THE MONK

A meticulous English detective cracks a tight monastic community to solve a brutal murder.

The normally unflappable DS George Cross is unnerved by the crime scene of his latest case. The body of Dom Dominic Augustus, who was recently reported missing from St. Eustace’s monastery, has been found brutally beaten in the woods several miles from Bristol. Cross, who’s on the autism spectrum, and his partner, DS Josie Ottey, focus their probe on the monastery and its nine residents, who unanimously declare that Dominic had no enemies. An additional person of interest is a wealthy collector of religious artifacts. Methodical questioning of the monks yields small clues that build a clear picture. So obsessed does Cross become with the case, or maybe with the monastic community as a whole, that he misses his weekly meeting with his father, Raymond, in order to probe St. Eustace’s more deeply. Primarily a clever procedural with a focus on forensics, the story includes many crisp exchanges with persons of interest informed by Sullivan’s experience as a screenwriter. In this fifth entry of the series, Sullivan also rewards fans by expanding the personal stories of his Somerset detective team. Cross’ absent mother suddenly reappears. He finds friendship with jaunty forensics investigator Michael Swift, who was introduced as an antagonist in The Patient (2026). Swift is in “a quasi-committed relationship” with police staffer Alice Mackenzie, and readers get a glimpse of Ottey’s relationship with her mother, Cherish. A delightful final twist will leave many readers impatient for Cross’ next case.

A top-notch series that deepens with every installment.