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Rizzoli & Isles #1
The Surgeon
Tess Gerritsen left a very successful career as an internist to raise her children and devote more time to writing. The Surgeon, following several books that met with moderate success, is a gruesome and frightening story that should put Gerritsen among the top women thriller writers working today.
A serial killer is on the loose in Boston. The victims are killed in a particularly nasty way: cut with a scalpel on the stomach, the intestines and uterus removed, and then the throat slashed. The killer obviously has medical knowledge and has been dubbed "the Surgeon" by the media. Detective Thomas Moore and his partner Rizzoli of the Boston Homicide Unit have discovered something that makes this case even more chilling. Years ago in Savannah a serial killer murdered in exactly the same way. He was finally stopped by his last victim who shot him as he tried to cut her. That last victim is Dr Catherine Cordell, who now works as a cardiac surgeon at one of Boston's prestigious hospitals. As the murders continue, it becomes obvious that the killer is drawing closer and closer to Dr Cordell, who is becoming so frightened that she is virtually unable to function. But she is the only person who can help the police catch this copycat killer. Or is it a copycat? To complicate matters even further, Detective Moore, often referred to as Saint Thomas as he continues to mourn the loss of his wife, is getting emotionally involved with the doctor.
The suspense in The Surgeon is almost unbearable. The writing is superb and the stunning twists and turns make it almost impossible to put down. --Otto Penzler, Amazon.com
416 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 2001
5482 people are currently reading
123358 people want to read
About the author
Tess Gerritsen
204 books21.1k 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 6,842 reviews
June 5, 2011
Thriller. Trigger Warning for discussion of rape.
Let's review:
1. So a womb is the thing that makes a woman! Glad we solved that.
2. This is Rizzoli thinking and the "disgusting object" is actually a tampon. I'm assuming it's unused because how would a bunch of men get a used tampon, let alone shove it into a bottle of mineral water, but how could a clean tampon be considered disgusting unless you hate women and/or female bodies?
3. Fucking! A word with excellent shock value! HOWEVER, fucking is sex. Rape is not sex. Sorry, but you're only perpetuating the misconception that rape is just a kind of unhappy sex. Also nice is how this character (angry, possibly man-hating, woman) is saying that all women blame themselves for being raped.
4. Oh no, it's not condescending at all to be given respect for being a particular kind of woman, rather than simply a human being. You have to respect the ladies in a different way than you respect men. Because otherwise that might lead to gender equality.
5. Yes, Thomas, that's why Catherine was horrified to find out that HER RAPIST HAD CUT A LOCK OF HER HAIR AS A KEEPSAKE. Because hair smells good, and is infused with womanly essences. NOT BECAUSE IT'S COMPLETELY INVASIVE AND CREEPY AS FUCK.
And that final quote. Do I even have to explain that no woman acts like a victim?
The problem with this book is that it revolves around a murderer who hunts, terrorizes, dismembers, and kills women. So let's assume he hates women, or at least harbors a lot of rage toward them. Then there are the male psychologists who are attempting to understand him, and thus, in a professional setting, use words like "bitch," for instance. Are they trying to mimic what they see as the thought patterns of the suspect or do they routinely refer to women as bitches? It's not clear. There's little to no framing language or verbal hedging that allows us to make that distinction. The male detectives are trying to track and identify the subject, but they don't let that stop them from enjoying a good rape joke at the crime scene; meanwhile Saint Thomas (he of the dead wife) feels vaguely unhappy about it but doesn't do anything to stop them. Even Rizzoli, who is female herself, seems to dislike, suspect, and resent women almost as much as her male colleagues do.
I can't separate the narrative from the authorial intent. All I know is that it sucks, okay? It's full of rape, casual misogyny, and an almost subliminal devotion to the idea that women are VICTIMS VICTIMS VICTIMS. Also, according to this, the sole thing that makes a person female is the uterus or -- god help me -- womb as they insist on calling it half the time. Again, that's probably just what the detectives see as the suspect's mindset, but the conflation of uterus and womb is problematic on any level. Not everybody's uterus is a womb.
After all that it seems petty to complain about the stilted introspection, the purple prose, the lengthy italicized sections where the murderer talks about his craft in the most pretentious language imaginable, or the fact that I didn't like any of the characters, but I'm still going to complain. Rizzoli might grow on me, though, so that leaves me with the difficult decision of whether to give Gerritsen another try.
This is a mediocre book about a terrible subject made worse by clumsy writing about rape, VICTIMS (not, let's be clear, survivors), and being female in a male world. Um, not recommended for anyone. I've read a lot of trashy thrillers in my time and I will shrug off a lot of iffy things in the interest of mindless entertainment, but this set my mind into angry overdrive. Not relaxing at all.
Let's review:
1. "He identifies and removes only the organ he wants. Nothing more. And what he wants is the womb." [...] "He hates women," she said. "He cuts out the one thing that makes them women." (p.60)
2. Ignoring the water bottle and the disgusting object it contained... (p.67)
3. "'She thought: "It's my fault. I shouldn't have been so careless." But that's how it is with women.' She looked directly at Moore. 'We blame ourselves for everything, even when it's the man who does the fucking.'" (p.126)
4. Above all, he did not want her to think him condescending. More than any woman he'd ever met, she commanded his respect. (p.136)
5. Hair was so very personal. A woman wears it, sleeps with it. It carries fragrance and color and texture. A woman's very essence. No wonder Catherine had been horrified to learn that a man she did not know possessed such an intimate part of her. (p.195)
6. "He only assaults women who act like victims." (p.247)
1. So a womb is the thing that makes a woman! Glad we solved that.
2. This is Rizzoli thinking and the "disgusting object" is actually a tampon. I'm assuming it's unused because how would a bunch of men get a used tampon, let alone shove it into a bottle of mineral water, but how could a clean tampon be considered disgusting unless you hate women and/or female bodies?
3. Fucking! A word with excellent shock value! HOWEVER, fucking is sex. Rape is not sex. Sorry, but you're only perpetuating the misconception that rape is just a kind of unhappy sex. Also nice is how this character (angry, possibly man-hating, woman) is saying that all women blame themselves for being raped.
4. Oh no, it's not condescending at all to be given respect for being a particular kind of woman, rather than simply a human being. You have to respect the ladies in a different way than you respect men. Because otherwise that might lead to gender equality.
5. Yes, Thomas, that's why Catherine was horrified to find out that HER RAPIST HAD CUT A LOCK OF HER HAIR AS A KEEPSAKE. Because hair smells good, and is infused with womanly essences. NOT BECAUSE IT'S COMPLETELY INVASIVE AND CREEPY AS FUCK.
And that final quote. Do I even have to explain that no woman acts like a victim?
The problem with this book is that it revolves around a murderer who hunts, terrorizes, dismembers, and kills women. So let's assume he hates women, or at least harbors a lot of rage toward them. Then there are the male psychologists who are attempting to understand him, and thus, in a professional setting, use words like "bitch," for instance. Are they trying to mimic what they see as the thought patterns of the suspect or do they routinely refer to women as bitches? It's not clear. There's little to no framing language or verbal hedging that allows us to make that distinction. The male detectives are trying to track and identify the subject, but they don't let that stop them from enjoying a good rape joke at the crime scene; meanwhile Saint Thomas (he of the dead wife) feels vaguely unhappy about it but doesn't do anything to stop them. Even Rizzoli, who is female herself, seems to dislike, suspect, and resent women almost as much as her male colleagues do.
I can't separate the narrative from the authorial intent. All I know is that it sucks, okay? It's full of rape, casual misogyny, and an almost subliminal devotion to the idea that women are VICTIMS VICTIMS VICTIMS. Also, according to this, the sole thing that makes a person female is the uterus or -- god help me -- womb as they insist on calling it half the time. Again, that's probably just what the detectives see as the suspect's mindset, but the conflation of uterus and womb is problematic on any level. Not everybody's uterus is a womb.
After all that it seems petty to complain about the stilted introspection, the purple prose, the lengthy italicized sections where the murderer talks about his craft in the most pretentious language imaginable, or the fact that I didn't like any of the characters, but I'm still going to complain. Rizzoli might grow on me, though, so that leaves me with the difficult decision of whether to give Gerritsen another try.
This is a mediocre book about a terrible subject made worse by clumsy writing about rape, VICTIMS (not, let's be clear, survivors), and being female in a male world. Um, not recommended for anyone. I've read a lot of trashy thrillers in my time and I will shrug off a lot of iffy things in the interest of mindless entertainment, but this set my mind into angry overdrive. Not relaxing at all.
November 17, 2022
3,75/5
Przekonałam się do Gerritsen!
Przekonałam się do Gerritsen!
May 30, 2014
The Surgeon is a brilliantly written medical thriller, that will have you gripped and terrified from page one until you finish the novel. As a avid reader of mystery, suspense thrillers, this novel delivered so much more.
It was all a game. The Surgeon fed on terror. He attacked women who were victims. He was always in control. The victims had been tied down, raped and gutted.
Three women had been raped but only one victim had reported her rape to the police. All three had sought medical attention in different places. The Surgeon had been attracted to their pain.
The story begins with a successful physician named Catherine Cordell who was nearly murdered a few years back in Savannah but lived to tell the tale because she blew her attacker away before he could finish the job. With her attacker's death, the string of grotesque torture-murders ends in Savannah, but then resurfaces in Boston. Which is just where Cordell now resides. The new murderer, nicknamed "The Surgeon", moves through Boston like air carrying out his sick fantasies that are identical to the string of murders in Savannah. You'd think it was the same killer, but how could it be?
Follow this talented author as she masterfully leads her characters to solving the puzzle of The Surgeon, a terrifying tale like none you've ever read before.
You will never leave your window open at night again!
It was all a game. The Surgeon fed on terror. He attacked women who were victims. He was always in control. The victims had been tied down, raped and gutted.
Three women had been raped but only one victim had reported her rape to the police. All three had sought medical attention in different places. The Surgeon had been attracted to their pain.
The story begins with a successful physician named Catherine Cordell who was nearly murdered a few years back in Savannah but lived to tell the tale because she blew her attacker away before he could finish the job. With her attacker's death, the string of grotesque torture-murders ends in Savannah, but then resurfaces in Boston. Which is just where Cordell now resides. The new murderer, nicknamed "The Surgeon", moves through Boston like air carrying out his sick fantasies that are identical to the string of murders in Savannah. You'd think it was the same killer, but how could it be?
Follow this talented author as she masterfully leads her characters to solving the puzzle of The Surgeon, a terrifying tale like none you've ever read before.
You will never leave your window open at night again!
April 27, 2022
“The most intimate emotion two people can share is neither love nor desire but pain.”
He slips into homes at night and walks silently into bedrooms where women lie sleeping, about to awaken to a living nightmare. The precision of his methods suggests that he is a deranged man of medicine, prompting the Boston newspapers to dub him “The Surgeon.” Led by Detectives Thomas Moore and Jane Rizzoli, the cops must consult the victim of a nearly identical crime: Two years ago, Dr. Catherine Cordell fought back and killed her attacker before he could complete his assault. Now this new killer is re-creating, with chilling accuracy, the details of Cordell’s ordeal and neither Moore nor Rizzoli can protect Cordell from a ruthless hunter, who, somehow understands and savors the secret fears of every woman he kills.
I absolutely loved the way this book was written. You can definitely tell the author of this book was a medical professional, with the way everything is described in such great detail. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the medical talk, as this really interests me. I also loved the tales of Greek mythology that were woven throughout and the great ending when we find out why.
The only thing I was a little annoyed about was the revelation of who The Surgeon really was. The entire time I was reading I was expecting to be totally shocked when his identity was finally revealed, but for me it was a tad bit underwhelming.
That aside, I really enjoyed reading this. It was a quick read, a real page turner! I would recommend this to those who love a good thriller with the added medical aspect.
I read this for my book clubs April pick.
He slips into homes at night and walks silently into bedrooms where women lie sleeping, about to awaken to a living nightmare. The precision of his methods suggests that he is a deranged man of medicine, prompting the Boston newspapers to dub him “The Surgeon.” Led by Detectives Thomas Moore and Jane Rizzoli, the cops must consult the victim of a nearly identical crime: Two years ago, Dr. Catherine Cordell fought back and killed her attacker before he could complete his assault. Now this new killer is re-creating, with chilling accuracy, the details of Cordell’s ordeal and neither Moore nor Rizzoli can protect Cordell from a ruthless hunter, who, somehow understands and savors the secret fears of every woman he kills.
I absolutely loved the way this book was written. You can definitely tell the author of this book was a medical professional, with the way everything is described in such great detail. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the medical talk, as this really interests me. I also loved the tales of Greek mythology that were woven throughout and the great ending when we find out why.
The only thing I was a little annoyed about was the revelation of who The Surgeon really was. The entire time I was reading I was expecting to be totally shocked when his identity was finally revealed, but for me it was a tad bit underwhelming.
That aside, I really enjoyed reading this. It was a quick read, a real page turner! I would recommend this to those who love a good thriller with the added medical aspect.
I read this for my book clubs April pick.
March 6, 2012
Maura Isles is totally missing. Jane Rizzoli is so much different than the TV show. I am a fan of the TV show so I decided to start with book #1. I was not disappointed in the book, but it was a bit of a shock to see Rizzoli as a homely, outsider fighting for her what was due her. The development of the characters was outstanding. The focus upon the impact on the lives of victims was fleshed out more than in any other crime novel that I have read. The surgical element was a bit overdeveloped for my taste, but I am one of those folks who doesn't like blood and gore. All in all, this makes a nice read and opens up the series to many diverse paths.
March 29, 2018
Detective Thomas Moore recognizes a pattern when a young woman is found gruesomely murdered in her home. The details of the crime are identical to that of another young woman he investigated a year ago. Even more troubling is the link to another assault over two years ago. However, the victim, Dr. Catherine Cordell, not only survived the attack but killed the man responsible. Are they dealing with a copycat or something else.
Those looking to see Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles featured at the forefront will need to wait until the next book. The author decided to explore the Rizzoli character after this story and Isles doesn’t make an appearance here.
This was a graphic story so be prepared for that, not only the murders but the ER trauma procedures. Despite that, it’s a well written police procedural and mystery along with the medical. The characters are well defined, flaws and all. Moral and ethical issues abound and are dealt with honestly, not always delivering clear cut resolutions. I really liked the bends and twists, fast paced with a climactic ending. It also has a perfect set up for the next book. I disliked Jane Rizzoli in this story, a lot, but she is someone I want to learn more about and maybe will redeem herself.
Those looking to see Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles featured at the forefront will need to wait until the next book. The author decided to explore the Rizzoli character after this story and Isles doesn’t make an appearance here.
This was a graphic story so be prepared for that, not only the murders but the ER trauma procedures. Despite that, it’s a well written police procedural and mystery along with the medical. The characters are well defined, flaws and all. Moral and ethical issues abound and are dealt with honestly, not always delivering clear cut resolutions. I really liked the bends and twists, fast paced with a climactic ending. It also has a perfect set up for the next book. I disliked Jane Rizzoli in this story, a lot, but she is someone I want to learn more about and maybe will redeem herself.
February 20, 2019
Thriller A Thon: Book on your TBR the longest
Jar of Death Pick #9 (6th Finished)
50 States Thriller Challenge: Massachusetts
I'm going to start this review with a disclaimer. The Surgeon is listed as Book 1 in The Rizzoli & Isles series but Jane Rizzoli is only a side character in this book and Maura Isles isn't in it at all. So if you were a fan of the show and wanted to read this book because of that just be warned its not like the show.
The Surgeon was a lot darker and much more gory than I thought it would be. I think I enjoyed more because of that. You guys know I like my crime thrillers dark, so this was a welcome surprise. As I mentioned above Jane Rizzoli isnt the main character in this book, Thomas Moore is(I'm Catholic so I laughed when I read that name). I don't know if he's in the rest of the books but I really like him as a character and I hope he's at least in the next book.
The Surgeon is about a serial killer who appears to be recreating the kills of a dead serial killer. I didn't guess who the killer was but I should have. All the clues were there I just missed them. This book was dark, creepy, and briskly paced. I liked it a lot.
Jar of Death Pick #9 (6th Finished)
50 States Thriller Challenge: Massachusetts
I'm going to start this review with a disclaimer. The Surgeon is listed as Book 1 in The Rizzoli & Isles series but Jane Rizzoli is only a side character in this book and Maura Isles isn't in it at all. So if you were a fan of the show and wanted to read this book because of that just be warned its not like the show.
The Surgeon was a lot darker and much more gory than I thought it would be. I think I enjoyed more because of that. You guys know I like my crime thrillers dark, so this was a welcome surprise. As I mentioned above Jane Rizzoli isnt the main character in this book, Thomas Moore is(I'm Catholic so I laughed when I read that name). I don't know if he's in the rest of the books but I really like him as a character and I hope he's at least in the next book.
The Surgeon is about a serial killer who appears to be recreating the kills of a dead serial killer. I didn't guess who the killer was but I should have. All the clues were there I just missed them. This book was dark, creepy, and briskly paced. I liked it a lot.
March 31, 2024
The Surgeon is a brilliantly-crafted tale of horror that's just so terrifying that you can't bear not to look. Seriously.
The story begins with a successful physician named Catherine Cordell who was nearly murdered a few years back in Savannah but lived to tell the tale because she blew her attacker away before he could finish the job. With her attacker's death, the string of grotesque torture-murders ends in Savannah, but then resurfaces in Boston. Which is just where Cordell now resides. The new murderer, nicknamed "The Surgeon", moves through Boston like air carrying out his sick fantasies that are identical to the string of murders in Savannah. You'd think it were the same killer, but how could it be?
Follow Gerritsen as she masterfully leads her characters (who are real and well-developed) to solving the puzzle of the Surgeon, a terrifying tale like none you've ever read before. You won't regret it.
3rd read: Mar 14, 2024-Mar 31, 2024
The story begins with a successful physician named Catherine Cordell who was nearly murdered a few years back in Savannah but lived to tell the tale because she blew her attacker away before he could finish the job. With her attacker's death, the string of grotesque torture-murders ends in Savannah, but then resurfaces in Boston. Which is just where Cordell now resides. The new murderer, nicknamed "The Surgeon", moves through Boston like air carrying out his sick fantasies that are identical to the string of murders in Savannah. You'd think it were the same killer, but how could it be?
Follow Gerritsen as she masterfully leads her characters (who are real and well-developed) to solving the puzzle of the Surgeon, a terrifying tale like none you've ever read before. You won't regret it.
3rd read: Mar 14, 2024-Mar 31, 2024
May 26, 2018
“Did you ever stop to think what a medical lab knows about you?” he said. “All the personal information you give them when you open your arm and let them stick a needle in your vein? Your blood reveals your most intimate secrets. Are you dying of leukemia or AIDS? Did you smoke a cigarette or drink a glass of wine in the last few hours? Are you taking Prozac because you’re depressed, or Viagra because you can’t get it up? He was holding the very essence of those women. He could study their blood, touch it, smell it. And they never knew. They never knew that part of their own body was being fondled by a stranger.”
Aunque se considera la primera novela de la serie “Rizzoli & Isles”, Rizzoli tiene poco protagonismo en la misma, e Isles ni siquiera es mencionada a lo largo de todo el volumen. Aquí la parte protagonista se la llevan el inspector Moore y la Dra Cordell. Hecha la aclaración, diré que he disfrutado enormemente la novela. Muy bien construida y ensamblada, con las dosis justas de misterio para tenerte enganchado, y con unos capítulos dedicados al “Cirujano” soberbios. En la parte negativa solo destacar que el personaje de Rizzoli se me hizo un poco antipático, y que el final no está al mismo nivel que el resto. Por lo demás, como ya he mencionado, la he disfrutado, por lo que seguiré con la serie, aunque sea alterando el orden de la misma.
Aunque se considera la primera novela de la serie “Rizzoli & Isles”, Rizzoli tiene poco protagonismo en la misma, e Isles ni siquiera es mencionada a lo largo de todo el volumen. Aquí la parte protagonista se la llevan el inspector Moore y la Dra Cordell. Hecha la aclaración, diré que he disfrutado enormemente la novela. Muy bien construida y ensamblada, con las dosis justas de misterio para tenerte enganchado, y con unos capítulos dedicados al “Cirujano” soberbios. En la parte negativa solo destacar que el personaje de Rizzoli se me hizo un poco antipático, y que el final no está al mismo nivel que el resto. Por lo demás, como ya he mencionado, la he disfrutado, por lo que seguiré con la serie, aunque sea alterando el orden de la misma.
December 14, 2023
Police procedural and medical thriller wrapped up in a bow!
Boston is trembling under the shadow of a serial murderer with a notably gruesome method of dispatching his victims - brutal, savage rape, an obviously knowledgeable, skillful removal of the uterus while the victim still lives with the coup de grace coming as a slashed throat and severing of the carotid artery! Little wonder the media has awarded him the moniker THE SURGEON. In the course of their investigations, detectives Thomas Moore and Jane Rizzoli discover an earlier case with a virtually identical MO in Savannah in which the murderer, Andrew Capra, was ultimately killed by a stalwart would-be victim who fought back and shot him before he could finish the job! They are startled to discover that the surviving victim, Dr Catherine Cordell, is a noted cardiac surgeon currently practicing in a major Boston hospital, and beyond all belief in the possibility of coincidences, she appears to be the target of the now active killer!
Once again, Gerritsen has unerringly brought her intimate knowledge of medicine and the hospital milieu to the table. But, contrary to what one might fairly expect from Gerritsen's past work, has successfully served up a compelling investigative police procedural which lovingly details the forensics, the pathology, the profiling and the gut-wrenching detail in the relentless task force style search for a psychopathic serial murderer! Several superbly paced sub-plots are inextricably woven into one another as the story unfolds - Cordell's slow recovery from the assault she endured two years ago and her halting re-integration into life and the hospital work force; Jane Rizzoli's bristly temperament as the lone Boston female homicide detective and her work-life struggles against the "old boy" attitude of the police force; Thomas Moore's extended grieving period over the untimely loss of his dearly loved wife and the difficulties he faces as he recognizes his entirely inappropriate blossoming romantic feelings for Catherine Cordell; the task force style investigation of THE SURGEON and his relationship with the long dead Georgia killer; and, Cordell's daily life in the cardiac ward and the emergency room of the hospital and the brilliantly described relationship she maintains with her working partner, Dr Peter Falco.
Not only does Gerritsen handle all of this with skill and aplomb but, with every passing page and each successful murder, she ratchets up the suspense as we realize the killer is taunting the police, honing his skills and reaching for Catherine Cordell as his ultimate target. Yet he constantly remains one step ahead of the investigation.
A great addition to the library if, like me, you love your easy reading page-flipping thrillers!
Paul Weiss
Boston is trembling under the shadow of a serial murderer with a notably gruesome method of dispatching his victims - brutal, savage rape, an obviously knowledgeable, skillful removal of the uterus while the victim still lives with the coup de grace coming as a slashed throat and severing of the carotid artery! Little wonder the media has awarded him the moniker THE SURGEON. In the course of their investigations, detectives Thomas Moore and Jane Rizzoli discover an earlier case with a virtually identical MO in Savannah in which the murderer, Andrew Capra, was ultimately killed by a stalwart would-be victim who fought back and shot him before he could finish the job! They are startled to discover that the surviving victim, Dr Catherine Cordell, is a noted cardiac surgeon currently practicing in a major Boston hospital, and beyond all belief in the possibility of coincidences, she appears to be the target of the now active killer!
Once again, Gerritsen has unerringly brought her intimate knowledge of medicine and the hospital milieu to the table. But, contrary to what one might fairly expect from Gerritsen's past work, has successfully served up a compelling investigative police procedural which lovingly details the forensics, the pathology, the profiling and the gut-wrenching detail in the relentless task force style search for a psychopathic serial murderer! Several superbly paced sub-plots are inextricably woven into one another as the story unfolds - Cordell's slow recovery from the assault she endured two years ago and her halting re-integration into life and the hospital work force; Jane Rizzoli's bristly temperament as the lone Boston female homicide detective and her work-life struggles against the "old boy" attitude of the police force; Thomas Moore's extended grieving period over the untimely loss of his dearly loved wife and the difficulties he faces as he recognizes his entirely inappropriate blossoming romantic feelings for Catherine Cordell; the task force style investigation of THE SURGEON and his relationship with the long dead Georgia killer; and, Cordell's daily life in the cardiac ward and the emergency room of the hospital and the brilliantly described relationship she maintains with her working partner, Dr Peter Falco.
Not only does Gerritsen handle all of this with skill and aplomb but, with every passing page and each successful murder, she ratchets up the suspense as we realize the killer is taunting the police, honing his skills and reaching for Catherine Cordell as his ultimate target. Yet he constantly remains one step ahead of the investigation.
A great addition to the library if, like me, you love your easy reading page-flipping thrillers!
Paul Weiss
January 21, 2024
One of the most intensive thrillers I have ever read.
August 9, 2017
The Surgeon is book one of the Rizzoli and Isles Series by Tess Gerritsen. Detective Thomas Moore and Detective Jan Rizzoli caught murder of a woman whose uterus is missing. Both Detective Thomas Moore and Detective Jan Rizzoli started to think is there a serial killer on the loose in their city. The readers of The Surgeon will follow the twist and turns of Detective Thomas Moore and Detective Jan Rizzoli investigation into the murders.
Tess Gerritsen has provided the readers of The Surgeon a new strong women detective Jane Rizzoli. I enjoy reading The Surgeon. I like the way Tess Gerritsen describes the problems women have in law enforcements. I also enjoy the way, Tess Gerritsen describes the interaction between Detective Thomas Moore and Detective Jan Rizzoli. I like the way Tess Gerritsen portrays her characters especially Dr Catherine Cordell.
Readers of The Surgeon will learn about the consequences of rape for women and how a rapist can come back and attack their victims a second time. Also, Readers of The Surgeon will learn about the law enforcement procedures. Readers of The Surgeon will learn about hospital procedures and what is involved to be a surgeon.
I recommend this book.
Tess Gerritsen has provided the readers of The Surgeon a new strong women detective Jane Rizzoli. I enjoy reading The Surgeon. I like the way Tess Gerritsen describes the problems women have in law enforcements. I also enjoy the way, Tess Gerritsen describes the interaction between Detective Thomas Moore and Detective Jan Rizzoli. I like the way Tess Gerritsen portrays her characters especially Dr Catherine Cordell.
Readers of The Surgeon will learn about the consequences of rape for women and how a rapist can come back and attack their victims a second time. Also, Readers of The Surgeon will learn about the law enforcement procedures. Readers of The Surgeon will learn about hospital procedures and what is involved to be a surgeon.
I recommend this book.
November 23, 2022
My first Tess Gerritsen and what a book to start with. An amazing fast pacing page turning full of action book.
December 16, 2024
4.5 stars 🌟. This is the first in the series of Rizzoli and Isles. Rizzoli is the tough Boston police detective searching for the serial killer the surgeon.
I was gripped from the first page, I read this book in 3 days unusual for me as I get a bit in a slump, other when I read Harry Potter years ago did I enjoy reading this.
If you haven’t heard of Tess gerritson I highly recommend her books.
If you’ve seen the tv show of Rizzoli and isles and I can say the characters are completely different than described in the book.
I was gripped from the first page, I read this book in 3 days unusual for me as I get a bit in a slump, other when I read Harry Potter years ago did I enjoy reading this.
If you haven’t heard of Tess gerritson I highly recommend her books.
If you’ve seen the tv show of Rizzoli and isles and I can say the characters are completely different than described in the book.
July 14, 2025
I probably started reading this series more than 20yrs ago, long before I joined GR. Several years later, the show started, and I LOVED the show so much, I abandoned the series (I think around #7). After joining GR, I would come across so many great reviews of the books, I vowed to someday pick it back up where I left off. Then recently I saw that the Crime, Mystery and Thrillers group had selected this one as a July group read and decided that now was as good a time as any to reread the series.
Over the past 11yrs that I’ve been a member of GR, I have read the books of some of my fave tv shows and movies and have almost always enjoyed the books more. However, this installment was never adapted to a tv episode, in its current form, and Maura Isles isn’t even in it, and I do remember that from when I started watching the show. However, the killer in this installment was a character/killer in the show and a significant one too. Additionally, this Jane Rizzoli is a lot more jaded and bitter than the Angie Harmon Jane, who I found to be ridiculously snarky and funny, which is what I absolutely loved about her! I had forgotten this about the books.
Anyway, the book summary pretty much lays out the entire primary storyline of Jane and her partner, Thomas Moore (whose nickname is St Moore after the priest), investigating the murders of former rape victims by someone that appears to be a medical professional and is called “the Surgeon” by the law enforcement and the media. I’m not going to get into the nitty gritty details of what this wacko does to the victims though, I kind of forgot how much darker and grittier the books were from the tv show. There is another storyline of Jane being the first and only women assigned to the Boston Homicide division and she is getting the run of the mill misogynistic initiation from her @$$#*!% male coworkers. Later, when she makes a grave mistake (in the second half) and is looking for some support from her partner Moore, she is reminded that she is on her own.
It's deep into the second half that the investigation takes a bit of a turn. Up to that point, I was certain I had remembered who the Surgeon was and possibly even the motive, but at this point, I’m starting to second guess my memory. It turns out I was wrong and totally forgot that whole part. Lol, it seems my memory of this book has become a little fuzzy.
The character development of Jane and Moore as well as a couple of other characters was well done. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline interesting, even if it got a little too descriptive for my comfort. The writing was really good too and read it in two sittings. Reading this again reminded me of one of the reasons I really liked this series so long ago. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review.
Over the past 11yrs that I’ve been a member of GR, I have read the books of some of my fave tv shows and movies and have almost always enjoyed the books more. However, this installment was never adapted to a tv episode, in its current form, and Maura Isles isn’t even in it, and I do remember that from when I started watching the show. However, the killer in this installment was a character/killer in the show and a significant one too. Additionally, this Jane Rizzoli is a lot more jaded and bitter than the Angie Harmon Jane, who I found to be ridiculously snarky and funny, which is what I absolutely loved about her! I had forgotten this about the books.
Anyway, the book summary pretty much lays out the entire primary storyline of Jane and her partner, Thomas Moore (whose nickname is St Moore after the priest), investigating the murders of former rape victims by someone that appears to be a medical professional and is called “the Surgeon” by the law enforcement and the media. I’m not going to get into the nitty gritty details of what this wacko does to the victims though, I kind of forgot how much darker and grittier the books were from the tv show. There is another storyline of Jane being the first and only women assigned to the Boston Homicide division and she is getting the run of the mill misogynistic initiation from her @$$#*!% male coworkers. Later, when she makes a grave mistake (in the second half) and is looking for some support from her partner Moore, she is reminded that she is on her own.
It's deep into the second half that the investigation takes a bit of a turn. Up to that point, I was certain I had remembered who the Surgeon was and possibly even the motive, but at this point, I’m starting to second guess my memory. It turns out I was wrong and totally forgot that whole part. Lol, it seems my memory of this book has become a little fuzzy.
The character development of Jane and Moore as well as a couple of other characters was well done. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline interesting, even if it got a little too descriptive for my comfort. The writing was really good too and read it in two sittings. Reading this again reminded me of one of the reasons I really liked this series so long ago. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review.
August 28, 2018
“Hell, no one ever knows who the monsters are.”
Detective Thomas Moore was heading to Maine on his vacation when he is called back to Boston. There has been a murder. The lead detective is Jane Rizzoli. The reason Moore is called back is that the latest murder bears striking resemblances to another murder a year ago where he was the lead detective. Thomas Moore and Jane Rizzoli are to work together on this case and she is not happy. She is the only female detective in the homicide unit and it is not easy. There is no doubt that some of the other detectives treat her badly but Rizzoli has an attitude that does not help her ... or her career. She wants to solve this crime and prove herself ... without help from her male partners.
The two cases that force Moore and Rizzoli to work together involve attacks on women. A killer is targeting women. Breaking into their homes in the middle of the night, performing ritualistic acts of torture, and then killing them. Soon other cases come to light and it looks like they have a serial killer on their hands. The press dubs the killer "The Surgeon" because he appears to use a scalpel in his attacks and has anatomical knowledge.
As the investigation intensifies Moore and Rizzoli learn of a similar crime spree in Savannah two years ago. The last victim, Catherine Cordell, managed to free herself and killed her attacker. Now Cordell is living and working in Boston ... a surgeon. The killer in Boston seems to be recreating the crimes that took place in Savannah with chilling accuracy. He appears to be taunting her, targeting her. Recreating the details of Cordell’s ordeal in Savannah. Invisible.
This is the first novel by Tess Gerritsen that I have read and I enjoyed it very much. It won't be the last. Thomas Moore was very likable. A man they call Saint Thomas who mourns his wife and is honorable. Jane Rizzoli was not as likable. Especially if you have a preconceived idea from watching television. However, I found that Rizzoli grew on me. She reminded me of Detective Erika Foster in the series by Robert Bryndza. Started out as someone with a bad attitude, a chip on their soldier. But, her dedication and hard work in solving the crimes wins you ever and by the end of the book perhaps you see another side of the character.
Detective Thomas Moore was heading to Maine on his vacation when he is called back to Boston. There has been a murder. The lead detective is Jane Rizzoli. The reason Moore is called back is that the latest murder bears striking resemblances to another murder a year ago where he was the lead detective. Thomas Moore and Jane Rizzoli are to work together on this case and she is not happy. She is the only female detective in the homicide unit and it is not easy. There is no doubt that some of the other detectives treat her badly but Rizzoli has an attitude that does not help her ... or her career. She wants to solve this crime and prove herself ... without help from her male partners.
The two cases that force Moore and Rizzoli to work together involve attacks on women. A killer is targeting women. Breaking into their homes in the middle of the night, performing ritualistic acts of torture, and then killing them. Soon other cases come to light and it looks like they have a serial killer on their hands. The press dubs the killer "The Surgeon" because he appears to use a scalpel in his attacks and has anatomical knowledge.
As the investigation intensifies Moore and Rizzoli learn of a similar crime spree in Savannah two years ago. The last victim, Catherine Cordell, managed to free herself and killed her attacker. Now Cordell is living and working in Boston ... a surgeon. The killer in Boston seems to be recreating the crimes that took place in Savannah with chilling accuracy. He appears to be taunting her, targeting her. Recreating the details of Cordell’s ordeal in Savannah. Invisible.
This is the first novel by Tess Gerritsen that I have read and I enjoyed it very much. It won't be the last. Thomas Moore was very likable. A man they call Saint Thomas who mourns his wife and is honorable. Jane Rizzoli was not as likable. Especially if you have a preconceived idea from watching television. However, I found that Rizzoli grew on me. She reminded me of Detective Erika Foster in the series by Robert Bryndza. Started out as someone with a bad attitude, a chip on their soldier. But, her dedication and hard work in solving the crimes wins you ever and by the end of the book perhaps you see another side of the character.
January 11, 2020
2.5
I did not enjoy this book. Starting with one of the most horrifying things people can experience - yes, people - which I expected because it is implied in the blurb, to the annoying stuff I didn't expect (like Rizzoli's behaviour, among other things).
I haven't seen the TV show yet and I hope Rizzoli there is not like this.
If the point of her behaviour has been to make her seem flawed but likeable and someone a reader would root for, I'm afraid she only gets the flawed part well. Fortunately, even though her name is in the series name, she wasn't in it that much.
Moore, the other detective, is more likeable.
Overall, I got almost what I expected. Almost. I'll probably try the second book.
I did not enjoy this book. Starting with one of the most horrifying things people can experience - yes, people - which I expected because it is implied in the blurb, to the annoying stuff I didn't expect (like Rizzoli's behaviour, among other things).
I haven't seen the TV show yet and I hope Rizzoli there is not like this.
If the point of her behaviour has been to make her seem flawed but likeable and someone a reader would root for, I'm afraid she only gets the flawed part well. Fortunately, even though her name is in the series name, she wasn't in it that much.
Moore, the other detective, is more likeable.
Overall, I got almost what I expected. Almost. I'll probably try the second book.
February 15, 2024
Whoa. This one was a joyride, indeed.
A medical thriller that I could read all day. This felt so vivid. Like I'm part of the doctor's team trying to save lives. Give me a scalpel and I'm in. There were a lot of medical terms and jargons that I had to google them so I could fully understand. I just loved it.
In terms of the characters. Here's my two cents;
1. Moore - Soft-spoken, smart, respectful and a brilliant detective. What's not to like?
2. Catherine - Honestly, she is the heroine in this book. She is strong, a brilliant doctor and she's a survivor. She is the best thing about this book.
3. Rizzoli - Nah, what an unpleasant character this lady is. Ugh, I thought I'd warm up to her but she's just a completely unlikeable character. If not for Moore and Catherine, I would've dropped this no matter how good the plot is. I mean, yes, I get it, you are the only woman in the force and you have to prove yourself but damn, you don't have to be a bitch about it. She's just an empty shell. No sympathy, no emotions, no heart. Just a plain boring main character that I'd never want to read about again.
Yes, I do love this but that's not enough reason to continue reading the next books in the series. For me, the series ended with this first one. I cannot and will never tolerate an annoying main character. Haha.
A medical thriller that I could read all day. This felt so vivid. Like I'm part of the doctor's team trying to save lives. Give me a scalpel and I'm in. There were a lot of medical terms and jargons that I had to google them so I could fully understand. I just loved it.
In terms of the characters. Here's my two cents;
1. Moore - Soft-spoken, smart, respectful and a brilliant detective. What's not to like?
2. Catherine - Honestly, she is the heroine in this book. She is strong, a brilliant doctor and she's a survivor. She is the best thing about this book.
3. Rizzoli - Nah, what an unpleasant character this lady is. Ugh, I thought I'd warm up to her but she's just a completely unlikeable character. If not for Moore and Catherine, I would've dropped this no matter how good the plot is. I mean, yes, I get it, you are the only woman in the force and you have to prove yourself but damn, you don't have to be a bitch about it. She's just an empty shell. No sympathy, no emotions, no heart. Just a plain boring main character that I'd never want to read about again.
Yes, I do love this but that's not enough reason to continue reading the next books in the series. For me, the series ended with this first one. I cannot and will never tolerate an annoying main character. Haha.
January 4, 2014
Opening Line:"Today they will find her body."
The Surgeon has been dubbed as Rizzoli and Isles book #1 and even though this was a very good read I think anyone coming here as a fan of the TV series will be disappointed as the only similarities between the two is the name of one of the characters. Maura Isles is not in this story and Rizzoli is no Angie Harmon, (and probably one of the most dislikable heroines I’ve ever read- more on that later) If you’re at all sensitive to blood and vivid medical details (or rape) then this probably won’t work for you either as the surgical element here is graphic, bordering on overdeveloped –it’s pretty obvious that author Tess Gerritsen is a physician.
Having said all that, this was still a fantastic read. The writing is excellent, the story fast paced, and all the characters are well developed. The plot is suspenseful, gritty and terrifying concluding with one hell of a bad guy. In fact I would say this was hard to put down except for the fact that I was so creeped out I dreaded picking it up (does that make sense?) Anyways, I definitely felt the need for a change of pace after this, like chick-lit or something fluffy with puppies.
The Surgeon centers around a series of murders taking place in Boston. The young women are all found at home, in their bedrooms and the crime scenes are a bloody mess, the bodies sliced up and missing…an internal body part. The precision of the killer’s methods suggests a medical background and the media dub him “the surgeon”.
Investigating the murders are detectives Thomas Moore and his partner Jane Rizzoli -described as homely, self-loathing, jealous (and just downright bitchy) Through their investigation the police soon discover almost identical killings several years back in Georgia. However that case was closed when the victim fought back, shooting her attacker. Are these Boston slayings the work of a copycat then?
Seeking out that last victim, Moore and Rizzoli find Dr. Catherine Cordell, now also living in Boston. After consulting with her they discover that these new slayings are being recreated with chilling accuracy. As the murder spree continues “the surgeon” gets closer and closer to his intended victim, almost taunting the police and they can’t catch him, and they can’t protect Cordell from a ruthless hunter.
There is a bit of romance here to break up all the medical procedures but Rizzoli remains an unlikeable character throughout, with her guard up to such a degree that it’s no wonder none of her colleagues want to work with her. Luckily we get several other POV’s to choose from and Detective Thomas Moore was a welcome distraction. We also get inside the head of intended target and former victim Catherine Cordell and “the surgeon” himself who remained anonymous to me until the very end. His internal dialogue is freaky. Speaking of which this whole book freaked me out, it’s so well written but just not an enjoyable read, as it’s dark, vivid, bloody and quite the ride. I’ll be looking for more from Tess Gerritsen.
The Surgeon has been dubbed as Rizzoli and Isles book #1 and even though this was a very good read I think anyone coming here as a fan of the TV series will be disappointed as the only similarities between the two is the name of one of the characters. Maura Isles is not in this story and Rizzoli is no Angie Harmon, (and probably one of the most dislikable heroines I’ve ever read- more on that later) If you’re at all sensitive to blood and vivid medical details (or rape) then this probably won’t work for you either as the surgical element here is graphic, bordering on overdeveloped –it’s pretty obvious that author Tess Gerritsen is a physician.
Having said all that, this was still a fantastic read. The writing is excellent, the story fast paced, and all the characters are well developed. The plot is suspenseful, gritty and terrifying concluding with one hell of a bad guy. In fact I would say this was hard to put down except for the fact that I was so creeped out I dreaded picking it up (does that make sense?) Anyways, I definitely felt the need for a change of pace after this, like chick-lit or something fluffy with puppies.
The Surgeon centers around a series of murders taking place in Boston. The young women are all found at home, in their bedrooms and the crime scenes are a bloody mess, the bodies sliced up and missing…an internal body part. The precision of the killer’s methods suggests a medical background and the media dub him “the surgeon”.
Investigating the murders are detectives Thomas Moore and his partner Jane Rizzoli -described as homely, self-loathing, jealous (and just downright bitchy) Through their investigation the police soon discover almost identical killings several years back in Georgia. However that case was closed when the victim fought back, shooting her attacker. Are these Boston slayings the work of a copycat then?
Seeking out that last victim, Moore and Rizzoli find Dr. Catherine Cordell, now also living in Boston. After consulting with her they discover that these new slayings are being recreated with chilling accuracy. As the murder spree continues “the surgeon” gets closer and closer to his intended victim, almost taunting the police and they can’t catch him, and they can’t protect Cordell from a ruthless hunter.
There is a bit of romance here to break up all the medical procedures but Rizzoli remains an unlikeable character throughout, with her guard up to such a degree that it’s no wonder none of her colleagues want to work with her. Luckily we get several other POV’s to choose from and Detective Thomas Moore was a welcome distraction. We also get inside the head of intended target and former victim Catherine Cordell and “the surgeon” himself who remained anonymous to me until the very end. His internal dialogue is freaky. Speaking of which this whole book freaked me out, it’s so well written but just not an enjoyable read, as it’s dark, vivid, bloody and quite the ride. I’ll be looking for more from Tess Gerritsen.
June 27, 2024
Excellent crime procedural set in Boston featuring detectives Rizzoli and Moore. Rizzoli is a brash, slightly combative woman constantly defending her right to her place in the Boston detective squad while Moore is a polite, quiet officer committed to always doing the right thing.
Both find themselves making mistakes and making headway in the search for the identity of a fairly creepy killer— the Surgeon.
A really solid read from start to finish— unfortunately missing a star for two throw away lines that led me to the killer long before the detectives caught on.
Looking forward to the next one.
PS- No mention of anyone named Isles yet... gotta wonder why it’s called Rizzoli and Isles series? Guessing this is a prequel?
(Reviewed 3/31/19)
Both find themselves making mistakes and making headway in the search for the identity of a fairly creepy killer— the Surgeon.
A really solid read from start to finish— unfortunately missing a star for two throw away lines that led me to the killer long before the detectives caught on.
Looking forward to the next one.
PS- No mention of anyone named Isles yet... gotta wonder why it’s called Rizzoli and Isles series? Guessing this is a prequel?
(Reviewed 3/31/19)
May 8, 2011
If you're just coming into the Rizzoli and Isles books, be aware that these are very different from the AMC series. Dark, gruesome, and complicated, the series follows the strong Detective Jane Rizzoli through several fascinating cases. (Maura Isles plays a bigger role in the later books, though I'm not as big a fan of those that focus on her.) The writing is excellent, the stories are mostly consistently good, and they're terrific thrillers for fans of Chelsea Cain or Karin Slaughter.
March 5, 2017
Picked this one up on a whim and WOW did I enjoy it. I'd never read a Tess Gerritsen book before and I was hooked!! I can absolutely see why a TV show was made from her books - THE SURGEON reads like it's made for the screen. This book was fast-paced, totally addictive, and also totally chilling. It's a cop-vs-serial killer story with a twist: Gerritsen applies her own background in medicine to add a whole extra dimension to her crime novel. I loved the hospital setting, the medical details, and the creepy serial killer "The Surgeon." This is really just fast-paced entertainment!
March 31, 2018
Heart stopping read that kept me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails while reading as fast as I could turn the pages. Intense suspense at its best!
February 25, 2024
Поліцейський детектив про маніака-мізогіна, поведеного на крові й жорстокості.
Головна героїня, сильна й розумна жінка, яка виборює своє місце у вкрай чоловічому світі поліції, та й навіть у своїй тупій патріархальній родині. Вона жива, чесна, швидка й ерудована, виклика повагу й змушує співпереживати.
Її напарник, до нудоти правильний, безпомилковий святоша, який у першій же сумісній справі закохується у свідка (ну такі вони, святоші). А потім ще й повів себе максимально малодушно, коли вона була найбільш уразливою.
Вбивця, який захоплюється прадавніми ритуалами жертвоприношення різних народів, а на дозвіллі вирізає жінкам матки й вбиває.
Тут багато тригерних моментів, описів розтину й зґвалтувань, медичних подробиць. Але читається це напрочуд легко й захопливо. Цикл, звичайно ж, продовжу.
Головна героїня, сильна й розумна жінка, яка виборює своє місце у вкрай чоловічому світі поліції, та й навіть у своїй тупій патріархальній родині. Вона жива, чесна, швидка й ерудована, виклика повагу й змушує співпереживати.
Її напарник, до нудоти правильний, безпомилковий святоша, який у першій же сумісній справі закохується у свідка (ну такі вони, святоші). А потім ще й повів себе максимально малодушно, коли вона була найбільш уразливою.
Вбивця, який захоплюється прадавніми ритуалами жертвоприношення різних народів, а на дозвіллі вирізає жінкам матки й вбиває.
Тут багато тригерних моментів, описів розтину й зґвалтувань, медичних подробиць. Але читається це напрочуд легко й захопливо. Цикл, звичайно ж, продовжу.
December 13, 2020
The majority of the book sounds like a clinical police report of a horrible crime. Extreme level of detailed violence to the point that it just becomes disgusting and irritating. Too much medical terms.
I liked the TV show and that’s why I decided to give it a chance, but the two have pretty much nothing in common.
I liked the TV show and that’s why I decided to give it a chance, but the two have pretty much nothing in common.
August 28, 2017
Tess Gerritsen Fans Group Link - **my 2nd read**
The first book in series. Tess has medical school education at University of California. With that she writes with "extensive Medical terminology" easily understood. Her knowledge of Boston is nice.
Boston Homicide Unit's Jane Rizzoli & Thomas Moore lead a murder investigation in the South End with Elena Ortiz(22) raped, tied with duct tape, "catgut" stitches & a missing Uterus (female organ). They find Diana Sterling(30) was murdered last year with same technique & missing Uterus. They both lived near the same hospital. Anna, Diana's sister, claims a necklace on Elena belong to Diana, is it a murderer's souvenir from victim to victim link?
Boston Homicide finds Uterus' missing murders in Georgia. Dora Ciccone(22) a medical student is killed first. VICAP's database (violent criminal apprehension program) list 3 killed. Dr. Catherine Cordell attacked, escaped Dr. Andrew Capra, the suspect.
Catherine moved to Boston's Back Bay 1 month after the attack. Claims she got away & killed Dr. Capra? Took 1 year off, being afraid, now works at Boston's Pilgrim Medical Center/Hospital.
Catherine's internet username is CCORD & tells Det. Moore of a car's license plate "POSEY FIVE". They confirm Elena's internet user name was POSEY5. Catherine says they both used Boston's chat room, POST ("post-traumatic stress disorder") for "RAPE".
Boston Herald's headlines are bad "The Surgeon Cuts Again". Then you will need to figure out the link between the dead Dr. Capra & "The Surgeon from Chicago to Boston?
FYI only - this is the first book in the "Rizzoli & Isles" series - Det. Thomas Moore is Det. Jane Rizzoli's partner not Dr. Mauri Isles.
The first book in series. Tess has medical school education at University of California. With that she writes with "extensive Medical terminology" easily understood. Her knowledge of Boston is nice.
Boston Homicide Unit's Jane Rizzoli & Thomas Moore lead a murder investigation in the South End with Elena Ortiz(22) raped, tied with duct tape, "catgut" stitches & a missing Uterus (female organ). They find Diana Sterling(30) was murdered last year with same technique & missing Uterus. They both lived near the same hospital. Anna, Diana's sister, claims a necklace on Elena belong to Diana, is it a murderer's souvenir from victim to victim link?
Boston Homicide finds Uterus' missing murders in Georgia. Dora Ciccone(22) a medical student is killed first. VICAP's database (violent criminal apprehension program) list 3 killed. Dr. Catherine Cordell attacked, escaped Dr. Andrew Capra, the suspect.
Catherine moved to Boston's Back Bay 1 month after the attack. Claims she got away & killed Dr. Capra? Took 1 year off, being afraid, now works at Boston's Pilgrim Medical Center/Hospital.
Catherine's internet username is CCORD & tells Det. Moore of a car's license plate "POSEY FIVE". They confirm Elena's internet user name was POSEY5. Catherine says they both used Boston's chat room, POST ("post-traumatic stress disorder") for "RAPE".
Boston Herald's headlines are bad "The Surgeon Cuts Again". Then you will need to figure out the link between the dead Dr. Capra & "The Surgeon from Chicago to Boston?
FYI only - this is the first book in the "Rizzoli & Isles" series - Det. Thomas Moore is Det. Jane Rizzoli's partner not Dr. Mauri Isles.
June 13, 2015
This is a pretty creepy, fast paced medical thriller. Three years previously Catherine Cordell, an emergency trauma surgeon survived a viscous rape and attack by a depraved junior doctor who had raped, butchered and killed three other young women in Savanna. Living now in Boston, Catherine is slowly regaining her confidence and starting to feel safe when the police call to inform her that a similar series of murders have been occurring in Boston. At first Catherine doesn't believe there could be a link with the man who attacked her as she fought back, shooting and killing him. However, soon it becomes apparent that the present day killer is interested in her.....
The first book in the Rizzoli and Isles series, introduces us to Homicide detective Jane Rizzoli, a plain looking, dowdidly dressed but feisty woman with a chip on her shoulder from being unappreciated in her large family of brothers and constantly harrassed by her male colleagues. The writing is excellent with the medical and surgical scenes realistically described and the torture scenes almost too real. The plot moves along at a good pace gradually building the terror that Catherine feels as she worries that her worst nightmares about her past torture may be repeated. An excellent start to this series!
The first book in the Rizzoli and Isles series, introduces us to Homicide detective Jane Rizzoli, a plain looking, dowdidly dressed but feisty woman with a chip on her shoulder from being unappreciated in her large family of brothers and constantly harrassed by her male colleagues. The writing is excellent with the medical and surgical scenes realistically described and the torture scenes almost too real. The plot moves along at a good pace gradually building the terror that Catherine feels as she worries that her worst nightmares about her past torture may be repeated. An excellent start to this series!
May 19, 2010
The Surgeon is a remarkable, wonderfully well-written thriller. I had never read such an amazing story like this in my whole life. I am serious. The killer's speech feels so real! While reading, I had the feeling that someone was watching me, like... It's scary.
So many mysteries behind every little thing of the investigation... There's a moment when they induce hypnosis in the main victim, Catherine Cordell, so she can remember things from the crime scene, which is also minutely described. It's been carried with me forever, I don't know why, but I always remember this part. And, then, the end is pretty unexpected (at least, it was for me). I didn't even imagine who the killer would be, where he'd live, how would he act under certain circumstances of the story.
Tess is one of the best and I am so honored to have the opportunity of reading her books.
So many mysteries behind every little thing of the investigation... There's a moment when they induce hypnosis in the main victim, Catherine Cordell, so she can remember things from the crime scene, which is also minutely described. It's been carried with me forever, I don't know why, but I always remember this part. And, then, the end is pretty unexpected (at least, it was for me). I didn't even imagine who the killer would be, where he'd live, how would he act under certain circumstances of the story.
Tess is one of the best and I am so honored to have the opportunity of reading her books.
June 16, 2020
5 sterren - Nederlandse paperback
Het verhaal begint met een veelbelovende proloog die nieuwsgierig maakt, maar ook het ergste al doet vermoeden. Deze proloog wordt verteld vanuit het perspectief van de dader en is, in tegenstelling tot het eigenlijke verhaal, geschreven in de ik-vorm. Door deze opzet, maar ook omdat het verhaal van de dader cursief gedrukt is, bestaat er geen enkele onduidelijkheid door wiens ogen gekeken moet worden. Gerritsen slaagt er hierdoor in om de lezer vanaf het begin te boeien. Dit wordt versterkt doordat de spannende momenten per hoofdstuk toenemen. Daarover hoeft sowieso niet geklaagd te worden, want zelfs een spoedoperatie wordt dusdanig beschreven dat de spanning hiervan zienderogen toeneemt.
In een vlot geschreven stijl loodst de auteur de lezer in een aanvankelijk rustig, maar soms ook wel verhoogd tempo door het boek heen. Omdat het een medische thriller is, komen er vanzelfsprekend medische termen in voor. Maar om de spanning te voelen heb je geen medische kennis nodig vind ik. Maar ik heb een medische achtergrond. Misschien is dat de oorzaak.
De chirurg is het eerste uit, zo is inmiddels gebleken, een serie met rechercheur Rizzoli. Haar personage wordt voldoende uitgewerkt om al een goede indruk van haar te kunnen krijgen. Toch valt het op dat haar partner Thomas Moore het belangrijkst lijkt en misschien ook wel is. Over hem kom je meer dan genoeg te weten om je een duidelijk beeld van hem te kunnen vormen. De uitwerking van deze twee personages, maar in feite ook dat van Catherine Cordell, draagt dit eerste deel in de serie.
Het verhaal begint met een veelbelovende proloog die nieuwsgierig maakt, maar ook het ergste al doet vermoeden. Deze proloog wordt verteld vanuit het perspectief van de dader en is, in tegenstelling tot het eigenlijke verhaal, geschreven in de ik-vorm. Door deze opzet, maar ook omdat het verhaal van de dader cursief gedrukt is, bestaat er geen enkele onduidelijkheid door wiens ogen gekeken moet worden. Gerritsen slaagt er hierdoor in om de lezer vanaf het begin te boeien. Dit wordt versterkt doordat de spannende momenten per hoofdstuk toenemen. Daarover hoeft sowieso niet geklaagd te worden, want zelfs een spoedoperatie wordt dusdanig beschreven dat de spanning hiervan zienderogen toeneemt.
In een vlot geschreven stijl loodst de auteur de lezer in een aanvankelijk rustig, maar soms ook wel verhoogd tempo door het boek heen. Omdat het een medische thriller is, komen er vanzelfsprekend medische termen in voor. Maar om de spanning te voelen heb je geen medische kennis nodig vind ik. Maar ik heb een medische achtergrond. Misschien is dat de oorzaak.
De chirurg is het eerste uit, zo is inmiddels gebleken, een serie met rechercheur Rizzoli. Haar personage wordt voldoende uitgewerkt om al een goede indruk van haar te kunnen krijgen. Toch valt het op dat haar partner Thomas Moore het belangrijkst lijkt en misschien ook wel is. Over hem kom je meer dan genoeg te weten om je een duidelijk beeld van hem te kunnen vormen. De uitwerking van deze twee personages, maar in feite ook dat van Catherine Cordell, draagt dit eerste deel in de serie.
June 13, 2017
This one grabbed me from the first chapter and kept the pages flying. Not since "The Silence of the Lambs" have I felt so compelled to finish a book. This one creeped me out! I found myself hearing noises in my house late at night.
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