Customer Reviews

Whistle Blower: No Way Out...

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

There's usually a reason that a bestselling author's early novels are NOT famous -- they're simply not as good. I've enjoyed most of Tess Gerritsen's other novels, but this one frustrated me with its sappy, bad-Harlequin-romance atmosphere. Although they are supposedly intelligent, mature adults, the two leads behaved like none too bright, naive yo-yos. Granted, there were a few good surprises, but all of the characters were pretty one dimensional. This may be partly due to the book's shorter length (i.e., if you cram in lots of plot developments, something's got to go). I always feel guilty about panning an author's hard work, yet I also want to spare a reader hours of unsatisfying effort. I finished reading this book because I'm stubborn, but I'd advise others to skip it and stick with her later works.

I read "Whistleblower" when it was first published in 1992 and recently picked up my copy again (Yep, it's a keeper). The book is a true thriller, offering a clear glimpse of the suspense she would soon unleash on mainstream readers. At the time, I actually thought it was a little too punishing for category romance, with what happens to Cathy's friend Sarah (that certainly isn't what I wanted to happen after Gerritsen spent a lot of time developing the character and getting us to like her. It only made it more shattering). Still, I think those are the very reason her mainstream fans might like this one too. It's full of shocks and surprises, even ones that are hard to take, because Gerritsen takes no prisoners. The love story is nicely understated and never becomes too swoony. Rather, it's a suspenseful story about government conspiracies and those who dare to tell the truth. As good as--or better--than her more celebrated releases, but at a better price. You can't go wrong.

I have been a fan of Tess Gerritson for a long while and have enjoyed many of her novels over the years (except that awful one set in England where neither the plot nor the characters worked). I really looked forward to reading this latest offering but I am now exceedingly annoyed at having spent a reasonable amount of money on a complete piece of rubbish! The plot was so predictable that all which subsequently occurred was obvious by the end of the second chapter and the writing was so appalling that I had to skim a good proportion of it. I seriously doubt if Ms Gerritson actually wrote this..if she is sub-contracting she needs to find a better writer to do it in her name.

Yes, she has certainly done it again. This book was very good. The romance and mystery were excellent. I have never read a bad book by Mrs. Gerritsen. I hope she keeps them coming. I for one am very glad she left the medical profession to become an author.

The beginning of this story was scary. Cathy Weaver helps an injured man on a deserted road during a rainstorm and it changes her life forever. All of a sudden her life is in danger. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. There was suspense but the story did drag abit. It was not the best work of Tess Gerritsen but it was an somewhat sedate thriller with a nice romance.

I really enjoyed this book for the first two-thirds. I couldn't put it down. But the last third seemed to focus on the new lovers relationship, with constant game-playing and testing their love. The leaving and coming back and then threatening to leave, and "do you really want me to stay" left me thinking these people are pretty stupid. Sorry Tess, I've loved everything else you've written.

Cathy Weaver is on the way to a friend's house (Sarah) late one night when, in a remote area of the highway, a man (Victor) stumbles into the path of her car. She rushes him to the hospital and then continues on to Sarah's house never realizing the man had actually been injured by a gunshot and not the car accident. In the morning, Cathy finds Sarah dead in the driveway. Victor learns of Sarah's death and realizes the killer thought Sarah was Cathy. Knowing the killer will quickly realize his mistake, Victor seeks out Cathy to warn her about the danger she is in. Cathy and Victor decide to team up to protect themselves and keep evidence of illegal activity between the government and the lab Victor works for out of the wrong hands.

Whistleblower is one of Tess Gerristen's earlier books, and, as demonstrated in Whistleblower, she started out with a stronger romance theme in her books than she has now. Cathy and Victor took timeouts at the oddest times to explore their attraction to one another. The romance breaks in the action were often very distracting and just absolutely unbelievable. As the romance continued to develop, it started to get juvenile. There was constant game-playing, testing of each other's feelings, threats of leaving the other behind...you get the idea. Since the book was very short, I would have preferred the romance been minimized and the plot made a little more complex. I'm glad Tess has evolved and is now more focused on the murder/thriller aspect of her writing.

Whistleblower is Tess Gerritsen's 5th stand-alone novel. When Victor Holland runs in front of Cathy Weaver's car on a lonely California highway, she takes him to the local hospital, aware that he seems to be terrified, but unaware that he has been shot. While his ravings seem to be paranoid, the murder of Cathy's close friend, followed by several other murders, has Cathy not just believing Victor, but depending on him for her own safety. What follows is a rollercoaster ride of pursuit and evasion as Cathy and Victor try to prove what he has uncovered without losing their lives. Plenty of action along with some romance makes this an entertaining read.

I searched out Tess Gerritsen as the author of the books that inspired the new tv show Rissoli & Isles, which I love. As I usually do, I hit an online auction site to find book bargains, lots of books for a few dollars. If I was rich I would buy all Kindle versions, but I'm not.

In this case I am so glad that it was a bargain. Whistleblower is one of the most frustrating books I have read. I want suspense. I want action. I want intrigue. In this book the two protagonists stop every few feet to make out. Yes, the story is constantly interrupted with "romance". Not even good romance.

I have read three of Gerritsen's other books and love them. Do not judge an author by one book that didn't quite make it.

Gerritsen is a talented author who wrote one less than thrilling thriller. Loved The Surgeon, Harvest, Life Support. Reading The Bone Garden at this moment and love it so far.

Technically 3.5 stars
The man emerged from the mist, right in front of Cathy Weaver's car-running from killers who were closing in on him. Victor Holland's story sounded like the ravings of a man on the brink of madness, but his claim to be a fugitive was confirmed by the haunted look in his eyes-and the bullet hole in his shoulder. As each hour brings pursuers ever closer, Cathy has to wonder, is she giving her trust to a man in danger or trusting her life to a dangerous man?

If you think your having a bad day, week, month. Soon you will feel grateful for what you have once you read the type of day that Victor and Cathy have.

This was a nice fast pace, quick but enjoyable read. I have mentioned it before that I really do enjoy Tess Gerritsen and have wondered a few times why I have not found her earlier than this. She is exactly what I like in a writer and I am gripped every time I pick up one of her books. I even crave it. Sounds crazy I am sure.

While reading this book, I felt that this could be a short movie or possibly it already is the outline for an existing film. You have the world against a man who carries knowledge about the government breaking it's own rules. Victor is involved because he was good friends with the someone who was directly connected to the illegal interaction between the government and the lab.

Victor knows he holds a secret, which someone wants to be kept quiet and is willing to kill to do so. He holds evidence but he is unsure of what it is exactly and he calls upon a few college friends to help him out. Unfortunately, Catherine Weaver and Victor have crossed paths. Headlines soon report one woman was killed, who was mistaken to be Catherine and two other women carrying her name were also killed.