Get to know Rizzoli & Isles

Fictional female crime busters don’t come more badass than Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles. Rizzoli (a homicide detective) and Isles (a medical examiner) are the leading ladies in Tess Gerritsen’s epic series of novels, which see both characters come together as they pick apart terrifying crime scenes and murder cases. If you haven’t yet read a Rizzoli & Isles thriller or watched the TV drama inspired by Tess’ books, you’re seriously missing out.

Not sure where to start? Here’s what you need to know…

Die Again, the latest novel, is the eleventh book in the Rizzoli & Isles series. The Surgeon was the first book to kick off this epic crime/thriller saga and introduce the character Jane Rizzoli.

Jane Rizzoli was never meant to survive the story in The Surgeon. Gerritsen hadn’t planned to write a series but when it came to killing Rizzoli off, the character refused to die. Rizzoli next appeared in Tess’ novel The Apprentice, where Isles also made an appearance. Suddenly a series was born.

The main premise of the Rizzoli & Isles series is two very different women working together for a common goal. Jane Rizzoli is a hard-driving, aggressive homicide detective. She’s also the only woman in her unit. Dr Maura Isles is a forensic pathologist and is a big believer in science and logic. Despite their differences and many ups and downs, they’re best friends.

Season 1 of the Rizzoli & Isles TV drama is loosely based on both The Surgeon and The Apprentice books. It was first aired in 2010, and as of August 18th 2015 84 episodes of Rizzoli & Isles have aired.

Intrigued? Find out more about Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles books here and the brilliant TV series via the Alibi website.