On my blog today, I’m sharing my thoughts on the latest book by M.W. Craven, The Botanist.

BLURB
This is going to be the longest week of Washington Poe’s life…
Detective Sergeant Washington Poe can count on one hand the number of friends he has. And he’d still have his thumb left. There’s the guilelessly innocent civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw of course. Insanely brilliant, she’s a bit of a social hand grenade. He’s known his beleaguered boss, Detective Inspector Stephanie Flynn for years as he has his nearest neighbour, full-time shepherd/part-time dog sitter, Victoria.
And then there’s Estelle Doyle. Dark and dangerous and sexy as hell. It’s true the caustic pathologist has never walked down the sunny side of the street, but has she gone too far this time? Shot twice in the head, her father’s murder appears to be an open and shut case. Estelle has firearms discharge residue on her hands, and, in a house surrounded by fresh snow, hers are the only footprints. Since her arrest she’s only said three words: ‘Tell Washington Poe.’
Meanwhile, a poisoner called the Botanist is sending the nation’s most reviled people poems and pressed flowers. Twisted and ingenious, he seems to be able to walk through walls and, despite the advance notice given to his victims, and regardless of the security measures taken, he is able to kill with impunity.
Poe hates locked room mysteries and now he has two to solve. To unravel them he’s going to have to draw on every resource he has: Tilly Bradshaw, an organised crime boss, even an alcoholic ex-journalist. Because if he doesn’t, the bodies are going to keep piling up . . .
MY THOUGHTS
I love this series, and I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get round to reading The Botanist. I won’t be making that mistake with the next book. Once again M.W. Craven delivers the goods and he has come up with another action-packed ride for Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw.
Washington Poe is handed an extremely interesting case, following the murder of Kane Hunt, a person with extreme views, on live national television. The person, who is behind the murder, is subsequently known as the botanist, and it seems as though they are on a mission to kill the most hated people in the country. The problem Poe comes up with here, is that some people may agree with the botanist’s methods, particularly as the people who he is targeting certainly aren’t saints.
Another intriguing part of the plot is the arrest of one of Poe’s close friends, Estelle Doyle, following the death of her father. The police are convinced that she killed him, and the evidence is certainly pointing in her direction. Poe is desperate to fight her corner and clear her name. It feels at this point, as though he is facing an impossible task, particularly when the botanist strikes again, and he has to divide his time between the two cases. But Poe isn’t the type of person who would go back on a promise, and this is what makes this book such an incredibly tense and addictive read.
The two mysteries in this book are done so well, and they kept me hooked as I read on. I really couldn’t make my mind up about Estelle, as Poe tried to find out who killed her father and clear her name. I wanted Poe to be right, but another part of me was a tiny bit suspicious that perhaps, Estelle was guilty of her father’s murder, and if this was the case, where would this leave Poe. You can see in this book just how deeply he cares for her and how much he is willing to risk to save her. I loved the cat and mouse chase between Poe and the botanist, and I wanted to understand more about what was driving this person.
Once again M.W. Craven had me howling with laughter throughout the book, especially, as always, from Tilly and Poe’s conversations. They now feel like old friends, who it’s always a delight to spend time with. Tilly is such a well-crafted character, who always makes me smile as I’m reading. I also really like their boss, DI Flynn. I think I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, it’s the characters who really shine through in this series and they keep me coming back.
The Botanist is a brilliant addition to the series and I can’t wait to catch up with Tilly and Poe again.
Publisher: Constable
Publication date: 2nd June 2022
Print length: 496 pages
The Botanist is available to buy:
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