The Rizolli & Isles medical thrillers are some of the bestselling and most widely read. They’re written by Tess Gerritsen. In the series, homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles take on daunting murder cases and mysteries nationwide.
The success of the books has made a path to a TNT TV series of the same name, with Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon playing the lead roles.
If you haven’t had the chance to read Tess Gerritsen’s books, the Rizzoli & Isles series is sure to catch your breath. Here’s the overview of the series in order.
The Rizzoli and Isles books series in order
The Surgeon (2001)
The first in the book series introduces the reader to Jane Rizzoli and her career as a detective. With the help of colleague Thomas Moore, Jane tries to solve a mysterious case of a murderer Hoyt who tortures and kills women. When Jane discovers one of his victims has escaped by shooting the criminal dead, everyone wonders how the criminal can attack again.
The Apprentice (2002)
The second book follows Dr. Maura Isles and her quest to solve a terrible chain of murders Jane may have already investigated. The new murders resemble those of the Surgeon, but the Surgeon is now in prison while the new killer is on the run.
The Sinner (2003)
A convent attack leaves two nuns dead, with reasons unclear. The autopsy shows an unexpected turn of events. And a new body appears connected to the previous murders, shocking everyone.
Body Double (2004)
Pathologist Maura Isles works as a pathologist and is used to dissecting bodies but is shocked when confronted with one that looks just like her. Jane works on finding the murderer while Maura learns that she must confront her family history to reveal the secrets behind the case.
Vanish (2005)
Jane has to solve the mystery of her lifetime. She is held hostage by a woman who miraculously returns to life after Maura Isles unzips the body bag where the supposed dead woman was lying.
The Mephisto Club (2006)
The forensic pathologist and detective witness a horrifying “I have sinned” writing on the wall at a crime scene written in blood. The murderer drained a young woman of blood and dismembered her body. A second murder leads the investigators to a secret society called the Mephisto Club.
Freaks (2007)
The Freaks story follows the investigation of a bizarre death of a 17-year-girl found next to a coffin in a church.
The Keepsake (2008)
The Keepsake or Keeping the Dead is a chilling book that follows the story of a crazed murderer turning his victims into mummies. Jane and Maura do their best to find the murderer and put him behind bars.
Ice Cold (2010)
Also known as The Killing Place, this book takes place in the town of Kingdom Come in Wyoming, where all residents have disappeared without a trace. The Boston detective, Isles, visits the area with some friends when a terrible snowstorm takes place. They try to find shelter in Kingdom Come, only to realize the horror has just begun.
The Silent Girl (2011)
Jane Rizzoli finds body parts in various locations around Boston’s Chinatown. The only clue about the murderer she has is two strands of hair. Maura manages to work with their little evidence, finding a connection to a 19-year-old unsolved murder case. The only witness, however, is silent.
John Doe (2012) short story
A dead body is found carrying Maura’s address in his pocket. The night before, Maura attended a party and was approached by a charming stranger, but after a few drinks, she completely lost memory of what happened. Maura finds out the victim is the charming man from the party. Could she have committed a murder without remembering it?
Last to Die (2012)
Teddy Clock is a two-time massacre survivor. In the first, the rest of his family was killed. Now, his foster family takes the shots. Jane is bound to protect the boy and investigates the case only to uncover some shocking revelations.
Die Again (2014)
A big game hunter and a white snow leopard are found dead in the hunter’s apartment. A series of connected deaths show up with traces leading to faraway Botswana.
I Know a Secret (2017)
Jane and Maura investigate two seemingly unrelated cases while both are having difficult times in their personal lives. Maura’s mother, a serial killer, dies, while Jane tries to help her own mother, Angela, escape a toxic marriage.
Listen to Me (2022)
Sofia Suarez is killed in her home. From the looks of it, she was keeping many secrets. Jane takes over the case and finds a correlation between a hit-and-run murder months earlier and Sofia.
About Tess Gerritsen
Author Tess Gerritsen was born in 1953 in San Diego, California. She is a Stanford University graduate with medical education and currently lives in Maine. Tess began writing her first works on maternity leave and debuted with a romantic suspense novel, Call After Midnight.
Gerritsen is also a filmmaker. Together with her son Josh, she produced a documentary called Magnificent Beast, following the ancient origins of pigs. They also produced a horror movie called Island Zero.
Some of her most popular books include Playing with Fire, Gravity, The Surgeon, and The Bone Garden. And many of Tess Gerritsen’s books made it to the New York Times’ top ten bestseller list.
Following the major success of her literary work, Tess retired from medicine. She is now a full-time writer.
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FAQ
What order should you read the Rizzoli and Isles books?
Follow the order in this Rizzoli & Isles books list for the best reading experience.
How many Rizzoli and Isles novels are there?
There are 13 novels and two Rizzoli and Isles short stories.
Does Rizzoli and Isles TV series follow the books?
The TV show partially follows the books. The books are tenser, while the show is goofy and light.
Which book is the first Rizzoli and Isles?
The Surgeon is the first book in the Rizzoli & Isles series.
What is the name of the last book in the Rizzoli and Isles series?
Listen to Me is the last book of the Rizzoli & Isles series.
