Evil at its core

^{It seems like a simple question: Why is there evil?}

By Ray Routhier,  Staff Writer
Portland Press Herald 

Most of us just acknowledge that there is evil, that people can do evil things, and leave it that.
But Tess Gerritsen, a physician and best-selling novelist, has long been fascinated with why evil exists. Why is it part of our world? Where does it come from? Who does it come from?

Those questions helped prompt Gerritsen in writing her latest novel "The Mephisto Club" (Ballantine, $24.95). It focuses on a group that believes that Satan and his offspring are on Earth, among us. It also features two heroes Gerritsen has used before, Boston medical examiner Maura Isles and Det. Jane Rizzoli.

Gerritsen has an undergraduate degree in anthropology and enjoys visiting archaeological sites around the world. She was a practicing doctor before giving up her practice to raise her children and concentrate on writing. She lives in Camden.

Q: How did you decide to make Satan a theme of your book?

A: I’ve always been puzzled by evil, and by why it exists. Not long ago, I came across ancient Jewish religious texts that talk about evil demons known as the Nephilim, who are descendants of fallen angels. The Israelites believed that the Nephilim continue to live, undetected, alongside mankind, and that they are responsible for much of the crime and violence in the world. I wondered: What if those myths were actually based on fact? What if there really is a sub-group of genetically violent human beings? What if there’s a biological basis for the Nephilim myths? This unifying theory of evil so fascinated me, that I wanted to write a crime thriller that was more than just a murder mystery. I wanted to explore the whole topic of demonology — and the lore about Satan.

Q: What are your personal thoughts on Satan? Any you can share?

A: I’m trained as a physician, so I’m pretty connected to the physical and scientific world. That’s surprising, since I was raised in a rather strange household, where the paranormal was accepted as real. My mom, who’s an immigrant from China, has seen ghosts, and she believes in a parallel spirit world of angels and demons. I myself don’t believe in demons, and yet the mythology of evil fascinates me. It also scares the heck out of me. If there is such an entity as Satan, then he manifests himself in the actions of flesh-and-blood human beings.

Q: The press materials for the book talk about how some Dead Sea Scroll texts helped inspire this book. What were they about?

A: The Book of Enoch is an ancient Jewish text that survived in its entirety only in Ethiopia, although fragments of it were also found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The writings are attributed — rightly or not — to Enoch, the great-grandfather of the biblical Noah. It’s a very strange text, much of which is devoted to Enoch’s dream visions, and his descriptions of the heavens. But a large part of the text concerns the history of the Watchers, fallen angels who were tempted by the charms of human women, and had intercourse with them. The result was the Nephilim, who worship Satan, and continue to exist on Earth till this day. The Book of Jubilees, another ancient text dating to around 150 BCE ("Before the common era") also speaks of the Nephilim. These creatures seem to be firmly ingrained in Jewish myth.

Q: Besides the Dead Sea Scrolls, where did you get the idea for this book?

A: The concept of secret societies interests me. I thought: If there is an ancient bloodline of evil people committing unspeakable acts, wouldn’t there likewise be an organization to oppose them? That’s how I got the idea for "The Mephisto Club" — an alliance of scholars who are devoted to protecting mankind.

Q: Was this book more difficult to write than some of your other mysteries? Or easier?

A: In some ways, it was a lot easier, because there was so much material to draw from, starting with the Old Testament, as well as ancient Jewish texts and demonic symbolism. The more I learned, the more complex the story became. As I was uncovering this information, so too was my fictional heroine, Det. Jane Rizzoli.

Q: You are known for graphic forensic details in your books. That seems to be really popular now, especially with the all the forensic science shows — both documentary and entertainment — on TV now. Why do you think people are so fascinated with forensics?

A: I can’t speak for other people, but I’ve always been interested in the science of criminal investigation. As a 10-year-old kid, I used to walk around the neighborhood with my "junior fingerprinting kit." I want to believe that science can solve any mystery — although I know very well that it can’t.

Q: Do you ever miss practicing medicine?

A: I’ve been away from medicine for so many years now — 16 — that the profession seems very distant to me. What I do remember is the long hours, the stress, and the heavy, heavy sense of responsibility. Those are the things I certainly don’t miss.

Q: How do you write? A little everyday? Or in big bursts when the mood hits you?

A: Because of my book contracts, I’m required to turn in a book every year, and that pretty much dictates how fast I write. If I write about four pages a day, then I know I’ll deliver on time. I don’t wait for inspiration — I just sit down and do it. Sometimes, the day’s work ends up in the trash can, but the important thing is to make some sort of progress on the story. Since I don’t outline ahead of time, and don’t even know how the book is going to end, writing the story is an act of discovery for me. I’m frequently surprised by how things turn out.

Q: Your bio says you travel the world visiting archaeological sites. Where have you been lately? And how do those places influence your writing?

A: In April, I was in Egypt and Libya. Next year, we plan to go to Turkey. I never know when a travel experience will turn up in one of my books. Sometimes, the memories just stew in my head for a few years. And then, suddenly, I know exactly how to use that 10-year-old trip to Rome in a story. As writers, we can exhaust our imaginations by sitting too long at a desk. The real benefit of travel is that it recharges the creative well, and gets us temporarily out of our comfort zones.

Q: What are you reading right now?

A: As a novelist, I’m fortunate enough to receive tons of free galleys from a number of different publishers. I’m reading an advance copy of "Outsourced" by Raelynn Hillhouse, a wham-bam action thriller set in war-torn Iraq. It’s pretty darn exciting . . . and intriguing, because of the politics.

Staff Writer Ray Routhier can be contacted at 791-6454 or at: rrouthier@pressherald.com

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