I did not care for this book, two stars. Too much inner monologue. Ava was unlikeable. It was cheesy and weird. Ghost sex is weird. It's even weirder when it's BDSM. This was my first Tess Gerritsen book, and it will probably be my last.

I'll be the first to admit that I rarely read romance of any kind, much less delve into books with supernatural elements, but I have to say that I really enjoyed this gothic suspense novel by an author whose books I've read since I discovered her medical thrillers back in the day. I've not kept up with the R and I series, but I was curious and decided to give this departure a go: 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Yes, there's a damsel in distress. Ava Collette, a 30-something food writer, has done a bad, bad thing and she escapes Boston and her beloved older sister, Lucy, to Maine to finish a book that has gone way past deadline. She also wants to forget so she drowns her sorrows in cooking and alcohol. She arrives in August and plans to stay until October. She brings her Maine Coon cat, Hannibal.

The setting: Ava runs to Tucker Cove and a 150-year-old mansion on the cliff overlooking the ocean. The place she has rented is known as Brodie's Watch and was built by a sea captain who went down with his ship in about 1861 so the place has a history. The house is a bit forbidding at first, but when she enters, she feels that she is welcomed and safe. Plus it has a great kitchen and is beautifully redone inside, especially after the workmen finish a turret room and a widow's walk up top. Tucker Cove is a very small New England town where everyone knows the "insiders" and of course, are a bit distrustful of the tourists.

The characters that interact with Ava are all quite interesting and seem a bit secretive. The most intriguing is what appears to be the ghost of Captain Jeremiah Brodie himself. In fact, Ava soon believes that she is actually able to hear, see and touch him, "Here in my house, what you seek is what you will find."

The plot is where things get a bit crazy as Ava soon discovers that every single woman who has stayed in the house has died -- some in the house, but things escalate when a woman's body is found in the sea and it turns out that...well, NO SPOILERS. Is Ava gone crazy in some sort of alcohol fueled hallucination sequence or is there a killer in Tucker Cove?

The writing is fantastic and when combined with the gothic overtones and the supernatural elements, the narrative zings along and I couldn't put this book down as I was desperate to find out what was going on and if Ava would be OK. The crazy erotic scenes and Ava playing amateur sleuth just added to the whole package and, while unbelievable to this skeptic, I found it all quite fun.

I had almost decided to skip this one entirely after reading some reviews, but I like to form my own opinion and I hope you will enjoy this one as much as I did. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend.

Ava Collette has fled her apartment in Boston to stay a few months in small-town Tucker Cove, Maine. She is hoping that getting away from home will give her some time to heal, finally, after a tragedy she blames herself for. A cookbook writer, Ava has brought her kitchen tools and aims to get some solid progress made on a project that’s due. The house she’s renting is huge, far more space than she needs, but she’s been able to rent it for a song. Brodie’s Watch is 150 years old and has sat vacant for a while, up until one woman rented it for part of the summer before Ava. Carpenters are finishing up some renovations in the turret at the beginning of her stay.

She feels when she steps in the door that the house is somehow welcoming her. Inspiration flows as she works on her cookbook of recipes inspired by traditional New England fare. But then strange things start happening: she hears noises and sometimes sees lights. Rumor has it the house is haunted by the ship captain who built it: Jeremiah Brodie. And then, impossibly, she sees the handsome captain himself. In fact, he feels all too real. But he seems to know so much about her, and she can’t resist the lure of the dashing man from the past.

At the same time, Ava hears that accidents happened at the home in previous years. Deaths of young women. And the previous renter’s abrupt departure from the house makes less and less sense. She begins looking into where she went, and the details about the fatal accidents that happened, all while having encounters with the dead captain, and Ava wonders if she’s going mad: She’s still consumed by grief and guilt, and she’s drinking too much. But there’s a real possibility she is in danger, whether from someone in town with a secret of their own, or the ghost, or the house.

The Shape of Night reminded me of Daphne DuMaurier’s Rebecca, with the house playing the role of Manderley, and its gothic style. At the same time, it’s a murder mystery and tale of suspense. Ava is a broken woman, and readers want her to find peace and happiness even as they worry how she’ll stay safe from the potential dangers.

I hadn’t read any of Tess Gerritsen’s many books, but this was a very satisfying introduction to her work.

Although I found this very different from anything else I've read by Tess Gerritsen before, I thoroughly enjoyed The Shape of Night. Readers of gothic suspense are in for a treat as Gerritsen delivers an intriguingly flawless tale full of romance, mystery, suspense and strong elements of the supernatural in a beautiful setting. Definitely recommended!

Brodie's Watch is a beautiful house with a storied history and a string of women tenants who die mysteriously. When Ava moves into the house to work on her novel, she encounters the former owner, Captain Jeremiah Brodie, in apparition form. He is a mystifying presence who startles Ava, but also causes her to long for his nightly visits. As Ava explores the history of the house and the Captain, she begins to question if she is safe.

This is a very different type of book for Gerritsen, but the writing is still her style and on-point. The story was a far-fetched as expected but also more off-putting than I hoped due to the sexual nature of the contact between Ava and the ghost. Overall, I am glad I read it because Gerritsen always produced great story!

3.5/5 stars

Ballantine Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Shape of Night. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Ava Collette has need in her life to start anew, so she decides to rent an old house on the picturesque Maine coastline. Named Brodie's Watch, for the captain who lived there more than a century before, the house is said to be inhabited by the spirit of the long dead man. When things start to happen that Ava cannot explain, what will the young woman do? Is there something going on that defies explanation or is the danger that lurks around the corner real?

I have read all of the previous works of this author and this novel just does not live up to her skill and reputation as a great thriller writer. The ending was telegraphed, the plot was weak and predictable, with the main character was just not likable. For a relatively short novel, the author spent a lot of time describing Ava's drinking problem, down to the smallest detail. Had the book been longer, I would not have finished it. For these reasons, I would not recommend The Shape of Night to other readers.

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.

Author Ava Collette retreats to Tucker Cove, Maine hoping to ease her guilty conscience under the guise of researching her new book. During her stay, she rents Brodie’s Watch, a weathered old seaside estate, once the home of legendary sea captain Jeremiah Brodie.
Captain Brodie is believed to have perished in a shipwreck over a century ago when his merchant ship, the Minotaur, was lost at sea. Although no one knows what happened on that fateful voyage, rumors abound in this tiny New England town. While the captain’s legend lives on outside the old manse, inside is another matter entirely, when Ava is visited by his ghostly, beguiling presence. But Brodie’s Watch is more than just haunted. Ava learns it also has a dark and sinister reputation she would be wise to escape before her deepest secret costs her life.
Gerritsen conjures yet another fantastic tale of suspense, seasoned with an unexpected, mystical twist. Every chapter entices the reader forward into the next, and then the next, well into the night. The plot unfolds and details emerge with impeccable timing, right to the heart-stopping conclusion. Cover to cover wonderful.

This was another amazing book by Tess Gerritsen, and definitely not quite like her other books. Here we have Ava, an author who is trying to put together a cookbook while also fleeing a tragic circumstance, who has come to Maine for some peace and hopefully a cure for her writers block. She is fortunate enough to find an amazing home near the water that seems to be exactly what she needs. Shortly after moving in, she begins to feel like she may not be alone in the house and she discovers that the sea captain that built the house many many years ago, may not be quite as long gone as he should be! With twists, turns and a ghost or two, this book kept me up reading well past my bedtime. I was so sorry to get to the end and thought this was one of the best books I’ve read in a while!

This story was just not what I was expecting. I’ve read Tess Gerritsen in the past and remembered her novels as thrilling. This “ghost story” was far from it - the pace was very slow and I just wanted to get to the end. Unfortunately I do not recommend this one. There is some light BDSM to be aware of.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ava ends up renting a home in a coastal village in Maine as she tries to run away from herself. She has a cook book to finish up that is way overdue and an agent breathing down her neck. From the time she enters the home, Brodie's Watch immediately fits her. She start having dreams about the captain who built the house and slowly finds herself pulled into the story in the belief that it will help her save herself in some way. She becomes acclimated to the people in the village and soon finds herself getting to know Dr Gordon. This book has the perfect blend of the supernatural tied into Ava's story. I struggled a bit with understanding Ava's relationship with Dr Gordon and found it to be forced a bit, however I did enjoy this book for what it was. Thanks for the ARC, Net Galley. This is the first book I have read from Tess Gerritsen, however I am definitely interested in reading more.

Thank you to the publishers for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love the author in her other writings of medical thrillers and totally understand the need to change genres. With that said, I'm sad to say that I couldn't finish this book as it had too much fantasy and ghostly moments that I could handle.

Tess Gerritsen as author is what drew me to this book. This is a totally different book from what I have normally read of hers, and she did a good job in making a transition to this genre. The book has a little bit of everything; its got romance, mystery, murders, other-worldly spirits, and sensuality. Ava is a food-writer who rents a house by the shore in Maine in order to escape a secret that is destroying her, and to finish writing her recipe/location book. From the moment she steps inside the house, she senses both the acceptance of the house, and that there is another presence in the house with her. When she meets the spirit of Captain Brodie, who was the original homeowner, it is both romantic and scary! As Ava becomes friends with the townspeople, she becomes curious about what made the last renter leave the house so suddenly that it became available to her at a last minute, and wonders how Captain Brodie’s spirit might be involved. There is also the question of an unsolved murder many years ago. I really enjoyed the book and can recommend it to readers who like this genre. I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review, which this has been. #NetGalley, #TheShapeofNight, #Tess Gerritsen

Scrappymags 5-word review: Hawt ghost in da house!!!!

All my reviews available at scrappymags.com

Genre: Romance/Mystery

The Short of It: Cook book writer Ava Collette is escaping guilt and a tragedy by downing her feelings in copious bottles of wine and lots of gourmet foods as she researches her new book. The setting? Her rental home called Brodie’s Watch named after the hunky captain who first built it. But Brodie’s Watch carries spooky secrets... and Ava is about to become a part of it all...

My thoughts: This book lost me until a shift about 50% in. I’m not a romance fan, and the beginning started my eyes rolling into the farthest reaches of my head (cue emoji). Ghosts of E.L. James were bouncing through the narrative vexing every fiber of every last nerve of my body. Just as I questioned my sanity, a shift occurred. I started to enjoy the book. No spoilers here but I will say I detest the damsel in distress. I execrate moronic female leads with no sensibility. Ok, yeah I’m a bit harsh but that’s because I’ve been forced to read that drivel for too long.

Gerritsen is one of my favorite mystery writers but I’m going to place this as Romance/mystery and you’ll see why when you read it. I prefer her grittier work, but I give props to her tale-telling that has me wondering at the end what WAS real. Reliable narrator? Hmmm 🤔

Recommend to readers who like: Mystery, quick reads, romance, hot n spicy

Not recommended to: Those who can’t suspend some disbelief, anyone who doesn’t enjoy a single gal gettin’ some, prudes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine and Ms. Gerritsen for an advanced copy (and for this single gal’s summer-long availability to house sit in Maine. I volunteer as tribute!)

THE SHAPE OF NIGHT had a pretty good start with a 19th century house on a cliff, a heroine trying to escape a bad personal situation, a restless ghost, and the promise of a Maine murder mystery. At about 40% it went in a direction that I'm simply not interested in. No thanks on a 50 Shades redo. Maybe if the mystery had been built up more to hook me I would have continued, but as it was I decided to call it quits. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

“The Shape of Night” by Tess Gerritsen opens with a first-person narrative directed specifically to the reader, sharing feelings and apprehension, while shadowing things to come, “Even now I still dream about Brodie’s Watch, and the nightmare is always the same…I had felt no such apprehension on that day in early August when I turned onto North Point Way and drove toward Brodie’s Watch for the first time.” Readers learn a lot a about the narrator as she talks to herself and comments on events along the way.
Gerritsen skillfully takes readers on a long strange visit to a wonderful house undergoing renovation but with a lovely huge kitchen just perfect for the narrator who is writing a cookbook. The opening tone is optimistic; after all, the house is the perfect place to write a book about “Traditional New England” cooking. However, as the days pass, readers feel the same apprehension, tension, and approaching panic as the narrator. Readers, along with the narrator, walk the line between reality and something else, then are hit with a strong dose of both, and begin to question what reality actually is.
I received a review copy of “The Shape of Night” from Tess Gerritsen, Random House Publishing, and Ballantine Books. It was expertly designed to pull readers into the drama of the characters, the setting, and the house. The plot was intended to manipulate feelings and establish doubt. It was compelling from start to finish.

This review is going to take a look at the book The Shape of the Night by New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen. I received an eArc of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The book was released on October 1st–so get out there an read a copy!

This novel is set mostly in a Maine coastal town with some appearances by Boston. Our main character, Ava Collette is a food writer, and while punishing herself she has decided to get away from Boston to test some recipes for her very late book.

The cookbook she is writing is about traditional New England cuisine, so where better than Maine to write!? She finds an old home available to rent of the summer called Brodie’s Watch. It is the former home of a sea captain that perished at sea. At first all is normal, until she begins hearing weird sounds.

Ava becomes all consumed with trying to figure out who is watching her and what is happening. She begins to wonder if it’s her, and the binge drinking to cope with tragedy, or if it’s all real? Who can she trust in this small coastal town where locals fit in and tourists aren’t trusted.

Gerritsen does a great job of writing the story in a way that it could actually be a ghost, or it could be this other more logical option throughout the entire book. Even after finishing the book I was left wondering–but was the ghost real? The story instills a real feeling of being right there the entire time. I felt like I was by the ocean in Maine. I drooled over the recipes Ava made, just like her carpenters. It was an entertaining read and I encourage you to go read it so you can be in Maine too!

Happy reading 🙂

This book was a definite page-turner! I love psychological thrillers, and this one really kept my attention! Tess Gerritsen is an excellent author, and this book was no exception. It was so very believable! I could imagine myself as the main character, being able to see the ghost of the dead seaman. I literally read this book in one (very long) day! If you think that the living can't interact with the dead, think again! Because this book will change your mind!

I was given this book in Exchange of an honest review.

Tess Garrison is the consummate mistress of horror, mystery and stess.

The characters are consistently beginner at the solve the mystery- why would they encounter this issue? Why are they ahead of the experienced savvy cops?

Because THEY LISTEN, THEY DONT UNDERSTAND THE RULRS OR DANGER.

This group is compassionate, have conscience that wont allow the reader to be given a pass or unsubstantiated proof.

BUY THIS BOOK - BUY THE ENTIRE SERIES. ASK YOUR LIBRARY TO STOCK THES BOOKS.

“The Shape of Night” was my first read by Author Tess Gerritsen. The synopsis of this book pulled me in almost immediately. I mean, all that creepiness just sounded so delightful! I am a huge paranormal fan and add the gothic undertones, I was all in.
I won’t get into too many details because I always feel like the synopsis/ blurb tells you everything you need to know, and I try not to spoil anything. What I will say was that this story has many layers. I loved the creepiness of it. It was also very erotic at times. It was just so many things going on at once that came together and formed a very good story. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future. 4.5 stars

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.