Nine stars
Returning for another chilling M.W. Craven thriller, I was not disappointed in the least. In the latest Washington Poe novel, the protagonist has been seeing a therapist for his nightmares, the foundation of which relates to a recent case. As Poe reveals more to his therapist, the reader discovers that the murder of a local religious leader opens new and gruesome pathways into the groups's practices and their strict teachings. All the while, Poe and his team look for the killer, discovering just how backwards thinking this group seems to have been and the lengths to which they would go to get their way among followers. A chilling story that will leave the rest flipping pages well into the night, if only to learn more about the Mercy Chair! Craven does a formidable job here and proves his worth.
Washington Poe has a story to share, one that tells of the dark nightmares that he has been suffering over the last while. The symbolism of crows swiping around speaks to the darkness and murder that he has experienced. Engaging a therapist to better understand is struggles is only the first step. Poe recounts a recent case that could be the foundation of it all, its evil and horrid memories haunt him on a nightly basis.
Poe and his civilian liaison, Tilly Bradshaw, are called out when a man has been found tied to a tree, dead from horrible injuries. It seems as though the man has been stoned to death, as archaic as it sounds. When Poe and Bradshaw meet with a local bishop, they learn a little more about the man, who was part of a religious organisation, The Children of Job. This group, whose ultra-conservative views are seen by some as being a cult. They indoctrinate and try to teach the harsh realities of a Christian faith that is being diluted in the modern world. Their one major course—a secret to those who are not in the inner circle—is conversion therapy. While its application is frowned up, the Children of Job appear to have had some success.
While Poe and Bradshaw try to get to the bottom of things, they uncover a larger and more troubling conspiracy. This man was only the tip of the iceberg and his views were much worse than first thought, centred around a mercy chair, which serves a dark and punitive purpose. All this and the mystery of a young woman who disappeared in her teens and returned to massacre her entire family years later before she disappeared once again. As the truths that Poe and Bradshaw saw during this investigation pile up, there are things that cannot be unseen. Washington Poe has a strong constitution, but even this is more than he can handle. Craven spins a web and does not let the reader escape in this stunning thriller.
I have long enjoyed the the work of M.W. Craven, particularly his novels with Washington Poe. The series is as dark as it is addictive, with Craven pulling on many great storylines to keep the reader fully involved. Craven's ability to develop a strong narrative foundation keeps the reader curious about what is to come. Building on the core narrative, Craven presents some stellar characters, some as helpful with the flow of the story, while others create the angst and painfulness needed to truly contrast the good versus evil aspects of the book. Craven does so effectively, while also promoting new depth for his protagonists.
Plot points emerge at every turn and keep the reader on their toes. To call this a dark piece would be a understatement, though nothing is surprising when it comes to Craven's abilities. He goes out of his way to shock the reader, then adds new layers of discomfort to keep the story edgy and the readers guessing until the very end. I can only hope to find more of this in future Washington Poe stories, all of which have been well-crafted and held my attention with ease.
Kudos, Mr. Craven, for a story so full of twists that I am unsure which way is up any longer.
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