The cyclist by Tim Sullivan

The cyclist is the second in the DS Cross Mysteries and follows The dentist. DS George Cross is relentless in his pursuit of the truth when investigating a murder and his examination of minute details and patience has led to a very high conviction rate. When a mutilated body is found on a demolition site Cross works out the victim is an amateur cyclist who deals in performance enhancing drugs. Why was this young man murdered? To answer this question, Cross, ably assisted by his off-sider Josie Ottey, uncovers family mysteries and secrets from the past.

Sullivan builds up a fascinating portrayal of Cross who has few social skills and often rubs people up the wrong way. Ottey is beginning to understand the way his mind works with his obsession with patterns and is also able to help him to understand how other people feel. These two characters are very relatable and it is easy to become engaged with the way they investigate the murder as well as their personal lives.

The murdered man Alex Paphides was an avid cyclist as well as helping to run a Greek restaurant with his brother. He was also involved with a 16-year-old girl and was trying to find an investor for a new restaurant in London – all of which give Cross and his team plenty of motives to look at.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series. The descrption of the police procedures will appeal to readers who enjoy that aspect of the mystery genre while the characters and their side stories and the subtle humour contained in the story add depth.

Themes: Murder, detectives, Cyclists.

Pat Pledger