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The DS Cross Mysteries #2
The Cyclist: A DS George Cross Mystery
“A perfect detective for our time and for all time.”—Stephen Fry
“One of the most iconic British fictional detectives of the 21st century . . . a delight.”—Daily Mail
Detective Sargeant George Cross returns to solve the case of a mangled body on a construction site and uncover a life of illicit drugs in the second book in Tim Sullivan’s internationally bestselling series
DS George Cross has unique and unmatchable talents. He uses a combination of logic, determination and exacting precision to get answers where others have failed for families who have long given up hope. So when a ravaged body is found in a local demolition site, it's up to Cross to piece together the truth from whatever fragments he can find.
From the faint tan lines and strange scars on the victim’s forearms, Cross meticulously unravels the young man's life, delving into the world of amateur cycling, an illicit supply of performance enhancing drugs, jealousy, ambition and a family tearing itself apart.
Cross’s relentless pursuit of the truth and eccentric methods earn him few friends. But just as the police seem to be nearing a conclusion, he doubles back. Could it be the biggest mistake of his career?
“One of the most iconic British fictional detectives of the 21st century . . . a delight.”—Daily Mail
Detective Sargeant George Cross returns to solve the case of a mangled body on a construction site and uncover a life of illicit drugs in the second book in Tim Sullivan’s internationally bestselling series
DS George Cross has unique and unmatchable talents. He uses a combination of logic, determination and exacting precision to get answers where others have failed for families who have long given up hope. So when a ravaged body is found in a local demolition site, it's up to Cross to piece together the truth from whatever fragments he can find.
From the faint tan lines and strange scars on the victim’s forearms, Cross meticulously unravels the young man's life, delving into the world of amateur cycling, an illicit supply of performance enhancing drugs, jealousy, ambition and a family tearing itself apart.
Cross’s relentless pursuit of the truth and eccentric methods earn him few friends. But just as the police seem to be nearing a conclusion, he doubles back. Could it be the biggest mistake of his career?
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 2, 2020
1849 people are currently reading
6294 people want to read
About the author
Tim Sullivan
16 books600 followersTim Sullivan is an acclaimed screenwriter. He originally read English and Law at university - the latter forced on him by his Dad - but instead he wriggled free of those parental ambitions and pursued his own, to make films. His writing credits include A HANDFUL OF DUST, starring Kristen Scott Thomas, WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD, starring Helen Mirren and Helena Bonham Carter, JACK AND SARAH (which he also directed) starring Richard E Grant, Judi Dench and Ian McKellen and LETTERS TO JULIET, with Amanda Seyfried. He is also a Television director whose credits include SHERLOCK HOLMES and COLD FEET and CORONATIONS STREET. He has written extensively in Hollywood in both live action and animation, working with Ron Howard, Scott Rudin and with Jeffrey Katzenberg on the fourth SHREK movie.
He has now embarked on a series of crime novels featuring the eccentric and socially-awkward, but brilliantly persistent DS George Cross.
He self-published the first two books and once they'd achieved over 200,000 downloads he came to the attention of Head of Zeus publishers. So thanks to all his readers for this success and their shared love of George.
The novels are set in Bristol in the south west of England, Cross’ methods often infuriate his colleagues and superiors “not so much a thorn in my side as a pain in my arse,” according to his boss DCI Carson. But his conviction rate, thanks to his dogged persistence and attention to detail, is the best in the force. Tim has now written the first four in the series with The Patient being published on March 3rd 2022.
Tim feels confident in his claim that he is the only crime writer around who has also co-produced and written a My Little Pony movie for Hasbro. MY LITTLE PONY - A NEW GENERATION is now available on Netflix.
Tim lives in North London with his wife Rachel, the Emmy award-winning producer of THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA and PIONEER WOMAN. Their daughters live near by.
For more stuff about Tim visit his website www.timsullivan.co.uk
He has now embarked on a series of crime novels featuring the eccentric and socially-awkward, but brilliantly persistent DS George Cross.
He self-published the first two books and once they'd achieved over 200,000 downloads he came to the attention of Head of Zeus publishers. So thanks to all his readers for this success and their shared love of George.
The novels are set in Bristol in the south west of England, Cross’ methods often infuriate his colleagues and superiors “not so much a thorn in my side as a pain in my arse,” according to his boss DCI Carson. But his conviction rate, thanks to his dogged persistence and attention to detail, is the best in the force. Tim has now written the first four in the series with The Patient being published on March 3rd 2022.
Tim feels confident in his claim that he is the only crime writer around who has also co-produced and written a My Little Pony movie for Hasbro. MY LITTLE PONY - A NEW GENERATION is now available on Netflix.
Tim lives in North London with his wife Rachel, the Emmy award-winning producer of THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA and PIONEER WOMAN. Their daughters live near by.
For more stuff about Tim visit his website www.timsullivan.co.uk
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January 12, 2026
When I saw THE CYCLIST listed on NetGalley I immediately put in my request. A new George Cross mystery, I thought. After I downloaded it, I realized that I had read and reviewed it over a year ago. In fact, it was a ebook borrowed from my library; I had requested that my library bring in the George Cross series and they had.
So, this is a second reading. I read it quickly because I still remembered the plot. I typically remember plots and author's names but not book titles. As far as I can tell, nothing major was changed. As my first reading used a library book, I couldn't check it for minor changes, but my first review contained a number of quotes and these excerpts were still present in the new NetGalley copy.
I haven't changed my original rating and I still love George Cross.
Thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
FIRST READING
Jan 24-25, 2024
An excellent read, perfect for those who like the Washington Poe/Tilly Bradshaw series. A humorous—and well written—police procedural about a detective on the autism spectrum, DS George Cross of the Somerset and Avon police force.
Cross was at best socially awkward, at worst bloody rude. But the fact of the matter was that he was an exceptional detective. So obsessed was he with the minutiae of every case, stuff that others, including herself, would often ignore; such that his rigour about detail and obsession with logic, routines, patterns of behaviour and any anomalies within them, that he had the highest conviction rate in the area.
When the body of a man is found in a deserted garage, part of a set about to be demolished, Cross stops the contractors from proceeding. Wrapped in polythene, the body ’looked like a vacu-packed piece of meat on a supermarket shelf. The man’s eyes had the dull, lifeless look of a fish that had been on ice at a fishmonger's for too long’. (Only on page 2 and I’m hooked already.)
Cross soon determines that the body belonged to a man who was an avid cyclist, and with a few inquiries, the dead man was found to be to Alex Paphides, an amateur cyclist who his family assumed was on a training fortnight. When he wasn’t cycling, Alex ran a Greek restaurant with his brother. Cross has several leads to follow: Alex was doping with performance enhancing drugs, and selling these illegal products on the side; he was looking to expand his restaurant business and had attracted a potential investor who had a shady reputation; he was involved with a 16-year-old girl who was estranged from her family. While investigating these leads, Cross manages to irritate several of his colleagues, especially Alice Mackenzie, a trainee Police Staff Investigator.
He certainly couldn’t be entrusted with leading a team. It had been tried once with catastrophic results which almost led to his resignation…He was best-placed to come up with a plan of action for them all to follow. His partner Josie Ottey, a black single mother of two, would then lead the team and implement his plan.
Alice ’understood that he was on the spectrum…but at times it was easy to forget when he came across as a deliberately rude, objectionable, older white man. She had to remind herself that it wasn’t personal. It wasn’t his intention to be difficult or unpleasant; it just came out that way at times’.
Cross also mystified several of the witnesses that he interviewed. ’He was attempting to behave politely and normally with this man, along the lines of his partner DS Ottey had been trying to teach him. Cross was incapable of irony and sarcasm.’
Of course, Cross eventually solves the case. But it is not the mystery that I’ll remember; it’s the humour. The author has captured the thought processes of those on the autism spectrum and turned what is frequently the irritating process of trying to interact with someone with Asperger’s into an amusing narrative.
Thanks to the Greater Victoria Public Library for providing the copy that I read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for other books in this series:
The Dentist (DS Cross, #1)
The Cyclist (DS Cross, #2)
The Patient (DS Cross, #3)
The Politician (DS Cross, #4)
The Monk (DS Cross, #5)
The Teacher (DS Cross, #6)
The Bookseller (DS Cross, #7)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, this is a second reading. I read it quickly because I still remembered the plot. I typically remember plots and author's names but not book titles. As far as I can tell, nothing major was changed. As my first reading used a library book, I couldn't check it for minor changes, but my first review contained a number of quotes and these excerpts were still present in the new NetGalley copy.
I haven't changed my original rating and I still love George Cross.
Thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
FIRST READING
Jan 24-25, 2024
An excellent read, perfect for those who like the Washington Poe/Tilly Bradshaw series. A humorous—and well written—police procedural about a detective on the autism spectrum, DS George Cross of the Somerset and Avon police force.
Cross was at best socially awkward, at worst bloody rude. But the fact of the matter was that he was an exceptional detective. So obsessed was he with the minutiae of every case, stuff that others, including herself, would often ignore; such that his rigour about detail and obsession with logic, routines, patterns of behaviour and any anomalies within them, that he had the highest conviction rate in the area.
When the body of a man is found in a deserted garage, part of a set about to be demolished, Cross stops the contractors from proceeding. Wrapped in polythene, the body ’looked like a vacu-packed piece of meat on a supermarket shelf. The man’s eyes had the dull, lifeless look of a fish that had been on ice at a fishmonger's for too long’. (Only on page 2 and I’m hooked already.)
Cross soon determines that the body belonged to a man who was an avid cyclist, and with a few inquiries, the dead man was found to be to Alex Paphides, an amateur cyclist who his family assumed was on a training fortnight. When he wasn’t cycling, Alex ran a Greek restaurant with his brother. Cross has several leads to follow: Alex was doping with performance enhancing drugs, and selling these illegal products on the side; he was looking to expand his restaurant business and had attracted a potential investor who had a shady reputation; he was involved with a 16-year-old girl who was estranged from her family. While investigating these leads, Cross manages to irritate several of his colleagues, especially Alice Mackenzie, a trainee Police Staff Investigator.
He certainly couldn’t be entrusted with leading a team. It had been tried once with catastrophic results which almost led to his resignation…He was best-placed to come up with a plan of action for them all to follow. His partner Josie Ottey, a black single mother of two, would then lead the team and implement his plan.
Alice ’understood that he was on the spectrum…but at times it was easy to forget when he came across as a deliberately rude, objectionable, older white man. She had to remind herself that it wasn’t personal. It wasn’t his intention to be difficult or unpleasant; it just came out that way at times’.
Cross also mystified several of the witnesses that he interviewed. ’He was attempting to behave politely and normally with this man, along the lines of his partner DS Ottey had been trying to teach him. Cross was incapable of irony and sarcasm.’
Of course, Cross eventually solves the case. But it is not the mystery that I’ll remember; it’s the humour. The author has captured the thought processes of those on the autism spectrum and turned what is frequently the irritating process of trying to interact with someone with Asperger’s into an amusing narrative.
Thanks to the Greater Victoria Public Library for providing the copy that I read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for other books in this series:
The Dentist (DS Cross, #1)
The Cyclist (DS Cross, #2)
The Patient (DS Cross, #3)
The Politician (DS Cross, #4)
The Monk (DS Cross, #5)
The Teacher (DS Cross, #6)
The Bookseller (DS Cross, #7)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
April 1, 2025
The Cyclist is the second in the DI Cross series and I enjoyed it as much as the first. Cross is somewhere on the Aspergers spectrum, but he’s making an effort to learn the social niceties from his partner, DS Ottey. In fact, kudos to Sullivan for not making Cross a caricature. The reader sees how Cross is trying, but it’s not a straight line of told once, mission accomplished.
This time, a dead body is found in a warehouse about to be demolished. The first job is discovering who the victim was. Once that was accomplished, Sullivan throws up multiple red herrings about why and who might have been involved. That said, I thought it was pretty obvious from early on who the murderer was and how it would all play out even down to the final twist. But even with that, I still really enjoyed this.
Cross is a fabulous main character but it’s Ottey that I was most taken with. She’s determined to make the partnership work, but that doesn’t mean he doesn't test her patience. Most of the humor is based on the relationship between the team members.
I recommend this one for fans of police procedurals.
I listened to this and it worked really well. John Heffernan did a good job as the narrator.
This time, a dead body is found in a warehouse about to be demolished. The first job is discovering who the victim was. Once that was accomplished, Sullivan throws up multiple red herrings about why and who might have been involved. That said, I thought it was pretty obvious from early on who the murderer was and how it would all play out even down to the final twist. But even with that, I still really enjoyed this.
Cross is a fabulous main character but it’s Ottey that I was most taken with. She’s determined to make the partnership work, but that doesn’t mean he doesn't test her patience. Most of the humor is based on the relationship between the team members.
I recommend this one for fans of police procedurals.
I listened to this and it worked really well. John Heffernan did a good job as the narrator.
January 13, 2026
EXCERPT: Cross examined the body carefully, his face quite close to it, not at all squeamish, taking in every detail. Then he stood, took his notebook out of his pocket and started scribbling.
'Did I miss something?' the pathologist asked wearily.
'As a matter of fact, you did,' he replied. It was not meant to be critical, but she could be forgiven for thinking it was. 'He has very low body fat, disproportionately muscular thighs, distinct tan lines on his upper arms and on his thighs just above the knee. No calluses on his hands though. And he a regular sunglasses wearer.'
The pathologist looked at him blankly. Cross was slightly surprised that he needed to elaborate further. 'Our John Doe is a cyclist. Possibly professional.'
She laughed involuntarily, as she was, despite herself, quite impressed. 'Do you actually need me?'
'Yes, of course,' he replied, without a hint of irony. 'I'm not qualified to perform autopsies, and even if I was, I wouldn't have the time.'
ABOUT 'THE CYCLIST: DS George Cross has unique and unmatchable talents. He uses a combination of logic, determination and exacting precision to get answers where others have failed for families who have long given up hope. So when a ravaged body is found in a local demolition site, it's up to Cross to piece together the truth from whatever fragments he can find.
From the faint tan lines and strange scars on the victim’s forearms, Cross meticulously unravels the young man's life, delving into the world of amateur cycling, an illicit supply of performance enhancing drugs, jealousy, ambition and a family tearing itself apart.
Cross’s relentless pursuit of the truth and eccentric methods earn him few friends. But just as the police seem to be nearing a conclusion, he doubles back. Could it be the biggest mistake of his career?
MY THOUGHTS: I think George Cross is delightful - but then I don't have to work with him.
George is on the spectrum, frustrating to work with and socially awkward. He can't see the point of small talk, will not answer unless asked a direct question, and doesn't like to share his thoughts. He has a need for every piece of evidence to sit firmly in its rightful place and will worry at it, like a dog with a bone, until he is 100% happy with the outcome.
Poor Josie Ottey is tasked with running interference and acting as an interpreter for him, smoothing the ruffled feathers he leaves in his wake and teaching him to be more socially aware.
New recruit Alice MacKenzie is still learning that to get an answer from George she needs to ask a question and that he takes everything said literally. He doesn't 'get' jokes but occasionally will try to tell one that inevitably falls flat. He is incredibly focused, almost pedantic and unable to tell a lie. He certainly seems able to sniff them out though!
The inquiry that follows the discovery of a body at a demolition site is a complex one. No one matching the body's description has been reported missing and there is no ID on the body. But George picks up enough clues from the body to know where to start looking, unaware that the identification will only open a whole new can of worms.
While the George Cross mysteries are intriguing - I was looking in completely the wrong place for the perpetrator here - it is really the characters who make the read so compelling.
A series I love, and one in which each book can be read as a stand-alone as each contains a complete mystery.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2
#TheCyclist #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: TIM SULLIVAN made his first short film before graduating from Cambridge University. His ambition to become a screenwriter was formed not so much by this experience but as an attempt to foil his father’s determination to turn him into a lawyer.
Within weeks of leaving university armed with a law degree Tim had met the film maker Derek Jarman and persuaded him to commission an original screenplay from him. A few months later he joined Granada Television as a researcher. Here he was commissioned to write the first of many television scripts and also wrote screenplays for movies.
He has now embarked on a series of crime novels featuring the eccentric and socially awkward, but brilliantly persistent DS George Cross.
Tim lives in North London with his wife Rachel. (source: https://timsullivan.co.uk/about/about... (abridged)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic, Atlantic Crime, via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
'Did I miss something?' the pathologist asked wearily.
'As a matter of fact, you did,' he replied. It was not meant to be critical, but she could be forgiven for thinking it was. 'He has very low body fat, disproportionately muscular thighs, distinct tan lines on his upper arms and on his thighs just above the knee. No calluses on his hands though. And he a regular sunglasses wearer.'
The pathologist looked at him blankly. Cross was slightly surprised that he needed to elaborate further. 'Our John Doe is a cyclist. Possibly professional.'
She laughed involuntarily, as she was, despite herself, quite impressed. 'Do you actually need me?'
'Yes, of course,' he replied, without a hint of irony. 'I'm not qualified to perform autopsies, and even if I was, I wouldn't have the time.'
ABOUT 'THE CYCLIST: DS George Cross has unique and unmatchable talents. He uses a combination of logic, determination and exacting precision to get answers where others have failed for families who have long given up hope. So when a ravaged body is found in a local demolition site, it's up to Cross to piece together the truth from whatever fragments he can find.
From the faint tan lines and strange scars on the victim’s forearms, Cross meticulously unravels the young man's life, delving into the world of amateur cycling, an illicit supply of performance enhancing drugs, jealousy, ambition and a family tearing itself apart.
Cross’s relentless pursuit of the truth and eccentric methods earn him few friends. But just as the police seem to be nearing a conclusion, he doubles back. Could it be the biggest mistake of his career?
MY THOUGHTS: I think George Cross is delightful - but then I don't have to work with him.
George is on the spectrum, frustrating to work with and socially awkward. He can't see the point of small talk, will not answer unless asked a direct question, and doesn't like to share his thoughts. He has a need for every piece of evidence to sit firmly in its rightful place and will worry at it, like a dog with a bone, until he is 100% happy with the outcome.
Poor Josie Ottey is tasked with running interference and acting as an interpreter for him, smoothing the ruffled feathers he leaves in his wake and teaching him to be more socially aware.
New recruit Alice MacKenzie is still learning that to get an answer from George she needs to ask a question and that he takes everything said literally. He doesn't 'get' jokes but occasionally will try to tell one that inevitably falls flat. He is incredibly focused, almost pedantic and unable to tell a lie. He certainly seems able to sniff them out though!
The inquiry that follows the discovery of a body at a demolition site is a complex one. No one matching the body's description has been reported missing and there is no ID on the body. But George picks up enough clues from the body to know where to start looking, unaware that the identification will only open a whole new can of worms.
While the George Cross mysteries are intriguing - I was looking in completely the wrong place for the perpetrator here - it is really the characters who make the read so compelling.
A series I love, and one in which each book can be read as a stand-alone as each contains a complete mystery.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.2
#TheCyclist #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: TIM SULLIVAN made his first short film before graduating from Cambridge University. His ambition to become a screenwriter was formed not so much by this experience but as an attempt to foil his father’s determination to turn him into a lawyer.
Within weeks of leaving university armed with a law degree Tim had met the film maker Derek Jarman and persuaded him to commission an original screenplay from him. A few months later he joined Granada Television as a researcher. Here he was commissioned to write the first of many television scripts and also wrote screenplays for movies.
He has now embarked on a series of crime novels featuring the eccentric and socially awkward, but brilliantly persistent DS George Cross.
Tim lives in North London with his wife Rachel. (source: https://timsullivan.co.uk/about/about... (abridged)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic, Atlantic Crime, via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
April 1, 2024
This is the second book in the DS George Cross series by author Tim Sullivan. DS George Cross is a detective with a difference, a unique set of talents and a commitment to uncovering the truth. DS George Cross works in Bristol and is a compelling character with a very idiosyncratic approach to police life mainly due to his Asperger’s. Far from your typical detective and because of his manner is often interpreted as rude, difficult and very awkward. It is this manner that adds another dimension to the series which can at times be quite amusing as well as intriguing.
When a ravaged body is discovered at a local demolition site, Cross is tasked with piecing together the puzzle of the victim’s identity and unravelling the circumstances surrounding his death.
A police procedural, with DS Cross at the forefront in his determined and methodical way that upsets most of the people he comes across. Cross is an addictive character and his investigations take us on a journey through the intricacies of the case. Cross manages to uncover many things every other detective misses and deals with a web of jealousy and ambition.
I found this another enjoyable read although not as much as the first novel. Still hooked though and already planning to read the third instalment.
When a ravaged body is discovered at a local demolition site, Cross is tasked with piecing together the puzzle of the victim’s identity and unravelling the circumstances surrounding his death.
A police procedural, with DS Cross at the forefront in his determined and methodical way that upsets most of the people he comes across. Cross is an addictive character and his investigations take us on a journey through the intricacies of the case. Cross manages to uncover many things every other detective misses and deals with a web of jealousy and ambition.
I found this another enjoyable read although not as much as the first novel. Still hooked though and already planning to read the third instalment.
January 7, 2026
“The Cyclist” (book 2 of DS Cross series), by Tim Sullivan
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just a brief note, as I have a social engagement coming up.
This was my second book by this author (this week), which I practically read in two sittings (just a nap between).
Once again I was very pleased with the writing and the storytelling, but mostly with the development of the storyline and the interaction between DS Cross and the other characters.
The plot is not that extraordinary but it’s very well executed and there are some good twists.
The main character, DS Cross, is a winner in my opinion, hence my ratings.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book, “The Patient”.
e-book (Kobo): 272 pages (default), 73k words, 29 chapters.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Just a brief note, as I have a social engagement coming up.
This was my second book by this author (this week), which I practically read in two sittings (just a nap between).
Once again I was very pleased with the writing and the storytelling, but mostly with the development of the storyline and the interaction between DS Cross and the other characters.
The plot is not that extraordinary but it’s very well executed and there are some good twists.
The main character, DS Cross, is a winner in my opinion, hence my ratings.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book, “The Patient”.
e-book (Kobo): 272 pages (default), 73k words, 29 chapters.
December 9, 2020
Marked a "top pick" at Amazon for this year, the description sounded interesting so I snapped it up. It's the second in the series featuring Detective Sergeant George Cross; I did not read the first, and while I enjoyed this one and will say it stands alone fairly well, I suspect I'd have liked it even more had I read them in order. That said, I liked the character so much that I got the first (The Dentist) as well.
And it really is the character who makes the story so interesting; he has Asperger's Syndrome, which is both a curse and a blessing. On the downside, the condition means he lacks awareness of social skills (such as not recognizing when someone is joking or responding inappropriately - or not at all - to the emotions of others). Conversely, he pays great attention to detail and has an almost uncanny ability to intuit clues that lead to closure of the most difficult cases.
This one is a doozy; a body turns up in a deserted section of garages in Bristol, U.K. After close inspection, Cross notices tan lines on the body, leading him to determine that the man was a cyclist (hence, no doubt, the reason for the book's title). From there, a few other clues he unearths bring relatively quick identification. Cross is assisted by his capable partner, D.S. Josie Ottey, and it's a treat to watch their interactions as she adjusts to his condition and at the same time tries to teach him how to interact more sociably with others, including department trainee Alice Mackenzie.
Eventually, Cross and Ottey learn that the victim, part-owner with his brother of their parents' successful restaurant, has his fingers in a few other pies that aren't quite so legitimate (nor as successful). That knowledge also expands the investigation to several more suspects and a few dead ends before Cross finally ferrets out the truth and a rather surprise ending.
I do admit it took several chapters before I really got into the story - mostly, I guess, because the writing is a little stilted (in truth, it almost seemed as if it were written by someone who has Asperger's). But once I got the rhythm, my interest started to hum along and it was hard to put it down. In short, I'm hooked - and hopefully before long I'll have time to get to the first book before the next one comes out. Good job!
And it really is the character who makes the story so interesting; he has Asperger's Syndrome, which is both a curse and a blessing. On the downside, the condition means he lacks awareness of social skills (such as not recognizing when someone is joking or responding inappropriately - or not at all - to the emotions of others). Conversely, he pays great attention to detail and has an almost uncanny ability to intuit clues that lead to closure of the most difficult cases.
This one is a doozy; a body turns up in a deserted section of garages in Bristol, U.K. After close inspection, Cross notices tan lines on the body, leading him to determine that the man was a cyclist (hence, no doubt, the reason for the book's title). From there, a few other clues he unearths bring relatively quick identification. Cross is assisted by his capable partner, D.S. Josie Ottey, and it's a treat to watch their interactions as she adjusts to his condition and at the same time tries to teach him how to interact more sociably with others, including department trainee Alice Mackenzie.
Eventually, Cross and Ottey learn that the victim, part-owner with his brother of their parents' successful restaurant, has his fingers in a few other pies that aren't quite so legitimate (nor as successful). That knowledge also expands the investigation to several more suspects and a few dead ends before Cross finally ferrets out the truth and a rather surprise ending.
I do admit it took several chapters before I really got into the story - mostly, I guess, because the writing is a little stilted (in truth, it almost seemed as if it were written by someone who has Asperger's). But once I got the rhythm, my interest started to hum along and it was hard to put it down. In short, I'm hooked - and hopefully before long I'll have time to get to the first book before the next one comes out. Good job!
August 14, 2025
A man, who is determined to have been a competitive cyclist, Alex, has been found murdered. He supposedly sent a text to friends saying he had in injury and could not attend the competition on the night of his death. As Cross and his long-suffering partner Ottey look into the case, they find that Alex helped to run a restaurant with his family, and had recently come into a substantial amount of money. Was there something suspicious about his recent wealth? And what of his young girlfriend's pregnancy? Cross is his usual oblivious and unintentionally rude self, but he will get to the bottom of this case. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
November 2, 2022
Another great story featuring my new fav. Detective DS Cross
June 1, 2022
A well written meat and potatoes police procedural with a side order of Asperger
"I shouldn't have to ask. I'm your partner. You should share it." -Ottey
Reading about George Cross can be exhausting and frustrating.
Working with George Cross can be impossible at times.
I like the way his partner Ottey deals with him and the relationship with his father is also an interesting arc.
"I shouldn't have to ask. I'm your partner. You should share it." -Ottey
Reading about George Cross can be exhausting and frustrating.
Working with George Cross can be impossible at times.
I like the way his partner Ottey deals with him and the relationship with his father is also an interesting arc.
October 15, 2025
The corpse of a man wrapped in polythene is discovered in a garage. Our victim has massively overdeveloped quads and a signature competitive bicycler’s suntan still visible in death. No time is wasted revealing Alex Pahides, age 30, our titular cyclist.
Alex has a 16-year-old girlfriend, a hidden bag of performance enhancing drugs and no friends. Suspects include members of his own family, those of his underage girlfriend’s, his drug dealers or Greek businessmen/loan sharks. So, here’s a setup for a classic whodunit.
What sets The Cyclist apart from others in the genre is that our lead crime-solver, DS George Cross, is autistic .His condition was more clearly established in the previous entry in the series, The Dentist, but now is used mostly for entertainment’s sake:
“What are you looking at?” the woman said aggressively.
“Your wine glass,” Cross replied, not in the least bit embarrassed.
“What about it?”
“I was just thinking how early it was to be drinking. Then I thought this probably wasn’t unusual for you.”
Cross has no emotional filter but is an expert at systematically synthesizing clues. DS Josie Ottey, Cross’ Black, female partner, complements his largely robotic path through the case with compassion. She hides a modicum of respect and affection for Cross but seems mostly to exist to check boxes.
This mystery novel approaches a “cozy” but is not quite because the victim remains a character and his death is tragic, at least to some in his own family. The plot is a mostly standard police procedural with much of the evidence told to the reader rather than discovered and shown. Real-life police investigation are dry and are usually sexy'd up more to tell a story. It's Sherlock, but the main character possesses none of Benedict Cumberbritches charisma. The last quarter of the novel includes scenes with Cross as an interviewer and are the strongest. It ends with a couple flourishes and is enjoyable but nothing groundbreaking.
The Cyclist was published in the UK in 2020, but will be released in the U.S. on January 13, 2026.
Thank you NetGalley and Atlantic Crime for a review copy.
Alex has a 16-year-old girlfriend, a hidden bag of performance enhancing drugs and no friends. Suspects include members of his own family, those of his underage girlfriend’s, his drug dealers or Greek businessmen/loan sharks. So, here’s a setup for a classic whodunit.
What sets The Cyclist apart from others in the genre is that our lead crime-solver, DS George Cross, is autistic .His condition was more clearly established in the previous entry in the series, The Dentist, but now is used mostly for entertainment’s sake:
“What are you looking at?” the woman said aggressively.
“Your wine glass,” Cross replied, not in the least bit embarrassed.
“What about it?”
“I was just thinking how early it was to be drinking. Then I thought this probably wasn’t unusual for you.”
Cross has no emotional filter but is an expert at systematically synthesizing clues. DS Josie Ottey, Cross’ Black, female partner, complements his largely robotic path through the case with compassion. She hides a modicum of respect and affection for Cross but seems mostly to exist to check boxes.
This mystery novel approaches a “cozy” but is not quite because the victim remains a character and his death is tragic, at least to some in his own family. The plot is a mostly standard police procedural with much of the evidence told to the reader rather than discovered and shown. Real-life police investigation are dry and are usually sexy'd up more to tell a story. It's Sherlock, but the main character possesses none of Benedict Cumberbritches charisma. The last quarter of the novel includes scenes with Cross as an interviewer and are the strongest. It ends with a couple flourishes and is enjoyable but nothing groundbreaking.
The Cyclist was published in the UK in 2020, but will be released in the U.S. on January 13, 2026.
Thank you NetGalley and Atlantic Crime for a review copy.
November 25, 2025
Another great entry in this series centered around a detective who has autism and the team he works with. Together they unravel a complex case.
November 9, 2025
4.5
The Cyclist is the second in the George Cross series of police procedurals.
When Alex Paphedes body turns up in a garage that's about to be demolished, George Cross sets to work trying to discover how this popular restaurant owner and keen amateur cyclist has ended up there.
Drawing upon his unique set of skills (thanks to his Asperger's) George begins to pick apart the deception surrounding Alex's murder.
The Cyclist was not quite as strong a plot as The Dentist but it is still an extremely good read. I have already developed a major soft spot for George but I can imagine his pedantry could put some people off. I'd hope not because the stories are cleverly written with Josie Ottey and Alice Mackenzie providing some light relief along the way. There are also several twists at the end to keep you guessing longer.
Just one thing niggled me and that was the exceedingly abrupt end to the novel. It was almost as if a word count had been reached and everything had to stop.
Highly recommended.
I don't think you would need to read The Dentist to appreciate this novel but it's a great book so I'd urge you to do so anyway. Now for The Patient.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the advance review copy.
The Cyclist is the second in the George Cross series of police procedurals.
When Alex Paphedes body turns up in a garage that's about to be demolished, George Cross sets to work trying to discover how this popular restaurant owner and keen amateur cyclist has ended up there.
Drawing upon his unique set of skills (thanks to his Asperger's) George begins to pick apart the deception surrounding Alex's murder.
The Cyclist was not quite as strong a plot as The Dentist but it is still an extremely good read. I have already developed a major soft spot for George but I can imagine his pedantry could put some people off. I'd hope not because the stories are cleverly written with Josie Ottey and Alice Mackenzie providing some light relief along the way. There are also several twists at the end to keep you guessing longer.
Just one thing niggled me and that was the exceedingly abrupt end to the novel. It was almost as if a word count had been reached and everything had to stop.
Highly recommended.
I don't think you would need to read The Dentist to appreciate this novel but it's a great book so I'd urge you to do so anyway. Now for The Patient.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the advance review copy.
June 24, 2022
Excellent mystery series set in England. I've read two books now and am thoroughly hooked.
May 20, 2025
4.5, really. Another superb DS Scott thriller.
Each book in this series stands alone.
Unputdownable .
Each book in this series stands alone.
Unputdownable .
August 30, 2024
Very similar to the first in the series in that the storyline is a pretty standard one paced police procedural with the complex character of George Cross, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, very much its redeeming feature.
As with the first book I found it irritating that the author had to constantly explain that George’s anti-social behaviour was because he was on the spectrum. This happens so often that at times it felt like it was happening virtually every time there was a discussion. Give the reader some credit and allow them to work it out for themselves, at least after the tenth explanation in book two!
I’ll probably read the next in the series as I do find the books a little different and I’m sure there will be times when it will match my mood.
As with the first book I found it irritating that the author had to constantly explain that George’s anti-social behaviour was because he was on the spectrum. This happens so often that at times it felt like it was happening virtually every time there was a discussion. Give the reader some credit and allow them to work it out for themselves, at least after the tenth explanation in book two!
I’ll probably read the next in the series as I do find the books a little different and I’m sure there will be times when it will match my mood.
October 21, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic Crime [the publisher] for an eARC of The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan, with an expected publication date of January 2026, in return for an honest review. This is the second of the DS George Cross Mysteries and represents its first US publication; it was first published in Great Britain in 2020. I had not known about the series before coming across it on NetGalley.
As noted in my last review of The Dentist, DS George Cross is on the spectrum, which seemingly provides him with the secret to his success, with a 97% conviction rate, while also causing him and those around him never ending difficulties. The cyclist takes place approximately six months following the events in The Dentist.
The fact that Cross is an actual police officer as opposed to a consultant allows him to interview/interrogate suspects and it is this aspect of his Aspergers that sets this series apart. He uses his Aspergers to discomfit the suspect and often to break the case. In The Cyclist, a body is found in the course of demolishing a number of old, abandoned garages, that are situated next to an estate [UK public housing]. Cross and his team explore the world of cycling, family restaurants, drug dealing, and family dynamics.
We get to know the cast of characters from the first book better: Raymond, George’s widowed father starts to expand his universe, agreeing to volunteer at the Concorde museum; Carson, his aggrieved superior; DS Ottey, a black, divorced police officer with children, often tasked with assisting George, and providing a buffer between George and the rest of the department; and Mackenzie, a brand new officer, who ends up assisting on the cases as she tries to learn to navigate her peculiar superior [now that she’s been working for Cross for six months, she is “somewhat” more comfortable and is starting to appreciate his abilities].
There are lots of overlapping threads in this twisty plot. As Cross and his team identify the victim, Alex Paphides, they enter the world of competitive cycling with performance enhancing drugs. The Secretary of the cycling club, Ajay Patel, is also a pharmacist. The victim is also part of a Greek family restaurant and was thinking of expanding with or without his brother Kostas. Plans for a national footprint leads to the possibility of money laundering from overseas investors and loan sharking from local distributors. We also learn that Alex’s underage [16 years old] girlfriend Debbie is pregnant and is living with his family, having been kicked out of her mother and stepfather’s house. Her mother, who gave birth to also at 16 , is a wreck, constantly drinking and smoking. The overlapping of individuals and their worlds provides the complexity which drives the plot and allows Cross’ detailed and plodding process to excel. As the book came to a close, I thought I had figured things out pretty well, but the author ends with a twist that keeps things interesting.
Tim Sullivan, the author is an acclaimed screenwriter for both cinema and television, and has also directed. Among the actors/directors that he has worked with include Helen Mirren, Helena Bonham Carter, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Amanda Seyfried, Ron Howard and Jeffrey Katzenberg. He has since turned to writing crime novels, featuring DS Cross, and has written 8 so far, and some short stories. He originally self published the first two books in the series, and after 200,000+ downloads he came to the attention of Head of Zeus publishers. It’s easy to see why this series would be so successful.
I highly recommend this book and have rated it five stars. I intend to read the rest of this series.
As noted in my last review of The Dentist, DS George Cross is on the spectrum, which seemingly provides him with the secret to his success, with a 97% conviction rate, while also causing him and those around him never ending difficulties. The cyclist takes place approximately six months following the events in The Dentist.
The fact that Cross is an actual police officer as opposed to a consultant allows him to interview/interrogate suspects and it is this aspect of his Aspergers that sets this series apart. He uses his Aspergers to discomfit the suspect and often to break the case. In The Cyclist, a body is found in the course of demolishing a number of old, abandoned garages, that are situated next to an estate [UK public housing]. Cross and his team explore the world of cycling, family restaurants, drug dealing, and family dynamics.
We get to know the cast of characters from the first book better: Raymond, George’s widowed father starts to expand his universe, agreeing to volunteer at the Concorde museum; Carson, his aggrieved superior; DS Ottey, a black, divorced police officer with children, often tasked with assisting George, and providing a buffer between George and the rest of the department; and Mackenzie, a brand new officer, who ends up assisting on the cases as she tries to learn to navigate her peculiar superior [now that she’s been working for Cross for six months, she is “somewhat” more comfortable and is starting to appreciate his abilities].
There are lots of overlapping threads in this twisty plot. As Cross and his team identify the victim, Alex Paphides, they enter the world of competitive cycling with performance enhancing drugs. The Secretary of the cycling club, Ajay Patel, is also a pharmacist. The victim is also part of a Greek family restaurant and was thinking of expanding with or without his brother Kostas. Plans for a national footprint leads to the possibility of money laundering from overseas investors and loan sharking from local distributors. We also learn that Alex’s underage [16 years old] girlfriend Debbie is pregnant and is living with his family, having been kicked out of her mother and stepfather’s house. Her mother, who gave birth to also at 16 , is a wreck, constantly drinking and smoking. The overlapping of individuals and their worlds provides the complexity which drives the plot and allows Cross’ detailed and plodding process to excel. As the book came to a close, I thought I had figured things out pretty well, but the author ends with a twist that keeps things interesting.
Tim Sullivan, the author is an acclaimed screenwriter for both cinema and television, and has also directed. Among the actors/directors that he has worked with include Helen Mirren, Helena Bonham Carter, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Amanda Seyfried, Ron Howard and Jeffrey Katzenberg. He has since turned to writing crime novels, featuring DS Cross, and has written 8 so far, and some short stories. He originally self published the first two books in the series, and after 200,000+ downloads he came to the attention of Head of Zeus publishers. It’s easy to see why this series would be so successful.
I highly recommend this book and have rated it five stars. I intend to read the rest of this series.
September 6, 2024
Dviratininkas 📖
Detektyvas seržantas Džordžas Krosas turi mažai ką tęsti, tačiau iš silpnų įdegio linijų ant kūno ir keistų randų ant dilbių pamažu atsiranda tapatybė: jaunas vyras; dviratininkas mėgėjas; rezultatyvumą gerinančių medžiagų pasiūla. Bet kas lėmė šį žmogų į jo mirtį? Netrukus Krosas sumontavo tyrimą, kuris atskleis pavydą, ambicijas ir šeimą, kuri išsiskyrė...
Pradžia skaitėsi nuobodžiai, bet paskui įtraukė labai ir pabaiga nustebino.
Visai įdomi antrą serijos dalis. 📔🥰
Detektyvas seržantas Džordžas Krosas turi mažai ką tęsti, tačiau iš silpnų įdegio linijų ant kūno ir keistų randų ant dilbių pamažu atsiranda tapatybė: jaunas vyras; dviratininkas mėgėjas; rezultatyvumą gerinančių medžiagų pasiūla. Bet kas lėmė šį žmogų į jo mirtį? Netrukus Krosas sumontavo tyrimą, kuris atskleis pavydą, ambicijas ir šeimą, kuri išsiskyrė...
Pradžia skaitėsi nuobodžiai, bet paskui įtraukė labai ir pabaiga nustebino.
Visai įdomi antrą serijos dalis. 📔🥰
February 1, 2026
The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan is the 2nd book in the DS Cross mysteries series. DS Cross is called to a body found at a local demolition site who is gradually identified as a local amateur cyclist. I love this series. Although DS Cross is socially challenged, he is a superb investigator and it is a pleasure to watch him analyse the clues and piece together the answers. I like seeing the way his partner tries to help him overcome some of his personal hurdles. A superb, fun mystery in an excellent series.
January 12, 2026
While I didn't like this one as much as the first book of the series due to the case to be solved, it's still a solid read. I appreciate DS George Cross's neurodivergent crime solving skills, but I found myself wishing the secondary characters were a little more developed in this one. Overall, still a good read, and I plan to continue the series.
January 29, 2025
Audio.
Simple. Interesting. Well written. “Sherlock today”
Simple. Interesting. Well written. “Sherlock today”
June 4, 2024
Sehr gute Reihe.
Ungewöhnlicher Ermittlungsstil.
Klassische Ermittlungstätigkeit, sehr schön.
Ungewöhnlicher Ermittlungsstil.
Klassische Ermittlungstätigkeit, sehr schön.
October 2, 2022
Audio version of this book 📚 Absolutely LOVE this series! George Cross is such a loveable eccentric character! The author manages to create a great storyline with the added bonus of George’s quips that have you smiling to yourself throughout!
The narrator was excellent! Whether George Cross’s character would come across the same in the book I’m not sure 🤔 excellent! Can’t wait for the next one !!
The narrator was excellent! Whether George Cross’s character would come across the same in the book I’m not sure 🤔 excellent! Can’t wait for the next one !!
Want to read
November 19, 2022Wishlist | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Ko-fi
#1 The Dentist - TBR
#2 The Cyclist - TBR
#3 The Patient - ★★★★
#4 The Politician - ★★★★
#1 The Dentist - TBR
#2 The Cyclist - TBR
#3 The Patient - ★★★★
#4 The Politician - ★★★★
April 11, 2025
Number 2 in the crime series: love the character of DS Cross and his outlandish behaviour. A good detective story to boot. Downloaded number 3.
August 26, 2025
war ganz gut aber kein ober knaller
January 8, 2026
I love reading about DS Cross so much, he’s such a quirky character!! 🙌
This is the second installment in the DS George Cross Mystery series, but can easily be read as a standalone! Cross solves another mystery filled with twists and turns, all while navigating some unwelcome changes to his routine with his father. Definitely recommend this series to mystery lovers! 👏
Thank you partner Atlantic Crime and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
This is the second installment in the DS George Cross Mystery series, but can easily be read as a standalone! Cross solves another mystery filled with twists and turns, all while navigating some unwelcome changes to his routine with his father. Definitely recommend this series to mystery lovers! 👏
Thank you partner Atlantic Crime and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
December 24, 2022
George Cross has done it again, not resolved 1 crime but 2. Loving the character of George and his ways 😃
December 30, 2022
Tak jako v případě prvního dílu, je i Cyklista čistokrevnou detektivkou, okořeněnou příjemně nestandardním detektivem.
George Cross, je detektiv, který nedělá věci bezdůvodně, ale o to víc po svém. Bohužel však v případě tohoto dílu, mi přišlo jeho vystupování mírně upozaděné, a ne tak výrazné. Příběh je však i tak příjemně čtivý, a zajímavý. I když z mého pohledu, přeci jen slabší. To však může být dáno i tím, že mi nesedlo prostředí, do kterého, je zasazený. Oblast vrcholové cyklistiky, a s ní souvisejícího dopingu, je pro mě nadmíru nezajímavá a naprosto mimo můj okruh zájmů. A tak jsem si knihu sice přečetla, ale nepodařilo se jí mě více zaujmout, natož pak vtáhnout do děje.
George Cross, je detektiv, který nedělá věci bezdůvodně, ale o to víc po svém. Bohužel však v případě tohoto dílu, mi přišlo jeho vystupování mírně upozaděné, a ne tak výrazné. Příběh je však i tak příjemně čtivý, a zajímavý. I když z mého pohledu, přeci jen slabší. To však může být dáno i tím, že mi nesedlo prostředí, do kterého, je zasazený. Oblast vrcholové cyklistiky, a s ní souvisejícího dopingu, je pro mě nadmíru nezajímavá a naprosto mimo můj okruh zájmů. A tak jsem si knihu sice přečetla, ale nepodařilo se jí mě více zaujmout, natož pak vtáhnout do děje.
April 15, 2022
The second investigation featuring DS George Cross revolves around a young man called Alex Paphides, a keen cyclist who works at his family's Greek restaurant in Bristol.
Alex is found dead and there are no obvious clues, but Cross is determined to find out the truth. Which, of course, he does quite brilliantly and in the way only he can. Performance enhancing drugs, a proposed business expansion, a pregnancy, and paint traces on a door jamb all contribute to the picture that Cross assembles in his mind.
It is fascinating to read the thought processes that Cross goes through whilst searching for the evidence that will hold up in court. As ever, Tim Sullivan allows us to observe the minute detail that his detective insists on, even turning down a search warrant at one point (to the total frustration of his boss) because he wants even more damning evidence - which he gets.
Cross has Asperger's Syndrome, which means he finds social interaction difficult. This leads to him not understanding sometimes when colleagues make jokes or ironic comments, and he doesn't always acknowledge when someone helps him. His partner, DI Josie Ottey, is learning to be patient with Cross's manner and behaviour traits, and helps him remember social niceties that he would otherwise overlook.
I also enjoyed the way Alice Mackenzie is portrayed, as she also becomes more confident around Cross and begins to understand his processes and idiosyncrasies.
When Cross arrives at the explanation, it makes complete sense. Except, of course, it isn't quite as cut and dried as we were being led to believe and there is, in fact, a further revelation to come. It is testament to the author that we are able to see how the truth emerges from layers of obfuscation and deceit, and of course it could only be Cross who makes the connection that enables the full story to come to light.
I look forward to reading more mysteries involving George Cross, who is fast becoming my favourite fictional detective.
Alex is found dead and there are no obvious clues, but Cross is determined to find out the truth. Which, of course, he does quite brilliantly and in the way only he can. Performance enhancing drugs, a proposed business expansion, a pregnancy, and paint traces on a door jamb all contribute to the picture that Cross assembles in his mind.
It is fascinating to read the thought processes that Cross goes through whilst searching for the evidence that will hold up in court. As ever, Tim Sullivan allows us to observe the minute detail that his detective insists on, even turning down a search warrant at one point (to the total frustration of his boss) because he wants even more damning evidence - which he gets.
Cross has Asperger's Syndrome, which means he finds social interaction difficult. This leads to him not understanding sometimes when colleagues make jokes or ironic comments, and he doesn't always acknowledge when someone helps him. His partner, DI Josie Ottey, is learning to be patient with Cross's manner and behaviour traits, and helps him remember social niceties that he would otherwise overlook.
I also enjoyed the way Alice Mackenzie is portrayed, as she also becomes more confident around Cross and begins to understand his processes and idiosyncrasies.
When Cross arrives at the explanation, it makes complete sense. Except, of course, it isn't quite as cut and dried as we were being led to believe and there is, in fact, a further revelation to come. It is testament to the author that we are able to see how the truth emerges from layers of obfuscation and deceit, and of course it could only be Cross who makes the connection that enables the full story to come to light.
I look forward to reading more mysteries involving George Cross, who is fast becoming my favourite fictional detective.
April 16, 2022
First time reading this author very enjoyable mystery.
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