wrestling with some PTSD and I like that portrayal of him as functional, but troubled.
The crime is suitably gritty and well done, although I can definitely see the truth of the matter being an eyebrow raiser for some people. It definitely paints the whole case in a light that might be hard for some people. There’s also some fair amount of gore, most of it matter-of-fact, although some at the very end is horror novel levels of gruesome.
Still, this book was positively riveting and I tore through it with gusto. I love a good British crime story and this is, frankly, a great one. It manages to make suspense out of things that are normally routine and while it doesn’t have an especially classic showdown at the end, it sneaks in a ‘how was it done’ denouement that makes sense and the climax is certainly short, but that feels a bit truer to real life too (okay, not all cases close with that much action, or likely the vast majority, even).
4.5 stars - a stellar character debut. I had the second book ordered literally two thirds of the way through and I’ll definitely be getting the author’s other crime series. Definitely a worthwhile entry in the genre.
April 2, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed Born in a Burial gown. First one I've read by M.W.Craven but definitely won't be the last. Based in Cumbria near to where I live it was a distinct change from a lot of murder mysteries. Great characters and good plots. Will certainly be reading more .
June 19, 2022
Great book. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
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