Review: The Shape of Night by Tess Gerritsen

Genre:
Thriller

Format:
E-ARC

Publisher:
Ballantine Books

Release Date:
October 1, 2019




Synopsis from Goodreads:

A woman trying to outrun her past is drawn to a quiet coastal town in Maine–and to a string of unsolved murders–in this haunting tale of romantic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

Ava Collette is punishing herself for an unspeakable tragedy. So she flees Boston and rents an old home named Brodie’s Watch on a remote coastal peninsula of Maine, hoping to work on a cookbook inspired by New England cuisine that she’s been trying to finish for months. She immediately feels at peace in the isolated house–until she starts to hear strange noises.

Rumor has it that a sea captain named Brodie has haunted the house for decades. Then, one night, Ava is awakened to find herself face to face with an apparition who looks–and feels–all too real. Meanwhile, there’s been a series of accidental deaths nearby that don’t add up. And as Ava starts to check into the previous renter’s mysterious disappearance, she starts to realize that there’s a disturbing secret some in town are desperate to keep hidden.

Soon all of Ava’s waking hours are consumed by her investigation, and her nights are ignited by Captain Brodie’s ghostly visits. But even as she questions her own sanity, she knows she must uncover the truth before a killer strikes again.

My Review

After tragedy strikes her family, author Ava Collette leaves Boston and heads to a small town in Maine. She plans to stay secluded and away from anyone she knows and write her cookbook. She takes up residence in an old house called Brodie’s Watch.

It doesn’t take long for Ava to discover Brodie’s Watch has a past of its own and it’s not a good one. It includes several mysterious deaths and now she discovers a ghost, namely Captain Brodie’s. The captain visits her periodically at night leaving Ava questioning everything.

One thing Ava knows for sure, something strange is going on at Brodie’s Watch and she is determined to find out what it is at all costs.

It’s been awhile since I read one of Tess Gerritsen’s books. This one is far removed from her Rizzoli and Isles series. It’s a combination of thriller, paranormal and some sexual bondage type scenes that I wasn’t expecting. It’s not a straight thriller - a little bit of everything mixed together.

The old house gives Gothic overtones which I always find captivating. The paranormal aspect takes some strange turns. Ava is a tortured character with many layers. Learning about her, her past and the house’s history is intriguing and kept me engrossed to the end. I was taken by surprise at how the story wrapped up but that’s what kept me hooked. It’s a page-turner.

FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.