M.W. Craven Books in Order (Updated February 22, 2026)

M.W. Craven writes across three main crime series, each in its own continuity, plus a growing list of short works tied to his best-known characters. There’s no “shared universe” rule you need to worry about, but order matters inside each series because recurring relationships and professional consequences build over time.

This guide uses first UK publication order where possible. Some titles have later US release dates.

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A quick way to choose your starting point (without overthinking it)

If you want the flagship series everyone talks about

Start Washington Poe #1: The Puppet Show.

If you want modern, punchy action with a different lead

Start Ben Koenig #1: Fearless.

If you want an earlier, grittier procedural run (short series)

Start DI Avison Fluke #1: Born in a Burial Gown.

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Continuity boundaries (keep these separate)

• Washington Poe series: one ongoing line (Poe + Tilly), best read in order.
• Ben Koenig series: separate line, best read in order.
• DI Avison Fluke series: separate line, best read in order.
• Washington Poe short works: optional extras; fun, but not required to follow the main novels.

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Washington Poe series in order (Publication order)

1. The Puppet Show (2018): A body displayed with deliberate symbolism pulls Poe back into work, setting the tone for the series’ mix of procedural grit and sharp deduction.
2. Black Summer (2019): A small rural case detonates into something much larger, testing how far Poe and Tilly can push against systems that prefer neat answers.
3. The Curator (2020): A trophy-style killer case raises the stakes and leans hard into the partnership dynamics that make the series work.
4. Dead Ground (2021): An investigation rooted in terrain and history becomes a lesson in how the past can be weaponized in the present.
   4.5. The Cutting Season (2022, Quick Reads novella; optional): A short, tight Poe-and-Tilly case designed as a fast hit of the series’ voice and pace.
5. The Botanist (2022): A meticulously patterned case turns “method” into menace, with the investigation unfolding like a slow reveal of a killer’s rules.
   5.6. Cut Short (2023, audio-first; optional): A compact entry that works best once you already know the core cast and rhythms.
6. The Mercy Chair (2024): Poe is forced into an intensely personal listening-frame story, where the narrative itself becomes part of the pressure.
7. The Final Vow (2025): A vow-driven, high-stakes case that leans on established relationships and makes earlier character history matter.

Chronological vs publication: For Poe, publication order is the correct reading order. The timeline largely tracks release order, and the character carryover is real.

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Washington Poe short works (optional extras)

You may see these listed separately in catalogues. Treat them as optional unless you’re collecting everything Poe/Tilly-related. If you want a simple rule: read the main novels first, then dip into the shorts later.

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Ben Koenig series in order

1. Fearless (2023): A modern, mission-driven thriller that emphasizes momentum, competence under fire, and morally messy decisions.
2. Nobody’s Hero (2024): A street-level spark escalates into a wider threat, sharpening Koenig’s “do the job / pay the cost” dynamic.

Note on editions: UK and US versions can have different publication dates. The order above remains the same.

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DI Avison Fluke series in order

1. Born in a Burial Gown (2015): A hard-edged procedural built around a buried body and a damaged investigator trying to keep his own life from collapsing.
2. Body Breaker (2017): A follow-up case that continues the series’ emphasis on pressure, endurance, and the toll of policing.

(Some listings show later reissue dates for these books; the original publication years above are the useful “series order” anchors.)

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Recommended reading paths (three clean options)

Path 1: The core Craven experience

Washington Poe #1 → onward in order, then add Poe shorts if you want more time with the cast.

Path 2: Fast-entry Craven (shorter commitment)

Read Ben Koenig #1-#2, then decide whether to tackle Poe.

Path 3: Early-work first

Read DI Avison Fluke #1-#2, then jump to Washington Poe #1 for the later, bigger-running series.

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Latest release status and what’s confirmed next

• Latest Washington Poe novel: The Final Vow (2025)
• Latest Ben Koenig novel: Nobody’s Hero (2024)
• Latest confirmed Washington Poe release on the author’s current schedule: Washington Poe #8 (title not finalized publicly in the listing) – due August 13, 2026
• Also listed on the author’s schedule: James Bond and the Secret Agent Academy – due June 18, 2026 (separate from the adult crime series above)

(If you’re reading for series continuity, only the Poe/Koenig/Fluke lines matter.)

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FAQs

Do I have to read the Washington Poe shorts?

No. The main novels carry the essential continuity. The shorts are best treated as extras.

Can I start with The Botanist or The Mercy Chair?

You can follow the plot, but you’ll lose a lot of character context and some emotional impact. If you want the cleanest first read, start at The Puppet Show.

Why do publication dates sometimes disagree?

Territory and format can shift dates (UK vs US, hardback vs paperback, audio-first releases). The reading order doesn’t change.

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Bottom line

If you want one decisive answer: start with The Puppet Show and read Washington Poe in publication order. It’s the clearest route, it protects surprises, and it lets the Poe–Tilly partnership evolve the way it’s meant to.