The Recurring Cast
Character guide · 16 books · 2001 to 2026 · Mostly set in Boston

Tess Gerritsen

Crime and mysteryThriller and suspensePolice proceduralCosy and comicForensicSpy and espionage

Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles meet in The Apprentice and work together through the series that became the Rizzoli & Isles television show. The newer Martini Club books follow retired spies in a small Maine town.

Best estimate, compiled from series guides, publisher descriptions and reviews where available, and from memory otherwise. Book level only, not chapter level. Minor includes cameos and brief references. Each book carries a confidence rating in its tooltip. Gerritsen’s romantic suspense and medical thrillers are left out.

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Who appears in which book

Click a name to follow that character from book to book, or a book title to see its cast.

LLeadMMajor·MinorHas a note
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Tess Gerritsen books in order

Each series in publication order, with its lead characters. Where the story runs in a different order, switch to Story order. Crossover books are marked and listed under their main series. Use My books to track what you have read.

Rizzoli and Isles

13 books · Set in BostonPolice proceduralForensic
  1. 1The Surgeon2001With Thomas MooreBuy on Amazon
  2. 2The Apprentice2002With Jane RizzoliBuy on Amazon
  3. 3The Sinner2003With Jane Rizzoli and Maura IslesBuy on Amazon
  4. 4Body Double2004With Jane Rizzoli and Maura IslesBuy on Amazon
  5. 5Vanish2005With Jane Rizzoli and Maura IslesBuy on Amazon
  6. 6The Mephisto Club2006With Jane Rizzoli and Maura IslesBuy on Amazon
  7. 7The Keepsake2008With Jane Rizzoli and Maura IslesBuy on Amazon
  8. 8Ice Cold2010With Jane Rizzoli and Maura IslesBuy on Amazon
  9. 9The Silent Girl2011With Jane Rizzoli and Maura IslesBuy on Amazon
  10. 10Last to Die2012With Jane Rizzoli and Maura IslesBuy on Amazon
  11. 11Die Again2014With Jane Rizzoli and Maura IslesBuy on Amazon
  12. 12I Know a Secret2017With Jane Rizzoli and Maura IslesBuy on Amazon
  13. 13Listen to Me2022With Jane Rizzoli and Maura IslesBuy on Amazon

Martini Club

3 books · Set in the fictional Purity, MaineSpy and espionageCosy and comic
  1. 1The Spy Coast2023With Maggie BirdBuy on Amazon
  2. 2The Summer Guests2025With Maggie BirdBuy on Amazon
  3. 3The Shadow Friends2026With Maggie BirdBuy on Amazon

Characters

13 recurring and key characters, with the book each one first appears in.

Rizzoli and Isles

Martini Club