The Hunter (The DS Cross Mysteries #6.5), by Tim Sullivan
The Hunter by Tim Sullivan
Four stars out of five.
“The Hunter”, Tim Sullivan’s Christmas story, gives George Cross two problems: a murder in a frosted hedgerow and what to buy his mother. At the centre is Cross’s clockwork approach to routine, which brings a familiar mix of precision and gentle humour. One small domestic observation captures his perspective: »This didn’t make a lot of sense to Cross who saw a lot of sense in eating the same thing as often as possible.« It is a lovely reminder that what seems obvious to someone else may not be obvious to him. Sullivan never makes Cross merely eccentric for effect; his way of seeing the world shapes the humour and the investigation alike.
The Christmas thread gives the case warmth, while the murder remains central. I enjoyed returning to Cross and watching his methodical habits at work. My only reservation is length: the story ends just as I wanted more time with him and the characters around him. It is a pleasant visit, and I would gladly have stayed longer.
Four stars out of five.
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
