First, before I read this book, I caught up with those books I had not yet read so that I would not miss any nuances that I wanted to capture in this book. Secondly, I watched the entire "Rizzoli and Isles" television series which, by the way barely resembles the series. Both are good, but not the same.

I liked this book. The story was good - not great. It held my interest, but I could walk away from it without feeling like I was going to miss something. I can't really say what was off, but I went from excited to feeling just so-so about it. The characters were as they should be. The plot suffered lack of substance to me.

I will still continue reading the series. Jane and Maura and wonderful main characters and the supporting characters are strong. The author's plots are always interesting. Thank you to Random House - Ballentine and NetGalley for this opportunity.

I have missed watching Jane and Maura in action on television. The symbolism of the saints was creepy. The occasional foul word was jarring. Even on cable I don't recall the language being bad. The mystery was intriguing and while I suspected some of the culprits early on the ending was still surprising, including the romance. The family drama was unusual. It has been quite some time since I read any of the books. I had to appreciate the book for what it contained and not confuse it with what had happened on the television show.

You are laying on your hammock, a glass of ice tea at your side. You have donned your favorite pair of sunglasses and the late afternoon sun is just fine. Your Kindle is all charged up and you contemplate, “what should I read?” Well, I have the answer for you, Tess Gerritsen’s I Know A Secret from the Rizzoli and Isles series. What could be more fun than an afternoon of murder, thrills, and intrigue?

I know a secret is an appropriate title as it is a secret held by Holly Devine who seems to have a connection with a series of gruesome murders and the secret she knows seems to be a clue to those murders. The terms sociopath and psychopath are two conditions that come to mind when I read this book. They are similar terms and often used interchangeably, but they have significant differences. All psychopaths are sociopaths but not all sociopaths are psychopaths. The biggest difference is that sociopaths can have some remorse or feelings particularly to those that they are close to, but a psychopath has no remorse or empathy for anybody. So the big question that comes to mind when I read this book, “Are the bad guys sociopaths or psychopaths?” That might be important because I have a feeling that we will not be seeing the last of Holly Devine in this series.

Even though this is the twelfth book in the series, it could easily be read as a standalone. Yet, there is plenty to entertain the longtime fan of the series, such as Maura’s visit from two characters from the past and Jane’s woes from her dysfunctional extended family. It may not be the best in the series but it is a highly respectable addition.

The newest addition to the Rizzoli and Isles series and it is an excellent addition. It seems like the books get better and better. This book is about the murder of a horror movie producer. Of course, there is also the family drama that follows the duo and intermingles in the story. The storyline is great and well developed. It was very hard to put down, like all of the other books in the series. If you like the other books in the series you will enjoy this one as well. I highly recommend it!

As a recent fan of the TV series, Rizzoli & Isles, I couldn’t wait to read this book. There are several differences between the two, although at this point I can’t honestly say if the tv episodes were reruns since it’s been on since 2010. The biggest challenge for me is the character of Maura. I like the television version better because she is friendly and helpful, although a tad stiff. She finds out that her biological father is a mobster named Paddy Doyle and her real mom is some kind of doctor. In the book, her biological mother is a serial killer, and there is an element of darkness and death that runs through the family tree including in Maura; I don’t have all the details of that, but it was mentioned in the book. Jane seems about the same in both mediums except she has a husband and a three-year-old daughter in the book; in the tv series she is childless, single and dating. Quite often after reading a book and then watching the movie—which I like to do when I can—I’ve found there are differences, so that really didn’t bother me.

My feelings about this book: I liked that I could jump right in and I didn’t have to read every previous book in the series to understand what was going on. This works well as a stand alone. The author did an incredible job of making me feel right at home with the characters. The story was definitely a page turner for me, and I carried my Kindle around while I read it, so I could read bits and pieces here and there as the day went on because it was so hard to p[ut this down! The author is very talented at slowly revealing bits and pieces that I couldn’t wait to read. The mystery was well written and the ending came as a surprise to me.

I’m sure my family knows when I am lost in the pages of a good book because dinners consist of whatever is fastest, and my face is glued to that Kindle! This is definitely one of those books.

My favorite dynamic duo is back and just as amazing as ever. When a couple mutilated bodies are discovered Jane and Maura are determined to find the killer. What they didn't expect is to travel back in time 20 years to when a little girl goes missing and an entire family is sent to prison. A real page turner and an edge of your seat thrill ride with so many twists & turns to keep you guessing right up till the end.

This book was given to me for free at my request by Netgalley and I provided this review voluntarily

I am always a fan of Tess Gerritsen and I Know A Secret is my newest "must reread to pick up the clues," I missed a little of the relationship between Jane and Gabriel/Regina, but the substory with her mother more than made up for it, especially for readers who are invested in Rizzoli and Isles. Please note that readers don't need to have read any previous nivels in the series to enjoy the characters' relationships. The plot zips by and before the reader realized, s/he is at the end, waiting for what must be another match up between Jane and Holly... I'm excited just thinking about It! Excellent writing, character development and plot advancement, I am SO grateful for the opportunity to have read I Know A Secret and share my thoughts as *the* end of summer 2017 blockbuster. Run to the bookstore, library or your favorite online site to preorder this novel before it's release next week. I'm positive you won't be able to put it down!!

Thank you to the author, publisher and of course to Net Galley for the opportunity to preview this novel in exchange for my review.

I Know a Secret is the 12th novel in the bestselling Rizzoli & Isles series by veteran author Tess Gerritsen. Jane Rizzoli is the Boston PD Detective who works alongside the medical examiner, Maura Isles. They are also friends. When they are both called to a gruesome murder scene where a horror movie producer is found with her eyes scooped out (post mortem) and no clear cause of death, and shortly after a male body with three arrows through his torso (also post mortem) with no clear cause of death, they begin to investigate how the two deaths might be related, even though it seems unlikely. It occurs to Maura that each of the murders is representative of a martyred saint and as more bodies are discovered, the theory begins to ring true.

Both Rizzoli and Isles are having crises (Jane’s parent’s marriage is falling apart in addition to dysfunctional family issues, and Maura’s birth mother, who is a serial killer and in prison, is dying, in addition to needing advice from Daniel and not being able to resolve their relationship problems) in their personal lives, which gives readers pause to relate and look at them as real. As they discover more murders that might be related, and as another voice – a woman who knows the victims and who attends the funerals – narrates some of the chapters, the suspense builds, and the book becomes difficult to put down.

As with all well-written thrillers, I Know a Secret has plenty of ups and downs, as well as a surprise ending. Although it is possible to read this as a standalone novel, being familiar with the characters by reading the previous novels in the series will make this one even more enjoyable.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Tess Gerritsen is a reliable favorite. She creates believable, complex people readers root for (or against) with enterprising story-lines. While this isn't her strongest Rizzoli and Isles book in that the end was slightly predictable, it was still an entertaining "visit" with loved characters.

A fantastic read! I was lucky enough to receive a free advanced reader's copy of this book through NetGalley. This book is about a woman's fight to survive the deranged killer that is picking off fellow childhood friends and acquaintances. Detective Rizzoli fights to stay one step ahead of the killer while pathologist Isles accumulates clues from the dead, all while confronting her feelings for priest, Daniel. Tess Gerritsen does not disappoint! Fans of Rizzoli and Isles, as well as new readers, will find this to be a fast-paced, suspenseful novel with a twist. I highly recommend this book!

I Know a Secret by Tess Gerritsen is the very highly recommended twelfth installment of the Rizzoli and Isles crime series.
Boston PD detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles are investigating homicides that are linked by more than just the investigative team. Indie horror filmmaker Cassandra Coyle is found murdered with her eyeballs cut out and put in her hands. When Timothy McDougal is found dead with three arrows in his chest, Isles and her priest friend realize that the two murders have been done to resemble pictures of the death of saints. Specifically these two murders have been staged to depict Lucy, patron saint of the blind, and Sebastian, patron saint of archers. They soon discover that what ties the two victims together is that twenty years ago they were children at a local day care center during an infamous child abuse case. Now the two must find out who the killer is, as well as who might be the next victim.

While investigating these cases and others that may be tied together, the two women are also facing some struggles in their personal lives. Even while Maura's biological mother, the infamous serial killer Amalthea Lank, is dying from cancer, she still finds a way to get into Maura's psyche with a comment that may apply to her current cases. Rizzoli is watching her own mother's unhappiness grow while her spirit is being crushed from staying in a loveless marriage.

This is an intense, extremely well written mystery that will hold your rapt attention from beginning to end. Those unfamiliar with Rizzoli and Isles will easily be able to enjoy this suspenseful novel even if it is their first book in the series. Although the two character are well established at this point, Gerritsen provides enough character background along that way for anyone to easily slide right into this novel and enjoy Rizzoli and Isles for the first time. Expect some twists and surprises. This is one you won't want to put down once you start it.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Random House.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2017/08/i-know-secret.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2091809960

Yes, there is a secret. A big secret and people are dying for this secret. I love the Rizzoli and Isles series and this story is a great edition to the series. A little girl disappears, a family is accused of molestation and goes to prison for twenty years. When the son is finally released, some of the children start dying. Is he and his parents really responsible for the disappearance and all the other things? There are some who think he is a monster and those who believe he is innocent. Sometimes it is hard to tell who the monster really is.

I Know a Secret is a great addition to the Rizzoli and Isles Series. I loved having Jane and Maura working together again in this one, and I was reeled right in! These are two of my favorite fictional characters, and I was delighted to read another suspense featuring them. The two were on top of their game, as usual, and I thoroughly enjoyed the suspenseful storyline. The book was fast moving and kept me turning pages as quickly as I could read them. Another great one by Gerritsen

This latest in the Rizzoli & Isles mystery/crime series is a good, complex story which kept me involved to the end, guessing the role of the initially unknown narrator, then wondering what was the factor that united the murders of these 20-something aged young people who seemed to have bright lives ahead. As always Jane and Maura play off each other, each using their personal skills to tear apart the meager evidence of the crime scenes, trying to ferret out connections where they know there must be something, in the presence of nothing but odd methods of death.

Are there ties to the past? Then whose past? And why these particular ways of death? There are lots of long hours spent on old cases and criminal methods before hints begin to show. Then more digging. There are so many directions to go.

During this episode, there are also developments in the lives of major members of the Rizzoli & Isles family that will no doubt influence future episodes as well. No fear, no one you love dies!

I definitely recommend this to all who follow this series. For those who wish to jump in to this series, this is good interesting episode in which to see how Jane and Maura work. While you might be a little bit lost on some allusions to past events, you can still enjoy the sharp writing and clever work on the current case. Then you can try out some of the older cases.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Tess Gerritsen never fails to keep you totally engrossed in her novels. In this Rizzoli and Isles installment lies from the past come back to haunt and destroy those that were involved in ruining a family. I was unable to stop thinking about the book and finished it in one day. A great fast paced read.

I Loved the TV Series, So I Tried a Novel — Boy! I Loved the Novel Even More

The novel opens with a seven year old girl finding it difficult to show emotion during funeral. Even as a young women, she does not show much emotions but can manage to make herself cry at a funeral. Then, a sub main storyline starts with Dr. Maura Isles visiting her dying birth mother in a hospital ICU. Maura wants nothing to do with her who is serving a life term without the possibility of parole for multiple murders. Maura receives a call from Detective Jane Rizzoli about a bizarre murder that needs her response. While the victim’s identity is known, Maura cannot determine the cause of death. Soon a second bizarre murder though different from the first is discovered. From here, Tess Gerritsen reveals a main storyline with many twists, misdirections, and speculations that quickly captured my attention. I could not put this book down.

One of the major reasons that I enjoyed the TV series was the very rich B-storylines. To my great satisfaction, all the characters are here plus a few more, and relationships and interactions are even richer and provide an excellent foundation upon which the main storylines unfold. There even are some twists and surprises in these storylines.

This is the twelfth novel in the series. If you followed the TV series, you will not have any trouble fitting right into the storyline. The aspects that go beyond what was portrayed on TV are more than adequate background is provided; in fact, adequate background is provided so even if this is the first encounter for you with Rizzoli and Isles, novel or TV, you should not have any problems.

Now, there is some salty language of F-bombs and other expletives. For me, it did not even rise above background noise and didn’t even rise to adding a Reader Beware warning, but I know that this is a major criterion for not reading.

Overall, I Know a Secret was an easy and very enjoyable read. I never wanted to stop reading even late into the night and could not wait to continue reading again. All of the storylines come together by the end. There are no loose ends. Based upon all of the above, I rate this novel with five stars. I will be looking forward to the next novel and will be reading some of the earlier works. From avid readers to first time readers of this series do read this novel. I am sure that you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I have received a free Uncorrected Proof of this novel through NetGalley from Ballantine Books with a request for an honest, unbiased review. I wish to thank Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this novel early.

Boston Homocide Detective Jane Rizzoli and Medical Examiner Maura Isles team up to solve a series of horrible murders that could be tied to past events. As they each face issues in their personal lives, they must put the investigation first before a killer strikes again.

I enjoyed reading this series long before it inspired the television series, but it had been a while since I had read one of the novels. For some characters, such as Korsak and Frankie, Jr., their TV counterparts are much more appealing than the way they are depicted in the books. However, I like the "book" version of Dr. Isles who is just as intelligent and dedicated to her job, but doesn't come across as much as a know-it-all as on television.

The crimes portrayed in this book are horrible, but I was pulled into the suspenseful story from the beginning. There were twists and turns I didn't see coming and I was reminded of what a great author Tess Gerritsen is. I enjoyed the mystery, as well as seeing the two best friends Rizzoli and Isles tackle another difficult murder investigation. I hope the author continues this excellent, well-written series.

I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Random House/Ballantine. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

I cannot get enough of this series. I love the storyline and feel invested in the characters.

Boston Detective Jane Rizzoli and Doctor Maura Isles, Boston’s medical examiner and forensic pathologist are back in I Know a Secret, which is book 12 in Tess Gerritsen’s highly successful and thrilling novels in the Rizzoli & Isles series. This is one of my very favorite book series, and I must say even though I've been reading Gerritsen's books for twenty years now she has never disappointed me with her amazing storytelling skills!

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of I Know a Secret prior to publication since Gerritsen is an incredible crime fiction writer, which is one of my all-time favorite genres. Reading her books is like watching an especially macabre, gruesome, twisted, and grisly episode of Law and Order (or fill in the blank with your favorite crime drama) only 1000% better since it is a book, and you get to use your imagination for all the gore and disturbing details! And wow, does Gerritsen have one crazy, twisted, and sick, but glorious imagination at times! And that is meant as a compliment in the best possible way—Tess Gerritsen you are a genius! For example, the synopsis for I Know a Secret tells the reader there are multiple, gruesome murders in the novel—in my opinion, the more the merrier for the sake of fiction! It also tells how the first victim is found dead, lying peacefully with her eyeballs literally scooped out from under her eyelids and placed within the palms of her hands with no other sign as to how she had been murdered. Just thinking about that scene again makes me shiver, slightly freak out, and want to close my eyes as tightly as I can—and go make sure my front door is locked and no one is lurking in my living room as I write this sitting alone while everyone is in bed! What a stroke of brilliant but twisted imagery right in the first chapter that just pulls you in because who doesn’t want to know more about a murder this shocking and chilling! It’s terrifying, powerful, and captivating at the same time. I could not put this book down until I was done with it and read it from start to finish in about 3 hours. Just That Good!!

The investigation into the murder of the first victim, Cassandra Coyle, a young woman who produces horror movies, at first seems like the work of a deranged horror movie fan until another murder victim, Timothy McDougal, is also found terribly mutilated after death, his body riddled with arrows. Again, there is no obvious cause of death. But it doesn’t take long until Maura finds the cause of both their deaths (which I found such an intriguing and ingenious way to kill someone and not leave any signs), and she and links the two victim’s deaths together. Jane is now on the hunt for one murderer.

But it is Maura who sees the pattern in victim’s mutilations—the eyeballs in the girl’s hands, the man pierced with arrows are not just random acts of violence. They are specific attacks and the victims are staged to represent the deaths of Catholic Saints whose birthday’s they share. Maura’s eye for details opens the case wide open and leads Jane on a manhunt that goes back 20 years to a missing 9-year-old girl and a case of child sexual abuse that both of the murder victims were victims of. Is someone now killing all the children who were victims of the daycare child abuse case? Jane’s investigation leads to more questions, more victims, and a witness who is in hiding because she knows not only what happened 20 years ago at the daycare but who the killer is today. But is there more to Holly than meets the eye? 

This was such a cleverly plotted book with different storylines that all come together in a very disturbing and stunning ending! I admit that I was completely wrong about who the real killer was or and was only partially correct about what happened 20 years ago with the day care abuse. I love it when I can’t figure out the whodunit! That means Gerritsen did an outstanding job writing her story and keeping her readers in the dark until she chose to make her big reveal! Brava! Not only was the ending compelling, but Gerritsen has given Jane, and the readers, a new antagonist to play with in upcoming books! I’m really looking forward to more of encounters between Holly Devine and Jane in upcoming books.

If you are a huge fan of Tess Gerritsen’s books like I am, then I highly recommend you read I know a Secret! If you are new to Gerritsen and love disturbing, clever suspense novels, then I still recommend I Know a Secret! Either way, you won’t be disappointed! Oh, and it may be book 12 in the series, and I do recommend you read them all since there are many parts of Jane and Maura’s personal lives and personal growth that occur in books 1-11, but book 12 can be read as a standalone without any problems!

***Thank you. NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Tess Gerritsen for an ARC copy of I Know a Secret in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.**

It was the days of the daycare molestation scare in the US. Children prompted by overzealous DAs and psychologists, pointed fingers at people that were supposed to be their protectors and turned them into perpetrators of a great evil. Overnight parental fears of the monster under the bed became a national obsession. Twenty years have passed, but somethings are not forgotten. The abused children have supposedly moved on with lives. The perpetrators have paid their debt to society or have died in prison. But not all is at is seems. A dark and evil secret lives hidden away until one day it rears its ugly head. So begins the latest in the Rizzoli and Isles mystery series. I Know a Secret by Tess Gerritsen, is the basis of all of our nightmares.

Read the entire review at https://journalingonpaper.com/2017/08/01/book-review-i-know-a-secret-by-tess-gerritsen/