Title: The Gates of Evangeline
Author: Hester Young
Pages: 416
Genre: Fiction, Mystery
Source: Free eBook from NetGalley
Rating: B-
Note: As stated under the Source (above), I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review (and trust me, honest is always what you’ll get).
Summary: Charlotte Cates, a journalist who has recently lost her young son, finds herself having dreams that seem to be premonitory. These dreams concern children who need her help in some way, and she feels drawn to make sense of the dreams, to help if that is at all possible.
When the opportunity comes up to take a freelance job writing a cold case novel about a 30 year old child abduction case in Louisiana, she takes the opportunity to change things up a bit. In so doing, she finds herself in the midst of a family secret she never could have anticipated.
Review: There was a LOT to like about this book. The mystery itself was complex enough that I never quite guessed all the elements and how they came together. It held my attention throughout, and in the last 60 pages, I couldn’t put the book down…I NEEDED to know! And in my mind, that is how a mystery should be – smart and unexpected.
The storyline around the loss of her child was heart-wrenching and sad, and I found myself in tears several times. Again, exactly what you would expect from a well-written story built around the loss of a child.
The one area that fell a bit short for me was the relationship she finds herself in. The love interest was good, and I felt the connection, but I felt like the connection could have been deeper. But overall, it was a very enjoyable read!