Die Again (Rizzoli & Isles, #11)

by Tess Gerritsen

"Detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles are back--and they're going into the wild to find a killer. Die Again is the latest heart-pounding thriller in Tess Gerritsen's New York Times bestselling series, the inspiration behind TNT's hit show Rizzoli & Isles. When Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles are summoned to a crime scene, they find a killing worthy of the most ferocious beast--right down to the claw marks on the corpse. But only the most sinister human hands could have left renowned big-game hunter and taxidermist Leon Gott gruesomely displayed like the once-proud animals whose heads adorn his walls. Did Gott unwittingly awaken a predator more dangerous than any he's ever hunted? Maura fears that this isn't the killer's first slaughter, and that it won't be the last. After linking the crime to a series of unsolved homicides in wilderness areas across the country, she wonders if the answers might actually be found in a remote corner of Africa. Six years earlier, a group of tourists on safari fell prey to a killer in their midst. Marooned deep in the bush of Botswana, with no means of communication and nothing but a rifle-toting guide for protection, the terrified tourists desperately hoped for rescue before their worst instincts--or the wild animals prowling in the shadows--could tear them apart. But the deadliest predator was already among them, and within a week, he walked away with the blood of all but one of them on his hands. Now this killer has chosen Boston as his new hunting ground, and Rizzoli and Isles must find a way to lure him out of the shadows and into a cage. Even if it means dangling the bait no hunter can resist: the one victim who got away. Praise for Tess Gerritsen "[Gerritsen] has an imagination that allows her to conjure up depths of human behavior so dark and frightening that she makes Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft seem like goody-two-shoes."--Chicago Tribune Last to Die "An exciting and puzzling mystery. a key book in a series that keeps getting better and better."--Bookreporter "Gerritsen skillfully heightens the tension right up to the suspenseful ending."--Booklist The Silent Girl "Suspense doesn't get smarter than this. Not just recommended but mandatory."--Lee Child "Another great thrill ride. one of Gerritsen's best."--Associated Press"--

"Boston Detective Jane Rizzoli is on the case of a big game hunter found dead in his apartment, alone with the body of a beautiful white snow leopard he had recently been commissioned to procure and stuff for a high-profile museum in the area. Medical examiner Maura Isles connects the case to a number of seemingly unrelated deaths where the victims have all been found hanging upside down, the hallmark of a leopard's kill. Rizzoli follows the puzzling trail of clues all the way to Botswana, where she uncovers the unsolved mystery of a deadly camping safari four years prior. When she realizes the two cases are connected, Rizzoli must track down the sole survivor of the tragic trip to discover who - or what - is behind these gruesome deaths"--

• ISBN10: 0345543858
• ISBN13: 9780345543851
• Publish Date: 30 December 2014 (first published 1 January 2014)
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Imprint: Ballantine Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[kimbacaffeinate]

Five reasons to curl up with Die Again

• I was a fan before the Rizzoli & Isles series became a blockbuster hit on TNT. I enjoy watching the show with my husband but there are significant differences. We all know the book is ALWAYS better. While we get to know the main characters intimately throughout the series, each book will work as a standalone. The author is very effective at providing character background without boring the established fan base.


• The case gives us two stories one that takes place in the jungles of Botswana six years ago and a current case in Boston, MA involving similar murders. I found the chapters involving Botswana deliciously creepy and utterly fascinating. The case in Boston is horrifying, but when Maura discovers similarities in another case, she begins to dig. Gerristen shares a captivating story as she slowly weaves the two stories together.


• The characters are wonderfully developed from Jane and her Italian family to Maura who dresses to kill. For fans of the series, we see movement with Jane’s parents. I am not happy, but coming from a traditional family, I understood. Gabriel and Jane travel together, and I like spending time with them. If you are looking for romance the series itself has one, but Gerristen keeps these side stories in the background as the case takes center stage. Do not look for heat in Die Again but expect to connect to the characters.


• Gerritsen’s medical background brings a technical authenticity to the story, particularly with regard to the forensic evidence and autopsies. I enjoy all of the details and interesting tid-bit that are shared concerning the present case. Despite all the technical jargon, the author carefully explains things without overwhelming the reader.


• Suspenseful and captivating Die Again is well paced as we along with the Boston PD piece together clues, linking seemingly unconnected cases together. The plot is tight as Gerristen has honed her craft offering a believability that is chilling to watch unfold. I love how dark and gritty the tale can become, yet at the same time the characters, their interactions and friendships lighten the story. It creates a unique balance I have come to love in this series.

Copy provided by publisherThis review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Leah]

Tess Gerritsen is one of the only crime writers I read regularly. I do enjoy crime novels, but it takes quite an author to make an impression on me and I'm wary of trying new authors and prefer to stick to what I know crime wise (so if you have some recommendations for authors similar to Gerritsen, let me know please!). It's been a while since the last Gerritsen book though and I nearly died of excitement when I heard Rizzoli & Isles #10 was ago! I was even happier when it appeared on Netgalley, and I was auto-approved. *does auto-approval dance* I couldn't wait to get stuck in to Die Again and I wasn't disappointed.

If I'm remembering correctly, Die Again is the first of Gerritsen's Rizzoli & Isles novels to feature the first-person narrative. It actually swings between the first- and third-person. First person tells the story of Millie Jacobson, on safari in Botswana and at first it seems like a fun trip, until it all starts to go horribly wrong, and I really loved that part of the story. I've never read a book about a safari before, and never a proper safari with tents and sleeping out in the open and I bet it was so cool to research.

The third person was of course the Boston narrative, with Jane and Maura working a homicide. It was really interesting to see how the Boston murder and Millie's Botswana trip were tied together, and I was definitely surprised by the outcome. Even after 10 Rizzoli and Isles books, Gerritsen still manages to surprise me and that's what I love about her as an author. Her plot twists aren't gasp worthy but they're still significant, still surprising.

Probably my only issue with Die Again was the fact Maura's life has stalled. For two novels now she's debated leaving Boston with no resolution in sight and I'm a bit sick of hearing about Daniel Brophy. It's time for Sansone to take centre stage I feel. It's been teased since The Mephisto Club and it still hasn't turned in to anything. Apart from that I thoroughly enjoyed Die Again. It was another excellent, gripping novel and I just adored the bits set in Botswana, it really added another dimension to the novel. I can't wait for the next Rizzoli and Isles book. It can't come soon enough for me!{Leah Loves} http://leah-loves.com http://leah-loves.com/die-tess-gerritsen/