The Cyclist (The DS Cross Mysteries #2), by Tim Sullivan



Cover of The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan


The Cyclist by Tim Sullivan

By the second DS Cross mystery, Sullivan can get on with the case rather than introducing the series from scratch. A body found at a demolition site draws George Cross into amateur cycling and performance-enhancing drugs. The setting gives the investigation an identity of its own, while the now-familiar team lets the story move into the case sooner than ‘The Dentist’ (Review) did.

Cross remains the series’ centre. He is autistic, and Sullivan lets that shape both his investigative method and exchanges with others. His attention to detail and literal communication give him a distinctive point of view, while his social interactions add human texture to the procedural. It matters to see an autistic detective at the centre of a crime series; representation makes a difference.

The pacing still wavers. Some sections move briskly; others lose momentum, so the mystery is not equally compelling throughout. The slower passages do not make the plot confusing, but they do soften its forward pull. Even so, ‘The Cyclist’ is a clear step up from ‘The Dentist’ (Review): the case and Cross are in better balance, and the series feels more assured. I am already halfway through the next DS Cross mystery.



Four stars out of five.



Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam




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