The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

How about Tess Gerritsen and her series with police detective Jane Rizzoli and forensic doctor Maura Isles? The first book in the series is The Surgeon and the latest one is The Keepsake. She has another one coming out in June, Ice Cold: A Novel, in this great series. When I started reading them a couple of years ago, I had to read one right after the other to catch up. Love them! She, also, has some great stand-alone novels, of which The Bone Garden is a favorite of mine.

I love Tess gerritsen. Especially the Bone Garden!

Gail wrote: "I love Tess gerritsen. Especially the Bone Garden!"

Oh, good, Gail. The Bone Garden was the first Gerritsen I read, which led me to the Rizzoli ones. Gerritsen is supposed to be a a bookstore fairly near me the end of June to speak and sign her new book. I'm planning on going.

Lucky you! You must be near Bowling Green. I really enjoy her style

I'm actually in Owensboro, Gail, and Tess Gerritsen is going to be in Lexington the end of June, so it is only about a 3 hour drive, give or take (usually a little less for me) from here.

I lean toward male writers for some reason. My fav police procedurals are the Det Harry Bosch series written by Michael Connelly, a 25 yr veteran writing on the LA Times crime beat.

Ooh I like Bosch too. And most bks by Deaver,Koontz,Cornwell I like both male and female writers

Just saw the first episode of Rizzoli & Isles and really liked it. It was based on the Surgeon apparently. I have never read any of Tess Gertisen's books but think I might start the series now! Has anyone else seen the TV show?

I recorded it but the little bit I saw looked good and I am looking forward to sitting down to watch the entire episode.

Patricia, I saw it and loved it. I've read all the books in the series and was very pleased with the adaptation.

I also saw the pilot. For the most part, I liked it. It's been a few years since I've read The Apprentice (the book the pilot was bases on) and I don't recall Rizzoli and Isles being pals. But, I've been told that in later books they become chummier. But since my first Gerritsen book was The Keepsake which is practically at the end of the current series, I'm not sure how I missed the growing relationship. But my mother who has devoured them all in the past few months assures me that they are. My only real complaint is that I think The Surgeon/The Apprentice story line would have been handled better in a two-hour pilot. Other than that, I'll be watching again on Monday night.

I do agree, K.B., that two hours would have been nice.

OK, I finally was able to watch the entire episode and I liked it. I haven't read any of Gerritsen's books so I can't make a comparison but as a TV show I thought is was good and I will continue watching.

Just as a side comment, I am just about finished reading Darkness, Take My Hand by Dennis Lehane and there is a serial killer/apprentice plot in that one too.

Reminds me of the film "The Mechanic"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068931/

with Charles Bronson and Jan-Michael Vincent, which I adored.

Hayes, I used to watch Charles Bronson movies, too. And, of course, I thought Jan-Michael Vincent was just the coolest.

Kathy wrote: "How about Tess Gerritsen and her series with police detective Jane Rizzoli and forensic doctor Maura Isles? The first book in the series is The Surgeon and the latest ..."

I happen to love Tess Gerritsen and was a wee bit worried that they were turning her series into a TV program but only after just ONE episode, I'm highly impressed with what they've done. I enjoy both actress -- I enjoyed them in their previous series. The rest of the cast is also great...plus, man, you have got to love the turtle!

Melissa

Yes, I thought the tortoise was a nice, quirky accessory, too.

I've just got to ask, is the tortoise in the book too?

Donna wrote: "I've just got to ask, is the tortoise in the book too?"

Nope, not in the books. The show is making Maura a bit quirkier than the books do.

That's too bad. I really liked the tortoise.

Pet tortoise on a leash? Sounds intriguing.
I don't think these have made it to Italy yet.

No leash that I recall. But I haven't watched last night's episode yet.

I haven't seen a leash on the tortoise yet either...and I also missed last night's episode thanks to accidentally falling asleep -- I've been missing sleep due to studying, test taking, paper writing, etc. etc. You know...I do NOT recall school being this much work 19 years ago (yes, at 37 I'm the oldest college freshman known to man!)!

Hayes wrote: "Pet tortoise on a leash? Sounds intriguing.
I don't think these have made it to Italy yet."

Hayes, maybe you could be the first to introduce them. LOL!

I don't believe the tortoise was on last night. Although the dog was, briefly.

Melissa wrote: "Kathy wrote: "How about Tess Gerritsen and her series with police detective Jane Rizzoli and forensic doctor Maura Isles? The first book in the series is The Surgeon a..."

Melissa: TNT does repeat the episodes. Also, you can watch them online.

Is it just me or is the show turning Maura into a flake? I didn't think this week's episode was nearly as good as the pilot. I have to say that they pegged Rizzoli's neurotic mother though.

K.B., I agree that some of Maura's antics make it difficult to take her seriously:

. online shoe-shopping at work
. diagnosing her dinner date
. almost having the squeamish Frost do a procedure to help him get over his weak stomach

I am loving the actors playing Rizzoli's parents, Lauren Braco & Chazz Pal...

Mona and K.B., I'm not crazy about the direction they are taking Maura's character in either. The online shoe shopping at work really does seriously deviate from the character in the books that I have come to enjoy so much. I agree, K.B., that the show is making her into a flake. The character in the book would not approve, and neither do I.

Oh, I meant to add that I, too, think they have hit a home run with Lauren Braco as Rizzoli's mom.

I already nominated a book for the August-September read, but I kind of wish I had nominated The Surgeon as this series is so much on my mind these days.

K.B. wrote: "I already nominated a book for the August-September read, but I kind of wish I had nominated The Surgeon as this series is so much on my mind these days."

I would definitely reread that one sometime.

Kathy wrote: "Oh, I meant to add that I, too, think they have hit a home run with Lauren Braco as Rizzoli's mom."

I really look forward to this show every week. This week's plot looks interesting too. I love any scenes with Rizzoli and her family.

Is Rizzoli's boss really leaving? That dinner scene with them was good. I would not have been too happy with my mom if she pulled something like this. I don't think it was a good idea for her mom to set her up with her boss. Talk about awkward and inappropriate.

Nike wrote: "I lean toward male writers for some reason. My fav police procedurals are the Det Harry Bosch series written by Michael Connelly, a 25 yr veteran writing on the LA Times crime beat."

A lot of the make writers were lawyers, doctors, etc., which is why they are good. I don't like romance and oftentimes that's what you sometimes get with the female crime writer. That being said, Gerritsen was a doctor, which is what makes her books so realistic. As far as medical thriller, they don't get much better than her despite the sex.

I've just started the first Rizzoli & Isles book - The Surgeon, and I'm going to read them in order.

I hope we get the tv series here in the UK, but who knows!!

Kathy wrote: "Gail wrote: "I love Tess gerritsen. Especially the Bone Garden!"

Oh, good, Gail. The Bone Garden was the first Gerritsen I read, which led me to the Rizzoli ones. Gerritsen is supposed to be a a..."

The Bone Garden was my second Gerritsen book and I absolutely loved it. I started out with Harvest and I would love to get ahold of a copy, preferably audio, of Life Support. Has anyone read either Harvest or Life Support? What did you think of the book(s)?

It's been awhile but I gave them both 4/5 stars, which is a lot for me. Her non-rizzoli and isles books IMO are very good. I like the series and the stand alones. She just writes well all around.

Can't wait to start reading The Surgeon. I started to listen to the audiobook a while back, but after reading all the raving reviews, I decided I wanted to read it instead.

Peytavi wrote: "Can't wait to start reading The Surgeon. I started to listen to the audiobook a while back, but after reading all the raving reviews, I decided I wanted to read it instead."

That's one of my favorites.

I've wondered how the Rizzoli & Isles series are. I have watched the series and enjoyed it, but haven't been able to find the audio of the first few books--the library just has the later CDs in the series. Are the books better or about the same as the series?

Keri, I plan on reading Harvest very soon, maybe next. It's one of the few of her books I haven't yet read. I agree with Jaime. Gerritsen just writes well all around.

At first I had a little trouble following Harvest as it was setting up some of the characters, but it didn't take long to really feel invested in them and care for them. From the two books I've read, I'll agree that she is a very good writer and I can't wait to read more of her books.

Have read the Rizzoli/ Isles books and enjoyed them all. The stories are interesting and can at times make you think (even though some of the themes appear in other crime books), and the characters are well drawn. Enjoyed "The Bone Garden" as well. Haven't gone down the route of Harvest etc.

I really liked The Surgeon and The Apprentice (the sequel). The characters were well developed, the plot believable and the tension/pacing great.
I wasn't wild about the one with the historic track, blanking on the title...

I'm trying to do an Interlibrary Loan for the CD version of The Surgeon. Not sure how long it will take though--the first time I went to the library (yesterday), the reference library ordered me the book version and I had to go back in today and explain (with specific notes written down) what it was I wanted--with a different reference library. Crossing my fingers. I really want to listen to the book since I enjoyed the other two books I mentioned above that were audiobooks.

I really enjoyed The Surgeon and will read The Apprentice in the next few weeks. I was however disappointed that Isles wasn't in it anywhere - not even a whisper of her name. I've read The Keepsake (keeping the dead - here in the UK) and liked the intereaction with Rizzoli & Isles, so I was suprised to find her not in this book

I've loved the Rizzoli and Isles series from the beginning, but I have to say, I was strangely disappointed in The Silent Girl. Maybe it was just my mood or something. I'll re-read it at a later date and see if I change my opinion

I have the Silent Girl here at home now but won't be able to start it until later next week. Sorry to hear you were disappointed because it is one of my favorite series also.

I have read quite a few of her books, but never in any order. I have now started re-reading them and hope to do so in order. I have also watched the tv series and tremendously enjoyed it.

Karendenice wrote: "I have read quite a few of her books, but never in any order. I have now started re-reading them and hope to do so in order. I have also watched the tv series and tremendously enjoyed it."

What point are you at Karendenice? Did you keep going?

I'm just starting The Surgeon with the intention of listening all through the series in order, like a marathon, I'm looking forward to it :)