The Patient is a solid police investigation procedural from Tim Sullivan.

Sullivan's protagonist, DS George Cross is faced with a somewhat mysterious, sudden and unexplained death of a young mother in suburban Bristol. When Cross deploys his meticulous and logical mind to the circumstances, you soon appreciate that there are a few potential culprits in the spotlight. There's the woman's junkie-ex, there's her revolting employee and there's her arrogant therapist.

People everywhere have skeletons in their closets right?

I found the exploration of Cross's position on the autism spectrum to be really interesting and relevant as to the career he excels in. Around him is the chaos and uncertainty in crimes committed, but as soon as he gets involved he craves order, logic, understanding and will not stop until equilibrium is restored. Cross is described 'hovering around the periphery of a case' and as 'an expert in bait'.

Through his colleagues Ottey and Mackenzie, you see Cross grow in understanding how best to interact with others, and they learn through the eyes of this 'eccentric, often infuriating creature'. There are some really tender and funny moments between them.

You learn that there are a lot of similarities between Cross and his elderly dad. It's through their interactions that you see a genuine love and affection in their own unique ways.

As the novel progresses, you're made to believe that each of the main suspects are guilty in turn. Without giving anything away, I didn't really see the final few twists and the overall ending coming.

I must say there are trigger warnings for suicide and assisted dying, so please be aware if these are topics you wish to avoid.

I can definitely see The Patient as a TV series - but for now enjoy reading it on the page when it's published by Head of Zeus on 3 March. I'm on the blogtour on 8 March so watch out on my Twitter and Instagram then.

Raymond Cross must have had a wry sense of humour when he named his son, George. DS George Cross is a brilliant detective and on the spectrum. I honestly doubt if, in real life, anyone on the spectrum would find a home in the police force. An exception might be a super recogniser. Anyway, for those of us on the spectrum, this novel really gives an insight in how we are perceived by others. I loved the fact that George couldn't stand an open office environment, who could? He had his own private office where a degree of peace reigned. Solving the riddle of a patient who committed suicide by drug overdose when she had been clean for ages tested George to the maximum. He soon deduced it was murder but by whom and for what motive? What follows is a great detective story and was a pleasure to read as it was very different to others in the genre. I would take issue with DS George Cross positioning his file centrally on the interview table, then opening it. Once opened it would be asymmetric and would need further alignment. Overall, an excellent detective story, I wouldn't call it a thriller, however I shall look out for more DS Cross novels in the future.

My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. I requested it because it was a police murder inquiry and more importantly, set in Bristol which has been my home for over fifty years. Unfortunately, although Bristol place names are mentioned, I didn’t get a Bristol feeling. I expected to walk around in the detective's footsteps and to be treated to evocative descriptions of places I knew. It could have been anywhere. As I read on I realised that what the author was giving us was a pen portrait of a highly intelligent, fully functioning man, his lead character, Sergeant Cross, who is just on the autism spectrum. This is very skillfully done and, I believe, shows that the author has based his character on experience. He is totally believable. But I do think it unlikely that a character such as the sergeant would have passed the interview stage for the police service, let alone basic training before being sworn in.

I congratulate the author on keeping his tale to an essential minimum of characters. Some authors fall into the trap of trying to make the story more interesting by overpopulating their narrative which only risks confusing their readers. There is however a tendency to over-explain things that probably don’t need explanation, This has the effect of slowing down the action. There are several improbable situations, but it would constitute spoilers to explain them all. But towards the end, a police officer gives her accompanying civilian staff colleague, (what was she doing there anyway ?), the satisfaction of handcuffing the suspect. Only police officers have the power of arrest and they have undergone detailed training in the use of Handcuffs which is regularly refreshed in routine trading.

I’ve been trying to pinpoint exactly why I didn’t completely enjoy this book. A detective story. Tick. Set in Bristol. Tick. Probably because it lacked both pace and a spirit of place. This book has been difficult for me to review objectively because it turned out to be not what I was expecting ting. Would I read another of these tales? I’m not sure.

This author is a first for me but definetly wont be the last. DS George Cross absolutly made this book.. straight talking, honest to the brink of being rude, mixed with humour...just brilliant.

The police are approached by Sandra, the mother of Flick, who has had a previous history of drug abuse and has committed suicide. However Sandra is convinced her daughter was murdered and begs for the case to be reopened. A further review by the coroner is enough for George to reopen the case, believing this was a case of murder.

His investigation leads him down the path of investigating not only Flicks close relationships, but also her former employer who on the face of it is helping the community by employing recovering addicts but is actually re destroying these peoples efforts.

Flicks therapist is a support for Sandra, however George is convinced he is not as ethical as he should be.

A fantastic read, with an underlying strand of how difficult it can be for vulnerable people to go back down the wrong path under the wrong influences. A twisty end that i did not predict.
Highly recommend a read.

The patient is my first DS George Cross mystery, and I enjoyed it, although wasn't blown away or overly gripped by the characters. Cross has Aspergers, and struggles with social interaction, which us depicted sensitively, humorously and kindly in his colleagues' reactions to his abrupt manner. The case iod whether Flick died from an overdose or was murdered is investigated. I found the plot slow moving and too bogged down with dialogue which didn't really contribute anything. I was desperate for more to happen! An easy read for cosy mystery fans.

George Cross is a particular kind of detective and as it happens, my favourite kind. I last came across him in The Dentist, when he used his detective talent and rather massive lack of talent with personal communication to great effect. His father Raymond has long been accustomed to George's foibles; George is On the Spectrum and whereas this give him extra perception in his work as a detective, it can be rather a nuisance for his colleagues and fri when attempting to understand his thought processes and actions. An engrossing book with George as the central character, drawing the reader in with his blunt statements and lack of social skills. The disturbing plot brings to the fore the element of trust that patients readily give to their Doctors and their assistants. I loved the book and am slightly besotted by DS George Cross.

This is the first DI Cross book I have read and really enjoyed the book. DS Cross is on the Autism Spectrum, his attention to detail and unwavering logic make him a very good detective, Cross is a character I immediately warmed to. Tim Sullivan has done a very good job of depicting this character and his problems in trying to navigate the mysteries he percives in the wider world. I will be looking for the previous books in this series.

Book 3 in the DS Cross Mysteries and I don’t know how I have missed book 1 and 2. I love a book set in my hometown of Bristol so thrilled to find this. The main protagonist, Cross, is a brilliant character. Diagnosed as autistic he is rude and socially awkward with few social skills but he achieves brilliant results through his sheer determination and his “evidence over instinct” way of working.

Briefly, Flick is a recovering drug addict who is found dead in her flat having apparently overdosed accidentally or committed suicide and the investigating police officer states this in his report. D S Cross however comes across her mother sitting in the police reception area and she is adamant her daughter was murdered. Cross agrees to look over the file and finding some inconsistencies decides to pursue this further. Superbly assisted by his colleagues Alice Mackenzie and DS Ottey the investigation leads to a local dry cleaners who’s employees are all recovering drug addicts. They also discover links to a number of suicides and assisted deaths. With the suspects pool rising they have nobody with a clear motive for killing Flick or any proof that it was murder.

This is a superb read. I was completely unsure how the investigation would end or even if anyone was responsible for her death, but Cross is dogged and brings it all together. The storyline involves the issues of assisted suicide as well as drug abuse and mental health but is wonderfully well dealt with as is the relationship between Cross and his father. The description of the funeral of a former police officer is particularly poignant. Hopefully there is more of Cross to come but in the meantime i enjoyed this delightful read and will check out the earlier books ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DS George Cross is a detective who is on the Autistic Spectrum. He can come across as rude, and struggles with social niceties. He is also an amazing detective, with a high success rate.
Flick is a recovering drug addict, who on the face of it has everything to live for. However, she is found dead at her flat, with her young daughter in the next room. George realises that this is very much out af character for Flick, as she loved her daughter with all her heart and would never have commited suicide knowing that her daughter was just feet away. He, and some of his team are pretty sure that she was murdered. However, there are others in the force, who think that he is mistaken and that she ended her own life. How can George prove them wrong?
This is a well written story, and it is not my first outing with DS Cross. I love his complicated personality, and can relate to a lot of his idiosyncracies. He has an attention to detail that is second to none, and this helps him to discover information that other officers would miss.
I won't give more details on the story because I don;' wish to spoil it for other readers, but all I can say is that it is well worth the read. I will certainly be reading more about DS Cross in the future.

This is the third in the DS Cross series and the first I read; though it's clear they can be read out of order. I will go back to read 'The Dentist' and 'The Cyclist' in due course because I really enjoyed The Patient. The protagonist, DS George Cross is probably on the Autistic Spectrum with issues aligned with Asperger's Syndrome. Sullivan won't be the first writer to use someone like Cross; it was done with amazing effect in the Scandi Drama, The Bridge, though in that case, the role was taken by a female detective.

The storyline is well-developed with the death of a young ex- heroin addict being investigated by DS Campbell, Cross' colleague. Campbell is far too eager to write this off as a suicide or someone going back to their old habits. Cross has other ideas. Cross takes over with his two close colleagues, Ottey and Mackenzie and is certain a murder has been committed.

The character development is wonderful across this book. On the one hand, we have Cross with his strange nuanced way of seeing the world and the people in it. Ottey, his female sidekick knows him well enough to step in when she needs to but trusts his instincts about mosy things. I liked that Mackenzie, his administrator gets due respect as the one who keeps things runnig efficiently and is also able to step in when Ottey and Cross, especially, don't have time for the touchy feely part of the job. Ottey is of West Indian descent and has a good sense of humour. She offers a flip side to Cross' straight lines way of thinking and the way the characters work together and gel is a part of the book I really liked.

Tim Sullivan was formerly a screenwriter and you can tell this by the way his story builds. This book is a page turner, with less than perfect but rather good good guys. It deals well with the subject of addiction and of the relationships with people in the hold of it. I am looking forward to reading Tim's other books.

My thanks to Tim and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Patient before the publication date.

Flick Wilson was a recovering drug addict.
When she was found dead with a needle in her arm, the cause of death was ruled as accidental overdose.
Her mother Sandra Wilson, is adamant that Flick was murdered, but no-one will listen.
Then she meets DS George Cross who agrees to review the file on Flick’s death.
Unwilling to make a decision until he has facts to substantiate his view, Cross starts to investigate the circumstances surrounding Flick’s death.

Initially the book appeared to be about DS George Cross.
Cross is on the autistic spectrum which results in complexities, both in his private and professional lives.

Then his investigation gets underway and the reader is treated to various twists, turns and red herrings.
The storyline includes discussions about suicide and assisted dying which were thought provoking, if a bit disturbing.
Sullivan has countered that with the compassion which Cross and his team show when they find that former
DCI Esther Moffat is in a care home and whilst mentally very astute, is terminally ill.

An excellent read. DS George Cross is not your average detective - he has an excellent track record, can be difficult and pendantic but is very human, although rarely expresses that side of himself. He's on the autistic spectrum which does cause some problems in communication - blunt or what - but he certainly gets the job done. His team accept him as he is and work with him to get the right outcome. It's very easy to relate to him. The case involves a young woman deemed to have committed suicide assuming that, as a former drug addict, she had relapsed. Case over. Her mother is adamant that her daughter was murdered and this strikes a cord with Cross who takes on the case even though his boss is reluctant. Interviews with former friends, boyfriend, employers not to mention health professionals leads to a satisfying conclusion. Occasionally it seems that Cross' autistic issues are reiterated just a bit too much - a fair bit of repetition - and this drops a star for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

My advice is not to start reading this unless you have time to go to the end! It is compulsive. DS Cross is autistic, impersonal and difficult but he approaches cases with pure logic. He rejects a superior’s decision that the death of a recovering user called Flick is suicide. Why? Well, he would say it was obvious. She was proud of her recovery, her baby daughter was alive and well in the room next door and there was no sign of a container that the drug used to inject her could have come from. Cross is very well described and used. It is an example of how personal issues can be a support not a drawback. The case turns out to be much bigger than one death. There are various suspects along the way and an exciting finish. I strongly recommend it.

This is the first DI Cross book I have read and really enjoyed the book.
A mother is convinced that her daughter did not kill herself but was murdered and DI Cross and his unit investigate. What follows is lots of twists and turns with suspicious suspects but it keeps you guessing until the end.
Love the banter between Cross and his colleagues as they try to determine who is responsible.
Highly recommend this book and look forward to reading another DI Cross book again.

Felicity Wilson’s mother is not willing to accept that her daughter took her own life. When DS George Cross sees her at the station one day he takes the time to listen to her and her concerns. He agrees to look into Felicity's death and quickly discovers that it wasn’t properly investigated.
George gets the case reopened and along with DS Josie Ottey and police Staffer Alice Mackenzie he calmly and thoroughly begins to go through every aspect of Felicity’s life in order to find out who killed her.
George Cross is a very different type of detective and I found myself totally engrossed in both his and the victims stories. Josie and Alice are very strong characters and they complimented him perfectly. This is the first George Cross book I have read but it won’t be the last.

DS George Cross has an Autism Spectrum Disorder. His attention to detail and unwavering logic make him a very good detective, something not all of his colleagues appreciate. When he sees a woman being dismissed by the desk sergeant at his station he asks her what is wrong. She is convinced her daughter was murdered and did not commit suicide as one of his colleagues concluded. Cue a re-examination of the case.

Cross is a character I immediately warmed to. The author has done a very good job of depicting someone with ASD but what I especially liked was the help he got from others to navigate the mysterious (to him) world. I'll certainly be looking out for more in this series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC,

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The is the third novel in Tim Sullivan's series featuring DS George Cross - it is fair to say that George is not your average detective. The books I read tend to have heroes who are troubled, alcoholic with marital problems and generally possessed by demons - not in this case. It is fair to say that DS Cross is "on the spectrum" - he often drives his colleagues and father mad with his obsessive behaviour, however it gets him results and that is what matters to his bosses. Whilst far from hard-boiled this is not a cosy read either - the characters are well-rounded and the plotting excellent. The storyline here revolves around a psychiatrist and a dry cleaning shop and there are a couple of twists along the way. I would recommend for fans of Richard Osman but would wager that Tim Sullivan would love to be a few sales behind him.

This was the the first book I have read by this author and was my introduction to DS Cross. The highlight of this book for me was that the author has done an incredible job of portraying a main character who has Asperger's Syndrome without any of the usual clichés. I enjoyed how the author explored the ways in which other characters go about helping DS Cross navigate the world and how DS Cross himself acknowledges his own struggles.

The story was fantastic, a must read for fans of detective/police procedural reads. DS Cross' black and white view of the world allows for an enjoyable and sometimes humorous experience.

A police procedural with the lead detective on the spectrum, a wonderful character as are the others. A truly good book Thet keeps you guessing.
Thanks to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for a review copy

I enjoyed reading this book. Loved DS Cross. Enjoyed the humour too.
Quite different to the usual crime thrillers as DS Cross is on the spectrum.
I am looking forward to buying the previous books in the series.