Listen to Me

Written by Tess Gerritsen

Narrated by Tanya Eby

Rizzoli & Isles are back! From New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen, this “shocking and fast-paced” (Karin Slaughter) thriller has Jane and Maura investigating a brutal murder with dire implications, and this time, with Jane’s intrepid mother, Angela, looking into a mystery of her own.

“Absolutely first rate—readers will be thrilled and delighted by this new Rizzoli & Isles outing!”—Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door

Mothers know best . . . But who will listen?

Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles are newly plagued by what seems like a completely senseless murder. Sofia Suarez, a widow and nurse who was universally liked by her neighbors, lies bludgeoned to death in her own home. But anything can happen behind closed doors, and Sofia seemed to have plenty of secrets in her last days, making covert phone calls to traceless burner phones. When Jane finally makes a connection between Sofia and the victim of a hit-and-run from months earlier, the case only grows more blurry. What exactly was Sofia involved in? One thing is clear: The killer will do anything it takes to keep their secret safe.

Meanwhile, Angela Rizzoli hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep in all the years since her daughter became a homicide detective. Maybe the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree: Nothing in Angela’s neighborhood gets by her—not the gossip about a runaway teenager down the block and definitely not the strange neighbors who have just moved in across the street. Angela’s sure there’s no such thing as coincidence in her sleepy suburb. If only Jane would listen—instead she writes off Angela’s concerns as the result of an overactive imagination. But Angela’s convinced there’s a real wolf in her vicinity, and her cries might now fall on deaf ears.

With so much happening on the Sofia case, Jane and Maura already struggle to see the forest for the trees, but will they lose sight of something sinister happening much closer to home?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Jul 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781713639015

Tess Gerritsen

Bestselling author Tess Gerritsen is also a physician. Her thrillers starring homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles inspired the hit TV series Rizzoli & Isles. But Tess's interests span far more than medicine and crime. As an anthropology student at Stanford University, she catalogued centuries-old human remains and she continues to travel the world, driven by her fascination with ancient cultures and bizarre natural phenomena. She resides in Maine.

Reviews for Listen to Me

[Emily Lassiter Branch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've read a few, but not all, of the books in Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli & Isles series, and this book was a good reminder that it's time to get back to catching up on it. There are two mysteries going on here - one is a murder case that Jane Rizzoli is trying to solve, the other is a neighborhood mystery her mother, Angela, is determined is at play, but Jane chalks it up to an overactive imagination. As Jane and her friend, coroner Maura Isles, try to piece together the clues in a murder that makes no (obvious) sense, Angela investigates the neighborhood goings on and gets in over her head. Gerritsen mixes the elements of mystery, danger and humor nicely in this very enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

[thebacklistbook · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This one is done in multiple points of view. In this book it was handled very well, without switching to often. This particular novel focuses on Angela Rizzoli.

Angela believes firmly in see something, say something. So much so that she cries wolf often enough that Jane starts ignoring her calls, right when there really is something.
This book is very well plotted and paced. I really enjoyed my time with it.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Listen to Me by Tess Gerritsen is the thirteenth novel in the Rizzoli and Isles series. I have not read any of the previous books in the series, but I have watched every episode of the television series. This knowledge allowed me to read Listen to Me. Listen to Me is an engaging story. The story is told from Amy, Angela, Maura, and Jane’s point-of-view. It did take me a little bit of time to adjust to the alternating POV. It does allow readers to see things from each character’s perspective. There are a couple of different storylines in the book. There is the murder of nurse, a nineteen-year-old hit by a car, a missing teen, and Angela Rizzoli is worried about her mysterious new neighbors. I enjoyed following the various stories and seeing how it all came together in the end. There are some twists along the way (some expected and other are not). The characters are realistic and developed. I enjoyed learning more about Jane Rizzoli, Angela Rizzoli, Barry Frost, and Maura Isles. Vince is out of town taking care of his sister, but we get to interact with him through phone conversations with Angela. The mystery was well-plotted. I thought it was cleverly done. I enjoyed the challenge (it was a fun whodunit to solve). There are good clues to help readers identify the guilty party. It was great how all the various parts came together. I thought there was a good reveal and wrap-up. Jane’s mother, Angela is certainly a busy body. I would not want her in my neighborhood. She knows everybody’s business (and if she does not, she will make it her mission to learn it). Angela is a spunky woman. I like that Angela is with Vince. I am glad that I picked up Listen to Me. It has good characters and a thought-out mystery that makes for an enjoyable reading experience. Listen to Me is an intriguing mystery with a hit-and-run misfortune, a curious stalker, a slain nurse, new neighbors, a meddlesome mother, baffling burglaries, an absent teen, a marvel of a medical examiner, and a dedicated detective.

[dokfintong · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Pretty standard Rizzoli and Isles book. Too many POV. The mystery here is easy to figure out and pretty unlikely I think, relying as it does on a quirk of memory.I received a review copy of this book through NetGalley.com.

[twink_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's been five years since Tess Gerritsen gave us a new Rizzoli and Isles tale. Well, the thirteenth in the series, Listen to Me, has just released. As this was a series I'd liked in the past, I happily picked up this latest.For those who aren't familiar - Jane Rizzoli is a Boston homicide detective and Maura Isles the medical examiner. They're two quite different personalities, but they work well together and are friends outside the workplace. Jane's latest case is the murder of a nurse in her own home, as well as the stalking of a young woman. Maura comes up with clues and facts for Jane.There's a third person with her own chapters in this long awaited new novel. Who you ask? Well, it's Jane's mom Angela! She's lived in her neighborhood for decades and she keeps an eye on everyone that lives on the street. The new folks across the road have piqued her interest. They unloaded their belongings at night and have made it clear that they don't want to interact with the neighbors. There are many supporting players in this storyline. I was reminded of Janet Evanovich's Grandma Mazur and the Burg. A bit more serious, but still with some humor.I enjoyed catching up with Rizzoli and Ives, as well as the larger part that Angela played. Gerritsen gives the characters personal lives that have moved forward over the course of many books. The narrative is a nice mix of personal and professional. The cases kept me interested and were well plotted. Gerritsen's books make for entertaining, easy reading.

[sleahey_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This mystery is told from 4 points of view: Rizzoli; Isles; Rizzoli's mother Angie; and Amy. Rizzoli is chasing down a murderer, while her mother tries to figure out what's going on with her complicated neighbors. A cold case from Maine, blood types and DNA, combine with intuition and following the clues to result in a satisfying conclusion. Fans of the series should enjoy the varied viewpoints in this page-turner.