A haunting Southern Gothic mystery where grief, secrets, and the supernatural intertwine in a story of redemption and revelation.
 
Journalist Charlotte “Charlie” Cates is haunted by vivid dreams of children in danger—visions that began after the sudden death of her young son. When one such dream leads her to a wealthy Louisiana family still mourning a child who vanished thirty years earlier, Charlie travels south to investigate. There, amid bayous and crumbling mansions, she uncovers long-buried secrets and discovers that her dreams may hold the key to the truth.
 
The Gates of Evangeline marks the start of Hester Young’s acclaimed Charlie Cates Trilogy, blending literary suspense with supernatural elements and rich Southern atmosphere. As Charlie delves deeper into the mysterious disappearance of the Deveau family’s child, she must navigate class divides, local legends, and her own fragile sanity.
 
With lush prose and unrelenting tension, Young evokes the eerie beauty of Louisiana’s swamps and the dark undercurrents of grief and guilt that run beneath its genteel surface. Part ghost story, part psychological thriller, and part emotional journey, The Gates of Evangeline explores motherhood, loss, and the haunting power of the past.
 
A mesmerizing debut that combines Gothic mood with page-turning suspense, this novel will captivate fans of Tana French, Kate Morton, and Gillian Flynn.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
A spellbinding mix of mystery, Southern Gothic, and the supernatural.
Rich, atmospheric setting in the Louisiana bayou.
Strong, relatable heroine grappling with grief and intuition.
The first in a gripping trilogy (The Shimmering Road, The Burning Island).
Ideal blend of emotional depth and suspenseful plotting.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of The Thirteenth Tale and The House at Riverton.
Readers who enjoy eerie, character-driven thrillers.
Book clubs exploring grief, motherhood, and intuition.
Lovers of Southern fiction with a paranormal twist.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed The Gates of Evangeline, you might also like:
The Shimmering Road by Hester Young — the chilling sequel.
The Widow’s House by Carol Goodman — Gothic suspense and buried secrets.
The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon — ghostly mystery and family legacy.