The Silent Girl

In this ninth entry in the Rizzoli and Isles series, fiery Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli probes the mystery of a gruesome murder in Chinatown while cool forensic pathologist Maura Isles copes with the consequences of testifying against a violent cop. Tanya Eby—who narrated the previous volume in the series—deftly captures the socioeconomic and emotional differences that distinguish this odd couple. Her Rizzoli is properly blue collar, with a hard Boston accent, while Isles’s speech is thoughtful and just aloof enough to suggest an upper-middle-class upbringing. Additionally, Eby provides appropriate voices to gruff lawmen, Irish mobsters, and even several citizens of Chinatown without stumbling into ethnic parody. Perhaps more importantly, she knows how to wring every last drop of suspense out of a tense situation, which this crisp thriller provides in abundance. Eby’s excellent interpretation of Gerritsen’s well-crafted tale makes for a thoroughly entertaining package. A Ballantine Books hardcover. (July)