The Apprentice

A Rizzoli & Isles Novel

By: Tess Gerritsen

Narrated by: Anna Fields

Length: 9 hrs and 33 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 Read

I enjoyed this book immensely. I like the narrator and have no problem with the way she does male voices. I've listened to her many times and I'm used to her style of reading. I find it easy to get lost in the book & characters with this narrator.

The book itself is suspenseful all the way to the very end. As to Jane being the stereotype of 'women in a male world' - so what? I felt it was an honest characterization of a strong woman doing what is considered a man's job. I find it too much on the mark to ridicule the book based on that.

The self-psycho analysis of the 'surgeon' was excellent and very mind provoking. Really makes you start to think about the sort of things and people who do this sort of thing.

I have not read the first book "The Surgeon" and doubt if I do so while this one is fresh on my mind, but I will probably pick it up in the future. I also now plan to pick up some more of Gerritsen's books as I like her style of writing.

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.

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

Thrilling Ride...

Publisher: Ballantine Books
Purchased: Purchased Audiobook from Audible

What I Loved: This was the 2nd book in this series and it was firing on all cylinders. From beginning to end, the case was intriguing and chilling. Perhaps the best part of the book was the continuation of the story between the Surgeon and Rizzoli. It was wonderful to watch the story unfold from both of their perspectives in a unique, emotional, and raw way. I won't give away any spoilers but I will say that the story takes many twists/turns that will leave you breathless.

What I Liked: I liked the introduction of Isles in this book. It was understated but you got the feeling that she is going to become very important in the series. I also like the fleshing out of the character of Frost. I think he and Rizzoli make a great cop partnership and together they make a very solid foundation to build cases upon.

Complaints: Only one, I did not enjoy the narrator for this book. She made Isles sound really masculine and I believe my total dislike for Dean comes from the way she voiced him.

Why I gave it a 4: This was a very good follow-up to the first book in the series. Tess did not cheat her characters by automatically healing them from the things that have happened but she also didn't victimize them. She let them grow naturally and for that reason I am excited to read more from her.

Who I would recommend it too: I would recommend this book to thriller readers. It was well-paced, well-written, and well-delivered!

Better Than The Show

The books are better than the show; well except for Angie Harmon. The follow up book to The Surgeon, Warren Hoyt returns to terrorize both Jane and the general populace and this time he has a partner. The television show made Hoyt out to be a larger factor than he is in the books, but he is a major player in this one. Though there is a great deal of extraneous detail at times this book is quite good. There is a certain amount of disbelief that must be suspended by the listener, but much of the law enforcement portion of the story is well done if not particularly realistic. A good listen.

Great Listen

Great Listen. Enough twists and turns to make it difficult to turn off until completed. The Apprentice is the second of a five story series. It is the recommendation of both the author and I that you read them in the order they were written. While you can enjoy this one without having read the first one (The Surgeon), reading them in order allows you to see the development of the characters and have a better understanding of his/her personality. Can't wait to start # 3 The Sinner.

An even better sequal

I love Tess's books.
I read them all and listen to them all.
I love her flow and characters.
She is great and as an Anesthesiologist, I love her ideas and true medical information.
This book flowed perectly from Surgeon.

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.

narrator

Would you listen to The Apprentice again? Why?

no

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

the plot was good

Would you listen to another book narrated by Anna Fields?

Not unless she pronounced Rizzoli without a T I have already ordered an other book so I have to

Good but not great..but the later books get better

I was disappointed with this book because I read a later book from the series first.
Anna fields is a narrator I don't care for. I just don't like her voice. She does a competent job, so draw your own conclusions.
Unlike many of Audibles Series offerings, The readers change throughout the series. They are all ok and don't ruin the books or mispronounce names, as is often the case in some of the other series I have listened to.
This book needs to be read for the character foundations, and it is an ok book. The later books are much better, with more intricate plotting, interesting stories and plenty of twists.
Read this one and then get the others in the series. You won't be disappointed.