The Surgeon

Title: The Surgeon

Author: Tess Gerritsen

Genre: Thriller, crime

Summary: (Blurb) It is a hot sultry summer in downtown Boston, and homicide detective Thomas Moore is called back from holiday to be told there's a serial killer at large. This isn't just any serial killer. This is a predator who targets lone women, breaks into their apartments in the early hours of the morning, and commits bizarre ritualistic acts of torture on his victims before finishing them off. The killer's surgical skills lead police to suspect he is a physician working alongside unsuspecting doctors and nurses at the Pilgrim Medical Center; a physician who, instead of saving lives, takes them in the most terrifying of ways.

As soon as Moore and his partner, Detective Jane Rizzoli, begin their investigation, they make a startling discovery. Closely linked to these Boston killings is Catherine Cordell, a beautiful surgeon with a mysterious past. Two years ago in another city she was the subject of a horrifying rape and attempted murder, but shot her aggressor dead.

Now she is being targeted by this new killer, who seems to know all about her past, her work at the Medical Center, what car she drives, and, crucially, where she lives. The man she believes she killed now seems to be stalking her once again, only this time he knows exactly where to find her, and nowhere – whether it is the ER, the squad room, the city morgue or even her apartment – is safe...

(Doesn't the summary sound much more neater and organized than mine??)

Opinion: This is honestly much more riveting and interesting than standard novels from writers like Iris Johansen and Julie Garwood (although I enjoy all authors as well). This novel has an element of darkness and evil that Johansen and Garwood somehow failed to implement. Ah well.

When I was reading about the killer slashing the women's throats and things, I could distinctly feel my own throat aching, that was how descriptive it was. I kept shuddering at the feel of blade scraping against bones, and I tell you, my imagination was in overdrive. It isn't a thrill-and romance sort of novel, but more thrill-and-murder kind, which is awesome for reading on a rainy and stormy day. ^_^

It's so brilliantly written that I absolutely crave for more!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.