Personally, I don’t mind the blood and gore linked to serial killer books, although I can see where some might have a problem with it. You should go in knowing there will be some confronting moments. Let’s face it, when one of the lead characters is a medical examiner you’re going to strike a higher than normal number of graphic scenes involving human body parts. Tess Gerritsen did a good job in portraying the horror of her crime scenes without going too far over the top. The story begins with a murder on Christmas Eve that appears to be a satanic ritual. A group of amateur sleuths with a lot of money and less experience become involved making the investigation difficult for the police officer Rizzoli. The medical examiner Isles works with her. The Mephisto Club is the sixth Rizzoli and Isles book, and if I’m being honest it is probably my least favourite thus far. It was still an enjoyable read, but I didn’t love it in the way I loved the five prior books. I’m unsure if this is because it has been so long since I read Vanish or whether it was the story itself but I’m hoping I’ll enjoy The Keepsake a lot more.

On tony Beacon Hill, the club's acolytes devote themselves to the analysis of evil: Can it be explained by science? Does it have a physical presence? Do demons walk the earth? Drawing on a wealth of dark historical data and mysterious religious symbology, the Mephisto scholars aim to prove a startling theory: that Satan and his demons actually exist among us. Both Detective Jane Rizzoli and Dr. Maura Isles drew the short straw this particular Christmas and witness the horrific murder scene. “Peccavi.” Who wrote the message?” And for whom is it meant? Soon there is another death, with more symbols. This one strikes close to home. What is the Mephisto Club? Can its leader, Anthony Sansone, be trusted? He seems to be everywhere, to be given wide berth by law enforcement. Yet Jane is wary. She has good reason. One of the members of Mephisto is Dr. Joyce O’Donnell, the neuropsychiatrist who testified in the court trial of Warren Hoyt, the man who tried to kill her and left her scarred for life. She has no love for Joyce O’Donnell, nor does she believe in devils or evil spirits. In summary, a bang-up good job and highly entertaining read. My next in this series will be #7. Can't wait! The sixth book in the Rizzoli & Isles series. I have enjoyed reading the books in this series but this is probably my least favorite. It was still an enjoyable read but it was too Dan Brownish. Too much demons / the devil, the bible, secret societies, etc. I understand how Jane Rizzoli felt in this story. It amazes me that Tess Gerritsen is able to write such awesome thrillers, time after time. And yet she does, proving that she is, quite simply, at the top of her game--and at the top of the psychological thriller/mystery genre!I loved that Father Brophy and Dr. Maura Isles finally "got together," but I need this relationship to go beyond THE THORN BIRDS!! There has got to be a resolution to this plot line, and soon! I have skipped #5, though, as it involves a crime in a hospital setting with a hostage situation, etc. I don't like those kinds of stories; I find them tedious with everyone kind of holding static in place.)

The fact that a message in Latin has been left at the scene, translated as “I have sinned”, suggests that the murder is both personal and an act of some kind of revenge or recrimination. But the killer has only just started, leaving murder scenes just as confronting as the first but, fortunately for the police, prone to also leaving clues with the bodies. The main character becomes Lily Saul with a "evil" Christianity spirit & a "fallen" angel (Devil) after her? Her parents & Teddy (brother) killed. I really didn't like this one all that much. I was actually able to put it down and walk away from it.

Develop

Kalėdų išvakarėse detektyvė Džeinė Ricoli yra iškviečiama į siaubingo nusikaltimo vietą, kur žiauriai buvo nužudyta jauna moteris. Rizzoli’s parents are breaking up. A somewhat amusing diversion to the murder case to provide a few lighter moments. Meanwhile, the feelings Maura Isles for Father Daniel Brophy has been battling over the last couple of books are brought to a head here. This forbidden relationship is fraught with problems and threatens to drive a wedge between the friendship formed by Rizzoli and Isles.

The one thing I can clearly attribute to my lowered enjoyment is the attention paid to the private life of Isles. Ever since we started to get glimpses into her private life, I’ve found myself somewhat disinterested in the events outside of the criminal elements of the story. I positively adore following Rizzoli’s life – I’ve become so invested, I always want more – yet I cannot bring myself to feel the same way about Isles. I’m not sure what it is about her in particular, but I’m nowhere near as invested in her life.This was a creepy story that focused on one of my least favorite topics. Mythical demons and their spawns are not my cuppa, which negatively influenced my rating. So, if this is a subject you find intriguing, I highly recommend the story as it’s well researched and written. There’s a secondary storyline involving Maura and Daniel Brody that I did find interesting as well as the story surrounding the killer who is identified at the beginning. Ms Gerritsen’s two female leads, Rizzoli and Isles, both have personal struggles in this book. Jane’s difficulties are with her family. While painful, there is also humor in the way the situation is presented. Maura’s struggles, as in Body Double, are with her feelings toward Father Daniel Brophy. Will she continue to avoid him? Can she? Can they find a way to be “just friends”?

The Mephisto Club marks the 6th book in the Rizzoli and Isles series and takes us into the depraved mind of a killer brought up following beliefs and ideologies that are rejected by most. Be prepared for a series of gruesome crime scenes, a nicely contrived storyline and a continuance of the personal lives of both of the main characters.Peccavi. “I have sinned.” This Latin word, along with three upside down crosses, is found on the wall of a lurid murder scene on Christmas Eve. The Mephisto Club, Tess Gerritsen’s sixth book in her much-liked Rizzoli & Isles series, features more graphic murder scenes than several of her previous novels. Mephisto takes its name from the legend of Dr. Faustus. Mephistopheles was the evil spirit that appeared to Faustus after he drew secret symbols. The result: Faustus sold his soul to the devil. this book reads like a horror novel but is a mystery nonetheless. The author does a nice job developing the characters and it is clear that this tendency began earlier in the series. I started with this book and it worked as a stand alone, but there are references to previous books in the series that loyal readers no doubt recognize. Severed body parts from one murder are swap with another part at the next murder. A symbol is left on Maura's door causing her fear. I guess I was not all that hooked on the demon and Devil scenario that was described in this book, especially the character Anthony Sansone. I really did not like him, nor his influence over the government, Interpol, CIA, FBI, and Boston PD. It's like he trumped everyone. I did not like it nor get it. And then he starts this fighting evil club. Not what I thought it was going to be, and not who I thought would typically join this club, Dr. O'Donnell, who ends up dying and then we never have to deal with the love to hate her relationship that Gerritsen has so elaborately written for us Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen took an unusual route to a writing career. A graduate of Stanford University, Tess went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D.