From the Publisher:
A ransacked room. A dead politician. A burglary gone wrong–or a staged murder?
THE DETECTIVE
DS George Cross loves puzzles–he’s good at them–and he immediately spots one when he begins investigating the death of former mayor Peggy Frampton. It looks like a burglary that went horribly wrong to most but George can see what others can’t–that this was murder.
THE PUZZLE
After her political career ended, Peggy became a controversial blogger whose forthright opinions attracted a battalion of online trolls. And then there’s her family: an unfaithful husband and a gambling-addicted son. With yet more enemies in her past, the potential suspects are unending.
THE SUSPECTS
Cross must unpick the never-ending list of seedy connections to find her killer–but the sheer number of suspects is clouding his usually impeccable logic. He’s a relentlessly methodical detective, but no case can last forever. And politics can be a dangerous game–especially for people who don’t know the rules…
My Review:
I was delighted to be invited onto the blog tour for ‘The Politician’, the latest in the series featuring DS Cross. Thanks to Aries Fiction/Head of Zeus for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review – as always, opinions are my own.
The plot is intriguing right from the start – the murder of a high-profile and controversial politician-turned-blogger, Peggy Frampton, seems at first glance to be a burglary gone wrong. However, DS Cross immediately spots the anomalies in the evidence and a murder investigation is launched. Unfortunately, Peggy wasn’t even very popular with her own family, let alone those trolling her online. Indeed, DS Cross and his team have quite a case to crack.
DS Cross is an engaging central figure – he is on the autistic spectrum and has a quirky manner which doesn’t often endear him to his colleagues. I loved his often very literal-minded and methodical approach as this helped me to see the building blocks of the police procedural really clearly. I also loved his relationship with his partner, Josie Ottley – a woman who has got used to dealing with DS Cross and started to appreciate his methods (sometimes!) Together, they make a good team – even if they perhaps aren’t accepted so much by the other police officers in Bristol. Watching the dynamics of the team – with Cross thrown in like a wild card – was hugely entertaining.
Any police procedural that can mix serious detective work with humour is one I want to read! This is a real strength of the novel, kind of in the M W Craven/Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw vein.
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys clever and immersive crime fiction – I happily buried myself in Peggy’s story and started (along with DS Cross) trying to weed out the good and bad from her circle of acquaintances. I can’t claim to have succeeded – there are some very unexpected developments and twists!
Although this is the fourth book in the DS Cross series, it is the first I’ve read. I’d definitely suggest that it works as a standalone, although I’m now keen to pick up the ones I’ve missed.
About the Author:
Tim Sullivan is a crime writer, screenwriter and director, whose film credits include ‘A Handful of Dust’,’Jack and Sarah’, and ‘Cold Feet’. His crime series featuring the socially awkward but brilliantly persistent DS George Cross has topped the book charts and been widely acclaimed. Tim lives in North London with his wife Rachel, the Emmy Award-winning producer of ‘The Barefoot Contessa’ and ‘Pioneer Woman’.
Amazon Links
The Patient:https://amzn.to/3DU4Xoi
The Politician:https://amzn.to/3zFcC7A
Follow Author
Facebook:TimSullivannovels
Twitter:@TimJRSullivan
Instagram:@timsullivannovelist
TikTok:timsullivanauthor
Website:timsullivan.co.uk
Follow Aries
Twitter:@AriesFiction
Facebook:AriesFiction
Instagram:headofzeus
Website:http://www.headofzeus.com
