Reviews

The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen

bugsbunny_234's review against another edition

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3.0

I really should read these books in order as there were a couple of occasions which made you double take as they referred to something in a previous book. Still a good read but not my favourite of Tess’

sourcerunner's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

The main characters are not depicted as having the intelligence, training, or research capacity expected of investigators and medical examiners. They are not innocent enough to not already know the things about which they claim to be clueless when the author needs to add some exposition. Additionally, for having studied anthropology at a university level, the author either doesn't have a good grasp of mythology vs. history vs. rigorously discredited works, or she isn't inclined to define the differences in her narrative or her author's note, leaving anyone not familiar with all of the works she references with an erroneous impression about each. There's a place for adventure and not breaking suspension of disbelief, but this book is irresponsible about all of it.

On the positive side, the book does not telegraph its resolution. When the narrative is not peeving a sufficiently well-read reader, it is a good mystery.

ella_bella_books's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense 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? No

4.0

christa_amnell's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

charmedlassie's review against another edition

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dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

zutsie's review against another edition

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4.0

The Mephisto Club is excellently written, and definitely my favourite in the series (and I read up until the last book or two, I must still catch up with those). There were times where I thought she was repeating things too often, but that didn't detract from the story overall. The deaths were described as grisly, but Gerritsen never really went into too much detail. This made the murders important, but the focus lay in other areas of investigation, such as the importance of symbols. I found it a little annoying how, at the best of times, it sounded condescending that certain people didn't know certain things, or how some pretty basic things (like inverted crosses, really now, 99.9% of people jump to a satanic conclusion, and they are all "investigating", standing there wondering what the hell the markings were?!) were somehow not regular knowledge, which was a little difficult to swallow. I think if it was handled a little differently, it would have been different. Rizzoli is dealing with some serious home problems in this book, which occasionally threaten to spill into her job, although it did provide me with plenty entertainment. Maura has finally crossed that line with Father Daniel Brophy, something that was set up so many books ago and was inevitably going to happen. Maura, in her personal life, is such a weak character actually, which is a pity. When it comes to work, she is strong, bold, and yet in her personal life she is desperate for love, attention and approval from someone else, and it would be just like her to take it from a forbidden source. Joyce O'Donnell is back in this book, and is as unlikable a snake as ever. Ugh, that woman is like... evil that feeds on other people's evil because she can't necessarily do something terrible herself, but gets off on evil people sharing their nasty experiences in extreme detail with her. The Mephisto Foundation was very interesting, bringing in some fresh characters and a new outlook on things. While they harp on religion and the supernatural, the foundation was fascinating and its members highly intellectual, though they sounded like lunatics to anyone with too rational a mind. Anthony Sansone is a character with much potential. He is interesting and annoying in equal measure, which is a fine line for Gerritsen to balance, so let's see how that goes. I honestly wish that Gabriel Dean had gotten some more time in this book, as he is a character I absolutely adore, but no such luck for me. It would seem t hat Vanish was his moment of glory, and now he has been relegated to father and husband who occasionally makes an appearance. The Mephisto Club is fast paced, highly intelligent, gripping and a truly great read that I would highly recommend.

shailydc's review against another edition

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2.0

Another well-written and knowledgeable installment of the Rizzoli & Isles series.

However, especially compared to the 5 first books, I found this story to be just alright. The Christian/Biblical themes didn't appeal to me and I didn't feel like there was much character development for Jane and Maura.

aejohnson85's review against another edition

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3.0

This is the sixth book in the Rizzoli and Isles series and by now, the characters have become like old friends. I was very shocked by Maura's romance subplot - I did not expect Gerritsen to go that route but I am happy that something finally went her way in the romance department, though I am reluctant to see how this turns out in further books! I was saddened that Maura and Jane are at odds over it, however, it may make for interesting reading in the next outing.

The mystery in this one was very bogged down in biblical references, however, Gerritsen does a great job describing it all and keeping it manageable. I honestly was very shocked with the outcome in this one, as I didn't suspect it even for a minute!

I can't wait to read the next in the series!

wyvernfriend's review against another edition

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3.0

While this story of ancient evil recurring again to kill is interesting it doesn't really fit in my mental picture of the series starring Maura Isles and Jane Rizzoli. It's almost as if Ms Gerritsen had a story to tell and hung it on this series.

The story is of a series of strange murders, seemingly focused on a small but strange group of people, the Mephisto club, a group who have a lot of power and influence. Their theories about the murders don't fit well with Jane's worldview and other issues flare in both Jane and Maura's worlds.

It's not a bad read but somehow it felt like a story Ms Gerritsen wanted to tell and used this series as a prop, but it's a prop that doesn't quite flow as well as it might.

karenholmes's review against another edition

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5.0

I think this is my favorite Rizzoli and Isles so far and this is saying something. Even if I guessed the bad guy beforehand, it didn't spoil the fun for me. I guess I'm getting good at spotting patterns and that was it was about for reading these books.
I like it that Jane and Maura are already on a friendship basis so hard that they can even quarrel and I like that they stand there for each other and hope their friendship gets deeper.
I liked Maura in this book, questioning and having some more importance outside of the lab too.
Also, I liked Lily Saul's character and how it was treated.
And finally, I'd love to see a bit more of the Mephisto Foundation at some point, at any other novel. They still have secrets to uncover.