Tess Gerritsen

TessGerritsenedit

Tess Gerritsen is an American novelist and retired physician. She is best known for her medical thrillers and the Rizzoli & Isles series, which has been adapted into a successful television series.

Early Life and Education

Tess Gerritsen was born on June 12, 1953, in San Diego, California. She is of Chinese-American descent. Gerritsen graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor's degree in anthropology and later earned her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco.

Medical Career

Before becoming a full-time writer, Gerritsen worked as a physician. Her background in medicine has significantly influenced her writing, particularly her medical thrillers, which often feature detailed and accurate medical procedures and terminology.

Writing Career

Gerritsen began her writing career with romantic thrillers. Her first novel, Call After Midnight, was published in 1987. She gained widespread recognition with her medical thrillers, starting with Harvest in 1996.

Rizzoli & Isles Series

The Rizzoli & Isles series is perhaps Gerritsen's most famous work. The series follows Boston detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles as they solve various crimes. The first book in the series, The Surgeon, was published in 2001. The series has been adapted into a television show, which aired from 2010 to 2016.

Other Works

In addition to the Rizzoli & Isles series, Gerritsen has written several standalone novels and short stories. Some of her notable works include Gravity, The Bone Garden, and Playing with Fire.

Personal Life

Tess Gerritsen is married and has two sons. She resides in Maine, where she continues to write.

Awards and Recognition

Gerritsen has received numerous awards for her writing, including the RITA Award and the Nero Award. Her books have been translated into multiple languages and have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list.

Bibliography

Rizzoli & Isles Series

• The Surgeon (2001)
• The Apprentice (2002)
• The Sinner (2003)
• Body Double (2004)
• Vanish (2005)
• The Mephisto Club (2006)
• The Keepsake (2008)
• Ice Cold (2010)
• The Silent Girl (2011)
• Last to Die (2012)
• Die Again (2014)
• I Know a Secret (2017)

Standalone Novels

• Call After Midnight (1987)
• Under the Knife (1990)
• Whistleblower (1992)
• Presumed Guilty (1993)
• Harvest (1996)
• Life Support (1997)
• Bloodstream (1998)
• Gravity (1999)
• The Bone Garden (2007)
• Playing with Fire (2015)

See Also

• Medical thriller
• Rizzoli & Isles (TV series)
• List of thriller writers