Gail Sheridan

I very much enjoyed this lovely story about a moment in time when Edgar Degas visited family living in New Orleans. Ms. Henley creates a persona for the artist and one learns a little of who he was, his sensitivities as an artist, and what his relationships with various family members might have been, particularly with his sister-in-law, Estelle. Estelle is a very sympathetic character who is dealing with vision loss, financial instability and a troubled marriage. That story is framed against another, one hundred years later. Anne Gautier’s story takes place in 1970 as she is embarking on a career in the museum world and struggling with her relationship with her boyfriend and colleague Sam, from the museum. Sam brings mystery into the story and that kept me guessing. And, there is a tie to Degas as well. I loved the depictions of New Orleans, its social and cultural life, and the beauty of the city in the 1870s. Ms. Henley did a great job of taking me there with her descriptions and details such as the Mardi Gras celebration. These many elements made Estelle a page-turner and easily transported me to the times and places. Ms. Henley’s depictions of the inner lives of her characters, their thoughts and worries are done very well. This is a great read! Gail Sheridan