Carlisle-born author, M.W Craven has, for the third successive year, found himself in the running for the esteemed Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award.

This accolade celebrates Craven's endeavour into the Ben Koenig series, with the novel Fearless. The narrative explores the journey of a past US Marshal.

Alongside the ever-growingly popular Washington Poe novels, Mike says he's managed to now essentially 'double his readership'. 

Fearless has not only gripped its readers but also necessitated a reprint due to its ever-increasing popularity.

The book has also just gained a nod in the 2023 Thriller Book of the Year category at The Fingerprint Awards.

"Theakston Award, with it being a British award, it's predominately books set in Britain that get nominated, so I was bowled over when I heard," Mike said. 

"I've been longlisted three years on the trot, won it last year with The Botanist, I don't think anyone has won it two years in a row so something strange could happen this year but we're up against strong competition." 

News and Star: Steve Harris from Iron Maiden is a huge Poe fan. Mike will be joining him in November as a guest of the band. Steve Harris from Iron Maiden is a huge Poe fan. Mike will be joining him in November as a guest of the band. (Image: Supplied)

Mike's pen is set to stay busy this year, with two new books coming from each of his famous series.

Fans of the Poe series can anticipate the return of their favourite character in The Mercy Chair this June. Whilst the last Poe novel, The Botanist, saw the detective all over, the new book will bring it all back home to Cumbria. 

"Mercy Chair takes place mostly in the Keswick area. It starts with Poe being called to the 'Lightning Tree', with someone tied to it and stabbed to death, dragging Poe towards a cult. 

"It's by far the darkest Poe book in the series, my agent couldn't read it in one sitting, he had to go for a walk when reading it which meant I'd done my job. 

"It's still quite funny but deals with dark subject matters, it also dispels the myth of the white rock on Barf fell, most people think the Bishop of Derry fell off a donkey in a drunken bet to get the top but that's not the case, you'll have to buy the book to find out," he said. 

With the latest Koenig book, Nobody's Hero (named after a Stiff Little Fingers song) out in October, Mike hinted at a crossover between two worlds. 

"Steeleye Stan, who has a ball bearing for an eye, I brought him into the Poe series for Deadground as a bouncer on Botchergate - he makes an appearance in the upcoming Koenig book," Mike said. 

With The Mercy Chair out on June 6, Mike has already sold out the book launch at Carlisle's Old Fire Station. 

He has also been named to feature in the upcoming return of the Words by Water Festival, alongside appearances at various book signings throughout Cumbria. 

To purchase Mike's upcoming or past novels, you can visit Carlisle's Bookends or for a special limited edition of The Mercy Chair, you can visit Goldsboro Books.

You can also vote for Mike in the upcoming awards, such as The Finger Print Awards here. 

To find out more, you can visit www.mwcraven.com