Last to Die by author Tess Gerritsen is the latest (#10) in the Rizzoli & Isles series…you know, that show that is on TNT!  I will admit that I don’t watch the TV show and it has been a loooooong time since I read a book in this series, but that didn’t stop me from picking up this book!  But more on that in my review.

Interview with Tess Gerritsen:

What inspired the characters of Maura Isles and Jane Rizzoli?  — Jane was modeled after female cops I’ve met through the years.  They were tough, smart women who have had to work hard to be accepted in what’s been traditionally a man’s profession. Jane’s very much my opposite — she’s brash, unafraid to speak her mind, and not above a little arm twisting if it’s necessary.  Maura is very much like me: introverted, logical, and something of a loner.  In fact, a lot of Maura’s biographical details come straight from my own life, from where she went to college and med school to what kind of car she drives.

What was it like writing about children as crime fighters, rather than victims, of crime? — It was a lot of fun, because it fulfilled my own childhood fantasy of being a crime fighter.  I think it’s a universal fantasy entertained by children, that they’re heroes, capable of feats that adults don’t give them credit for.  And the teenaged trio in LAST TO DIE was particularly fun to write about because they’re the outcasts, the self-described “weirdos” whom no one respects.  When they can do heroic things, it’s even more of an achievement.

How did you originally become interested in writing thrillers?  What from your childhood impacted this? — I’ve always loved the mystery genre, because of my childhood addiction to Nancy Drew novels.  Nancy was a role model for a whole generation of girls.  She was smart, spunky, and independent — and that’s what I imagined every girl detective must be.  But as I grew older, I gravitated toward darker mysteries. Murder, after all, is not a light-hearted subject. My medical training forced me to see death face to face, and those details naturally made it into the books.

How do you use your background as a doctor to enhance your books? — A great deal of my medical training shows up when I write from Maura’s point of view.  Doctors learn to approach puzzles in a logical way, eliminating the possibilities until they reach the one logical conclusion.  That’s the way of thinking that dictates how Maura approaches a problem.  Her memories of medical school and residency are oftentimes my own experiences.

What’s it like to watch the show on TNT? — It’s both fun and a little strange, since these are my characters — except they’re different.  They’re funnier, more glamorous, and way more attractive on TV.  And they’re a lot more girlfriend-y, which is why so many women have gravitated toward the show. The female-buddy-cop show is something we haven’t seen since Cagney and Lacey three decades ago.  It was about time for a new one!

You can read here Tess’ blog post about why she wrote this book.

Synopsis:

For the second time in his short life, Teddy Clock has survived a massacre. Two years ago, he barely escaped when his entire family was slaughtered. Now, at fourteen, in a hideous echo of the past, Teddy is the lone survivor of his foster family’s mass murder. Orphaned once more, the traumatized teenager has nowhere to turn—until the Boston PD puts detective Jane Rizzoli on the case. Determined to protect this young man, Jane discovers that what seemed like a coincidence is instead just one horrifying part of a relentless killer’s merciless mission.

Jane spirits Teddy to the exclusive Evensong boarding school, a sanctuary where young victims of violent crime learn the secrets and skills of survival in a dangerous world. But even behind locked gates, and surrounded by acres of sheltering Maine wilderness, Jane fears that Evensong’s mysterious benefactors aren’t the only ones watching. When strange blood-splattered dolls are found dangling from a tree, Jane knows that her instincts are dead on. And when she meets Will Yablonski and Claire Ward, students whose tragic pasts bear a shocking resemblance to Teddy’s, it becomes chillingly clear that a circling predator has more than one victim in mind.

Joining forces with her trusted partner, medical examiner Maura Isles, Jane is determined to keep these orphans safe from harm. But an unspeakable secret dooms the children’s fate—unless Jane and Maura can finally put an end to an obsessed killer’s twisted quest.

Review:

As I mentioned above it has been awhile since I have read a book by Tess Gerritsen.  I remember enjoying her books but not sure why I stopped reading in this particular series.  But that doesn’t matter because after reading this book I want to go back and figure out what books I have missed in the series and read them as well!  Last to Die grabbed me from from the first few chapters…who was this mystery woman that was saving the children?  Why were the foster families of these children being murdered?  It didn’t make any sense….until you get near the end!  The interaction between Maura and Jane keeps you hopping because while they may be friends and have the same goals, there is sometimes a little tension….but that may be because I’ve missed something in the books I’ve missed.  Anyway, there are many twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat and eyes glued to the pages wondering what could possibly happen next!

Gracie and April give this book 5 paws and if you have not read this series before, start at the beginning with The Surgeon because while you could read this book and not really miss out on anything, starting at the beginning of a series will introduce you to the two main characters and you will understand their relationship better!

The Giveaway:

This is open to all US residents.  Fill out the form below and a winner will be chosen on Sunday, September 30th.