The Sinner

A Rizzoli & Isles Novel

By: Tess Gerritsen

Narrated by: Anna Fields

Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

The cloistered grounds of the convent have traditionally represented a place of faith and peace. Now, that peace is shattered as two nuns are found, one dead, one mortally wounded. The killings appear to be without motive, without an obvious suspect, and are further complicated by the murder and mutilation of a third woman. Together, medical examiner Maura Isles and intense, moody homicide detective Jane Rizzoli (both introduced in earlier Tess Gerritsen novels) uncover an ancient horror that connects these terrible slaughters. As long-buried secrets come to light, Isles finds herself drawn inexorably towards the heart of an investigation that strikes closer to home, and towards a dawning revelation about the killer's identity too shattering to consider.

©2003 Tess Gerritsen (P)2003 Books on Tape, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A briskly paced, terrifically suspenseful work that steadily builds towards a tense and terrifying climax." (People)

"Another captivating, horrific thriller in her extremely popular canon." (Booklist)

Well Done

This is an excellent story . Tess Gerritsen out together a check of a story. Anna Fields does an outstanding telling the story.

Do not miss

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

If it was a real paper book I would call it a page turner. I did not want to go into work because this book makes me want to sit in my car and listen.

Beautifully written, well read

Tbh I thought this was going to be a generic read, I just picked it up for some reference when writing autopsies but the narrative is line after line of immersive description, the likes of which I have not read since the last Oscar Wilde I picked up. Love it, highly recommend this book and I will be searching future titles from this author.

awesome detail and characterizations!

I love her books. The reader was very good. suspenseful. it kept my interest to the last word.

My Least Favorite Tess Book

I listened to this book after doing all other Rizzoli and Isles books. Now I know why I never downloaded it before. The narrator did not make me feel the characters like I have before. She was too rigid and like a news anchor’s proper tv voice. Also, too much unnecessary medical gore for no reason. Finally, I just didn’t feel the connection to the characters like I usually did. It was okay. Tess is much better than this.

Best yet

Excellent story. Narrator is good, but not the best I’ve heard. I will continue reading this series

Lots of surprises

I always enjoy her books. She can always hold my attention. Quite a few twists.

Outstanding

I love murder mysteries and this one was top notch. Everything about this book held my interest and I could hardly stop listening to it. Worth the read.

I Love the Author, Dislike the Narrator

What did you like best about The Sinner? What did you like least?

I liked best the building up of the characters. I liked least the Narrator. Horrible. She makes Maura sound so stuffy and stale. Sheesh! I am forcing myself to listen to the rest. This is a must read, do not listen if you can't get past boring speak.

If you???ve listened to books by Tess Gerritsen before, how does this one compare?

I love Tess's books, they are always a good read. I have listened to many of her books out of order so I have gotten used to better narrator's who clearly understand the characters, so I feel as if I know them and how they are supposed to sound. This Narrator, was OMG!!! sooooo boring, I was actually pissed that she totally had Maura's voice all wrong. She made her sound like a stale, unattractive, old lady, with a chip on her shoulder. The description of Maura and the voice were sooooo different. Other narrators from other Rizzoli and Isles books made her sound beautifully smart, yet very book wise, shy, quiet, but strong willed. I am actually still in the middle of this book. I don't think it is the best of the Rizzoli Series, simply because this is an earlier one where her characters lives, Maura and Jane's are really being built up, whereas other books are really and truly about the mystery of the murder, that's ok though, and actually if you read them in order it will be fine, remember I know more about the characters than I should while reading this book.If you are a Rizzoli and Isles fan and you haven't read this yet, READ it, if you listen to it you will be thoroughly upset. I will force myself to listen to the rest.I love the way Tess build upon each character in each book. I started out with Ice Cold, Awesome book and narrator, then Body Double, then Silent Girl which is the absolute BEST EVER and the latest. Then I realized, hey you are reading them out of order. The only reason it matters is because her main charaters lives are built up with each novel and new characters are introduced. Anywhoooo... that is my 2 cents. Oh Oh and just a side note, I can't really get into the TV show just yet because Hollywood has changed the characters up too much for me, well Maura that is. Jane is almost just as I pictured her, love that actress, but the other one is well, just not Maura :-)Enjoy Yall!

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Anna Fields?

Tanya Eby is an Awesome Narrator for Tess's Books. She has the characters spot on.

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

Only if they didn't change the characters like they did in the TV show.

Good...but not great!

This was a decent read, but it didn't really excite me. Gerritsen has a good plot with interesting and unique events and relationships, but the characters are not deeply developed and the coincidences necessary to complete the plot line were a little bizarre.

For what it is this book is functional, but it's certainly not great literature.