Sunday, December 7, 2014

Review: Die Again by Tess Gerritsen




Tess Gerritsen is back with another Rizzoli and Isles crime thriller spanning all the way across the bush in Botswana where there is a killer more sinister than the hunting leopard. Die Again tells the story of an adventure in Africa turned nightmare. A group of people travel into the bush in order to get a closer look at what it means to live in the wild. Before long, they become hunted, and it ain't by no lions or tigers.

Six years later, Rizolli and Isles are called to an horrific crime scene where a world renowned taxidermist, Leon Gott, is gutted similarly to the way big game is done. But his remains are not all they find. Before long, the investigation leads them to the bush, where six years earlier, a group of tourists disappeared. Or did they? Mwahahahaaaa...

Anyway, I have been a fan of Tess Gerritsen's work for a long time. She has a way of writing suspenseful, yet informative novels that refuse to let go. These novels are descriptive, especially when it comes to the human body or autopsy scenes. Gerritsen is a doctor, so expect to be amazed... or at least a little grossed out. Once I begin one of her books, it's not an option not to finish it. Die Again is no different. 

Although I'm a huge fan of Gerritsen's, I'm still able to read all her novel's objectively. How? Do you ask? Because she can afford to have an honest review or two. My honesty will not make or break her. When Die Again starts, it's clear that we are not trudging along the mean streets of Boston. It is actually a narrative. A really good narrative that brings to life the Botswana bush and invigorates the senses. It is here Gerritsen proves how well she writes. The animals come to life, the character's senses are heightened, and the sense of tension is palpable. I could have stayed in those moments forever.

Sadly, Gerritsen didn't give much attention to detail on the Boston side of things. I want to believe it's because followers of this series don't need too much detail. Detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles need no introduction. For those of us familiar with them, they need no introduction. For others living under a rock, they may want to steer clear of reading this without first checking out prior works in this series. They will be doing themselves a favor.

The one other thing I noticed that kinda made my gears grind was how chick-litish the book really was. When they weren't talking about the perp who is haunting his prey, the characters are talking love, romance, nonsensical things that have no bearing on a crime thriller. I know it's been a while since I've read any books in this series, but were they always so soft? Even bad-ass Rizzoli seemed less... bad-ass.

Anyway, besides my one major gripe, Die Again comes highly recommended. I enjoyed reading every page. Tess Gerritsen always manages to make the tension real enough to feel. I look forward to hunting down the next Gerritsen novel. ****

Copy provided by Random House via Netgalley

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