I enjoyed The Patient so much more than I anticipated, largely due to the brilliant characterisation.

A young Mum.
An apparent suicide.
Case closed.

Enter DS Cross.

What he lacks in social skills, he makes up for with unrelenting thoroughness and diligence.

One of the best written ASD characters I've ever read. I adored George Cross and his partner Ottey. Their interactions left me smiling and they were the perfect combination of personalities.

A mystery that was complex without ever being over the top and unbelievable.

A wonderful cast who together brought depth and humanity to the story.

I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to discover a new favourite author. This book really ticked all the boxes for me. Firstly, it is set in my hometown of Bristol, and not just depicting the Clifton suspension bridge but references to the Malaga and other lesser-known areas of the city. Secondly, DS George Cross is a wonderful character and so are his team, Alice and Josie, who complement him perfectly adding their compassion to his bluntness. There are a lot of touches of humour where his autism means he gets it wrong in dealing with people. Like many of the reviewers, this is the first of this series that I have read but it won't be the last.

This is #3 in the DS George Cross but can easily be read as a standalone and in any order.

DS George Cross is based in Bristol’s Major Crimes Unit. He lacks social skills and has some behaviours connected to ASD, but the positive side is that it gives him a dogged determination to do everything thoroughly and get to the bottom of crimes.

Getting his bike ready to leave for home, he sees a middle-aged woman sat in the bike shelter. It seems she’s been turned away from the MCU and police stations in the area; she wants police to open the investigation into her daughter’s death. She is sure that her daughter didn’t die from a drug overdose, accidental or otherwise, and that she was murdered.

If you like a police procedural thriller that is accurate and gripping, then this is the book for you. And maybe do what I did – rush off to buy the first two books in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about Detective Sergeant George Cross. What an interesting character. The team behind him perfectly complement him and make the story very interesting.
The idea of a suicide which may not be a suicide leads to a great unravelling of the case done with great care and perception by George and his team.
All this and the ability to give an organ recital. Great story, loved it
This review will be posted on Waterstones website

Detective George Cross is on the autism spectrum, some of his colleagues find him difficult to work with because of his autism but he has the best case solving record in the station so knows what he is doing. One day he notices a woman hanging around the station and gets talking to her and finds out that her daughter has died, supposedly dying from a drugs overdose as she was a recovering addict. Her mother does not believe that she killed herself as she had a young child and had been clean for some time. George looks into it and agrees with her and starts a murder enquiry.

Is her death linked to a dry cleaners, her doctor, or was it really an overdose?

Alongside the case George has to deal with his hoarder father and getting his flat habitable for him to go back to after a stay in hospital and he has an organ recital to get through.

I really liked the main character and his team of detectives and I hope there will be more books about them.

Not having previously read a book by Tim Sullivan I had no idea of what to expect....and wow, what a great writer! I loved how the characters were written, the plot was solid and pacey, A brilliant ‘whodunnit’ that really kept me on my toes...I suspected various people at different points in the book, but then something would happen and I’d change my mind.... I thought that how Tim Sullivan tackled the issue of euthanasia/assisted suicide was superb...thought-provoking and he wrote so well of the inner turmoils of the characters... Since reading The Patient I’ve purchased another of Tim Sullivans books, The Dentist, which I look forward to reading. Many thanks to NetGalley for my copy, this is my unbiased review.

Bristol detective, DS George Cross investigates when a young woman is found dead. Drug user, Felicity (Flick) Wilson appears to have died from suicide but her mum, Sandra believes she was murdered...

Although The Patient is the third instalment in a series, it was my first and tbh, I'm surprised this series has passed me by till now. Cross is on the Autism spectrum and I found his quirks and nature endearing. He is also a hardworking, persistent guy. His work partner is DS Josie Ottey and he is assisted by another woman, Alice Mackenzie, a police staff member. With a well thought out plot and brilliantly crafted central character, I will be catching up with instalments one and two.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Head of Zeus, Aries via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a police procedural with George Cross, a wonderful character, apparently on the autistic spectrum. He is supported by two female colleagues, who help him negotiate social mores with good humour and kindness. I really enjoyed this book. It's a police procedural with George Cross, a wonderful character, apparently on the autistic spectrum. He is supported by two female colleagues, who help him negotiate social mores with good humour and kindness. George's father, Raymond, and Esther, his friend in the care home are also lovely. The story starts with a mother who believes her daughter was murdered, rather than a suicide, and Cross investigates further and uncovers all sorts of other crimes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "The Patient", the third book in the DS George Cross series.
Tim Sullivan has created one of the best Detectives in a long time. Cross is definitely on the Autism Spectrum (most likely Asperger's Syndrome), and as such is a challenge to work with. But as all of his co-workers know, he also has be best resolve rate of all of them, albeit at the cost of most at-work relationships. His partner, Ottey, the police staff person Mackenzie and his boss, DI Carson are on his side, and try really hard to navigate Cross's peculiarities. But they cannot deny that his doggedness gets things done.
This time up, Cross decides to re-open the case of a recent suicide - a young woman with a daughter and a loving Mother who died of an overdose after being 'clean' for some time.
Despite the complaints of fellow Detective (and putative superior officer) Campbell, who closed the case as accidental overdose after the coroner's decision, Cross thinks there's something to Flick's mother's insistence that her daughter was clean and would never have left her young child motherless.
Throughout the book we not only watch as Cross unravels many a clue and red herring, but we also continue to get small insights into his life - he has to adapt to his father's ill health and the pastor at the church where he practices on the organ wants him to give a recital.
I found this one to be totally engaging and at times emotional (as with the passing of a former ace female Detective and the subsequent funeral).
Highly recommended, but please read the two previous books to get a proper introduction to George Cross. Now, I just have to be patient for the next one.

First time reading this author and DS George Cross. I wasn’t disappointed. Having not read the first two books didn’t make any difference to the enjoyment of this well written story. I loved the main character DS George Cross, on the autistic spectrum, the way he goes about his police cases is interesting and a different dimension to the usual police procedures. It’s twists and turns throughout the case makes it a compelling, hard to put down mystery. I look forward to the next book.

Amazing crime detection of a suspect on the spectrum by a detective also on the spectrum. Clear direction of detection without fuss of ego or commentary. It felt a bit drawn out but every step was an important part of solving this case while solving an offset cast of abuse in the workplace and taking care of his oh so opposite dad from a hoarding situation. Four start. Great job. Thank you NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Patient by Tim Sullivan and Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book (March 3, 2022) All opinions are my own

I just reviewed The Patient by Tim Sullivan. #ThePatient #NetGalley
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If you are a fan of cosy mysteries this may well be one for you albeit with a harder edge. Themes of drug and sexual abuse perhaps make it less than cosy. However the gem is DS George Cross, an old fashioned, pedantic policeman cycling around on a bicycle but it soon becomes clear that he may well be “on the spectrum”. This is in fact the charm of the story, his approach and his interactions with colleagues and the public.
This is part of a series. I haven’t read the earlier ones but that didn’t make any difference. It is a credit to the author that he crafted a story and interwove a background with the reader feeling they have missed out. The second half of the book is primarily suspect interviews which possible would work better on film and became a little tedious.
Overall an enjoyable read to pass away an afternoon or evening.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for this review

I loved the unusual detective portrayed in this crime novel although he drove his colleagues up the wall a little the way he spoke & behaved as he was very much lacking in social graces.
It was a clever idea portraying the character Detective George Cross as being on the autistic spectrum, for he was meticulous when it came to processing a murder scene & gathering evidence as he saw things in a way the others didn't.
This also means his success rate for solving crime is like no other as his dogged persistence & the way he sees things although annoying to his colleagues made him good at his job.
Being autistic he struggled with the niceties of relationships in everyday life & I liked how the author brought this out & also the reactions of his colleagues & father.
The Patient is a really good interesting crime thriller which starts slowly but builds throughout & with many twists to keep you engrossed.
A young woman is found dead but were the police to quick with their verdict of suicide ?
Her mother is convinced it's murder & she convinces D S George Cross to take a look at the case.
He decides to reopen the case & defies his bosses in doing so as logic tells him all is not what it seems.
I really took a liking to this wonderful character & the others that worked with him & will certainly read the other two in the series as I enjoyed it so much.
You can definitely read this as a stand alone book but I love to get a feel for a character from the beginning.
I really hope the author is planning more about this unusual character who you will either love or hate.
It was a thorough joy to read & I loved it.

The storyline here revolves around a psychiatrist and a dry cleaning shop and there are a couple of twists along the way. I would recommend you read this book! It’s compulsive. Masterfully written, this novel will reel you in and hold you enthralled.

Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy.
Although this is the third book in a series it is the first I have read and it works very well as a standalone.
The lead character is DS George Cross a detective who is also on the autistic spectrum, George is difficult to get on with due to his lack of understanding about the feelings of others but is tolerated because of his high success rate. He is ably assisted by two female officers who try to soften his approach.,
This is not a gruesome type of serial killer book nor is it a cozy mystery but sits nicely in between.
The story confronts the serious issues of addiction, assisted death, and the exploitation of vulnerable females and does so in a sympathetic way.
George has a dogged fact-based style of investigation which leads to some serious planning prior to the interviewing of suspects.
I have 3 grandchildren who are on the autistic spectrum which gives me some insight into the way he thinks.
The book is very easy to read and I have since added the first two in the series to my ever-growing TBR list.

*4.5 Stars!!

This is the 3rd book in The DS Cross mysteries series. DS Cross is approached by a women who claims that her daughter was murdered but with the coroner saying it was suicide and the police believing it was an open and shut case the case is soon to be closed. But Sandra is adamant that her daughter wouldn't start taking drugs again especially with her 2 year old daughter in the next room. DS George Cross is a strong believer in being the voice for those unable to stand for themselves, having been diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder he knows what its like to be the one no-one listens to. Quickly it becomes clear that there are multiple suspects to be looked at and with little evidence its looks likes solving the case could be very difficult.

This is the first book I've read in this series but I have to say it was a joy to read. Loved that the main character was on the autism spectrum. I don't think I've read a book before with a main character with that condition outside of a romance book so that was a plus for me. Im looking forward to going back and reading the other books and any future books in this series. I do feel that this could also be read as a stand alone as it didn't really refer to anything from the previous books. I liked the multiple relationships that George developed throughout this book especially with the group of teenagers who were helping him sort his fathers flat out and I liked the relationship with the former police women Mofett especially when he stayed with her at the end which must have been difficult given how he is with emotions but I felt that we were showed a different side of him then. I think my favourite part of the book was the church charity concert I felt that, that was the moment that other members of his team really saw him in his element and where he was truly happy.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Head of zeus for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.*

Quirky investigator annoys everybody (except the reader!)

This is apparently the third in the DS Cross series by Tim Sullivan, I had not come across the previous two, but suffice to say, before even finishing this book I had downloaded the first two!

DS George (inevitably) Cross together with his work partner DS Josie Ottey are part of the Major Investigation Team working the Bristol area. I have to read the earlier books to hopefully find out why exactly two Detective Sergeants are working together as an investigation team whilst apparently not being under the direction/supervision of a Detective Inspector.

Anyway, the plot is centred on the death of a recovering drug user which has already been determined by an Inspector on the same team as being a suicide, but which, when he hears about it, DS Cross suspects could well be a murder. He and his partner together with Alice Mackenzie, a civilian support worker, start to investigate.

It would appear that Cross has a very high success rate for his investigations and because of this is given a lot of latitude in the way he goes about it. His success, it would seem, is down to the characteristics of his autistic nature, which includes persistence, order, determination and his alternative way of looking at facts or events. He lacks much in the way of social graces, so is highly prone to annoying his colleagues and interviewees.

The combination of the investigation process and developments and the peculiarities of Cross’s character and interaction with others makes this a most enjoyable read and I would strongly recommend it to lovers of the crime genre.

I read this book from a pre-publication copy kindly supplied by the publisher, but this is an honest review with no concession to their generosity.

A really fresh approach to a crime novel using a lead detective with ASD. Highlighting a topic that is not spoken about enough and proving the successful nature of his approach.

This book is completely engrossing, I loved it. I haven’t read any of the previous books in the series but I’m going to now! Obviously, it also works very well as a stand alone book. George is such an interesting lead character, his particular personality is thoughtfully depicted. The supporting characters are equally well written. I highly recommend this book.

A good detective thriller, what seems a straight forward case is blown apart when DS George Cross gets his hands on it, Cross is autistic and struggles with his relationships at work and home but when it comes to crime he is able to throw things into the mix that nobody else has picked up, This read fine as a stand alone but for me personally I would like to read from the beginning to get the best from the characters. I have only one thing that I would change in the book and that's the constant reminder than Cross is autistic, I don't feel it brought anything more to keep mentioning it, once at the start would be clear enough.