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Tavistock Family #1
In Their Footsteps
Old secrets die hard....
The quiet scandal surrounding her parents' deaths twenty years ago has always haunted Beryl Tavistock. Now she's decided that the only way to exorcise the ghosts of the past is to search for the truth. Beryl starts asking dangerous questions, and the answers are proving that old secrets die hard.
Caught in what's become a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, her quest takes her from the rain-slick streets of Paris to the sun-drenched isles of Greece. And as she gets pulled into a world of espionage, Beryl quickly discovers that she needs help. Richard Wolf, an ex-CIA agent and a man she's only just met, is her only hope.
But in a world where trust is a double-edged sword, friends become enemies, and enemies become killers . . .
The quiet scandal surrounding her parents' deaths twenty years ago has always haunted Beryl Tavistock. Now she's decided that the only way to exorcise the ghosts of the past is to search for the truth. Beryl starts asking dangerous questions, and the answers are proving that old secrets die hard.
Caught in what's become a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, her quest takes her from the rain-slick streets of Paris to the sun-drenched isles of Greece. And as she gets pulled into a world of espionage, Beryl quickly discovers that she needs help. Richard Wolf, an ex-CIA agent and a man she's only just met, is her only hope.
But in a world where trust is a double-edged sword, friends become enemies, and enemies become killers . . .
329 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
1317 people are currently reading
4147 people want to read
About the author
Tess Gerritsen
200 books21k followersInternationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen took an unusual route to a writing career. A graduate of Stanford University, Tess went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D.
While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction. In 1987, her first novel was published. Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller, was followed by eight more romantic suspense novels. She also wrote a screenplay, "Adrift", which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson.
Tess's first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Her suspense novels since then have been: Life Support (1997), Bloodstream (1998), Gravity (1999), The Surgeon (2001), The Apprentice (2002), The Sinner (2003), Body Double (2004), Vanish (2005), The Mephisto Club (2006), and The Bone Garden (2007). Her books have been translated into 31 languages, and more than 15 million copies have been sold around the world.
As well as being a New York Times bestselling author, she has also been a #1 bestseller in both Germany and the UK. She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award (for Vanish) and the Rita Award (for The Surgeon.) Critics around the world have praised her novels as "Pulse-pounding fun" (Philadelphia Inquirer), "Scary and brilliant" (Toronto Globe and Mail), and "Polished, riveting prose" (Chicago Tribune). Publisher Weekly has dubbed her the "medical suspense queen".
Now retired from medicine, she writes full time. She lives in Maine.
While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction. In 1987, her first novel was published. Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller, was followed by eight more romantic suspense novels. She also wrote a screenplay, "Adrift", which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson.
Tess's first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Her suspense novels since then have been: Life Support (1997), Bloodstream (1998), Gravity (1999), The Surgeon (2001), The Apprentice (2002), The Sinner (2003), Body Double (2004), Vanish (2005), The Mephisto Club (2006), and The Bone Garden (2007). Her books have been translated into 31 languages, and more than 15 million copies have been sold around the world.
As well as being a New York Times bestselling author, she has also been a #1 bestseller in both Germany and the UK. She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award (for Vanish) and the Rita Award (for The Surgeon.) Critics around the world have praised her novels as "Pulse-pounding fun" (Philadelphia Inquirer), "Scary and brilliant" (Toronto Globe and Mail), and "Polished, riveting prose" (Chicago Tribune). Publisher Weekly has dubbed her the "medical suspense queen".
Now retired from medicine, she writes full time. She lives in Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 420 reviews
April 20, 2011
Beryl Tavistock is a 28-year old raven-haired beauty with brains and wits to boot. She and her brother Jordan were orphaned 20 years previously when their mother and father were both killed in the line of duty, working as spies for England. However, at a present-day party for spies and other high-positioned people who ran in the same circles, Beryl and Jordan learn the truth about their parents' deaths when one party guest becomes a bit too inebriated divulges the family secret: the official ruling was that Madeline Tavistock had been having an affair, and her husband Bernard had killed them both in a passionate murder suicide.
In shock over this revelation which had been hidden from them for years, Beryl and Jordan travel to Paris where the 20 year old murder took place, in an effort to track down the truth, because they feel confident that the official ruling is wrong. Accompanying them as a favor to their old family friend is ex-CIA agent Richard Wolfe whose magnetism with Beryl creates difficulties for both of them. As they traipse around Paris, in the footsteps of their parents, murders begin anew, and the assurance that their parents were innocent becomes more and more concrete to Beryl and Jordan. But will they be allowed to learn the truth, or will it cost them their lives?
*I realized quickly after beginning this book that it was not like Gerritsen's typical medical thrillers (which I love). I flipped to the title page to see the copyright date and confirmed what I'd already begun to suspect: it was a republication. I'm glad to say Gerritsen's writing style -- and subject matter -- have improved, because this was not a book I enjoyed much at all. I slogged through it for the sake of finishing it, but thought it was rather silly in some spots and over-dramatic in others. I think I will stick to Gerritsen's new medical thrillers from here on out.
In shock over this revelation which had been hidden from them for years, Beryl and Jordan travel to Paris where the 20 year old murder took place, in an effort to track down the truth, because they feel confident that the official ruling is wrong. Accompanying them as a favor to their old family friend is ex-CIA agent Richard Wolfe whose magnetism with Beryl creates difficulties for both of them. As they traipse around Paris, in the footsteps of their parents, murders begin anew, and the assurance that their parents were innocent becomes more and more concrete to Beryl and Jordan. But will they be allowed to learn the truth, or will it cost them their lives?
*I realized quickly after beginning this book that it was not like Gerritsen's typical medical thrillers (which I love). I flipped to the title page to see the copyright date and confirmed what I'd already begun to suspect: it was a republication. I'm glad to say Gerritsen's writing style -- and subject matter -- have improved, because this was not a book I enjoyed much at all. I slogged through it for the sake of finishing it, but thought it was rather silly in some spots and over-dramatic in others. I think I will stick to Gerritsen's new medical thrillers from here on out.
July 12, 2018
I adore Tess Gerritsen so of course I was predisposed to like this book. It was an exciting and romantic book with espionage. Great characters and storyline. 😊💕📖
September 21, 2025
I love a Tess Gerritsen book, and I did enjoy this one, great plot that kept me on the edge of my seat, characters that reeled me in, in fact I read it in a day which shows how good it is.
There was just one thing missing that made this not a five star Tess Gerritsen book for me and that was gore, it just wasn't her usual gory style.
Four stars.
There was just one thing missing that made this not a five star Tess Gerritsen book for me and that was gore, it just wasn't her usual gory style.
Four stars.
February 22, 2016
Probably my least favorite Gerritsen book because there's no gore and icky stuff in here.
April 17, 2020
Çok iyi değildi belki ama bu kadın ne yazsa okurum😍
March 6, 2023
A bit over dramatic and soppy love story. Overall not my favorite Geritsen story. Her work gets a lot better. Thank goodness. Beryl investigates with her brother Jordan the murder of her parents 20 years ago. She meets Richard Wolf an ex-CIA agent and its lust at first sight.
SPOILERS AHEAD
People are murdered in Paris and Greece. The murderer turns out to be Helena whose drunken husband Reggie loved Beryl’s mother. Seems a bit farfetched that she murdered them over his obsession with Madeline.
SPOILERS AHEAD
People are murdered in Paris and Greece. The murderer turns out to be Helena whose drunken husband Reggie loved Beryl’s mother. Seems a bit farfetched that she murdered them over his obsession with Madeline.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2011
This book was so awful it should really only get one star, but it made me laugh so I'm giving it two. Tess Gerritsen's books are so ridiculous -- her plots have more holes than a sieve, the inevitable "twist" is signposted with the literary equivalent of flashing neon signs, and her heroines are invariably Mary-Sues. How many descriptions of Beryl's raven tresses and heaving bosom did we need? (She would trust him with her life... but not her heart!) It helped that the characters all came from different parts of the world, as I could imagine them with ridiculously strong accents while I was reading. The contrast between Beryl's upper-class accent and Richard's American one definitely made their tediously long conversations more interesting. (Throw in a few of the French characters and it was like an episode of 'Allo 'Allo.) I recommend the same approach to everyone reading this book.
Oh, one last thing: I love that two exotic and glamorous spies called Bernard and Madeline called their daughter Beryl.
Oh, one last thing: I love that two exotic and glamorous spies called Bernard and Madeline called their daughter Beryl.
November 10, 2022
nie podobalo mi sie za bardzo, ten watek romantyczny byl irytujacy:( 2.5/5
May 25, 2023
w tej książce wieje strasznie nudą, a wątek romantyczny niewiadomo skąd i po omacku
December 22, 2016
I’ve read many Tess Gerritsen books – both her older romantic suspense books and her newer mystery books – and I can safely say she is one of my favourite authors. However, In Their Footsteps failed to entertain me in the way I had hoped. Truthfully, it is my least favourite of all the Gerritsen books I have read.
In Their Footsteps had the promise of being a wonderful read. Spies and murder – what’s not to love? Unfortunately, it didn’t give me the suspense filled book I had been hoping for. There were a mere handful of pages where events took place, the rest of the time… well, it felt as though the book was trying to force its way through a bog and wasn’t really getting anywhere.
To me, it felt as though the spies and murder were a backdrop to a very boring story. It’s as though those aspects were thrown in as a means to make the story more entertaining, only it was too little too late. We’re told about government agents, we’re told about past events, and yet we spend most of our time focusing upon drama I didn’t really care about. Yes, the drama plays in to the overall story… but it didn’t hold my attention at all. Usually when Tess Gerritsen does drama she creates something wonderful, but with this one there wasn’t really anything there at all. Events were taking place and yet I found my mind drifting because there wasn’t the usual things you find in a Gerritsen book. There was no real action; the characters were rather boring; the romance was lacking. If I’d read this book without knowing the author, I would never have guessed it to be a Gerritsen book.
If you’ve yet to read a Gerritsen book, I certainly recommend starting somewhere else. She really can do – and has repeatedly done – better than this. Were it not for the fact I brought the omnibus, I wouldn’t be reading the second story about this family. In fact, I’m only doing so in the hope Gerritsen can salvage the family.
Overall, a disappointing read from one of my favourite authors. You’re always going to find them – the books where your favourite authors didn’t quite reach their usual high – I’m just disappointed a book with so much promised turned out to be the Gerritsen book I didn’t enjoy.
In Their Footsteps had the promise of being a wonderful read. Spies and murder – what’s not to love? Unfortunately, it didn’t give me the suspense filled book I had been hoping for. There were a mere handful of pages where events took place, the rest of the time… well, it felt as though the book was trying to force its way through a bog and wasn’t really getting anywhere.
To me, it felt as though the spies and murder were a backdrop to a very boring story. It’s as though those aspects were thrown in as a means to make the story more entertaining, only it was too little too late. We’re told about government agents, we’re told about past events, and yet we spend most of our time focusing upon drama I didn’t really care about. Yes, the drama plays in to the overall story… but it didn’t hold my attention at all. Usually when Tess Gerritsen does drama she creates something wonderful, but with this one there wasn’t really anything there at all. Events were taking place and yet I found my mind drifting because there wasn’t the usual things you find in a Gerritsen book. There was no real action; the characters were rather boring; the romance was lacking. If I’d read this book without knowing the author, I would never have guessed it to be a Gerritsen book.
If you’ve yet to read a Gerritsen book, I certainly recommend starting somewhere else. She really can do – and has repeatedly done – better than this. Were it not for the fact I brought the omnibus, I wouldn’t be reading the second story about this family. In fact, I’m only doing so in the hope Gerritsen can salvage the family.
Overall, a disappointing read from one of my favourite authors. You’re always going to find them – the books where your favourite authors didn’t quite reach their usual high – I’m just disappointed a book with so much promised turned out to be the Gerritsen book I didn’t enjoy.
April 30, 2018
I just love Tess Gerritsen books and am going back to read some of her earlier books. This one was more of an action - romance type with the main character trying to find out about the murder of her parents 20 years earlier. She meets someone and fireworks ignite and he also wants to help her. There is some espionage and excitement along the way. A fast read that is the first part in a series. Not the typical, nowadays TG, but a pretty good book nonetheless.
March 12, 2019
I think if I read this back in 1994 it would have been a 3 star read but through the first half of the book I had to push myself to read it. It picked up the last 25%, but was too predictable. I think for those who like the old style Harlequin romances, this may be a fit.
May 2, 2023
Creo que si quitaran el autor y dejaran sólo la portada, nadie elegiría leer este libro.
Por no contar lo que juega al despiste la supuesta traducción del título: el título original (algo así como "Tras sus pasos") alude a una investigación sobre un caso antiguo de un supuesto topo de la CIA... ya me dirás qué pinta un libro así titulándose "Al borde del deseo"🙄, que se desarrolla mayormente en París (así que de la playa de la foto, ya ni hablamos).
Viene con el reclamo cambiado.
Aquellos a los que podría gustarle, ni lo van a tocar, con ese reclamo. Y los que lo lean, no esperarán una historia de espías, así que también se van a llevar un chasco.
Entre las primeras novelas de la autora, se nota una cierta inocencia que no está por ejemplo en su saga Rizzoli & Isles.
Una novela de espías, muy apegada al género, sencilla, muy cortita y rápida de leer. Entretenida. Destripadoras
Por no contar lo que juega al despiste la supuesta traducción del título: el título original (algo así como "Tras sus pasos") alude a una investigación sobre un caso antiguo de un supuesto topo de la CIA... ya me dirás qué pinta un libro así titulándose "Al borde del deseo"🙄, que se desarrolla mayormente en París (así que de la playa de la foto, ya ni hablamos).
Viene con el reclamo cambiado.
Aquellos a los que podría gustarle, ni lo van a tocar, con ese reclamo. Y los que lo lean, no esperarán una historia de espías, así que también se van a llevar un chasco.
Entre las primeras novelas de la autora, se nota una cierta inocencia que no está por ejemplo en su saga Rizzoli & Isles.
Una novela de espías, muy apegada al género, sencilla, muy cortita y rápida de leer. Entretenida. Destripadoras
January 22, 2022
Iš šios knygos tikėjausi lengvo meilės romano. Bet gavau gerus įspudžius, knygoje netrūko veiksmo ir romantiškų akimirkų.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2016
Silly romance masquerading as a thriller. Posh totty Beryl (really?) and her brother investigate the deaths of their parents 20 years ago with the help of ex-spy-who-yearns-to-settle-down-with-the right-woman Richard. Much is made of Beryl's raven tresses, but at no point does she appear to have a job or do anything except ride a stroppy horse, but that's OK because of course she'll live happily ever after with our hero... This is obviously one of Gerritsen's early books before she started writing medical thrillers; I suspect she read a lot of Mills & Boon as a teenager...
December 1, 2012
Tess Gerritsen is a very good writer who specialises in medical thrillers and being am ex physician shows a great knowledge and detail to her work.
Fast paced novel that makes excellent reading.
Fast paced novel that makes excellent reading.
October 15, 2022
Uwielbiam ksiazki tej autorki, ale to bylo jedno wielkie rozczarowanie:( Na poczatku nawet mi sie podobalo, ale pozniej juz to bylo zbyt meczace. Bardzo sie zawiodlam.
June 20, 2021
War ein typischer Romantic-Suspense-Thriller. Leider konnten mich die Figuren nicht ganz so mitreißen. Paris als Setting fand ich aber toll :)
May 31, 2009
This one didn't do anything for me, really. The main character, Beryl, could not be more annoying, forever sweeping her raven hair up (there's a lot of sweeping being done in this book, but it's never floors...), looking breathtakingly beautiful in any situation, and apparently looking and being pretty much exactly like her murdered mother. Seriously, if I cared enough, I would murder her just for being so obnoxious. And then this constant attraction to Richard, trusting him with her life, but not her heart, but desperately wanting to tear off his clothes... aw, come on. It's so boring it's not even funny. The end is nothing unexpected, but completely tacky. Not my book of the year.
March 26, 2022
Beryl Tavistock miała odkryć tajemnicę śmierci rodziców, a znalazła chłopa. Koniec.
Szpiedzy, agenci wywiadu, bomby, miny, karabiny. Do tego płomienny romans, że aż ciarki żenady po plecach chodzą. Innymi słowy – wczesna Gerritsen i jej inspiracje harlequinami. Szczerze mówiąc nie polecam zbytnio, chyba że ktoś bardzo lubi – Gerritsen albo harlequiny :)
5/10
Szpiedzy, agenci wywiadu, bomby, miny, karabiny. Do tego płomienny romans, że aż ciarki żenady po plecach chodzą. Innymi słowy – wczesna Gerritsen i jej inspiracje harlequinami. Szczerze mówiąc nie polecam zbytnio, chyba że ktoś bardzo lubi – Gerritsen albo harlequiny :)
5/10
March 10, 2023
Mano nuomonė: Tess Gerritsen jau gerai pažįstama autorė ir mano viena mylimiausių autorių. Ji rašo ne tik puikius detektyvus, bet ir puikius romantinius trilerius.
Tavistokų istorija -tai sesers ir brolio istorijos, abi knygos labai susiję ir tikrai verta skaityti iš eilės. Pirmoje dalyje „Jų pėdsakais“ – skirta daugiau dėmesio sesei Berilei Tavistok , antroji dalis „Širdžių ėdikė“ skita broliui Džordanui Tavistokui.
Tiesa gali būti labai pavojinga. Tačiau teisingumo Tavistokai siekė bet kokia kaina. Pasaulyje, kuriame kasdien tenka vaikščioti lyg peilio ašmenimis, pasitikėti kuo nors rizikinga. Čia draugai tampa priešais, o priešai – žudo.
Labai patiko. Norėjosi tik vieno, kad knygos nesibigtų.
Du absolučiai įtraukiantys trileriai apie Tavistokų šeimą, pilni paslapčių, įtampos ir, žinoma, meilės. Geriau nusipirkit abi knygas iškarto, nes kitaip tik susinervinsit, kad reiks ieškoti antros dalies.
Knygai aukšti balai.
Tavistokų istorija -tai sesers ir brolio istorijos, abi knygos labai susiję ir tikrai verta skaityti iš eilės. Pirmoje dalyje „Jų pėdsakais“ – skirta daugiau dėmesio sesei Berilei Tavistok , antroji dalis „Širdžių ėdikė“ skita broliui Džordanui Tavistokui.
Tiesa gali būti labai pavojinga. Tačiau teisingumo Tavistokai siekė bet kokia kaina. Pasaulyje, kuriame kasdien tenka vaikščioti lyg peilio ašmenimis, pasitikėti kuo nors rizikinga. Čia draugai tampa priešais, o priešai – žudo.
Labai patiko. Norėjosi tik vieno, kad knygos nesibigtų.
Du absolučiai įtraukiantys trileriai apie Tavistokų šeimą, pilni paslapčių, įtampos ir, žinoma, meilės. Geriau nusipirkit abi knygas iškarto, nes kitaip tik susinervinsit, kad reiks ieškoti antros dalies.
Knygai aukšti balai.
September 22, 2021
Lengvas romantinis trileris. Vietom buvo tikrai per saldu, bet Tess still one on the best ❤️
January 31, 2020
Goed verhaal, leuke hoofdpersonen.
Ik ga gelijk verder met het tweede deel.
Ik ga gelijk verder met het tweede deel.
March 21, 2023
no nie wiem w sensie po prostu byla taka zwykla najzwyklejsza nawet nie mam nad czym sie rozwodzic za bardzo. it wasnt boring but it also wasnt insanely interesting i tyle
mysle ze ill just stick with her medical thrillers only bo cokolwiek innego czytam its just not hitting for me
mysle ze ill just stick with her medical thrillers only bo cokolwiek innego czytam its just not hitting for me
July 25, 2023
Buvo idomu paskaityti kitoki Tess Gerritsen kurini. Romantinis trileris, apie Berile ir Dzordana Tavistokus, kurie labai drasiai, ieskojo teisingumo savo tevu mirties atzvilgiu. Labai patiko, kad knygoje ivykiai greitai klostesi, veiksmas neistemptas.
August 3, 2016
Het is best een aardig boek. Er zit wel spanning in het verhaal. Ook leest het vlot. Toch vond ik het in zijn totaliteit iets tegenvallen. Dat komt met name doordat ik de liefdesrelatie tussen Beryl en Richard wat gekunsteld vind overkomen. Van mij had die er niet in hoeven zitten. Zonder dat is het ook een leuk verhaal. Lang blijft ook onduidelijk hoe het mysterie in elkaar zit, maar op het laatst weet je het als lezer al eerder dan de hoofdpersonen. Dat haalt de spanning wel wat weg. Leuk voor tussendoor.
April 26, 2017
Tess hiçbir zaman hayal kırıklığına uğratmıyor.Yine zekice kurgulanmış,harika bir kitaptı.Tess'in diğer kitaplarına göre aşk biraz daha ön plandaydı ama bu beni rahatsız etmedi,aksine hoşuma da gitti.Ama ne yalan söyleyim daha çarpıcı bir son bekliyordum ben.Katili tahmin edemedim ama öğrenince de şaşırmadım.
January 23, 2011
Read in less than a week. Not a very long book but a good story line. Lots of characters & people to suspect! Some suspense but not enough to make me read on when I was tired!
July 27, 2021
Nors meilės istorija ne itin patikėjau, per staigi, hmmmm. Už tai kitkas tobulai susiskaitė. Tess nenuvilia
July 7, 2024
"Świat się zmienia tak bardzo, że czasem z dnia na dzień nie wiesz, kto jest twoim wrogiem, a kto sojusznikiem.". Średni thriller.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 420 reviews