A Literary Vacation : TLC Book Tours: Review of Yesternight by Cat Winters

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Pub. Date: October 4th, 2016
Pages: 400

Synopsis

From the author of The Uninvited comes a haunting historical novel with a compelling mystery at its core. A young child psychologist steps off a train, her destination a foggy seaside town. There, she begins a journey causing her to question everything she believes about life, death, memories, and reincarnation.

In 1925, Alice Lind steps off a train in the rain-soaked coastal hamlet of Gordon Bay, Oregon. There, she expects to do nothing more difficult than administer IQ tests to a group of rural schoolchildren. A trained psychologist, Alice believes mysteries of the mind can be unlocked scientifically, but now her views are about to be challenged by one curious child.

Seven-year-old Janie O’Daire is a mathematical genius, which is surprising. But what is disturbing are the stories she tells: that her name was once Violet, she grew up in Kansas decades earlier, and she drowned at age nineteen. Alice delves into these stories, at first believing they’re no more than the product of the girl’s vast imagination. But, slowly, Alice comes to the realization that Janie might indeed be telling a strange truth.

Alice knows the investigation may endanger her already shaky professional reputation, and as a woman in a field dominated by men she has no room for mistakes. But she is unprepared for the ways it will illuminate terrifying mysteries within her own past, and in the process, irrevocably change her life.

What Did I Think About the Story?

As soon as I read the synopsis of this book I knew I had to read it! My undergrad degree is in psychology and I've always found the subject matter fascinating. I've also always found the paranormal interesting, so the combination of the very grounded and measurable study of psychology and this wild and unpredictable investigation of reincarnation was too delicious to pass up. It seemed to promise to be dark and eerie and thought-provoking, and Yesternight comes through on all of those promises.

My first two thoughts when I started reading Yesternight were 1) This tossed and stormy setting is PERFECT for a creepy story! and 2) How cool is Alice Lind, a smart, determined woman pushing her way through a man's field and refusing to back down! The author did a great job of showing how hard Alice had to work to be taken seriously as a psychologist as well as the double standards she faced when it came to her sexuality. A good amount of time was spent on her sexuality and the fact that her needs were considered obscene for the times, while we know now those needs would just be considered normal. I have to say that this aspect of the story was my least favorite as it drew away from the much more interesting (in my opinion) past lives aspects, however I understand it served a point that becomes a little more evident towards the end of the story.

My very favorite aspect of the story was the exploration of the past lives a few of our characters (not only Janie) experienced, and how those past lives bled into their present, affecting them in some interesting and disturbing ways. The ending was absolutely chilling to me and the whole discussion really made me think about how much I believe in reincarnation and, if it is true, how many traits (both bad and good) someone could bring over to their new life. It was really interesting to watch the characters grapple with the frustration, fear, and confusion they inevitably felt trying to figure out what truly was happening to them...and what had already happened that they couldn't remember! Some of the actions of the characters were really horrific and went quite a way to make me dislike them as a whole, however the process they all went through was really fun to read about.

Yesternight definitely gave me that creep-factor I want this time of year and in novels dealing with this subject matter. It took some turns that I didn't expect (and some that I didn't necessarily enjoy) but all in all it was a well written story that made me think long and hard about the possibilities it presented. I'm excited to read the author's first novel, The Uninvited, and look forward to what she comes out with next.

What Did I Think About the Cover?

I am absolutely gaga for this cover! I mean, I can't stop looking at it. I'm not even really sure what it is I love about it so much, but I can't help myself. Beyond just being beautiful, it perfectly captures the dark, gloomy feeling of the story, plus the torrential and unpredictable rain Alice faces in Gordon Bay is well represented. This is a cover that would cause me to pick up the book any day!

My Rating: 4.0/5.0

Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a free copy of Yesternight in exchange for an honest review. Please continue below for information about the book, it's author, and the rest of the blog tour.

About the Author

Photo by Tara Kelly

Cat Winters’s debut novel, In the Shadow of Blackbirds, was released to widespread critical acclaim. The novel has been named a finalist for the 2014 Morris Award, a School Library Journal Best Book of 2013, and a Booklist 2013 Top 10 Horror Fiction for Youth. Winters lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two children.

Find out more about Cat at her website, and follow her on tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.