The Silent Girl

A Rizzoli & Isles Novel (Rizzoli & Isles, Book 9)

By: Tess Gerritsen

Narrated by: Tanya Eby

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

In the murky shadows of an alley lies a female’s severed hand. On the tenement rooftop above is the corpse belonging to that hand, a red-haired woman dressed all in black, the body nearly decapitated. Two strands of silver hair — not human — cling to her body. They are Rizzoli’s only clues, but they’re enough for her and medical examiner Maura Isles to make a startling discovery: This violent death had a chilling prequel. Nineteen years earlier, a horrifying murder-suicide in a Chinatown restaurant left five people dead. One woman connected to that massacre is still alive: a mysterious martial arts master who knows a secret she dares not tell, a secret that lives and breathes in the shadows of Chinatown. A secret that may not even be human. Now she’s the target of someone, or something, deeply and relentlessly evil. Cracking a crime resonating with bone-chilling echoes of an ancient Chinese legend, Rizzoli and Isles must outwit an unseen enemy with centuries of cunning — and a swift, avenging blade.

©2011 Tess Gerritsen (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Tess Gerritson is a master storyteller

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, because this is the most powerful story she's written.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Silent Girl?

Jane's courageous struggle in the dark cellar while Mrs. Feng urges her on so Jane might live to hold her small daughter again.

Which scene was your favorite?

The last time Jane spots the silver hair where she least expects it, and her response to that discovery.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Tough Boston detective Jane Rizzolii solves a decades old case--with the aid of someone or something she cannot see, yet cannot help but believe in..

Any additional comments?

I've been reading Tess Gerritson's books for years, and found this the strongest, most compelling novel she's ever written. Tanya Eby's performance added greatly to my listening pleasure. All in all, a stunning experience. I look forward to any further books written by Gerritson and performed by Eby.

Good story as always

Didn't love the accents used by this reader as much as in is books by another reader

Excellent

This is my favorite so far!! Great spin and lots of surprises! Bravo! Now I’m moving right along to the next book in the series.

Jane taking charge

cops turning on the ME, scared blue line yeah right.... my foot 🤔 good read

somewhat disappointing

I have read all Rizzoli and Isles books long before the TV series was made. I liked the storyline,even though it was really easy to figure out who the murderer was. What I didn't like was the missing interaction between Rizzoli and Isles and even between Rizzoli and the rest of the family, which are only mentioned in passing.The main reason I read Tess Gerritsens Books is because of the interaction of the characters and the full cast of friends family and rivals to follow. Isles storyline I think is only there to prepare for the next book. I really hope that in the next book TG will go back to a real Rizzoli and Isles story

An Absolutely First Class Read!

Tess Gerritsen is the Swiss Army knife of novelists. I've never seen an author who can write about so may different places, topics and backgrounds, and do it all very well.

In her previous book (Ice Cold) the readers were taken on a tour of rural Wyoming and a life and death trek through the frozen forests and mountains of the western U.S.

In The Silent Girl, we suddenly find ourselves in the dark narrow alleys and windy rooftops of Boston's Chinatown. Someone - or some *thing* - is lurking in the shadows, and Rizzoli has to determine whose side this mysterious entity is on... if it even exists.

This is an intriguing story, blending Oriental traditions and mythology with themes of friendship, family loyalty, and family betrayal. This is a story of crimes past and present, with the constant nerve-grating knowledge that at any time, the darkness may come alive and reach out for..... but that would be telling, now, wouldn't it?

All I'll say is that Gerritsen, with her usual finesse, manages to bring all the parts and pieces together for a very satisfactory conclusion. And after that, as usual, there's yet another twist...

I've always enjoyed Gerritsen's ability to mesmerize, thrill, and even terrify the reader while at the same time keeping the story and plot firmly based in reality. That's incredibly hard to do. Other authors - even ones I very much enjoy reading - often depend on some supernatural entity or event in order to make their story work. I'm not knocking this; I have nothing against ghosts, zombies or mutant killers who can fly or walk through walls. But how much harder must it be to write a story that has every appearance of the supernatural, but turn out in the end to have a very realistic and believable explanation? Tess Gerritsen manages to produce this literary miracle in every book she writes!

Do yourself a favor and grab this book. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Not Gerritsen at her best

Weak storyline, weak uninteresting characters keep this book very vanilla and average. The series characters of Rizzoli and Isles can't save this from being a mediocre book. It's only saving grace is it is a fast listen.

Might have been better to read the book

What made the experience of listening to The Silent Girl the most enjoyable?

I have some personal interest in the art of the sword. Although my personal experience is in Japanese swords, the presence of sword usage in this book was a bonus, in my opinion.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot was okay. I think it has been done by many other authors in many other stories but it appeals to me nonetheless.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Tanya Eby?

Probably not.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. The story started rather slowly, and I had no problem turning it off initially.

Any additional comments?

I felt the narrator read the book more like it was a news broadcast. There was an attempt made to compensate for different voices but this is not a strength of the narrator. Also, the narrator made some attempt to provide authenticity by adopting a Boston or NYC accent at times, but this was not consistently performed. I had many parts of the story figured out before the end of the book. Overall, it was an okay listen and I did finish it because it provided enough interest to keep me wanting to find out if I was correct.

Great follow-up on Maura's storyline

This is Rizzoli and Isles I know and love. Tess went back to Maura and followed up on her story from Ice Cold, and told what happened to Rat. I love that she did that. The TV show always shows Jane and Maura together for everything, and anybody who has read Tess's books knows the characters are back and forth. It's like a soap opera, characters from other stories show up, and if you've read the books, you know them. I think this book is good reading. It has a storyline that is easy to follow, and not too cluttered with too much detail, and still keeps my interest. I listen at work and it makes time go faster.....a good thing.

A Bit Predictable

Would you try another book from Tess Gerritsen and/or Tanya Eby?

As it says in my headline, I found this story slightly predictable, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. I did like Garritsen’s character development and I will try another book by her. Can’t say I will listen to a book just because Tanya Eby is the narrator. She did a good job but I have listened to better character voicings that let you know exactly who was speaking without the “so-&-so said” attached. Eby didn’t do it for me this time.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Can’t say, “yes”. I did like the plot and I do like figuring things out but this plot rode the line of too predictable for me.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I would go see this book as a movie. I’d like to see what they would do with it on the big screen.

Any additional comments?

I found this book a little disjointed. That doesn’t mean it was bad. I just got lost at a couple places and had to rewind to figure out what I missed and who was where. Another reader may not notice that at all.