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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.
Rated: High, for 8 instances of strong language and probably 10 or so uses of mild and moderate language. There is some violence. Sexual content includes a few moderately detailed scenes, and some include bondage.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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