The Surgeon, by Tess Gerritsen

Precise. Exact. Anatomical. Surgical. Bloody. Horrific. Scientific. Scary. Exciting. Tess Gerritsen's novel The Surgeon is all of this. And much more. It's easy to see Gerritsen trained as a doctor. Her knowledge of anatomy shows throughout the novel, almost too much at times for neophytes like me, but it gives the story instant credibility. Moore and Rizzoli are two of several detectives in charge of a murder investigation: several women are found brutally raped and murdered and a part of their anatomy is missing…. hence the nickname given to the serial killer by the police: the surgeon. Two years earlier, Catherine Cordell was attacked in a similar way but managed to free herself and kill her aggressor. For some reason she seems to be targeted again, this time by the new killer on the run. As a consequence she will find herself involved with the police, in more ways than one. If you like a great crime novel, this is for you.  If you like gruesome scenes, this is even more for you. The story is fast-paced and the plot far from obvious. I thought I had found out who the culprit was, but I had to review my findings pretty quickly. Gerritsen's writing is perfect for this kind of crime novel. She does particularly well in creating a world of paranoia and fear, which keeps the reader on edge. You're probably going to bite your nails towards the end of the story! The Surgeon is the first book in Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles series, although Isles doesn't feature at all.  

I was given "The Surgeon" by Transworld Publishers as part of The Great Transworld Crime Caper, in which I am currently taking part.