The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

This book received the most votes for the Jun / Jul group read. Enjoy The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen. Donna nominated this book and will lead the discussion.

Read this one quite a few years ago, but it was definately one which got me hooked on Tess Gerritsen for quite a while. Definately a page turner.

I'll be reading for sure... It's been on my TBR forever.

I will be reading this as well. I have been meaning to anyhow.

Gisela, you took the words right out of my mouth! Though the first couple of books in this series you can't really call "Rizzoli and Isles," it certainly is the start of one of my favorites series to read.

Hi Everyone!! I hope everyone enjoys the book The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen. I nominated this book because my sister recommended it to me. I can't wait to start reading it and hear what everyone thinks about the book!

I read this years ago and really enjoyed it! Am going to do a re-read. 8:D

I read this some time ago. Not sure yet if I will re-read it or not.

This book was published in 2001. That's when I read it. I certainly don't recall any of the details and there are way too many other books on my TBR stack to re-read this one. I must have enjoyed it because I have many others by Gerritsen. I'm disappointed that such an old book was chosen for discussion. At my age I must keep moving forward ... or I'll fall.

I read this several years ago.and enjoyed it. I.have read the second one in the series as well. It is a good start to.a good series

Never hurts to do a reread as far as I'm concerned. I forget stuff after only 6 months, let alone years.

Harriet wrote: "This book was published in 2001. That's when I read it. I certainly don't recall any of the details and there are way too many other books on my TBR stack to re-read this one. I must have enjoyed i..."

It's unfortunate if you've already read a book that's been chosen, but the nice thing is for those folks who haven't been introduced to a certain writer and now get a chance to see if they might like them. Another reason why we usually have two books to choose from in the group reads each month. Of course you can always continue with previous group reads too.. :)

Well, Bill, for once I have previously read both of these books.

Just got it from library, can't wait to get started.

Jan C wrote: "Well, Bill, for once I have previously read both of these books."

Ah, but there are three books this time, Jan.. ;0)

I'll read this book. I started reading one of her books years ago and couldn't get past the first 50 pages. I'll see how this one goes.

Bill wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Well, Bill, for once I have previously read both of these books."

Ah, but there are three books this time, Jan.. ;0)"

No interest in the third.

I finished this earlier this month and really enjoyed it, it has great pace. The TV show is very different but I liked both.

Interested to see what other people thought of it.

I recall watching the tv show and liking it. Usually books are better :)

I just can't picture the characters in the book as I used to since watching the show. I try had but still picture those on the tv show, except for Frost.

Am I crazy or was there a giant tortoise in the TV show?

Jan C wrote: "Bill wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Well, Bill, for once I have previously read both of these books."

Ah, but there are three books this time, Jan.. ;0)"

No interest in the third."

Strike 3.. :).. Hopefully, you'll find one to your liking next time.

Charlotte (Buried in Books) wrote: "I finished this earlier this month and really enjoyed it, it has great pace. The TV show is very different but I liked both.

Interested to see what other people thought of it."

I checked it out yesterday, read continuously and finished it today. At first the subject nauseated me. Oh No! Another serial killer! Well, I couldn't put it down.

It's listed as a Rizzoli and Isles, but Isles isn't in it. So I'm going ahead to #2 and so on until Isles makes an appearance. I've read two other further on in the series and found them very interesting. Haven't seen the TV show and frankly, my dear, ...

The medical stuff is fascinating and educational. The murders are horrendous, but that's one reason we sweet ol' ladies read these things :)

Leslie wrote: "Charlotte (Buried in Books) wrote: "I finished this earlier this month and really enjoyed it, it has great pace. The TV show is very different but I liked both.

Interested to see what other peopl..."

You'll be introduced to Isles in the second one but she won't be in the series much until the third one.

Ami wrote: "Am I crazy or was there a giant tortoise in the TV show?"

Do you mean regarding Det. Frost?

I liked Det. Frost a lot in first book.
Does he get to hang around for a while???

Yes he does, Leslie. He's in all the books. That's my major beef with TNT killing off his character after the actor playing Frost killed himself. He's alive and well in the books and I feel he should have been recast.

I read this one last year and enjoyed it decently, was a little confused by the cover calling it a Rizzoli and Isles book when there was no Isles in it. ;) I haven't watched the tv show in any case so I was fine with it. I plan to read the next in the series soon, it was definitely on the gruesome side, but I guess you kind of expect that from this type of novel.

I can understand why some members of the group are disappointed that a book as old as this one has been chosen. There are so many books out there to read and I never have enough time to read as much as I would like. Foregive me, but I'm very grateful this one was chosen. There must have been many folks like me that have had this book on the "to read" list and never got around to it. I love the TV series and had hoped the books would also be good.

I'm only about one third of the way through it, but already glad it was chosen. This does change my future reading priorities since I'll want to continue reading others in the series immediately.

Nice to know Frost is in the entire series. I always liked his character. Does anyone know when Isles first appears?

Not sure why anybody should be disappointed. Granted it is not great literature, but it is a gripping yarn, which gruesome or not, takes you away from everyday life. Good enough for me.

A good book is a good book, doesn't matter when it's written. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sandi wrote: "I can understand why some members of the group are disappointed that a book as old as this one has been chosen. There are so many books out there to read and I never have enough time to read as mu..."

Isles makes an appearance in the second book, but is not really involved in the stories until the third book, The Sinner.

I haven't read all in the series, but it is a hit with most people. I like the characters and think Gerritsen did a great job with series. I have only seen a couple of episodes of the TV show. It is on my want to watch list.

I just finished reading it. I really enjoyed it and found it hard to put the book aside even for a few minutes. Tess Gerritsen did a great job with this book. I plan to find more books in this series to read. I hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I did.

Read this some years back, and have read all the Rizzoli and Isles books so far. Love the characters, and the stories are pretty good.

I read this book in one sitting, it just really pulled me! The details and writing style were surprisingly chilling which was great in a murder book.

Kathryn wrote: "Yes he does, Leslie. He's in all the books. That's my major beef with TNT killing off his character after the actor playing Frost killed himself. He's alive and well in the books and I feel he s..."

I think Lee Thompson Young really owned the character of Frost and I couldn't see it being recast. I think the TNT choice to write his death into the plot line of the show, along with the grief of his family and friends and colleagues, was respectful.

Furthermore, although I think some of the episode plot lines are based on the Rizzoli novels (though most obviously the Charles Holt serial killer which makes up The Surgeon and The Apprentice), to me, the TV show and the books are separate artistic works. I like them both a lot, but they're very different to me. For example, I think Angie Harmon as Jane Rizzoli plays a more emotional, empathetic, and possibly professionally mature character than we see in the books. Sasha Alexander plays a Dr. Isles whose unease in certain social situations arises from her intelligence and knowledge as opposed to the hurt in her past, as I think it seems in the books.

I was finishing a couple other books before starting this one but I can't wait to read it especially now reading all the posts.

Harper wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Yes he does, Leslie. He's in all the books. That's my major beef with TNT killing off his character after the actor playing Frost killed himself. He's alive and well in the books..."

I prefer the storyline in the books vs the tv show regarding Maura's family background. It made for one great book and I found it much more interesting than what they did with her family on the show.

Harper wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Yes he does, Leslie. He's in all the books. That's my major beef with TNT killing off his character after the actor playing Frost killed himself. He's alive and well in the books..."

I think that is also the author's viewpoint. I think I read somewhere that she stressed that the show is not the same as the book. And that explains the difference in things that happen and character portrayals.

Just finished reading the book. It really was a great read. I enjoyed the book much more than the TV series. The Rizoli charater seems to be more troubled and not as easy going in the book as compared to the TV servies. It's like she's still trying to find herself as a person and a detective.

Just finished reading The Surgeon. I found it a page-turner. Five stars.

I've never seen the show, but I liked the book and I'm glad I gave Tess another chance. I did find the medical information in places to be gratitious or over-the-top and felt Tess was showing off. Since this is my field, I could be overly sensitive and it could just be me. Did anyone else think this?

Kathy wrote: "I've never seen the show, but I liked the book and I'm glad I gave Tess another chance. I did find the medical information in places to be gratitious or over-the-top and felt Tess was showing off. ..."

Kathy, I didn't feel that way at all about medical information. I found there to be much less than a Kathy Reichs book. I should say that I enjoy reading about the medical stuff, though, so that may make a difference. I love when I feel I have learned something when I finish a book.

Sandi wrote: "Just finished reading the book. It really was a great read. I enjoyed the book much more than the TV series. The Rizoli charater seems to be more troubled and not as easy going in the book as com..."

I agree with you about Rizzoli. She is much more complicated in the book than the tv show. I have really enjoyed reading through the series and seeing how her character has evolved. I think Angie Harmon is too beautiful to play her on the show but it is tv. I pictured Bebe Neuwirth before I started watching the show.

Admittingly I have only every watch one show of the TV adoptations, but I heartily disliked it, beginning with the fact that Rizooli in the book is a pretty, BUT SMALL and round character rather than tall, blond and the typical TV size. That takes away from the character for me. I guess inevitably the details of the crimes and the reasons why, which I feel is especially crucial in the surgeon, can't be fitted into the usual TV Cop show.

Finally got to start and I'm enjoying it, it's a medical mystery aka one of my favorites to read.

I voted for this book and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed the medical information and am a fan. I hadn't seen the TV show enough times for it to cause me character problems. I'll be reading more.

I am going to start this book have had it on my tbr forever

I read The Surgeon several years ago and it definitely resulted in my reading the rest of the series!