THE BOOKSELLER

Personal crises shadow the Major Crime Unit as it tackles a complex case in southwest England.

After the body of Bristol bookseller Ed Squire is found in a pool of blood on the floor of his shop, the initial interviews by DS George Cross and his partner, Josie Ottey, seem unusual, raising concerns for the investigative team. Squire’s wife, Victoria, seems unnaturally composed; his elderly father, Torquil, is bereft and distracted; and his niece, Persephone, is discovered cowering in the bathroom. She might be a witness, but she seems too terrified to say anything. Sullivan’s highly readable series continues to resist becoming formulaic as he puts his meticulous detective’s personal life on the front burner from the very beginning, with a cancer diagnosis for Cross’ father, Raymond, on the first page. Cross’ struggle to cope with this development and with the surprising promotion of Ottey, who leaps the queue to become a Detective Inspector ahead of him, counterpoint the intricate investigation. Cross, who’s on the autism spectrum, isn’t naturally emotional, and his travails challenge him to express himself. For her part, Ottey recognizes this and works to support her colleague and former mentor. An additional plot thread follows MCU staffer Alice Mackenzie’s journey to become a detective after having been sexually assaulted by a superior officer. Sullivan rewards series fans with a poignant portrayal of the personal stresses of his heroic team. But the intricate mystery and well-crafted dialogue should also prompt new readers to dive in to previous installments.

A series that continues to set the standard in police procedurals.