18 Feb 2013

THE APPRENTICE (RIZZOLI & ISLES #2)

THE APPRENTICE by TESS GERRITSEN.

The Surgeon has been locked up for a year but his chilling legacy still haunts the city, and especially Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli. But now a new killer is at work and Rizzoli senses something horrifyingly familiar about this murderer's modus operandi. Grim coincidence? Or more terrifying still, could these two monsters have somehow made contact?

It's when the FBI starts taking an interest in the investigation that Rizzoli begins to wonder just what makes this case so different, so dangerous that the Feds feel the need to get involved. But then the unthinkable happens: the Surgeon escapes. And suddenly there are two brilliant, twisted killers on the loose - master and apprentice, united in their hunt for the most challenging prey of all: the very woman who is hunting them.
...... Outer back cover.

FIRST SENTENCE (Prologue): Today I watched a man die.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 268): Though he was gone, his presence had imprinted the very air. If it was possible for malevolence to linger, then surely this place was now contaminated.

MY THOUGHTS: Amazing, what a great read, be warned though it probably isn't for readers with a weak stomach as though there was nothing overly gratuitous about the violence in that it was used only when totally necessary to the plot when it was depicted it was fairly graphic.

Fast paced, a real page turner with one or two complete surprises (FBI agent Gabriel Dean's true involvement in the case I really didn't see coming), it was however the psychological insight into the characters of Rizzoli, and in particular 'The Surgeon' along with all of the forensics that made this book such a great read for me.

A bit disappointing that Warren Hoyt (aka The Surgeon) didn't feel like a truly unique character in that at times I felt I had met him before as Thomas Harris's Hannibal Lector, I also felt a tiny bit let down by the showdown between Rizzoli and 'The Apprentice' BUT the last scenes were so completely and utterly chilling as to make up for any of these shortcomings.

Part 2 in a series, do I wish I'd read part 1 first? Though I don't think it was totally necessary there were one or two references that made me feel it would have been beneficial.

KEEP IT OR NOT?: A book exchange swap though I really did enjoy it now that I have read it and know what happens I won't be reading it again.



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13 comments:

Arti said...

Seems to be an amazing read! Would see if its available here.
Thanks for the review Tracy, have a lovely day :)

Kelly said...

This one does sound good, but you know me....I'd have to get the first book and start there.

The Bookworm said...

This one does sound good, even if the surgeon did seem a bit Hannibal Lectorish. I enjoy a nice thriller every once in a while.

Lindsay said...

This is an author I've heard of and would like to try but haven't manged to yet. Thanks for the review, it sounds like a good read!

Lindsay
http://thelittlereaderlibrary.blogspot.co.uk/

Suko said...

Terrific review, Tracy. The Memorable Moment is excellent. (I can imagine the malevolence lingering in the air.)

brandileigh2003 said...

Glad that you enjoyed even if Warren was a bit of a disappointment because lack of uniqueness.
Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

I've raed the first book, but really need to catch up on this series! :)

Melissa (Books and Things) said...

I've been wanting to read a book by her. This one might be it (well, the first book, first). I'm glad that it isn't overly gratuitous so I don't think it would bother me. Thanks for the rec!

carol said...

I haven't read any of this series. It's just never caught my eye long enough for me to pick one up.

Heather said...

I do have some books by this author sitting on my self. Now I am looking forward to reading them even more. thanks.

Crazy Life of a Writing Mom said...

What an awesome opening line! That really caught my attention.

Blond Duck said...

I hope I can find it here. Have you read JK Rowling's new one? I heard some great things about it today.

Betty Manousos said...

sounds like a great read.
thank you for another brilliant review, tracy!

loved the memorable moment too.
fantastic!

xx