Vanish by Tess Gerritsen = addictive

 In three words:

Engrossing, trafficking, shocking

I need finish off my reviews for the Rizzoli and Isles series as #9 is about to come out (and if I haven’t already mentioned it) I am hopping and jigging all over the place in anticipation.

Vanish is every bit as brilliant as the previous four in the series, I’m happy to report. A very heavily pregnant Jane Rizzoli giving police evidence in court, when her waters break all over the courtroom floor  and in true Rizzoli style she reluctantly waddles off to the hospital to give birth to her first child. Meanwhile, unbeknown to Jane, two more dramas have been playing out which will have far more sinister consequences as the book unfolds.

Vanish opens with a group of Russian girls being violently herded into the USA via Mexico. Several months later and several states away, Maura Isles is about to perform an autopsy on the corpse of a young girl when the corpse opens its eyes. The woman is rushed to hospital where she then kills a guard and takes some of the staff and patients hostage. One of those patients is Jane Rizzoli! This book was different in that the police don’t have to go searching for their criminal, the criminal comes to them. However, the introduction of various characters had me guessing which ones were actually the good guys which is a great plot device as it certainly keeps you on your toes not knowing who to trust. The subject matter in Vanish is heavier than usual and more political: the trafficking and exploitation of foreign girls into the US who are forced to work as prostitutes.

It was good to see Jane at her more vulnerable self in this book too, as the story doesn’t stop once she is released and gives birth. True to form, Jane wants to get involved in solving the crime while trying to juggle tracking down perps with caring for a new born baby. But this time, it’s not just her she has to think of which could land her in yet more hot water…

As usual, a great book with twists and turns a-plenty. As with the previous books, the characters become more fleshed out as we get to know them through the series. Jane shows her vulnerable side for the first time – but don’t worry, she’s still kick-ass, and Gabriel becomes more prevalent in this book too as he races against the clock to save his wife.

Verdict – every bit as addictive as the rest of the series. Is Gerritsen even capable of writing a sub-standard book? Not so far.

  Have you read any of the Rizzoli & Isles series?