Reviews

While this wasn't my favourite of the series, I still really enjoyed the book which is why it's still got a five star rating. This author delivers really well crafted books with it lots of twists in them.

dreamer_mari's review against another edition

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dark sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

ofclumsywords's review against another edition

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dark 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? It's complicated

3.0

The story picks up about a month after the last book in the series. Jane is about to have her baby and of course, she is swept up into another case and more danger. It was really interesting to see her as a mom, especially a new mom. She went from a badass cop who had to keep up with the boys and prove herself with every breath to a new mom adjusting to a new role and title. The hostage situation was an interesting first part of the story which only took up about 1/3 to half of the book. Then it moves on to a darker plot as more is revealed and once again Jane and Gabriel have to solve the mystery. The fact that all of this happened within days of Jane giving birth was a little far fetched. I don't think any new mother would be up to the physical task of running around town or chasing down bad guys right after giving birth. But Jane is a badass character (and this is fiction) and it was in Jane's nature to do so. She has never been or never will be a woman who will stand on the sidelines while there is a case to solve or people to save. Though the very unbelievable part was at the end where Jane takes her baby along with her on the case. Sure the witness showed up unexpectadly and they needed a safe place to go. But by this point in the murder mystery there were only a few pages/chapters left of the book and as the reader, you could tell where this was going. I don't see the reason to put a newborn in unnecessary danger like they did when Jane is literally digging her own grave as her two-week-old sits next to her. That was a little excessive.

All in all, once again it was a good book. Seeing Jane as a mom was interesting and Gerritsen writes a very good crime novel.

Content Warnings

smartie_dolfijn's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

balthazarlawson's review against another edition

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3.0

This is the fifth book in the Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles series, all of which I've read this year. I did not enjoy this as much as the previous books as I did not like the point of view. I dislike novels that contain two different points of views, first person and third person. It was still enjoyable enough except of the conspiracy aspects to the story. I just don't enjoy conspiracy novels.

One thing I did enjoy was that this book, though a different story, is that it is, time wise, not that far from the previous novel.

pheebs1776's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 Rounded up.

This novel is incredibly difficult to read, the subject matter rife with content warnings. Gerritsen consistently proves that she is a master of the crime thriller genre, and I really appreciate the focus these later books have on the victims rather than the twisted minds of serial killers. Deriving from her typical style, Gerritsen opens the novel with a hostage situation and then slowly shifts to her more traditional investigation. Because of this, I preferred the second half of the novel, but I appreciate Gerritsen attempting to switch up the formula, which would have been on its fifth iteration at this point. Vanish, due to this change, ended up being my least favorite of the Rizzoli and Isles novels so far. Part of my disinterest in this story, however, is largely regarding the severe lack of Dr. Maura Isles and the reintroduction of Agent Dean, one of my least favorite characters in this series. I also think that Jane's character was assassinated by the decision to make her a mother and wife, and this new aspect of her personality plays a large role in the story. Again, I love the nuance and shades of grey regarding femininity and feminism that Gerritsen injects into her books, but I just think that Gerritsen misses an opportunity to separate womanhood from motherhood with Jane, a character that clearly never wanted to be a mother. But, these issues are entirely subjective as I don't think I can review these books fairly anymore due to my overwhelming love for the TV show and Maura Isles. Unfortunately, this book doesn't hit with my Rizzles-tinted glasses on, and that is okay.

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