I bought all the DS George Cross books that had been published by last year before they were released in the U.S. I see Tim Sullivan has a new one coming out this summer. My edition of the fifth in the series, The Monk, is the older edition, but it’s just been released here.

Many of the police at the crime scene had not seen a man so brutally beaten as the monk they found taped to a chair and murdered. “Why would someone want to do this to a monk?” The monks at St. Eustace’s Abbey had reported that Brother Dominic was missing. Now Detective Sergeants George Cross and Josie Ottey had to inform them that his body had been found. Of course, the investigation started two places, at the place the body was found, and at the monastery where the victim lived. He had lived there for fifteen years, but none of the other brothers knew who he was before he was Brother Dominic. It’s hard to investigate a murder when it’s not known who the victim was.

As Cross and his co-workers investigate, they find Brother Dominic had an unusual past. He was quite wealthy at one time, but gave it up and and became a Benedictine monk. But, someone was angry enough to beat him to death. When Cross discovers Brother Dominic was related to someone he knows well, it throws him for a loop. George’s small circle isn’t supposed to be involved with his work life.

The Monk is a fascinating case, but anyone who has followed the series will be most interested in the changes in George, and this current case. When George learns of the victim’s family connection, he doesn’t know what to do. With George’s Autism, he’s unable to comfort people or deal properly with grief. However, he knows he can find the person responsible for that grief and bring them to justice.

It’s also interesting to see George at the abbey. The monks seem to understand him, and it’s almost the perfect environment for him with its routine, predictability, simplicity. He appreciates the quiet atmosphere. It’s a place of peace for him while he’s struggling to deal with the changes in his life due to his family relationships.

Tim Sullivan always manages to put a unique twist in the mystery itself. But, he also manages to show George slowly trying to adapt to the world. George Cross has a small group of colleagues who have learned to work with him, and, in fact, they appreciate his unique qualities. Sullivan’s cast supporting George continues to grow. DS Josiie Ottey along with others on the force, Alice Mackenzie and Swift, Father Stephen, and George’s parents are welcome additions to this strong series, one that needs to be read in order to appreciate the changes in George and the others.