The Basket Case

by Tim Sullivan

The brand new DS George Cross short story.

'One of the most iconic British fictional detectives of the 21st century.' DAILY MAIL

Three go up. Two come down...

Detective George Cross receives a very bizarre call from a distressed family after their picnic was horribly interrupted. Just as they were about to tuck into their sandwiches, a human arm landed unceremoniously next to them. Soon, another limb followed.

As they looked up, they were horrified to see a decaying, disarticulating body perched at the top of a very tall tree.

DS George Cross is an exceptional detective but it doesn't take a genius to work out what needs answering

How on earth did it get up there?

Discover why everyone loves George Cross in this puzzling short story that can be read as a standalone mystery within the bestselling series.

ALSO IN THIS MILLION-COPY-BESTSELLING SERIES
#1 THE DENTIST
#2 THE CYCLIST
#3 THE PATIENT
#4 THE POLITICIAN
#5 THE MONK
#6 THE TEACHER
#7 THE BOOKSELLER
#8 THE TAILOR (COMING 2026)

CROSS CHRONICLE SHORT STORIES
THE LOST BOYS
THE EX-WIFE
THE HUNTER
THE BASKET CASE

Read what the many fans of George have to say...

'One of my favourite detectives.' ELLY GRIFFITHS
'A must-read series.' THE TIMES
'These are must-read detective novels.' MARK BILLINGHAM
'DS George Cross is as arresting as the cases he solves.' RICHARD E GRANT
'One of the best series to emerge in recent years.' SOPHIE HANNAH
'George Cross is an absolute one-off... the detective's detective.' JEREMY VINE
'I am insanely in love with George Cross.' STEPHEN FRY

Genres: Crime

47 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2025

About the author

Tim 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

Reviews

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a family sits down for a picnic in the park, a severed arm falls out of a nearby tree. Cross and Ottey are called to the scene, and Cross deduces that the victim was pushed from a hot air balloon. The victim was in finance and his risky investments harmed many people, so there is no shortage of suspects in this entertaining short story.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Kim Grattage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent short story featuring Detective Sgt George Cross. A perplexing case comes into George's department in the CID, The body of man is found high up in a tree wearing an harness used in skydiving, one thing that should be attached to it is missing, a parachute, where is it and how did the victim get stuck so far up there, not only is the parachute missing something else is too. It's up to DI Josie Ottey, George and the team to find out what occured. Everything is'nt always ad is first appears. I won't ruin the story with spoilers its up to you to crab a copy, snuggle down with a warm blanket, a hot chocolate drink and join George as he dives into this mysterious event. Anyone new to George will find him as perplexing as the many crimes he helps to solve, being autistic can be challenging as his ways can often annoy those not in his team as he is a stickler for dotting the i's and crossing the t's, he will leave no stone unturned to get the right result and those responsible for the victim's demise locked up in jail. Happy reading fellow bookworms.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective George Cross receives a very bizarre call from a distressed family after their picnic was horribly interrupted. Just as they were about to tuck into their sandwiches, a human arm landed unceremoniously next to them followed moments later by another limb. As they looked up, they were horrified to see a decaying, disarticulating body perched at the top of a very tall tree.

DS George Cross is an exceptional detective but it doesn't take a genius to work out what needs answering first: How on earth did it get up there?

Enjoyable, but it doesn't really give you a chance to get to know George - read the full novels for that experience (and it's worth it).

[Claudete Takahashi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not possible not to enjoy Ds Cross' stories. In The Basket Case he has to understand how the man was killed, whilst others keep on trying place him in an airplane or other flying vehicles, George is pretty sure the man fell from a balloon, and bearing this is mind, all he has to do is find the facts that will support his theory. Easy to read, this short story is truly entertaining!
I thank the author for this ARC.

[Jacqui Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Cross is a breath of fresh air

All the George Cross stories are a treat to read but the short stories are over too quickly. It is hard to wait patiently for the next book. George is a brilliant character and a good example of neurodivergent, and I should know as I live with someone this.

[Malvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella had a bit more meat in it than the previous one, no pun intended. The story of a man who they had to bring down from the tree tops, dead - but how did he get there? The cover on my Kindle copy gives the story away but doesn't detract from finding the culprit. A good addition to the DS George Cross mysteries.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love a Cross story, even if this one was too short!

[Phil Begley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read

Nice short story with George on his usual form with DI Ottey playing along. Looking forward to more adventures of DS George Cross.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

always a great read when Tim Sullivan is involved. great short story.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as usual, maybe because it was so short and not enough time to get to know the characters and to enjoy George Cross. Still definitely worth a read.

[Lisa Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great George Cross read.. looking forward to the next one - can’t come soon enough!

[Mike Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average, uncomplicated whodunnit short story.

[Carol Lindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure what it was with this DI George Cross short but it didn't hit me in the feels like his other books did.

[Douglas Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great short George Cross story.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great George Cross read

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this short story about DS George Cross. A family are having a picnic when severed limbs fall from the tree above them. George is at his best in investigating this along with Ottey. Quite a bizarre carrying out of a crime.

[Martin Vallance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent