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The DS Cross Mysteries #3.5
The Lost Boys: A DS George Cross short story for 2026
Bloomsbury presents The Lost Boys by Tim Sullivan, read by Finlay Robertson.
Don't miss THE BOOKSELLER, the latest George Cross Mystery - available now.
A short story from the George Cross Mystery series.
DS George Cross's father, Raymond, always takes an annual holiday in a local care home. He enjoys the company it brings him. He busies himself repairing the residents' wheelchairs and has become their self-appointed tech guru. But this time it's different. A new arrival causes a stir – he's convinced one of the older residents, suffering with dementia, is the man who killed his father decades before.
The staff say it has to be a mistake, but after Cross investigates, he discovers that a similar murder really did take place. With Cross reopening this cold case, can the truth be revealed? Or is it already lost to time and unreliable memory?
Perfect for fans of MW Craven, Ann Cleeves and Joy Ellis, this is a short story featuring the brilliantly persistent, wonderfully unique DS George Cross from the 2025 Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library Award longlistee.
ALSO IN THE GEORGE CROSS MYSTERY 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 (COMING DECEMBER 2025)
Don't miss THE BOOKSELLER, the latest George Cross Mystery - available now.
A short story from the George Cross Mystery series.
DS George Cross's father, Raymond, always takes an annual holiday in a local care home. He enjoys the company it brings him. He busies himself repairing the residents' wheelchairs and has become their self-appointed tech guru. But this time it's different. A new arrival causes a stir – he's convinced one of the older residents, suffering with dementia, is the man who killed his father decades before.
The staff say it has to be a mistake, but after Cross investigates, he discovers that a similar murder really did take place. With Cross reopening this cold case, can the truth be revealed? Or is it already lost to time and unreliable memory?
Perfect for fans of MW Craven, Ann Cleeves and Joy Ellis, this is a short story featuring the brilliantly persistent, wonderfully unique DS George Cross from the 2025 Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library Award longlistee.
ALSO IN THE GEORGE CROSS MYSTERY 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 (COMING DECEMBER 2025)
Audible Audio
Published December 4, 2025
259 people are currently reading
639 people want to read
About the author
Tim Sullivan
16 books604 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 75 reviews
December 18, 2022
This engaging short story introduced me to D S Cross, featured in a full-length series of thrillers. He solves crimes by concentrating on hard, observable facts rather than intuition and speculation. He may be high functioning and on the spectrum, but I would need to read more to discover what makes him a unique investigator. Here he is investigating trouble in a senior care home when one patient accuses another of killing his father when the elderly man was a young child. D S Cross must investigate abuse and cruelty rampant in a Boy's Home sixty years earlier. A good introduction to this detective and the books by author Tim Sullivan.
July 19, 2024
Brilliantly written and executed.
This is the author of the month for me,
He was recommended to me by a fellow reader, just recently, and I have read 4 full novels already.
I love the main character!
Simply brilliant!
This is the author of the month for me,
He was recommended to me by a fellow reader, just recently, and I have read 4 full novels already.
I love the main character!
Simply brilliant!
October 29, 2022
DS Cross’ father asks for his assistance for a dementia resident in a home he occasionally goes to for respite. The resident has been accused of murder when a seven year old. Cross finds it hard to believe as the man he’s accused of killing was big and an ex boxer. A short story that brings out the best in the often troublesome Carson. A tale of the dark past in boys homes.
October 11, 2022
Brilliant story that just hits you in the gut.
April 26, 2024
Workmanlike but somewhat pedestrian writing
April 26, 2025
A sneeze of a book: short story that covers the bases but not much more. Fine, but let’s read the real thing!
October 4, 2025
Enjoyable novella - but with such a significant case to solve, it would have been better to explore it over a full-length novel?
April 28, 2024
Good short read with space for character development and decent plot.
March 26, 2022
My only complaint about this was that it was too short!.
Cross is back at his brilliant best in this short story which has plenty of his trademark 'Crossisms'.
Loved it, and it has made me impatient for the next full length Cross novel.
A joy.
Cross is back at his brilliant best in this short story which has plenty of his trademark 'Crossisms'.
Loved it, and it has made me impatient for the next full length Cross novel.
A joy.
April 23, 2024
A thoroughly engrossing short story. Quite an emotional read
January 6, 2026
The Lost Boys by Tim Sullivan is an exclusive short story between the third and fourth episode of the Detective Superintendent George Cross.
George has the best arrest and conviction rate of all the force, but this comes at a cost to those working with him. He is rude, lacks empathy and generally is awkward with people, as many people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder can be. This however is not however a cliched detective series with the lead character toiling on against all the odds, and then brilliantly solving the crime to the astonishment of his colleagues.
Sullivan has created a charming, humorous and entertainingly talented criminologist / investigator without taking the obvious shortcuts trodden by other authors previously. His partner in (solving) crime, DS Josie Ottey, is also his minder and personal trainer in social etiquette and isn’t one to slavishly follow his dazzling aphorisms but stands on her own two feet and challenges him, making the plot richer as a result.
In this outing Cross’ father, Raymond, is enjoying his own respite care in a local Care Home busily repairing wheelchairs and providing advice on his newly acquired IT skills. Raymond is popular and many of the residents come to him for advice and it is upon one such occasions that an older resident accuses a fellow, dementia suffering patient of being responsible for killing his father many decades earlier.
Clearly this cause a commotion and some unsettling of the status quo in the Care Home and Raymond feels he knows just the man who can help determine if and when the murder took place, and who may be responsible!
At only 40 or so pages this story obviously doesn’t have the twists and turns that you would expect, but it does still seem to carry a depth and also a warmth within the storyline. I read this easily in one sitting and it was an easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me. #4 is on the wish list!
George has the best arrest and conviction rate of all the force, but this comes at a cost to those working with him. He is rude, lacks empathy and generally is awkward with people, as many people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder can be. This however is not however a cliched detective series with the lead character toiling on against all the odds, and then brilliantly solving the crime to the astonishment of his colleagues.
Sullivan has created a charming, humorous and entertainingly talented criminologist / investigator without taking the obvious shortcuts trodden by other authors previously. His partner in (solving) crime, DS Josie Ottey, is also his minder and personal trainer in social etiquette and isn’t one to slavishly follow his dazzling aphorisms but stands on her own two feet and challenges him, making the plot richer as a result.
In this outing Cross’ father, Raymond, is enjoying his own respite care in a local Care Home busily repairing wheelchairs and providing advice on his newly acquired IT skills. Raymond is popular and many of the residents come to him for advice and it is upon one such occasions that an older resident accuses a fellow, dementia suffering patient of being responsible for killing his father many decades earlier.
Clearly this cause a commotion and some unsettling of the status quo in the Care Home and Raymond feels he knows just the man who can help determine if and when the murder took place, and who may be responsible!
At only 40 or so pages this story obviously doesn’t have the twists and turns that you would expect, but it does still seem to carry a depth and also a warmth within the storyline. I read this easily in one sitting and it was an easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me. #4 is on the wish list!
June 21, 2022
This is a short story featuring DS George Cross.
Cross's father, Raymond, helps the residents of a care home and he alerts his son to a new resident who has accused one of the other residents of killing his father years ago.
Cross is intrigued by the case and decides to look into the allegations. It turns out that the accuser's father ran a boys' home and was stabbed by one of the boys after a number of incidents, including the disappearance and possible murder of two of the boys. The boy who killed the manager was jailed and it is his younger brother, who now has dementia, that has been accused.
Cross is able to find out the truth about what happened to the missing boys, thanks to his diligence and persistence in following the various leads.
I have read all the DS Cross stories to date and found this compelling, with a lot to take in despite only being a short story.
Cross is a complex character, whose being on the autism spectrum makes him more attentive to details that other officers might overlook. He has a particular love of procedure and relies on facts rather than speculation.
One of the key themes here is abuse and how, years ago, it was a lot easier to get away with it. The man who was killed turns out to not have been as nice a person as others were led to believe.
The trauma suffered by some of those involved is sensitively rendered and the ending of the story gave a sense of closure, although this was tinged with sadness.
I am looking forward to reading more DS Cross stories and am happy to recommend this series of books by Tim Sullivan.
Cross's father, Raymond, helps the residents of a care home and he alerts his son to a new resident who has accused one of the other residents of killing his father years ago.
Cross is intrigued by the case and decides to look into the allegations. It turns out that the accuser's father ran a boys' home and was stabbed by one of the boys after a number of incidents, including the disappearance and possible murder of two of the boys. The boy who killed the manager was jailed and it is his younger brother, who now has dementia, that has been accused.
Cross is able to find out the truth about what happened to the missing boys, thanks to his diligence and persistence in following the various leads.
I have read all the DS Cross stories to date and found this compelling, with a lot to take in despite only being a short story.
Cross is a complex character, whose being on the autism spectrum makes him more attentive to details that other officers might overlook. He has a particular love of procedure and relies on facts rather than speculation.
One of the key themes here is abuse and how, years ago, it was a lot easier to get away with it. The man who was killed turns out to not have been as nice a person as others were led to believe.
The trauma suffered by some of those involved is sensitively rendered and the ending of the story gave a sense of closure, although this was tinged with sadness.
I am looking forward to reading more DS Cross stories and am happy to recommend this series of books by Tim Sullivan.
March 13, 2025
The Lost Boys by Tim Sullivan
(The DS Cross Mysteries #3.5)
(The Cross Chronicles #1)
As I make my way through the eight book DS Cross series (I'm starting on audiobook #4 right now), I'm also getting to enjoy DS Cross short stories that the author has written. In this one, Cross's dad, Raymond, during his frequent stop bys at his favorite care home, has something he wants his son to investigate. Even though Cross says no to his dad on a very regular basis, those events are part of their usual give and take habits. Despite this ask not fitting Cross's normal work, he does look into what his dad asks him to look into, with the help his two sidekicks, and it turns out that this crime really does fit into Cross's wheelhouse. Even though this is a short story, we still get the funny back and forth between Cross and anyone else who doesn't do/say things the way Cross thinks they should be done/said. I've liked Cross's dad, Raymond, from the time I met him and he keeps growing on me with everything I read. Cross is a lucky man to have Raymond as his dad.
Thanks to the author for this short story.
(The DS Cross Mysteries #3.5)
(The Cross Chronicles #1)
As I make my way through the eight book DS Cross series (I'm starting on audiobook #4 right now), I'm also getting to enjoy DS Cross short stories that the author has written. In this one, Cross's dad, Raymond, during his frequent stop bys at his favorite care home, has something he wants his son to investigate. Even though Cross says no to his dad on a very regular basis, those events are part of their usual give and take habits. Despite this ask not fitting Cross's normal work, he does look into what his dad asks him to look into, with the help his two sidekicks, and it turns out that this crime really does fit into Cross's wheelhouse. Even though this is a short story, we still get the funny back and forth between Cross and anyone else who doesn't do/say things the way Cross thinks they should be done/said. I've liked Cross's dad, Raymond, from the time I met him and he keeps growing on me with everything I read. Cross is a lucky man to have Raymond as his dad.
Thanks to the author for this short story.
June 25, 2023
I really enjoyed The Lost Boys (DS Cross Chronicles Book 1 by Tim Sullivan a very emotional short story thriller.
DS George Cross's Father, Raymond volunteers at a local care home doing odd jobs and is also a self taught computer wizard.
One day a son calls into the care home to visit his Father who is suffering from dementia just like the majority of the residents and is adamant that an elderly male resident murdered his Father sixty years ago. DS George certainly has his doubts as how could a six year old boy stab a grown man.
DS George Cross is determined to get to the crux of the matter and along with his partner, DS Ottey their investigation takes them back to St Benedict's home for boys which was closed down in 1956 an old Victorian building but now turned into flats. He garners information from a former worker who told him that Mr Osborne was in charge at the time and was known to be a bully towards the boys in his care.
DS George Cross reopens this closed case and unearths the real killer and discovers what happend to two missing children sixty years ago.
DS George Cross's Father, Raymond volunteers at a local care home doing odd jobs and is also a self taught computer wizard.
One day a son calls into the care home to visit his Father who is suffering from dementia just like the majority of the residents and is adamant that an elderly male resident murdered his Father sixty years ago. DS George certainly has his doubts as how could a six year old boy stab a grown man.
DS George Cross is determined to get to the crux of the matter and along with his partner, DS Ottey their investigation takes them back to St Benedict's home for boys which was closed down in 1956 an old Victorian building but now turned into flats. He garners information from a former worker who told him that Mr Osborne was in charge at the time and was known to be a bully towards the boys in his care.
DS George Cross reopens this closed case and unearths the real killer and discovers what happend to two missing children sixty years ago.
May 13, 2024
This is a short story as an introduction to a series. I found the writing style rather pedestrian and had a few problems with the story. Given the enormous pressure on the police force to direct scarce resources to best use, I couldn't believe that not only does the main character take up a cold case decades old from something his father tells him happened at a care home, he engages a couple of other police too. In real life, they'd be too snowed under with live cases to take on something like this on speculation. (In reality, no investigation has been made of certain potential burial sites for further victims of the Wests has been followed up, so given the far lower profile of the fictional case I wasn't convinced.) So for that reason, I can only give this a 2-star 'OK' rating.
November 23, 2025
George Cross at his best.
This heartbreaking tale will strike a chord in readers who had to live in care as children in the 1950s where those i charge of their welfare were brutal and sadistic. No denying place like these existed and the children were badly beaten and caned. By the story George solves this cold case. Initial he and his little team DI Josie Ottey and Alice Mckenzie who worked as a police administrator did so in their own time until their boss DCI Conway surprised them all when they had to admit what they were working on. He got them the information they needed to blow the whole case wide open. Tim has a full size book out next summer, 2026 called The Tailor.
This heartbreaking tale will strike a chord in readers who had to live in care as children in the 1950s where those i charge of their welfare were brutal and sadistic. No denying place like these existed and the children were badly beaten and caned. By the story George solves this cold case. Initial he and his little team DI Josie Ottey and Alice Mckenzie who worked as a police administrator did so in their own time until their boss DCI Conway surprised them all when they had to admit what they were working on. He got them the information they needed to blow the whole case wide open. Tim has a full size book out next summer, 2026 called The Tailor.
November 27, 2025
This short story in the DS Cross Chronicles series by Tim Sullivan takes place between The Patient (#3) and The Politician (#4). I have previously rated the short stories 4* as opposed to the novels at 5*, because the short stories often are not as rich as the longer form books. That is not the case here (check out the Amazon or GR for a summary). The main characters are all here: Cross, his father Raymond, colleagues Ottey and Alice, and Carson, is superior. Perry for the first time, Carson comes across as a more human character. Sign up for Sullivan's periodic newsletter and get the occasional short story.
December 6, 2025
George’s father is helping out at a local care home when he asks George to assist. A new resident has loudly proclaimed that Arthur, a man with dementia, killed his father. When George looks into it, he learns that the father was the head of a school for orphaned boys that closed in the 1950’s. Ottey, Carson, and Mackenzie help with the research, and the horrifying details they uncover reveal the truth; the matter eventually does involve the authorities. George brings the same determination to get to the bottom of the case as he brings to his official assignments. A grim and compelling short story.
August 31, 2024
I am grateful to Tim Sullivan for telling this story so powerfully. It is beautifully crafted, using the short story format to perfection, thereby focusing all the attention where it belongs, on the impact of institutional abuse in the individuals who were subjected to it.
My father spent 3 years in a boys’ reform school. While a couple of enlightened and diligent teachers gave him a lifelong love of literature, music and carpentry, the scars of brutality and abuse could never be erased. Many were less fortunate.
A gem of a story.
My father spent 3 years in a boys’ reform school. While a couple of enlightened and diligent teachers gave him a lifelong love of literature, music and carpentry, the scars of brutality and abuse could never be erased. Many were less fortunate.
A gem of a story.
July 4, 2023
I don't often give 5 stars and very rarely to short stories but I couldn't think of a reason not to. This book was a free eBook emailed for subscribing to the newsletter and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Short stories, especially crime ones, can come off as rushed or not fully formed. This felt neither. It was a fully realised story that had a touching end.
Slight trigger warning if perhaps you have or have had someone close to you with dementia as I have but it was handled perfectly by the author.
I have already started reading the first of the full novels in the series. The Dentist but you need not have read anything from the author or this series to enjoy this book.
Short stories, especially crime ones, can come off as rushed or not fully formed. This felt neither. It was a fully realised story that had a touching end.
Slight trigger warning if perhaps you have or have had someone close to you with dementia as I have but it was handled perfectly by the author.
I have already started reading the first of the full novels in the series. The Dentist but you need not have read anything from the author or this series to enjoy this book.
October 25, 2023
Found.
Short but magnificent. Here, George's dad, Raymond, is having respite care and asks his son's help in clearing the name of a fellow resident in the Care Home who has dementia. This man has been accused of being a murderer by a potential new inmate. It has created a lot of bad feeling. George does what his father asked and uncovers a boy's-home scandal involving abuse and murder. The story is told with delicacy and compassion. Not an easy read but recommended.
Short but magnificent. Here, George's dad, Raymond, is having respite care and asks his son's help in clearing the name of a fellow resident in the Care Home who has dementia. This man has been accused of being a murderer by a potential new inmate. It has created a lot of bad feeling. George does what his father asked and uncovers a boy's-home scandal involving abuse and murder. The story is told with delicacy and compassion. Not an easy read but recommended.
December 27, 2024
Good read as I love DS Cross story but predictable for me unfortunately
I really enjoy Tim Sullivan’s DS Cross stories, but this one felt a bit predictable for me. As soon as the mention of a boys’ orphanage came up, I had a sense of what might have happened. Because of that, the story and its twist didn’t have the impact I was hoping for. I also wish it had been longer, as it felt a bit too brief for a short story.
I really enjoy Tim Sullivan’s DS Cross stories, but this one felt a bit predictable for me. As soon as the mention of a boys’ orphanage came up, I had a sense of what might have happened. Because of that, the story and its twist didn’t have the impact I was hoping for. I also wish it had been longer, as it felt a bit too brief for a short story.
November 25, 2024
a great little story
Tim Sullivan has a great storytelling style and his fictional team , led by George cross , is dead on , an autistic detective , he is strange , pedantic ,but he always tracks down the wrongdoers,with his gift of Devine logic…
I have read all of this series and can’t wait for the new story to come out in January 2025…cheers , John.
Tim Sullivan has a great storytelling style and his fictional team , led by George cross , is dead on , an autistic detective , he is strange , pedantic ,but he always tracks down the wrongdoers,with his gift of Devine logic…
I have read all of this series and can’t wait for the new story to come out in January 2025…cheers , John.
January 8, 2026
This is a short story set in the DS George Cross universe. I’m a big fan of Tim Sullivan’s characters but felt that this novella lacked the charm and quirkiness we enjoy in the Cross books.
The story lacked any intrigue and was written like a retelling of a crime that needed to be investigated and what the outcome was that.
I still enjoyed visiting my friends in the Bristol MCU and it was a super quick read but I was hoping and expecting more.
The story lacked any intrigue and was written like a retelling of a crime that needed to be investigated and what the outcome was that.
I still enjoyed visiting my friends in the Bristol MCU and it was a super quick read but I was hoping and expecting more.
September 10, 2022
I have not read anything by this author before but I will certainly be reading everything by him that I can find. It maybe a very short story but I could hardly breathe while I was reading it and I ended in tears. This story is not 5 star it is 10. Do not miss it.
December 3, 2022
I'm sure this short story by Tim Sullivan will lead me on to read his full-length books.
The Lost Boys is well written and engaging. The blurb will tell you about the setting of this story.
I'm looking forward to reading more by Tim Sullivan.
The Lost Boys is well written and engaging. The blurb will tell you about the setting of this story.
I'm looking forward to reading more by Tim Sullivan.
May 23, 2023
I enjoyed this except for the glaring error. 1961 and 2021 census are not available to view, not even by the police. Electoral Roll records would be available with the names of those eligible to vote, but their ages wouldn't have been shown, maybe an age range for the later ones.
September 1, 2023
DS Cross- short story
This short story although concise doesn't do George Cross,s character justice. The full length stories show Cross,s character and idiosyncrasies in full and are a great read. 👍
This short story although concise doesn't do George Cross,s character justice. The full length stories show Cross,s character and idiosyncrasies in full and are a great read. 👍
January 23, 2024
Interesting spin, featuring a detective on the autism spectrum. This story written from the POV of the detective. Aspergers gives him relentless focus and he does seem to be aware enough of certain deficiencies to involve others when he needs them.
Writing clear and crisp.
Writing clear and crisp.
February 29, 2024
An engaging short story. D S Cross takes on an unofficial case to solve a rift in his dad's care home. He ends up uncovering an unsolved case with grim findings from past events that occurred in an old boys' home.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews