I will start by saying this is not a typical genre for me and I really did want to love it because of the plot and the idea of Beatrice's ability to see ghosts, but I didn't love it. I did enjoy it, though. I loved the cover!I love the idea of living on an island inhabited by practically no one, except an order of nuns. I loved how Beatrice and Anne helping each other, but I felt Anne's situation was predictable and you could tell how that situation was going to end.

I think a lot of people will love the book, if they are not triggered by the theme of domestic violence. I hope to read more by this author, but I just don't think this was a good choice for me.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review a digital copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine and freely given.

Unusual and interesting. The timing and the premise combined to create what I can only call “cozy horror.” I don’t have a good description for the genre except… well… this. Looking forward to more.

Beatrice Bird and her husband run a psychology practice, offering counselling services to those living on the streets of San Francisco and others who see the value of what the husband and wife team offer.

When Beatrice gets the idea of using LSD to enhance and deepen her ability to provide her patients with insight, it backfires on her, instead plaguing her with visions of countless ghosts, including those in the lives of her patients. Unable to tolerate the onslaught of visions, which only gain in intensity the more people she is near, Beatrice travels to a remote island far from San Francisco. The only other residents are nuns and the cows who live on the tiny farm Beatrice purchases. Beatrice finds some peace surrounded by the cows, trees, ocean, and only occasional visits from Mother Maggie, one of the nuns.

Across the country, Anne Iredale escapes her abusive husband, and takes refuge with nuns near her home. She's terrified and bereft, as she's had to leave her beloved and young son Benjamin behind her with her husband, whom she knows has already begun emotionally abusing the boy. Knowing she needs a safe place to regain her physical and mental strength before she can provide a safe home for Benjamin, she travels to west across the country to meet with the other nuns of the same order. Mother Maggie convinces Beatrice to take Anne in, and the two begin a quiet life together, with Beatrice sharing knowledge of her gift with Anne.

The two find strengths and skills in each other that help them with their fears and losses: Beatrice learns how to gain control over her gift, while Anne gains the equanimity and strength she needs to save her son.

This was a lovely story of friendship and growth. The tone is quiet, even contemplative, which makes sense as so much of the story takes place in the silences the two women share and need to heal. We get Beatrice's and Anne's perspectives as we discover their plights and how they gain strength. The other perspective is five-year-old Benjamin, who suffers at his father's words; this is a man with no redeeming qualities, and is the one part of this enjoyable story that I wish would have had a little more nuance. Not that I wanted to empathize with the abuser, but he was pretty much one-note in his evil.

I loved how even after I finished this book, I was left with a sense of calm and peace.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Redhook Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Being haunted by ghosts in general does not give me a good feeling inside and the readon why I did not read it.

4/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers, and Louisa Morgan for allowing me to read and review this book.

This book follows three different POVs. The two main POVs are between Anne and Beatrice. Beatrice is a psychologist from California that has the power to see people's ghosts. Anne has just fled an abusive marriage but is trying to find a way to get her son out of that marriage as well. These two women find each other and lean on each other to figure out their problems and overcome their ghosts together. The third POV is from Anne's son Benjamin. This POV only comes a few times throughout the story but offers some valuable insight into the storyline.

There are also two timelines. One at the island, where Anne and Beatrice meet and are together. The second is before either of them are on the island.

This is a really good story. I really enjoyed the different POVs and timelines. Everything really interconnected well and was entertaining throughout.

It is a good mystery and thriller type of read. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who doesn't mind a touch of the supernatural along with real-life problems. I also recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading from an older strong, independent female's POV.

This was an interesting book and different than I thought it would be. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Beatrice and Anne and loved their friendship. I always enjoy stories where a character can see ghosts and this was no different. It was a little slow at times but ended up being more emotional than I originally thought which I liked.

Beatrice is a psychologist who came to the island to escape the ghosts that she can't help but see clinging to everyone around here. Anne is a housewife seeking sanctuary from an abusive home. These are two very different women who by chance, and a little help from Mother Maggie, were brought together just when they needed it most. The story switches between Beatrice and Anne's past and present with occasional chapters from Anne's young son Benjamin.

While much of this book is Beatrice and Anne sitting in front of a fire and telling their stories to one another — Beatrice explaining what these 'ghosts' are and how they've changed, Anne explaining the details of the life she fled — their stories were both captivating. I was eager to continue on and learn more about these two women and watch them help one another process their individual situations and find a way forward.

Featuring women helping women, the complexities of abuse, and seeing people for who they are instead of the ghosts they carry with them, I loved seeing this story unfold.

Hey there, fellow book lovers! If you’re into supernatural stories with a mix of emotions, you’ll love “The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird” by Louisa Morgan.

The story is about Beatrice, a teenager , who can see and talk to ghosts. Talk about having a unique ability, right? But it’s not all cool and exciting for Beatrice. She’s trying to escape the ghosts, which is pretty understandable. I mean, who wants to be surrounded by spirits all the time?

Anyway, Beatrice meets Anne, another character in the story, and they become close friends. Their bond is pretty strong, and they help each other through tough times. It’s like having a BFF who gets you through thick and thin.

The book explores some deep emotions, like grief, guilt, and regret. Beatrice struggles to deal with her gift, and it’s relatable to our everyday struggles. We all have our own battles, and it’s inspiring to see Beatrice find ways to cope.

What I love about the book is its focus on human connections. Beatrice’s relationships with the ghosts and the living show how our encounters shape us. It’s a reminder that the people we meet and the experiences we have can change us in meaningful ways.

The writing style is vivid and engaging. You’ll feel like you’re there with Beatrice, experiencing her emotional highs and lows. It’s like being part of her journey, which is pretty cool.

The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird” is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys supernatural stories with a strong focus on human emotions. It’s a book that will make you think about your relationships and how they impact your life. So, grab a copy and immerse yourself in Beatrice’s world!

I was expecting somewhat of a dark, scary, thriller, and this was not that! This book is more of a women's historical fiction novel centering around a psychologist who moves to a small island to escape the ghosts of people's pain she can't stop seeing. As Anne, a woman fleeing domestic violence, finds her way to Beatrice's cottage, they work together to support each other and help each other heal, with some help from a ghost along the way. This was a rather slow-paced but sweet and uplifting book that was great for reading on a dreary Sunday.

The nitty-gritty: Ghosts, family trauma and close-knit relationships make Louisa Morgan's latest a delightfully nuanced and layered story.

Louisa Morgan always writes the most comforting stories, even though her characters face dangers and challenges, and The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird is another shining example of this. At its core, the story is about two women, lost and dealing with trauma in different ways, who find each other and through friendship, begin to heal. I absolutely loved this book, and even though there is some heavy subject matter (spousal abuse) and some sections are very hard to read, Morgan manages to deftly combine the good with the bad and pull off an unforgettable, feel-good story.

The story is told in dual timelines and alternates among three main characters. In the present day, 1977, we meet Beatrice Bird, who has left her boyfriend Mitch, her therapy practice, and her beloved city of San Francisco behind and moved to “the island” (which is never named), a bucolic, secluded location accessible only by ferry. Beatrice’s remote cottage affords her privacy from other people, with only two milk cows, Alice and Dorothy, for company. And the reason Beatrice doesn’t want to be around people? She can see “ghosts,” emotional manifestations that hover around everyone, and because she keenly feels the emotions they’re tied to, it’s overwhelming and even debilitating for her. On the island, she rarely encounters anyone other than the nuns who live in the nearby monastery, and their ghosts are faded and easier to deal with.

The second point of view is that of Anne Iredale, a young woman who has run away from her abusive husband and finds herself at the doors of the monastery, begging the nuns for sanctuary. Mother Maggie doesn’t have any extra beds, but she does know someone who might be able to help. She introduces Anne to Beatrice, asking if she can put Anne up for just one night until the next ferry arrives in the morning. Beatrice is reluctant at first. Anne has two terrifying ghosts attached to her: one is a dark storm cloud, a menacing presence hovering over her shoulder, while the other is a sad and scared child, clinging to her leg. Of course Anne doesn’t see these ghosts, but Beatrice can barely look away. Still, it’s only one night, so she grits her teeth and invites Anne into her home.

In a third point of view, we meet five year old Benjamin, whose mother has been sent somewhere “to rest” after a traumatic event. Benjamin doesn’t understand why his mother left him alone with his father, who scares Benjamin and sometimes locks him in the closet. With only his grandmother as a buffer, and a ghost he calls “the lady” to watch out for him, Benjamin longs to get his mother back. 

Eventually, the reader learns why and how Anne escaped a terrible fate, and the reason Beatrice is haunted by other people’s ghosts, as the two women begin to bond over their different traumas. Through flashback chapters Morgan fills in the blanks of Beatrice’s life as a therapist, living and working in San Francisco, and her satisfying relationship with her doctor boyfriend Mitch. We also dip back into Anne’s past, meeting her future husband James, being pushed into marriage by her parents, and how she slowly lost control of every part of her life, due to James's high powered job and abuse. I loved how each woman finds solace in the other, despite their age and circumstance differences, and their slowly blooming friendship was my favorite part of the story.

As for side characters, Mother Maggie is a very special nun with a wry sense of humor and a penchant for justice. I loved Beatrice’s milk cows, who added some lighter moments to the story. Beatrice sells their milk to the monastery, which was a nice connection between her and Mother Maggie. 

I loved the time period as well. Beatrice’s story unfolds during the “summer of love,” when San Francisco was a hot spot for free love and drugs, and the events of that time play a big part in Beatrice’s predicament. Her relationship with Mitch was a breath of fresh air. She and Mitch are older, in their forties, I believe, and neither one feels the desire to marry and have children. They enjoy each other’s company and trust one another, and even when something happens to compel her to leave Mitch, she still loves and misses him terribly.

Anne, on the other hand, is in a terrible spot, made even worse because of her son Benjamin. Her chapters were so hard to read, but she is a lifelong Catholic who finds comfort in her religion, and her faith is one reason she’s able to survive. It takes a while before the author reveals exactly what happened to separate her from Benjamin, and the sections leading up to this reveal were tense and exciting. I really enjoyed Benjamin’s chapters as well, although he’s not as prominent a character as Anne and Beatrice. It was heartbreaking to experience abuse through the eyes of a child, but Benjamin is a strong little boy with an unusual champion: a ghost.

And speaking of this ghost, its identity is only hinted at until Morgan’s big twist later in the story, when the reader learns some shocking things that tie everything together. I loved how at this point the story morphs into a domestic thriller/murder mystery, and the last twenty percent was an exciting page-turner of a story that was nearly impossible to put down.

Watching the characters grow and change made me wonder how on earth Louisa Morgan could possibly wrap things up, but she does so brilliantly, giving her readers an ending that was completely satisfying and heartwarming. And yes, I’m not ashamed to admit I cried at the end. The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird has it all: heartfelt relationships, thoughtful explorations of trauma recovery, lighter, funnier moments, ghosts, a villain who is truly terrifying, and best of all, characters you wish you knew in real life. Highly recommended for anyone in search of a well written, immersive story.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

I could not put this book down!!! I loved the main character and her absolute wit of accepting who she truly is in the end. I too would be scared if I could see the dead.

I loved this book! It was beautifully written and emotional. It is filled with mystery and vividly brought to life in such an atmospheric setting.

I adored how Anne and Beatrice came together to help pull each other out of the messes their lives had become. Mother Maggie was such a calming, supportive influence on both women's lives. She was an amazingly strong character.

This was definitely one of my favorite books I've read this year. I loved how it hit on so many tough subjects and showed the feminist movement at a critical time. When things were beginning to change but there was still so much work to be done.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Beatrice Bird has second sight. She is plagued by ghosts and makes her escape to an island where she can be isolated and alone. Anne is escaping trauma and ghosts of her own. Both come together in this wonderful story of redemption and friendship. Told from three points of view, Beatrice, Anne, and Anne's son, Benjamin, readers are taken on a journey through the present and past. The story is really about friendship and healing. While the ghost element plays a part, it's really more of a plot point than an over all book defining element. What stands out about the book is the author's writing. It's eloquent and brings a lot of depth to the story. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read with great character growth and absolutely wonderful writing.

This was a lovely, if terribly sad, book. Even with how sad it is, I found it almost impossible to put down because the writing is just so elegant and the story is engrossing.

It’s interesting how sometimes the same old story can captivate you just being packaged in a slightly different way. Here, Morgan takes a basic plot we’ve definitely seen before: two women who are both running from their own kinds of ghosts and end up fighting them together in some sort of way, and keeps one woman’s ghosts mundane and turns the other woman’s ghosts supernatural. I also found myself surprised to be as invested in the story as I was, given I knew what was coming most of the time and knew most of what was going to happen in this book. Did I know it all? No. But I knew enough that there were few surprises. Usually, this would make me whine and moan, but I kept on being just as invested as I was from the beginning. I think that may have been because the writing was just that good and because I cared about the characters that much.

Two things that I loved so much about this book: One, the time period this book is set in. I love a good historical fantasy setting, and books set in the late 1960’s are some of my favorites. It was a time of so much social, political, and religious upheaval. It makes for excellent storytelling fodder. The second thing is the geographical setting of this book. The isolated, gothic-like setting of a very isolated island somewhere (I’m guessing from the text) in Puget Sound made not only for picturesque passages full of evocative imagery, but it also matched the mood of our protagonists and gave the story the supernatural feeling of liminal space that I found to be essential to the story being told.

There’s this ribbon woven through the text of this story about the spirit world and whether or not it’s tied to religion and faith or not, or whether it matters at all. Is it a gift or a curse? Burden or blessing? This question goes unanswered and I believe that’s the moral of the story. It’s all in what you carry with you.

I recommend this for fans of elegant prose, books about women fighting back without violence, books about unlikely and fast female friendships, and fans of 1960’s historical fantasy.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. This review was written without compensation.

File Under: Domestic Thriller/Ghost Fiction/Gothic Fiction/Historical Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Psychological Fiction/Supernatural Fantasy/Suspense Fiction/Women’s Fiction

Totally engaging book about Beatrice Bird who is able to see ghosts or shades clinging to people around her. When a desperate young woman shows up at her door, Bea tries to help her navigate her complicated life and perhaps reunite her with her young son. Excellent writing and recommended.

I honestly had no idea what I was getting into with this book but I loved every second!

Character development with all characters was simply amazing. I loved watching Anne find her confidence and Bea becoming more comfortable and confident in her abilities. Mitch made my heart melt. I hope I find my very own Mitch someday. Little Benjamin stole my whole heart, I just want to give him a hug!!!

I will say I honestly wanted to bash James over his head myself. The author truly did an amazing job at making me hate him. He made me so angry, the more I learned about him, the worse the beating my poor kindle took.

I think this book brings a lot of light to how trapped women can feel and become in a DV situation. It truly shows how strong women in these situations must become to escape, if they ever get the chance.

I could not put this book down! The entire time I read it, I was craving more information. This author is definitely moving up onto my favorites list!

Everywhere Beatrice Bird looks, she sees ghosts. It has been that way since she was a child, but the "gift" has amplified over the years, and now it has made her life unbearable. The only thing she knows to do is leave her psychology practice in San Francisco, along with her best friend and partner, and move to a remote island with only nuns and a few cows for company.. She is perfectly content in her solitude, when the nuns ask her to shelter a woman named Anne Iredale, who is seeking sanctuary from an abusive spouse. For the first time in a long time, Beatrice's gift will be called on to help someone in need. But the ghosts have taken on an even darker edge—and there is something sinister lurking in the shadows. Beatrice may not be enough to stop what's coming for them.

I am a huge fan of this author. All of her other books have been about witches, and I love a good story with witches in it. This book did not have a single witch in sight, but it did have ghosts, and I can say with confidence she also writes great books about those as well. This book drew me in from the beginning and kept me riveted until the very end. There was suspense, as well as a bit of a mystery in it, when it came to who the female ghost was that seemed so malevolent. My heart really went out to Anne. You could feel her pain coming off the pages in waves. As someone who has been a victim domestic abuse, it was hard to read at times, and it could be triggering for some. There was also some drug use, if that is a trigger. This was an excellent book about two women who came together, both needing a fresh start, and a ghost that showed them the way. I highly recommend it.

Ahoy there mateys! Unpopular opinion time!  This is a standalone book about Beatrice Bird who has second sight.  It was the ghost angle that I was interested in the most.  I really loved the beginning of the book and learning about Beatrice's childhood and life in San Francisco.  When Beatrice's gift becomes too overwhelming, she moves to a small island to avoid others in an attempt to keep her sanity.  When Anne, a traumatized woman shows up on the island, I found the book less compelling.  Anne is a battered woman and while I could sympathize with her position, I didn't particularly like her storyline or the easily guessable mystery about her husband.  I did love the nuns on the island.  This was a pleasant read but ultimately the ghosts didn't make a ton of sense in how they worked.  I do think the majority of readers would love this book though, even if it was just okay for me.  Arrrr!

Thank you to Orbit and RedHook for the opportunity to read this book in advance. This is my honest opinion.

I loved this book, it was mysterious and vaguely horroresque but never crossed over in the realm of terror. I loved Anne and Beatrice, with their backgrounds, mistakes, flaws, realism, that made them all the more human, and humane in taking care of each other when they both needed help. I loved Mother Maggie with her calm acceptance and faith and support that she offered both Beatrice and Anne.

I think this was one of the better books that I have read this year, and the fact that it took place in one of the areas that I consider my home region made it all that more special. The choice of setting this in a time where the feminist movement was just getting going and there were changing thoughts about what women could and should do, Beatrice showing the side of where her independence was pushed by a supportive parent, and Anne showing the traditional side, but sparking under the constriction of society expectations. And precious Benjamin, the beautiful precocious 5 year old that provides a foil of what toxicity can do to a person.

4.75 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend for those who liked ghost stories.

Set largely in 1977, The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird is a moving tale of female friendship overcoming abuse and past trauma. Even if some of the suspense and creepy elements fell flat for me, the central drama between the characters was consistently interesting and powerful.

As a psychological thriller/ghost story, the novel mostly misses its mark. There are certainly some creepy scenes, and the abuse can be gut-wrenching. However, with lulls in the action and prose that lacked visceral immediacy, I never felt drawn into a consistent atmosphere.

Fortunately, the novel is really more of a drama, so any shortcomings in the thriller department are far from fatal. Beatrice Bird is haunted by ghosts. Representing loss and guilt and other unresolved emotions, they trail behind everyone she sees. She leaves behind her life as a therapist and flees San Francisco to a sparsely inhabited island. Her solitude is interrupted when Anne Iredale, fleeing her powerful and abusive husband, also finds her way to the island. Beatrice takes Anne in, and the two bond through the telling of their stories.

Their journey—Anne learning to come to terms with the abuse and Beatrice finding strength in Anne’s resolve—is hard fought, real, and a moving testament to the strength of women coming together. The two women are well-drawn, as are the side characters, and it is easy to root for (or against) the characters. (The chapters with Anne’s child, Benjamin, were a particular highlight for me.)

The ending’s plot elements are perhaps a tad too convenient, but it fully brings all the emotional elements together for a resounding close. If you’re looking for a moving feminist tale about women triumphing over abuse, you certainly don’t want to miss The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird.

Thank you to Redhook and NetGalley for the ARC.