Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

27 reviews

fbzcab's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Murder, Medical content, Sexism, Sexual violence, Blood, Torture, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault

gloomi_sundai's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

hmm i really dont know how i feel about this story. I liked the plot it was interesting, especially the hospital scenes but the characters.... oh they were pitiful i get that this was written in 2001 but there is literally no excuse for the lack of personality between all of them other than misogyny (!!!) also the second POV was a snoozefest 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

jmeyers888's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide, Torture, and Violence

ripxw's review against another edition

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence

Moderate: Murder and Police brutality

Minor: Sexism

mxajlikesbooks's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

Steeped in gender roles, misogyny, and the plot heavily revolves around sexual violence. 

Very engaging and easy to read (finished the whole thing in two sittings in less than a day), enjoyed the medical details and I found the killers POV moments creative and intriguing but was bored by the two main characters and found them very unsympathetic (especially Rizzoli's internalised misogyny and both cops' unethical behaviour at different points). Was also highly disappointed by the completely unnecessary "twist" that

the villain had worn a wig/crossdressed, contributing to the tired and queer/transphobic trope of serial killer men donning drag as part of their villainy.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Medical content, Misogyny, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexism, Sexual violence, Stalking, Police brutality, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Transphobia

taque's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

really good mystery story, but way more graphic than I would have liked

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gore, Sexual harassment, Death, Confinement, Murder, and Blood

Minor: Car accident, Suicide, Misogyny, Gun violence, and Grief

hkburke2's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I enjoyed the writing and the pacing was... Motivating, I guess. It kept me engaged. Several things did not age well here, though.

Gender essentialism with the uterus, Rizzoli's whole character is developed around her looks without a lot of depth/appreciation for the systems around her (although there's some acknowledgment of the pressures on her as a woman in the department, it feels really surface level), and the flaw in her character being she just wants to kill suspects - definitely not a good look and something she'd struggle to come back from, for me.

Also weird there's no Isles? I guess this is just further confirming for me that when it comes to books I like cozy detective stories/mysteries, not "modern day" police procedurals. But if that's your thing, the writing here at least could sell you on this. I can see why they wanted it for TV. (I listened to the version narrated by Laurel Lefkow). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Murder, Medical trauma, Blood, Stalking, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, Police brutality, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence

Minor: Ableism, Suicide, and Racism

straendeeeeeeeee's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Stalking, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexism, Police brutality, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Mental illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Hate crime, Gun violence, Fatphobia, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Drug use, and Drug abuse

ejcoates's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

A truly incredible work of crime fiction. I could easily have devoured the book in one siting if time permitted. I was deeply invested in the characters and their relationships and felt genuine terror when they were placed in danger. The setting was well realised and enthused the book with an oppressive atmosphere as a result of the summer heatwave and the fear that the killer may be entering through open windows. 

 

The climax of the text relied on a common trope in crime fiction with a male antagonist evading detection by disguising themselves in womens' clothes. Generally I find this to be a damaging stereotype but it was a minor part of the text and well executed with wig hair providing a vital clue/red herring.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Transphobia

our_bookish_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

So, I had to do another re-read of Rizzoli & Isles of the new book coming out this year (2022) and I need to be up to date on the info!

Anyways, I love these books. They're brilliantly written and perfectly gory! If you have an active imagine as I do, then you'll have no trouble envisioning certain parts.

IE: the guys leg that is literally hanging on by skin!

I  love Rizzoli and cannot wait until Maura Isles comes in!! I haven't read The Surgeon in quite some time, so while reading I was gasping and shocked at some of the things I read! 😂 

Ok, can we just agree that Moore getting involved with (Catherine) the only known survivor of the orginal murders and rape, during newly active investigations and murders is disturbing, unprofessional and cringey? Every time I read his parts with Catherine, I hate it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Torture, Blood, Murder, and Stalking

Moderate: Body horror, Gore, Alcohol, and Panic attacks/disorders