Last to Die

A Rizzoli and Isles Novel, Book 10

By: Tess Gerritsen

Narrated by: Tanya Eby

Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

For the second time in his short life, Teddy Clock has survived a massacre. Two years ago, he barely escaped when his entire family was slaughtered. Now, at 14, in a hideous echo of the past, Teddy is the lone survivor of his foster family’s mass murder. Orphaned once more, the traumatized teenager has nowhere to turn - until the Boston PD puts Detective Jane Rizzoli on the case. Determined to protect this young man, Jane discovers that what seemed like a coincidence is instead just one horrifying part of a relentless killer’s merciless mission.

Jane spirits Teddy to the exclusive Evensong boarding school, a sanctuary where young victims of violent crime learn the secrets and skills of survival in a dangerous world. But even behind locked gates, and surrounded by acres of sheltering Maine wilderness, Jane fears that Evensong’s mysterious benefactors aren’t the only ones watching. When strange blood-splattered dolls are found dangling from a tree, Jane knows that her instincts are dead on. And when she learns of Will Yablonski and Claire Ward, students whose tragic pasts bear a shocking resemblance to Teddy’s, it becomes chillingly clear that a circling predator has more than one victim in mind.

Joining forces with her trusted partner, medical examiner Maura Isles, Jane is determined to keep these orphans safe from harm. But an unspeakable secret dooms the children’s fate - unless Jane and Maura can finally put an end to an obsessed killer’s twisted quest.

©2012 Tess Gerritsen (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Fast Paced

As per usual, Tess Gerritsen provides interesting and relatable characters in this fast paced, well crafted thriller. Not as dark as some earlier stories in the series, this story is so packed with twists and turns you won’t want to put it down!

Loved the story, but narrator was not good.

The story is a good Rizzoli and Isles mystery. But the narrator sounded the same for everyone and would occasionally slip in a Boston accent. It was like "Oh yes Jane is from Boston I need to talk with an accent".

Rizzolie and Isles can't miss!

Loved the performance! Tanya Eby manages the voices so well that there's never a question of who's speaking - very nicely done! Enjoyed the story though maybe not quite as much as the others. The international espionage bit was a little too 'terrorist' 'homeland security for me' for me to choke down. On the other hand, the setting of EvenSong sounds like such a great place for troubled kids. I love Rizzoli and Isles - their stories have always kept me waiting for the next. Great job, Ms Gerritsen!

Formulaic and Predictable

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This book was okay. The reader did a great job. I just wasn't impressed with the book.

Has Last to Die turned you off from other books in this genre?

No.

Have you listened to any of Tanya Eby’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first.

Could you see Last to Die being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

If it was a movie, I wouldn't watch it. There were too many stretches to make the plot work. There were too many coincidences. Also, this was so formulaic that there were almost no surprises. The author gave so many obvious clues that it took away any mystery. This book was very dumbed down from some of her past work.

awesome

What made the experience of listening to Last to Die the most enjoyable?

caught you early on....listened non-stop...never got bored with it. I can usually come close to calling how books will end...but this one took one extra twist I wasn't expecting...
Great book...

What did you like best about this story?

Twist at the end

What does Tanya Eby bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

not much....

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

just wished it were longer

Contrast of Friends the Important Thing.

Gerritsen takes her two characters and combines them in a complicated way in this story. It provides an amazing look at the two women, Rizzoli and Isles, in an unusual way. Isles is still connected to the child who helped her survive in the wilderness and Rizzoli is connected to another child who also needs help. I liked the basic plot and its setting which is quite different ( I won't give it away to future readers). The writing of the attitude of teenages is very spot on. Best of all is the performance. Rizzoli's accent always identifies her and when conversations occur, the reader uses excellent mannerisms to deliniate the characters. I haven't quite finished it so I can't spoil the ending but so far it is a winner.

great narrator and storyline!

loved the narrator and that storyline kept me guessing until the end! I definitely recommend!

Another Winner!

Would you listen to Last to Die again? Why?

Absolutely! I usually listen to a book until I fall asleep. This one kept me up.

What did you like best about this story?

I always enjoy the relationship between Jane and Myra.

What about Tanya Eby’s performance did you like?

It was as if she really had been there, involved in the plot.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I am an emotional person where stories about children are involved. I worried about them and could barely wait to find out if they were safe. Their experiences were so horrible yet they kept going.

Any additional comments?

I really loved this book. Best I have read in a long time!

Disappointing and somewhat convoluted

First of all, the reader was terrible. Her Bostonian accent for Jane Rizzoli just didn't work and grated on the nerves. The story moved along pretty well until the last quarter .. It was like the author didn't know how she would end it and then just pushed an ending together and well, it was quite unsatisfying. I guess it was supposed to be a "surprise ending" but in fact it was just a disappointing one. In fact, I don't think I ever really understood the reason behind the murders .. oh well. I guess the author is getting tired and certainly the reader isn't worth looking for more from ..so off to find other books to read

Stunning all round

Where does Last to Die rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's definitely one of the best audible books I've listened to. I listen in my lunch hour and had to turn it off with 50 minutes to go - but I JUST COULDN'T DO IT. So I listened to it holding my hand over my ear even tho I'm on a switchboard. I just had to turn my iPad off every time a call came in. It was truly great with some real twists & turns - especially at the end.. I loved it. Also Tanya Eby is such a good narrator - I'm definitely going to look out for her

What was one of the most memorable moments of Last to Die?

40 minutes from the end -to say more would give it away - great ending, totally out of nowhere