The Tailor

LoveReading Says

Detective Sergeant George Cross returns, this time to solve the murder of a Bristol tailor.

The Tailor by Tim Sullivan is Cross’s eighth outing, detailing his investigative work in the Avon and Somerset Police. Cross’s idiosyncratic investigation style is due to his being on the Autism spectrum, while his colleagues help smooth over any awkward interactions. 

Sullivan’s talent lies in exploring and explaining a new profession in every novel. This time, he goes into great detail about the tailoring process. Cross, who is as particular about his police methods as he is about his personal choices, quickly finds himself fascinated, and in the end, orders two suits for himself. The glee he feels is palpable. 

Lest you think this book concentrates on fabrics, threads and stitching, it is so much more than that. It also covers battery technology, industrial espionage and even British secret services. (Cross has to sign the Official Secrets Act for good measure in the final chapters.)

Regular readers of George Cross series will be rewarded with the appearance of his supporting cast, but enough context is given for each character that prior knowledge is not essential.

Sullivan has written another page-turner. This follows the unfortunate demise of a bookseller, a teacher, a monk, a politician, a patient, a cyclist and a dentist. The butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker in the area should watch their step. They might be next. 

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 Tailor

The unfailingly shrewd and uniquely brilliant DS George Cross is back...

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