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  • The Curator

  • Washington Poe, Book 3
  • By: M. W. Craven
  • Narrated by: John Banks
  • Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (727 ratings)
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The Curator cover art

The Curator

By: M. W. Craven
Narrated by: John Banks
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Summary

Shortlisted for the VN Thriller of the Year 2022

LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLD DAGGER

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 . . .

FROM THE WINNER OF THE CWA BEST CRIME NOVEL OF 2019 AWARD

©2020 M. W. Craven (P)2020 Hachette Audio UK

Critic reviews

"Dark, sharp and compelling." (Peter James)

"A powerful thriller from an explosive new talent." (David Mark)

"Fantastic." (Martina Cole)

What listeners say about The Curator

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent as always

I normally like to go short and to the point with reviews. But honestly how can I make you understand how insanely good the Poe and Tilly saga is. It could be if well done one of the best series on tv ever in my opinion. Why no one isn't snapping this up, it blows my mind. The characters are thought of so well, the stories are just amazing. I will need to stop raving on, no surprise that Mr Craven gets another 5 shiny stars from me. He again had me on all hook and tenders, I applaud you sir 👏👏
ps the narration is as always the best !

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely brilliant

John Banks' narration is excellent, he really brings the book to life.
Poe & Tilly are back, and the wait has definitely been worth it. Tilly’s character is maturing whilst her adorable traits still remain, along with Poe’s dogged determination they make a brilliant team. Craven takes you on a twist and turn journey to find The Curator. It is fast paced, enthralling and unlike most crime novels the ending is completely unpredictable.
A definite must listen.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Jo
  • 21-06-20

Awesome!

Third in this series and the best so far! I absolutely love the characters and the relationships between them...don’t think about it...just get this!!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

absolutely loved it really gripping

Don't hesitate to read this. you must read the full series to understand what's going on in the background. very very good books

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Totally Absorbing

Love the Washington Tilly relationship. Thought it would get boring the third time around but this is not the case. The scientific /technological unravelling of the evidence kept my attention to the very end.
Narrator is spot on. Listen and enjoy

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • NF
  • 13-02-22

Brilliant

Another brilliant story featuring Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw. I loved the first two books and they just gets better. There were so many twists and turns, I could not guess how it would end. Can't wait to get started on book 4.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

"Look into my eyes."

The book opens to the brutal killing of a woman. As so often is the case, it's Christmas, a time of freezing weather and seasonal get-togethers. Poe, of the National Crime Agency, is reluctantly at a baby shower, that of the heavily pregnant D.I.Stephanie Flynne, when called to help investigate a bizarre funding - that of two severed fingers and a mysterious '#BSC6' . In which succession over the three days of Christmas, two more pairs of fingers and the cryptic # message are found. But not the bodies despite the victim's identities soon emerging. It is an intriguing, twisting and cold pursuit for Poe and his friend and colleague, data analyst extraordinaire, Tilly Bradshaw.

A British police procedural set in the more northerly counties of England, descriptions are brief but very atmospheric, the sense of cold shivering it's way through. The character descriptions, too, are vibrant, the main protagonists especially emerging from the pages as real, living people despite Poe's leaps of intuition and Tilly's super powers on the computer. Combined with a twisty, compelling story, this is an excellent crime detective thriller with an equally powerful conclusion

Narration is by John Banks, who does full justice to the story. His reading is impeccable, perfectly paced, good intonation, and each character is given an individual voice: that of Fully is especially convincing. He blended into the story: an excellent performance.

The Curator is an exciting crime mystery, well written and read, which keeps it's readers captive and guessing to the end. Recommended. I think I might seem out the two earlier Washington Poe books too.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Riveting!

Utterly absorbing!
An extraordinary plot, with a narrative of fascinating detail. Exciting, vivid and compelling!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Curator certainly delivered

I listen to a lot of audio books and I had to pause after the first few seconds to Google and check reviews to see if that opening theme continued throughout. Spoiler alert….will follow later…all I’ll say is stick with it.
One thing I noticed quite early was that the flow of this book was unlike any I’ve listened to before. In some parts, it was like the narrator had taken a break and resumed after saying, “now where were we?” In saying that, it really didn’t detract too much, so was merely an observation rather than an irritation.
I’ve never written a book review (and reading this, you’ll get why!) but felt compelled to after listening to this one.
In short, it’s a great story that did leave me guessing who was the mastermind behind it all. I guessed some parts and felt included in the journey.
The bit I really wanted to comment on though, was the final authors notes. I had, as suggested, already looked up several of the themes whilst listening, including the Blue Whale Challenge and it’s way darker than this book. I LOVED MW Craven’s humour in the last segment which I felt seasoned this book beautifully.
Sorry for the lame review, but you should read/listen to this book regardless.
Spoiler alert update…the opening chapter is as gruesome as it gets, so the squeamish can rest easy.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

It is a must to have experienced in the earlier stories to be able to fully appreciate this one. Great storyline and characterisation. A job exceptionally well done!

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