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The Silent Girl: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel
The Silent Girl: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel
The Silent Girl: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel
Audiobook10 hours

The Silent Girl: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel

Written by Tess Gerritsen

Narrated by Tanya Eby

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

In the murky shadows of an alley lies a female’s severed hand. On the tenement rooftop above is the corpse belonging to that hand, a red-haired woman dressed all in black, the body nearly decapitated. Two strands of silver hair—not human—cling to her body. They are Rizzoli’s only clues, but they’re enough for her and medical examiner Maura Isles to make a startling discovery: This violent death had a chilling prequel.

Nineteen years earlier, a horrifying murder-suicide in a Chinatown restaurant left five people dead. One woman connected to that massacre is still alive: a mysterious martial arts master who knows a secret she dares not tell, a secret that lives and breathes in the shadows of Chinatown. A secret that may not even be human. Now she’s the target of someone, or something, deeply and relentlessly evil.

Cracking a crime resonating with bone-chilling echoes of an ancient Chinese legend, Rizzoli and Isles must outwit an unseen enemy with centuries of cunning—and a swift, avenging blade.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateJul 5, 2011
ISBN9781423392156
The Silent Girl: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel
Author

Tess Gerritsen

New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen earned international acclaim for her first novel of suspense, Harvest. She introduced Detective Jane Rizzoli in The Surgeon (2001) and Dr. Maura Isles in The Apprentice (2002) and has gone on to write numerous other titles in the celebrated Rizzoli & Isles series, most recently The Mephisto Club, The Keepsake, Ice Cold, The Silent Girl, Last to Die, Die Again, and I Know a Secret. Her latest standalone thrillers are Playing with Fire and The Shape of Night. A physician, Tess Gerritsen lives in Maine.

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Reviews for The Silent Girl

Rating: 4.1168342160804015 out of 5 stars
4/5

398 ratings68 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The Silent Girl
    3 Stars

    First 1/3 is slow and lacks direction, however, the book becomes more enjoyable once the action heats up and things begin to make sense.

    The character development is virtually non-existent and what little there is in the form of Maura's conflict with the men-in-blue and the progression of Angela Rizzoli's relationship with Vince Korsak feels tacked on.

    The mystery of the massacre at a Chinese restaurant and the missing girls is intriguing but the resolution is predictable and the villain obvious. Moreover, not enough detail is provided concerning the underlying crimes and the answers, rather than stemming from strong investigative skills, are merely handed to the reader on a silver platter.

    All in all, the last two installments in the Rizzoli and Isles series have not lived up to their potential. I only hope that the next one is better.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A decent, layered crime/detective story. I liked the story. The glib and cliched comments and conversation of Jane Rizzoli, the main character, and some of her colleagues weren't realistic, though it seems some people enjoy this sort of exchange. Even the most seasoned professional dealing with death, bodies, and threats wouldn't have made many of the offhand comments in this story. Black humor is one thing and it exists, but not in every situation.

    For me, this wasn't a riveting story, but I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it. It was good. If you don't mind the repetition and sometimes outrageous attitudes, you might like this book. It had some very good moments. There was too much "telling", not allowing the reader to deduce things. This is writing down to an audience and it doesn't work for me.

    I listened to this book on a Playaway from the library and the reader was quite good.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Tess Gerritsen is a master storyteller. I have read many of her books, and her latest thriller, The Silent Girl, is just as intruiging. Her style of writing is fantastic. I have read hundreds of mysteries and many times the writing is trite and the storylines expected. Tess Gerritsen stands out from the rest. Her stories are always unique with plot twists that even experienced mystery readers don’t expect. I was excited to learn that TNT has a series featuring the main characters from The Silent Girl (Rizzoli and Isles, also featured in some of her other books) that will be returning on July 11, 2011. I will definitely set my DVR. Hopefully TNT will air a marathon on Season 1 before Season 2 begins. I just hope the show captures the amazing books by Tess Gerristen.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The last few chapters were my favorites. While Tess is one of my favorite authors, I found the story a bit confusing until the final chapters when it all came together. Great book, when u listen to it just pay close attention.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Silent Girl by Tess Gerritsen is a the latest Rizzoli and Isles novel which brings readers into Boston’s Chinatown where a gruesome murder scene leads homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles into an investigation that ultimately uncovers dark, evil secrets and a 19-year-old murder-suicide case. Chillingly sinister forces lay beneath the clues to the murder, as Rizzoli and Isles discover in their investigation that unearths voices rooted in Chinese folklore and legend. Gerritsen hits the mark in this thrilling story that will captivate Rizzoli and Isles fans as well as draw in new thriller fans. If you liked other Gerritsen novels, The Silent Girl is a must read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Tess Gerritsen is a master storyteller. I have read many of her books, and her latest thriller, The Silent Girl, is just as intruiging. Her style of writing is fantastic. I have read hundreds of mysteries and many times the writing is trite and the storylines expected. Tess Gerritsen stands out from the rest. Her stories are always unique with plot twists that even experienced mystery readers don’t expect. I was excited to learn that TNT has a series featuring the main characters from The Silent Girl (Rizzoli and Isles, also featured in some of her other books) that will be returning on July 11, 2011. I will definitely set my DVR. Hopefully TNT will air a marathon on Season 1 before Season 2 begins. I just hope the show captures the amazing books by Tess Gerristen.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the best yet in the Rizzoli & Isles series. The story is entertaining, the characters so real, you feel as if you know them personally. The mystery has a wonderful twist and a very satisfying ending.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wow! Another great plot full of intrigue and suspense with excellent narration.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My favorite Rizzoli and Isles book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I love the Chinese martial arts and folklore added to this story. I am intrigued by the introduction of detective Tam, I hope to see him in other stories. I loved the intrigue involved when an old mystery and a new crime seem related. Rizzoli and Isles continue to grow as characters.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a fast-paced reading. In the beginning I was just collecting loose ends as Jane Rizzoli was doing so. By and by I was able to put the pieces together. Nevertheless it was very enthralling.The story is positioned in Boston's Chinatown even though the evil ones aren't Chinese. From the very beginning all characters are in position and therefore it makes the guessing so interesting. The main question is who has abducted all the young girls many years ago and why? There is old Chinese mythology involved as well as western crime.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The story starts with Maura Isles having to deal with giving evidence against a policeman, which colours the rest of the story in the relationship she has with the other cops in the story. Rizzoli is dealing with her daughter and sleep deprivation and her husband trying to respect her but also keep her safe, which is a difficult balance. The case they investigate starts when a severed hand is found in Chinatown that leads to a reopening of an almost 20year old case and finding some horrible truths that change the story of what happened.I found it slow to start, but really enjoyed it after a while.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Wo hört Recht auf Gerecht zu sein und wann ist die Selbstjustiz der einzige Weg zur Gerechtigkeit? Wer sich diese Frage beantworten kann, der sollte dennoch mitfühlend sein, denen gegenüber, die es nicht können. Besonders da man immer wieder erlebt, dass die Justiz leider auch den Ungerechten viel zu oft zu ihrem Recht verhilft. Der Grad dazwischen ist manchmal sehr schmal, was man in diesem Buch wieder einmal hervorragend sehen kann.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Read it on my Nook. It was another terrific addition to this series. I love reading these books, but I am starting to feel a little sad that I am almost caught up with the author and will have to wait for new releases.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I am a big fan of Rizzoli & Isles on TV. Reading this book was a little disorienting, since it seems to be further in the future than the TV series. However, once I got my head around the differences, I truly enjoyed this book. The unpredictable twists and turns make this novel highly entertaining reading. My only gripe is that Maura, my favourite character in the show, did not appear anywhere near enough in the book. A must-read for any Rizzoli & Isles fan.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I liked this installment of Rizzoli & Isles a bit more than the last. When a couple hit(wo)men end up dead in Boston's Chinatown, Rizzoli and Frost explore old mysteries surrounding a 20 year old murder/suicide and some missing girls. A new character is introduced and Korsak and Mama Rizzoli are getting married. Look out. The Chinese legends and history are woven in nicely. Maura needs to stop pining for the priest. This book was pretty good.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This case initially concerns a mass shooting in a restaurant but soon turns to the trail of a number of missing young girls. Maura Isles has a minor part to play as the investigation is run by Jane Rizzoli. A severed hand is found by a member of a group touring Chinatown, which features strongly in this story. Tess Gerritsen is a master story teller and 'The Silent Girl' does not let her down,in fact I found this latest book to be one of my favorites.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The problem with a book that's written this well is that it really gets to you. When it's written in the city you live in and about 12-yr-old girls disappearing when you have a 12-yr-old daughter, well, that doesn't help matters. To be honest, if I'd known that that was a part of it I might not have picked this up; it's just too close to home. And yet it was so well written that I'm not sorry I did. (Well, until tonight when I start having nightmares, but that's another story.)I remember reading one of Tess Gerritsen's earliest novels, back before Rizzoli & Isles, and being impressed. When the Rizzoli & Isles show came on I didn't put the two together, not having realized that Gerritsen had moved on beyond the medical thrillers. I sought out one of her R&I books and was reminded at how good of a writer she was -- but the suspense was so much that I didn't go back right away. For some reason this week I've been on a keep-me-on-the-edge thriller kick, however, so I specifically picked up _The Silent Girl_.One of the first things about the R&I series is that there are some distinct differences between the books and the show, particularly in the roster of Rizzoli's colleagues. In the books, Rizzoli also is married and has a child. With that said, the characterizations of both Rizzoli and Isles are so well portrayed on the TNT show that it was hard not to picture those actresses as I read. As other reviewers have said, the focus here is more on Rizzoli, although I didn't see that as a problem. Their relationship was a major thread of the book, at least enough so for me to be satisfied. The Chinatown/martial arts piece was the more prevailing part and excellently handled. Which makes sense, of course, since Gerritsen herself is Chinese. (Although, funnily enough, the Rizzoli voice is so strong that I forgot this and was instead picturing her as Italian, but that's neither here nor there.) I also really enjoyed the strong female characters in this book, particularly Iris Fang. And the way that it all came together in the end. Saying too much more would give it away and I don't want to do that so I'll stop it here, but I highly recommend that you give this book a try.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book with the background of Chinese woman warriors and the sense of family loyalty. Gerritsen is a physician and an excellent writer. I thought that her novel would be too technical, but Patricia Cornwall goes into more detail in describing an autopsy. Gerritsen presents likeable characters. I enjoy the friendship between Jane Rizzoli and Dr Maura Isles. I liked the way that the story progressed through first person narrative with two different women relaying the story. I definitely plan to read more books written by Tess Gerritsen.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another satisfying thriller from Gerritsen, less about Isles, more about Rizzoli. Set in exotic Chinatown, with threads of missing girls, violent killings, Irish Mafia, and personal relationships, this mystery contains some surprises that keep the action moving along nicely.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This review will be posted on my blog on August 27th. I haven't really read any of Gerritsen's long stories in the Rizzoli and Isles series so I wasn't too familiar with her work. However, I wasn't disappointed with this book. It's very well written. It has the perfect balance of description and moving along with the plotline so the story never really gets boring. There is also a nice balance between police detective work and forensic evidence from Dr. Isles to wrap up the mystery neatly and nicely. Also, another really great thing about this book is that it doesn't give away important plot twists until right before the character reveals their knowledge about characters or events themselves. There were several times in this novel I didn't come to the conclusion that I knew the truth until right before it was explained to me. Also, the wrap up at the end revealed an aspect that I didn't see coming. I think too many novels make things wrap up too easily, revealing everything too early so it becomes a chore to read, but not this book. It's a great read and a nice way to keep up with the characters Rizzoli and Isles if you hate waiting for the TV show on Monday nights. My only real complaint I suppose, is I expected more action from Rizzoli in the climax of this novel. It was a bit disappointing.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Tess Gerritsen never disappoints. I like her novels very much, and wouldn't want to miss one of them. This novel is better than the previous one, I think. I especially liked the unexpected ending.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Something inhuman is stalking the alleys and rooftops of Boston’s Chinatown, something swift, mythical and seemingly bent on exacting deadly vengeance for a two-decade old massacre in which an illegal immigrant killed four people before turning the gun on himself. Or did he? Boston PD detective Jane Rizzoli teams up with her friend Maura Isles, the medical examiner, in a case that involves present murders with ties to a series of missing girls and a 19 year old murder suicide, yet the deeper they dig the more they begin the doubt the accepted story of the old killings and to discover incongruous but lethal links between past and present. And just ahead of them every step of the way is the barely glimpsed Monkey King, an old Chinese legend come to life, and despite the assistance of a Chinese detective, they are getting very little information from the inhabitants of Chinatown who remain convinced there is a mystery still to be solved and injustice to be righted.Martial arts, missing girls, paedophiles, post mortems, Tess Gerritsen brings all the threads together and delves into her own cultural legacy to bring us the ninth in the Rizzoli and Isles series, another first-class page turner.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Great book, couldn't put it down!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A human hand is found during a ghost tour in Chinatown. On the roof of a building is the rest of the body of a woman with no I.D. and a gun lying nearby, a gun she had possibly used to kill her attacker. The investigation leads to a murder-suicide that took place nineteen years ago at the Red Phoenix restaurant in Chinatown. One thin thread connecting the murders is the disappearance of two young girls. Maura Isles meanwhile is entertaining “Rat,” a young boy who had saved her life in a previous book. Having seen enough violence in his young life, seeing autopsy photos from the murder-suicide doesn’t appear to bother him. Matter of fact, he points out something interesting that Maura feels worth following up on. Johnny Tam, a detective from another district, would hope to someday work in Homicide. Since Detective Jane Rizzoli needs an interpreter in order to question Chinatown residents, Tam offers his assistance. Interwoven in the case is the history of the mythical Monkey King who stands on the side of justice. When chasing after a suspect in a dark alley, Jane was almost killed but “something” came up behind her attacker and decapitated him in one clean hit, the same as the victim found on the roof. All she saw was a shadow, silver hair and teeth. An animal hair had been found on the first victim, possibly belonging to a monkey. Jane suspects Iris Fang knows more than she is letting on. She is the widow of the waiter killed in the Red Phoenix case. She is accused by others of sending out notes on the anniversary of the massacre stating “I know what really happened.” When a retired cop is murdered after following leads, Jane suspects he was onto something, linking the current murders to the Red Phoenix massacre and other missing girls. Another compelling installment in the Rizzoli & Isles series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Ms. Gerritsen is a must-read author for me. I don't even read the book blurb, I just pick them up and read. I waited on the library's wait list for this book, when I got it home and read the blurb, I almost took it right back. It didn't sound like my cup of tea. But, I decided I would regret not trying it and so I did. Well, I can definitely say that I am so glad with my decision. I enjoyed this book so much! I look forward to the next installment, and I sure do hope we get to find out a little bit more about Detective Tam! Highly recommended!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I would give this 4 and three quarters stars if I could because it is ALMOST as good as Scarecrow by Michael Connelly. this is the kind of book that makes you go search for the earlier books in the series to see if they're all this good.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The discovery of a body with one hand perfectly sliced from its arm brings up an old crime in Boston's Chinatown, where a restaurant of people were massacred 20 years ago. While Maura Isles is ostracized for testifying against a cop, Jane Rizzoli investigates and tries to find the link between the massacre, several missing girls, and a shadowy creature who seems to be the legendary Monkey King.I read that this was a personal book for the author, and I can see that in some of the details about Chinatown and the Monkey King. I wanted more, though. Somehow Maura Isles was nearly absent from this book and Jane had a dismissive perspective for a lot of the story. The mystery was good, though it was easy to guess the resolution. Not the best in the Rizzoli/Isles series but worth a read as a fair thriller.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Latest in the Rizzoli & Isles series, this one was very good. It involves a 20 year old murder and a good deal of Chinese mysticism. I especially enjoyed the story of The Monkey King, which I confirmed with a friend from China is indeed a fairy tale told to young children.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Advanced Reader Copy received from LTER. Jane Rizzoli, Boston murder detective investigates the mysteries death of a Jane Doe found without a hand on the roof of a Chinatown cursed restaurant.This is a great story that involves a cold case, a new case, serial murders and Boston's China town with it's own Chinese folklore. Gerritsen does a fine job weaving these elements into a fast pace thriller. The only problem I had was I've started this series with number one and then jumped to the latest in the series. I think I missed some of the drawn out character development of not only the protagonists but the supporting characters one gets by staying with a long series.