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 Tilly Bradshaw, of course. And he''s known his beleaguered boss, Detective Inspector Stephanie Flynn for a good few years.

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 is able to kill with impunity.

Poe hates locked room mysteries -- and now it appears he has two to solve...

Praise for M W Craven:

''Heart-pounding, hilarious, sharp and shocking, Dead Ground is further proof that M.W. Craven never disappoints. Miss this series at your peril.'' Chris Whitaker

''Dark and entertaining, this is top rank crime fiction.'' Vaseem Khan, Author of the Malabar House series and the Baby Ganesh Agency series

''M. W. Craven is one of the best crime writers working today. Dead Ground is a cracking puzzle, beautifully written, with characters you''ll be behind every step of the way. It''s his best yet.'' Stuart Turton

''Fantastic'' Martina Cole

''Dark, sharp and compelling'' Peter James

''I''ve been following M.W. Craven''s Poe/Tilly series from the very beginning, and it just gets better and better. Dead Ground is a fast-paced crime novel with as many twists and turns as a country lane. I can''t wait for the next one.'' Peter Robinson

''Dead Ground is both entertaining and engaging with great characters and storyline. I loved this first dip into the world of Tilly and Poe!'' BA Paris

''A brutal and thrilling page turner'' Natasha Harding, The Sun

''A thrilling curtain raiser for what looks set to be a great new series'' Mick Herron

''A powerful thriller from an explosive new talent. Tightly plotted, and not for the faint hearted!''
David Mark

''A gripping start to a much anticipated new series'' Vaseem Khan

''Satisfyingly twisty and clever and the flashes of humour work well to offer the reader respite from the thrill of the read.'' Michael J. Malone

''Nothing you''ve ever read will prepare you for the utterly unique Washington Poe'' Keith Nixon