Vanish by Tess Gerritsen

Title: Vanish
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Series: #5 in the Rizzoli/Isles series
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Publisher: Ballantine Books (August 23, 2005)
Source: Library Find
Rating: ☕☕☕1/2

Synopsis: A nameless, beautiful woman appears to be just another corpse in the morgue. An apparent suicide, she lies on a gurney, awaiting the dissecting scalpel of medical examiner Maura Isles. But when Maura unzips the body bag and looks down at the body, she gets the fright of her life. The corpse opens its eyes.

Very much alive, the woman is rushed to the hospital, where with shockingly cool precision, she murders a security guard and seizes hostages . . . one of them a pregnant patient, Jane Rizzoli.

Who is this violent, desperate soul, and what does she want? As the tense hours tick by, Maura joins forces with Jane s husband, FBI agent Gabriel Dean, to track down the mysterious killer s identity. When federal agents suddenly appear on the scene, Maura and Gabriel realize that they are dealing with a case that goes far deeper than just an ordinary hostage crisis.

Only Jane, trapped with the armed madwoman, holds the key to the mystery. And only she can solve it if she survives the night.

My Thoughts: This was the second time I've read this book and my opinion is the same as it was so many years ago. A good installment to the series but not my favorite.

The Good: The suspense was so realistic with Gabriel's emotional journey while Jane was trapped in the hospital and the final scene where Jane thought she and her baby were going to die. I liked both Maura's and Jane's input into this book where in the past books the focus was on one woman or the other. In this one it felt a little more balanced between the two of them as they both were hostages at one point or another by Olena and they had input into the investigation in their own way.

The Bad: While I think this book was truly a good installment into this series it just didn't resonate with me. I think there were too many conspiracy theory things going on. It was hard to take some things serious when it appeared the conspiracy theorists were just whackadoos and pointing their fingers at everyone in authority. I also took issue with Maura's opinion that one of the secondary characters was really attractive. I am so glad nothing came of it because it seems that in every book Maura seems to have another man she's attracted to. Come on Maura!

In a Nutshell: I'm happy to have been re-reading these first few books in the series and I'm looking forward to my re-read of the 6th book as well.

The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen

Title: The Sinner
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Series: #3 in the Rizzoli/Isles series
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Publisher: Ballantine Books (August 19, 2003)
Source: Library Find
Rating: ☕☕☕☕

Synopsis: Not even the icy temperatures of a typical New England winter can match the bone-chilling scene of carnage discovered at the chapel of Our Lady of Divine Light. Within the cloistered convent lie two nuns–one dead, one critically injured–victims of an unspeakably savage attacker. The brutal crime appears to be without motive, but medical examiner Maura Isles’s autopsy of the dead woman yields a shocking surprise: Twenty-year-old Sister Camille gave birth before she was murdered. Then another body is found, mutilated beyond recognition. Together, Isles and homicide detective Jane Rizzoli uncover an ancient horror that connects these terrible slaughters. As long-buried secrets come to light, Maura Isles finds herself drawn inexorably toward the heart of an investigation that strikes close to home–and toward a dawning revelation about the killer’s identity too shattering to consider.

My Thoughts: The third book in the Rizzoli/Isles does not disappoint.

The Good: This particular book showcases Maura Isles this time around. I liked the change in protagonists even though I have really warmed up to Rizzoli. She is, of course, still a main character within the book and pregnant to boot. Anyway, I really think varying the view works well for this series. Seeing things from Maura's view (this is still 3rd person perspective just an FYI) was a little different than Jane's. There are more opportunities for medical aspects within the book whereas with Jane's "stories" it was more about the police work. Even with the heavier medical things we still get a nice dose of police procedures as well.

Maura's background is explored a little within this book which was a positive because she's such an enigma. I love strong and intelligent women and Maura certainly fits the bill. Despite how put together she is Maura also struggles with her faith as many people do which makes her easier to connect to in my opinion.

The Bad: I struggle with books that have religious undertones and this one had them in plenty. Gerritsen didn't beat us over the head with her religious views so that was good. I just didn't like Maura's struggle with her attraction to the priest she meets at the Chapel. I know it happens but for me this is kind of a hot button subject. Nothing actually happened

In a Nutshell: I really enjoyed my re-read of this book and I'm really looking forward to my re-read of the next book as well. I cannot recommend this series enough. If you love thrillers/mysteries and haven't started this series pick it up. You won't be sorry.

The Apprentice by Tess Gerritsen

Title: The Apprentice
Author: Tess Gerritsen
Series: #2 in the Rizzoli/Isles series
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (August 20, 2002)
Source: Purchased
Rating: ☕☕☕☕

Synopsis: It is a boiling hot Boston summer. Adding to the city's woes is a series of shocking crimes, in which wealthy men are made to watch while their wives are brutalized. A sadistic demand that ends in abduction and death.
The pattern suggests one man: serial killer Warren Hoyt, recently removed from the city's streets. Police can only assume an acolyte is at large, a maniac basing his attacks on the twisted medical techniques of the madman he so admires. At least that's what Detective Jane Rizzoli thinks. Forced again to confront the killer who scarred her - literally and figuratively - she is determined to finally end Hoyt's awful influence . . . even if it means receiving more resistance from her all-male homicide squad.
But Rizzoli isn't counting on the U.S. government's sudden interest. Or on meeting Special Agent Gabriel Dean, who knows more than he will tell. Most of all, she isn't counting on becoming a target herself, once Hoyt is suddenly free, joining his mysterious blood brother in a vicious vendetta. . . .
Filled with superbly created characters and the medical and police procedural details that are her trademark, The Apprentice is Tess Gerritsen at her brilliant best. Set in a stunning world where evil is easy to learn and hard to end, this is a thriller by a master who could teach other authors a thing or two.

My Thoughts: This is a re-read for me because I'm reading this series with a group of buddies on GoodReads. Originally I'd read the first six books in the series way back when each of them had been released and time tends to make specifics a little hazy. This makes for practically brand new experiences with re-reads. So yay for that! Boo on not remembering what I did yesterday.

The Good: As super villainous Hoyt was in the last book I wasn't sure how Gerritsen would come up with an equally bad guy for her second go round in this series. She did it. She did it in a wicked gruesome way. I loved every nasty, bloody, disgustingly evil thing our villains did in this book. You read that right, kids. Villains. Plural.

Jane Rizzoli is totally in the good column in this second book. In the first book her abrasive personality grates. In this one she mellows and becomes likable even. She is no one's victim even after being victimized. Those who might not have liked her in the first book should have no problem warming up to her in this one. Oh and for those of you wondering where Isles is....well, this second book is still all about Rizzoli.

The Bad: As a warning, new to this series readers really need to read The Surgeon first. Not many people would think this is a bad thing but I do. I like to be able to grab a book and read it without having to worry about if I'm reading a book in the proper order. This is just a peeve of mine and some who insist on reading series books in order will have already read The Surgeon so no harm no foul.

In a Nutshell: Such a good second book. If you love Thrillers and haven't started this series you really need to. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

Title: The Surgeon
Author: Tess Gerristen
Series: #1 in The Rizzoli/Isles series
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Publisher: Ballantine Books (October 2, 2001)
Source: Library find
Rating: ☕☕☕☕

Synopsis: He slips into homes at night and walks silently into bedrooms where women lie sleeping, about to awaken to a living nightmare. The precision of his methods suggests that he is a deranged man of medicine, prompting the Boston newspapers to dub him “The Surgeon.” Led by Detectives Thomas Moore and Jane Rizzoli, the cops must consult the victim of a nearly identical crime: Two years ago, Dr. Catherine Cordell fought back and filled an attacker before he could complete his assault. Now this new killer is re-creating, with chilling accuracy, the details of Cordell’s ordeal. With every new murder he seems to be taunting her, cutting ever closer, from her hospital to her home. And neither Moore nor Rizzoli can protect Cordell from a ruthless hunter who somehow understands—and savors—the secret fears of every woman he kills.

My Thoughts: This is a re-read for me and just as enjoyable the second time around. Of course it helps that I read this book over 15 years ago so things I thought I remembered happened just didn't happen. Old age memory is real kids!

The Good: While this is technically the Rizzoli/Isles series it is only Rizzoli featured in this one. This isn't a bad thing because it gives the reader a good sense of what makes Rizzoli tick. I think if this first book wasn't set up as Jane's her abrasive personality might have been more grating, making the book not as enjoyable.

The mystery is compelling and the killer is so unbelievably evil. Be aware that this is heavy into the thriller category with quite the graphic scenes. Also with the added medical aspect we have ER procedures added as well. I loved every bit of this book from every graphic gross detail to the personal conflict that makes Jane, Jane.

The Bad: Even with Jane's background her personality is abrasive and can irritate some readers. Even though this was my second read through and I was well aware of who she was I also found her to be a bit annoying. By the end of the book I did warm up a bit towards her but not enough.

In a Nutshell: I totally loved reading this book again and am looking forward to re-reading the next book in the series.