Day: October 2, 2020

I’m always on the lookout for new detective/crime thrillers to latch onto, and my love for unique characters and settings is known to anyone who has read a few of my blog posts. I have to say, DS Cross is truly one of the most unique characters I have ever come across.

As you have (probably) seen elsewhere, Cross is on the spectrum. According to the book, he has a form of Asperger’s (which I believe has been absorbed into the full autistic spectrum). This results in him obsessing about the smallest details and minutiae.

While one would think that this is a good trait for a detective, his colleagues don’t always agree. To be sure, he is a bit off-putting at first, because you want him to get to the point. However, as you (the reader) gets to know him, you realize that these tics and habits are what enable him to be successful.

That being said, there were still times that I wished he would get on with it. But it became easier to accept the further I read.

The case itself is interesting, as it weaves a cold case with a current case. Due to his attention to detail, Cross notices similarities and picks up on things that were missed by the initial investigators. Of course, this doesn’t win him any favor in the department.

But no matter, because he is so focused that he doesn’t have time to worry about what people think about him. His sole focus is the case. I found that refreshing. I also liked the way the story read. It felt like watching a tv show (which is not surprising, given the author’s background)

It’s not a spoiler to say that the woven stories finally meld together it’s a really interesting case. I think it was made more so because OF the attention to detail.

I will say that Cross reminded me of the tv character Monk; they exhibited a lot of the same characteristics, and I got the same vibe. Ultimately, what makes both characters work is that their particular quirks are simply part of their personality.

Yeah, they’re different, but they get the job done, so who ultimately cares about the method? I really loved the humanity that was brought to this character.

This was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to more investigations with DS Cross.

About Tim Sullivan:

TIM SULLIVAN made his first short film before graduating from Cambridge University. His ambition to become a screenwriter was formed not so much by this experience but as an attempt to foil his father’s determination to turn him into a lawyer.

Within weeks of leaving university armed with a law degree he had met the film maker Derek Jarman and persuaded him to commission an original screenplay from him entitled BOB UPADOWN and so a career was born.

A few months later he joined Granada Television as a researcher. Here he was commissioned to write the first of many television scripts for the company. Two sitcoms entitled THE TRAIN NOW LEAVING and THE GREASY SPOON followed by the crime dramas MYSTERIOUS WAYS and MAIGRET.

While at Granada he was selected for the prestigious Directors’ Training scheme when only 26. Previous encumbents had included Mike Newell, Roland Joffe, and Michael Apted, more recently Julian Farino. Among other credits he directed CORONATION STREET, MADE IN HEAVEN, THATCHER THE FINAL DAYS and THE CASEBOOK OF SHERLOCK HOLMES with Jeremy Brett.

During this time he also co wrote the screenplays for the movies A HANDFUL OF DUST starring Kristen Scott Thomas, Judi Dench and Alec Guinness and WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD starring Helen Mirren and Helena Bonham Carter, both with producer the legendary TV producer Derek Granger (BRIDESHEAD REVISITED).

Upon leaving the bosom of Granada and venturing into the wild wide world of the freelance film maker he wrote and directed the movie JACK AND SARAH starring Richard E Grant, Samantha Mathis, Ian Mckellen, Judi Dench and Eileen Atkins. This led to a commission from New Line Pictures to write the screenplay WALKING PAPERS based on the Jay Cronley novel of the same name.

This screenplay came to the attention of execs at Universal and Imagine who then asked Tim to do a page one rewrite of a western for Ron Howard entitled THE PRETENDERS. Tim enjoyed working with Ron for over a year on this.

He then wrote an original screenplay, PERSONAL SHOPPING, which was promptly snapped up by Paramount for producer Scott Rudin.

He spent four months working for and with Jeffrey Katzenberg at Dreamworks animation as a production writer on the movie FLUSHED AWAY. Impressed by his work Katzenberg commissioned him to write a script for SHREK 4 which wasn’t used as a different storyline was decided upon as a director came on board.

During this time he was actively involved in British television directing the last ever ninety minute episode of the BAFTA award winning series COLD FEET. As well as a TV movie for ITV called CATWALK DOGS written by Simon Nye.

He was commissioned by the BBC to write a pilot for a TV series he invented called BACKSTORY as well as another pilot for the ITV network entitled OFFSPRING.

He also wrote HIS MASTER’S VOICE for the BBC as a radio play starring Rob Brydon which was broadcast in 2015.

He recently wrote the screenplay for LETTERS TO JULIET starring Amanda Seyfried and Vanessa Redgrave.

Oscar winning producers of The King’s Speech, Iain Canning and Emile Sherman then commissioned an original screenplay from him entitled THE WEDDING DRESS.

Tim is writing and co-producing and co-writing an animated feature screenplay for Hasbro and Paramount which is in production and scheduled for release in 2021.

He has now embarked on a series of crime novels featuring the eccentric and socially-awkward, but brilliantly persistent DS George Cross. Set in Bristol in the south west of England, Cross’ methods often infuriate his colleagues and superiors “not so much a thorn in my side as a pain in my arse,” according to his boss DCI Carson. But his conviction rate, thanks to his dogged persistence and attention to detail, is the best in the force. The DENTIST is in the first of a series.

Tim lives in North London with his wife Rachel, the Emmy award-winning producer of THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA and PIONEER WOMAN.

He is currently the UK chair of the Writers’ Guild of America (West).