CRIME REVIEW: Rizzoli and Isles 9: The Silent Girl - Tess Gerritsen

Release Date: 21/07/11

SYNOPSIS:

In the murky shadows of an alley in Boston's Chinatown a hand has been discovered. On the rooftop above lies a woman's severed head. Two strands of silver hair - not human - cling to the body that lies nearby. These are Detective Jane Rizzoli's only clues, but they are enough for her and Dr Maura Isles to make a startling discovery: that this violent death had a chilling prequel. Seventeen years early a horrifying attack in a Boston restaurant left five people dead. Only one woman connected to the massacre is now still alive - a mysterious martial arts master who knows a secret she dare not tell. A secret that lives and breathes in the shadows of the city. A secret that may not even be human. It soon becomes clear than an ancient evil is stirring in Chinatown: an evil that has killed before, and will kill again - unless Jane and Maura can track it down, and defeat it.


REVIEW:

OK, this will not exactly come as a shock but I’m a huge Tess Gerritsen fan so any new book that arrives will be devoured in pretty short succession. The novel as usual is well written and when told from multiple points of view made this a story that was not only about the victim but the circumstances which allows the story to stand out on its own. Add to this the freshness of Rizzoli and Isles (even though it is their ninth outing) and it’s a series that is not only gripping but one that keeps this series in the mind of fans as well as new readers who have watched the TV series (alas still not available in the UK.)

All in, when you add Tess’ unique writing style which include gritty crime and gory scenes alongside her characters developments both personal and case related it’s a series that few other authors can come close to matching. Great stuff although to be honest don’t read this on your own or late at night and I’d definitely suggest a stiff drink to help settle the nerves in certain areas. Magic.