Reviews

The Shape of Night, by Tess Gerritsen

alymoonnn's review against another edition

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4.0

This book has a fantastic and shocking ending, and while the middle feels very drawn out, the ending makes it worth the read!

jimbowen0306's review

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1.0

If ever there was a book that forced me to remember where an author started, this would be it.

In this book, a borderline alcoholic cook book writer descends on a rural/coastal holiday rental to finish writing her cookbook. While there, she convinces herself that the house might be haunted (though it might be the fever dreams of an alcoholic who had reasons to be guilty), gets borderline hot and heavy with dishy local doctor, and investigates 2 suspicious deaths.

Anyone who reads Gerritsen, thinking they’re going to be like the TNT Rizzoli and Isles series. Gerritsen started off as a “romantic thriller” writer. The first Rizzoli and Isles book was one, and it put me off reading any more books in the series (along with the fact that Rizzoli isn’t the focus of the book). This book isn’t any different. Any book where the lead character talks about having “kinky sex” WITH A GHOST isn’t an author I want to read.

This isn’t kink shaming either. You do you. It’s just how are we supposed to tax a chunk of the book seriously if that sort of discussion is happening?

chelle523's review against another edition

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3.0

I've never read any of Gerritsen's work, although I gather this is a departure from her usual genre. I thought it was well-written overall, but it had me rolling my eyes a bit, too, mostly because in spite of being a paranormal investigator myself, I'm a skeptic at heart. And I'm completely a skeptic when it comes to the notion of "paranormal romance". I also think that the bit with the town doctor felt a bit disjointed and rushed. I think I'm probably going to read some of the author's other works, so I can't say I was horribly disappointed in this one and it would probably make a blockbuster movie (or Lifetime movie?) but I think her medical mysteries might be a better fit.

sus7's review against another edition

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2.0

I received this digital review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
I was really looking forward to reading this book, but then I was really disappointed.
It surprises me that the author who writes the strong, independent women in her Rizzoli and Isles series wrote such a predictable story which I consider a romance. It reminded me at first of the old movie and TV series "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir". But Mrs. Muir wasn't into S&M. I would have liked the story much better without all the ghostly sex scenes.
I will acquire this book for our library and look forward to what our patrons think of it, but I cannot recommend it.

hj22's review against another edition

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dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

calli's review

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dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

shorthannah's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

toellandback's review against another edition

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4.0

Heavy drinking food writer Ava harbours a guilty secret and escapes to a small coastal town to try and concentrate on her new book only for her to discover that her rented house has secrets of it's own.
I generally enjoy Tess Gerritsen's novels and I did like this one even though its miles removed from the Rizzoli and Isles series. My main issue was the first half felt like a cross between a recipe book and 50 Shades and it was a slow slog. That said, when the ghosts and secrets started to appear, there were some genuinely chilling moments.
Unusually for me, I guessed Ava's secret quite early on and I am glad that i stuck with the book despite my misgivings.
Slow burner but a decent read eventually.

timbr's review against another edition

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3.0

I would like to thank net galley and random house for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

a departure from Tess Gerritsen usual style and not my usual type of novel.

Ava a food writer has escaped her life in Boston to a small costal town in Maine where all is not as it seems.

I picked this book as I have enjoyed works by Tess Gerritsen, paranormal activity is not my normal genre and on the whole I enjoyed the theme although to my mind it was a little over sexualised.

a good deal of suspense and mystery propelled me through this novel in no time, I just had trouble getting as into it as much as I would have liked as this move is such a departure from the expected genre of Tess Gerittisen

baby_mcbabyface's review against another edition

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2.0

Listen, we love a good murder mystery; We love a good ghost erotica. 

This was neither.

But was it at least interesting? I finished it!