Fabulous crime thriller as always! Highly recommend to others! Tess Gerritsen never fails to disappoint, and this is one of her best.

I Know a Secret is book 12 in the Rizzoli & Isles series. This is a series I've thoroughly enjoyed over the years and I Know a Secret is yet another thrilling addition to the series.

Boston Detectives Jane Rizzoli and Barry Frost and Medical Examiner, Dr Maura Isles, are investigating a particularly gory murder of a young filmmaker, Cassandra Coyle. When another body is discovered, Jane suspects that the two murders are related but how and, more importantly, why...?  The plot is twisty and tense as they face a race against time to find the evidence and unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again. Gerritsen is always one step ahead, keeping the reader guessing until the very end.

Meanwhile, in an interesting subplot, Maura's past is back to haunt her as she visits her biological mother's (serial killer Amalthea Lank) bedside - death certainly is their family business!

I Know a Secret may be part of a series, however it can be read as a standalone novel. The author manages to cleverly include just the right amount of backstory whilst managing to keep a good pace to the developing plot.

The story is pretty dark and the murders are fairly gruesome, so be warned! This book is gritty, absorbing and a real page-turner. Another gripping read from Gerritsen. I'm now eagerly awaiting book 13 in the series!

I’ve read and loved this authors books in the past but unfortunately I struggled through this book. Not one of her best in my opinion.

I always enjoy these Rizzoli and Isles books and this one was exceptional and just could not put it down. Hooked a brilliant book so gripping another gripping plpt

This is the twelfth in the Rizzioli ad Isles series, and Tess Gerritsen has done it again! Fast becoming one of my favourite thriller authors, Gerritsen has really mastered creating unputdownable stories which explore complex issues and characters without ever dropping the fast pace.

The story opens, as most of them do, with a body. This one is of Cassandra Coyle, a young amateur film maker who specialises in the horror genre. There’s something horrific about her death too; her eyes have been gauged out and placed in her had post-mortem. Our resident Doctor, Maura Isles, struggles to identify a cause of death, and so the mystery begins.

The characters shine through again in this instalment; I love the story arc of Jane Rizzioli and Maura Isles and their strong friendship (although I don’t think you need to read all the books in order to enjoy this one), unbroken by the countless murders the two have seen. In this novel we have a third point of view, Holly. Holly was fascinating to read as well – she certainly knows a few secrets and it’s unclear until the very end whether she’s a culprit or another victim.

The body count and the suspect list increases, as Gerritsen unfolds a mystery which stems back decades, linking to an old unsolved case of a missing nine-year-old girl, and a scandalous child abuse case which connects the victims. It’s one which not only kept me on tenterhooks, but it’s deeper and more multilayered than many in this genre.

I already know that Gerritsen has a background in medicine which helps with those oh-so-authentic (and gory) autopsy scenes, but this novel feels well researched in other areas too. The tale is rich in symbolism, from religious iconography to to horror movie classics, and clues are scattered behind throwaway lines, just tantalisingly hidden from view until the big reveal. It’s an intelligent story, yet it’s a page-turner too – a rare and extremely satisfying combination.

3.5★
“‘This guy was so clean he would’ve squeaked.’

‘Or so everyone believes.’

‘Yeah.’ Jane shrugged. ‘You never know what the truth is.’ Every human being had secrets, and too often it was Maura who uncovered them: The upstanding citizen found dead with child porn clutched in his lifeless hand. Or the perfect society wife with the syringe of heroin and a needle still embedded in her arm.

Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles are the popular duo who inspired the TV series “Rizzoli and Isles”. Jane does the policing, Maura the scientific evaluation. I’ve not read others in the series, but this works fine as a stand-alone.

A macabre killing followed by another macabre killing has them puzzled. Is there a connection and if so what? As they question and investigate, they find a possible link to an older murder.

Points of view change with various chapters narrated by them or by another character. Holly works in PR, promoting the ghosted autobiography of a popular actress.

“Hundreds of brainiacs, the future leaders of the free world, have come to worship at the feet of Victoria Avalon, who, and I swear this is true, once asked me: ‘How do you spell IQ?’ The large crowd has made Victoria very happy tonight.”

Holly hates her job and has plenty of reasons to drown her sorrows and find pleasure where she can. She’s pretty free and loose and quick to judge.

“He’s a few years older than I am, in his mid-thirties, with a lean athletic build, blue eyes, and wheat-colored hair. I deduct a few points because he’s drinking a latte, and at this time of night, real men drink espresso. I’m willing to overlook that flaw because of those gorgeous blue eyes.”

So, one thing leads to another and he becomes a bit unexpectedly clingy. Hmmm. . . .

“It has been my experience that 90 percent of men my age don’t want to wake up with a woman. They’d rather hook up with a girl they found on Tinder, enjoy their quickie, then go their merry way. No dinner, no date, no need to rack their poor little brains for topics of conversation. We’re all like billiard balls these days, briefly bouncing up against each other and then rolling away.”

Maura and Jane probably wouldn't share Holly's opinion! Jane has a small child, and Maura visits her evil, estranged biological mother in hospital, which deeply affects how she views the grim facts of this case. Her kindly adoptive parents (Mr and Mrs Isles), have died, so she's got no family support.

“Through the cubicle window, Maura saw Amalthea’s eyes slowly open. One bony finger beckoned to her, a gesture as chilling as the command of Satan’s claw.

Her mother says Maura has inherited her interest in death (autopsies, etc) from the dark side of her mother's nature. She sure hopes not, but it's a frightening thought.

Needless to say, this is a who-dunnit, but I have to admit that I didn’t really much care who did what, and I also pretty much guessed, but I’m sure fans of the series will enjoy it. Perhaps it is more enjoyable for those familiar with the back stories of Rizzoli and Isles.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the preview copy from which I’ve quoted.

This is the latest Rizzoli and Isles book.

Jane Rizzoli is a police detective based in Boston. She comes from an Italian family with its warm familial background and lots of details about her mum's cooking. BUT, the men in her family are the worst kind of male chauvinistic pigs you could ever hope to find and regularly reduced me to speechless rage. They don't think much of what she does and her male colleagues at work, one in particular, are also pretty sexist and unhelpful. Jane is small, feisty with curly hair and a raging determination to prove that she is as good, if not better, than
her colleagues. And of course she is.

Her partner in this series and, later, a good friend is Maura Isles the police forensic surgeon. Tall, elegant, straight black hair and cool in her manner and speech she is a complete contrast to Jane. Her job is all she has, no family and very few friends and, as the series progresses, we learn why.

I Know a Secret is the twelfth in the RIzzoli and Isles series and, unlike other series I have read, do not seem to suffer that 'dip' in standards that I have spotted in others. It must be difficult to keep a fresh outlook and be interested in your characters but Tess Gerritsen has created two really interesting protagonists and the more you learn about them, the more you invest in them and want to find out about their lives and their feelings. Only good writing does this

So in this new title the duo are faced with a series of particularly grisly murders in which the victims die as portrayed in portraits of Catholic saints who were martyred in very nasty ways. As an ex-convent girl I can attest to seeing some illustrations of the ghastly things done to these probably innocent, people. I am pretty sure that children now would not be allowed to see these in case they scared the Bejesus out of them, I know they did me.

The deaths occur in different times and locations and it is not until Maura spots the pattern, ie the martyrs that Jane is able to track down the link between all the victims. It is a particularly unpleasant case of child abuse in a children's home some twenty odd years earlier and all the victims were, or claimed to be, sufferers at the hands of a family who were found guilty and jailed. But the hint is given that they were innocent and that the son, now out of jail, is wreaking revenge on those he felt lied.

All simple and straightforward but of course it isn't and the story navigates its way through twists and turns until the truth is uncovered. It is also left rather ambiguously open ended and pretty sure this is because one of the main characters involved is going to return. I do hope so.

As per, a terrific read and gave me an afternoon of sofa sitting and tea drinking as I gulped it down in a couple of hours. Jane's ghastly family are to the fore again and we learn more about Maura and her personal life, both these strands run through the books so though you can read them as stand alone I would recommend that if you are starting out on these, you read them in order.

Just finished reading this book and must say it had me fooled on the killer up until the end.Thriller for sure! From the start to the finish, great story line excellent characterisation,

Thank you netgalley the Author and publisher for a chance to read this book.

As always exciting until the end. Kept picturing Rizzolli and Isles enacting the screenplay. I got the best of both.

Hello, my fellow crime fiction fans. Today is the Publication Day of the newest book of one of my favourite crime writers, Tess Gerritsen! The twelveth baby in the Rizzoli & Isles series is finally here!!! I read it, loved it and was totally blown away by the thrilling story in the book!

I am pretty sure that you already know the dynamic duo Rizzoli & Isles. And this time they face a murder like nothing they’ve seen before. A young woman is found dead in her bedroom. No signs of breaking in the house, no visible violence on the body. Her body lays normally on the bed like she is sleeping. Except that her eyes are removed from their sockets and placed into her hands. Who can be that cruel !?!

A couple of days later, another dead body appears. This time, a man is found dead with arrows in his chest. The two cases have nothing in common. Different genre, different age, different position of the body. But there is one thing in common, the actual cause of death that can not be found.

But the photos of the two victims placed one to another, remind Dr Isles of something familiar. Is she right? Is there another link that connects the victims?

In order to solve the case, Dr Maura Isles has to go back and confront her past. Visiting her dying mother who is a serial killer is hard enough. Reuniting with the man she still loves the most doesn’t ease the pain. But Maura has to set her own problems aside and stop the killer. Because if she is right, there will be other victims.

OMG! OMG! I was totally blown away by the book. Correction, I am always blown away by Tess Gerritsen’s books. That’s why she is one of my favourite writers! And I love both Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles. I Know A Secret is a grippy story full of blood, different clues on every corner, adrenaline level up to the rooftop. Nail-biting and totally unpredictable, I never expected that kind of outcome. If someone asks me for a recommendation, I will definitely recommend this book!

They're back! It feels like too long since the last Rizzoli and Isle book and although there's been an excellent standalone Tess Gerritsen novel in the meantime, there's nothing quite like having these familiar characters back again.

The scene is typically gruesome. A young girl is found murdered in her bed and with her eyes removed post mortem. Pathologist Maura Isle is struggling to find a cause of death and Detective Jane Rizzoli a motive when another body is found, this time with several arrows in their heart. To say much more would be to give too much away but needless to say there's plenty of gruesome discoveries and a interesting and complex plot which stretches back years. It's easy for people to sniff at these crime series but there's a lot going on in this book. It covers the Satanic Panic of years ago and uses a lot of religious imagery. The author has obviously done her research in more than one instance and in classic Tess Gerritsen style we also get a few technical medical terms thrown in.

Anyone familiar with this series will not be disappointed. All the familiar characters are present and there's a couple of typically chaotic Rizzoli family get togethers to enjoy, also Maura and Daniel fans won't be short changed.

There's plenty of life in this series, a new character is introduced who I hope to see a lot more of in future books and based on this novel Tess Gerritsen is nowhere near running out of steam. An excellent addition to the series and thoroughly worth reading if you like crime fiction.

I received a ARC from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

A thrilling and exceedingly engaging novel, one that truly earns the accolade 'page-turner', "I Know a Secret' does not disappoint as a novel that keeps the reader guessing throughout. It is very well written, with a style that keeps the needs of the reader at the forefront of the language choices, plot and characterisation and the writer clearly knows how to tell a tale. This novel is one of a series, though it is not necessary to have read the others as each plot is a standalone tale - this one focusing on the investigation led by Detective Jane Rizzoli and supported by medical examiner Dr Maura Isles, as they sift through a murder mystery which links a past event, religious symbolism and a possibility that innocent people have been wrongly accused over time. Their investigation cannot fail to engage the reader and force everyone to want to solve it along with these characters.
Gerritsen possesses a captivating and appealing writing style which sucks the reader in from the very first page and will hold that attention until the last one and her weaving of a plot is well orchestrated and managed throughout - every reader will want to read this novel. If you like a good thriller and a story well told, this one is for you.

As you all probably know, I am a long time reader of Gerritsen’s Rizzoli & Isles series, and I was pretty excited to be granted an advanced copy of the latest novel in this series, and I got to it as soon as possibly. I Know A Secret is a relatively fast read, but this is truly one of the novels in this series I found to be rather flat. Hear me out…

For starters, I Know A Secret never hits the heights you expect it to. It starts off running, but doesn’t ever go anywhere. Some grisly deaths, to be sure, but nothing special, not on the death scene, but the investigation. It just feels like it never goes anywhere, like there are moments it wants to break out and go somewhere, but instead it just gets stuck. All the material comes across as a rehash of sections of the previous novels and offers up nothing new.

There is no real character development here, either. Twelve books down, you would expect some more development coming in, because so many situations have been set up in previous books, and instead all just feels tired. Gerritsen explores nothing new, and instead just falls back into old patterns – Angela leaves Frank (thank goodness), Barry Frost returns to his ex-wife, Alice, and Maura and Daniel run right back into each other’s arms. Just like that, we are back to where we were a couple of books ago – no real growth or change, unfortunately. I thought there would be some major changes, especially with Amalthea Lank passing on. On that note, it also felt like she was forced into this, and I honestly thought she would have more to do with the book, especially after the way the novel opened.

I was quite pleased to read about Gabriel once again, though my (constant) wish is still that he would feature more prominently in the books, he is a great character, and he and Jane work really well together when we go get to read about them. I did like the concept of this book – kids being hunted down and butchered after all being involved in some heavy witch hunt as kids, and one that seems to be rather flimsy as the novel progresses. Holly Devine, too, was a character I never warmed to. She sort of felt like a caricature of a dangerous character, not someone who was actually dangerous. She had the potential to be more, but just like the rest of this novel, she just felt a bit tired

I Know A Secret is not a terrible read, and there were aspects I enjoyed, I just felt that it was quite a flat affair when all was said and done, an idea that never really spread its wings and took flight. It was uninspiring all round, and I am hoping that the next instalment proves to be a worthier addition of the series.

I haven’t read all the Rizzoli and Isles series and every time I do, I tell myself that I need to catch up. The books that I have read I’ve enjoyed a lot and I Know A Secret is a welcome return to a fascinating series. The novel starts with an unnamed female narrator at the funeral of a young woman who has been killed in a house fire. She doesn’t seem to be there to mourn, more to observe.
When Maura receives a telephone call from Jane whilst she is visiting her mother in hospital she is relieved to have an excuse to leave. But the relief is short lived when she is faced with the grim sight that has sickened many of the team. It is the first in a series of murders that frustrates them all, horrifically staged but with no obvious cause of death.
All the victims appear to be unlinked but Rizzoli and Isles gradually uncover secrets from the past. There are some very unpleasant characters in the novel who try to stop them and with one of the characters I feel that there could be more to come in the future. The murders are fascinating, creepy and had me looking at more deeply on the internet. They are nothing like I have read before.
The scene setting and characterisation in the book is brilliant. I could see the squalor in the film studio and the passion that the team had to get their film into production. I could see the family life and the unhappiness in Jane’s family and I could feel the tension and distrust between Maura and her mother.
Whilst I have enjoyed watching the TV series based on Rizzoli and Isles the books are much more entertaining and informative. Rizzoli is a much deeper character with stronger ties to her mother and is less tolerant of her father and brother. Isles is more of a loner, has a strange relationship with her deeply unsettling natural mother and an on/off relationship with a man who she shouldn’t have a relationship with. If you have watched the series but never read any of the books, they could be read as standalone novels but I would recommend that you start at the beginning. There are many differences between the books and the TV series.

With thanks to the publisher for the copy received via Netgalley.

Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles in their 12th adventure. And I haven’t even watched a TV episode yet. I’ll get there when I don’t have anything else to read - hahaha.

Medical Examiner Maura Isles’ scary and somewhat deranged biological mother makes an early appearance from prison in this book. You know - a “she knows what’s going to happen, because maybe it’s her” kind of appearance. But wait, let’s back up. It starts with a body. Cause of death not obvious, but the victim is holding her eyeballs in her hand. Yuck. But we don't read books with Detective Jane Rizzoli and ME Maura Isles without some gory corpses. It’s part of the deal. So Jane and Maura set to work, there MUST be a case of death, and there is, and so much more. It’s also part of the deal.

As is Father Daniel - bless him and his love for Maura. Only here he actually has a valid role to play. Will Maura call him?

There is so much of significance for Maura and Jane (her daughter now three, family dysfunctional as ever) to uncover. There is also a doppelgänger who is certainly involved as the murders stretch to another, and possibly another. Is the doppelgänger the murderer? Maybe.

These deaths are linked back to childhoods, the Apple Tree Nursery and secrets that need to be revealed. Or maybe not?

Typical Tess - the plot races, and the ride is exhilarating. I didn't even bother to guess, I was having too much fun, and it was over too quickly.

The mark of a good crime story is that there are no disappointments. None to report. Tess, Jane and Maura are back with a vengeance, and who cares if the TV series ends soon, when you’ve got the books to read, and re-read.

5 stars

I Know A Secret by Tess Gerritsen

Young men and women are being murdered in Boston in horrifically elaborate ways – the first is found in her house, lying on her bed, holding her eyeballs in her hand. The walls of the house are covered in horror movie posters. The torso of the second is shot through with arrows. There seems little to link the murders except for their gruesome nature but Detectives Jane Rizzoli and Barry Frost, as well as Medical Examiner Maura Isles, are determined to find one and stop the killer. But watching them is a young woman with something to fear. She knows how the victims are linked and she knows she’s on the murderer’s list. But she has a secret and that means that she can’t look to the police for help. Matters aren’t helped when someone very close to Maura Isles, someone she hoped never to see again, decides to take an interest.

I Know a Secret is the twelfth novel in Tess Gerritsen’s fine Rizzoli and Isles series. As usual, it features a standalone mystery but this is set within the context of so much that has grown familiar over the series – this a close-knit group of people. Jane and Maura know everything about each other and their team. Family and relationship troubles are causes for concern and Jane in particular spends time worrying about others, including Frost, whose longterm marriage woes continue to torment him (and everyone around him). Likewise there are developments in Jane’s own family and in Maura’s difficult past. These stories don’t dominate the novel – the mystery is always what matters the most – but it does mean that if you come to this novel cold, without having read any of the others, then you might well be missing out on the pleasure of getting to know their wonderful characters. I have yet to read them all but I’ve read enough to have picked up a real affection for these people.

I do enjoy how I Know a Secret is driven as much by character as it is suspense. Rizzoli, Frost and Isles all react in very human ways to the horrible sights that face them. They care about the victims and their families. The hunt for the killer becomes a personal driving force. I like Jane so much and, among all the other memorable characters who play their part here, I love her mother.

The crime case is a good one and it’s speeded along by regular chapters that give the point of view of the mysterious young woman who is watching events so closely. While I did find the story a little less involving than others in the series, it does pick up in the second half of the book as it begins to move in unexpected ways, culminating in a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.

I’ve grown to love this series very much and, as always, I must wait impatiently for the next while enjoying the fact that I still have a few to catch up on. It’s always good to spend time with Rizzoli and Isles.

Other reviews
Die Again (Rizzoli and Isles 11)
Gravity

When medical examiner Maura Isles was called to the murder site, homicide detective Jane Rizzoli was already on the scene. She was pale and Detective Frost, Jane’s partner looked ashen. The sight of the young woman, lying as though peacefully sleeping was only broken by one thing – and that was horrifying…

When the autopsy was conducted, Maura could find no cause of death – and her puzzlement was to continue with a second victim discovered only a few days later. His staged body was decidedly grim; but once again, she could find no apparent cause of death.

The suddenness of the revelation that connected the cases had Rizzoli and Isles scrambling for facts. The circumstantial evidence was strong – the actual proof; the evidence they needed to convict – was missing. And when another woman who could well turn out to be the next victim refused their protection, Jane and her team struggled to know what to do next.

Would the secrets and lies being held tightly to the chest of one particular person be brought to the surface before it was too late? Or would there be more deaths before it was all over?

I Know a Secret by Tess Gerritsen is the 12th in the Rizzoli & Isles series and another brilliant thriller! It’s been a long time between books and I devoured this one – the twists, the intrigue and the usual interaction between the two main characters was excellent. It was great to catch up with Rizzoli and Isles, Detective Frost and Daniel once again. I have no hesitation in recommending this fast paced, intense thriller to all fans of the genre.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

Another cracking book by a writer who is at the top of her game.I love this series and this one was as good as usual, and kept me page turning and scratching my head trying to work out the plot.I thought I had it sussed then as I read more I wasn't sure, then I started thinking again I knew who did what but I was wrong.I was kept puzzling and I love that when I'm reading a good thriller that keeps me guessing and thinking about the plot when I'm not reading I know its a good book, and this was.I'm not giving anything away, I want other readers to enjoy this as much as I did, and I just hope there is another book in the pipeline as I can't wait.

I make no apology for being a HUGE Tess Gerritsen fan and it’s the highlight of my year when I get the chance to read her new Rizzoli and Isles book! But every time I open the first page there’s always a frisson of apprehension. Will this be the time I am disappointed? It’s never happened yet and I’m relieved to report that it hasn’t this time either. In fact they just keep on getting better!! How does she do it? I Know a Secret was brilliant! Twisty, thrilling, scary as hell in some parts but always with a side order of heartfelt fondness for the home lives of these two very different but highly regarded women.

When a murder victim is found surrounded by horror movie posters and posed in such a way that even the hardened detectives are sickened by the sight of her body, it is the start of the hunt for a serial killer determined to stop a secret from coming out. But what secret and why? Is it related to a cold case from the past but if so, has there been a huge miscarriage of justice? There’s also a face from the past back in Mauras life but who? And what does the cryptic message she received mean?

As usual Tess Gerritsen works her magic with her intricate plotting, where you think you know where she’s heading but then realise she has lead you a merry dance. She is an expert in totally wrong footing her readers and its no different here. Maura has plenty of autopsies to provide clues so expect lots of stomach churning details if you are of a sensitive nature! But these scenes are always one of my favourite little pleasures when I read this series, I love watching Maura working away diligently trying to piece the clues together. And I am always fascinated by Jane and her family dynamics, which are handled with a quiet dignity, letting her characters actions tell the story much better than any background explanation could.

If you’ve never read any of this series before then don’t worry, this can be read as a standalone but I will then be very jealous as you will then want to catch up by reading the previous 11 which are all fantastic! This is a brilliant series and Rizzoli and Isles are a match made in heaven for us readers. This book is also a bit of a nod to the passion Tess Gerritsen has for horror movies which I heard her enthuse about when I attended a talk by her last year. She’s done an amazing job of transfering that ardour here, bringing an intriguing edge to this pretty perfect crime thriller. Highly recommended by me.

Even though this is my first Rizzoli and Isles book in quite a few years, I Know a Secret can be read well as a standalone. Reading this book made me wonder why I have not kept up with this great series, and of course who isn’t a fan of the TV series.

In this book, the dynamic team Detective Jane Rizzoli and Forensic Pathologist Maura Isles, are called to a gruesome murder scene of a young woman who has been placed on her bed and her eyes have been removed and placed in the palm of her hand.

When another murder victim is found, the investigation leads them to the twenty year old unsolved murder of a nine year old girl.

I Know a Secret is a fantastic book and was like visiting old friends. Great characters and I hope to read more of Angela and Vince in the next one.

Another page turner full of suspense from the great Tess Gerritsen and I hope I don’t have to wait too long for book 13.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for providing a copy of this book and this is my honest review.