Forgotten Sisters by Cynthia Pelayo
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Part mystery, part fantasy, part fairy tale ~ all set in Chicago on the river.

What I liked:
•the Chicago setting that I feel pretty familiar with having lived in Illinois my entire life.
•Chicago River history sprinkled in throughout the book, some of which I was familiar and some I knew nothing about (like the shipwreck SS Eastland)
•the mystery surrounding the sisters and the men’s lives lost in the river. The two detectives investigating the case. I actually would have liked more of this reality based perspective.
•the Little Mermaid fairy tale references but I’m not as familiar with the traditional telling, but of the Disney version.

What I didn’t like:
•just not knowing what was “real” and what wasn’t, and the sisters fantastical language. Fantasy isn’t my genre ~ but if it’s yours, you might love this aspect!
•I’m not sure I understand the ending…I might need to discuss with others!

Book 13 of 2024
Read March 1-8

Thank you to @netgalley and @cynthiapelayoauthor for this digital ARC It will be published March 19!

A genre-bending novel of twists, fairy tale, and crime, "Forgotten Sisters" divulges the mystery of the sudden disappearances of men near the Chicago River and the inexplicable bond between two sisters, Anna and Jennie. We follow Anna and Detective Kowalski's perspectives, and through their eyes a rich history of Chicago along with a retelling of The Little Mermaid.

Anna and Jennie's identities revolve around the house they've lived in their entire lives, it's the one thing that bonds them after their parents' accident and demise. Jennie in particular seems obsessed with it and too attached: "The house aches, as if it's got an open wound, and I will do anything to heal it. I will do anything for this house." With Anna drifting away from the house's grip and wanting to go on ventures with her new boyfriend Peter, Jennie feels like she's losing her sister, and therefore also herself. Jennie grows more erratic and in turn, the house seems to match that energy too — do the house and Jennie complement each other like puzzle pieces, or is Jennie simply trying to lead Anna to the "correct" path? Through Anna's podcast and her past with her family, the importance of the Little Mermaid and their parallels become even more conspicuous: "Running water has long been venerated, and the flowing water offers a protective boundary."

This book almost feels like it has a tinge of historical fiction with Chicago's impact and lore on Anna and the entire plot, and it's clear that the author has a deep love and appreciation for it. I do love the intertwining of elements that usually don't mesh together, such as the hardline police procedural aspect with the vaguely supernatural. It's relatively slow-paced, but once the twist and climax arrive there's quite a bit of information to process. With the podcast that's inserted into the narrative, it does sometimes come across as too much unnecessary info-dumping; that's probably the main gripe I have that bogs the pacing down a notch, and maybe a few of Jennie's diatribes could have been edited down as well.

But overall, it's a thoughtful and wonderful novel that kept me guessing constantly and engaged. Would recommend for those who love a good gothic mystery with a twist.

Forgotten Sisters is an excellent example of how a writer can set a mood. The history of Chicago, the fairy tales, the way the old house was such a presence in the story - it all made this feel melancholy and dark. The story itself and the mystery is compelling. My one complaint would be that the different POV characters all had the same voice, which made it difficult to really separate them. In this case, that is fairly minor because the rest of the story was done so well.

Note: arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for honest review

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this novel!

Unfortunately, the writing in this is not working for me, so I had to DNF at 12%. The writing is stilted and awkward. I also don't love police procedurals and there is a POV from a detective in this I didn't care for. A case of it's not you, it's me.

before i give a review, i would like to thank netgalley and the publisher thomas and mercer for the early galley.
i'm sorry in advance for starting the review that i usually do when i read an arc from an author that's new to me (aside from books i've heard of from them) but where has cynthia pelayo's work been all of my life!? this was amazing! i loved the sibling dynamic between anna and jeanie. i can relate to anna a little too much though

A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

Palpably dripping with sorrow, mystery, and an atmosphere of malevolent confusion, Cynthia Pelayo’s latest novel, Forgotten Sisters, reimagines the classic tales of our childhood. Heavily relying on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, this tale of mourning sisters living in Chicago is beautifully laced with a poignancy that is rather striking. Jennie and Anna live in a historic family home along the Chicago River following an unspoken incident that’s left them both in a state of seclusion and grief. Of course, the outside world is calling Anna towards a life beyond the confines of this strange, seemingly haunted home despite the ever-growing number of murdered men found in the river. This escalation of unease within the city of Chicago and Anna and Jennie’s home leads to a daunting, mysterious horror story, one that reckons the past with the present.

With Forgotten Sisters being the first work of Pelayo’s that I’ve had the pleasure of reading, I quickly understood why she is so highly regarded in the world of dark, crime fiction. The combination of horror and crime may seem like a natural convergence, but in truth, I have found the literal, concise nature of investigative narratives to (at times) take away from the haunting atmosphere of a true horror story. This is not something that Forgotten Sisters suffers from, and rather, this novel stands out for its effortless style of gritty, intentional storytelling, showcasing elusive killers and perplexing entities.

Another strength of this story is the ability for multiple settings to operate as characters themselves, namely Chicago as a whole, Anna and Jennie’s home, and the Chicago River. The histories of each and every one of these locations are more than rich, something Pelayo explores extensively, breathing life into the plot and adding a new dimension to this mystery. The detectives investigating the rising number of dead men being found in the river approach things from a logical, grounded perspective (as they should). However, we know from Anna’s perspective that otherworldly things can occur leaving the possibilities endless for who or what may be committing these heinous crimes.

Forgotten Sisters is a novel that thrives on the overall “feel” of the story. Pelayo writes with a sense of unnamed tragedy that creates an atmosphere of discernable unease. The odd occurrences around the house seem unnerving at first but then graduate to downright frightful when matched with Jennie’s strange behavior and dialogue. The closest comparison for this air of unnerving confusion instituted on both a micro and macro scale is Ian Reid’s novel, I’m Thinking of Ending Things. The great city of Chicago is plagued with violence at the hands of an unknown individual just as Anna’s perception of her home becomes murky and unclear just as she begins to yearn for a life outside of the one she currently lives. Through this disorientation, Pelayo’s prose is nothing short of tragically gorgeous as we are taken on a downward spiral rooted in grief, loss, and terror.

Equal parts haunting horror story and riveting detective mystery, Forgotten Sisters functions on numerous levels of literal, real-world investigation compounded by disorienting, haunting circumstances. Cynthia Pelayo crafts some of the most evocative, spell-binding prose to create a unique atmosphere of unsteadiness for each character matched with scenes of utter terror. Traces of childhood tales aid in creating the forces at play behind Jennie and Anna’s home that function in a way that is truly unmistakable. It succeeds on these levels of horror and investigation but also speaks to the poignancy of the past and the irreparable outcomes it delivers to the present. As vital as the river is to the city of Chicago, Cynthia Pelayo’s writing and unique voice is a clear fixture in the horror community, one that needs to be read.

Mystery, the paranormal and mental health combine in this novel about sisters and Chicago. While it wasn't for me, I know others will appreciate it.

Forgotten Sisters blends horror/mystery and fairy tale elements seamlessly.
The book follows sisters Anna and Jennie who live in a historic home along the Chicago River. One of the most stand-out details of this book is how wonderfully detailed and alive the house itself feels. In addition to the house feeling like its own character, Pelayo pulls this off with the Chicago River itself. The entire ecosystem surrounding the river and how important it is to the history of Chicago is weaved into the story very well. The book is rich with a haunted history.

There is a compelling mystery at the center of this book, and you may think you have the twist figured out, but you'll certainly be taken for a loop.

The writing itself is beautiful and haunting - there's almost a tinge of melancholy in the writing which works really well with the mood of the main characters. Highly recommend.

This is my first Pelayo book and, I had a blast with this one! The haunted atmosphere and historic aspects of this story kept me hooked! If you enjoy historic supernatural stories with a bit of a fairytale touch definitely check this one out!

Thank you, netgalley for this arc!

Anna and Jennie live in a historic bungalow along the Chicago River in the Ravenswood neighborhood. Their parents are no longer alive, but they made sure that the young women would be taken care of. And sometimes, it seems as if the house is alive - unexplained drips, creaks, and other noises that they can’t explain. Even so, Anna works diligently to repair and take care of it, on top of taking care of Jennie, who is mentally unwell. As a way to connect with the outside world, Anna hosts a podcast where she talks about Chicago’s unknown history. And when she gets a message from a listener, she considers the world outside of her strange home and sick sister. But the closer Anna becomes to her new friend, the more paranoid Jennie becomes. There’s also a growing number of men that go missing, whose bodies eventually turn up in the Chicago River. And when a couple of detectives start investigating near the women’s house, Anna and Jennie worry about what their connection to it is. Forgotten Sisters by Cynthia Pelayo is a psychological thriller in which the women’s connection to Chicago’s tragic past and present is more prominent than they ever imagined.

Even so, the story’s structure was a bit confusing. Anna’s inner monologue became redundant and slowed the pace immensely. Jennie’s dialogue was similar - she didn’t make sense much of the time, although it became obvious that it was intentional. I also wish that we got more of the investigative side of the story (Kawolski’s POV). There were also some plot points that I never fully understood. Even so, all of the details led up to an ending that left me satisfied.

DNF at 30%
Unfortunately I just cannot connect with anything here and I find myself a little bored.
I know there will be plenty of fans of this one, but it's just not for me right now.

WARNING: get ready to jump aboard the unpopular opinion train again!!

I'm honestly SO sad this happened again. I mean, I was intrigued as soon as I saw the cover, but it was the blurb that made me want to add Forgotten Girls straight away. This story sounded absolutely fantastic with its mysterious house, the drownings, the podcast angle, the magical realism/horror vibe... And I fully expected to have found a new favorite. Unfortunately the complete opposite ended up happening, and I had to make the difficult decision to turn this book into my second DNF of the year. Sometimes books just aren't ment to be!

First of all I have to stress that I still love the premise of this story. There is SO much potential to be found, but somehow the execution was not what I expected. I'm suspecting this is probably a 'it's not you, it's me' problem, as more lyrical, literary and otherworldly writing is never a big hit for me... But the fact is that I clashed horribly with the writing style, up until the point that it almost became torture to keep reading. It's quite an unique style, and this often provokes strong reactions... Sadly in my case it was a negative one. To make things worse, I absolutely despised how Jennie talks, which was probably the worst part of the story I did read.

Another thing I struggled with was the fact that nothing seemed to make sense AT ALL. I mean, I do like a bit of a mystery and magical realism vibe, but I had seriously no clue what was happening and this feeling got old fast. Sure, things might have become more transparent later on, but if you are already struggling with the writing and characters as well, it's hard to find the motivation to plough on. In fact, I did try to put Forgotten Girls on hold for a bit and pick it up later, hoping I was just in the wrong reading mood for it... But as soon as I started reading again, I was in the exact same state of confusion and aversion as the first time around. I simply couldn't find the motivation to keep going to find out if things improved later on, and I decided to throw in the towel once and for all.

I do have to stress that this is probably a case of simply not being the right fit for this story, although I do have to say that I was absolutely fascinated by the blurb itself. Between the fact that I clashed horribly with the writing style and that I basically I had no clue what was going on, Forgotten Girls sadly wasn't my cup of tea... But I've seen others waxing lyrical about this story, so don't give up on my account if you think this might be the book for you.

Welcome back to Chicago. Cina Pelayo has a lot to say about it. Through her pen, Chicago is a real place, vibrant and full of history and diversity. But Chicago is also a magical kingdom spoken of only in fairy tales, populated by creatures as magical and dangerous as that might imply. Pelayo’s fairytales are not comforting bedtime stories. In her world, magic is as dangerous as the people and creatures who wield it. Fairy tales have teeth here.

Anna and Jennie are sisters who dwell by the river, dealing with the drownings nearby and loneliness. Anna copes by running a podcast to chronicle the tragic histories of Chicago and its myriad of hauntings. But the connection to the river outside and what lurks within will soon come to define them.

Pelayo’s writing is full of heart and wonder. Few can capture the sheer, breathtaking scope of a modern fairy tale the way she can in “Forgotten Sisters.” The book is a haunting modern gothic with mystery and darkness, contrasting the magic of stories with the hard edge of Chicago itself. The characters are a delight and Pelayo weaves them in and out of the story to interact with even the darkest of happenstance. If there are any flaws, the dialogue sometimes has trouble landing to capture the plot, but the flaws are minor.

It’s an alluring story of danger, sung by the true siren of Chicago, and will not be forgotten any time soon.

Pelayo's "true love" letter to Chicago reads like the stuff fairy tales should be made of. Haunting, dreamlike, and all the while resonating on so many levels of the human experience, this is Pelayo's best work to date. Run, jump, or swim to your nearest bookstore on March 19th and buy a copy of this one, because it's worth every penny and page turn.

This is the first book that I've read by Cynthia Pelayo. I went in expecting a horror/ghost story. It does have a gothic horror element to it. The story is narrated in the POV of Anna but it also alternates to two detectives that are investigating a string of drownings that are taking place in the Chicago River.
The story had a good mix of historical non-fiction stories that are incorporated which I enjoyed as I hadn't heard of some of them however there were some sections in which is from Anna's POV that drag out a lot and don't seem to fit the story.
Overall the storyline was different than what I have read before. The story did start to pick up for me towards the last part of the book and I did enjoy how the story got tied together.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer. All opinions are my own.

A very emotional and enthralling story about grief and love and honoring the dead. Cynthia brings Chicago through the ages to life in a compelling way. Awesome story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this novel. I really wanted to like this book because it is a love letter to Chicago, but there was a lot going on that did not work together. A haunted house, a fairy tale, the Titanic, a serial killer, a police procedural, a romance, even old phones and phonographs. It's like the entire history of Chicago and every water mythology and/or tragedy got stuffed into one book. The scenes with the detectives are more compelling than the scenes in the house, which are honestly just confusing because of all the active water analogies at work, but the detective work is secondary. The passages containing Chicago history were interesting but many did not really fit in the book. The concept of the book needed to be streamlined, with one or two ideas taking precedence.

I enjoyed this Gothic-style story that also incorporates horror, noir, fairy tales, and mystery! Pelayo consistently delivers great storytelling!

Cynthia Pelayo has once again written a unique and eerie horror novel, this time bringing in dark fantasy elements that combine with a police procedural, all against the backdrop of Chicago. We have sisters Anna and Jennie, living in a house on the Chicago River that appears to be haunted. Anna longs for a life beyond the home, but Jennie clings to her, all while their shared trauma makes Anna unable to let go. I loved how Pelayo made this dark fairy tale feel like a building sense of dread and unreliability, as outside of Anna and Jennie's periphery there are two cops who are trying to solve a strange set of drownings of local men, all found in the Chicago River under strange circumstances. Pelayo mixes the fantastical, the horror, and the hard boiled crime tale all together into something unique and eerie, all while being a love letter to the history of Chicago and the darkness, and hope, that lives within it.

FORGOTTEN SISTERS is another well done horror story from Cynthia Pelayo.

I wasn’t quite sure in which genre I would put FORGOTTEN SISTERS by Cynthia Pelayo. Sometimes women’s fiction, sometimes romance, and sometimes a whodunnit. Whatever genre, this one was a fun ride to the dark side.

Anne spends her days cleaning the (haunted?) house in her childhood home, the Avondale and caring for her sister, Jennie, who refurbishes gramaphone motors, cranks and gears. Jennie also tends to wander the village at night, and never reveals to anyone where she goes or what she does.

When bodies of young men begin turning up in the river, seasoned Detective Kowalski and newbie Detective Rodriguez are assigned to hunt down the serial killer. As clues mount and they begin to zero in on Jennie, Anne does everything in her power to keep the wolves from Jennie’s door, saying she’s unavailable or away from the home. What’s she hiding? Where will the next body wash ashore and what clues will it hold?

I really enjoyed this novel. When I thought I was going down one path, I was very surprised to see I should have taken the other way at the fork in the road. The author was a very adept at putting me in the wrong frame of mind. The conclusion was a stunning surprise. I will certainly be looking in for more from Cynthia Pelayo as she is an author I will be watching.!

Thank you to that Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own, and given voluntarily.