Darn, darn, darn. Now that we’re caught up with the British publications of Tim Sullivan’s DS George Cross mysteries, I have to wait a year for the next one. The Tailor is just what readers expect in this fabulous series. It has an impossible-seeming murder, the great police team, including ones that have become important in George’s life, and, of course, the supporting cast of George’s parents and Father Stephen. Sullivan continues to expertly combine George’s personal and professional lives in this absorbing series.
People are shocked at the bloody scene in the train lavatory where a man is found murdered with a plastic bag over his head. He has no luggage, but George suspects someone killed the man to get his luggage off the train. He does admire the man’s suit, though. That’s no surprise because he’s identified as William Titcomb, a third generation tailor in his family’s firm. Why would someone kill a tailor?
Of course, George has questions. He’s supported in his investigation by DI Josie Ottey, and the new member of the team. Alice Mackenzie, a trainee, is back as a Detective Constable, determined to prove her worth to George in her new role. There’s some one upmanship involved as some of the team, even Alice’s boyfriend, Dr. Michael Swift, compete for George’s attention. George has no idea that’s happening. He’s focused on the victim’s widow, a chemist who is Chinese, and seems to have unusual reactions to George’s questions. He’s interested in the suicide of another Chinese scientist, a man who works for the same firm where Titcomb’s widow works. And, why does an old acquaintance from MI6 show up at Titcomb’s funeral? George has suspicions with the Chinese, a couple South Koreans and MI6 hanging around. But, when George is involved in a crisis situation, Ottey is amazed at how the police unit respond with understanding and affection, making an all-out effort to help.
The Tailor is another absorbing police procedural in the series that focuses on George Cross. George has learned a few skills in coping with his parents, ones that were not evident in the first book. However, someone close to the action makes a mistake they can never recover from. What happens when George Cross no longer trusts someone? It’s going to be interesting to see what happens in future books.
NOTE: The author, Tim Sullivan, will be appearing live at The Poisoned Pen Bookstore on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 7 PM MST. Poisoned Pen’s events are broadcast live on YouTube and Facebook. However, since I’m the blogger for the bookstore, I will also post the YouTube link here on my blog after the event, so you can watch it when you have a chance.
Tim Sullivan’s website is https://timsullivanusa.com/
The Tailor by Tim Sullivan. Atlantic Crime, 2026. 368p.
FTC Full Disclosure – The publisher provided a galley through NetGalley, with no expectation of a positive review. However, I also bought a copy of the book. Release date is Aug. 11.
He’s also scheduled for the Mysterious Bookshop in New York.
Very much looking forward to this one, and glad to see Alice becoming part of the team officially. I have it on hold.
And there are no spoilers, Jeff, so I didn’t reveal anything. I did love George’s enthusiasm for a bespoke suit, though, along with the final sentence.
Had preordered on Amazon. It downloaded to my Kindle this morning. Yippee! Tim Sullivan is scheduled to be at the Poison Pen in Scottsdale Arizona on August 25th. Oh, how I wish I could be there. Will be able to watch the interview or promotion on UTube though, Maybe it will be on FB too. Really enjoy watching the streaming interviews from the Poison Pen. This one is special to me as he is a favorite author of mine.
He’s one of my favorite authors, too, Lynn. I love this series. It’s schedule to be on FB, but I just link to YouTube on their blog. I can’t wait to see him on the video. Wish I was there!
Two more to read before I get to this one.
I know what that’s like, Kim. Enjoy those two!
I’ve read all of them too – even though not in order so as far as the back story, Lotte story reveals. I’m finding the Politician a little difficult as it comes before so much of the personal story lines development. Cross is a wonderful and weird character. Devoted to the job while dealing with his own personality demands and strong sense of justice.
A bit like the dyslexic DI Max Arnold in the Chelsea Detective series.
i’ve got the next book on notice – then I’ll have to put it on hold. Cross/Sullivan became so popular so fast when many of the audio books were released late last year.
This is definitely a series that is better if read in order, but I know that’s not always easy to do with the popularity and initial difficulty in getting them. I feel as if Cross/Sullivan is my own personal discovery because I picked them up before a number of readers were aware of them. The new book reveals a little more about George’s growing awarness.
But I am tiring of the very long and detailed descriptive passages about old houses and gardens and what reads like an extended obituary and feels like there’s some AI interference – where Sullivan shine isCross working his magic in an interview has a forthright conversation with his boss – we know George will never by leaning against a bar drinking away his sorrow moaning about the one that got away. – he’ll b e out here adding to his outstanding case solved records – and Ottie will be right there next to him – unless she gets a promotion she can’t turn down and then we’lll just have towait and see what happens.
I read them in order as the library got them in – this latest the politician just landed says published in 2023 but no idea when the audio book came out.
Susan, I don’t understand what you mean by “what reads like an extended obituary”. Are we talking about an “obituary” for the victim, or something else? As I said, I don’t understand.
Oh, you have four more books in the series to read. You do need to read them in order, but things do change.
No I’ve read all of them except for the current one The Politician – which is out of order – but still engaging – even if I do know where the personal storylines are going to go – and yes I was referring to the victim. I ordered The Politician a while ago when I was reading and listening to them in order so after this I’m all caught up and I too will be waiting waiting waiting for the next one – next year isn’t that far away.
Meanwhile I’m reading what might be the last – tho so the hoping it’s not – Jo Callaghan’s “boundary-pushing take on the police procedural” featuring a deeply human and very clever police women detective working with an AI ‘sleuth’ in order to solve missing persons cases. While her AI sidekick (named AIDE Locke – get it?), sidekick can read volumes on things like blood splatter in nanoseconds – one never feels the terse summaries are regurgitated googled descriptions.
Somehow I imagine AIDE Locke’s hologram looking a lot like the lovely Alexander Skarsgård in AppleTVs Murderbot (based on the first book of the series The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells,
So, I had to look up Alexander Skarsgard to see what he looks like, Susan, after your comment. That’s an interesting sounding police procedural.