So, while I was reading the physical book, I was pretty relaxed. It's a very interesting read, but I decided that I wanted to listen to the audiobook because it's easier for me. Due to some setbacks in life, I ended up having to start the second half of the book over and over again, but that has nothing to do with the story.

As for the story:
I started reading thinking that Rizzoli would be the main character, but apparently in this first book we have another detective who is somewhat more present throughout the story, who would be Rizzoli's partner for the specific cases that are happening.

The book has a very sexist tone, but I think that this is due to both the time in which it was written and the time in which the story takes place, and also because Rizzoli is the only female detective at the police station. Sexism is terrible, but it's part of the context in which the story takes place.

The book kind of seems like one of the many criminology series that exist today. Which is great because it's an interest I have, so I liked that too. I also found the parts where they deal with the evidence and the tests interesting. The coroner is very sinister, I have the impression that one day he will be a murderer...
Anyway, the character of Detective Moore is a bit of a cliché. A straight-laced cop in the middle of a police station full of cops who don't act 100% correctly. Detective Moore's romance with the victim Dr. Cordell is also quite cliché.
The book is also a thriller full of clichés.

As for Rizzoli, she is clearly trying to make her presence felt in an extremely sexist environment, she is basically trying to prove that she is as capable as any of the men who work at that police station. But in the same way, she has a lot of difficulty accepting herself as a woman and accepting her own femininity. However, considering the way she grew up in a very sexist family, where the focus was always on her brothers, you can begin to understand her need to prove herself to other people, that she is not inferior to any man.

The book has a touch of Criminal Minds, CSI and Law & Order, and the ending is greatly inspired by the end of the film Silence of the Lambs, in the scene where Clarice encounters the killer by accident, but in a much more violent way and with some variations.
It is an extremely interesting book, I will definitely continue reading the next books in the series.

Opening the book with an autopsy is a bold choice. I'm a big crime book/show fan who thought no mere procedural crime book could bother me. But I legit almost stopped reading right there because I almost threw up. Not necessarily because it was especially gory but perhaps just because I was queasy that day anyway. After trying again the next day, I was able to power through.

Oh and the detailed ER scenes were defos not a favorite. There's a lot of blood and surgery in this one folks.

I liked it overall. I haven't put the next book in the series on my list yet, but I probably will eventually?

Additionally, I haven't watched Rizzoli & Isles, but I'm tempted now.

The mystery of it was perfectly satisfactory. A good amount of red herrings balanced with reasonable unraveling. 

Steeped in gender roles, misogyny, and the plot heavily revolves around sexual violence. 

Very engaging and easy to read (finished the whole thing in two sittings in less than a day), enjoyed the medical details and I found the killers POV moments creative and intriguing but was bored by the two main characters and found them very unsympathetic (especially Rizzoli's internalised misogyny and both cops' unethical behaviour at different points). Was also highly disappointed by the completely unnecessary "twist" that

the villain had worn a wig/crossdressed, contributing to the tired and queer/transphobic trope of serial killer men donning drag as part of their villainy.

I enjoyed the writing and the pacing was... Motivating, I guess. It kept me engaged. Several things did not age well here, though.

Gender essentialism with the uterus, Rizzoli's whole character is developed around her looks without a lot of depth/appreciation for the systems around her (although there's some acknowledgment of the pressures on her as a woman in the department, it feels really surface level), and the flaw in her character being she just wants to kill suspects - definitely not a good look and something she'd struggle to come back from, for me.

Also weird there's no Isles? I guess this is just further confirming for me that when it comes to books I like cozy detective stories/mysteries, not "modern day" police procedurals. But if that's your thing, the writing here at least could sell you on this. I can see why they wanted it for TV. (I listened to the version narrated by Laurel Lefkow).