The Mephisto Club: A Novel

Book Description

Evil exists. Evil walks the streets. And evil has spawned a diabolical new disciple in this white-knuckle thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

PECCAVI
The Latin word is scrawled in blood at the scene of a young woman’s brutal murder: I HAVE SINNED. It’s a chilling Christmas greeting for Boston medical examiner Maura Isles and Detective Jane Rizzoli, who swiftly link the victim to controversial celebrity psychiatrist Joyce O’Donnell–Jane’s professional nemesis and member of a sinister cabal called the Mephisto Club.

On top of Beacon Hill, the club’s acolytes devote themselves to the analysis of evil: Can it be explained by science? Does it have a physical presence? Do demons walk the earth? Drawing on a wealth of dark historical data and mysterious religious symbolism, the Mephisto scholars aim to prove a startling theory: that Satan himself exists among us.

With the grisly appearance of a corpse on their doorstep, it’s clear that someone–or something–is indeed prowling the city. The members of the club begin to fear the very subject of their study. Could this maniacal killer be one of their own–or have they inadvertently summoned an evil entity from the darkness?

Delving deep into the most baffling and unusual case of their careers, Maura and Jane embark on a terrifying journey to the very heart of evil, where they encounter a malevolent foe more dangerous than any they have ever faced . . . one whose work is only just beginning.

Customer Reviews:

Sure fire winner.......2007-10-12

Again,she has written a sure -fire winner. The book is well written, suspensful
well paced. She keeps you enthralled for the length of the book and the ending
was not rushed or hurried as so many authors do these days. I think she
deserves a 5 for this book a solid enjoyable read.

Unabridged Audio Book-- Flat Narration, Flat Narrative-- Sorry Dr. Gerritsen.......2007-10-12

Kathe Mazur who had previously narrated the unabridged version of Body Double did not do a lot to add interest to a somewhat choppy yet bland narrative. Her voice was somewhat flat on the pure narrative passages and Rizzoli's Boston accent seemed a bit too broad.

Meantime, I felt Gerritsen spent too much narrative time on the love life of Rizzoli's parents and Dr. Isles without any payoff. Not to mention the fact (and I'm being deliberately vague to avoid spoilers) both situations are trite to say the least. She could have ditched both of these and not hurt the story at all. She also did something with another continuing character that she might later regret because she needed someone in the position of foil to Isles and Rizzoli. However, I think the scenes set in Europe were well written and conveyed the character's desperation rather well.

The Mephisto Foundation also wasn't really unusual and the Watchers had me flashing back to Marvel Comic books. And unfortunately I have a feeling they, too, will be back-- and I hope with a more imaginative storry.

Sorry, Dr. Gerritsen. I've loved everyone of your previous thrillers but this one just didn't do it for me.

Another fast paced thriller from Gerritsen.......2007-10-04

I am a huge fan of Tess Gerritsen. This book is another great example of her intelligent and faced paced story-telling that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you haven't read any of her prior Rizzoli novels some of the character interaction may be confusing, but the story itself is great!

The story itself involves several murders which orignally seem very thinly connected, but as the pieces of the puzzle fall into place and each new murder is factored in, the way they are related will you leave you gasping in shock!

Top Notch Thriller.......2007-10-03

I am a fan of Tess Gerritsen and I like all her books but this is my favorite. I see some people didn't think it was 'up to her standards' but I disagree. I liked it because Gerritsen did a good believeable job putting together an interesting mystery. Also it had all my favorite ingrediants for mystery...high adventure, it was scary, it had good characters and so on. I would love to see this as a movie!

JUST SO SO.......2007-10-03

I was a bit letdown by the book. It certainly has its moments and the author writes well, it just wasn't quite up to standards.

The book does move fairly quickly and there were several chapters that held my interest more than others.

You need to check oCat's Cradleut this book:

Average customer rating:

An Old Twist Well-Played
Better than your average run of the mill paperback thriller...
Another Fantastic Gerritsen Read
Thrilling thriller
EXCELLENT AS USUAL

Body Double (Jane Rizzoli, Book 4)
Tess Gerritsen
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 034545894X
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Book Description

Boston medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles literally meets her match–and must face a savage serial killer and shattering personal revelations–in the brilliant new novel of suspense by the New York Times bestselling author of The Surgeon and The Sinner.
Dr. Maura Isles makes her living dealing with death. As a pathologist in a major metropolitan city, she has seen more than her share of corpses every day–many of them victims of violent murder. But never before has her blood run cold, and never has the grim expression “dead ringer” rung so terrifyingly true. Because never before has the lifeless body on the medical examiner’s table been her own.
Yet there can be no denying the mind-reeling evidence before her shocked eyes and those of her colleagues, including Detective Jane Rizzoli: the woman found shot to death outside Maura’s home is the mirror image of Maura, down to the most intimate physical nuances. Even more chilling is the discovery that they share the same birth date and blood type. For the stunned Maura, an only child, there can be just one explanation. And when a DNA test confirms that Maura’s mysterious doppelgänger is in fact her twin sister, an already bizarre murder investigation becomes a disturbing and dangerous excursion into a past full of dark secrets.
Searching for answers, Maura is drawn to a seaside town in Maine where other horrifying surprises await. But perhaps more frightening, an unknown murderer is at large on a cross-country killing spree. To stop the massacre and uncover the twisted truth about her own roots, Maura must probe her first living subject: the mother that she never knew . . . an icy and cunning woman who could be responsible for giving Maura life–and who just may have a plan to take it away.

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

Boston medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles literally meets her match-and must face a savage serial killer and shattering personal revelations-in the brilliant new novel of suspense by the New York Times bestselling author of The Surgeon and The Sinner.

Dr. Maura Isles makes her living dealing with death. As a pathologist in a major metropolitan city, she has seen more than her share of corpses every day-many of them victims of violent murder. But never before has her blood run cold, and never has the grim expression "dead ringer" rung so terrifyingly true. Because never before has the lifeless body on the medical examiner's table been her own.

Yet there can be no denying the mind-reeling evidence before her shocked eyes and those of her colleagues, including Detective Jane Rizzoli: the woman found shot to death outside Maura's home is the mirror image of Maura, down to the most intimate physical nuances. Even more chilling is the discovery that they share the same birth date and blood type. For the stunned Maura, an only child, there can be just one explanation. And when a DNA test confirms that Maura's mysterious doppelganger is in fact her twin sister, an already bizarre murder investigation becomes a disturbing and dangerous excursion into a past full of dark secrets.

Searching for answers, Maura is drawn to a seaside town in Maine where other horrifying surprises await. But perhaps more frightening, an unknown murderer is at large on a cross-country killing spree. To stop the massacre and uncover the twisted truth about her own roots, Maura must probe her first living subject: the mother that she never knew…an icy and cunning woman who could be responsible for giving Maura life-and who just may have a plan to take it away.

Customer Reviews:

An Old Twist Well-Played.......2007-09-01

I've been told that you can give an artist the most hackneyed, the most overused, and the most simple idea and they can make something new of it that's worth looking at. I don't know that everyone can do that, but there are a select few that can.

Most writers are told there are only a handful of plots in the world. Literary professors seem convinced that every plot that has ever come out in American novels can be found within Mark Twain's HUCKLEBERRY FINN. I'm not going to disagree with that assessment, but I am going to doubt it a little.

One thing for certain, Tess Gerritsen's fourth Boston Police Department Homicide Detective Jane Rizzoli novel at first appears to be a writer in search of a plot. Medical Examiner Maura Isles came to the forefront of the last novel, THE SINNER, and she remains the focus of this one.

The idea of a "mysterious twin" or "dark twin" is one of the oldest plot tricks in the book. Mark Twain performed his magic on the plot device in THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER. Before that Alexandre Dumas did it with THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK and Anthony Hope used it in THE PRISONER OF ZENDA.

Just as these other masters of fiction pulled successful rabbits out of their hats, Gerritsen does the same with Dr. Maura Isles and her murdered twin. During the course of this novel, Jane Rizzoli is sidelined to degree while in her eighth month of pregnancy. Her relationship with FBI Special Agent Gabriel Dean continues to grow and this one, although they have problems back and forth.

Isles's provocative relationship with Father Daniel Brophy (barely touched on in THE SINNER) looms larger in the series as both Isles and Brophy have to fight against temptation and old feelings that haven't gone away.

The story opens in a gripping fashion with Isles arriving back at her house after a forensic conference in France. Police cars and Rizzoli are already at her address. When Rizzoli reveals the dead woman, Isles is blown away. The woman looks just like her.

Enough to be her twin.

In fact, subsequent forensic investigation reveals that the dead woman has to be Isles's plan. Their blood work and even their DNA matches. Isles was raised as an adopted child and had no clue that she had a blood family, much less an identical twin.

After digging into the dead woman's background, Isles and Rizzoli discover that sheet - like Isles - was adopted. In fact, the same lawyer attended to the placement of both children.

Driven by her need to know who she really is and who her family was - not out of curiosity, but out of self-preservation - Isles begins the painful search for her true roots. The trail is twisted and filled with a lot of unpleasant surprises. More than that, Rizzoli becomes convinced that Isles is tracking a serial killer whose work fantasies involve killing pregnant women - which makes Rizzoli a prime target.

BODY DOUBLE is a compelling experience that drags the readers through the pages at a frantic gallop. Although some of the plot at times feels familiar, Gerritsen brings so much to it that is new. This novel is definitely one of the most tense of the series and delivers a slambang ending.

Gerritsen's newest novel, THE BONE GARDEN, is a stand-alone and not a Rizzoli and Isles book. However, from the description it sounds like a roller-coaster ride waiting to happen. Unfortunately, fans of Rizzoli and Isles are going to have to wait at least one more year for another tale.

Better than your average run of the mill paperback thriller..........2007-06-26

Yes: the sexy cover, plot synopsis, and rave reviews littering the dust jacket of "Body Double" don't necessarily stand out to a distinguished reader of suspense fiction. I, personally, walked by Gerritsen's novels in the bookstore thinking "more dull medical thrillers." But I am so happy that I finally picked up this novel (my first by Gerritsen) because - in all honesty - it's quite good.

Once you get past the initial far-fetched premise (a medical examiner discovers a murdered woman who happens to be her long-lost twin sister) the story is more plausible than you'd expect. The motives of the characters (and villains) are completely believable and Gerritsen doesn't resort to cheap thrills to keep the story going.

What I liked best about the novel was Gerritsen's way of developing the story. Instead of stuffing the novel with red herrings, she allows the mystery to complicate itself and grow into something very compelling. Three-fourths of the way through, you'll be asking yourself not only "whodunnit?" (as with most suspense thrillers) but "why?" and "how?" And what's more, the pay-off is exciting (without being over-the-top) and plausible (the revelations are air-tight).

All in all, you can't go wrong with "Body Double" - - a better-than-average adventure in suspense that avoids the trappings of its genre.

Another Fantastic Gerritsen Read.......2007-05-19

I loved learning all about Isles and the way the story intertwines the history with the present. Fast paced as usual. I loved it.

Thrilling thriller.......2007-04-30

I love thrillers, but I hate the type where every page is a blood bath, and the author focuses more on grossing out the reader than on trying to create a good story.

That's why I am so happy to have discovered Tess Gerritsen. She offers a page-turner that actually has a plot that makes me want to keep reading.

Body Double is one of my first Gerritsen books, but I wasn't hampered by the fact that I wasn't familiar with the characters. The author does a great job of making everyone accessible, while not giving TOO much backstory and boring the reader.

Dr. Isley, otherwise known as the "Queen of the Dead," is a medical examiner with a cloudy background. Even she isn't too sure of where she came from as she was adopted as an infant. Her past catches up to her when a woman who could be her double is found shot outside her apartment. Isley must discover who this woman was, who killed her, and why she's next on the list.

Full of twists and turns and enough mystery to keep you guessing until the end. Perfect blend of fear and excitement!

EXCELLENT AS USUAL.......2007-04-04

Tess is a very exciting writer and this book was a nail biter.

Average customer rating:

Kept me guessing.
Plan to stay up all night.
Wow
Another Winner for Gerritsen
Enjoyed the ride

The Surgeon
Tess Gerritsen
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0345447832
Release Date: 2001-08-21

Amazon.com

Penzler Pick, August 2001: Tess Gerritsen left a very successful career as an internist to raise her children and devote more time to writing. After several books that have had moderate success, Gerritsen has now written a gruesome and frightening story that should put her among the top women thriller writers working today.

A serial killer is on the loose in Boston. The victims are killed in a particularly nasty way: cut with a scalpel on the stomach, the intestines and uterus removed, and then the throat slashed. The killer obviously has medical knowledge and has been dubbed "the Surgeon" by the media. Detective Thomas Moore and his partner Rizzoli of the Boston Homicide Unit have discovered something that makes this case even more chilling. Years ago in Savannah a serial killer murdered in exactly the same way. He was finally stopped by his last victim, who shot him as he tried to cut her. That last victim is Dr. Catherine Cordell, who now works as a cardiac surgeon at one of Boston's prestigious hospitals. As the murders continue, it becomes obvious that the killer is drawing closer and closer to Dr. Cordell, who is becoming so frightened that she is virtually unable to function. But she is the only person who can help the police catch this copycat killer. Or is it a copycat? To complicate matters even further, Detective Moore, often referred to as Saint Thomas as he continues to mourn the loss of his wife, is getting emotionally involved with the doctor.

The suspense in The Surgeon is almost unbearable. The writing is superb and the stunning twists and turns make it almost impossible to put down. -- Otto Penzler

Book Description

In her most masterful novel of medical suspense, New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen creates a villain of unforgettable evil--and the one woman who can catch him before he kills again.

He slips into their homes at night and walks silently into bedrooms where women lie sleeping, unaware of the horrors they soon will endure. The precision of the killer's methods suggests he is a deranged man of medicine, propelling the Boston newspapers and the frightened public to name him "The Surgeon."

The cops' only clue rests with another surgeon, the victim of a nearly identical crime. Two years ago, Dr. Catherine Cordell fought back and killed her attacker before he could complete his assault. Now she hides her fears of intimacy behind a cool and elegant exterior and a well-earned reputation as a top trauma surgeon.

Cordell's careful facade is about to crack as this new killer recreates, with chilling accuracy, the details of Cordell's own ordeal. With every new murder he seems to be taunting her, cutting ever closer, from her hospital to her home. Her only comfort comes from Thomas Moore, the detective assigned to the case. But even Moore cannot protect Cordell from a brilliant hunter who somehow understands--and savors--the secret fears of every woman he kills.

Filled with the authentic detail that is the trademark of this doctor turned author . . . and peopled with rich and complex characters--from the ER to the squad room to the city morgue--here is a thriller of unprecedented depth and suspense. Exposing the shocking link between those who kill and cure, punish and protect, The Surgeon is Tess Gerritsen's most exciting accomplishment yet.

Customer Reviews:

Kept me guessing........2007-10-15

Two years ago Catherine Cordell was raped and nearly murdered. She shot the man who tried. She has now moved to Boston and leads a successful life as a Medic in the Pilgrim Medical Center. However some more bodies turn up dead, and the method looks very much like the previous killer. So is he dead?

Homicide Detective Thomas Moore and his partner Jane Rizzoli start investigating and they keep running up against walls of doubt and confusion. That which links the women is startling.

Not a story for the squeamish, the story sometimes gets caught up with the details but I found it riveting and entralling. I really suspected almost everyone in the story.

Even with insights to the serial killer's head this is a taut thriller that kept me guessing. Everybody was potentially a suspect and red herrings littered the story. An interesting medical thriller.

Plan to stay up all night........2007-06-22

If you don't stay up until the wee hours frantically turning pages in order to see what happens next, you'll definitely lose a few hours of sleep as you listen to the creaks and groans of your house and wonder who -- or what -- is out there!

Gerritsen has always been a standout in the field of the police procedural and medical thriller, but she really makes her mark with this mystery. From Police Detective Jane Rizzoli and her partner Barry Frost, to the evil and satanic Warren Hoyt, every character nearly jumps off the page -- and had me jumping out of my skin.

Warning: This book, while not as graphic or distrubing as, say, The Shining, is not comfortable bedtime reading. Read at your own risk!

Wow.......2007-06-14

Let's be brief. This is one of the best thrillers I have ever read.

Another Winner for Gerritsen.......2007-04-21

This wasn't as good as some of the work done by Tess Gerritsen but it was still a good book. It didn't have as much suspense but it was well written and never dull. A must read.

Enjoyed the ride.......2007-03-08

I've just sworn off Karin Slaughter's books (because of her anti-Christianity agenda that is both annoying and disturbing) and am thrilled to find a new author! I began the Surgeon after dinner and finally finished it about 1:30 a.m. I absolutely couldn't put it down. The finale had some flaws (like the long Asian hair/local missing girl/wig bit of convenience), but I still loved the book. I can't wait to read another Gerritsen book!

Clone Brews: Homebrew Recipes for 150 Commercial Beers

Average customer rating:

Good, but dated
Clone Brews
BREWING WITH CLONE BREWS
Great gift for my husband!
Nice assortment of beers from around the world

Clone Brews: Homebrew Recipes for 150 Commercial Beers
Tess Szamatulski , and Mark Szamatulski
Manufacturer: Storey Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1580170773

Book Description

Re-creations of brands such as Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, Guinness, Foster's, and more.

Customer Reviews:

Good, but dated.......2007-03-02

I wanted to give this a higher rating and it does have a lot of better ratings from many others, but I just couldn't do it. There are quite a few recipes and I have made a few. If I hadn't done so, my rating on this would be higher. The book is well written, instructions are clear, but it is not for a complete novice, as some of the recipes are in need of revision. The yeast parings are questionable on a few recipes, as are a few of the recipes themselves. There was a recipe for one beer I know how to make quite well, and it was quite off.

A few notable items that are due to the books age: their knowledge of yeasts is limited and the brand of extract has long since changed their name. Muntons & Fison is now just Muntons. These are small things, but they show this book would benefit from an update.

Don't get me wrong, this book is good, but I would suggest that it is better for those brewers that have enough experience to adjust the recipes as needed. I know it was written about a decade ago, but if you are buying this book, you should know what to expect. I'm hoping for better things in Beer Captured.

Clone Brews.......2007-02-09

Good book for the begining brewer. It will give you recipies for some of the best beers in the world. It is a true test of your brewing abilities, to try to replicate one of the beers in this book.

BREWING WITH CLONE BREWS .......2007-01-03

This book is well written and the recipes are very easy to follow. The recipes created by Tess and Mark are so close to the store bought beers you would be hard pressed to tell the difference. I have been home brewing for many years and have won several competitions using the recipes from this book. The Pilsner Urquell and the Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout are exceptional (just to mention a couple)!! Follow the recipes, be patient while the beer carbonates, and enjoy.

Great gift for my husband!.......2006-12-05

My husband recently began brewing his own beer, so I thought this would make a nice birthday gift. It turns out that his brewing friends had already recommended this as a good book to add to his library, so he was thrilled to receive it!

Nice assortment of beers from around the world.......2006-10-07

The book begins with a very short section on calculations and basic identification. There is a good assortment of beers from around the world contained in this book. The authors concentrate on extracts, but the recipes offer choices for alternate methods and different yeast. Not a bad book, but I have not utilized it like I have other brewing books. It is unique in that it tries to duplicate popular beers, with alternate methods. You will find that it is quite difficult to copy a commercial beer perfectly. One should have a good understanding of brewing before attempting to use this book.

Average customer rating:

World Class Brew Recipes
Beer Captured
Buy this book!!
a must if you got more then one Beer recipe book
A "Must Have" book for an Extract Brewer

Beer Captured
Tess Szamatulski , and Mark Szamatulski
Manufacturer: Maltose Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0970344252

Book Description

Beer Captured Homebrew Recipes for 150 World Class Beers

This book contains 150 homebrew recipes for brewing clones of the great beers of the world. Recipes are included in three formats, extract, mini-mash and all grain, appealing to all level of brewers. With each recipe helpful hints are provided, along with serving glass and temperature and food suggestions. Charts provided are: mash guidelines, beer style and famous beer region mineral,water modification, beer style guidelines, hop chart and reference guide, grain, malt, sugar, adjunct, and yeast chart and reference guide. There is also a cooking with beer chapter titled "The Marriage of Food and Beer".

Customer Reviews:

World Class Brew Recipes.......2006-09-30

This is an awesome book. I bought the book about a year ago after making my first extract beer kit. This book (and the previous Clonebrews) opened up a new world for me. From Belgium Trappist ales unavailable in this country to Craft brew favorites I've succesfully brewed many of Mark's and Tess's recipes. Being an extract brewer the recipes are easy enough for a novice while producing world class brews. Recipes are also given for mini-mash and all grain.
Also included are detailed charts on hops, grain and malt usage and tables for water modification. There's even food recipes including an awesome chocolate stout cake.

Beer Captured.......2006-06-26

Wonderful book for homebrewing with beer recipes, food / beer matching and description of each of the brewing stages.

Buy this book!!.......2006-05-25

If you want to brew great beer at home with great recipes, you need this book. It not only covers nearly every style that there is, it also has very detailed charts for hops, grains, and yeast. Even a chart to help you replicate the water used for brewing a particular style. I have won several ribbons with these recipes and know many other people that have done the same. Including several best of shows and brewers cups.

a must if you got more then one Beer recipe book .......2006-05-16

this is one of my books I concider a bible along with pappys starter book and a solid recomdation for even the second in a starter libary

A "Must Have" book for an Extract Brewer.......2006-03-16

Want a clone recipe for Chimay Grande Réserve, Dead Guy Ale, or a plethora of other craft beers? If yes, this is the book for you. And while you're at it, buy Tess's other book "Clonebrews" and you'll never need another recipe book.

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Penguin Classics)

Average customer rating:

Thumbs up from the Average Joe
Lush landscapes and thought patterns
Truly a Great Novel
Emotionally Difficult to Read, but Hardy's Beautiful Prose Carries You Along
Read Tess...but please also read the alternative

Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Penguin Classics)
Thomas Hardy
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0141439599
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Book Description

Edited with Notes by Tim Dolin and an Introduction by Margaret R. Higonnet

Customer Reviews:

Thumbs up from the Average Joe.......2007-09-25

I agree with mulcahey (five stars, Sept. 23, 2003), who sounds like a college professor. I'm not a scholarly reader. I miss the hidden meanings, the underlying philosophy, and so on. I read purely for enjoyment (and sometimes education--read Lolita if you want to discover new words).

In addition to what mulcahey said, the book is simply highly enjoyable to read. It's very touching. It's the kind of reading experience that will leave you thinking about it for days or weeks. The writing style is elegant and poetic. Anyone who has tried to write will appreciate the grace and beauty.

It's not a light read, like something you take on a plane to ward off boredom. It's the kind of read that takes a little effort. The reward is definitely there, however.

Lush landscapes and thought patterns.......2007-08-03

By today's standards certain passages of this book may seem rather vague and subtle, but they were shocking when first written--enough that the book was subject to heavy censorship--vital passages from it were removed. And that is really what makes this book so grand. Its take on the double standards of the society in which fictional Tess lived may seem very distant from today's post-60's equality society, but it was very real then.

The book follows Tess' journey through the English countryside, but what makes it so fascinating is the constant flow of her thought patterns as she tries to rationalize the hand she has been dealt. The modern reader may be befuddled, as her thoughts are representative of another culture and another time, but what is fascinating is the little insights on human nature that shine through. The joy she feels tempered by the despair in her past. The ignorant self-righteousness of overzealous youth. The mistakes that even very good, well-meaning people can make, without realizing it, that hurt others deeply. We hope for her as she lives through the initial tragedy, the slow recovery, the surge of joy she experiences, we are disgusted at the hypocritical betrayal that eventually leads to her final breakdown.

The prose itself too has a personality, often taking time to smell the roses and indulge in the lush scenery, fascinating historical anecdotes and social interactions that Tess deals with on a daily basis. For those who over-glamorize the past, here is a very honest look at the physical and mental hardships people faced in it. Hardy quotes Ascham: 'We find a short way, by a long wandering.'

Truly a Great Novel.......2007-07-05

When I saw the depressing amount of 1-, 2-, and 3-star reviews for this novel, I had to wonder what had gotten into the general populace. Then I read the actual reviews, and realized something. They are reading this for pleasure, yes - but why in the world to people turn to a classic novel for a fast-paced, action-packed story? (Yes, I quote.)

Tess's is a dark tale, a depressing tale, a tale with no perky moments to speak of (seeing as how we all know it'll get that much worse should anything good happen). The language is poetic and ethereal, with descriptions of incredible beauty that I would give anything to have written and an overtone of intense tragedy and ill-fated cruelty. The characters are all conflicted and in turmoil, oppressed by the moral standards of the day, and Tess is likeable, as opposed to Emily Bronte's Catherine Earnshaw, say. I would like to mention that I chose this book to write a ten-page analytical paper on, know it cover-to-cover, and know that it is SO much more meaningfull when one stops to take in the paragraphs that scream, "Pay attention to ME!!!" I would also mention that I am not a college professor. I read this as a high-school freshman, which goes to show that this isn't just a book for the elite.

And in relation to all the readers who feel that Hardy is a bad author? I always believe that people who act as though they can write a classic far better than the author really ought to try their hand at writing a story that will survive the ages as well as Tess. Hardy writes in lyrical prose, in similar style to his poetry, and though I completely understand wanting to read "mind candy", I don't understand expecting books accepted as real literature to do the trick. Maybe try a trashy novel first, and read Tess to cleanse the palate.

This is, ultimately, my favorite novel of all time. Naturally, I have many more to read, but of all those I have tried, I have never read another that so seamlessly combined luminous tragedy, heartwrending romance, and cruel fate in a novel as beautiful as it is painful.

Emotionally Difficult to Read, but Hardy's Beautiful Prose Carries You Along.......2007-05-01

I went into "Tess of the D'urbervilles" with full knowledge of the harsh fate waiting for Tess, but that knowledge still could not prepare me for how harrowing and painful that journey was for her, and the reader. The character of Tess is so moral, innocent, kind, and unselfish against the society that is anything but, that Hardy's message of fate and social hypocrisy reveals itself full force in the novel. Tess has a love for life and an optimism that takes the harshest and cruelest society to beat down, and that is heartbreaking to behold.

I thought this was going to be a stuffy English novel, despite the fact I quite enjoy (most) Victorian novels I read. However, I discovered that Hardy's prose flows well and is even beautifully poetic. Some of the best lines come from Tess's mouth, showing that she is not only morally upright, but also smart and incredibly perceptive.

Hardy has a great way with words; romantic scenes are intensely passionate, emotional letters drip with feeling, and narrations delve into the feelings and thoughts of the characters so that the reader can understand, pity, empathize and sympathize with them. Most surprising perhaps is Hardy's understanding of the female mind; I think he has developed Tess into a believable and realistic heroine, and he has many interesting things to say about the differences of the genders, especially during that time period.

"Tess of the D'urbervilles" is a gorgeous yet heart-breaking novel. Not only does it entertain with its poetic prose and social themes, the novel also opens one's mind to the hypocrisy of the times; hypocrisies that even now may still appear in the thoughts and actions of people in this "modern" society.

Read Tess...but please also read the alternative.......2007-04-26

The popularity of Hardy's Tess makes me wonder why the apparent context in which the book was written seems to have been lost. Twelve years before Hardy's Tess hit the shelf George MacDonald's Paul Faber: Surgeon received a less controversial if almost equally popular release. While the two books could hardly be more different it is interesting that the fundamental plot elements are identical. A careful comparison of the scene in both books immediately following the confession of the recently-married protagonist of her youthful indiscretion to her unforgiving husband will reveal a passage where Hardy essentially quotes from MacDonald--and then flatly contradicts him. MacDonald's Faber is a longer, more complex story--perhaps less accessible than Hardy's. Where Hardy finds despair, cynicism, and ultimately destruction, MacDonald mercifully provides forgiveness, hope, and evidence of the divine in humanity.

Other reviewers have heartily recommended that you read Tess to discover how accurately great literature can portray life's struggles. If you liked the authenticity and poignancy of Tess but felt there must be another side of the story, please read Paul Faber.

NorthStar High Intermediate Listening and Speaking, Second Edition (Student Book with Audio CD)

Average customer rating:

An excellent up-to-date text

NorthStar High Intermediate Listening and Speaking, Second Edition (Student Book with Audio CD)
Tess Ferree , and Kim Sanabria
Manufacturer: Pearson ESL
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0131439103

Customer Reviews:

An excellent up-to-date text.......2005-04-02

This book can form the basis for an excellent up-to-date American English speaking and listening course. There are 10 thematic chapters, on topics like natural disasters, American diets, the environment, etc. Each topic is examined through introductory readings, listening and speaking exercises. The accompanying CD is excellent--many of the exercises are authentic radio excerpts, clearly reproduced. Two or three grammar points are addressed in each unit, integrated into the topic. If you're CELTA-trained, you'll recognize many of the techniques. Good accompanying website too with extra material.

Average customer rating:

Nude Femme Not Needed
Serial killer mystery
Tess's Books
not bad not great either
The Apprentice

The Apprentice (Jane Rizzoli, Book 2)
Tess Gerritsen
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345447867
Release Date: 2003-07-29

Amazon.com

Boston detective Jane Rizzoli hasn't completely recovered from the near-death experience at the hands of a serial killer (The Surgeon) that left her scarred and scared, but that doesn't keep her from going after a copycat murderer whose modus operandi is disturbingly familiar. Warren Hoyt may still be behind bars, but Jane thinks there's a connection between him and the man the police call the Dominator, based on the way this new fiend subdues and violates his victims before he kills them. Political interference from an FBI agent who seems to know more about the Dominator than anyone else only intensifies Jane's determination to solve the case. When Hoyt escapes from prison and teams up with his blood brother to take revenge on the policewoman who put him there, the pace of this truly frightening thriller picks up and drives the narrative to its violent conclusion. --Jane Adams

Book Description

The bestselling 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.

THE APPRENTICE

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 U.S. 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.

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

The bestselling 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 U.S. 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.

"Skillful and scary."
   THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD

"An adrenaline rush from start to finish."
    IRIS JOHANSEN

"Masterful... Gerritsen moves into the Thomas Harris class, though with a style all her own."
   KIRKUS REVIEWS (STARRED REVIEW)

Customer Reviews:

Nude Femme Not Needed.......2007-09-23

I remember Tess Gerritsen first books, "Bloodstream," and "Harvest," and then suddenly she took her stories from general hospitals, to the orbits around the Earth with "Gravity." I am glad to see that Gerritsen has not limited her stories to the confines of an E.R., but she still writes some hot Code scenes, no question about that.

In this book I can see a little bit of Tomas Harris' "Hannibal," but just a hint. It's hard not to take notice of such an original character such as him, but Tess Gerritsen, makes a whole story of her own.
There's an "apprentice" who follows the steps of a master criminal, and yearns his attention and approval. Detective Rizzoli consults the master criminal, now in jail, a Warren Hoyt and with help from hunky FBI agent Dean and Maura Isles, M.D., they save the day.
I loved every character, and the plot, of course is far more complicated. Gerritsen knows how to engage a reader. I can only imagine being her patient. She is, after all, a medical doctor.
I don't think this book needed the nude silhouette of a nude female at the front of the book, artistically wrapped in yellow police tape to grip attention. Even the paperback edition has it, so there's no way around it. I don't think it goes with the character of the book or their main character. (I can only imagine Detective Rizzoli going nuts after seeing this book in a public library!)

5 stars, Gerritsen has proven she can write about anything

Serial killer mystery.......2007-08-09

Another in the Jane Rizzoli character series.
All the books written by Tess Gerritsen in this series are excellent, but somewhat gruesom. If you are a fan of serial killer books, you will love this series.

Tess's Books.......2007-08-08

OMG You cannot go wrong with any of Tess Gerritsen's books. I am anxiously awaiting her latest and it can't get here fast enough.

not bad not great either.......2007-07-25

the book was ok. Characters were well-developed, but it was not so exciting that I couldn't put it down. I agree with other reviewers who said that the time spent showing us Jane's emotional damage was way too long and way too boring. When the story just starts to get going it does abruptly end. I really wish there was more to the ending...although I liked the way it turned out..anyways...will read some of the authors other books out of curiosity.

The Apprentice.......2007-05-13

Tess Gerritsen writes very descriptive books about murder and serial killers - very interesting and quick reading at the same time.

Average customer rating:

good, but not great
Not Charming
Charmless detective in Charm City: a great evocation of Baltimore.
Second in the series
Great 2nd Book!!

Charm City (Tess Monaghan Mysteries)
Laura Lippman
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0380788764
Release Date: 1997-10-01

Book Description

As a practiced reporter until her newspaper went to that great pressroom in the sky, P.I. Tess Monaghan knows and loves every inch of her native Baltimore, even the parts being slobbered on by the sad-sack greyhound she's minding for her uncle. It's a quirky city where baseball reigns, but lately homicide seems to be the second most popular local sport. Business tycoon "Wink" Wynkowski is trying to change all that by bringing pro basketball back to town, and everybody's rooting fro him -- until a devastating, muckraking expose of his lurid past appears on the front page of the Baltimore Beacon-Light. It's a

surprise even to the Blight's editors, who thought they'd killed the piece. Instead, the piece killed Wink -- who's found in his garage with the car running.

Now the Blight wants to nail the unknown computer hacker who planted the lethal story, and the assignment is right up the alley of a former newshound like Tess. But it doesn't take long for her to discover deeper, darker secrets, and to realize that this situation is really more about whacking than hacking. It's just murder in Baltimore these days -- and Tess Monaghan herself might be next on the list.

As a practiced reporter until her newspaper went to that great pressroom in the sky, P.I. Tess Monaghan knows and loves every inch of her native Baltimore, even the parts being slobbered on by the sad-sack greyhound she's minding for her uncle. It's a quirky city where baseball reigns, but lately homicide seems to be the second most popular local sport. Business tycoon "Wink" Wynkowski is trying to change all that by bringing pro basketball back to town, and everybody's rooting for him -- until a devastating, muckraking expose of his lurid past appears on the front page of the Baltimore Beacon-Light. It's a surprise even to the Blight's editors, who thought they'd killed the piece. Instead, the piece killed Wink -- who's found in his garage with the car running.

Customer Reviews:

good, but not great.......2007-06-05

I really like Ms. Lippman's writing and am steadily working my way through all the Tess Monaghan novels, finding that I either like or love them all, which is saying something.

Lest you think I just like or love any old thing I read, let me clarify: since I started looking at reviews of books and trying to find writers whose styles I might like because they were highly rated by people or reviewers of other books I had loved, I have found myself far more pleased with what I read. That's how I found Ms. Lippman's work, and boy am I glad I did. Her Tess Monaghan series is absolutely superb, as are most of her standalone novels.

This one, which I think is the second in the Monaghan series, isn't my fave, but it's a decent book. You really ought to read this one after reading the first one; for some reason, I get the strong feeling you won't get Tess very clearly if you don't have some sort of frame of reference for her already.

In this one, she's hired by the paper she used to work for in order to determine who hacked the paper's computer system and got a story printed up when the paper's execs thought they'd managed to kill the story.

Tess does her usual stuff: approaches the task with humor, as much deceit as she needs to get the job done, and a fairly respectable intellect (just in case you forget she's an English major, y'all).

I like so much in this novel: her growing relationship with Esskay, the greyhound; her relationship with Crow (her much younger boyfriend); the other relationships of significance to her (Whitney, Tyner, etc.). I like how her mind works, how she quickly catches some things while others elude her. She's not a super sleuth. She's not one of those protagonists who seems so quickly to solve everything, to make connections that the average human being would never make. She stumbles a bit and doesn't always see what's right in front of her face.

In this book, in fact, that last thing I mentioned is what kept the book from being as good as it could be. Ms. Lippman is usually excellent at revealing snippets so that the reader is guessing right along with Tess, but in this one, I could see the end coming about 100 pages before the end actually came. I knew whodunnit. I saw a lot of the end coming, and that really detracted from my enjoyment of the novel.

Overall, had I not so clearly seen the plot developing to its conclusion long before Ms. Lippman unraveled it for me, I'd have given this 5 stars. As it is, because I love so much of what I read about Tess and her circle, it gets 4 stars.

I'd like to know what you think. Read "Baltimore Blues," and then read this one. Tell me if you can see the difference in how the villain is revealed.

Happy reading!

Not Charming.......2006-06-06

I had a very hard time trying to get into this book. Finally, I completely gave up, and simply scanned the pages of the story.

After I put the book down, and couldn't even remember the main character's name.

I'm an avid and diverse reader. I read all kinds of books that fall under all kinds of different genres. I also believe in giving an author a chance. But, they only get "1" chance. If their book is a total disaster, I refuse to give them another try.

I will never spend another dime on a Laura Lippman book. TOTAL [...]!!! I'm a writer. I would be ashamed to release such high-school level writing on the market.

I believe you need more than just words on a page to consider a book good. A good read to me is being able to paint a great visual picture in my mind. I should fall in love with some characters, and utterly hate others.

Please, save your money and don't buy this book.

Charmless detective in Charm City: a great evocation of Baltimore........2006-05-24

Having read two of Lippman's mysteries, I'd classify the plots as solid and competent, interesting but not engrossing. The books excel at describing Baltimore (I grew up in Baltimore County.) Lippman's writing about the city is wonderfully vivid and, more than most, chronicles not only the buildings, but the people and I think would bring the city to life even for those who aren't familiar with it. In this respect, I think that Lippman is better than Anne Tyler. I do have one caveat, one would not guess from this book that most of the population of Baltimore is black.

The main problem with the book, unfortunately, is the heroine who is the most implausible private eye I've ever encountered. Miss Marple would eat her for lunch. Tess Monaghan is a very immature, whiny 29-year old, who usually seems about 10 years younger, so diffident that she reminds me of the gooey black mud that coats the bottom of some parts of the Bay and its tributaries: a passive nuisance. She bickers pointlessly with her parents: for example, Tess takes it as a personal affront that her mother likes monochromatic color schemes. This doesn't seem to be the result of losing her only job after the newspaper she worked for folded. She only took that job because one of her friends was a reporter, and when she didn't get a job with the surviving paper, she didn't know what to do. It is hard to fathom why her friends have decided that she should go into detective work, which requires energy, boldness and is potentially dangerous.

Tess strikes me as a generally charmless character; I suppose that's why Lippmen gives her a dog in the second book. I often don't find hard-boiled detectives likeable, but as long as I respect them and the stories are good, I don't need to. (Tess is more like half-baked.) A certain sour pettiness goes with the genre. The detective observes all things great and small with an acerbic carping that presumably is intended to show a superior discerning sensibility or entirely too much familiarity with the world's seamy underbelly, but in Tess it's more like tiresome querulousness.

After doing a respectable job on her first case, Tess strikes out completely on her second, surviving only because a friend who is considerably faster on the uptake comes to her rescue. Somehow, even as Tess goes about her detecting, what she is shown as doing just doesn't mesh with how she is shown as thinking. Lippman throws in the occasional Good Deed to make her heroine seem more admirable, but it seems more like a formulaic plot contrivance than a natural outcome of Tess' personality.

Tess' aunts and uncles, on the other hand are charming and vividly drawn and supply the character interest. So I'd say that if you like books with a strong sense of place, this is a good bet when you're looking for something to read. If character is important to you, or you only like to read this sub-genre is it's really good, I'd look for something else.

Second in the series.......2005-08-30

Former reporter for a now extinct Baltimore newspaper, Tess Monahan is working as an investigator for a city lawyer, waiting to get her license as a PI. Business tycoon, Wink Wynkowski, is trying to bring pro basketball back to Baltimore, but a full scale expose of his lurid past appears on the front page of the local paper. The editors of the paper, the Baltimore Beacon-Light, had rejected the story, not wanting the sordid details of this man's criminal past to jeopardize their chances of getting a top team for the city, but, somehow the story appeared in the morning edition. Almost immediately, Wink's body is found in his car, apparently having suicided by leaving the motor running. Tess is employed by the paper to find out how the story got into print and extends her search by interviewing Wink's wives, the present and former. A constant irritant to Tess is an abrasive, ambitious reporter on the paper, Rosita Ruiz, a Latina who doesn't hesitate to use chequebook journalism or to invent stories to suit her own agenda. When Rosita also commits suicide after being fired, Tess is convinced that both Wink and Rosita have been murdered and sets out to prove just that. The story is just a little too bitsy for me, but there are some great characters being established who will, presumably, continue into further books.

Great 2nd Book!!.......2005-07-28

Laura Lippman never lets me down. She really doesn't. I just finished HP6 and I was a little burned-out (something about reading 651 pages in two days that burns a person out). I needed something to just enjoy and not have to be reading every single word and analyzing what was going to happen next. Laura was just what I needed. Tess was just what I needed.

As 2nd books go, this one was very good. It was a little uneven in that it gets really heavy and intense later but is in odd contrast to the beginning, which isn't so intense. The addition of Esskay and Tess' emerging feelings for the dog are great. More of Crow, which is something that is also great. These are fantastic characters that one can't help but wanting to fall back in with them and enjoy your time among them.

I'm going to read the third book. I feel like I'm on a Laura Lippman kick. Not a bad to place to be, let me tell you.

Average customer rating:

Harvest
Keeps You wondering
Harvest
High Five
Whew! What a Ride!

Harvest
Tess Gerritsen
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 067155302X

Amazon.com

When Robin Cook wrote Coma in 1977, the idea of hospital patients being incubated for their vital organs sounded like science fiction. Twenty years later, this gripping thriller about a thriving international black market in human hearts, livers and kidneys could come from tomorrow's "Nightline." Author Gerritsen was an internist before she switched her energies to writing, and her experience shows in every scene. When young surgical resident Dr. Abby DiMatteo assists at her first "harvest" (the removal of living organs from a patient declared legally brain dead) at Boston's posh Bayside Hospital, "she felt vaguely nauseated by the whine of the blade, the smell of bone dust," neither of which seem to bother the veterans. It's obviously a personal memory being mined for good fictional purposes. (Gerritsen wrote paperback romance novels before Harvest: Check out her Keeper of the Bride and Thief of Hearts.)

Book Description

Medical resident Dr. Abby Matteo is elated when the elite cardiac transplant team at Boston's Bayside Hospital taps her as a potential recruit. But faced with a tormenting life-and-death decision, Abby helps direct a crash victim's harvested heart to a dying teenager -- instead of the wealthy older woman who was supposed to receive it. The repercussions leave Abby shaken and plagued with self-doubt.

Suddenly, a new heart appears, and the woman's transplant is completed. Then Abby makes a terrible discovery. The donor records have been falsified -- the new heart has not come through the proper channels. Defying the hospital's demands for silence, she begins her own investigation that reveals a murderous, unthinkable conspiracy. Every move Abby makes spawns a vicious backlash...and on a ship anchored in the waters of Boston harbor, the grisly truth lies waiting.

Customer Reviews:

Harvest.......2007-08-27

a well written book with a topical story line.A good author to read if you want a fast moving,gripping book

Keeps You wondering.......2007-08-01

Written by a pro. Keeps you wondering what's going to happen next. Cold Eyes

Harvest.......2007-06-27

One of the best books I've ever read. Kept me glued to it the entire book. It was the first of Tess Gerritsen I've read and now I've ordered all the rest of her books and am reading them also. Very good author!

High Five.......2007-06-14

Having read the six novels in Tess' `Rizzoli/Isles" series I thought I'd have a go at her earlier work, and Harvest from 1996. Another reviewer here suggests that this is her first book, but in fact it's her 12th - most of the first eleven were romantic fiction which she started writing in 1986. Anyway I was pleased to discover that Harvest is every bit as good as her more recent work, if anything it could quite easily be her latest novel and no-one would notice. I have a feeling that the experiences of central character Dr Abby DiMatteo are strongly adapted from the author's own in her previous career as a physician in Hawaii. It was a chance dinner conversation that inspired Tess to write this, her first medical thriller. The man sitting beside her at the restaurant was an ex-cop who ran a security service protecting American businessmen in Russia. On his last trip abroad, Moscow cops had told him that Russian orphans were vanishing from the streets. They believed the children were being kidnapped by the Russian mafia and shipped abroad as organ donors.

The story so horrified Tess, she immediately called her brother-in-law, a reporter for Newsweek, suggesting he investigate. Newsweek was unable to track down any proof. Weeks later, Tess was still unable to forget those missing Russian orphans. They became the inspiration for the plot of Harvest which was released in hardcover in 1996, and marked Tess's debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Film rights were sold to Paramount/Dreamworks, and the book has been translated into twenty foreign languages.

If you have enjoyed The Surgeon, and the others in that series, I'm sure you'll like Harvest too. It's unlikely to disappoint.

Whew! What a Ride!.......2006-11-01

This is Tess Gerritsen's first medical thriller....and wow! What an entrance. After you read Harvest, you will be addicted to the Gerritsen prescription--this book has everything---the tension is almost unbearable. I'm exhausted. Harvest is highly recommended (as are all of Tess Gerritsen's books). Happy 10th anniversary Tess & "Harvest"!

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