The Politician

LoveReading Says

The Politician is the fourth book in a series by Tim Sullivan following Avon and Somerset’s Detective Sergeant George Cross. The title of each of his novels gives the game away by telling readers who the victim will be: dentist, cyclist, patient, and now, politician. This time, the unlucky victim is Peggy Frampton, the former mayor of Bristol, who continued to be active in local politics and also was an online agony aunt.

Between the treacherous trenches of local government, and her online advice, Peggy made a few enemies along the way. When she is found dead at home, it looks as though it’s a burglary gone wrong.

But Cross thinks otherwise and begins to dig, in his own unique way, and the list of suspects grows ever longer. Could it be her philandering husband? Could it be her online troll? Could it be the developer whose project she blocked for years? Cross and his partner, Detective Sergeant Josie Ottley, who has the patience of a saint, pursue every avenue of inquiry—leading to many dead ends, but eventually (spoiler alert) finding the murderer. 

The twisty tale is a compelling, page-turning police procedural with Cross at its heart. He is as unique as he is unforgettable. 

Reviewed by Maureen Stapleton
Maureen Stapleton, a writer and journalist, has written for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Radio Times, Heat, and many others.
More reviews by Maureen Stapleton

About The Politician

Don't miss THE TAILOR, the brand new mystery in the million-copy-bestselling George Cross series - OUT NOW.A burglary gone wrong - or a staged murder? George Cross loves puzzles, and the crime scene at the home of Bristol's former mayor is a complicated one. To most, it looks like a burglary gone wrong, but George can see this was murder.There's no shortage of potential killers: the online trolls the victim fought in her new life as a controversial blogger, her bitter political rivals, even her own family. With suspects everywhere and pressure mounting, George finds his usually impeccable logic challenged just when he needs it most. Because politics can be a dangerous game - especially for people who don't know the rules…Perfect for fans of MW Craven, Ann Cleeves and Joy Ellis, The Politician is part of the million-copy-bestselling George Cross Mystery series, which can be read in any order, by the 2026 winner of the Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library Award.ALSO IN THIS MILLION-COPY-BESTSELLING SERIES#1 THE DENTIST#2 THE CYCLIST#3 THE PATIENT#4 THE POLITICIAN#5 THE MONK#6 THE TEACHER#7 THE BOOKSELLER#8 THE TAILOR CROSS CHRONICLE SHORT STORIESTHE LOST BOYSTHE EX-WIFETHE HUNTERTHE BASKET CASE Why readers love George Cross . . .'A clever mystery full of tension but also humour and compassion. George Cross is becoming one of my favourite detectives.' Elly Griffiths'In DS George Cross, Tim Sullivan has created a character who is as endearing as any I've ever come across in this genre. His quirks are his gift, and with Sullivan's tremendous plotting and superb writing, this series is a gift to readers.' Liz Nugent'Compelling, full of twists and turns, I couldn't put this down. Sullivan has created a truly original and endearing detective in George Cross.' Simon McCleave'Really satisfying... With compelling characters and an ending I didn't guess.' Faith Martin'True characters, a fresh setting, and a good mystery - this one's got the lot.' The Morning Star'We've had sleuths on the autistic spectrum before but Sullivan's copper is among the most distinctive characterisations.' Financial Times'DS George Cross is as arresting as the cases he solves.' Richard E GrantWhy readers love George Cross . . . 'The fact that Cross has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder makes him just as intriguing as the murder mystery' The Times 'A British detective for the 21st century who will be hard to forget' Daily Mail 'A compelling, suspenseful police procedural with an intimate, positive insight into living on the autistic spectrum' Woman 'The enigmatic DS Cross is a joy to get to know' Reader Review 'One hell of a detective' Reader review

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