The Apprentice

A Rizzoli & Isles Novel

By: Tess Gerritsen

Narrated by: Anna Fields

Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles—the inspiration for the hit TNT series—continue their crime-solving streak.

The best-selling author of The Surgeon returns—and so does that chilling novel’s diabolical villain.

Though held behind bars, Warren Hoyt still haunts a helpless city, seeming to bequeath his evil legacy to a student all-too-diligent...and all-too-deadly.

It is a boiling hot Boston summer. Adding to the city’s woes is a series of shocking crimes, in which wealthy men are made to watch while their wives are brutalized. A sadistic demand that ends in abduction and death.

The pattern suggests one man: serial killer Warren Hoyt, recently removed from the city’s streets. Police can only assume an acolyte is at large, a maniac basing his attacks on the twisted medical techniques of the madman he so admires. At least that’s what Detective Jane Rizzoli thinks. Forced again to confront the killer who scarred her—literally and figuratively—she is determined to finally end Hoyt’s awful influence...even if it means receiving more resistance from her all-male homicide squad.

But Rizzoli isn’t counting on the US government’s sudden interest. Or on meeting Special Agent Gabriel Dean, who knows more than he will tell. Most of all, she isn’t counting on becoming a target herself, once Hoyt is suddenly free, joining his mysterious blood brother in a vicious vendetta....

Filled with superbly created characters—and the medical and police procedural details that are her trademark—The Apprentice is Tess Gerritsen at her brilliant best. Set in a stunning world where evil is easy to learn and hard to end, this is a thriller by a master who could teach other authors a thing or two.

©2002 Tess Gerritsen (P)2002 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Well-drawn characters and a compelling story will grab readers' interest and earn Gerritsen more admirers." (Booklist)

Good book terrible narrator...

The storyline is fantastic. Tess is a fantastic writer. Narrator Anna Fields... terrible. Poke my eye out swirl my brain terrible.

Both The Author and The Narrator are Perfect

First let me say that I am addicted to modern mysteries with intelligent female detectives, medical examiners, contract killers, ditch diggers, surgeons, anything but frumpy housewives and good mommies with perfect kids. So when Tess Gerritsen "gave birth" to the Rizzolli and Isles series I almost inhaled the first book in one sitting through my ears. Then I realized that the voice reading it was so hypnotic, expressive, engaged in the story that this was part of the reason I could not take my ears off the pages. Anna Fields is one of the most talented readers that Audible has. She can read an IRS information pamphlet on tax exemptions for 501 c3 organizations and make it interesting. Although Gerritsen's plots and excellent writing can survive other readers, even the less than mediocre ones, the combination of Anna Fields and the characters of Gerritsen's suspense novels is unbeatable. The Apprentice has so many twists and turns it's like a subway tunnel built by a crazed carnival ride inventor. But she did not fool me one bit with her ending. There will be more to come and a return of the least likable characters of The Apprentice so listen carefully, once, twice, maybe three times so you will be prepared for the sequels.

Good writer, gruesome story though.

Would you try another book from Tess Gerritsen and/or Anna Fields?

Definitely will, I like to follow good writers and a good series. Anna Fields is great.

Any additional comments?

I'm not too excited about how gruesome her stories are in this series, it's overdone for me and unnecessary which is why she is not on the top of my list.

Another Ritzoli book

What did you love best about The Apprentice?

I love the series!

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The name is Rizzoli. There is no "t" in it and yet the narrator continually pronounces it with a "t". Quite annoying.

Love the books hate the narrator

I love all of Rizzoli and Isles stories. I watch them religiously on TV and have listen to every audible version I can get my hands on. This one in particular I like because It starts before Jane meets most of her closest coworkers and friends. But every time the narrator pronounced her last name as Ritz-oli instead of Rizzoli
it was like nails on a chalkboard.

Good book, bad narrator

The narrator couldn't even say the heroin's name properly. it's Rizzoli, not Ritzoli.
All hehe men's narration sounded like they had marbles in their mouths.

Read "The Surgeon" First

If I could, I would give this 3 1/2 stars. The only reason it wasn't 4 stars for me was that it became a little repetitive with the plot lines. The same scenario over and over... talk about deja' vue! All with very slow progress in terms of clues to find these serial killers. It all comes together at the end, but it is a long time coming. Don't judge the narrator by the sample on the book page. She sounds awful on that snippet, but when she begins to use different voices for different characters she is quite good. Not great with the male voices, but better than some with this series.

One interesting question... is Jane's last name pronounced Ritz-oley or Rizz-oley. As with the word Pizza, the correct Italian pronunciation, "zz" is just "z." No "t." Personally, I don't care, but I sure wish the narrators would make up their mind how Jane pronounces her last name... it varies from book to book. Another illustration of my biggest complaint with this series... NO continuity with narrators! They are AWFUL!

I would strongly recommend to listen to this series in order. I got my information as to the order of the books from an incorrect source when I began listening to them. Now I am all over the board in terms of what and who I know, and how things evolved. The only reason I haven't read The Surgeon is because it is abridged, and I am strongly opposed to abridged books, but after reading this book, I feel I am going to cave in and go back and read it. There were SO many references to it in this book that I regret not having read it first. It is central to the plot in this book, so if you haven't read The Surgeon I would recommend the same for you BEFORE you read this.

Otherwise, I love Tess Gerritsen, even her non-Rizzoli and Isles books. Some of those were even more enjoyable, IMHO. This was not my favorite book in the series, but I did enjoy it, and I think Gerritsen has created a great character in Jane Rizzoli

good story

The narrator should be able to pronounce the main character's last name correctly. I know it sounds petty, but the narrator saying Ritsoli instead of Rizzoli drove me nuts.

Be Correct

Very good story, but marred by the narrator pronouncing Rizzoli’s name as Rit-zolee. That was annoying. Other than that, the story is good and leaves the listener anxious for the next book.

great story, fair narration

Narration drive me nuts... Rizzoli does not have a T in the middle, only z's.