Scan barcode
utahmomreads's review against another edition
5.0
The dreams! Not long after the untimely and sudden death of her little boy, Charlie started having very intense dreams of children and future events. She's a bit freaked out when the events in her dreams come true. When she dreams of a little boy in a bayou, she decides to accept the writing job in Louisiana. She's been hired to write a book about a thirty year old unsolved mystery of a kidnapped little boy. Perhaps with her dreams she can finally bring closure to the case.
The Deveau family is one of Louisana's most prestigious families so when the little boy went missing, it became a world famous case. To conduct research, Charlie moves onto the Deveau estate of Evangeline and meets the eccentric members of the family. As she uncovers the secrets and mysteries of the Deveaus she might even find friendship and love and healing from her own grief.
I was almost immediately captivated by the writing and story of The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young. The plantation in Louisiana was a great setting for the otherworldliness of Charlie's dreams and the intrigue that surrounded all the characters. Thrilling and at times romantic, The Gates of Evangeline kept me reading late into the night. I loved the Gothic style and the ghostly nature of Charlie's dreams.
Before reading The Gates of Evangeline, which is a She Reads Book Club choice, I had heard a lot of praise and I wasn't at all disappointed. It was a quick, thoroughly enjoyable read, perfect for solving any book slumps.
The Deveau family is one of Louisana's most prestigious families so when the little boy went missing, it became a world famous case. To conduct research, Charlie moves onto the Deveau estate of Evangeline and meets the eccentric members of the family. As she uncovers the secrets and mysteries of the Deveaus she might even find friendship and love and healing from her own grief.
I was almost immediately captivated by the writing and story of The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young. The plantation in Louisiana was a great setting for the otherworldliness of Charlie's dreams and the intrigue that surrounded all the characters. Thrilling and at times romantic, The Gates of Evangeline kept me reading late into the night. I loved the Gothic style and the ghostly nature of Charlie's dreams.
Before reading The Gates of Evangeline, which is a She Reads Book Club choice, I had heard a lot of praise and I wasn't at all disappointed. It was a quick, thoroughly enjoyable read, perfect for solving any book slumps.
k_lenn's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, this was a total *chef's kiss* but times a BILLION.
I had this on my shelf for years after getting it on sale at my local book store. Today I decided it was about time to crack down on my physically-owned TBR books, and I'm so upset I didn't do it sooner! This was an absolute gem that I became obsessed with after the very first page. If I had to get up to exercise or eat, my mind stayed with The Gates of Evangeline and I hurried back to it as soon as possible.
It's just wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. I guessed some twists correctly but couldn't figure out the exact details for the life of me, so the reveals were extra satisfying, watching everything I missed fall into place. The twists that I didn't guess made me put the book down for a second to just embrace the shock and wrap my head around it all.
And that ending... oof. Made me cry big baby tears. It was beautiful and everything I wanted.
As I came here to write my review, I noticed this was part of a series. I just added the second book into my Amazon basket and life is very, very good at the moment.
(Note: if you're sensitive to religion or dislike talking about it, there's a lot of mention of God/Christianity in this book. The MC isn't necessarily religious (unlike plenty of supporting characters) but she's not not religious, either. Just a head's up!)
I had this on my shelf for years after getting it on sale at my local book store. Today I decided it was about time to crack down on my physically-owned TBR books, and I'm so upset I didn't do it sooner! This was an absolute gem that I became obsessed with after the very first page. If I had to get up to exercise or eat, my mind stayed with The Gates of Evangeline and I hurried back to it as soon as possible.
It's just wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. I guessed some twists correctly but couldn't figure out the exact details for the life of me, so the reveals were extra satisfying, watching everything I missed fall into place. The twists that I didn't guess made me put the book down for a second to just embrace the shock and wrap my head around it all.
And that ending... oof. Made me cry big baby tears. It was beautiful and everything I wanted.
As I came here to write my review, I noticed this was part of a series. I just added the second book into my Amazon basket and life is very, very good at the moment.
(Note: if you're sensitive to religion or dislike talking about it, there's a lot of mention of God/Christianity in this book. The MC isn't necessarily religious (unlike plenty of supporting characters) but she's not not religious, either. Just a head's up!)
twilaviolet's review
mysterious
medium-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? No
3.75
beverly46's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
hannahleebibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway contest. This novel is a captivating mystery, a whirlwind romance, and a psychological thriller all in one. I would recommend it to any reader looking for a read that will keep one on his or her toes.
cutiechik's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. The story is told linearly but the narrator keeps switching from past to present tense and I found this really annoying. The plot is somewhat predictable.
caseysilk's review against another edition
4.0
Again I wish Goodreads had half stars because this would be a 4 and a half for sure. This is part mystery, part ghost story and a perfect gothic southern setting. Charlie Cates has lost her little boy and her reason for living. When approached to write a book about a mystery surrounding a young boy from the estate of Evangeline Charlie thinks that this might be her way through her fog. With numerous mysteries and ghostly visions this book will keep you reading to the end. While I found some of the plot lines predictable there were enough questions that I flew through to the end. An enjoyable read.
carolpk's review against another edition
4.0
With sincere appreciation to G.P. Putnam's Sons and Edelweiss for providing the e-galley of The Gates of Evangeline to be puclished September 1, 2015.
With a nod to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Evangeline and Gabriel, Hester Young delivers a solid debut. Charlotte “Charlie” Cates is grieving the death of her young son when she is offered a book deal about a missing child cold case on the Louisiana Deveau Estate, Evangeline. When another child enters Charlie’s life in what seems a prophetic vision and asks her for help, she must decide whether his message is real or if her own loss has made her see things that are not there.
Though dubbed a mystery, The Gates of Evangeline cannot be pigeon-holed into one genre. Though there's is something to be solved here, there is quite a bit more to ponder.
With a nod to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Evangeline and Gabriel, Hester Young delivers a solid debut. Charlotte “Charlie” Cates is grieving the death of her young son when she is offered a book deal about a missing child cold case on the Louisiana Deveau Estate, Evangeline. When another child enters Charlie’s life in what seems a prophetic vision and asks her for help, she must decide whether his message is real or if her own loss has made her see things that are not there.
Though dubbed a mystery, The Gates of Evangeline cannot be pigeon-holed into one genre. Though there's is something to be solved here, there is quite a bit more to ponder.