Although he was born in Cumbria, Mike Craven grew up in the North East before running away to join the army when he turned sixteen. After training as an armourer for two and a half years, he spent the next ten travelling the world having fun. In 1995 he left the army and completed a degree in social work, with specialisms in criminology, psychology and substance misuse. In 1999 he joined Cumbria Probation Service as a probation officer, working his way up to chief officer grade. Sixteen years later, he took the plunge and accepted redundancy to concentrate on writing. He now has entirely different motivations for trying to get inside the minds of criminals. Between leaving the army and securing his first publishing deal, Mike found time to keep a pet crocodile, breed snakes, survive cancer and get married. He lives in Carlisle with his wife, Joanne, and his springer spaniel, Bracken.
Nothing you've ever read will prepare you for the utterly unique Washington Poe Satisfyingly twisty and clever and the flashes of humour work well to offer the reader respite from the thrill of the read. This book is twisted and dark and I loved it - not sure what that says about me Nothing you've ever read will prepare you for the utterly unique Washington Poe - Keith Nixon Mike Craven is a forceful new voice in British crime fiction. A powerful thriller from an explosive new talent. Tightly plotted, and not for the faint-hearted! A thrilling curtain-raiser for what looks set to be a great new series. Dark, sharp and compelling