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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
This has the worst ever death described in a book! I literally gagged and am still.gagging 24 hours later! Scarred for life! A must read!! Brilliant!!!! ❤
Top notch writer
Three fantastic stories from the master. At times evil but it's the wit that stops me dead. Would have paid more for these beauties.
Three fantastic stories from the master. At times evil but it's the wit that stops me dead. Would have paid more for these beauties.
Always one for more Washington Poe, I turned to this collection of three short stories. Poe and his friend, Tilly Bradshaw , find themselves in three short adventures, each with their own forensic element. Poe is keen to dole out what knowledge he has, though Tilly is no wilting violet. A perfect collection to be paired with a hot drink or to read while out in the sun. Recommended to those who have an affinity for this crime duo, who are always bantering in Cumbria.
The Killing Field
While Poe and Tilly prepare to spend the day at a local exhibition, they are called away from their time off to help inspect a local issue. When they arrive, it is not only two bodies that await them, but a large pit filled with animals from the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak. Someone’s sewn the victims up into two cow carcasses. After listening to what little information there is, Poe can tell who the two men are and what brought them them. Shocking, but he lays it all out for everyone without needing to get sullied at all.
Why Don’t Sheep Shrink?
It all started with a cough, leading to a scandalous means by which Poe has his temperature taken. As Poe needs to self-isolate for a week because of this pesky virus, he will need to find something to do. Tilly, too, is stuck with him, having been around when the symptoms emerged. Little to do other than go for walks—perhaps, a stroll?—and tidy up, Poe and Tilly find themselves searching for ways to pass the time. When Poe comes across an old case that stumped him, they take up the challenge.
A man was found drowned in his bathtub, apparently having suffered an epileptic seizure. While no one could find anything sinister, the victim’s sister was sure there was some foul play. All eyes turned to the man’s partner, though there was nothing tying her to the crime. Given an hour, Tilly uses her know-how and some keen observations and cracks the case wide open.
Dead Man’s Fingers
In line with the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak, and having just come off their isolation, Poe and Tilly are out in the fields. Poe remembers a case from back in 2001, where two star-crossed teenagers could not get enough of one another, one bringing infection back from the other’s farm. With all the livestock to be culled, the teens disappear. Could have left for the continent, or did someone have a more macabre idea? Poe and Tilly work together, with the help of a rabbit-chasing dog, to stumble upon a clue or two that solves the case.
I have enjoyed the Washington Poe series since first I discovered the work by M.W. Craven. The pieces are not only full of wonderful character development and dialogue, but the cases are quite detailed. These are much shorter stories, but they pull the reader in just as effectively. Poe and Tilly work to pool their talents to solve three cases quite effectively. The reader will notice how each differs from the other, though the writing could be part of an almost continuous string of days that the two spent together. There’s little time for development or secondary characters, but those who have come to enjoy this duo will find a great deal to make them smile. I’m glad to have found this collection, as I wait for the next full-length novel.
Kudos, Mr. Craven, for reminding me just how great a shorter piece can be.
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/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
The Killing Field
While Poe and Tilly prepare to spend the day at a local exhibition, they are called away from their time off to help inspect a local issue. When they arrive, it is not only two bodies that await them, but a large pit filled with animals from the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak. Someone’s sewn the victims up into two cow carcasses. After listening to what little information there is, Poe can tell who the two men are and what brought them them. Shocking, but he lays it all out for everyone without needing to get sullied at all.
Why Don’t Sheep Shrink?
It all started with a cough, leading to a scandalous means by which Poe has his temperature taken. As Poe needs to self-isolate for a week because of this pesky virus, he will need to find something to do. Tilly, too, is stuck with him, having been around when the symptoms emerged. Little to do other than go for walks—perhaps, a stroll?—and tidy up, Poe and Tilly find themselves searching for ways to pass the time. When Poe comes across an old case that stumped him, they take up the challenge.
A man was found drowned in his bathtub, apparently having suffered an epileptic seizure. While no one could find anything sinister, the victim’s sister was sure there was some foul play. All eyes turned to the man’s partner, though there was nothing tying her to the crime. Given an hour, Tilly uses her know-how and some keen observations and cracks the case wide open.
Dead Man’s Fingers
In line with the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak, and having just come off their isolation, Poe and Tilly are out in the fields. Poe remembers a case from back in 2001, where two star-crossed teenagers could not get enough of one another, one bringing infection back from the other’s farm. With all the livestock to be culled, the teens disappear. Could have left for the continent, or did someone have a more macabre idea? Poe and Tilly work together, with the help of a rabbit-chasing dog, to stumble upon a clue or two that solves the case.
I have enjoyed the Washington Poe series since first I discovered the work by M.W. Craven. The pieces are not only full of wonderful character development and dialogue, but the cases are quite detailed. These are much shorter stories, but they pull the reader in just as effectively. Poe and Tilly work to pool their talents to solve three cases quite effectively. The reader will notice how each differs from the other, though the writing could be part of an almost continuous string of days that the two spent together. There’s little time for development or secondary characters, but those who have come to enjoy this duo will find a great deal to make them smile. I’m glad to have found this collection, as I wait for the next full-length novel.
Kudos, Mr. Craven, for reminding me just how great a shorter piece can be.
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/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
I absolutely love Mike Craven’s Washington Poe series, so of course I had to pre-order Cut Short! The book comprises of three short stories, The Killing Field, Why Don’t Sheep Shrink? And Dead Man’s Fingers.
This is another work of genius by Craven as the three books highlight three different aspects to our lovable Washington Poe! The Killing Field, whereby two bodies are found and a link to the 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, shows off Poe’s undeniable knowledge of Cumbria and his ability to think ahead of anyone else in a case. Why Don’t Sheep Shrink? is probably my favourite out of the three as it is a testament to the amazing relationship between Poe and his best friend Tilly – who I genuinely believe are so iconic they are the modern day Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson! Poe shows symptoms of COVID-19 and is instructed to self-isolate… with Tilly! You see the dynamic duo at their best to the point you cannot help but have a giggle at! I love that the story is set in relation to the world we’re currently living in – making these two characters come to life! And lastly, Dead Man’s Fingers – this one brought a tear to my eye!! This story shows the heart of Washington Poe, if I thought I couldn’t love him anymore than I did already, this one made me love him even more. It revolves around the disappearance of two local 18 year olds and I won’t say anymore on the subject because everyone just needs to get Cut Short added to their Amazon baskets right now.
I can say honestly that Mike Craven is an author that I’m always on the look out for. Ever since I picked up The Puppet Show, he has had me hooked. I have just bought the first book of his Avison Fluke series and I just know it’s going to be amazing. If you like a good, thrilling crime story then you need to follow M.W.Craven and invest in his books, you will not be disappointed!
This is another work of genius by Craven as the three books highlight three different aspects to our lovable Washington Poe! The Killing Field, whereby two bodies are found and a link to the 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, shows off Poe’s undeniable knowledge of Cumbria and his ability to think ahead of anyone else in a case. Why Don’t Sheep Shrink? is probably my favourite out of the three as it is a testament to the amazing relationship between Poe and his best friend Tilly – who I genuinely believe are so iconic they are the modern day Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson! Poe shows symptoms of COVID-19 and is instructed to self-isolate… with Tilly! You see the dynamic duo at their best to the point you cannot help but have a giggle at! I love that the story is set in relation to the world we’re currently living in – making these two characters come to life! And lastly, Dead Man’s Fingers – this one brought a tear to my eye!! This story shows the heart of Washington Poe, if I thought I couldn’t love him anymore than I did already, this one made me love him even more. It revolves around the disappearance of two local 18 year olds and I won’t say anymore on the subject because everyone just needs to get Cut Short added to their Amazon baskets right now.
I can say honestly that Mike Craven is an author that I’m always on the look out for. Ever since I picked up The Puppet Show, he has had me hooked. I have just bought the first book of his Avison Fluke series and I just know it’s going to be amazing. If you like a good, thrilling crime story then you need to follow M.W.Craven and invest in his books, you will not be disappointed!