Who has sinned? (The Sinner - Tess Gerritsen)

Member Name: marymoose

Product:	The Sinner - Tess Gerritsen
Date:	01/02/08 (108 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast-paced, quick read, good storyline

Disadvantages: A bit too much 'girly' stuff

==Introduction==

Having picked up this book for 25p on the charity book list at work, I thought I'd review it before returning it to the booklist for someone else to enjoy!

I first heard of Tess Gerritsen when I read her book "Life Support" (also from the 25p booklist) and thoroughly enjoyed it. Following this I attempted to read her novel "Gravity", but just couldn't get into it. I thought I'd give her another go when I came across this book. It is the third in a series of six (at present) Jane Rizzoli (a detective character) novels. Having not read the first two, "The Surgeon" and "The Apprentice" I was aware that I was coming in part way through an ongoing story. But much like Kathy Reich's books, it doesn't really matter as the stories do stand-alone. However, if you do get the opportunity I would suggest that you start with "The Surgeon".


==Tess Gerritsen==

Tess Gerritsen trained as a medical doctor - which is good as I feel it gives some credibility to the stories. While on maternity leave she started to write romance novels (first published in 1987). Her first medical novel was published in 1996, and this is when she first started to gain popularity - clearly this is the right genre for her! She is now a highly successful author, has won numerous awards, and has given up the day job to write full-time. More about Gerritsen and her books can be found here:
http://www.tessgerritsen.com/


==The Story==

It's the run up to Christmas and medical examiner Maura Isles is called to a bitterly cold crime scene where a young nun (Sister Camille) has been brutally murdered, and another one seriously injured. The death is all the more tragic because Sister Camille was only 20 - the first new nun to the convent in years. Who would commit such a crime, and do the other (aging) nuns know more than they're letting on?

With homicide detective Jane Rizzoli the two work to uncover the mystery behind the tragedy. It seems that Sister Camille was hiding something at the time of her death - what was it, and could that be the motive? Did Sister Ursula (the seriously injured nun) just get in the way of the attacker, or were there secrets she was hiding as well?

Shortly afterwards another woman is found murdered in a disused restaurant - not only has she been murdered, but her face, hands and feet have been removed. It's a complete mystery why the feet were removed - what was the killer trying to hide? Is this linked with the incident at the convent, or is it something completely different?

Matters are complicated by the arrival of Maura's ex-husband, and Rizzoli's personal life. Like in most crime novels, things come to a head in a dramatic climax, the questions are answered, and everything falls into place!


==Overall==

I started this book on Wednesday and finished it on the Thursday - admittedly this was partly due to the fact that the high winds meant that our digital TV wasn't working, so I was forced to read! But something must have kept me reading it.

The pace is generally fast, and although there was a bit of a lull in the middle of the book, things picked up, and I was kept guessing to the end (mind you I'm not the quickest person in terms of guessing what happens in novels and films!)

The main characters, Maura Isles and Jane Rizzoli were on the whole likeable and they worked well with one another - they didn't irritate me half as much as Temperence Brennan in Kathy Reich's books! The dialogue between them and the other characters did cause me to think about issues such as why would someone want to be a nun, and what makes a good parent. Perhaps at times the subplots (the main characters' personal lives) was a bit tacky for my liking, but the audience (I would imagine) is predominantly female and I hear that other women like a bit of romance!


==Recommending==

I would suggest that it is an ideal book to read on a train, plane, or on the beach. Easy going and doesn't require much thought power. Overall I would give it 7/10. It's not a groundbreaking book, and certainly not one I'd read again (I generally don't reread books anyway as there is so much to read and not enough time in life). However, I will be reading more of Gerritsen's books.

I would recommend Gerritsen to people who like Kathy Reichs, Karin Slaughter, and (perhaps) Harlan Coben. Certainly someone to keep an eye out for if you enjoy the crime/suspense genre.


==Other information==

The book was first published in 2003 and my edition has 419 pages.

It is currently available for £5.49 on Amazon - my advice is to keep your eye out for a second hand copy!

Summary: A good read for a train, plane or beach!