Revisiting Cumbria again in this 4th instalment with DS Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw investigating on a murder case of an ex-army that was viciously beaten to death at a brothel. This probably the most high-profile case in the series so far— quite meticulously plotted, descriptive and complex yet so gripping and neatly structured. Totally a fan on the author’s way of directing and narrated his narrative that it gets me hooked to continue my read at every freaking end-chapters; the punchline though, it was so enthrallingly phrased!

Teaming up with an agent from both the FBI and Security Service, the case tangled with so much red herrings, twists and a hurtful backstory that brought me back to an incident that happened in Afghanistan involving a mission troop and a so called ‘friendly fire’. As it was related to military crime, the international politics revolved around the case was so tautly thrilled, secretive and intense that it gets me annoyed sometimes as much as Poe to need an extra digging and a quick grasp on the intertwining plots just so to unravel the motive, killer and the howdunnit.

Nonetheless, the case complexity was addictive and I thought it was so cunning for the villain to plot the ingenious plan all the way for a heinous revenge. Love Poe’s development and dynamic, Tilly was superb as always and even though I get a lengthy list of other characters along the way; they were all having interesting characteristics that helpful much for the plot progress. Bit expected on the character’s twist at the end yet the final revelation was quite unforeseen to me. Crafty Locke for his psychological prod towards Poe but I like his way of getting Poe motivated until the end.

Will pick up The Botanist soon as the ending makes me anticipated a bit for both Poe and DI Flynn’s comeback. 5 charming stars to this!