There are few things as exciting as a new instalment in the absolutely brilliant Washington Poe series and The Killer’s Mark did not disappoint.
As I’ve said previously, you could, just, read these novels as standalones, but I don’t recommend it. Firstly, the whole series has been absolutely brilliant, but you’d also be missing out on so much of the background, particularly when it comes to the relationships between the characters and how this group of oddballs has come together.
I enjoyed the slight shift in this novel as Poe and Tilly have decided to leave law enforcement, setting themselves up as “Gumshoes for Hire”. With no legal authority, you’d think that they might struggle, but they’ve built up a good network of friends in high places by now, so other than the risk of falling foul of the law themselves – I’m looking at you here, Poe – they can continue to operate in much the same way as they have done previously, and perhaps with a little more freedom than they’re used to.
The case they find themselves drawn into is as dark and complex as any they’ve investigated previously as Esmerée wanders into their office, wanting help in tracking down the mother who she believed to be dead until she appeared in a porn film. While it might seem like a relatively simple case, Poe soon finds himself in increasingly hot water as his search for Esmerée’s mother brings him to attention of Chinese triads – they really don’t want him poking his nose into their business. Poe has never been one to back away from a challenge, however, and their attempts to discourage him merely rouse his interest.
The real joy of these novels continues to be the characters. The pairing of a grumpy ex-Detective and a once-in-a-generation mind shouldn’t work as well as it does, except that they are now firm friends and watching them work together and interact with each other is a real joy. Tilly continues, unintentionally, to add humour to the novels through her complete lack of social skills which allows her to say exactly what she wants however inappropriate it might be. Don’t ever change, Tilly! We also see more of the wonderful Estelle in this novel, and Esmerée proves to be a great addition. A foul-mouthed teenager, she’s a tough cookie and I hope that we’ll see more of her in future novels.
The Killer’s Mark is as clever and twisty as I’ve come to expect from Craven and the novel is gripping from start to end. I particularly enjoy that it doesn’t take itself too seriously – these novels are a huge amount of fun and provide some excellent escapism. It’s another fantastic addition to this series which Craven continues to keep fresh and interesting eight books in – no mean feat. I can’t wait to see where we go next.
About the Book
A MONSTER. A MOTHER. A MURDER?
When Vice Admiral Boyer, RN (retd) died without leaving a will, his estranged daughter inherited his – not inconsiderable – estate. Called home to sort through his belongings, she found an Aegis Box – a tamper proof safe within a safe designed to self-destruct if anyone without the code attempts to open it. Unable to walk away without the truth, she uncovered something so horrifying it launched the biggest investigation in the National Crime Agency’s history. Five years later, Washington Poe is unwittingly, and unwillingly, sucked into its gravity…
Finally able to escape the authority they railed against, Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are enjoying their new jobs as private detectives or – as the sign on their door says – ‘Gumshoes for Hire’. When a teenage girl walks into their office, looking for the mother she long believed to be dead, they agree to take the case. As Poe and Tilly investigate the girl’s claims, they find themselves drawn into a murky world of trafficking, pornography and prostitution. Will they be able to help the girl find her mother, or will the dark forces at work, who will stop at nothing to protect themselves, get there first…
The Washington Poe series with links to my reviews:
- The Puppet Show
- Black Summer
- The Curator
- Dead Ground
- The Botanist
- The Mercy Chair
- The Final Vow
- The Killer’s Mark
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