Series: Washington Poe #3 (See my review of book one here!)
Release Date: June 4th 2020
Publisher: Constable
Pages: 384
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this to review
Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis

It’s Christmas and a serial killer is leaving displayed body parts all over Cumbria. A strange message is left at each scene: #BSC6. Called in to investigate, the National Crime Agency’s Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw are faced with a case that makes no sense. Why were some victims anaesthetized, while others died in appalling agony? Why is their only suspect denying what they can irrefutably prove but admitting to things they weren’t even aware of? And why did the victims all take the same two weeks off work three years earlier?

And when a disgraced FBI agent gets in touch things take an even darker turn. Because she doesn’t think Poe is dealing with a serial killer at all; she thinks he’s dealing with someone far, far worse – a man who calls himself the Curator.

And nothing will ever be the same again…

Review

The Curator is the third instalment in the Washington Poe series, following Detective Sergeant Washington Poe and the team at the National Crime Agency as they attempt to uncover the truth behind murders happening in the Cumbria area. In this instalment Poe and Tilly are called in to investigate a seemingly random set of murders, with the mysterious message #BSC6 left at the scene. As Poe and Tilly attempt to uncover the truth things take a darker turn and Poe will need everything he’s got to stop the man known as The Curator.

The Washington Poe series is without a doubt one of my favourite crime series. Dark, engrossing and full of surprise twists – each new instalment is high on my anticipated releases list. I think I say this every time a new one is released but this one is even more incredible than the previous two. The story hooks you in right from the very first chapter and sets a quick pace the whole way through. It’s an addictive read and I ended up staying up way past my bedtime because I absolutely could not put this one down. Craven weaves a clever and complex tale, one that contains plenty of twisty turny moments I definitely didn’t see coming.

Part of the reason I love this series so much is the fantastic characters. Clever and stubborn Poe, combined with his best friend genius Tilly Bradshaw make for an incredible partnership and I love seeing their friendship continue to grow over this latest instalment. I love the dialogue between the two of them, there’s a fair few funny moments as well as them looking out for each other.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot as this is definitely the kind of book you go into knowing as little as possible. It’s eerie, full to the brim with mystery and intrigue. If you love crime series that will have you guessing right to the very end, the Washington Poe series is a must read. If you’ve read the first two I definitely recommend picking up The Curator – just make sure you give yourself lots of free time to read it, you won’t want to put it down.