Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Gaston Hall

By: L.B. Stimson
Narrated by: Jennifer March
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $14.95

Buy for $14.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Elsie Goodwin is barely clinging to life when she wakes to find herself hidden away inside the cellar of Gaston Hall. Hopeful she has found shelter from the nearby battles, she quickly realizes the hell she had escaped hours earlier has followed after her.

Set against the backdrop of the US Civil War, the residents of Gaston Hall find themselves struggling to survive in a place where the worlds of both the living and the dead are intertwined. All is not what it may seem at Gaston Hall - a home for orphaned and abandoned children.

One. Two. Three. Four. The children appeared.

“Ashes. Ashes. We all tumbled down.”

Della’s eyes fluttered. She shifted in her chair; her mouth pinched. Elsie drew back as the smallest and last of the spectres emerged. The child crawled upon Della’s lap, nestling her head against her mother’s breast. Della’s chin dropped, disappearing within her daughter’s matted hair. The others began to sway, moving around their mother and sister in a close circle and humming the horrific tune. Elsie watched in horror, but remained firm in her place. Were the children sending her clues or taunting their mother? It couldn't be. Oh, what wicked thing did you do?

Elsie leaned close to the woman’s face and whispered in her ear.

“What did you do to your children?”

©2020 L.B. Stimson (P)2021 L.B. Stimson
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Gaston Hall

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

A haunting story of grief

This take takes place in in the south after the civil war and tells the story of the woman who houses orphans and children whom need a home.
We also learn a little bit about past from the children who never had a chance to grow up.
overall I enjoyed the story. I did find it more sadness than haunting as you learn about the children who have perished and never left the land but I did find the mystery of the previous people who ran the Hall entertaining.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Great story!

It’s not often that a book sucks me in from the very beginning, but this one did it! Most audiobooks make me fall asleep but I finished this one the same day I started it. I loved the story, the characters had depth and the narration was really good! Can’t wait to read/listen to more from this author!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Dark History of Deep South

Thank You L B Stimson and Jennifer Marsh

I loved this Novella. An Original Southern Gothic Story of the Deep South. It is so very sad with a surprising twist.

Supernatural
Occult
Historical Fiction / Non Fiction

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Dark Secrets of the Past

This book is well written and very creative. I must admit that some parts truly pissed me off and I wanted to stop listening but I continued and found redeeming qualities within the story. I loved the storyline of vengeance and redemption but the ending wasn't a true ending it left me with many questions. I received this book from Audiobooks Unleashed and this is my honest unbiased review.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Sweet/disturbing paranormal story

The story was sweet in the way that Elsie cared for the children and looked after them. It was disturbing with the original children. The ending leaves a few questions and a way to possibly continue on with the story. There are a few characters you will fall in love with, some you’ll like and some you’ll have a pity/dislike for. The narrator did a good job in conveying emotions. All in all it was good.

I was provided a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Ghostly children and huge secrets

I used to read gothic romance novels all the time in my younger years and I have recently rediscovered my love of the genre. This book is a great example of a Southern Gothic novel.

Elsie Goodwin is a young woman living in the South during the Civil War. After she is attacked by a group of men, she awakens in the basement of Gaston Hall. Elsie soon discovers that she just survived one form of torment to be thrust into another.

The owner of the house, Della, is running an orphanage for children, but she is also hiding secrets. Elsie tries to comfort the resident children, but they are often frightened by the vision of a group of ghostly children. Elsie is determined to discover the truth of their deaths and why they refuse to move on.

The book had a lot of gothic vibes and ghostly encounters. I do admit that I had difficulty at times in figuring out whether a character was "real" or a ghost. The author has done a great job in creating wonderful characters and ghostly atmosphere, along with some horrible villains and emotional moments.

The narrator did a fantastic job and the inclusion of children singing "Ashes, ashes, we all tumbled down", followed by eerie laughter, was a wonderful touch.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

I couldn't turn it off until I finished it

I wish this book was longer, because the story is incredible! Creepy kids, a protective ghost, and secrets that gradually begin to emerge. One of my favorite books so far this year.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Look frwd to more ...

This was more sad than the typical creepy vibes I like. It was very well written and I look forward to more from this author. I thought the narrator did a very well with this. The only thing I did not care for as far as performance was the repetitive children’s voices. Author & narrator both did a great job, would recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

So good!!!

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO YOUR CHILDREN?"

Gaston Hall is a home for orphaned and abandoned children. The home is run by Della, a woman who seems to open her doors to the most needy, but not for any benevolent reasons. Unfortunately, historically, this has been a reality.  Luckily for the children, a kinder soul resides there, too, Elsie Goodwin. Things aren't quite what they seem within the walls of Gaston Hall, and neither are it's residents.


I found Gaston Hall to be both  heartbreaking and heartwarming.  The writing is brilliant, its eerie, haunting, and so very atmospheric. Gothic perfection 👌.

I loved Elsie so very much. Her relationship with the children was beautiful.  So many of the scenes in this book broke my heart and have me goosebumps. The narrators voice was phenomenal and so very soothing when she spoke as Elsie. I could picture her caring for and soothing the children. And like wise, when she spoke as Della, I could hear the venom is her voice. Seriously, a wonderful narration! It broke so much life and personality into this tale.

This was my first  L.B. Stimson book, and I am eager to check out more.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

Great Little Ghost Story

This is was a fun little gothic ghost story. I really enjoyed listening to this story, the narrator was very good and did an excellent job throughout.

The synopsis is a bit misleading, as the story mainly takes places several years after the Civil War during reconstruction in the south and one of the main conflicts is the lack of funds and families willing to adopt orphan southern children. This was a bit of realism that I enjoyed quite a bit. The historical realism and character angst and mystery is what drives this piece. You really feel for the main character, Elsie, and the different orphans that are introduced that inhabit Gaston Hall. The mystery isn't complicated, but it is traditionally gothic in nature and is delivered well.

What really shines here is the character development, for such a short book each of the characters introduced is given enough time to really be developed and I really got to know each of them and their motivations.

I definitely recommend this little gem and will definitely pick up more from L.B. Stimson.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!