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The DS Cross Mysteries #8
The Tailor
The unfailingly shrewd and uniquely brilliant DS George Cross is back...
'Every generation has its iconic detective - Holmes, Poirot and Morse - but Cross is emerging as the one for now.' DAILY MAIL
'One of my favourite detectives.' ELLY GRIFFITHS
THE KILLING
A bespoke tailor boards the 9:26 train from Bristol to London. Before it even reaches Bath, his body is found slumped lifeless in the toilet. The police initially assume it’s a robbery.
THE CRIME
But the truth is more complicated than that. Why was the man found with a plastic bag over his head? Why was his throat cut in such a savage way? DS George Cross realises that this was no mugging - it was an organised hit.
THE END
This realisation forces George into a merciless, unfamiliar world – and is it his imagination or is he being followed?
Everyone knows that DS George Cross is tenacious, that he always gets to the truth. It seems, this time, someone will do anything to stop that from happening…
Perfect for fans of MW Craven, Ann Cleeves and Joy Ellis, this is the eighth book in the million-copy-bestselling George Cross Mystery series, which can be read in any order.
'Every generation has its iconic detective - Holmes, Poirot and Morse - but Cross is emerging as the one for now.' DAILY MAIL
'One of my favourite detectives.' ELLY GRIFFITHS
THE KILLING
A bespoke tailor boards the 9:26 train from Bristol to London. Before it even reaches Bath, his body is found slumped lifeless in the toilet. The police initially assume it’s a robbery.
THE CRIME
But the truth is more complicated than that. Why was the man found with a plastic bag over his head? Why was his throat cut in such a savage way? DS George Cross realises that this was no mugging - it was an organised hit.
THE END
This realisation forces George into a merciless, unfamiliar world – and is it his imagination or is he being followed?
Everyone knows that DS George Cross is tenacious, that he always gets to the truth. It seems, this time, someone will do anything to stop that from happening…
Perfect for fans of MW Craven, Ann Cleeves and Joy Ellis, this is the eighth book in the million-copy-bestselling George Cross Mystery series, which can be read in any order.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2026
About the author
Tim Sullivan
16 books806 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
August 16, 2026
5-stars.
Sharply Tailored, Seamlessly Stitched, and Pure Procedural Perfection.
Tim Sullivan's The Tailor—the newly released eighth installment in the DS George Cross series—brings Detective Sergeant George Cross face-to-face with a case that feels as tightly woven and deliberate as the craft after which it is named.
When a quiet, methodical tailor is found murdered on a train, the Bristol Major Crime Investigation Team initially faces a wall of dead ends.
The victim lived an unassuming, almost invisible life, leaving little trace of motive or conflict. However, DS Cross—whose neurological divergence gives him a unique hyper-focus and unwavering refusal to make assumptions—begins pulling at the hidden threads of the victim's past.
The investigation unfolds amid a major shake-up on the team as recent promotions take effect: Cross's longtime partner and trusted confidant, Josie Ottey has been elevated to Detective Inspector, while Detective Constable (DC) Alice Mackenzie steps up as Cross's new partner, leaving DS Cross thoroughly frazzled and livid that no one consulted with him beforehand.
Adding to Cross's personal friction, his newly reunited parents are experiencing relationship troubles, forcing the routinely inflexible detective to navigate emotional turbulence at home.
If only he knew the worst is yet to come...
Highly recommend.
Sharply Tailored, Seamlessly Stitched, and Pure Procedural Perfection.
Tim Sullivan's The Tailor—the newly released eighth installment in the DS George Cross series—brings Detective Sergeant George Cross face-to-face with a case that feels as tightly woven and deliberate as the craft after which it is named.
When a quiet, methodical tailor is found murdered on a train, the Bristol Major Crime Investigation Team initially faces a wall of dead ends.
The victim lived an unassuming, almost invisible life, leaving little trace of motive or conflict. However, DS Cross—whose neurological divergence gives him a unique hyper-focus and unwavering refusal to make assumptions—begins pulling at the hidden threads of the victim's past.
The investigation unfolds amid a major shake-up on the team as recent promotions take effect: Cross's longtime partner and trusted confidant, Josie Ottey has been elevated to Detective Inspector, while Detective Constable (DC) Alice Mackenzie steps up as Cross's new partner, leaving DS Cross thoroughly frazzled and livid that no one consulted with him beforehand.
Adding to Cross's personal friction, his newly reunited parents are experiencing relationship troubles, forcing the routinely inflexible detective to navigate emotional turbulence at home.
If only he knew the worst is yet to come...
Highly recommend.
September 6, 2026
EXCERPT: Many in the MCU felt the case was approaching a dead end, but there was no such thing for George Cross. While other detectives wallowed for days in a reservoir of self-pitying frustration, banging their heads metaphorically on their desks while stuffing their arteries with fat courtesy of an almost continuous drip feed of takeaway food, he took another look at everything. For Crossa dead end was filled with possibilities. He viewed such a situation as a new starting point. Far from being a stumbling block, it was a new beginning. It was never a question of reaching a dead end. It was simply an indication that they were looking in the wrong place. Unlike his colleagues, Cross was able to stare at three bald, mundane facts in a case for days on end, constantly questioning them. Was anything missing? Were they relevant or not? He loved the puzzle of it all and would lower the blinds in his office which everyone knew meant he wasn't to be disturbed.
ABOUT 'THE TAILOR': Measure twice. Cut once.
Detective Sergeant George Cross is nothing if not precise. When a man is found dead in the first-class toilet of a train—his throat cut, a plastic bag over his head—the grisly scene shocks his fellow officers. Cross registers every detail, but it's not the blood that interests him. It's the victim's exquisite suit.
The dead man is a tailor by the name of Billy Titcomb, trusted by clients around the world for his meticulousness and discretion. Who would want a tailor dead? With his new partner, DC Alice Mackenzie, Cross starts pulling at the threads. There's a widow grieving in peculiar ways. A dead scientist whose suicide doesn't add up. And two South Korean tourists with embassy connections who keep showing up in places they shouldn't. The deeper Cross digs, the less this looks like a simple murder, and the more it looks like a professional operation.
DS Cross has the highest conviction rate in the force. But in the world of spies and state secrets, the rules are different—and for the first time, the people trying to stop him may be on his own side. Can Cross stitch it all together before the case unravels him?
MY THOUGHTS: I love George Cross. Always have. Always will. And I look forward to each new book with anticipation and excitement. I have yet to be disappointed.
If you are looking for a thriller, go elsewhere . . . but if you are looking for an engrossing 'whodunnit?' with fascinating characters, you're in the right place.
The murder mystery is cleverly interwoven with George's private life which, by the way, he likes to keep private only discussing it in a very non-specific way with Father Stephen and the newly promoted DI Josie Ottey. His father Raymond can sometimes be a tough cross to bear.
George has to cope with a lot of change in this book, something he is not comfortable with at the best of times and, for once, finds himself in rather a precarious situation.
All the stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheTailor #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: TIM SULLIVAN lives in North London with his wife Rachel and 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.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic, Atlantic Crime, for providing a DRC of The Tailor by Tim Sullivan for review. This review reflects my reading experience and all opinions expressed are my own personal opinions.
ABOUT 'THE TAILOR': Measure twice. Cut once.
Detective Sergeant George Cross is nothing if not precise. When a man is found dead in the first-class toilet of a train—his throat cut, a plastic bag over his head—the grisly scene shocks his fellow officers. Cross registers every detail, but it's not the blood that interests him. It's the victim's exquisite suit.
The dead man is a tailor by the name of Billy Titcomb, trusted by clients around the world for his meticulousness and discretion. Who would want a tailor dead? With his new partner, DC Alice Mackenzie, Cross starts pulling at the threads. There's a widow grieving in peculiar ways. A dead scientist whose suicide doesn't add up. And two South Korean tourists with embassy connections who keep showing up in places they shouldn't. The deeper Cross digs, the less this looks like a simple murder, and the more it looks like a professional operation.
DS Cross has the highest conviction rate in the force. But in the world of spies and state secrets, the rules are different—and for the first time, the people trying to stop him may be on his own side. Can Cross stitch it all together before the case unravels him?
MY THOUGHTS: I love George Cross. Always have. Always will. And I look forward to each new book with anticipation and excitement. I have yet to be disappointed.
If you are looking for a thriller, go elsewhere . . . but if you are looking for an engrossing 'whodunnit?' with fascinating characters, you're in the right place.
The murder mystery is cleverly interwoven with George's private life which, by the way, he likes to keep private only discussing it in a very non-specific way with Father Stephen and the newly promoted DI Josie Ottey. His father Raymond can sometimes be a tough cross to bear.
George has to cope with a lot of change in this book, something he is not comfortable with at the best of times and, for once, finds himself in rather a precarious situation.
All the stars!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheTailor #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: TIM SULLIVAN lives in North London with his wife Rachel and 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.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Grove Atlantic, Atlantic Crime, for providing a DRC of The Tailor by Tim Sullivan for review. This review reflects my reading experience and all opinions expressed are my own personal opinions.
August 17, 2026
'Why do people ever lie?' he asked before immediately answering his own question. 'To cover up the real truth, particularly if it's a worse one.'I'm now up-to-date with this series (this entry, of course, being the latest one).
As I mentioned elsewhere, I began it in out-of-series-order at first but then corrected that and read through from Book One - which I'm glad I did; that seems the more satisfying way to go (even though an 'argument' could be made for reading the books as random stand-alones).
The major plus of this series is DS George Cross, perhaps the most memorable protagonist in modern mysteries (just my hunch). Marvelously realized as a character from the get-go, the reader (if he or she is like me, and even if perhaps not) cannot help but gravitate to George. He not only holds interest, he captivates with each entry - and rather endlessly within each entry.
I sensed I would miss him soon after reading the most recent book - and I already do.
George, of course, is on the spectrum - and, for me, the series has been an increasingly informative experience in that regard. I'd never before followed an autistic character in fiction; I've no idea how often that even happens. And while George is naturally not a one-size-fits-all, the percentage that he represents serves to enrich the reader.
As the leader of each narrative, George both does and does not steal focus. It's a testament to author Tim Sullivan's skill that he consistently surrounds his DS with richly detailed co-workers and (even) suspects. Sullivan not only does his homework, he does double-duty for 'extra credit'.
All told, the amount of research that goes into these cases is mind-boggling.
Sullivan often seems to hold no shortage of surprises. With Book #8 - this one - he opens the story in a way he has not done heretofore: he shows us the actual murder, almost as though through the murderer's eyes. It plays a bit like an Agatha Christie homage; choosing that tack is inspired, as it immediately thrusts suspense front-and-center.
Like Book #2 ('The Cyclist') - the shortest book in the series so far - 'The Tailor' has a rather limited cast of characters; resulting in a more compact complexity (which is still nevertheless not skimped on). I finished 'The Cyclist' in record time because it was so short - but then I read 'The Tailor' in about as short a period because it is so *precise*.
There's no fat on this baby; it's a lean, 'mean' machine.
A particularly impressive move this time out comes near the conclusion, when George is allowed something akin to a showy "11 o'clock number" in a musical comedy. Not that there's music - or even comedy, really, at that point. Though, in a certain light, it's still very funny. It's a risky tonal shift for Sullivan to take but vive la différence; it pays off!
~ as does Sullivan's rare 'coda': once the story is over, the author sends us off with an imagined conversation between himself and George. It's touching, hilarious, and *very* George!
July 28, 2025
2.5 STARS rounded down
This book has got me wondering if I was giving the previous seven more credit than they deserved.
THE TAILOR was predictable. It was also huggy-feelie (ie. maudlin) and, worse, not everything George said felt in character. Really?! George doing psychological analysis? Being in tune with an emotional situation... don't think so.
And now I’m quite cross because I actually spent money on Book 8. If it were a physical book, I could at least pass it along to someone else. But it’s an ebook (because of my diminished eyesight), so apparently I am now the proud owner of a book that will just sit there unloved until it outlives me.
This book has got me wondering if I was giving the previous seven more credit than they deserved.
THE TAILOR was predictable. It was also huggy-feelie (ie. maudlin) and, worse, not everything George said felt in character. Really?! George doing psychological analysis? Being in tune with an emotional situation... don't think so.
And now I’m quite cross because I actually spent money on Book 8. If it were a physical book, I could at least pass it along to someone else. But it’s an ebook (because of my diminished eyesight), so apparently I am now the proud owner of a book that will just sit there unloved until it outlives me.
August 13, 2026
I have loved every other book in this series SO much. But, this one was too far-fetched for me. I want the tiny details of ordinary cases, not a thriller.
August 18, 2026
4.5 stars
Thank you to Atlantic Crime for the gifted copy of this book. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
This is book #8 in the D.S. Cross Mystery series and it's a good one. A tailor is killed on a train and D.S. George Cross is assigned the case. George is a unique character. He is a brilliant detective, but is very awkward socially. Even though this is the eighth book, I was able to jump right in with this newest installment. I enjoyed getting to know George and the rest of his team I liked the way George was able to work well with his team to solve a complex crime. I hadn't expected the case to involve international intrigue, but it did work well with the plot. I love the way everything turned out in the end. Now that I've read this book, I will definitely be going back and reading prior books in this series.
Thank you to Atlantic Crime for the gifted copy of this book. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
This is book #8 in the D.S. Cross Mystery series and it's a good one. A tailor is killed on a train and D.S. George Cross is assigned the case. George is a unique character. He is a brilliant detective, but is very awkward socially. Even though this is the eighth book, I was able to jump right in with this newest installment. I enjoyed getting to know George and the rest of his team I liked the way George was able to work well with his team to solve a complex crime. I hadn't expected the case to involve international intrigue, but it did work well with the plot. I love the way everything turned out in the end. Now that I've read this book, I will definitely be going back and reading prior books in this series.
August 16, 2026
4.0 / 5.0
Solid book from start to finish, you can’t go wrong with a George cross series. I am now patiently waiting for the next one. I always find the Cross series to be so unique, weirdly comforting and reliable. I haven’t been disappointed about the series or the book, I like how we naturally see the character development of george as he navigates through personal and professional life. I like how genuine and real Cross is portrayed. As always I’ve found the plot easy to follow, I like how natural the twists came across as well as how the plot is unpredictable. Whilst the ending was obvious, I like how it was never blindingly obvious to your face, there was always an element of uncertainty.
A bespoke tailor boards the 10:00 am train from Bristol to London. Before the train reaches bath, he’s found dead in the toilet with his throat slit and a plastic freezer bag over his head. DS George Cross quickly rules out robbery, but nothing of this killing is random. It’s an execution. His investigation brings him dangerously close to a cold merciless world, is it his imagination or is he being followed. With the highest conviction rate of any officer in the force, George is known for getting answers where others can’t. This time, someone will do anything to stop that from happening, and the next cut could be meant for him….
Overall I’ve enjoyed this book, once I started I really struggled to put this book down. A testament to how much of a solid book this is. As always though this book does refer to events in the previous books, so it doesn’t make sense to read to the 8th book as the first one!
Solid book from start to finish, you can’t go wrong with a George cross series. I am now patiently waiting for the next one. I always find the Cross series to be so unique, weirdly comforting and reliable. I haven’t been disappointed about the series or the book, I like how we naturally see the character development of george as he navigates through personal and professional life. I like how genuine and real Cross is portrayed. As always I’ve found the plot easy to follow, I like how natural the twists came across as well as how the plot is unpredictable. Whilst the ending was obvious, I like how it was never blindingly obvious to your face, there was always an element of uncertainty.
A bespoke tailor boards the 10:00 am train from Bristol to London. Before the train reaches bath, he’s found dead in the toilet with his throat slit and a plastic freezer bag over his head. DS George Cross quickly rules out robbery, but nothing of this killing is random. It’s an execution. His investigation brings him dangerously close to a cold merciless world, is it his imagination or is he being followed. With the highest conviction rate of any officer in the force, George is known for getting answers where others can’t. This time, someone will do anything to stop that from happening, and the next cut could be meant for him….
Overall I’ve enjoyed this book, once I started I really struggled to put this book down. A testament to how much of a solid book this is. As always though this book does refer to events in the previous books, so it doesn’t make sense to read to the 8th book as the first one!
August 24, 2026
I adore these series. I’m sad that there aren’t any more right now. I miss George already.
August 11, 2026
4.5 ⭐️s rounded to 5 ⭐️s
One of my most beloved series and MMC detectives is back with a new installment! 🥰 This time around, DS George Cross investigates the mysterious death of a tailor aboard a train, while also dealing with the promotion of his partner and his estranged mother caring for his father. Did I laugh? Yes! Did I cry? Also yes! Did I love? Absolutely!! 🙌 If you have not checked this series out yet, drop everything and pick it up! Each can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading them in order! 👏
Thank you partner Atlantic Crime for the gifted advanced reader copies in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
One of my most beloved series and MMC detectives is back with a new installment! 🥰 This time around, DS George Cross investigates the mysterious death of a tailor aboard a train, while also dealing with the promotion of his partner and his estranged mother caring for his father. Did I laugh? Yes! Did I cry? Also yes! Did I love? Absolutely!! 🙌 If you have not checked this series out yet, drop everything and pick it up! Each can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading them in order! 👏
Thank you partner Atlantic Crime for the gifted advanced reader copies in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
July 6, 2026
Synopsis
A routine train journey turns into a brutal murder investigation when a bespoke tailor is found dead aboard the 9:26 train from Bristol to London. At first, police suspect a robbery gone wrong, but the disturbing crime scene tells a different story. With a plastic bag over the victim’s head and his throat savagely cut, it quickly becomes clear that this was no random act of violence.
DS George Cross soon realizes he’s dealing with a carefully planned assassination, pulling him into a dangerous world of organized crime where every answer raises new questions. As Cross relentlessly pursues the truth, he begins to suspect that someone is watching his every move—and will stop at nothing to ensure the investigation never reaches its conclusion.
The eighth installment in the George Cross Mystery series delivers a fast-paced police procedural filled with twists, danger, and a determined detective who refuses to back down. Although part of a series it can be read in any order. It can be enjoyed as a standalone, making it an excellent choice for readers who enjoy intricate mysteries and methodical investigations.
Review
As the eighth book in the DS Cross series, the publisher claims the books can be read in any order. After reading this one, I disagree.
DS George Cross is on the autism spectrum, which explains many of his quirks, mannerisms, and difficulty interpreting social situations. This novel focuses heavily on those traits but spends the first 15% of the book presenting them without any context. Until the story finally hints that Cross is autistic, he simply comes across as rude, insensitive, and socially oblivious. Readers familiar with the series will already understand him, but newcomers may find him difficult to connect with.
The novel also references characters and events from previous books with little or no background. While this doesn’t make the mystery itself difficult to follow, it does make it harder to appreciate the relationships between the characters and how they have developed throughout the series. I think readers would get far more out of the book by reading the series in order.
The cast of characters is diverse and interesting, and the short, digestible chapters make for a fast and engaging read. The story is told from multiple points of view, primarily George’s, with the transitions feeling natural and well suited to each scene.
One aspect that detracted from my enjoyment was the author’s frequent use of obscure vocabulary. Words such as concatenate can usually be understood from the surrounding context, but they aren’t part of everyday language. When these words appear in Cross’s dialogue or internal thoughts, they fit his character. However, when they appear in the general narrative, they sometimes feel as though they’re included simply to showcase unusual or “big” words.
This is separate from the British colloquialisms, which I actually enjoyed. As a non-UK reader, I found them interesting, and they were generally easy to understand from context. More frustrating was the author’s tendency to use acronyms without ever explaining what they stand for, which occasionally interrupted the flow of the story.
Overall, the mystery is engaging, and the clues are presented fairly, allowing readers to follow along and piece things together. While I enjoyed the investigation itself, I believe this is one series that is best read in publication order rather than as standalone novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Grove Atlantic/ Atlantic Crime for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A routine train journey turns into a brutal murder investigation when a bespoke tailor is found dead aboard the 9:26 train from Bristol to London. At first, police suspect a robbery gone wrong, but the disturbing crime scene tells a different story. With a plastic bag over the victim’s head and his throat savagely cut, it quickly becomes clear that this was no random act of violence.
DS George Cross soon realizes he’s dealing with a carefully planned assassination, pulling him into a dangerous world of organized crime where every answer raises new questions. As Cross relentlessly pursues the truth, he begins to suspect that someone is watching his every move—and will stop at nothing to ensure the investigation never reaches its conclusion.
The eighth installment in the George Cross Mystery series delivers a fast-paced police procedural filled with twists, danger, and a determined detective who refuses to back down. Although part of a series it can be read in any order. It can be enjoyed as a standalone, making it an excellent choice for readers who enjoy intricate mysteries and methodical investigations.
Review
As the eighth book in the DS Cross series, the publisher claims the books can be read in any order. After reading this one, I disagree.
DS George Cross is on the autism spectrum, which explains many of his quirks, mannerisms, and difficulty interpreting social situations. This novel focuses heavily on those traits but spends the first 15% of the book presenting them without any context. Until the story finally hints that Cross is autistic, he simply comes across as rude, insensitive, and socially oblivious. Readers familiar with the series will already understand him, but newcomers may find him difficult to connect with.
The novel also references characters and events from previous books with little or no background. While this doesn’t make the mystery itself difficult to follow, it does make it harder to appreciate the relationships between the characters and how they have developed throughout the series. I think readers would get far more out of the book by reading the series in order.
The cast of characters is diverse and interesting, and the short, digestible chapters make for a fast and engaging read. The story is told from multiple points of view, primarily George’s, with the transitions feeling natural and well suited to each scene.
One aspect that detracted from my enjoyment was the author’s frequent use of obscure vocabulary. Words such as concatenate can usually be understood from the surrounding context, but they aren’t part of everyday language. When these words appear in Cross’s dialogue or internal thoughts, they fit his character. However, when they appear in the general narrative, they sometimes feel as though they’re included simply to showcase unusual or “big” words.
This is separate from the British colloquialisms, which I actually enjoyed. As a non-UK reader, I found them interesting, and they were generally easy to understand from context. More frustrating was the author’s tendency to use acronyms without ever explaining what they stand for, which occasionally interrupted the flow of the story.
Overall, the mystery is engaging, and the clues are presented fairly, allowing readers to follow along and piece things together. While I enjoyed the investigation itself, I believe this is one series that is best read in publication order rather than as standalone novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Grove Atlantic/ Atlantic Crime for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 31, 2026
There are many layers to the mystery in Tim Sullivan's latest delight, The Tailor. The convoluted mystery, the world of tailoring and bespoke suits, and a scene that genuinely had me worried for George, all combine with probably the finest cast of characters in fiction to make this one of my best reads of the year.
And if that isn't enough for you, there's plenty of humor, too, such as calling an overzealous helicopter mother "an Apache assault helicopter" or the contest between two characters to see who can get the most information to Cross the quickest.
While I was trying to figure out what was going on, I was also catching up on the lives of the characters. Newly-appointed Detective Constable Alice Mackenzie has to learn how to be Cross's partner as well as how to deal with her relationship with Cross's biggest groupie. Any character-driven reader will feel as if they're in paradise as they read these books.
I will restrain myself and stop waxing poetic about The Tailor (and the entire series). Yes, you could jump into the action with this latest book and not feel lost, but why deny yourself the pleasure of getting to know these characters (and solving some fine mysteries) from the very beginning (The Dentist)? Do it, please!
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley)
And if that isn't enough for you, there's plenty of humor, too, such as calling an overzealous helicopter mother "an Apache assault helicopter" or the contest between two characters to see who can get the most information to Cross the quickest.
While I was trying to figure out what was going on, I was also catching up on the lives of the characters. Newly-appointed Detective Constable Alice Mackenzie has to learn how to be Cross's partner as well as how to deal with her relationship with Cross's biggest groupie. Any character-driven reader will feel as if they're in paradise as they read these books.
I will restrain myself and stop waxing poetic about The Tailor (and the entire series). Yes, you could jump into the action with this latest book and not feel lost, but why deny yourself the pleasure of getting to know these characters (and solving some fine mysteries) from the very beginning (The Dentist)? Do it, please!
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley)
September 5, 2026
Another brilliant read, lovely to catch up with George & his crew , can’t wait for the next book The Baker. Will have to wait til April !
August 20, 2026
Another amazing book. So entertaining. Half read half listened and am looking forward to the next one.
Good plot and character development…
Good plot and character development…
August 21, 2026
I absolutely love George Cross
July 21, 2026
I never cease to enjoy these, and this has been an absolute treat!
Five stars. Would I read it again? Definitely!
Five stars. Would I read it again? Definitely!
July 22, 2026
A tailor is murdered on a train, but the trail it leaves behind is anything but ordinary.
We follow George, a detective with a reputation for solving the most unusual cases, alongside a supporting character who honestly had main-character energy. She was more than capable at her job, if not for the unyielding, pompous lead constantly getting in her way.
The story starts at a brisk pace, surrounding us with bespoke suits, tailoring techniques, and plenty of charm. Somewhere in the middle, though, I found myself losing a bit of interest as the focus shifted towards people, their motives, and endless conversations. Thankfully, the climax pulled me right back in with a rather unexpected and amusing finish.
George is an eccentric detective whose constant observations and deductions make him an oddly fitting person for the job. I also enjoyed the involvement of international agencies and the role they played in the investigation, which gave the mystery a broader scope and a slightly grittier edge.
Overall, this was an enjoyable detective mystery with a memorable lead, even if the pacing dipped a little in the middle.
We follow George, a detective with a reputation for solving the most unusual cases, alongside a supporting character who honestly had main-character energy. She was more than capable at her job, if not for the unyielding, pompous lead constantly getting in her way.
The story starts at a brisk pace, surrounding us with bespoke suits, tailoring techniques, and plenty of charm. Somewhere in the middle, though, I found myself losing a bit of interest as the focus shifted towards people, their motives, and endless conversations. Thankfully, the climax pulled me right back in with a rather unexpected and amusing finish.
George is an eccentric detective whose constant observations and deductions make him an oddly fitting person for the job. I also enjoyed the involvement of international agencies and the role they played in the investigation, which gave the mystery a broader scope and a slightly grittier edge.
Overall, this was an enjoyable detective mystery with a memorable lead, even if the pacing dipped a little in the middle.
August 16, 2026
I'd been looking forward to this one. I like George Cross's character and find him an interesting read. This latest installment seemed good and began strong. The murder was intriguing and I couldn't see where it was heading. But, for me, the storyline slowed as the book moved on. Whilst I understood the story, I found myself losing interest a little and it all seemed a bit far-fetched. I liked MacKenzie's character though and enjoyed how she handled working with Cross. Overall it was worth reading but it wasn't my favourite book of the series.
August 31, 2026
A young bespoke tailor is brutally murdered on a train while embarking on an international business trip necessitating George Cross to investigate. While the suspect list is fairly short, author Tim Sullivan still maintains a consistently paced thriller that will keep readers guessing until the end. Sullivan also balances a subplot involving George's eccentric parents, as well as George's unique persona with sensitivity, gentle humor, and respect. The author's realistic inclusion of timely social issues makes the book's themes relatable and relevant in today's geopolitical climate.
I still have earlier books in the series to read, but couldn't resist delving into this latest one. Looking forward to looking back.
I still have earlier books in the series to read, but couldn't resist delving into this latest one. Looking forward to looking back.
August 23, 2026
I was delighted when I realised that a new George Cross story had been published. As I always do, I listened to it on Audible because the narration is really good, giving me more than if I read it. Some of the reviews complain the story was too far fetched - on the contrary, it was very believable I thought. It would be a spoiler to say more on that. George’s neurodivergence is really the core of these stories and maybe some would find that irritating. But it is what distinguishes it from run of the mill police procedurals.
There is also a subsidiary plot concerning George’s parents. While it can be taken at face value, and this could be a stand alone story, my enjoyment was certainly enhanced by having read the whole series and thus knowing the detailed back story.
I’m only sorry that I assume it will be a long wait for the next instalment!
There is also a subsidiary plot concerning George’s parents. While it can be taken at face value, and this could be a stand alone story, my enjoyment was certainly enhanced by having read the whole series and thus knowing the detailed back story.
I’m only sorry that I assume it will be a long wait for the next instalment!
August 6, 2026
A bespoke tailor is killed on his way to Heathrow (going to Dubai and China). George Cross is as he always is- to the great annoyance of many of his colleagues, but as always gets deep into the case, which is full of unusual occurrences: The many unexpected guests at the tailor's funeral, the South Korean tourists, the Chinese wife's former colleagues apparent suicide and Cross getting abducted. Meanwhile his parents are moving in and out of their flats - creating another, perhaps more severe disturbance in Cross' life. Bigger forces than usual are at play this time 'round.
September 4, 2026
Warning: This book just might make one seriously consider the purchase of a bespoke suit. DS George Cross remains an engaging and fascinating character. This happy reader is already looking forward to the next installment of this series. Cheers!
September 11, 2026
I really like this series, easy reading but great character development. Intelligent and witty
September 11, 2026
A very reliable mystery series with the undiagnosed autistic DS George Cross.
August 16, 2026
This is the series' weakest novel
The author and the new corporate publisher might be rushing releases to cash in on earlier success. As a result Tailor lacks previous quality and complexity. The perpetrators are obvious upon first meeting them. There are no believable red herrings or reversals.
Further, is it coincidental that this story contains similar details to other British detective series? In the recent DC Smith book by Peter Grainger, there is a agent from the UK intelligence service called Alexandra McAllister. She explains what's really happened in the same way that Toby Fletcher of the intelligence service explains his involvement in the case.
In the Cormoran Strike novel"Running Grave" the detective is invited to lunch at the Refurb Club on Pall Mall. In The Tailor, agent Toby Fletcher invites Cross to the Athenaeum Club which is 3 doors down from the Reform Club.
I love the series, but fear this may be its watershed moment into fast written boiler plate novels. .
The author and the new corporate publisher might be rushing releases to cash in on earlier success. As a result Tailor lacks previous quality and complexity. The perpetrators are obvious upon first meeting them. There are no believable red herrings or reversals.
Further, is it coincidental that this story contains similar details to other British detective series? In the recent DC Smith book by Peter Grainger, there is a agent from the UK intelligence service called Alexandra McAllister. She explains what's really happened in the same way that Toby Fletcher of the intelligence service explains his involvement in the case.
In the Cormoran Strike novel"Running Grave" the detective is invited to lunch at the Refurb Club on Pall Mall. In The Tailor, agent Toby Fletcher invites Cross to the Athenaeum Club which is 3 doors down from the Reform Club.
I love the series, but fear this may be its watershed moment into fast written boiler plate novels. .
August 12, 2026
A very good series which has now been picked up by a mainstream publisher. The brutal murder of a bespoke tailor morphs from a murder inquiry into something more complicated. Well done even though it’s pretty clear where things are going, especially after the Asian connections are revealed. As always, the autistic Detective Cross’s dealings with “normal” society are a feature.
One question: there is no prior mention of the burglary/vandalism of the tailor shop and there was no police report. So how does Cross know about it (p. 59)?
One question: there is no prior mention of the burglary/vandalism of the tailor shop and there was no police report. So how does Cross know about it (p. 59)?
September 2, 2026
It’s interesting that the character of DS George Cross that we met back in The Dentist was extremely, well, let’s call it change-averse. And that’s an understatement. Yet, the DS Cross in The Tailor very much HAS changed – even if he doesn’t recognize just how much.
Just as he doesn’t realize how much his colleagues at the Avon and Somerset Police have come to both like and respect him. No matter how much or how often he drives them round the twist. Which is very often indeed.
One of the interesting things about this case, the murder of a tailor while on the train between Temple Meads – near Bristol – and Bath Spa, is one of the rare cases where the victim was actually an excellent member of his profession in good standing. As opposed to the sort of louse who usually ends up as the titular character of each entry in this series.
William “Billy” Titcomb was both an excellent bespoke tailor and seemingly a rather “good egg” as the Brits say. He inherited a family business, he was good at the work and at respecting the work of others, and his company was generally successful, the pandemic downturn notwithstanding. He’s a family man with a wife and two kids and seemingly no skeletons whatsoever in his closet. (Although his wife’s closet may be another matter entirely.)
But someone slit his throat in a train carriage W/C, stole his luggage – including two bespoke suits – and then disappeared. It looks like it was a professional hit. At first, the question the investigation needs to answer is why. The more complicated that answer starts to look, and the more Cross’ DCI interferes with the investigation, the more the real question starts to look like which profession?
Cross is determined – as he always is – to get all the answers. Even if some of those answers are wrapped in the Official Secrets Act, and others are tainted by betrayal from within.
Escape Rating A: It’s no secret that I’ve been reading this series from beginning to end, and that I’ve loved every single book in it, from The Dentist all the way to this most anticipated eighth book, The Tailor. I expected Cross and company to sweep me back to their patch from the very first page, and that’s exactly what happened. This was pretty much of a one-sitting book for me, (which Luna appreciated very much!)
As always, I was captivated both by following Cross’ thought-processes into plumbing the depths of the mystery, while, at the very same time, doing his damndest to barely skim the surface of the many changes in his own life.
Cross deals with change badly and emotions, both his own and those of the people around him, worse. He’s a creature of meticulous attention, focused to the point of hyperfocus, with a need to get straight to the point with no consciousness whatsoever of what are referred to as the “social niceties”. His autism spectrum disorder aids greatly in his work – as long as he has a partner who can supply the social oils and unguents that Cross sees no purpose in. (He might be right but that’s the way the world – and other people – work.
His work on this case is a bit distracted because he’s faced with changes that he doesn’t want to deal with. His former partner, the former DS Ottey, is now a DI. She’s switched roles from being his equal to being his superior, and he’s not dealing with it all that well. (In some ways, neither is she, as being a DI seems to mean more paperwork and less actual policing.)
Cross’ new partner is newly minted DC Alice Mackenzie. He’s worked with Alice before, back when she was on staff but not a detective, so she knows how to work with – and occasionally around – Cross. But he does NOT enjoy being a boss, of her or anyone else, and now he is. Whether he likes it or not.
Then there’s this case, which is a bit different in the way it works, and twice as twisted as normal. Because it’s not just a murder. It’s not even ABOUT the murder, strictly speaking. The case, and that poor, departed tailor, are neck deep in the “secret services”. And nothing that touches that murky cesspool of dirty secrets is EVER straightforward. George Cross is the last police detective that MI6 wanted assigned to this case – so they do their best/worst to delay and derail him at every turn.
That combination, of the case that twists and turns and turns both itself and the police inside out kept me glued to a succession of seats for nearly four hours straight. While the shifts in George Cross’ life, and the way that he does and does not adapt to them, turned into one shining moment of awesome that I could acknowledge even if Cross himself could not.
The events of this case, and the changes in Cross’ life and work that arise out of time and circumstance, have PLENTY of implications for the next book in the series to deal with. I’m just pleased as punch that the next book has been announced and scheduled for publication in June 2027 in the US, a mere two months after the UK release. There’s no title as yet but that doesn’t matter. I’m just glad that George Cross will be back. I’ll just have to find something to tide me over while I wait!
Originally published at Reading Reality
Just as he doesn’t realize how much his colleagues at the Avon and Somerset Police have come to both like and respect him. No matter how much or how often he drives them round the twist. Which is very often indeed.
One of the interesting things about this case, the murder of a tailor while on the train between Temple Meads – near Bristol – and Bath Spa, is one of the rare cases where the victim was actually an excellent member of his profession in good standing. As opposed to the sort of louse who usually ends up as the titular character of each entry in this series.
William “Billy” Titcomb was both an excellent bespoke tailor and seemingly a rather “good egg” as the Brits say. He inherited a family business, he was good at the work and at respecting the work of others, and his company was generally successful, the pandemic downturn notwithstanding. He’s a family man with a wife and two kids and seemingly no skeletons whatsoever in his closet. (Although his wife’s closet may be another matter entirely.)
But someone slit his throat in a train carriage W/C, stole his luggage – including two bespoke suits – and then disappeared. It looks like it was a professional hit. At first, the question the investigation needs to answer is why. The more complicated that answer starts to look, and the more Cross’ DCI interferes with the investigation, the more the real question starts to look like which profession?
Cross is determined – as he always is – to get all the answers. Even if some of those answers are wrapped in the Official Secrets Act, and others are tainted by betrayal from within.
Escape Rating A: It’s no secret that I’ve been reading this series from beginning to end, and that I’ve loved every single book in it, from The Dentist all the way to this most anticipated eighth book, The Tailor. I expected Cross and company to sweep me back to their patch from the very first page, and that’s exactly what happened. This was pretty much of a one-sitting book for me, (which Luna appreciated very much!)
As always, I was captivated both by following Cross’ thought-processes into plumbing the depths of the mystery, while, at the very same time, doing his damndest to barely skim the surface of the many changes in his own life.
Cross deals with change badly and emotions, both his own and those of the people around him, worse. He’s a creature of meticulous attention, focused to the point of hyperfocus, with a need to get straight to the point with no consciousness whatsoever of what are referred to as the “social niceties”. His autism spectrum disorder aids greatly in his work – as long as he has a partner who can supply the social oils and unguents that Cross sees no purpose in. (He might be right but that’s the way the world – and other people – work.
His work on this case is a bit distracted because he’s faced with changes that he doesn’t want to deal with. His former partner, the former DS Ottey, is now a DI. She’s switched roles from being his equal to being his superior, and he’s not dealing with it all that well. (In some ways, neither is she, as being a DI seems to mean more paperwork and less actual policing.)
Cross’ new partner is newly minted DC Alice Mackenzie. He’s worked with Alice before, back when she was on staff but not a detective, so she knows how to work with – and occasionally around – Cross. But he does NOT enjoy being a boss, of her or anyone else, and now he is. Whether he likes it or not.
Then there’s this case, which is a bit different in the way it works, and twice as twisted as normal. Because it’s not just a murder. It’s not even ABOUT the murder, strictly speaking. The case, and that poor, departed tailor, are neck deep in the “secret services”. And nothing that touches that murky cesspool of dirty secrets is EVER straightforward. George Cross is the last police detective that MI6 wanted assigned to this case – so they do their best/worst to delay and derail him at every turn.
That combination, of the case that twists and turns and turns both itself and the police inside out kept me glued to a succession of seats for nearly four hours straight. While the shifts in George Cross’ life, and the way that he does and does not adapt to them, turned into one shining moment of awesome that I could acknowledge even if Cross himself could not.
The events of this case, and the changes in Cross’ life and work that arise out of time and circumstance, have PLENTY of implications for the next book in the series to deal with. I’m just pleased as punch that the next book has been announced and scheduled for publication in June 2027 in the US, a mere two months after the UK release. There’s no title as yet but that doesn’t matter. I’m just glad that George Cross will be back. I’ll just have to find something to tide me over while I wait!
Originally published at Reading Reality
July 21, 2026
Not as good as previous ones.
I did like the return of Alice but felt she wasn’t really used.
I did like the return of Alice but felt she wasn’t really used.
August 26, 2026
🌟 ⭐️🌟 ⭐️ 🌟 Tim Sullivan Delivers His Latest Masterclass in Character Development — George Cross at His Very Best 🌟 ⭐️🌟 ⭐️ 🌟
The Tailor is not only another clever, compelling and intriguing murder investigation, but for me it is one of the finest examples yet of just how brilliantly Tim Sullivan understands and develops his characters.
George Cross remains, quite simply, one of my favourite fictional detectives.
One of the things I love most about Sullivan's writing is that he never tries to make George more lovable by smoothing away his difficult qualities. Namely, his bluntness, rigidity, lack of tact, impatience with people and sometimes downright awkward and rude behaviour are all still very much there. In fact, Sullivan regularly highlights them. Yet somehow those qualities don't make us love George less — they make us love him even more.
In fact, I believe the cleverest thing Sullivan does with George's character development is never make him less George. His growth happens in tiny increments that would seem insignificant in almost any other character, but yet feel enormous in him.
There are several moments in The Tailor that demonstrate this beautifully. George's reaction to discovering just how many of his colleagues voluntarily came together when he needed them is both wonderfully funny and unexpectedly moving. Watching him search for the socially appropriate thing to say when faced with someone else's grief is pure George: awkward, methodical and yet strangely touching. Thank goodness for the Ottey Jotter!
Sullivan has spent eight books teaching us George's emotional language, which means the smallest phrases can carry enormous weight.
"I'm so sorry."
"I'm delighted."
And perhaps most significantly, "Thank you."
If anyone ever tells you that "thank you" is just two little words, tell them to read this book and watch George Cross struggle to say them. In that moment, those two little words somehow manage to say everything that he needs to say but can't.
That ability to manipulate how we feel about his characters extends far beyond George. Sullivan can introduce someone who becomes so unlikeable that I find myself actively hoping they turn out to be the murderer! Yet, in contrast, he can also place a character in a morally difficult situation where, on paper, I should probably be questioning their actions, but somehow he makes me understand and empathise with them completely. Tim Sullivan doesn't simply tell us who these people are; he makes us feel something about them.
The investigation itself is intricate and fascinating. The murder of a bespoke tailor opens the door into the world of traditional tailoring before gradually developing into something much larger and more dangerous. Sullivan's attention to detail is superb, and I loved discovering the craftsmanship and history behind bespoke tailoring alongside George. The case grows considerably beyond the murder with which it begins, eventually placing George himself in genuine danger.
Even then, Sullivan refuses to change George simply to manufacture drama. One of my favourite sequences involves George, after an extremely frightening experience, behaving so completely and utterly like George that it becomes both hilarious and incredibly reassuring. The other characters recognise that their favourite crabby, difficult colleague — the George they know and love — is back, and that is an emotional moment in itself!
The supporting cast continues to be one of the great strengths of this series. Ottey understands George in a way very few people do, Alice continues to develop, and even relatively small interactions show just how much these characters and their relationships have grown over eight books.
And then comes that ending.
For a man who thrives on routine, predictability and things remaining exactly as they should be, George willingly embraces something different. It is such a tiny change that for another character it would barely register.
For George Cross, it means everything!
Sullivan doesn't need a grand speech or dramatic personality transformation to show us how far George has come. He gives us something far better: George is still George — just a George who is gradually learning to better navigate change in other people, in the world around him, and perhaps even in himself.
And he does it with a smile.
What a way to finish a book!
Eight books in, I didn't think it was possible for me to love George Cross much more than I already did.
Apparently, I was wrong.
Tim Sullivan has delivered another clever mystery, but more importantly for me, another masterclass in character development.
George Cross at his very best ❤️
Looking forward to The Baker to see George with a swagger! 😁
The Tailor is not only another clever, compelling and intriguing murder investigation, but for me it is one of the finest examples yet of just how brilliantly Tim Sullivan understands and develops his characters.
George Cross remains, quite simply, one of my favourite fictional detectives.
One of the things I love most about Sullivan's writing is that he never tries to make George more lovable by smoothing away his difficult qualities. Namely, his bluntness, rigidity, lack of tact, impatience with people and sometimes downright awkward and rude behaviour are all still very much there. In fact, Sullivan regularly highlights them. Yet somehow those qualities don't make us love George less — they make us love him even more.
In fact, I believe the cleverest thing Sullivan does with George's character development is never make him less George. His growth happens in tiny increments that would seem insignificant in almost any other character, but yet feel enormous in him.
There are several moments in The Tailor that demonstrate this beautifully. George's reaction to discovering just how many of his colleagues voluntarily came together when he needed them is both wonderfully funny and unexpectedly moving. Watching him search for the socially appropriate thing to say when faced with someone else's grief is pure George: awkward, methodical and yet strangely touching. Thank goodness for the Ottey Jotter!
Sullivan has spent eight books teaching us George's emotional language, which means the smallest phrases can carry enormous weight.
"I'm so sorry."
"I'm delighted."
And perhaps most significantly, "Thank you."
If anyone ever tells you that "thank you" is just two little words, tell them to read this book and watch George Cross struggle to say them. In that moment, those two little words somehow manage to say everything that he needs to say but can't.
That ability to manipulate how we feel about his characters extends far beyond George. Sullivan can introduce someone who becomes so unlikeable that I find myself actively hoping they turn out to be the murderer! Yet, in contrast, he can also place a character in a morally difficult situation where, on paper, I should probably be questioning their actions, but somehow he makes me understand and empathise with them completely. Tim Sullivan doesn't simply tell us who these people are; he makes us feel something about them.
The investigation itself is intricate and fascinating. The murder of a bespoke tailor opens the door into the world of traditional tailoring before gradually developing into something much larger and more dangerous. Sullivan's attention to detail is superb, and I loved discovering the craftsmanship and history behind bespoke tailoring alongside George. The case grows considerably beyond the murder with which it begins, eventually placing George himself in genuine danger.
Even then, Sullivan refuses to change George simply to manufacture drama. One of my favourite sequences involves George, after an extremely frightening experience, behaving so completely and utterly like George that it becomes both hilarious and incredibly reassuring. The other characters recognise that their favourite crabby, difficult colleague — the George they know and love — is back, and that is an emotional moment in itself!
The supporting cast continues to be one of the great strengths of this series. Ottey understands George in a way very few people do, Alice continues to develop, and even relatively small interactions show just how much these characters and their relationships have grown over eight books.
And then comes that ending.
For a man who thrives on routine, predictability and things remaining exactly as they should be, George willingly embraces something different. It is such a tiny change that for another character it would barely register.
For George Cross, it means everything!
Sullivan doesn't need a grand speech or dramatic personality transformation to show us how far George has come. He gives us something far better: George is still George — just a George who is gradually learning to better navigate change in other people, in the world around him, and perhaps even in himself.
And he does it with a smile.
What a way to finish a book!
Eight books in, I didn't think it was possible for me to love George Cross much more than I already did.
Apparently, I was wrong.
Tim Sullivan has delivered another clever mystery, but more importantly for me, another masterclass in character development.
George Cross at his very best ❤️
Looking forward to The Baker to see George with a swagger! 😁
August 22, 2026
Who would kill a bespoke tailor?
That is the initial central question for DS George Cross of the Avon and Somerset police in The Tailor: A DS George Cross Mystery by Tim Sullivan. This eighth book in the series opens with a murder on a train. There is absolutely no question it was a murder.
The deceased man was found in the first-class bathroom of a passenger train headed from Bristol to Paddington Cross in London. Apparently, the plastic bag over his head did not fully do the job, so the killer deeply slashed the victim’s throat. He cut so deeply that the killer almost severed the head from the body.
That got the job done.
He also got away with it with nobody noticing anything at all.
Because the victim was wearing a bespoke suit with the label of “Titcomb & Titcomb’s of Park Street,” Detective Sergeant George Cross believes there is a good chance that the deceased is one of their clients. Within a short period of time, they learn that the deceased is one William Titcomb.
Not a client, but one of the owners of a long running family business. A third-generation tailor, William Titcomb was married to Min, and had two small children. His twin sister, Gwen, is also heavily involved in the business.
According to Gwen, he was headed to Heathrow Airport to board a flight to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates for fittings with two clients. Then he was to travel on to Xiamen, China, where they have a tailoring operation and check in there. Min comes from China, has contacts, and the facility in China has been a huge boost to the family business. Mr. Titcomb was traveling with two suitcases, presumably full with the suits for the clients in Dubai. Those suitcases and their contents are missing.
Where are the suitcases? Who killed the bespoke tailor? Was he killed for the suits?
Just some of the questions that DS George Cross and the assembled team must answer in The Tailor: A DS George Cross Mystery by Tim Sullivan. If the case was not enough, Cross and several others have to deal with professional and personal upheaval in their lives. For one thing, as long-time readers know, Josie Ottey, has been promoted. That means she is now superior in rank to Cross.
An issue that Cross is slowly adjusting to as it has been very hard for him as social situations are very difficult. Ottey’s promotion means that she will no longer be with him in the field conducting interviews and gathering information. That fact also means that she won’t be around to manage him or smooth over awkward situations with those he talks to as he goes about investigations. That has the potential to be a real problem for Cross and a huge problem for the next person in that role.
Then there is a family situation for Cross that is best left to the reader to discover. I don’t want to reveal more as it could be construed as a spoiler as it is a major piece of the plot. However, for those readers, like me, who have gone through the death of a loved one due to cancer and absolutely hate cancer storylines, it is not that. In fact, the issue here is not remotely medically related in any way, shape, or form. You can rest easy on that aspect of the read.
The Tailor: A DS George Cross Mystery by Tim Sullivan is a complicated, fast moving, and highly entertaining read. Much is going on in many different ways in the latest book in this long running series. This review just skims the surface of this very good book.
Strongly Recommended.
My digital ARC came from the publisher, Grove Atlantic, of Atlantic Crime, through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
That is the initial central question for DS George Cross of the Avon and Somerset police in The Tailor: A DS George Cross Mystery by Tim Sullivan. This eighth book in the series opens with a murder on a train. There is absolutely no question it was a murder.
The deceased man was found in the first-class bathroom of a passenger train headed from Bristol to Paddington Cross in London. Apparently, the plastic bag over his head did not fully do the job, so the killer deeply slashed the victim’s throat. He cut so deeply that the killer almost severed the head from the body.
That got the job done.
He also got away with it with nobody noticing anything at all.
Because the victim was wearing a bespoke suit with the label of “Titcomb & Titcomb’s of Park Street,” Detective Sergeant George Cross believes there is a good chance that the deceased is one of their clients. Within a short period of time, they learn that the deceased is one William Titcomb.
Not a client, but one of the owners of a long running family business. A third-generation tailor, William Titcomb was married to Min, and had two small children. His twin sister, Gwen, is also heavily involved in the business.
According to Gwen, he was headed to Heathrow Airport to board a flight to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates for fittings with two clients. Then he was to travel on to Xiamen, China, where they have a tailoring operation and check in there. Min comes from China, has contacts, and the facility in China has been a huge boost to the family business. Mr. Titcomb was traveling with two suitcases, presumably full with the suits for the clients in Dubai. Those suitcases and their contents are missing.
Where are the suitcases? Who killed the bespoke tailor? Was he killed for the suits?
Just some of the questions that DS George Cross and the assembled team must answer in The Tailor: A DS George Cross Mystery by Tim Sullivan. If the case was not enough, Cross and several others have to deal with professional and personal upheaval in their lives. For one thing, as long-time readers know, Josie Ottey, has been promoted. That means she is now superior in rank to Cross.
An issue that Cross is slowly adjusting to as it has been very hard for him as social situations are very difficult. Ottey’s promotion means that she will no longer be with him in the field conducting interviews and gathering information. That fact also means that she won’t be around to manage him or smooth over awkward situations with those he talks to as he goes about investigations. That has the potential to be a real problem for Cross and a huge problem for the next person in that role.
Then there is a family situation for Cross that is best left to the reader to discover. I don’t want to reveal more as it could be construed as a spoiler as it is a major piece of the plot. However, for those readers, like me, who have gone through the death of a loved one due to cancer and absolutely hate cancer storylines, it is not that. In fact, the issue here is not remotely medically related in any way, shape, or form. You can rest easy on that aspect of the read.
The Tailor: A DS George Cross Mystery by Tim Sullivan is a complicated, fast moving, and highly entertaining read. Much is going on in many different ways in the latest book in this long running series. This review just skims the surface of this very good book.
Strongly Recommended.
My digital ARC came from the publisher, Grove Atlantic, of Atlantic Crime, through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 stars
★★★★★
This is book 8 in the George Cross Mysteries Series , and I loved every second of it. This series gets better every time and I need 100 more. This is the such a well-crafted, intellectual and heart-felt mystery series that is the best mystery series in the game right now. Nothing compares to this series and I think it deserves more flowers.
The Tailor: A DS George Cross Mystery starts with the dead body of a tailor in the train bathroom. As the best detective in the force, DS George Cross is assigned to the case. He expertly peels back the layers of deceit surrounding the case with his new probationary junior partner. Surprisingly, the death of the tailor is linked to business deals, local gangsters, foreign governments, espionage, data protection and a suspicious suicide.
George is on the autism spectrum, and how he moves through life is different to others. He can annoy and irritate, be inconsiderate and obstinate but above all he is not malicious. He is so loveable I could burst. He is afforded a lot of grace, however I always get emotional and angry when others reaches their limit of patience and grace. George cannot shut it off. He is who he is, but others always expect him to bend and to change. They struggle with his honesty and being honest back. I think through out the series we truly see the love others have for him, and I truly hope his support system (mainly at work) grows.
I think the best books hold a mirror to our ourselves, our relationships and society as a whole. DS Cross Mysteries interrogates how we move through the world, how it is set up for neuro-typical and able-bodied people, and the difficulties faced when we are different. Profound, heart-wrenching and inspiring series that goes beyond the typical murder-mystery. George Cross mysteries are always fun, hilarious and full of love. I adore this series and I implore everyone to read this masterpiece in detective fiction.
My hope for future books:
I think this is the beginning of the end for Carson. I expect the lack of trust in the future will ultimately lead to Carson moving on, going into a more political role upstairs, while Josie will take his old job. I am excited to see how George enters this new dynamic, if he will ever gain a promotion (willing or not) and this new shift in the the workplace, his responsibilities and the respect he is owed for his work-rate and skills.
Thank you to Atlantic Crime for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I also posted my review on my blog ✿
★★★★★
This is book 8 in the George Cross Mysteries Series , and I loved every second of it. This series gets better every time and I need 100 more. This is the such a well-crafted, intellectual and heart-felt mystery series that is the best mystery series in the game right now. Nothing compares to this series and I think it deserves more flowers.
The Tailor: A DS George Cross Mystery starts with the dead body of a tailor in the train bathroom. As the best detective in the force, DS George Cross is assigned to the case. He expertly peels back the layers of deceit surrounding the case with his new probationary junior partner. Surprisingly, the death of the tailor is linked to business deals, local gangsters, foreign governments, espionage, data protection and a suspicious suicide.
George is on the autism spectrum, and how he moves through life is different to others. He can annoy and irritate, be inconsiderate and obstinate but above all he is not malicious. He is so loveable I could burst. He is afforded a lot of grace, however I always get emotional and angry when others reaches their limit of patience and grace. George cannot shut it off. He is who he is, but others always expect him to bend and to change. They struggle with his honesty and being honest back. I think through out the series we truly see the love others have for him, and I truly hope his support system (mainly at work) grows.
I think the best books hold a mirror to our ourselves, our relationships and society as a whole. DS Cross Mysteries interrogates how we move through the world, how it is set up for neuro-typical and able-bodied people, and the difficulties faced when we are different. Profound, heart-wrenching and inspiring series that goes beyond the typical murder-mystery. George Cross mysteries are always fun, hilarious and full of love. I adore this series and I implore everyone to read this masterpiece in detective fiction.
My hope for future books:
I think this is the beginning of the end for Carson. I expect the lack of trust in the future will ultimately lead to Carson moving on, going into a more political role upstairs, while Josie will take his old job. I am excited to see how George enters this new dynamic, if he will ever gain a promotion (willing or not) and this new shift in the the workplace, his responsibilities and the respect he is owed for his work-rate and skills.
Thank you to Atlantic Crime for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I also posted my review on my blog ✿
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