I really enjoyed this read. DS George Cross is a fascinating character. His thorough detective work coupled with his autistic tendencies made him unique. There are so many police procedurals, it was nice to have something different which made this stand out.

. A chance encounter with Sandra Wilson gives DS Cross and his team Mackenzie and DS Ottey an interesting case to work on. Sandra believes her daughter Felicity (Flick) was murdered although it has been deemed suicide. The author does a great job of drip-feeding information. I had a few theories as the book progressed, none of which were correct. It was a surprise when the perpetrator was revealed but it all made sense.

I enjoyed the addition of the retired detective at the old folk's home, George's organ playing and his own relationship with his parents- his estranged mother and his father, Raymond being a hoarded.

I hope this will be a series. I'm sure DS Cross has many more mysteries to solve.

Thanks indeed to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really like these books. The main plot investigating a young woman’s death which has been explained away as a suicide is very interesting and has some great twists, but the pièce de résistance of this series is the main character DS Cross. This is the third book in the series and the second I’ve read and the character development is brilliant, as is the subplot. We like everyone in his life seem are becoming more used to Cross and his directness, which is a product of his Asperger’s. Definitely a series I’m looking forward to following

A wonderful story of a detective George Cross on the edge of the autistic spectrum and his investigation into a death written off by everyone else as a suicide. I found the descriptions of his logic fascinating and his relationship with colleagues brilliantly described. A case that is built slowly is never less than intriguing with several viable suspects revealed as well as George’s history teasingly revealed it all hopefully is continued with further episodes of a police procedural that is different to the run of the mill fare that is all too prevalent now. Great stuff.

Prior to reading this book I had never heard of the DS Cross series and now feel all the better for discovering this gem.

I have to admit I warmed to DS George Cross right away, in a way understanding his unwavering logic and pursuit of the truth. I liked the little side plots as well in the story such as his father having to go into a residential home and the discovery of his father and mothers relationship.
The characters of Ottey and Mackenzie added a bit of light relief to what was a difficult subject of assisted dying/suicide and murder and the often thin line between them.

I would love to read any of the future endeavours

I’m afraid I found this book very hard going and couldn’t get into the story or the characters .I found it very slow and the policeman wasn’t that endearing. I’m sorry but this one wasn’t for me

Unusual and very readable novel by Tim Sullivan.

Detective Sergeant George Cross is autistic .This gives him an unusual gift of obsessiveness and single minded determination to see justice.
Somerset and Avon Police in Bristol is the scene .George along with DS Ottey and administrator Alice Mackensie form a small team within the crime unit.that believe a suicide of a young mother and recovering addict has been murdered. They set out to find the truth and in doing so unearth several other suicides with doubts of their original coroner conclusions.
This sets the scene which DS George Cross is uniquely placed to dig into the background of these unfortunate deaths.
A novel that is different but perhaps very unlikely with an autistic Police Officer heading an enquiry ,but it seams to work and becomes an enjoyable read. We may see more of DS George Cross in the future.

4.5 stars

DS George Cross #3

Sandra Wilson is convinced her recovering addict daughter did not die of an overdose as a perfunctory police enquiry and a coroner decide. Luckily for her she attracts the attention of DS George Cross.

First of all, I hadn’t read the previous two books but that in no way detracts from the enjoyment of this well written novel. However, I do think I’ve missed a treat! I love the fascinating central protagonist as he’s autistic, his portrayal is outstanding and it makes a refreshing change to have someone on the spectrum integral to the storytelling. I enjoy his interactions with those around him, some are sympathetic (his partner Ottey, police staff Mackenzie and boss DI Carson) and those who are not. His condition is what makes him such a good detective, he loves puzzles, he’s patient but obviously doesn’t always understand nuances. The characterisation is excellent throughout - a shout out for his father Raymond and Esther Moffatt, a retired police officer. I feel the author shows respect for his characters.

The plot is well thought out, the case goes in surprising directions as George and the team doggedly pursue the truth. It has all the ingredients of a compelling and hard to put down mystery as the case takes unexpected twists and turns and focuses on a controversial topic which is thought provoking. I really like the outcome and the actual ending is wonderful.

This is a gripping read with superbly crafted central character, it added something extra, a different dimension to the usual Police procedurals. This book makes you feel something and kudos to the author for that. Tim Sullivan is a must read author from now on.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Head of Zeus for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book after thinking that I wasn’t going to after I was a few pages in. The characters are great, and the storyline is clever, convoluted, but easy enough to follow. This is the first book I have read by Tim Sullivan but I’ll definitely be reading more of his work.

I enjoyed this book. I liked all of the characters, especially George, the lead detective. Apparently there are other books featuring him, but this is my first. Story is a little slow developing, but leads to a good surprise at the end.

A decent slow burner of a murder mystery with plenty of quirks and an original plot. When a mother of a young child dies, initially it is thought to be suicide but that doesn’t sit correctly with those closest to her and doubt starts to be cast. She seemingly has everything to live for, having been an addict but now clean for a considerable time and her young child to live for.
The Detective is a fascinating character, having had a sad past himself and also being on the spectrum, this gives him a unique style but very effective way of investigating as he is incredibly detail orientated. The insights into his past life and the added narrative around this adds another dimension to the story too. I liked the thought provoking discussions in the book about end of life and the ethics re assisted suicide. I did twitch slightly about the term ‘committed’ suicide being used throughout, however, as I no longer feel that is politically very correct, buts that’s just a side note.
The story was good overall, very slightly slow in places for me but definitely a recommended read.

I loved this book ,I have not read the previous two books in this series but it is a good standalone book.DS George Cross is on the Autism Spectrum but though sometimes difficult to work with he is a brilliant Detective seeing things others miss .I really like him and Ottey ,the story was gripping fast paced with some twists and turns that made it more interesting .I enjoyed this book as George is a very different Detective and look forward to reading the next in the series .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC .

DS Cross can appear to be rude, arrogant, awkward and seriously lacking in social skills. He has no ability to read the room, or be emotive when situations require it. However, he has a tenacity in pursuing a case which, combined with his directness, logic and relentless pursuit of what is right and factual leads him to having the best conviction rate on the force. He is on the autistic spectrum which makes him a unique character in his position, but proves to be an asset in his work.

When a recovering drug addict is found dead in her flat, the Bristol Crime Unit rules it a suicide. The womans mother is convinced it is murder, and persists in visiting the police station daily until she gets someone attention. The attention she finally gets is that of DC Cross. He reviews the case and determines it was murder. But why? And by whom? He goes against the wishes of his superiors and reopens the case.

This story was simply fantastic. DC Cross as a character is funny, irritating, clever and makes you really laugh at times with his black and white view of the world and how it results in interactions with his colleagues or people on the case. For all of his quirks, he is an excellent detective and his passion comes across to people, who at times struggle to work with his differences, but for the most part recognise his uniqueness and the benefits it can bring in a non traditional way. I think this was a really fantastic undercurrent to have running through the story. This is the third in the series of DC Cross, and I absolutely can’t wait to get my hands on the first two, because this third one is a definite recommended read!


*I received this book from NetGalley for review but all opinions are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.
This is my first publication by Tim Sullivan that I've read and it has certainly left me wanting more.
It transpires this is the third book in a series but this is no way spoilt my enjoyment of it as a standalone read.
Totally beleivable and likeable characters. The main police officer is unlike any other police officer I've ever read about. His two side kicks obviously were really good characters.
I'll not give away the story line but if you enjoy a good police invetigation then this one is for you.
I've already purchased the other two book in the series and they are now on my read list.

A brilliant police procedural, DS Cross is a detective with an arrest record second to none. He is on the Autism Spectrum which makes him a very quirky character. He is like a dog with a bone when he is on a case and he is only happy with perfection, he never says two words when one will do and he comes across as being rude, very rarely saying please and thank you. This makes for a different and enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed this book, it held my attention completely the entire way through. The main character DS George Cross has Autism spectrum disorder and I do think characters like this are important in providing representation. The story itself is heart-wrenching at times and continuously throws curveballs to keep you guessing what’s going to happen.

4.5 stars
Another superb NetGalley ARC! I had a twofold interest in reading this crime thriller in addition to a love of the genre in general. Psychological thrillers are of particular interest and whilst not really in this category, there were characters and elements that intrigued me. I am also originally from Bristol and I loved the bits and pieces of the city’s history that were included. Some details differed from what I recall, but I left almost 40 years ago so memory may be fallible.
This is not the first book in the series which follows the detection strategies of DS Cross, who is well into the autistic spectrum. This brought about some real laugh out loud moments in his interactions with colleagues and the public alike. I find this premise really interesting and will definitely follow the series as it develops. In my opinion it w did not put me at a disadvantage to read the novel out of publication order.
A slight concern of mine at the outset was the author’s background as a screenwriter. There were instances where I felt we were told and not shown things, but on reflection I’m not completely sure that this isn’t a characteristic of the genre at times generally. Either way, I am a fan and devoured this offering!

I love DS George Cross, from a distance anyway, he would be a most infuriating person to be around. Especially to work with. He's pedantic and has no fear of upsetting a superior by telling him he's wrong and hasn't done his job properly.

Loved it, for a murder mystery I laughed a lot.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

This was my first book to have read in this series and I felt like I didn’t miss much having not read the first two books. With that being said, I’ll definitely go back and read the first two books because I enjoyed this one so much!

I loved reading The Patient and it definitely went in a different direction than I had guessed. I love getting that in books! DS George Cross was by far my favorite character to read about! I enjoyed getting to see his thought process. I highly recommend this page turner crime thriller — releases March 3rd!

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review!

I was given an ARC of this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The best thing about this story is the character, DS George Cross – I loved his uniqueness, his quirky way of doing things, his logical thought-process, which were traits of Asperger’s Syndrome – spectrum of autism. Evidence rather than instinct was the best kind of investigation, according to Cross.

Going against theories of the incompetent, Cross investigates the death of a young woman due to the pleas of her mother – yet, something doesn’t sit right, so into the mystery, he goes.

There are other characters that fit nicely into the story, but it is Cross that made it enjoyable for me – despite his supposed lack of social skills, I liked his style, and the way he tried to take on the advice of his partner, and his straightforward manner. His relationship with his father was fascinating and the way he behaved with regard to those without a real voice. His interaction with Esther was particularly well done. I also liked the way those he worked with understood his ‘difference’ (most, if not all). And he was thought a genius in catching the criminals, so allowances were made for his unusual methods.

Themes such as drug abuse, mental health, difference, politics, murder, suicide (and more), together with the great plot, and characters, made this a compelling read.

The writing style was fast-paced and intelligently done – certainly a page-turner.

A highly recommended crime thriller.

Set in Bristol and featuring DS Cross, this is a very good read, filled with excellent characterisation. Cross is based in the Major Crimes Unit and is on the autism spectrum, which makes working with him very interesting at times. He is an excellent detective, examining every small detail of the investigations. The story worked well and flowed easily, although it lacked in tension at times. There were plenty twists and excitement and the author writes beautifully. I would definitely recommend this read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.