Agnes Darken is a silhouette artist, with paper and scissors summoning up a person's likeness. In Bath's heyday it was a profitable occupation but now, like the city itself, it's fallen out of favour, and Agnes struggles to make enough income to support herself, her elderly mother, and orphaned nephew. Then, one of her clients is murdered shortly after posing for a portrait. Then another ... and another ...

Trying to make sense of these events, Agnes decides to contact those who've died through a medium - a young girl, Pearl, who's managed and manipulated by her older half-sister - but instead of clarifying anything, Agnes and Pearl manage to raise troubled spirits out for revenge.



Part ghost story, part whodunit, The Shape of Darkness is gripping and enthralling; a book I didn't want to put down.

I loved the depiction of Bath; shabby and down at heel, full of memories of better times when visitors flocked there to 'take the waters', but by the mid-1800s no longer popular with the leisured upper classes. Agnes' fortunes have mirrored those of the city. Her hopes of love and marriage were dashed, and now she's a lonely middle-aged women struggling to get by, and desperately trying to avoid her memories of the past.

Through Pearl and her sister the reader enters the world of professional mediums and mesmerists. As you might expect, it's a world where things are not quite as they seem. Pearl may have some ability to contact the dead, but her sister knows that isn't enough to bring people back time and again, that a certain level of showmanship is required to make a living out of it.

There's a dark, brooding atmosphere throughout, as is fitting for a ghostly thriller. It's a book in which nothing is quite what it seems, and in the best tradition, it has a twist (or more) waiting at the end for the reader.

It breaks my heart to say that I just didn’t love this one as I have loved everything else by Laura Purcell and she is my favourite gothic writer but I just didn’t and I have to be honest.

Set in Victorian times, the story follows struggling Silhouette artist Agnes, who after recovering from a serious illness herself, making enough money to support her elderly mother and her orphaned nephew Cedric. Things start to get strange, when one of her clients is murdered shortly after sitting for Agnes, and then another, and another...

Desperately seeking an answer, Agnes approaches Pearl, a child spirit medium lodging in Bath with her older half-sister and her ailing father, hoping that if Pearl can make contact with those who died, they might reveal who killed them. But Agnes and Pearl quickly discover that instead they may have opened the door to something that they can never put back...

Now, when reading other reviews, I seem to be in the complete minority here and so many people are giving 5 and 4 star reviews, so I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading this if you’ve been debating it/loved Laura’s other work, it just simply wasn’t for me and I have to be honest with my reviews.

As always Laura is amazing at creating a dark and eerie atmosphere throughout the book and as always, I loved the paranormal elements but I think maybe the general plot for this one just didn’t do it for me. I didn’t warm to the protagonist and there were too many elements of the book that I didn’t quite grasp and I was left with so many questions (and I NEED answers).

If you’re after gothic horror fiction then Laura Purcell is your woman and I highly recommend Bone China and The Silent Companions by her, but still check this one out if it sounds like something you’d enjoy, just because I didn’t love it doesn’t mean you wouldn’t.

I still look forward to any future books by her

My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing U.K. Raven Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Shape of Darkness’ by Laura Purcell in exchange for an honest review.

Laura Purcell’s has quickly established herself as the Queen of Gothic spooky objects from wooden silent companions, corsets, and china dinner sets. Now in her fourth novel for Raven Books the focus is on silhouette portraiture and spiritualism.

In 1854 Bath, silhouette artist Agnes Darkin is struggling to keep her business afloat. She is recovering from a serious illness and needs to make money to not only support herself but also her elderly mother and her orphaned nephew Cedric. Then one of her clients is murdered shortly after sitting for Agnes, and then another, and another...  what’s going on?

Agnes seeks answers from Pearl, a child spirit medium lodging in Bath with her older half-sister and her ailing father. Agnes hopes that if Pearl can make contact with those who died, they might reveal who killed them. Yet things don’t go quite as planned and they quickly discover that they may have opened the door to something that they can never put back... 

Laura Purcell has again written a compelling historical novel with plenty of Gothic elements and some supernatural tingles. In a recent article in The Guardian she wrote about her inspirations and research, including Elizabeth d’Esperance’s ‘Shadow Land’, which she quotes at the outset of the novel.

To this solid foundation Purcell brings her considerable storytelling skills providing an engaging and atmospheric story with some interesting twists along the way.

She also effortlessly evokes her period setting, including its social etiquette. This was especially demonstrated in the formality between Agnes and her brother-in-law, Dr. Simon Carfax.

I complimented the ebook with its unabridged audiobook, narrated by Sophie Aldred, who is one of my favourite narrators.

Highly recommended as always with Laura Purcell’s novels.

Another twisty gothic tale that Purcell’s fans are sure to love.

I’ve read and enjoyed Laura Purcell’s previous three books: The Silent Companions, The Corset and Bone China. I’m pleased to report that with The Shape of Darkness she has produced another entertaining tale steeped in wall-to-wall gothic spookiness. Creating atmosphere is her forte and all her books are pervaded by a creeping menace, darkness and paranoia.

I thought Bath was a good choice of setting and it was nice to get a narrative set anywhere other than London. This story takes us into a dirtier, grungier side of a city which is gleaming white and regal in so many other stories, particularly period romances. And as this story is a sort of anti-romance, the grimy backdrop is especially fitting.

The story is delivered from two viewpoints: Pearl and Agnes’. I didn’t really warm to Agnes – she’s so brittle and on edge from the very start of the book that she keeps you at a distance. Whereas it’s impossible not to feel for poor little Pearl and wanting to know what would happen to her kept me turning the pages.

As with Purcell’s previous books, there is a good balance of apparently supernatural shennanigans vs. more rational explanations for events. While this juggling act keeps the reader guessing as to what exactly is going on, the mystery is paced perfectly, with new information dripped in at just the right moments to give you a chance to figure it all out for yourself and the final twist is delivered brilliantly.

It’s a shame this wasn’t published for Halloween as it’s the perfect book for the time of year when the nights start drawing in. And if you’re looking for something spooky and chilling, but not “now I have to sleep with all the lights on” scary, this could be the book for you.

Overall: a well-paced, intriguing and atmospheric story in a great, grimy setting. Fans of gothic page-turners won’t be disappointed and will be left looking forward to Purcell’s next.

This is a master class in how to write a brilliantly sinister gothic mystery - everything about this story is dark, from the streets and homes of 19th century Bath to the gruesome murders which take centre stage.

Purcell has managed to evoke such a sense of time and place that I could almost smell the rancid streets and feel the filth under my feet - I’m certainly grateful to be alive in a time long past chamber pots after reading this!

Agnes and Pearl are two wonderful lead characters and balance each other out perfectly. Agnes is older and shows no hesitation in trying to get to the bottom of the mystery of her murdered clients, whilst Pearl is still only a girl and terrified to disobey her older sister by helping Agnes. Yet there’s clearly something which draws the two together...

Between the grisly murders and the supernatural séances full of malevolent and tortured spirits, this is an incredibly creepy book which will cause shivers down your spine. Yet the writing is so beautiful and the story so well plotted that it’s almost impossible to turn away from the horrors inside.

Whilst it didn’t take long to work out the murderer, there were so many other plot twists and shocks throughout the story that this didn’t ruin my enjoyment or the suspense at all - and quite honestly it would be worth reading for the atmospheric and evocative writing alone.

An absolute must read for fans of gothic horror or even historical fiction fans as long as you can handle a little bloodiness...

An absolute joy, creepy, spooky and gothic in all its glory. I loved all the characters and how there were so many twists and turns along the way. I also at the end wasn’t sure what to believe happened. Brilliant as always Laura has done it again.

Wow ! I was so excited to be on the tour for this gorgeous book and it was such a wonderful experience.

We meet Agnes Darken who is living in Bath, she has been unwell and her late sister’s husband Simon who is a Dr has been caring for her. She is advised by him to not exert herself due to her pneumonia which has left her weak. Her profession is as a silhouette artist, one day she is out drawing in Sydney Gardens and she sketches a sailor who she has been watching who reminds her of her own fiancé. She has clients that visit her to have their portraits made into silhouettes and she is visited by the police when the most recent of her customers is found murdered.

Then there is Pearl, she is an 11 year old girl who lives with her sister and very sick father. Pearl’s sister Myrtle exploits Pearl as a medium as she has powers to make contact with the dead. These sessions are gruelling for poor Pearl, who lost her own mother at birth. After more of Agnes’s clients die in suspicious circumstances, Agnes hears about Pearl and decides that she must visit to find out who the murderer is and why are they coming after her clients. The relationship of Agnes and Pearl is a tender one as Agnes is worried about Pearl and why she is so ill and wants to help her and her sick father.

This is one of the best gothic stories I have read in a very long time, it is sublime. The author sets the scene of a Bath no longer in its heyday but slightly shabby around the edges and this with the spooky atmosphere that Laura Purcell conjures up so well made me glued to my seat all day. I love Bath it is one of my favourite cities and walking around places that I know well like Sydney Gardens, The Pump Room, The Abbey, Walcot Street and Queens Square made the experience even more real for me. As a reader I was transfixed with Pearl and her séances and her powers and the writing is so visual I was in that room with her as she contacts the dead.

Agnes is living with her Mother and Nephew after her sister Constance died, you do not know the circumstances of her death but little by little you uncover the story behind Agnes, Simon, Cedric and their past. The author is so clever at hooking you and I really did not see what was happening until after it had happened and then you get a real ah-ah moment as the secrets are uncovered. There is everything in this story, lies, death, horror and sadness.

I loved this book and I will be definitely reading it again and recommending as it is really is the most glorious dark and creepy story and Laura Purcell is a genius of compelling storytelling. A MAZ ING !!

Laura Purcell is one of my favourite authors, and her books are always auto-buys for me, so I was in a state of high excitement when this little beauty was announced last year. I was finally able to cradle a hardback copy of The Shape of Darkness in my hot little hands a couple of days ago, and once I had admired the breath-taking beauty of its cover, the reading began in earnest. I ended up devouring the whole deliciously dark novel in only two sittings, enrapt by another winner from the pen of Purcell and now have to attempt to write a review trying to do it justice.... without giving anything away about the wonderfully twisty plot!

This time, Purcell takes us to the city of Bath. No longer the haunt of the Georgian dandy, Bath is a somewhat faded, grimy version of its former self - at least when is comes to the parts of the city our characters inhabit.

Here we meet Agnes Darken, disappointed in love and struggling to support her aged mother and young nephew Cedric, the son of her wicked, late sister Constance, on the living she can scrape together from her talents as a silhouette artist. Times are hard, because the age of the photograph is here and her old fashioned portraits are being eschewed in favour of the more fashionable daguerreotype - not to mention that Agnes' health is not what it once was. But she has little choice to do the best she can if she is to continue to support her loved ones and maintain any sort of independence.

When Agnes' few clients start to suffer untimely ends shortly after sitting for her, she is compelled to seek out the aid of the other-worldly Pearl, a child medium, and her older half-sister Myrtle, in order to find out who is behind the murders. In doing so, Agnes fears they have unleashed something dark from beyond the veil on the unsuspecting citizens of Bath, but she has no choice other than to pursue her mission to the bitter end, whatever the cost to herself and Pearl.

What follows is the most chilling of tales that delves into the world the mesmerist, the medium and the developing Victorian fascination with spiritualism and plays with our minds in that special way Laura Purcell is so good at. She has such a talent for blurring the lines between the real world and the imagination - bringing in just enough of a supernatural undercurrent to have you questioning what is really happening. Interestingly, Purcell brings in an intriguing theme of the uneasy peace between the medical profession and the world of the spiritualist too, which adds an extra dimension to the weird goings on.

As is par for the course in her writing, she also manages to work in elements of jealousy, betrayal, revenge, control, and coercive behaviour - especially nicely done here with the parallel sisterly relationships of Agnes/Constance and Pearl/Myrtle - social history, and the powerlessness of women in a world controlled by men, that always makes her books so rich and multi-layered.

This is terrifying stuff, conjuring up scenes that will have you hiding under the duvet at the slightest bump in the night and every suspicious shadow on the wall. It's seriously creepy, more than a little gruesome and has a couple of tricks in its tale than will leave you reeling, with the kind of 'kick-you -into-touch' ending that she always pulls off with aplomb. I loved it!

Agnes keeps herself and her family afloat with her silhouette art. When one of her clients is murdered shortly after visiting her she thinks nothing of it other than the fact her work will go unpaid, but that is just the beginning. Then another client is killed.

Supported by her good friend Simon, who always seems to be there to keep her safe, she tries to take care of her nephew and mother, whilst removing the memories and reminders of her difficult sister. Drawn into the story are two sisters making money from the desperation of those who are grieving. One of those people is Agnes, she is eager to connect to those behind the veil. She wants the chance to speak to her lost love. The medium of choice is a young girl with a gift, however it all comes at a price.

I really enjoyed the way the author combines an almost gothic ghostly vibe with a murder mystery, and this constant balancing act between reality and a dark world beyond life as we know it. The aspect of communication with the otherworldly throws up some interesting questions – is there something akin to the power to communicate with the dead, is it all just the hallucinatory ramblings of a woman in denial or is Agnes merely the pawn in a chess game.

It’s a riveting read that keeps the reader engrossed until the end, which is what I’ve come to expect from this particular author.

My thanks to the Author publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
As a sixty three year old bloke I doubt I am the target audience for this Author, but this is the second of her books I have read and thoroughly enjoyed, with another waiting on my to be read pile. This is a quality read, atmospheric descriptive imaginative, with superb engaging characters. Gripping and entertaining from first to last page intelligent with plenty of surprising twists, a real page turner featuring moments of real tension that left me staring at the screen open mouthed. Well written and researched with a real feel of time and place.
As this is a pre release copy I don't normally comment on the editorial quality however in this case I can honestly say it was appalling, which speaks volumes for the quality of the story that I still could not put it down.
Completely and utterly recommended.

Purcell creates a world that is both intricate and vivid. I was immediately immersed into the life of Agnes, a silhouette artist. The descriptions of her work and processes are absolutely stunning, and I love the intrigue surrounding her clients who keep turning up dead. Pearl and Myrtle are also an absolute delight to read. Pearl’s journey had me transfixed, and I really felt her vulnerability throughout. The séance scenes are absolutely brilliant, and I could really feel the process leaping out from the pages. It really is a unique tale of grief, hope and intrigue, and a gothic classic!

This is truly one of the best things Laura Purcell, our Gothic Victorian Queen, has written thus far (alongside The Secret Companions). Incredibly dark and oppressive, fuelled by grief and ghosts, Purcell delivers a wonderfully supernatural storyline about a young spirit medium and silhouette artist. Without wanting to reveal any spoilers, Purcell maintains an aura of intrigue throughout this tale that'll keep you turning those pages and the last 20% of this book... well, let's just say you won't rest until you've reached the end.

I have loved Laura's other books as published by Raven Books and this was exactly as promised - gorgeous, creepy historical fiction. Perfect wintery read.

Set in Bath in the 19th century and Agnes lives with her aged mother and nephew. She just about manages to support her family by being a silhouette artist.

But then her customers begin dying soon after she visits them, she believes someone is trying to ruin her and her business by murdering them. But who and why?

So, Agnes visits a medium to try and contact the victims and find out who the killer is…..things then get dark and creepy.

This is a marvellously dark gothic Murder mystery set against a poverty stricken Bath, it has enough chilling atmosphere to give you goosebumps. A clever plot and wonderful characters bring this to creepy life. Gripping, moody and I loved every spooky minute.

Eerie and atmospheric, The Shape of Darkness shows us all that – sometimes – there can be entities even more haunting than ghosts…

Synopsis: When Agnes’ client is found murdered, she starts to lose what little business she already has. Then another, and another, and yet another client winds up dead. Is someone targeting her? Is something targeting her? Agnes will soon discover that the only people who know the truth, are the dead.

Setting up Gothic tropes: a séance; a medium; a ghost, only to knock them down and leave you shell-shocked, Purcell’s The Shape of Darkness is a masterclass in suspense. This book’s story builds slowly and carefully and at the end becomes absolutely unputdownable. There are so many twists and turns and dead ends and reveals that I’ve got whiplash.

All the hallmarks of a Gothic novel are there for Gothic fans, but they are played with to great effect. This is a book that appeals both to people who love their classics, and those who like something new. Things are never what they seem in The Shape of Darkness. The Gothic representation of Bath was also excellent; the portrayal of the muck and the filth left me itching for a hot bath and some carbolic soap.

And I always love a séance scene or two.

The Shape of Darkness is a fantastic read and well-worth embracing the initial tropes and potentially overdone characterisations: they are there for a reason. The strength here lies in the enthrallingly shocking reveals, which leads you to thinking back on everything the book hinted at. You will definitely have to sit for a while after completion, figuring out how you were duped.

As a big fan of Laura Purcell’s writing, I was so thrilled to read this ahead of its publication day - thankyou @netgalley and @ravenbooks for giving me this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

The Shape of Darkness transports the reader to Victorian era Bath and to the world of Spiritualism. We meet artist Agnes Darkens, whose most recent clients die in violent and mysterious circumstances shortly after sitting for silhouette portraits. As you can imagine, news of their deaths begins to take a toll on her already struggling business and she seeks answers through Pearl and Myrtle West, sisters and clairvoyants, with their own complex and murky backstory.

I felt immediately drawn to Agnes and to Pearl, as I’m such a fan of interesting and multi-faceted female characters who take centre stage in literature. I also love the historical detail and setting - the location adds so much to the gothic ambience.

I really want to say more but I don’t want to give away too much - suffice it to say that I loved this book and absolutely rate Purcell’s novels. I never hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a contemporary gothic or ‘quiet horror’ read. There is spookiness in spades in all of her work, and atmosphere so thick you could stick a fork in it!
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The Shape of Darkness is out in hardback on Thursday 21st January.

The Shape Of Darkness is brilliantly chilling. I only had 15% left so thought I'd read it in bed, what an error. The story centres on Agnes, a silhouette artist in Bath whose customers are dying following appointments with her. She seeks the help of Pearl, a child medium, in order to try to get to the bottom of these mysterious deaths, but in doing so they risk encountering unknown dark spirits.

The writing creates such a vivid picture that it had me wanting to hide behind a cushion, while being completely unable to put the book down. Beyond the drama of the spirit world is a beautifully crafted tale, with richly created characters. If you like your historical fiction with a healthy dose of eerie gothic darkness then Laura Purcell is the writer for you.

When Agnes Darkens clients begin to die under suspicious circumstances, and she comes under scrutiny with the police and wider society due to her connections to the increasing number of victims, Agnes decides to consult a local girl who is known to connect to the dead. Agnes wants to know who is murdering the people around her, and medium Pearl Meers is desperate to talk to her departed mother. Together they make contact beyond the earthly veil... and their lives will never be the same.

Laura Purcell delivers yet another morbidly captivating mystery. This oozed moodiness and spookiness so much so I was spellbound. Purcell wields mysticism in such an enthralling way. Seances, crystal balls, shadows in a dark, drafty house combined with the sinister presence of magpies and their piercing caws, culminating in an ominous setting and tone.

The Shape of Darkness shows the growth in Purcell’s writing; the book really was transportive to a time gone by. The way the characters spoke felt old. And on the point of the characters, I’d say these ones are the best balance Purcell has achieved yet. The story follows two narrators, Agnes Darken and Pearl Meers, both of whom were likeable and their perspectives felt worthwhile. I didn’t prefer one to the other (as I have done with Purcell’s other reads), although I would say toward the second half some character development of Agnes’ didn’t read very smooth.

I’ll also say, just for keeping track and comparisons, I’ve read all of Purcell’s books to date, and for me, The Shape of Darkness is tamer than the likes of either The Silent Companions and The Corset. It’s just as enjoyable and a great offering by Purcell, but I would say it’s lighter in horror than her previous work.

Nonetheless, Purcell writes with such magnetism. The more you read and discover the story, the more you’re sucked into it in every way. I really enjoyed the way the story was woven together for all ends to meet appropriately. One thing that’s clearer and clearer with every book is Purcell is a natural born storyteller, and The Shape of Darkness firmly cements Purcell as an auto-buy author for me. It is quite frankly a must read for lovers of this genre.
Thank you kindly to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC, in exchange for this honest review.

There’s murder afoot in ‘The Shape of Darkness’.

When Agnes’ clients are found murdered and begins to affect Agnes’ business as a silhouette artist, it’s up to Agnes to find out the truth to who is behind the murders.

Follow Agnes as she tries to seek out the truth from a medium about why people are been murdered at her workplace.

Why is she been targeted? Is there a reason why the murders are taking place at Agnes’ business? Or is Agnes really the one responsible? And can she trust anyone?

Things soon start to unravel and Agnes’ background is soon up front and centre as loved ones come back to give her a message.

It’s a creepy but beautifully written book. I loved the setting of the story and the gritty and dark vibe which I felt also give it an edge.

‘The Shape of Darkness’ is an atmospheric gothic thriller. If you love thrillers with a touch of historical dictions and the supernatural then check this one out.

I'm a huge fan of Laura Purcell's novels, and The Shape If Darkness is no exception. Once again, Laura has penned an outstanding mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat. Set in the Victorian era, with strong female roles and dark, gothic scenes, The Shape Of Darkness is sure to please.