Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin . . .
Washington Poe has a story to tell.
And he needs you to listen.
You’ll hear how it started with the robber birds. Crows. Dozens of them. Enough for a murder . . .
He’ll tell you about a man who was tied to a tree and stoned to death, a man who had tattooed himself with a code so obscure, even the gifted analyst Tilly Bradshaw struggled to break it. He’ll tell you how the man’s murder was connected to a tragedy that happened fifteen years earlier when a young girl massacred her entire family.
And finally, he’ll tell you about the mercy chair. And why people would rather kill themselves than talk about it . . .
Poe hopes you’ve been paying attention. Because in this story, nothing is as it seems . . .
I'm absolutely delighted to be sharing my publication day review of The Mercy Chair today. Many thanks to Little, Brown for my advance digital copy of the novel, received through Netgalley. Happy publication day, Mike!
I don't know how he does it but with each new book, M.W. Craven takes the same basic ingredients – a cast of characters who leap from the page, a dark, twisted plot lightened throughout by irreverent humour, and a superb sense of place – and creates something completely different every time, rightfully earning himself legions of fans. The Mercy Chair is, however, arguably his most clever instalment in the series to date; it's a departure from the structure of the novels and features Washington Poe describing the terrible events which ultimately result in him spending hours with a therapist but is still imbued throughout with the magic which ensures this series is so consistently unmissable. With that in mind, I would recommend reading the previous books if you haven't already. It is possible to start here, and you'll read a superlative crime thriller but the emotional heft of The Mercy Chair will be felt more by those who have followed Washington Poe, Tilly Bradshaw and their various colleagues and friends since the start.
Over time, Washington Poe has investigated several gruesome and heinous crimes and so it perhaps shouldn't be surprising that he winds up in a therapist's chair. However, it quickly becomes apparent that it's his most recent case which is truly haunting him and although the cumulative effect of bearing witness to so much previous horror undoubtedly weighs heavily on him, too, it's the story he gradually recalls here which eventually reveals why we see a new, vulnerable side to Poe. It is the darkest book so far and without giving anything of the intricately constructed, compelling storyline away, features so many twists and turns, it left my head spinning!
As Poe talks to Doctor Lang, the narrative switches between his account and the events as they took place. It means that we still see Washington at his best – or worst, depending on your perspective! He treats Linus, the new intern assigned to work alongside him and Tilly appallingly, and although the swiftly nicknamed Snoopy's presence throws up questions about his real intentions, it's hard not to feel some sympathy for him at times. Meanwhile, Poe and Tilly's relationship continues to be the beating heart of the series; they know one another so well now that there's a sort of shorthand between them. Their trust in one another is implicit and yet Tilly has a wonderful knack of embarrassing Poe, sometimes innocently but frequently less so; the impeccable development of her character means she has become a rather shrewd operator herself. Poe's personal life has also been enriched by his romance with Estelle Doyle and again, the level of understanding they share is reflected throughout their scenes together.
The balance between light and shade is always important in a crime thriller but never more so than in The Mercy Chair, when an investigation into a man mercilessly stoned to death becomes linked to a shocking earlier tragedy, and ultimately exposes Washington Poe to the very worst of humanity. Knowing he will be forced to seek help for his state of mind adds a further layer of pathos to proceedings and it's achingly bittersweet to read scenes portraying the confidently belligerent, sarcastic Poe juxtaposed against the man who whispers to his therapist that he sees crows when he goes to sleep.
As always, the Cumbrian backdrop to the narrative is impressively atmospheric but while Poe often finds solace in the solitude of his remote home in the fells, the secluded isolation is taken advantage of by others, bringing him face to face with dangerous extremism and abhorrent attitudes which are only too believable. As shameful secrets and brutally depraved acts of violence are uncovered, the sins of the past are revisited in breathtakingly tense and emotional scenes.
M.W. Craven weaves a complex tale exploring themes such as religious beliefs and intolerance, mental health and sexuality with a compassionate examination of fear and the need to belong, but while it may be heartrending, the storyline is irresistibly exciting and utterly compulsive throughout. The Mercy Chair is exceptional and M.W. Craven is the consummate master of intense, dexterously plotted thrillers – I cannot wait to read what comes next!
The Mercy Chair is published by Constable, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group. Purchasing links can be found here.
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