The Bookseller by Tim Sullivan

 

First Line: "I have cancer, George."

Life has thrown Detective Sergeant George Cross a curveball in his personal life, so when the body of a bookseller is found lying in a pool of blood in his own bookshop, George must do something he's never actually had to do before: rely on his team for help.

Can the world of books really be all that cutthroat?

~

If it seems as though I've spent most of my time this year praising Tim Sullivan's George Cross mysteries, you're probably right. I've almost caught up with the series, so those of you who wish I'd dial it back will be happy.

Tim Sullivan has created a rich world of characters and mysteries that will keep readers on their toes. In The Bookseller, we see how George reacts to a family crisis, and it's every bit as funny and touching as fans would expect.

One of the things that makes George Cross so special is that he's always learning something new about himself. These characters are not static. His partner, Josie Ottey, hesitates to share some news with him, and there's a new police staff officer, Prianka Patel, who's replaced Alice MacKenzie. (Don't worry, Alice has news of her own.) I have to keep reading these books just to keep up with the characters!

But the mysteries are every bit as good as Sullivan's cast. This time around, readers will learn about the bookselling business while sorting through the list of suspects. Although there is sadness and worry in The Bookseller, readers will also get to laugh while watching DCI Carson marshal the troops to apprehend a suspect. 

Strong mysteries, wonderful characters, humor, and poignancy-- if you have yet to make the acquaintance of George and his team, what on earth are you waiting for?

The Bookseller by Tim Sullivan

eISBN: 9780802167705

Atlantic Crime © 2026

eBook, 384 pages

Police Procedural, #7 George Cross

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

The Teacher by Tim Sullivan

 

First Line: The victim's head was at a grotesque and unnatural angle to his body, which lay crumpled like a pile of laundry that had been thrown down the narrow staircase.

Others may think the dead man fell down the stairs and broke his neck, but Detective Sergeant George Cross thinks the stab wound on the elderly schoolteacher's body says differently.

As Cross investigates, he quickly learns that the victim, Alistair Moreton, made life hell for his neighbors and former pupils, so the suspect list is a long one. But every victim deserves justice, so Cross will not rest until he identifies the killer.

~

I may be reading much less than I have in previous years, but one thing is for certain: when the ones I do read are of the high quality of Tim Sullivan's George Cross series, I'm not going to complain. In The Teacher, Sullivan livens things up quite a bit by having Cross's usual partner, DS Josie Ottey, taking time off to move into her new house. He doesn't realize how much he's going to miss her until DI Warner joins the squad. Warner goes out of his way to aggravate Cross, and it's so much fun to watch Cross learn how to deal with him. Warner isn't much liked by anyone else in the squad either, one person even telling him, "He [Cross] is Sherlock Holmes to your Inspector Clouseau."

But Warner isn't the only worrisome item on George's list. His family life is steadily becoming more complicated, and he didn't realize how much he depended on DS Ottey to help guide him through the minefields of human interaction until she took this time off. This cast of characters is superb, and Sullivan certainly knows how to keep it fresh. Even DCI Carson-- normally a figure of fun-- is showing readers that he's not just a buffoon.

If you love strong mysteries that are fun to solve, and-- especially-- if you love characters who grow and begin to feel like friends and family, you simply have to start reading this series. Due to the character development, I urge you to start with the first book, The Dentist. You're in for such a treat that I'm almost jealous.

The Teacher by Tim Sullivan

eISBN: 9780802167767

Atlantic Crime © 2026

eBook, 387 pages

Police Procedural, #6 DS George Cross

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

The Monk by Tim Sullivan

 

First Line: George Cross was rarely shocked by anything he came across during his work as a detective sergeant in the Avon and Somerset police.

Detective George Cross likes his life to be ordered and predictable, but with the reappearance of his mother, he's left feeling confused and uncomfortable. That's undoubtedly why, when the savagely beaten body of a monk is found in a woodland outside Bristol, he throws himself into the investigation.

It's a case tailor-made for him. There are no leads whatsoever. No one knows anything about Brother Dominic's past, and everyone seemed to have loved him. But when Cross learns that Brother Dominic was a wealthy man, he may have found the true motive: greed.

~

I normally prefer spacing series books several months apart, but Tim Sullivan's Detective Sergeant George Cross mysteries have proven to be an exception. Each book, like this latest, The Monk, has a strong mystery and a developing cast of characters that can really get its hooks into a reader.

The dead man, Brother Dominic, is a bit of a mystery. Seemingly beloved by everyone who knew him, nothing is known of his past, and it's not until Cross begins digging into that past that the investigation gains momentum. Watching this man's diligent, unstoppable search for the truth is a true joy. 

Readers learn more about Cross from his reaction to monastic life on repeated visits to St. Eustace's, and we also learn more about the others. Detective Sergeant Josie Ottey has a growing fondness for Cross. She realizes that part of her job is paving the way for this oftentimes difficult man so he can "do his thing." Is she becoming Watson to his Holmes?

We also see how each of the major characters spends a weekend away from work. Character-driven readers should sink into the books in this series with a deep sigh of pleasure.

I love this series. Can you read them out of order? Yes, but I wouldn't recommend it. As strong as the mysteries are, watching the characters grow is the best part. Now that I've read The Monk, I'm looking forward to meeting with Cross and the others again soon.

The Monk by Tim Sullivan

eISBN: 9780802167729

Atlantic Crime © 2026

eBook, 408 pages

Police Procedural, #5 DS George Cross

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

The Politician by Tim Sullivan

 

First Lines: A cup or mug for drinking tea wasn't even a question for DS George Cross. A cup. Obviously. Bone china, preferably.

When an investigation begins into the death of former mayor Peggy Frampton, Detective Sergeant George Cross can see that she was murdered. It is definitely not a case of a burglary gone wrong. 

After her career in politics, Frampton became a controversial blogger whose opinions attracted plenty of vitriol. But online trolls aren't the only suspects in this case. There are former political opponents... and that family of hers. 

The sheer number of suspects is really putting Cross's skills to the test.

~

My love affair with Tim Sullivan's Detective Sergeant George Cross series deepens with each book that I read. I could wax poetic for pages about this latest release, The Politician, but instead, I'll try to limit myself.

Each book in this series has a strong mystery for George (and readers) to solve, and The Politician is no exception. Wading through motivations and suspects alone is daunting, and it's always a pleasure to watch George put all the pieces of the puzzle together. So... plot-driven readers should love this series.

However, as strong as the mysteries are, character-driven readers will be in heaven. The character studies are marvelous. Sullivan has created a fantastic cast, and readers are always learning something new about each person.

The sly humor in each book is usually based on people's reactions to George, and readers will find themselves chuckling or smiling as they read. In The Politician, George not only has a perplexing mystery to solve, but he's also learning more about his own family. While he's learning about his family, his partner is learning ways to force Cross into acceptable mainstream behavior, and that's something else to make readers smile. 

We're also introduced to a new character, forensic scientist Michael Swift, who's so tall that he's been dubbed "the Shard" (London skyscraper). Swift is also a self-professed Cross groupie, so it's good to see someone work with Cross because he's Cross instead of despite the fact that he's Cross. (If I haven't mentioned it before, Cross is on the spectrum, and the only reason why most people on the police force put up with him is because of his phenomenal success rate.)

Well, I tried to limit myself, but I didn't succeed. Those of you who have already read a book in this series are undoubtedly fans like me. If you haven't succumbed to temptation, I urge you to do so. Because of the marvelous characters, I would suggest you begin with the first book, The Dentist. You are in for a treat!

The Politician by Tim Sullivan

eISBN: 9780802167743

Atlantic Crime © 2026

Originally published 2022.

eBook, 382 pages

Police Procedural, #4 DS George Cross

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan

 

First Line: "Excuse me? How long before my men can get back to work?"

Detective Sergeant George Cross's logic, determination, and precision can make him almost impossible to work with, but since he has the highest crime clearance rate, his co-workers in the Bristol police force make allowances for his peculiarities.

The faint clues on a ravaged body found in a demolition site lead Cross into the world of amateur cycling, drugs, ambition, and a family that is imploding. But just when the police seem to have solved the case, Cross doubles back on his investigation. Is he doing the right thing?

~

Tim Sullivan's George Cross series was one of my favorite discoveries of 2025, and this second book in the series, The Cyclist, definitely makes me want to read more. The mystery is ingenious. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Cross did an about-face and headed in a different direction. Did this anger me? No. This man has "an inbuilt intolerance of things being wrong," and I've quickly learned to trust him.

I'm not the only one who's learned to trust him. One of the best things about this series is that readers don't get the story from Cross's point of view alone; we're treated to how his co-workers, DC Josie Ottey and trainee Police Staff Investigator Alice MacKenzie, are continuously learning how to deal with his eccentricities. Being privy to their thoughts when Cross is being particularly uncooperative is a treat.

And speaking of treats, Cross's relationship with his father is tested in The Cyclist, and his frequent (spot-on) digs at the ongoing cost-cutting methods of the police department turn into a running joke.

Tim Sullivan's characters and plots make this a very enjoyable series, and I'm looking forward to the next book.

The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan

eISBN: 9780802167781

Grove Atlantic © 2026

eBook, 272 pages

Police Procedural, #2 DS George Cross

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley

The Dentist by Tim Sullivan

 

First Line: The young woman standing in front of him was smiling.

The most successful detective in Bristol's police force is Detective Sergeant George Cross. He's on the autism spectrum, and his single-minded persistence and attention to detail make him difficult to work with, but his 97% conviction rate speaks for itself.

A homeless man's death is dismissed as a random act of violence, but George insists on investigating it further. His determination pays off when he finds a connection to a fifteen-year-old cold case. Despite skepticism from his colleagues, George can be counted on to solve both cases and bring a murderer to justice.

~

Having read high praise of this series from trusted sources, I knew I had to give the first book in the DS George Cross series, The Dentist, a try. Those trusted sources did not steer me wrong. Although crime solvers on the autism spectrum seem to be the flavor of the month, so much so that I've not finished a few books featuring them, Tim Sullivan drew me right into his story.

Part of the reason why The Dentist works so well is that readers get to see George, not only from his own perspective, but also from other characters' viewpoints. His partner, DS Ottey, is both exasperated by and protective of him, and watching brand-new rookie Alice MacKenzie figuring out how to work with him is a treat. George's father, Raymond, is also on hand to provide a little backstory as well as some of the wit and humor that shines throughout this book.

I enjoyed how the mystery unfolded and was anxious to see how George would bring the guilty to justice. This Maigret-loving, church-organ-playing detective has become a character I definitely need to read more about. Bring on the next book!

The Dentist by Tim Sullivan

eISBN: 9780802167101

Atlantic Crime © 2025

eBook, 384 pages

Police Procedural, #1 DS George Cross

Rating: A

Source: Net Galley