The first book I decided to review was something of a new one for me for a variety of reasons. On the one hand it is part of an existing series of books which I had not yet read, and secondly it is also one of the first murder mystery books I have ever read that did not have a paranormal or supernatural bent to it. This is part of the reason why I chose it, since it represents a choice that I had never gone for before to see how this book measures up on its own merits rather than relying on all the entrants that had gone before it. I am pleased to report then that by and large Die Again is a well written and cohesive mystery which gives the reader a lot to digest in its deceptively short read time.
The popular series of books works on the friendship between policewoman Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Doctor Maura Isles as they work together to solve murders in their native home city of Boston, MA. In this adventure however, we have seen some strain between the pair as their friendship has hit some tough times due to elements in each of their personal lives. Meanwhile a new kind of murderer has come to Boston killing their victims in a way which points the duo to a series of deaths which occurred in Botswana over six years beforehand. Now this dynamic duo must look into the past and seek the aid of a reluctant and terrified witness to help solve their murder and resolve the mystery of what happened in Africa all those years ago.
As a synopsis to a mystery I have to admit I was impressed with how Gerritsen presented the central mystery and slowly constructed the facts around it. The manner in which the police and the medical examiner come up with different theories behind the killer's motivation was executed very well and felt organic. Similarly her use of the Leopard Men as an inspiration was a powerful and chilling move since it gave us an idea of a murderer who was simultaneously ritualistic and yet ruthless. This idea was compounded as the novel slowly wound its way to its conclusion and we were confronted with the final revelation of the perpetrator's identity which really demonstrated just how clever Gerritsen was. The additional trivia - pertaining to leopards, big cats and indeed hunter culture also served to construct the world and made for a very absorbing read.
In terms of character sadly I found the main characters slightly wanting. Isles and Rizzoli are clearly well written but due to my having never read the previous books I found myself struggling to connect to them in any real way as it felt like most of their story had been told in previous instalments. Some readers may say I would feel differently had I read the earlier books, however, I cannot help but feel the book needs to draw me into that relationship no matter where we are in the series. This is remedied a little bit as we near the end and Rizzoli opens up about her tragic history and Isles wrestles with her conflicting feelings with her mother. Sadly though it was too little too late as I was more drawn into the mystery than their own personal narrative.
One thing which surprised me was how drawn into the Botswana murders I was since it was mostly a side story peppered throughout the book. It was here that I was acquainted with the point-of-view character of Millie and I found her story to be so much more enthralling than I did when I was following along with the two main characters. Without wanting to spoil anything Millie's story provides elements which would serve to make the resolution possible and it was this lead up which had me hooked in. Indeed the description of the bush in her sections was wonderfully detailed and presented a world that is simultaneously familiar while also being more alien. It also gave us something of a nameless threat as the leopards and hyenas are described as perfect killers hovering just out of sight and preparing to scavenge for a fresh kill. It was an interesting parallel to the main storyline and helped to keep me interested and hooked when the main characters missed the mark in doing so.
Altogether Die Again is a mixed bag but it is definitely better than average. Gerritsen is a wonderful writer and her ability to weave a story peppered with information for a reader to absorb is amazing. That said the main characters didn't quite feel like they were at their best and left me feeling cold, but was saved by the unexpected character of Millie whose story felt leagues more interesting. The central mystery was also very well executed and definitely left me feeling rewarded for sticking with Die Again and maybe even convinced me to keep an eye for future books in the series.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Die Again is available now on Amazon and the iBooks Store. Thanks to NetGalley for providing the book to review.
