BOOK REVIEW – #Creepy #GhostStory The Shape of Night by Tess Gerritsen #ProvidedForReview #BlogTour @annecater #TheShapeOfNight @tessgerritsen

The Shape of Night – A new direction for Tess Gerritsen?!?!

I jumped at the chance to join the #BlogTour as soon as I read it was for a Tess Gerritsen book. I didn’t even read the blurb before I was chomping at the bit. And I was surprised when I started reading the book that it wasn’t a typical crime/thriller.

It was a good surprise. A creepy surprise. A very welcome October read – who doesn’t like something scary to read around Halloween time?

Book Blurb:

We’ve all done things we’re ashamed of . . .

When Ava arrives at Brodie’s Watch, she thinks she has found the perfect place to hide from her past. Something terrible happened, something she is deeply ashamed of, and all she wants is to forget.

But the old house on the hill both welcomes and repels her and Ava quickly begins to suspect she is not alone. Either that or she is losing her mind.

The house is full of secrets, but is the creeping sense of danger coming from within its walls, or from somewhere else entirely?

Sounds great, doesn’t it?

I have been a big, big fan of Tess Gerritsen for years now – over a decade. Wow, that makes me feel old. Her books and her Rizzoli and Isles series have been a regular staple of my crime/thriller reading for years. And it is a series I would wholeheartedly recommend. I’m having thoughts of squeezing in a re-read at some point soon – too many books and never enough time, right?

Anyway. The shape of night wasn’t what you would usually expect from Tess Gerritsen, it was a ghost story. A creepy, creepy ghost story. A fab autumnal October read. The creepiness starts right at the beginning and doesn’t stop.

Plus, the main character has a cat called Hannibal.

Instantly the house goes quiet. Even the mice in the walls fall still, as if something, someone, has alarmed them. Hannibal gives a loud hiss and every hair on my arms stands up.

Someone else is in this room.

p. 18

The writing was great, but I didn’t expect anything else. I loved the short snappy chapters. They are the type of chapters that just make me want to read one more, then another and another and so forth until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore or the school run awaits. The shape of night makes for addictive reading.

And I loved the Maine setting, I’m sure it is an area that the author must know well, and somewhere I would love to visit. I loved the history and the richness of the setting.

I’m not going to write much about the plot because it is a mystery and I don’t do spoilers, and also because I still have a few chapters left to read. So, I am entirely speculating, but I very much doubt the ending will let the book down. Have you finished it? Am I in for a treat? A scare? A haunting? I just wish someone would deliver me a pumpkin spiced latte so I could snuggle down on the sofa and get some reading time.

If I am honest the only thing I didn’t like about the book was the cover – I just thought it was a tad dull. It’s not bad. I just don’t love it.

I am sure The shape of night will get the full five stars ***** from me. It’s good. It’s well written. And it’s creepy. Atmospheric.

I can’t wait to read whatever Tess Gerritsen decides to write next. For me she is an author that doesn’t disappoint.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher, via the blog tour organiser – Thank you!