By Ande Jacobson
Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli & Isles series completes for now with Listen to Me, first released in July 2022. This ultimate series installment follows a different path than previous Rizzoli & Isles books. Gerritsen writes this one from multiple points of view focusing on each of the main female characters. As the POV shifts, we get more insight into series regulars Angela Rizzoli, Detective Jane Rizzoli, and Medical Examiner Maura Isles, and into newcomer Amy Antrim. Each has several chapters devoted to them and their thoughts, motivations, inner turmoil, and actions. A major theme of the book, particularly from Angela’s perspective, is “If you see something, say something,” a motto that can either help and hinder depending on the circumstances. As always in Gerritsen’s mysteries, there are numerous subplots that mingle and merge in unexpected ways as the story progresses, generally surrounding a series of murders in some fashion. This time is no exception except perhaps in the complexity of the subplots that each come to the forefront at different points in the story. This one also brings the dangers much closer to home.
Angela is finally free of her marriage and happily ensconced in a loving partnership headed toward matrimony with Vince Korsak. She’s still in her long-time home and neighborhood and in some ways epitomizes a seasoned neighborhood watch leader, but without a team. She notices everything, even subtle changes that seem off, and she can’t stop herself from looking into situations she shouldn’t, even putting herself in danger much to her daughter Jane’s chagrin. Who knew there was so much intrigue in Angela’s quiet suburban neighborhood? Her neighbors aren’t quite what or who they seem to be, but exactly how far off is a mystery, one that Angela is determined to solve. If it were one neighbor alone, that would be a simple mystery, but Angela has encountered not one, not two, but several unrelated mysteries that keep her up at night, all swirling around her house. She’s not sure if there’s any danger afoot, but she’s determined to find out, and in the process, she gets entangled in something well beyond her wildest imagination despite her daughter and the local police trying desperately to warn her off. In the end, it’s a good thing she persists, but it’s not particularly smooth going getting to the resolution.
Jane’s current case is baffling, and she and her partner Barry Frost take a few wrong turns along the way. They travel the eastern states yet again putting together seemingly unrelated murders that occurred over the years. They eventually solve the case in their usual unbeatable style with an assist from Angela’s observation on a completely unrelated matter.
Maura is as always in the thick of things, although often in a more academic capacity focused on the science and data gathering from studying the victims.
Amy begins as a victim of a random traffic accident, but over the course of the story becomes far more intrinsically involved in the whole investigation. Her father, Dr. Mike Antrim, is a major player at his hospital as both a clinician and an administrator running the ICU. Amy was a patient there after her accident, and a nurse who cared for her is murdered igniting a roundabout investigation to find the killer. More murders are later uncovered, but linking them is a challenge.
This story seems different from the ones that came before though. It’s a more detailed character study than we’ve seen previously. Gerritsen has always liked to get into the killers’ heads, but this time she’s in everybody’s, perpetrator, victim, investigator, and unknowing bystander alike. The POV switches are at times a little startling as the narration changes with each shift, but they make sense in context, and the chapter headings tell the reader whose perspective they are viewing at the time. A few chapters haven’t got character labels, and those more closely resemble the style of the previous books in the series.
Beyond the see something, say something theme, the title’s plea is sprinkled throughout the story as well. Listen to me hammers home how often women’s observations are discounted until they can no longer be ignored, and not just those of a so-called “housewife.” Even professional women are sometimes ignored in favor of their male counterparts, and this story in particular examines the dangers with such a mindset. Granted, the entire series focused on two strong, professional women, but this book in particular shows just how hard they often have to work to be taken seriously despite their vast experience, expertise, and proven results. This is a theme to which readers can easily relate and is something that frustrates women across society. It’s unfortunately still a common trope through school, and certainly in the professional ranks, particularly in traditionally male-dominated fields (something with which Gerritsen herself has experience as a retired physician), but as Angela’s plight shows rather vividly, a person doesn’t have to be a professional to make salient observations within their sphere of influence. More importantly, dismissing such observations or concerns can sometimes put people jeopardy.
The story ties up several plot threads, not just from the current book, but also a few lingering from previous books in the series. Even so, Gerritsen deftly leaves open the possibility for more adventures should she later decide to revisit the world of Rizzoli and Isles without any specific cliffhanger to torment readers should she choose not to later return to the series. In all, Listen to Me is a quick, exciting read both as a Gerritsen mystery, and as a commentary shining a bright light on one of the ills of American life.
References:
The Surgeon, by Tess Gerritsen
The Apprentice, by Tess Gerritsen
The Sinner, by Tess Gerritsen
Body Double, by Tess Gerritsen
Vanish, by Tess Gerritsen
The Mephisto Club, by Tess Gerritsen
The Keepsake, by Tess Gerritsen
Ice Cold, by Tess Gerritsen
The Silent Girl, by Tess Gerritsen
Last to Die, by Tess Gerritsen
Die Again, by Tess Gerritsen
I Know a Secret, by Tess Gerritsen
Listen to Me, by Tess Gerritsen
https://www.tessgerritsen.com/
https://www.starttv.com/lists/the-differences-between-the-rizzoli-isles-books-and-tv-show
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