There was definitely no sophomore slump for Craven with his second book in the Washington Poe series. Black Summer was one of the most complicated, unbelievable and sickest, crime stories I think I have ever read and Poe's instinct, his ability to see things others miss and his determination are what makes it so believable. Tilly is back and brilliant and loveable as ever, as are several characters from his first book. Craven's ability to throw a little subtle hint at something that you know will be important and to leave each chapter with a cliffhanger assures that you will keep reading way longer than you intended. It will be all I can do not to devour the rest of the books in the series before I read other books that I should be reading.