Ice Cold

When I started this book, I thought that I was reading Stephen King. There was a creature out there and the good guys were in trouble. Then the book turned into a wonderful thriller with twists and turns. Yes you could see some of them coming and yes, you know that the good guys are going to be OK at the end, but this book, which I read in 1 day, was great. I love thrillers and I am quite critical of those that do not measure up. This one does...in spades. Read and enjoy.

One of the best books from this author. This story hits all of your senses, and then some. I didn't want it to end.

I pre-ordered Tess Gerritsen's "Ice Cold" for my Kindle, and once I began to read it, it assumed total control of my life until I finished it. The only fault I can find with the book is that it ended. The Rizzoli-Isles series allows the reader to see the flaws, as well as the strengths, of the two women who are its main characters. This honesty makes Jane and Maura's friendship and working relationship realistic in a way that seldom exists in fiction. They do not always like each other, but they often learn from each other, and the reader sees them grow, as professionals, as friends,and as women. They are loyal to each other, but not blindly so. The friendship is sturdy and based on respect that has been earned over and over again. Gerritsen has developed a style of terrifying the reader that surpasses nearly all of her peers.(The only writer currently as disquieting is Cody McFadyen with his Smoky Barrett series.) Although the earlier books in the Rizzoli-Isles series were rewardingly suspenseful, "Mephisto Club" was the one that introduced Gerritsen's still-evolving method of scaring us to death. "Ice Cold" carried on this new tradition. The descriptions of the bad guys and their crimes are more than adequate to disturb our sleep, but that's not what sets Gerritsen apart; it is her subtle and crafty manipulation of scene and character and dialogue that creates an evil hum, barely audible, but always there. It is both brilliant and lightless.

In Tess Gerritsen's "Ice Cold," forty-two year old medical examiner Maura Isles is heartbroken. She is in a relationship with Daniel Brophy, a Catholic priest. However, their year-long affair has not brought either of them much happiness. Daniel is reluctant to give up his calling, and Maura is frustrated with his inability to make up his mind. After spending the night together, they part. Maura flies from Boston to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to attend a medical conference. There, she meets a former classmate, pathologist Doug Comley, who is divorced and has a thirteen year-old-daughter, Grace. He asks Maura to accompany him and his friends on a trip to a cross-country ski lodge. She agrees, but soon regrets her decision. Doug loses his way in the snowy landscape, and they end up stranded. When Daniel and Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli do not hear from Maura and are unable to contact her, they fear that something is terrible has happened. "Ice Cold" is an action-packed thrill ride with intriguing characters we care about. Maura is courageous but realistic; she knows that if she is not rescued soon, she will probably die in this frozen wilderness. Jane and her husband, Gabriel Dean, an ex-Marine and an FBI agent, are determined to find their friend, but they will face obstacles more formidable than the horrendous weather. Meanwhile, Daniel is wracked with guilt over the way he has treated the woman he loves, especially when he realizes that he may never see her again. This is a story about survival under extreme conditions, the limits of romantic love, and the dangers of bending one's will to a charismatic cult leader. Jeremiah Goode has created a sect with hundreds of followers who slavishly adhere to his decrees, some of which are rather repellant. Maura's struggle to survive will become interconnected with the fate of Goode and his supporters. Gerritsen maintains suspense by shifting back and forth from Maura's travails to Jane and Gabriel Dean's efforts to save her. Unexpectedly, Maura discovers that she is being shadowed, but who is following her and what does he want? The conclusion, which is a humdinger, includes one or two surprising twists and turns. Gerritsen has written an absorbing, chilling, and fast-paced novel that will keep readers turning pages well into the night

I'm a huge fan of Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles series, so I stayed up all night reading this book the moment it was delivered to me on my Kindle. For those who are unfamiliar with the series, I believe that a warning is in order: Gerritsen has a gritty, tough style of writing, which is pretty much unlike anybody else's I have read in the suspense/mystery genre. There are graphic descriptions of violence and surgical procedures in her books. If you are likely to be bothered by that, this might not be the series for you. If you don't have anything against this kind of writing, however, you are in for a real treat. Gerritsen is a unique author who manages to create great suspense with every new scene. She is extremely skilled at creating nuanced, complex characters whose lives the readers follow assiduously and passionately. The fans of the Rizzoli/Isles series will not be disappointed by this book. I liked all the books in the series but in my opinion this one is the most suspenseful. The tension starts building almost from the very beginning until a sense of dread becomes nearly overwhelming. Gerritsen is great at creating an eerie environment and keeping her readers deeply invested in the story. I can honestly say that there wasn't a single boring page in the entire book. "Ice Cold" offers us yet another fascinating journey into the lives of its unique main characters. We see Maura Isles in the grip of a personal crisis. It leads her to participate in an adventure that at first seems simply out of character but eventually turns out to be extremely dangerous. We follow Jane Rizzoli as she searches desperately for her missing friend. There is bonus material that comes with the book, such as Rizzoli and Isles TV pilot script and "Rizzoli and Isles in their own words", a bonus chapter giving a short first-person description of the main characters. Overall, the book was extremely enjoyable and I recommend it highly. The fans of the series will be happy to discover that they haven't waited in vain for this new book from Tess Gerritsen.