The Keepsake

Book Cover
Average Rating
Publisher
Random House Publishing Group
Publication Date
2008
Language
English

Description

New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen knows how to expertly dissect a brilliantly suspenseful story, all the while keeping fascinated readers riveted to her side. By turns darkly enthralling and relentlessly surprising, The Keepsake showcases an author at the peak of her storytelling powers. For untold years, the perfectly preserved mummy had lain forgotten in the dusty basement of Boston’s Crispin Museum. Now its sudden rediscovery by museum staff is both a major coup and an attention-grabbing mystery. Dubbed “Madam X,” the mummy–to all appearances, an ancient Egyptian artifact–seems a ghoulish godsend for the financially struggling institution. But medical examiner Maura Isles soon discovers a macabre message hidden within the corpse–horrifying proof that this “centuries-old” relic is instead a modern-day murder victim.To Maura and Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli, the forensic evidence is unmistakable, its implications terrifying. And when the grisly remains of yet another woman are found in the hidden recesses of the museum, it becomes chillingly clear that a maniac is at large–and is now taunting them.Archaeologist Josephine Pulcillo’s blood runs cold when the killer’s cryptic missives are discovered, and her darkest dread becomes real when the carefully preserved corpse of yet a third victim is left in her car like a gruesome offering–or perhaps a ghastly promise of what’s to come.The twisted killer’s familiarity with post-mortem rituals suggests to Maura and Jane that he may have scientific expertise in common with Josephine. Only Josephine knows that her stalker shares a knowledge even more personally terrifying: details of a dark secret she had thought forever buried.Now Maura must summon her own dusty knowledge of ancient death traditions to unravel his twisted endgame. And when Josephine vanishes, Maura and Jane have precious little time to derail the Archaeology Killer before he adds another chilling piece to his monstrous collection.

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Contributors
ISBN
9780345509390

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Also in this Series

  • The Surgeon (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 1) Cover
  • The Apprentice (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 2) Cover
  • The sinner (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 3) Cover
  • Body double: a Rizzoli & Isles novel (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 4) Cover
  • Vanish (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 5) Cover
  • The Mephisto Club: a novel (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 6) Cover
  • The Keepsake (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 7) Cover
  • Ice cold: a Rizzoli & Isles novel (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 8) Cover
  • The silent girl (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 9) Cover
  • Rizzoli & Isles: last to die : a novel (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 10) Cover
  • Die again: a novel (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 11) Cover
  • I know a secret (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 12) Cover
  • Listen to me: a novel (Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series Volume 13) Cover

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Similar Series From Novelist

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for series you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Though Teigan Craft is a police procedural and Rizzoli and Isles is closer to a medical thriller, both suspenseful and fast-paced series follow forensics professionals who use their skills to crack twisted cases. -- Stephen Ashley
Strong-willed women tackle a slew of gritty crimes throughout both quick-moving series. While Jane and Maura take on menacing cases of all kinds, Inaya Rahman and her colleagues frequently solve cases tied to social ills like misogyny and racism. -- Basia Wilson
These plot-driven series dole out lots of grit, suspense, and nerve. Both are led by decisive women who employ their brilliant skills in detective work (Detective Betty) as well as forensics (Rizzoli and Isles) to solve shocking crimes. -- Basia Wilson
Though thriller Rizzoli and Isles is faster-paced than the more atmospheric mystery Kay Scarpetta, both of these suspenseful series follow tough women who use their medical training to crack tough cases and feature plenty of disturbing detail. -- Stephen Ashley
Though Temperance Brennan is a mystery and Rizzoli and Isles is a medical thriller, both of these fast-paced and suspenseful series follow smart science-minded investigators who use gruesome details of crimes to piece together the truth. -- Stephen Ashley
These series have the appeal factors suspenseful, gritty, and fast-paced, and they have the subjects "women detectives," "police," and "serial murders."
These series have the appeal factors cinematic, violent, and gritty, and they have the themes "urban police" and "race against time"; and the subjects "women detectives," "police," and "serial murders."
These series have the appeal factors suspenseful, cinematic, and richly detailed, and they have the genre "police procedurals"; and the subjects "women detectives," "police," and "detectives."
These series have the appeal factors suspenseful, cinematic, and richly detailed, and they have the subjects "women detectives," "police," and "serial murders."

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the appeal factors cinematic, violent, and plot-driven, and they have the theme "race against time"; and the subjects "murder investigation," "secrets," and "murderers."
NoveList recommends "Kay Scarpetta mysteries" for fans of "Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series". Check out the first book in the series.
Neatly wrapped corpses that are not what they at first seem, killers in Boston, caseloads that get more and more complicated, women forensic scientists -- these thrillers have several themes in common besides suspense and engaging characters. -- Katherine Johnson
These books have the appeal factors menacing, violent, and intensifying, and they have the theme "race against time"; the genre "police procedurals"; and the subjects "secrets," "police," and "women detectives."
These books have the theme "race against time"; and the subjects "murder investigation," "secrets," and "police."
NoveList recommends "Teigan Craft forensic novels" for fans of "Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Inaya Rahman novels" for fans of "Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series". Check out the first book in the series.
These books have the appeal factors cinematic, and they have the theme "race against time"; and the subjects "women coroners," "serial murderers," and "women forensic pathologists."
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful, menacing, and disturbing, and they have the theme "race against time"; and the subjects "murder investigation," "women coroners," and "women forensic scientists."
These books have the appeal factors suspenseful and fast-paced, and they have the theme "race against time"; and the subjects "secrets," "police," and "women detectives."
NoveList recommends "Detective Betty novels" for fans of "Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Temperance Brennan mysteries" for fans of "Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles series". Check out the first book in the series.

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Kathy Reichs' mysteries feature a forensic pathologist who consults with police investigators. Like Tess Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles, Tempe Brennan often immerses herself in her work to escape from personal demons, and Reichs's books rival those of Gerritsen for gory details. -- Katherine Johnson
Michael Palmer and Tess Gerritsen write novels that feature fast pacing, building suspense, and protagonists fighting against corruption in the medical establishment. -- Krista Biggs
Tess Gerritsen and Robin Cook both write suspenseful medical thrillers. Their storylines center around corruption in the medical field and a lone protagonist attempting to bring the evil-doers and their actions to light -- while trying to avoid becoming the next victim. -- Victoria Fredrick
Gerritsen readers willing to suspend disbelief will find a lot to like in Sokoloff's supernatural thrillers. Both authors write dark books with a menacing atmosphere where well fleshed out characters are forced into a confrontation against pure evil, putting themselves in mortal danger. -- Becky Spratford
Both authors write suspenseful, twisted crime stories, often featuring psychological implications, solved by finely-drawn, compelling characters. The pairs of detectives have complementary skills, and stories feature medical and psychological conditions in the context of police procedure. The personal lives of the protagonists enrich the focus on investigations. -- Joyce Saricks
Though Michael Crichton and Tess Gerritsen both write across an extensive variety of genres, fans of fast-paced, suspenseful and richly detailed medical thrillers will find many appealing titles in both of their catalogs. -- Stephen Ashley
Fans of Gerritsen's latest titles, featuring Jane Rizzoli, should certainly try Thomas Harris. Although the violence in Gerritsen's titles is less graphic, her books compare favorably to Harris' classic tales of serial murder in terms of intensity. -- Krista Biggs
Eileen Dreyer has followed a career similar to Tess Gerritsen's, writing romantic suspense first, then medical thrillers, and now, adding suspense and law enforcement ties to her medical settings. Both authors' works feature interesting female protagonists, disturbing medical details, suspenseful tales, and fast pacing. -- Krista Biggs
While working with a different setting, Tami Hoag's work shares the tense nature, gripping plot, strong female lead, and well-developed characters of the latest Tess Gerritsen novels. Her work also shares the graphic violence and frightening plots that are such a hallmark of Tess Gerritsen. -- Krista Biggs
Tess Gerritsen and Iris Johansen both create strong female protagonists, placed in dangerous situations, with escalating violence, and add romantic interest. -- Krista Biggs
These authors' works have the appeal factors gruesome and disturbing, and they have the subjects "women detectives," "police," and "serial murders."
These authors' works have the genre "medical thrillers"; and the subjects "women detectives," "police," and "women coroners."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

Boston medical examiner Maura Isles gets a bit of a shock when a mummy, assumed to be several thousand years old, turns out to be a recently murdered woman but what was she doing in the storage room of a museum, wrapped in ancient bandages, and how did she get there? Maura and her frequent collaborator, Detective Jane Rizzoli, soon learn that the mysterious Madam X is not the only victim, and they race against time to stop a homicidal maniac before he ups the ante. This very popular series keeps rolling smoothly along, the formula well established and familiar: after introducing a bewildering mystery and an assortment of characters (who range from shady to downright villainous), Gerritsen stands back and lets Isles and Rizzoli do their thing. There's nothing especially remarkable about the book it's no better or worse than its predecessors, and in many ways, it's exactly the same. But Gerritsen does what she does efficiently and with considerable craft, and she has created a couple of strong protagonists more than capable of keeping this franchise going for quite a while.--Pitt, David Copyright 2008 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

Bestseller Gerritsen's at times lackluster series heroines prove they can shine in her solid seventh thriller to feature Det. Jane Rizzoli and Dr. Maura Isles (after The Mephisto Club). When medical examiner Isles studies an X-ray scan of Madame X, which everyone assumes is a newly discovered Egyptian mummy, at Boston's Crispin Museum, she realizes the mummy isn't a priceless artifact but a recent murder victim, gruesomely preserved. Rizzoli focuses the police investigation on Dr. Josephine Pulcillo, a young archeologist recently hired by the museum who may have something to hide. More victims soon turn up, including a tsantsa (shrunken head) in a hidden museum chamber and a corpse resembling a well-preserved bog body in Pulcillo's car. After Pulcillo disappears, Rizzoli and Isles must scramble to find her before she becomes another trophy in the killer's growing collection. As usual, Gerritsen delivers an intricate plot that will keep readers guessing. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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Library Journal Review

Dr. Maura Isles is intrigued by an offer to observe the X-raying of a mummy--until she discovers that the mummy is a contemporary murder victim. With a seven-city tour on request. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Booklist Reviews

Boston medical examiner Maura Isles gets a bit of a shock when a mummy, assumed to be several thousand years old, turns out to be a recently murdered woman but what was she doing in the storage room of a museum, wrapped in ancient bandages, and how did she get there? Maura and her frequent collaborator, Detective Jane Rizzoli, soon learn that the mysterious Madam X is not the only victim, and they race against time to stop a homicidal maniac before he ups the ante. This very popular series keeps rolling smoothly along, the formula well established and familiar: after introducing a bewildering mystery and an assortment of characters (who range from shady to downright villainous), Gerritsen stands back and lets Isles and Rizzoli do their thing. There's nothing especially remarkable about the book it's no better or worse than its predecessors, and in many ways, it's exactly the same. But Gerritsen does what she does efficiently and with considerable craft, and she has created a couple of strong protagonists more than capable of keeping this franchise going for quite a while. Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2008 Booklist Reviews.
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Library Journal Reviews

Dr. Maura Isles is intrigued by an offer to observe the X-raying of a mummy--until she discovers that the mummy is a contemporary murder victim. With a seven-city tour on request. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
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Publishers Weekly Reviews

Bestseller Gerritsen's at times lackluster series heroines prove they can shine in her solid seventh thriller to feature Det. Jane Rizzoli and Dr. Maura Isles (after The Mephisto Club ). When medical examiner Isles studies an X-ray scan of Madame X, which everyone assumes is a newly discovered Egyptian mummy, at Boston's Crispin Museum, she realizes the mummy isn't a priceless artifact but a recent murder victim, gruesomely preserved. Rizzoli focuses the police investigation on Dr. Josephine Pulcillo, a young archeologist recently hired by the museum who may have something to hide. More victims soon turn up, including a tsantsa (shrunken head) in a hidden museum chamber and a corpse resembling a well-preserved bog body in Pulcillo's car. After Pulcillo disappears, Rizzoli and Isles must scramble to find her before she becomes another trophy in the killer's growing collection. As usual, Gerritsen delivers an intricate plot that will keep readers guessing. (Sept.)

[Page 50]. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
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