The George Cross Mysteries
I recently stumbled across The Cyclist, a British mystery by Tim Sullivan, among the new books at a local library. I had never heard of it or the author, but figured I’d give it a try.
I was very glad that I did.
‘The Cyclist’ is actually the second book in a series featuring Bristol police detective George Cross. I enjoyed it so much that I immediately looked for the first book in the series, The Dentist.
Cross has Asperger’s Syndrome. Being on the autism spectrum, he often struggles with social interactions in both his personal and professional lives. This often makes for awkward and funny situations when interacting with coworkers and the public. But his partner at work is learning how to cope with Cross’ behavioral quirks, and comes to recognize the unique value he brings to the job.
Cross’ hyperfocus on details and processes leads him to uncover clues that others have missed, and his exceptional preparation for suspect interviews results in the highest conviction rate in the department — a fact that forces his bosses to tolerate his unusual methods and behavior.
I was surprised that I had not seen or heard of this series, since there is a waiting list for every book in the series at my library — and each book is rated well over 4 stars on Goodreads. I have since learned that the series, which now includes 8 novels, was just released here in the United States this year.
I have now read the first four books in the series and am eagerly awaiting the fifth one to come available at my local library. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good modern detective story with a little humor sprinkled in.