Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'

The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen

10 reviews

_sweetdaisy_'s review

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Violence, Sexual violence, Torture, and Murder

Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Police brutality

phantomgecko's review

challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.75

Opening the book with an autopsy is a bold choice. I'm a big crime book/show fan who thought no mere procedural crime book could bother me. But I legit almost stopped reading right there because I almost threw up. Not necessarily because it was especially gory but perhaps just because I was queasy that day anyway. After trying again the next day, I was able to power through.

Oh and the detailed ER scenes were defos not a favorite. There's a lot of blood and surgery in this one folks.

I liked it overall. I haven't put the next book in the series on my list yet, but I probably will eventually?

Additionally, I haven't watched Rizzoli & Isles, but I'm tempted now.

The mystery of it was perfectly satisfactory. A good amount of red herrings balanced with reasonable unraveling. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Blood, Bullying, Medical content, Rape, Stalking, Torture, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Body horror, Sexual violence, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, Death, Gore, Cursing, Misogyny, Murder, and Police brutality

vrybs's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Stalking, Blood, Death, Sexual violence, Medical content, and Rape

Moderate: Infertility, Misogyny, Body horror, and Kidnapping

lillian_frost's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Suicide attempt, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Bullying, Medical content, Torture, Gore, Blood, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, Murder, Death, and Kidnapping

ripxw's review

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

jennlcollier's review

dark sad fast-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Blood, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Torture

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

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

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

dhutton1997's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

holy crap. I checked out this book from my library after the StoryGraph recommended it and I’m so glad they did. I typically have a difficult time reading books about serial rapists &killer combos, but Gerritsen does such a good job of balancing scary, suspenseful moments with a budding romance and potential love triangle between

Rizzolli, Moore, and Catherine

. The book kept me on the edge of my seat. I would not recommend this book if you do not want to read stories about law enforcement. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Gore, Misogyny, and Stalking