The Gates of Evangeline was such an unexpected surprise of a book! I loved the story as well as the subplots involving Charlie dealing with the grief of losing her young son. I believe this is the author’s debut and I am incredibly impressed by her storytelling abilities.

I have read several works of fiction about the grief of a parent after losing a child. I have to say this book is one of the most moving that I have ever read. The author did a great job of Charlie conveying the many emotions of a woman in the throes of unimaginable grief. I liked that the book was not only about Charlie solving a decades old mystery, but also her struggles to move on after her son’s death.

The secondary characters were intriguing and I liked learning about the scandals of the Deveau family. Also, there is a touch of romance, but it didn’t overpower the story.

The mystery was intriguing and I liked the paranormal angle. I loved the eerie vibe while reading and I enjoyed the setting of an older southern mansion. The book is more spooky than scary with the pacing on the slower side. I liked the buildup though and I felt like the climax really delivered.

The Gates of Evangeline a terrific book that will appeal to fans of Southern Gothic novels.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy for review!