I love George Cross and he is fast becoming one of my favourite detectives.

This is the 7th book in the series and it's just as well paced as the previous books. I live in Bristol where the books take place, which is why I picked up book 1, and I'm so glad I did!

This book was a good police procedural novel with an intriguing crime at the centre of the story, but I also enjoyed the lighthearted (and often quite heartwarming) moments like Raymond's birthday party.

Would definitely recommend if you enjoyed the other Cross books!

Another superb read in the George Cross series, one of the best in the detective genre! What is not to love from George, with his individual style and endearing ways in this cleverly plotted thriller. I love the character development within the team and the relationship George has with his father, albeit rather strained at times. The plot is filled with twists which kept me interested right until the last page and I highly recommend the series. I wonder what is next in store for George! Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

The seventh in the DS Cross series sees George and his partner DI Josie Ottey, both part of Bristol’s Major Crimes Unit, investigating the death of bookseller Ed Squire. Squires father Torquil returned from a trip to London to find his son murdered, and bookshop assistant Persephone (Percy) locked in a cupboard. For anyone who hasn’t read any of the previous books George is on the spectrum. He does things his way and the team have come to understand his foibles and help him when needed, particularly Josie. He is also an exceptionally good police officer and has earned their respect.

Briefly, Percy was only able to give a brief description of the intruder and whilst it appears that the murder is to do with a stolen manuscript all may be not as it seems. The list of suspects grows including a Russian Oligarth and another bookshop owner but George is distracted with personal matters and his usual instincts are not in peak form.

Books, Bristol (my home), crime and an unusual lead character ticks all my boxes so this was a perfect read for me. I love George, his idiosyncraties and his brilliantly agile brain are so well crafted on the page I feel like I know him. Could be read as a stand-alone but I really feel reading the whole series in order will make this so much more satisfying. Great character, fabulous storyline with great twists and turns and a surprise conclusion. Enjoyable and entertaining read.

This is the seventh book in the DS George Cross series and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. This book revolves around the death of a bookseller in a bookshop in Bristol, with lots of twists and turns

I was so excited to get the latest copy of Tim Sullivans DS Cross series. He is one of my favourite fictional detectives who has the best record of solving cases - the best !

Highly recommended. Can’t wait for the next book

Thank you to Netgalley

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries for an advance reader copy. If you want a synopsis, click on the book.

I'm always pleased to read another George Cross story. He's a great character – a Detective Sergeant on the Autism scale. The author provides lots of twists to keep George and the reader on their toes and it's good to find George evolving and coping with new circumstances.

Overall, this is an unusual police procedure whodunit and a really enjoyable read.

For anyone on the spectrum DS George Cross is like a calming tonic. Tim Sullivan gets him almost perfect except he does occasionally have outbursts of empathy. Anyway, like other books in the series, through the endeavours of DS Cross we get inside information on a particular aspect of life and the book's title gives away the subject matter for this exposé. A murder in the book world seems implausible but that's what George is faced with when the body of Ed Squire is found in the shop by his father.
A fascinating piece of detective work ensues.
I enjoyed the novel immensely and the social slights Cross meters out, completely innocently, are well explained by his partner Ottey.

What a fabulous read ,set in Bristol a book seller is found murdered in his own shop but why ?George Cross and Ottey investigate and uncover conspiracy ,theft and fraud in the rare book world .Great characters George especially is very likeable.A fast paced story with some great twist and turns .I look forward to reading more books in the series .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC .

Oh, George Cross, my favourite detective! This particular novel finds George at a virtual crossroads in his life: lives around him are affecting his ordered world and it's not just the Wednesday takeaway with his father that is changing. His dependable work colleagues, who try so very hard to accommodate and understand his spectrum personality, are growing into their roles in the force as time passes. His father is ageing, his once absent mother is now a part of his life - a small part, but present, still. At least he can depend on the Vicar's home baking. Another hit novel, weaving together lives of crime, family idiosyncracies, the puzzles in a murder case - all the colour of the Spectrum that is George Cross. Not forgetting the strong and intelligent, insightful Ottey.

This is a great story, and I was interested to learn more about the world of selling rare books, but I find the author's writing style very wooden and unnatural, which makes reading this book a bit of a chore.

I was really excited to get to read the latest instalment of Tim Sullivan’s DS George Cross series is back with The Bookseller. I’m a massive fan of the series and DS George Cross is one of my favourite fictional detectives. DS George Cross is based in Bristol’s Major Crimes Unit. He has an impressive record in solving cases, the best in the unit.

This instalment sees DS George Cross and his partner DI Ottey investigate the murder of a bookseller in his antiquarian bookshop in Bristol.

I found the backdrop of the world of rare books fascinating and learnt a great deal! There were twists and turns and I didn’t guess ‘who did it’. It’s always nice to be surprised by the ending.

What I particularly like about his series of books are the other regular feature characters including George’s father Raymond, this mother Christine, Stephen the priest, Ottey his work partner and the other police officers and forensic experts. As the books progress through the series, these characters go from respecting George to having more of a bond based on friendship and genuinely caring for him, which is really wonderful. They all support George, who is on the spectrum, and help him navigate his way through social settings.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers, Aria & Aries | Head of Zeus, for making this e-ARC available to me to read in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Another good read in the George Cross and Josie Ottey series. This latest book delves into the realms of rare book dealing. Amazing the research that Tim Sullivan goes to, in order to add that authenticity to his books. No only do we read his books for that thrilling detective series but learn something along the way.
The latest book The Bookseller presents us with a murder of the son , who is a partner , of the original owner Torquil Squire . Torquil is a well respected and revered rare book dealer . The murder has taken place in the book shop in Bristol which leads the intrepid Cross and Ottey from the Major Crime Unit who then delves into the world of rare books and the shady practices that hide behind that studious façade .

Cracking read as usual , moves with that steady pace that enables the reader to take in the nuances of the story line. Tim Sullivan has hit on a wonderful original Police series, with the autistic George Cross and his very unusual manner, that gets the pair to the answers of tricky problems.
Wonderful storyline and great read, enjoy.

I love George Cross!!!

Another excellent book in the George Cross series and just as great and the previous ones! I love that the usual characters are still here and liked that they managed to get Alice in too even though she (technically) left after the last book.

An interesting storyline as always as George tries to find out who the actual killer is when the evidence and others suggest otherwise! Unusually, there is a carry over into this book from the last (about DI Warner) although there is enough info given in this one to not have to go specifically read the last book.

Good to see Raymond and Christine feature in this book a bit more predominantly compared to the last one.

Definitely a book to highly recommend…and I would go read the previous books too because they are excellent!

This is the first one I have read in this series but it didn't detract. A good detective story, good ending and the benefit of an unusual lead detective who complements a team of more conventional colleagues.

The Bookseller

This was my first Tim Sullivan novel & I am happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was attracted to the title & was not disappointed, the story really delves into the world of book selling at many levels. Having been a high street retail bookseller in the past, I loved how the author introduced us to other parts of the industry in old school book selling, via the police procedural crime novel. I think bibliophiles everywhere will be fascinated & drawn to those elements of the story.

I also enjoyed getting introduced to a new Detective, I found the way that DS Cross balances & considers the positives & negatives of his autistic traits as he deals with the case to be fairly authentic. It certainly stepped away from detective cliches of chaotic personal lives & drinking problems & stood out for being different.
As this is the 7th in the series of the DS Cross novels, I will definitely be checking out more of them & have already purchased one of the previous books for my Father, who I know will enjoy this too.

Massive thanks to NetGalley for the advance reader copy, it has been a long time since I had a proof copy to read & it felt really good to feel part of it again, cheers 📚

An excellent addition to the DS George Cross series of crime novels. George is autistic and his dedication, perseverance and attention to detail are crucial I’ll to the team he works with. I have been a fan of this series for some time and I am never disappointed by it.
In this latest offering the team are investigating the murder of a bookseller in his shop.. There are many strands to the investigation leading to several plausible suspects before the final reveal.
This is not a blood and guts type of crime series but a really well written and well plotted one . This latest offering held my attention throughout with its twists and turns and I look forward to reading more in the future.

Anyone familiar with the series won't need an in-depth review. This is a classic George Cross novel with an intriguing murder which Cross uses his skill set to solve. There is also a continuation of George's personal struggles with the failing health of his dad, the difficulties in dealing with his mother's return (these aren't spoilers) and various other issues which George, who is on the spectrum, finds difficult to navigate.

Another great book in the series and I like the character development of not only George but also the other main, and peripheral, characters.

Thanks to Netgalley, and Aries and Aries for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another excellent book featuring D S Cross. The plot as good as always and an ever growing depth to the characters as we - and they - understand more about how Cross works. All told with a gentle and touching humour.

I’m a huge fan of this series and this is another stunningly good story. The plot, setting and the characters of the suspects are all fantastic, but George Cross, his team and family are the stars that make this book so brilliant. In this novel, George is starting to learn some social skills with the help of his notes from Ottley, and is slowly accepting the presence of his mother in his life. The acceptance of the way George works and thinks by his family and friends is heartwarming, as is his surprise when he understands that other people are important to him. I actually cried when he expresses love to his father. But, Mr Sullivan, please let us know that George wouldn’t really leave the police, as I’m hoping for many, many more of this series. As always, a wholehearted five stars.

I really enjoy these books. George is such an interesting character, and his way of seeing the world adds another element to the story.
I'd guessed the why of the murder fairly early in, if not who, but I enjoyed learning more about the world of bookselling.
Now maybe I'm just getting emotional in my old age, but the highlight for me is seeing George build up his relationships with those around him.
He has his own little gang now, and to see them all together, at work, or not just warms the heart.
More please.

Yay George is back and ready to find the guilty party with his latest case, the murder of a bookseller, with little to go on and Georges mind preoccupied with his dads health, George is pulled in several directions leading him to rethink where his priorities lie.
Tim Sullivan has written a brilliant character in DS George Cross he is complex, unintentionally rude and doesn't like change and he enjoys a good cup of tea but at no point do you dislike him, Tim Sullivan does not play on Georges's idiosyncratic ways its just the way he is and I as well as thousands of others love him. Please bring us more George stories.