The Monk

'George Cross is becoming one of my favourite detectives.’ Elly Griffiths

A victim with no enemies. A murder with no motive.

When the body of a monk is found savagely beaten in woodland near Bristol, nothing is known about this man’s past.

How can George unpick a crime when he doesn't know anything about the victim? And why would someone want to harm a monk?

His past reveals that he had no enemies, although George learns he was exceedingly wealthy, that he sacrificed it all for his faith.

For a man who has nothing, it seems strange that greed could be the motive for his murder. But greed is a sin after all...

Perfect for fans of MW Craven, Ann Cleeves and Joy Ellis, The Monk is part of the million-copy-bestselling George Cross Mystery series, which can be read in any order, by the 2025 Crime Writers' Association Dagger in the Library Award longlistee.

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 (COMING 2026)

CROSS CHRONICLE SHORT STORIES

• THE LOST BOYS
• THE EX-WIFE
• THE HUNTER
• THE BASKET CASE

'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

'The ultimate conjuring trick: an absorbing plot with an engaging detective I’d follow to the ends of the earth. Just brilliant!' Marion Todd

'A brilliantly old-school detective with a modern twist . . . from the complex emotion of his private life to the razor-sharp detail of the police investigation. Spot on!' Russ Thomas

‘Tim Sullivan’s detective, DS George Cross, is autistic. His approach to investigations is unorthodox…he works surprisingly well as a fictional character, processing clues in a way that recalls Poirot’s “little grey cells”.’ Sunday Times

‘Another tour de force . . . If you're looking for a great crime series you can't do much better than this. George Cross is an absolute delight.’ Bishop Stortford Independent

Why readers love George Cross . . .

'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

'DS George Cross is as arresting as the cases he solves.' Richard E Grant

'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

'Can't wait for the next in the series!' Reader review