Botanist

The Botanist audiobook, written by M. W. Craven, translated by Jan Kozák. Read by Martin Zahálka, directed by Jakub Tabery. Washington Poe #5 Detective Sergeant Washington Poe can count his friends on one hand. And he'd still have a thumb left over. Among them, of course, is the guilelessly innocent civilian analyst Tilly Bradshaw. Insanely brilliant, but a bit of a social hand grenade. He has known his long-suffering boss for years, as well as his closest neighbour, Victoria, a part-time dog sitter. And then there's Estelle Doyle. Dark, dangerous, and damn sexy. A caustic pathologist who never walks on the sunny side of the street. But has she gone too far this time? Her father's murder seems to be an open-and-shut case. Estelle has gunshot residue on her hands from the murder weapon, and only her footprints lead to the house, which is surrounded by fresh snow. Since her arrest, she has said only three words: "Tell Washington Poe." Meanwhile, a poisoner known as the Botanist is sending poems and pressed flowers to national celebrities. He is twisted and inventive. He seems to be able to walk through walls and, despite the warnings he gives his victims and the security measures put in place by the police, he continues to kill with impunity. For Washington Poe, who hates locked-room mysteries, it's shaping up to be the longest week of his life. M. W. CRAVEN A British author of crime novels and thrillers. A probation officer. M. W. Craven was born in Carlisle but grew up in Newcastle, which he ran away from at the tender age of sixteen to join the army. He spent the next ten years travelling the world and having a good time. In 1995, he decided to study social work, specialising in criminology and substance abuse. At thirty-one, he became a probation officer in Whitehaven, where he eventually worked his way up to a senior position. Sixteen years later, he decided to take a chance and became a full-time writer after being made redundant. MARTIN ZAHÁLKA Martin Zahálka is a renowned voice actor who has played dozens of theatre roles and appeared in numerous series. After attending the Secondary Technical School of Mechanical Engineering, he worked as a military cinema projectionist in Bor u Tachova and then applied to study acting at DAMU. After his first engagement at the State Theatre in Brno, he moved to the J. K. Tyl Theatre in Pilsen and has been a member of the artistic ensemble of the Vinohrady Theatre in Prague since 1992. His roles include Grey in King Rat and Oronte in The Misanthrope. He is also an excellent photographer and audiobook narrator.