This is a good addition to this series, but it could be read as a stand alone. I enjoyed re connecting with the characters, as I haven’t read anything in this series in awhile. Mauras serial killer birth Mother Almathea is an interesting addition to the story. The book goes back and forth between Rizzoli, Isles and Almathea. If you like thrillers with a dark feel this is a good one for you. Thank you to net galley for a copy.

This is my favorite (so-far) of all the Rizzoli & Isles novels. It’s revealed early on that the first murder victim, Cassandra was working on a horror movie at the time of her death. I loved the backdrop of horror filmmaking. There is also an intriguing religious angle at play. To say more would spoil the mystery. There are a lot of twists and turns in this caper.

Gerritsen is not one to shy from grizzly descriptions of the crime scenes so if you’re more of a cozy mystery fan, this may not be the book/series for you. However it’s not all procedural. There is also a lot of drama here with Rizzoli, Isles and their respective personal lives. Isles’ romantic entanglements always have me shaking my head. If you’re a Rizzoli & Isles fan and haven’t picked this one up yet, definitely do! Newcomers to the series and thriller fans can be assured that this installment could be read alone but the series is strongest when read consecutively.

I just read I Know a Secret by Tess Gerritsen and thoroughly enjoyed it.Rizzoli & Isles are always involved in interesting mysteries that usually have a surprise ending. I like the Tess Gerritsen books because she stresses the relationship between her major characters and their struggles with personal problems. The books are more than mystery stories and therefore more interesting to read.

Love Rizzoli and Isles! The toughest women in Boston are investigating the death of independent filmmaker Cassandra Coyle, whose eyes have been cut out.
Maura Isles is reminded of Lucy, patron saint of the blind, and after some other strange murders, they realize that a serial killer is patterning his murders after the terrible deaths suffered by saints. And it really makes sense when they realize that Coyle had been making a horror film featuring similar murders. Coyle and the other victims had a common link as well: 20 years earlier they accused a man in the Apple Tree child molestation case. The convicted perpetrator has recently been released from jail, so he makes a good suspect.
Jane Rizzoli sorts out the truth from fiction as more bodies turn up.

The twelve book in this series and though I missed the last book I am never disappointed in reading this series. Once again I was able to fall right back into the reading and follow the characters because of the writing by the author who takes who through first the murder, then the crime scene, and just for the sake of more intrigue you get the story of the two women who are solving the crime and are still working through their own lives. The books are nothing like the T.V. show other than some of the same characters. Both women are dealing with their families and if you have read the other books you know what I am talking about. If not it will be explained and you will be able to catch up. The murder and then other murders that need to be solved get you going as a reader and just when you think you have it figured out, no a twist. That is what makes this books so good. I am looking forward to the next book about Jane and Maura.

I don't have the words to tell you how much I love Tess Gerritsen. Her work is always amazing, characters captivating and a story line that will keep you awake well into the night.

This is book 12 in the Rizzoli and Isles series. The book starts with a first person woman narrator who is cold and manipulative. Then it switches to a scene with Maura Isles and her dying mother. The third chapter has Detective Jane Rizzoli and Doctor Isles at a gruesome murder site. These three threads do come together in a very satisfying mystery that I devoured in two days. There are enough twists and turns in the plot to keep you interested until the end.
Gruesome murder quote:
"Bilateral globe enucleation" said Maura softly.
"Is that some kind of fancy medical talk for someone cut out her eyeballs?"
4.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sending me this ebook.

When a mystery writer creates engaging characters with ample opportunity for enticing cases, a series is born and readers await with anticipation each new installment of crime solving. I KNOW A SECRET is the latest offering in Tess Gerrisen’s Rissoli and Isles series and it was well worth the wait.

This installment takes Jane and Maura on the search for a killer with a long held secret and a plot that mimics the infamous McMartn Pre-School sexual abuse case of the 1980’s. For added flavor there are interesting tid-bits about the ignominious methods of death suffered by certain Catholic saints as well as updates concerning the ongoing developments in the tangled relationships between the central characters and their families, friends and significant others.

If you are a Tess Gerritsen fan or have enjoyed the Rissoli & Isles TV series, you are sure to want to explore the next chapter in the lives of this dynamic duo.

I have enjoyed this series from the onset...I miss the TV show...you can expect the unexpected with each of Ms Gerritsen books...This one was no different. With suspenseful twists and turns, and plenty of surprises along the way, this edge of your seat thriller will keep you hooked, turning pages quickly until the very end. Very well done.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Holly sees that some of her childhood friends are dying, one seemingly accidental and the others murdered. We know that Holly understands much more than she'll admit. It's left to Rizzoli & Isles to figure out how & why these people are dying.
This is my first Rizzoli & Isles book, but not my last. The author added enough background information for the first time reader to understand the characters and their roles.

Rizzoli and Isles are back, and they have an unusual case on their hands. They must determine what the link is between recent mysterious deaths, and it appears they may be connected to an old case involving the Apple Tree Daycare center. Will Jane and Maura be able to uncover the truth and find the killer before there are more victims?

This story is told from three POVs: Jane, Maura, and Holly (who has a link to the victims). In doing this, it is easy to feel a connection to the story and characters. The story line and characters are well developed, and there are enough clues to keep the reader engaged and guessing throughout. Medical terminology is used in the book, but it is done in such a way that it is easy for the average reader to understand. While this book is part of the series, it can be read as a standalone. I have not read the entire series, and I had no problem following this book. Fans of the TV series will likely enjoy the book series, as well.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

I have always been a fan of Tess Gerritsen and was excited to know about her latest book. This book certainly did not disappoint. I had difficulty putting down the book once I start reading it. I would recommend all to read it.

Great series and this one is no exception! If you've never read Tess Gerritsen, start at the beginning and you can thank me later!

The preferred term tends to be bitch. The latest trend leans toward ‘nasty’. But whatever wordage is used, popular opinion seems to be clear: “nevertheless, she persisted” is not a compliment when applied to women. This is the peripheral message of Tess Gerritsen’s latest thriller I Know a Secret; women who persist, who stand up when no one else does, often pay a high price for that perseverance. Then again, it can have its rewards.

This is book twelve of the Rizzoli and Isles series. While the mystery stands very well on its own, the author does scant character building for the leads since that has been thoroughly covered in the previous novels. I Know a Secret could be read without diving into the backlist but I advise starting with book one – The Surgeon. It’s an excellent introduction to some of the storylines that are continued in this tale.

It begins, as it usually does, with a body. Medical examiner Maura Isles is called to the scene of a rather peaceful looking death. A young woman lies on her bed, seemingly asleep, with the only macabre aspect being that her eyes, rather than sitting in her head where they belong, are held in one hand. There is a sense of familiarity to the sight for Maura but she shrugs it off to concentrate on the forensics of the moment.

Detective Jan Rizzoli, already at the scene, is disturbed by the crime. She doesn’t like the strange ones; they always mean trouble. Sure enough, the case becomes odder within hours as it turns out the sweet looking Goth chic found lying dead in her apartment is a horror film producer. Jane figures that gives her a nice, wide pool of suspects -co-workers, fans of the grisly fare the girl produced and anyone who might have been offended by her products. But then there’s the second odd murder.

A man, shot with three arrows, sits in the middle of a public venue in the early morning hours. Once more, aside from the obvious homicide, it is a peaceful scene. Both Maura and Jane intuit that the murders are connected but nothing about the venues or the people points to how. It is a case that will get stranger with each discovery, leading them on a trail that takes them from the annals of Catholic history to a modern-day school in a quiet suburb.

Adding to the stress of the situation are the numerous personal issues each woman is dealing with. Rizzoli finds herself worried for her mother, Angela and for her work partner Frost, both of whom are having relationship troubles. Angela, who reunited with her cheating estranged husband for the sake of the family, is experiencing severe depression. Having been treated well by another man during her separation from her husband, she finds herself far less capable of dealing with his nastiness this time around. Frost never got over his cheating wife and when she makes noises about wanting back in his life he shows himself more than willing to go there. Jane feels strongly that both relationships should be at an end –her parent’s marriage and Frost’s – but she’s having trouble convincing them of that.

Maura, meanwhile, remains in love with Daniel who can’t marry her because he is a Catholic priest. While she’s dealing with heartache over that, her murderous birth murder is sending her cryptic messages from the prison ICU, in an attempt to manipulate Maura for morbid reasons of her own.

Typically, I tear through a Rizzoli and Isles novel at a rabid pace but this book was an exception. One reason was that the mystery here is low key. Both characters seem so overwhelmed by the problems in their personal lives they were almost uninterested in the murders. Don’t get me wrong, they work the case but it’s very rote and the answers seemed to simply appear when they needed them. Most importantly, at the start of the story we are told that the movie the first victim was working on involved an event from her childhood. Rizzoli doesn’t even think to look at that film, although to me it was obvious that spending a couple of hours perusing it might easily point her in the right direction. I hate when I figure out in the first few chapters what it takes the detective more than half the story to find.

I also didn’t like the personal issues the women were dealing with. Each of these threads should have been snipped several books ago and having them drag into the present storyline was more than a little irritating. I’ll add that it’s also a depressing book; the family matters and nasty cause behind all the murders combine to turn the tale into a completely sad story. The cathartic nature of solving the crime wasn’t sufficient to lift us above the price paid for doing so.

Fortunately, the book has some strong points. Gerritsen is a good writer whose prose paints clear pictures of the events within the novel. While the story isn’t ripped from the headlines it is a timely, relevant and thoughtful tale. The author does a good job with continuity; I might feel that some points shouldn’t have continued as long as they have but I can say definitively that Gerritsen unerringly sticks to the trajectory on which she has placed her characters.

I also liked the underlying message regarding strong women. Even in this day and age there is plenty of push back when women leave their ‘assigned’ roles as caregivers and nurturers. Neither Maura nor Jane plays that role. They are caring, compassionate people but they are also powerful professionals who are still belittled for their sex in their personal lives and at work and face hurdles their male colleagues don’t. Within their families their role as second class citizens is emphasized. The primary victim in this tale is also a strong woman who pays the ultimate price for her unwillingness to be pushed around. Rather than a simple ‘You’ve come a long way, baby’ message, this book says ‘You’ve got a long way to go. And nobody should call you baby.’

I Know a Secret is a solid addition to a long running series; I think Gerritsen’s legion of fans will be pleased with it, even if it isn’t the best book in the Rizzoli and Isles lexicon.

Tess Gerritson seems to have actually just hit her stride because her Rizoli and Isles series just gets better!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.
What a fantastic novel. I may have read others in this series but it has been awhile so this was all new to me. I think there were things that would have meant more had I read the whole series but I totally did not feel I was missing anything. The author was able to deftly incorporate enough of the back story to catch the reader up and the book did just fine as a standalone.
The characters are well fleshed out and I liked them a lot. The plot was imaginative and interesting and took twists and turns so just when you think you have it figured out, it all changes. I strongly recommend this book. There might be triggers for people who react to gruesome murders.
4.5 Stars.

I have enjoyed every one of the Rizzoli and Isles books, and this was no exception. They are always a good mystery with family and friendships thrown in to make it a great all around book. I will be looking forward to #13.

One of the most engaging books that I've read in a really long time. This was the 12th installment in the Rizzoli & Isles series but can easily be read as a standalone (there are some references to previous books, but nothing that isn't explained in this one)

I have a habit (some would consider it a bad one) of reading the last two chapters of a book, and then going back to read the rest of the story. Sometimes I do this right out the gate, and other times I do it as the book progresses, when I HAVE to know what happened and can't wait a second longer. I was pleased to know that all my criminal justice classes stuck, I knew exactly what happened. The fact that I could go right back to the story, still be engaged, and keep WANTING to turn the pages is a testament to what an amazing storyteller, Tess Gerritsen is. She's a master at psychological thrillers and this is a book well worth picking up.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1934057254

Ballantine Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of I Know A Secret. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Boston Homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and Medical Examiner Maura Isles are called in on a baffling case, one in which the cause of death is not readily known. When a second suspicious death leads the investigation down a path to the past, will the pieces of the puzzle come together quickly enough to prevent another death?

I have followed the Rizzoli and Isles stories since well before the television show. This book is not really up to par with the rest of the series, as it seemed a little too predictable. The peripheral stories for both Maura and Jane were not really necessary to the case at hand, although the author does tie in Maura's mother to the case at hand. I Know A Secret was just an average read, which both surprised and disappointed me. There was very little character development and the plot was just average. Rizzoli and Isles are still two of my favorite police/suspense characters, so I plan on continuing to read the series regardless. I would recommend readers new to the series to start at the beginning, as this book would not encourage them to read more.

Wow! Another great read from Tess Gerritsen. I admit I love Rizzoli and Isles and it's nice to have a new book now that the TV series is over. This book's content is thought provoking and left me with a lot to think about regarding society's penchant to run with something without stopping to think about if what they are seeing and saying is the real story.

When some twenty-somethings start dying, the cases seem unrelated until a slim connection is made. Meanwhile, the book chronicles Holly and her story of knowing the connection and what it all means. We get more of Daniel and Maura and their angst in wanting to be together despite obstacles.

Twists and turns will leave you guessing the truth until the end. The end left me wondering if we'll see more of Holly in the future. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.