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The DS Cross Mysteries #4.5
The Ex-Wife
An exclusive short story from the DS Cross Thriller series, based on a true case.
A cold case. A cremated body. A killer brought to justice.
David North was convicted of murdering of his fiance. To the rest of the courtroom, it was an open-and-shut case. But as DS George Cross sees the man smile as he's led away from sentencing, he becomes certain something crucial had been missed.
After all, two partners dead within six years of each other couldn't be a coincidence.
What really happened to North's ex-wife? As Cross takes on this new cold case, he encounters an insurmountable the body he's looking into has been cremated.
'I am insanely in love with George Cross, a perfect detective for our time and for all time' Stephen Fry
'Sullivan has given us a British detective for the 21st century who will be hard to forget' Daily Mail
A cold case. A cremated body. A killer brought to justice.
David North was convicted of murdering of his fiance. To the rest of the courtroom, it was an open-and-shut case. But as DS George Cross sees the man smile as he's led away from sentencing, he becomes certain something crucial had been missed.
After all, two partners dead within six years of each other couldn't be a coincidence.
What really happened to North's ex-wife? As Cross takes on this new cold case, he encounters an insurmountable the body he's looking into has been cremated.
'I am insanely in love with George Cross, a perfect detective for our time and for all time' Stephen Fry
'Sullivan has given us a British detective for the 21st century who will be hard to forget' Daily Mail
36 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2023
395 people are currently reading
623 people want to read
About the author
Tim Sullivan
16 books640 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 84 reviews
March 16, 2026
*A Challenging Case*
This short story, another that is related to the ‘George Cross Mysteries’ series, follows ‘The Politician’. Interestingly, this case is based on a true story. I’m genuinely astounded by Tim Sullivan’s ability to pack so much into such few pages.
Imagine being convicted of murdering your fiancé in what appears to be a straightforward case. You’d be forgiven for thinking it to be a good result. However, DS George Cross and DS Josie Ottey notice the smile on David North’s face as he’s led away.
This observation stirs something within them, particularly in DS Cross. He senses something is amiss. George detests this feeling; he likes to believe he’s meticulously solved a case. Why didn’t the original investigators do the same?
As George and Josie delve deeper, they discover this isn’t the first death involving David North. His ex-wife was also a victim.
Determined to reopen this cold case, George interviews North. He laughs, claiming his ex-wife has been cremated. Will this be a hindrance for George and Josie? North’s laughter is genuine, but will it last? He’s never encountered a detective on the autism spectrum before. As readers, we know better.
This short story, another that is related to the ‘George Cross Mysteries’ series, follows ‘The Politician’. Interestingly, this case is based on a true story. I’m genuinely astounded by Tim Sullivan’s ability to pack so much into such few pages.
Imagine being convicted of murdering your fiancé in what appears to be a straightforward case. You’d be forgiven for thinking it to be a good result. However, DS George Cross and DS Josie Ottey notice the smile on David North’s face as he’s led away.
This observation stirs something within them, particularly in DS Cross. He senses something is amiss. George detests this feeling; he likes to believe he’s meticulously solved a case. Why didn’t the original investigators do the same?
As George and Josie delve deeper, they discover this isn’t the first death involving David North. His ex-wife was also a victim.
Determined to reopen this cold case, George interviews North. He laughs, claiming his ex-wife has been cremated. Will this be a hindrance for George and Josie? North’s laughter is genuine, but will it last? He’s never encountered a detective on the autism spectrum before. As readers, we know better.
April 28, 2024
A very short story in the excellent DS George Cross series which is based on an actual case, that of Ian Stewart. An easy read and packs a fair bit into a short space!
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December 7, 2025
A man has just been convicted of killing his fiancée and her dog but is appealing. His late wife’s friends tell Cross and Ottey that they believe he killed her, too, even though the death was attributed to epilepsy. The truth is revealed when they learn more from the paramedic who was at the scene.
March 14, 2026
Another short story starring George Cross and his colleagues. This time George is sure there is more to the death of the ex-wife of a convicted killer. And he's not the only one to think there is something fishy.
This story is based on an actual case.
As always George is tenacious in his investigations. I love the characters of George, Josie and Alice and the stories are always interesting.
This story is based on an actual case.
As always George is tenacious in his investigations. I love the characters of George, Josie and Alice and the stories are always interesting.
September 12, 2024
Disappointly Cross-lite.
April 29, 2025
Another very short story on DS Cross. Not long enough to entertain fully but interesting. Move on.
June 3, 2025
An enjoyable short story.
January 19, 2026
Pretty good short story. Really enjoyed that at the end the Author stated this was loosely based on a real life conviction.
April 28, 2024
Very short but very good. I like these novellas to read between the longer stories.
November 11, 2023
Enjoyable but a bit rushed.
February 27, 2024
Rushed and as a result, it came across as amateurish. Not an enjoyable read.
February 1, 2026
The Ex-Wife is a short story from the DS Cross series by Tim Sullivan. This is a short story based on a real-life case and a masterclass in how a single, minute detail can dismantle a “perfect” conviction.
The story begins with the conviction of David North, who has just been found guilty of murdering his fiancée. As North is led away to serve his sentence Cross catches him doing something chilling: he smiles. Cross is no ordinary detective and that one expression is enough to trigger Cross’s legendary instincts. He becomes obsessed with the idea that something crucial was missed. For Cross, logic dictates that North isn’t just a killer, he’s a man who has played the system before.
Cross begins to dig into North’s past and discovers a staggering statistic, North has had two partners die within just six years of each other. While the law might see it as a tragic coincidence, Cross sees a pattern. He turns his focus to North’s ex-wife, launching a new cold case investigation that feels like an uphill battle from the very start. The ex-wife was cremated, leaving Cross with no body to examine and no fresh DNA to find. So how will he manage to solve this case. Cross faces a case where the physical evidence is gone and he will need to rely on paper trails, psychological profiles, and the small inconsistencies that others ignored. The fact that this story is based on a true case adds an extra layer to this story. The fact that predators can hide in plain sight.
This is a very good short story, well paced and surprisingly full of tension.
“A conviction is only justice if it reveals the whole truth. For DS Cross, a murderer behind bars isn’t enough if a second victim is still waiting for her name to be cleared.”
If you haven’t read the DS Cross series, it’s well worth a look. He is a detective that a little different to the norm and very entertaining.
The story begins with the conviction of David North, who has just been found guilty of murdering his fiancée. As North is led away to serve his sentence Cross catches him doing something chilling: he smiles. Cross is no ordinary detective and that one expression is enough to trigger Cross’s legendary instincts. He becomes obsessed with the idea that something crucial was missed. For Cross, logic dictates that North isn’t just a killer, he’s a man who has played the system before.
Cross begins to dig into North’s past and discovers a staggering statistic, North has had two partners die within just six years of each other. While the law might see it as a tragic coincidence, Cross sees a pattern. He turns his focus to North’s ex-wife, launching a new cold case investigation that feels like an uphill battle from the very start. The ex-wife was cremated, leaving Cross with no body to examine and no fresh DNA to find. So how will he manage to solve this case. Cross faces a case where the physical evidence is gone and he will need to rely on paper trails, psychological profiles, and the small inconsistencies that others ignored. The fact that this story is based on a true case adds an extra layer to this story. The fact that predators can hide in plain sight.
This is a very good short story, well paced and surprisingly full of tension.
“A conviction is only justice if it reveals the whole truth. For DS Cross, a murderer behind bars isn’t enough if a second victim is still waiting for her name to be cleared.”
If you haven’t read the DS Cross series, it’s well worth a look. He is a detective that a little different to the norm and very entertaining.
April 26, 2023
British Police Detective Sergeant follows-up after suspect found guilty - 4 stars
A short adventure to uncover secrets overlooked in the previous investigation. Sometimes, friends can sow interest in a long-ago suspicious death. That's what friends are for.
While the evidence was clear, it is nearly a decade old. There was never a proper inquiry but somehow some evidence was retrained. Slowly but surely, detectives look into coincidences and question everything.
It is not completely up to the reader to read between the lines as you will see in this quick, fascinating read. Enjoy.
A short adventure to uncover secrets overlooked in the previous investigation. Sometimes, friends can sow interest in a long-ago suspicious death. That's what friends are for.
While the evidence was clear, it is nearly a decade old. There was never a proper inquiry but somehow some evidence was retrained. Slowly but surely, detectives look into coincidences and question everything.
It is not completely up to the reader to read between the lines as you will see in this quick, fascinating read. Enjoy.
April 29, 2023
In this short story, DS George Cross is convinced that David North, a convicted killer, also murdered his former wife and goes about proving it.
Cross is met by what appears to be an insurmountable hurdle - the body of North's wife was cremated; however, he perseveres and succeeds in finding the evidence needed to secure a second conviction.
As always with this series, the story is well-written and draws the reader into the investigation.
It is based on a real-life case which adds a further layer of authenticity.
I am looking forward to the next full-length DS Cross investigation, which is due early next year.
Cross is met by what appears to be an insurmountable hurdle - the body of North's wife was cremated; however, he perseveres and succeeds in finding the evidence needed to secure a second conviction.
As always with this series, the story is well-written and draws the reader into the investigation.
It is based on a real-life case which adds a further layer of authenticity.
I am looking forward to the next full-length DS Cross investigation, which is due early next year.
January 29, 2025
David North was convicted of murdering of his fiancé. To the rest of the courtroom, it was an open-and-shut case. But as DS George Cross sees the man smile as he's led away from sentencing, he becomes certain something crucial had been missed. After all, two partners dead within six years of each other couldn't be a coincidence.
What really happened to North's ex-wife? If she fell on the concrete patio as the result of a violent epileptic fit, why were there no marks on her face? As Cross takes on this new cold case, he encounters an insurmountable obstacle: the body he's looking into has been cremated.
A good short story which we find out at the end is based on a true case.
What really happened to North's ex-wife? If she fell on the concrete patio as the result of a violent epileptic fit, why were there no marks on her face? As Cross takes on this new cold case, he encounters an insurmountable obstacle: the body he's looking into has been cremated.
A good short story which we find out at the end is based on a true case.
February 17, 2023
I want to say that I have never read any book by the author of “The Ex-Wife” Tim Sullivan and I am thrilled to have found a new author that I love his book. “The Ex-Wife”, is very short, but the shortness does not take away the impact that DS George Cross leaves with you. As you read each page you can almost know what Cross is thinking, he delves into cases in ways you wise every cop would do. I want to say that I give the wonder read, 5 Stars and if possible 6, so do yourself a favor and start reading.
April 28, 2023
I enjoyed reading The Ex-Wife DS Cross Chronicles a short mystery detective story by Tim Sullivan and it is based on the true case of Ian Stewart.
DS George Cross is investigating David North whose main aim in life is to murder for money and thinks he has got away with it too.
David's fiance Emma ends up murdered along with her dog then six months later he meets Tricia a widower whom he catfishes on social media and she too ends up murdered.
David North thinks he has outwitted the authorities but DS George Cross has the last laugh.
DS George Cross is investigating David North whose main aim in life is to murder for money and thinks he has got away with it too.
David's fiance Emma ends up murdered along with her dog then six months later he meets Tricia a widower whom he catfishes on social media and she too ends up murdered.
David North thinks he has outwitted the authorities but DS George Cross has the last laugh.
October 27, 2023
Murder will out.
In this excellent short story, George and his team have witnessed the conviction of a man who murdered his fiancee with whom he lived. Case closed. But two women approach George and Ottey to claim man also murdered his wife, their friend, several years before. George takes on the case then finds dead woman was cremated. Dead end. For anyone but George, with his autistic eye for detail. Another brilliant story, short but meaningful. Highly recommended.
In this excellent short story, George and his team have witnessed the conviction of a man who murdered his fiancee with whom he lived. Case closed. But two women approach George and Ottey to claim man also murdered his wife, their friend, several years before. George takes on the case then finds dead woman was cremated. Dead end. For anyone but George, with his autistic eye for detail. Another brilliant story, short but meaningful. Highly recommended.
January 26, 2024
The Ex-Wife by Tim Sullivan
The Ex-Wife by Tim Sullivan is a short story , book 2 in the DS Cross Chronicles. It may be a short story but it is mesmerising and memorable especially when you are told at the end it is based on a true story and you can access the court records.
Fascinating and highly recommended.
The Ex-Wife by Tim Sullivan is a short story , book 2 in the DS Cross Chronicles. It may be a short story but it is mesmerising and memorable especially when you are told at the end it is based on a true story and you can access the court records.
Fascinating and highly recommended.
September 14, 2024
Very short indeed. Economically told, retaining the essence of the detective relationships established elsewhere and taking reports of a true crime into the world of George Cross and Josie Ottey. While too short to be engrossing (knowing in advance they will get their man) this could be used as an exemplar to teach short story writing. I admire that.
January 12, 2025
This should never have been published. It only detracts from the excellent full length novels.
I paid 99p for the Kindle edition and it was a ripoff. I can only surmise this started out as an early draft of a longer book which he gave to the publishers to keep them off his back.
Poor decision.
I paid 99p for the Kindle edition and it was a ripoff. I can only surmise this started out as an early draft of a longer book which he gave to the publishers to keep them off his back.
Poor decision.
February 8, 2025
A DS George Cross Short Story
DS Cross did it again with detective Ottie's help .
This time revisiting a cold case in which a woman's death was ruled accidental and deemed to be due to an epileptic fit. Following her husband being found guilty of murdering his new partner. The case is reopened while they investigate if he had previously murdered his wife.
DS Cross did it again with detective Ottie's help .
This time revisiting a cold case in which a woman's death was ruled accidental and deemed to be due to an epileptic fit. Following her husband being found guilty of murdering his new partner. The case is reopened while they investigate if he had previously murdered his wife.
April 13, 2025
The Ex-Wife by Tim Sullivan is short, like very short! It's a novella in between book 4 and 5. As I never read this series I am not sure if they are related to any of them but in general, I liked the idea and storyline, and the end result! As I am not the biggest fan of long detective stories, this worked perfectly for me. I believe that this could be a good full-length book.
So yes, if you need something quick and straight to the point - grab it!
So yes, if you need something quick and straight to the point - grab it!
April 2, 2023
Good short story with Cross and Ottey investigating a historic death and charging a man with it. Well written and engaging. I'm really enjoying this series and the pairing of Cross and Ottey is just brilliant.
September 16, 2023
Great Read
I loved this short novel and to find out at the end it was a true story based off Ian Stewart a man who killed his wife!
It goes to show that you never know who you can trust!
I loved this short novel and to find out at the end it was a true story based off Ian Stewart a man who killed his wife!
It goes to show that you never know who you can trust!
December 21, 2024
This short story finishes for me now, the DS Cross series. I am eagerly awaiting the next. Excellently written, characters brought to life so well. I have not given a synopsis, I will just say, these books deserve to be read. 5 stars are not enough.
April 2, 2025
All the peculiarities of DS Cross, his unique style of detecting, do not come across in this story. It is plainly too short for this to happen successfully and so it lacks the charm and humor of the novels. Frankly rather a waste of time.
December 14, 2025
This book receives only 3 stars, not because it isn't good but because it's so short and doesn't allow George Cross's unusual personality to fully unfold as in a longer book. I will continue to read other Cross mysteries.
January 29, 2026
too short to be a satisfying read
As usual, a good plot from Tim Sullivan. However, I found it far too short to be a satisfying read. Another two chapters would have made it far more satisfying.
As usual, a good plot from Tim Sullivan. However, I found it far too short to be a satisfying read. Another two chapters would have made it far more satisfying.
February 9, 2026
It's a really good little story even though the underlying crime is quite chilling. It does suggest that people are very happy to accept a situation at face value to avoid work, which is a little chilling. In this case, a harder look at the first death might have prevented the second!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews