book 9, but stand alone

This is called book 9 in the series, but it is mostly a stand alone novel. It is also mostly Rizzoli and very little Isles.

I started reading TG because of the weirdness she often puts in her books. A good amount of inventiveness can make up for lack of writing skill. This book had less creativeness, but yet the writing has not improved. I liked the story, but had trouble getting into it.I did not feel empathy for the characters. If you are a TG fan then it is worth your credit, if you have not read TG, then start with The Surgeon, probably her best. I also liked Life Support, Gravity, The Apprentice and Ice Cold.

Gerritsen and Eby must be good buddies, cause I can't figure out why Tess is sabotaging her books by letting Eby kill them. Ice Cold was a good book, but Eby read it like it was her first book ever. This book was not near as bad, less weirdness to her voice, also less inflection, less emotion, less everything. I will keep buying and listening to books by Gerritsen, but she is losing possible new fans by letting Eby learn how to read on her books. Tess you are a star now, so do like Stephen King and demand only the best readers.

13 people found this helpful

Great Story

As usual, a great murder mystery. This time it is speckled with some of the mystical elements of ancient martial arts, and something possibly otherworldly to add to the spice of the conundrum. Maura is a low-key character again, which always disappoints me. I love Jane, but I wish Ms. Gerritsen would allow Maura to play a larger role in her novels. I suppose as an ME it might be normal to only see her when she is performing an autopsy, but I always enjoy it when her character is woven into the story. Also, as usual, a TERRIBLE narrator AGAIN! This one has to be one of the top two worst of all, and I have listened to almost all of her books now. I don't know why Brilliance Audio can't seem to find a narrator that is not only great for the stories (and someone who can emulate a real Bostonian accent - not sound as though they are from Queens!) but it would give the Rizzoli and Isles books some continuity that is sorely lacking. Going from book to book it would be nice to hear that familiar voice who you have come to know as Rizzoli or Frost, but they are all just terrible. In this one, Frost sounded as though he was talking through his nose, or had a really bad cold every time he spoke. It was awful. I can't punish the book for a terrible narrator, so my star rating doesn't reflect that, but Hey! Brilliance Audio! Get with the program!

12 people found this helpful

Pretty good story - Poorly read.

The central story here is a pretty good mystery, although I had it pretty well figured out long before the end. It's really a Rizzoli story with almost no Isles. There is a side story with Maura Isles that refers back to a previous book and has absolutely nothing to do with the current mystery, and goes absolutely nowhere. It seems to be included just to have Maura in the book.
The narration is very disappointing - to the point that I have downgraded my rating from what could have been a 4 in the hands of a more competent reader. Tanya Eby's interpretation of the text and her voicing of the characters was enough of a distraction to prevent me from really getting into the story - her voices for the male characters were especially bad. I will have to pass on downloading books with her as the reader in the future, even for titles I would otherwise consider.

12 people found this helpful

somewhat disappointing

I have read all Rizzoli and Isles books long before the TV series was made. I liked the storyline,even though it was really easy to figure out who the murderer was. What I didn't like was the missing interaction between Rizzoli and Isles and even between Rizzoli and the rest of the family, which are only mentioned in passing.The main reason I read Tess Gerritsens Books is because of the interaction of the characters and the full cast of friends family and rivals to follow. Isles storyline I think is only there to prepare for the next book. I really hope that in the next book TG will go back to a real Rizzoli and Isles story

11 people found this helpful

Waste of time and talent

I am disappointed with this book, I have read all the Isle's and Rizzoli books, and loved them. This one, I only finished because I had hope that it would improve.
While I didn't mind the narrator on the last book, I didn't like her in this one. If you can't make an accent, don't do it, and whats up with the nasal sounds?
The plot I had mostly figured out beforehand, long before, and had I know it would circle so much around parenthood, I would have skipped it. This book has taught me, that next time, I will wait for the reviews. This one is mediocre at best, sorry Tess..

10 people found this helpful

Good Book

I enjoyed this book even though the narrator was a little annoying. Tess Gerritsen writes a really good story that was easy to listen too.

7 people found this helpful

An Absolutely First Class Read!

Tess Gerritsen is the Swiss Army knife of novelists. I've never seen an author who can write about so may different places, topics and backgrounds, and do it all very well.

In her previous book (Ice Cold) the readers were taken on a tour of rural Wyoming and a life and death trek through the frozen forests and mountains of the western U.S.

In The Silent Girl, we suddenly find ourselves in the dark narrow alleys and windy rooftops of Boston's Chinatown. Someone - or some *thing* - is lurking in the shadows, and Rizzoli has to determine whose side this mysterious entity is on... if it even exists.

This is an intriguing story, blending Oriental traditions and mythology with themes of friendship, family loyalty, and family betrayal. This is a story of crimes past and present, with the constant nerve-grating knowledge that at any time, the darkness may come alive and reach out for..... but that would be telling, now, wouldn't it?

All I'll say is that Gerritsen, with her usual finesse, manages to bring all the parts and pieces together for a very satisfactory conclusion. And after that, as usual, there's yet another twist...

I've always enjoyed Gerritsen's ability to mesmerize, thrill, and even terrify the reader while at the same time keeping the story and plot firmly based in reality. That's incredibly hard to do. Other authors - even ones I very much enjoy reading - often depend on some supernatural entity or event in order to make their story work. I'm not knocking this; I have nothing against ghosts, zombies or mutant killers who can fly or walk through walls. But how much harder must it be to write a story that has every appearance of the supernatural, but turn out in the end to have a very realistic and believable explanation? Tess Gerritsen manages to produce this literary miracle in every book she writes!

Do yourself a favor and grab this book. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

6 people found this helpful

Awesome first experience!

Starting my trial this was my immediate choice to use my credit on as I've been gagging to get Tess Gerritsen's latest Rizzoli & Isles. I must admit to thinking I was going "make do" with the audio book until I could get the printed copy but I have been very pleasantly surprised. Not only was the story itself extremely gripping, easily one of my favourite of the series but Tanya Eby narrated it fantastically. She infused the characters with a realistic feel and it added to my eagerness to keep listening. I suspect that if I could have listened in one sitting I would have.

As with Tess Gerritsen's other stories, this is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing right up until the end. I'm hoping that we'll be seeing some more of the some of the mysterious and gripping new characters we met.

This is a definte for any Tess Gerritsen fans or anyone else who might be looking for an addictive new author.

5 people found this helpful

Realistic Emotions

Tess Geristsen is a perfectionist when it comes to creating a puzzle with many edges! Loved the flow of the storyline with different view points. Love it when you don't see it coming!

5 people found this helpful

Another good one from Gerritsen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend this audiobook. I did like this one too! have read most of Gerritsen's other novels and they are good reads. I will look for more in this series.

What did you like best about this story?

The Asian component was a great twist in this one and that it took place here in Boston

Which character – as performed by Tanya Eby – was your favorite?

Iris

4 people found this helpful