This was a good book and I found myself looking forward to returning to it each evening. I liked the setting and I felt like I knew the main character within just a few chapters. I enjoyed how in depth and detailed characters were. Would definitely want to read more of the series!

DS George Cross in on the autism spectrum with Asperger’s syndrome. He’s a complex character, but he’s persistent when he investigates cases. He drives his fellow police, especially his partners and supervisors, nuts, but 97% of his cases result in successful convictions. Cross doesn’t recognize emotions. He has no empathy. He lives by rules and routine, but that leads to success.

When a homeless man is found dead, the higher-ups consider it a homeless on homeless case, and they’re not really interested. But, Cross considers it murder, and he wants to identify the victim and find the killer. Cross’ partner, DS Josie Ottey, reluctantly agrees with him. When they bring in a man who fought with the victim the night he died, the higher-ups are pleased, and force Ottey to charge him because Cross refuses to do it. Instead, he continues to investigate, against the wishes of his boss, and he drags Ottey and a new young staff member along with him.

Once the dead man is identified, Cross won’t let go. He talks with the family, and learns about a case from fifteen years ago. The more he investigates, the more he’s convinced the solution lies in the past, and that someone got away with murder long before the current victim died.

The Dentist is a fascinating police procedural because of Sullivan’s development of George Cross’ character. He spends a great deal of time showing how Cross’ personality and Asperger’s affects his work and his life, as well as his relationships with his co-workers. But, he doesn’t neglect Ottey, a black single mother, or Cross’ father. Step-by-step, George Cross uses all his skills to find a killer, someone who has killed before, and who may have been assisted by a cover-up within the police department.

There is nothing like a Tim Cross book with one of my favourite detectives, George Cross, such an endearing character who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome. This is actually the first book in the series, a series I have been following ever since this book came out.

George has a vastly unique way of investigating crimes, and his personality comes across as he deals with other police, and those he works with. He is often viewed as rude, off standish and abrupt but even though he approaches detective work his way he is remarkably successful and good at what he does.

For those who have not read Tim Sullivan’s books you are now being given the opportunity to commence this wonderful series, and I believe by the end of this book you will be hooked.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

This is the first novel in a now very lengthy series about Bristol Detective Sergeant George Cross. I had previously read the second story (The Cyclist) but couldn’t remember if I’d enjoyed it or not.

Cross is on the autism spectrum and the author presents his neurodivergence as the source of skills which are a distinct advantage in his world of murder investigation. It’s a useful fulcrum for the novel as Cross can be presented as analytically brilliant, whilst socially awkward and unpopular in the police force.

I quite liked this as a concept and thought it worked well. Cross is awkward, rude and very hard to get along with. However, these points were overly laboured. The author felt obliged to explain his behaviour too often rather than leaving it to the reader to see the behaviour and the impact it had, and figure things out for themselves.

This is a nice police procedural which is well thought out and presented. There were times when I wondered whether a man with Asperger’s that was as pronounced as Cross’s could actually become a Detective Sergeant. Detectives are in almost all cases individuals who have served as a uniformed police officer and I don’t buy into the idea that Cross could have done this. Certainly it’s not impossible, but the lack of any social skills would not have allowed Cross to function in a public facing role, and as DS is an, albeit lowly, leadership role, promotion would be very difficult to achieve. Minus a star for this lack of realism.

Cross often watches suspects body language, facial expressions, or inconsistencies in what they say, and uses these cues to work out if they’re lying, or what they really feel. And yet he can’t read the reactions of his colleagues or engage in small talk. The concept of his ASD is not carried through consistently.

But don’t get me wrong. These niggles notwithstanding, I did enjoy this book. The plot is clever and the list of suspects in the murder are well drawn and interesting. I really liked the realistic portrayal of how an investigation goes on for months, with a lot of it spent knee deep in paperwork, rather than the wham-bam, instant forensic results (thought that did happen near the beginning) and all over in a day or two approach of a lot of crime fiction. Cross is the dominant character from the police side and I didn’t feel Ottey (his sidekick) got a big enough look-in. Cross’s father Raymond is a fun person to bring in to break up the police procedural side of things. A nice opening to a series of novels.

There is a huge error in the text as the confession of the killer is revealed at the end of chapter 49 BEFORE they are interviewed in chapter 50. This will need correcting before publication.

Thank you to NetGalley for making an advance copy of this book available for review. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own, following a full read of the novel.

This is a good start to a new police procedural series that I know a lot of people will enjoy. People who enjoy police procedurals that features a highly analytical detectives like Sherlock Holmes and Monk, or who like detectives stories with a slight coziness that comes from the developing interpersonal connections between the characters, will like this book.

What a wonderful book! George Cross is Britain’s Adrian Monk, only without the experience of having loved and lost his Trudy, His Asperger’s, while keeping him from understanding personal relationships, makes him an amazing detective. The story line was very well written and the supporting characters were perfect. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this great book. The he opinion is my own.

How fortunate that I came across this series by Tim Sullivan, featuring DS George Cross of the Avon & Somerset Police. Sullivan has been writing his police procedurals since 2020, with his 8th novel coming out in 2026, and yet he has received little acclaim in the US. The Dentist is rich in descriptive writing about the Bristol setting and the plot is well planned out and compelling. However, it is the characterization that leads in this novel.
DS Cross has the best conviction rate in his area of England because he is logical and systematic – Cross has Asperger’s Syndrome. Of course, this also means that while finding patterns and missteps in logic, he also is extremely irritating to those around him. His partner DS Josie Ottey, a single black mother of two, complains about Cross repeatedly to their superior but also surprises herself by learning from Cross. Ottey has been given the dubious responsibility of keeping Cross from offending too many people in the investigation. Another young female police trainee, Alice, is assigned to be Cross’ errand-girl. Alice and Cross’ difficult and awkward exchanges are often humorous as neither understands the other.
The story centers around the murder of a homeless man. The quick solution is that another homeless man killed him in drunken anger, but Cross is not happy with that easy but not-detailed-enough story. Thus, Cross sets off to find out the history of the homeless man and those around him.
The plot moves slowly, with much information as to how the mind of a person with Asperger’s works. This is not a novel for action junkies! But if you like wonderful procedurals with a bit of humor and rich writing, Tim Sullivan is for you. I am going to read the other six books in order – each is named for a different role; The Cyclist, The Patient, The Politician, The Monk, The Teacher, The Bookseller. How exciting to find such a fantastic series with so many unread books in it!

My rating: 5 of 5
This ARC title was provided by Netgalley.com at no cost, and I am providing an unbiased review. The Dentist was published in 2020.

As a dentist, I approve this book! Engaging and interesting with a lot of thrills and adventure.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

a compelling introduction to DS George Cross, a detective whose brilliance is matched only by his social awkwardness, stemming from his place on the autism spectrum. Set in Bristol, the narrative unfolds with the discovery of a homeless man's body, leading Cross to uncover connections to a 15-year-old cold case involving a murdered dentist. Sullivan masterfully portrays Cross's meticulous nature and unwavering commitment to justice, even when it pits him against colleagues and superiors. The novel's strength lies in its intricate plotting and the depth of its protagonist, offering readers a fresh perspective on the detective genre. For fans of character-driven mysteries, The Dentist is a must-read that promises both intrigue and insight.

“Cross’ obsession with order and procedure was what made him one of the most successful detectives in the Major Crime Unit of the Avon and Somerset police, in terms of his conviction rate. Ninety-seven percent of his cases resulted in successful convictions. He had a great set of deductive skills and was something of a legend in the interview room, but it was his detailed presentation of cases to the CPS, his ordered collation of evidence, which was genuinely astonishing. His dogged, slavish, adherence to procedures was extraordinary, if at times frustrating for those working with him.”

DS George Cross is very good at his job, but his Asperger’s syndrome sometimes makes his interactions with colleagues and the general public awkward. His partner DS Ottey is constantly asking to be reassigned. When a homeless man is found murdered, clues tie the murder to an old case that seems to have been bungled. That old case was headed by a now-retired detective who had bullied Cross when he first joined the force.

This is the first book of a series that started in 2020. There are already 10 books in the series, so that gives me a lot to look forward to. Several books are available free in Audible Plus until July 15. I really enjoyed this. Cross is an intriguing character - intelligent, persistent and not angst ridden. His irritating flaw is that he follows the rules too closely. The plot is believable. This isn’t one of those books (unfortunately, too common) in which the author tries so hard to be twisty that the plot has zero credibility. The author is also a screenwriter and director, so he has a lot of experience with plots. 4.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

I'm not really a big fan of the detectives-with-disabilities sub-genre, and I certainly don't want to debate whether Asperger’s Syndrome should even be classified as a disability or not. My point is that I like detective novels and police procedurals, and in the disability sub-genre it's generally the disability that gets most of the attention, not the detecting.

I was pleased to discover that really wasn't the case in THE DENTIST. The Asperger’s Syndrome plot line and the police detective plot line were nicely balanced, which I appreciated. What I appreciated less was that both plot lines were considerably over narrated, and I frequently found myself skimming sections of text which honestly contributed little or nothing either to the narrative or to illuminating the characters. Cutting 20% or more of the text would have made this a far better novel.

My synopsis: Detective Sergeant George Cross is part of the Major Crime Unit of the Avon and Somerset Police. His brain is wired differently having Asperger’s Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder) in that he believes in order and procedure, avoids any kind of physical social interaction, he sees food as a fuel and nothing more, and exceptional high attention to detail which has led to a 97% of his cases having a successful conviction.
DS Cross and his partner DS Josie Ottey are working on a case in which an elderly homeless man is strangled to death. This murder is linked to a cold case 15 years prior in which a woman too was strangled.

My review: I will read the next one in the series, I really liked DS Cross as a character and found him endearing. I always love books having the police procedure and questioning of suspects with an interesting lead character. I will say I found it sometimes too wordy at times, that I ended up skimming parts that I felt were too long. The middle of the book was quite repetitive around the red car, and the revealing of the killer at the end felt repetitive as we already knew who and why. I also found it ended quite abruptly. When reading it, it did feel like it was set up to become a tv show script. I found it helpful when the detectives would do a round up of all the information they knew. I also liked getting to know DS Cross and his dad more personally with DS Cross cycling and church organs, and his dad’s repurposing items. I did guess one of the killers and why, but not the other!

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Just brilliant!

George Cross is a Detective Sergeant with a difference, he has Aspergers Syndrome and has difficulty in social situations and reading cues from people, but he has the best clearance rate of any detective in the police force.

A homeless man has been found murdered, it's assumed he has been killed by a fellow homeless person, probably for the cans of cider or food he has, but George doesn't believe it, even though he has confessed.

So well written, engaging, and just a great read.

Highly recommended

Detective Cross - absolute recommendation!

This character causes what readers crave for: emotions! Whether it‘s an eye roll or the wish to hug him - you have emotions. That‘s why I read no matter if the crime was a bit too long-winded or well-paced: Cross is the one I followed.

No wonder the book is such a success!

Thanks so much to the publisher for the e-book!

"The Dentist" by Tim Sullivan is the first book I have by him, but it certainly won't be the last. This engaging police procedural features the endearing yet resolute Detective Constable George Cross as the protagonist. His intelligence and charm make him a standout character, complemented by a superb cast of supporting roles.

The plot centers around the discovery of a homeless man, who turns out to be a dentist that vanished years ago and was officially declared dead by his family. Intriguingly, his wife was murdered several years prior to his disappearance. Detective Constable Cross is committed to unraveling the mysteries behind both murders, which occurred nearly two decades apart. If you appreciate well-crafted police work, this book is a must-read.

The Dentist by Tim Sullivan. First in the DS Cross Mysteries Series. The characters are very interesting and unusual, especially DS Cross who provides an interesting change as a detective in a police procedural. . DS Cross has Asperger’s Syndrome The author allows the reader to get inside DS Cross's head enabling the reader to see the world as DS Cross does. Good mystery with lots of twists and turns. Will be interesting to see how the series evolves.

Thank you to the author, Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Crime and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book

I’m really not sure why this is the first book I’ve had by Tim Sullivan! It won’t be the last, loved the writing style, loved George Cross and will continue to read books by this author!