"Forgotten Sisters" by Cynthia Pelayo is an enthralling novel of psychological suspense that seamlessly blends elements of horror, mystery, and family drama. Set against the backdrop of a historic bungalow on the Chicago River, this book offers a haunting and chilling exploration of a family's disturbing past and the supernatural forces that threaten their existence.

Sisters Anna and Jennie are the central characters, and their deeply entwined lives form the heart of the story. Living in a house that seems to be inhabited by restless spirits, they are unable to escape their family home, despite the eerie occurrences and tragic history that surround it. Anna, in an effort to connect with the outside world and stave off loneliness, hosts a podcast that recounts ghostly tales of Chicago's past. This narrative device adds an extra layer of intrigue to the story, as it allows readers to immerse themselves in the city's haunted history.

The author excels in creating a palpable sense of unease and foreboding. The supernatural elements are expertly woven into the narrative, leaving readers with a sense of dread and anticipation. The eerie atmosphere, mysterious disappearances, and unexplained phenomena keep the tension high throughout the book.

The character development is strong, with Anna and Jennie's complex relationship at the forefront. Their bond is both heartwarming and unsettling, and the dynamics between them are portrayed with depth and authenticity. Anna's budding relationship with a male podcast listener adds a layer of complexity to the story, as it introduces the possibility of escape from their haunted existence.

The novel delves into themes of family, isolation, and the blurred lines between reality and the supernatural. It skillfully explores the psychological toll of living in a haunted house and the lengths to which individuals will go to protect their secrets.

"Forgotten Sisters" is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that will captivate fans of horror and psychological suspense. Cynthia Pelayo's narrative prowess shines in this tale of family secrets, haunted history, and the eerie mysteries of the Chicago River. Readers will find themselves engrossed in the story from beginning to end, making it a must-read for those who enjoy spine-tingling mysteries with a supernatural twist.

This was a mix of paranormal, fantasy and crime. The entire read had an otherworldly, eerie feeling throughout and had me fascinated right off the bat. However, as the second half came along, it started feeling a bit disjointed. There was also a little too much history for my liking since I am not one to pick up a historical fiction. It was interesting, don't get me wrong, but the retelling of historical events could have been cut in half and been just as, if not more, interesting. The story and mystery itself was good although I did kind of already know who the killer was. The protagonist's boyfriend was just kind of there, and the bond between sisters was strong and heartfelt but then felt a bit contradictory as well towards the halfway point. All in all, I am giving this one a gratuitous three stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for this ARC.

A masterful blend of horror/crime fiction/ fairy tales. Great characterizations, and propulsive plot. This was super fun to read and atmopsheric.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

This book spoke to me on so many levels. It has stayed with me long after reading it.

Horror? Check
Water? Check
Possible Haunting? Check
Cheeky Romance (with someone who believes the main character!!)? Bonus Check

And then...The Little Mermaid references. Not the Disney one (sorry, Ariel). Hans Christian Anderson's one. Possibly my favourite story growing up. I still have my well-worn childhood storybook which I still look at every now and again, in my 50s.

I don't want to give too much away, but this book held me from the first page. I couldn't put it down. The bond between sisters, as well as through generations, was palpable. I rooted and worried for both Anna and Jennie throughout.

Set in a bungalow along the river in Chicago, the house and it's surrounding area is so vividly described I could hear, see, feel, and smell it. I heard the incessant drip. I saw walls of the aging, defiant bungalow. I felt Anna's fear for her sanity, and for Jennie's safety. And I could smell the garden backing onto the river access.

Add in a police procedural type simultaneous storyline and a podcast, and I'm in my happy place as a reader!

Cynthia Pelayo weaves history, horror, love, and fear into a story which feels as much of an enduring classic as The Little Mermaid.

The story takes a fresh. Modern approach to combining two genres - mystery/crime and horror. I can see how it could appeal to readers in both genres.

A city’s haunted history and fairy-tale horrors converge for two women in an addictive novel of psychological suspense by a multiple Bram Stoker Award–nominated author.

Horrifying, twisty, well-done. Loved it.

Wow. What a wild ride. What began as me wanting to dip my toes into NetGalley by choosing the first “read now” book that sounded interesting enough turned into one of my favorite reads of 2023. I really had no idea what I was walking into.

The writing was absolutely phenominal, and I include the dialoge in that, which was definitely reminiscent of Shakespeare as one or two other reviewers mentioned, but I didn’t mind in the slightest. I really felt like the dialogue was unique and perfectly tailored to each character, all of whom were incredibly compelling.

The story itself was full of twists and turns that were wholly unexpected. The entire vibe was eerie, but fantastical at the same time. I thought this novel was especially interesting because it explored themes of loss and grief and the importance of history and rememberance. All this while telling stories of love from sisterly to familial to romantic and even obsessive. The embedded history of Chicago and the focus on the house and the river were especially impactful. The focus on fairy tales and the supernatural also put this book over the top for me.

If I had anything to nitpick at, it would be that some things were a little repetitive and that the story maybe got a little convoluted and harder to understand toward the end. That and the fact that this is still clearky a draft, as there were quite a few typos and punctuation errors that stood out. Nothing about the plot needs changing though. I’m quite happy with my decision to read this novel and I can’t wait for its release so other people can experience it too!

(I will be updating and adding a blog post later once I am able to gather my thoughts and write something a little more coherent)

EDIT: blog post is now linked; also, my apologies for this review, I typed it out with one finger on my ipad without autocorrect so it's a little rough around the edges

Forgotten Sisters takes a unique direction by incorporating horror, crime, and fairy tales together. The story follows sisters Anna and Jennie in their historic bungalow along the Chicago River. After their parents are killed in a tragic accident, the sisters are left alone, tethered together by their haunted past. Eldest sister Jennie is now a troubled recluse, spending days in her bedroom, only leaving the house for nightly walks. While Anna is reserved to care for her sister and the house. In her loneliness, Anna works on a podcast and recounts the ghostly tales of Chicago. At the same time, a series of disappearances casts unease over the town, raising questions about the mysteries of the river.

At the start of the book, I was inclined to give a rating of 4 or 5 because of the intriguing premise. However, as I reached the end I began to shift towards a 3. The story presents an abundance of new ideas and leaves room for the reader to uncover the mysteries, but I also found myself confused by the multitude of events happening. Is it a story about a haunted house? Or is it a story about a vengeful serial killer? The storylines eventually converge, but the journey to that point left me somewhat disoriented. Admittedly, I was most drawn to the police procedural aspect of the story and I was hoping for more of a focus on the investigation itself. I appreciate that the story challenged my expectations and offered a blend of intertwining themes, but ultimately I wasn't the right audience for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-ARC.

One of the best books I’ve read all year. No seriously. I mean that. I loved this book. This may be my new fav author. Thank you.

Forgotten Sisters is a very different sort of book, kind of a horror novel and a fairy tale and a police procedural and a fever dream all rolled up into one.

Chicago is a city near and dear to my heart and Ravenswood is a great neighborhood, so the setting is fantastic. I'd never heard the stories of the SS Eastland or the Union Stockyards before, so I really enjoyed learning more about the city's dark history through Anna's podcast.

The chapters involving the two police detectives, Kowalski and Rodriguez, were also entertaining and I wish there had been more of them. They aren't really the main focus of the story, so you only glimpse bits and pieces of their investigation … which is too bad, because I would happily read a book that focused entirely on the two of them.

Oh, and Clover and Thistle were the best part of the book, because … dogs! And, in case you were wondering, they do survive.

The rest of the book, which revolves around sisters Anna and Jennie (and later, Anna's boyfriend Peter), is just … weird. None of them talk like normal people – the dialogue is stilted and they all speak as if they're giving some sort of modern day Shakespearean soliloquy, Jennie in particular. The romance between Anna and Peter doesn't seem at all authentic, perhaps because the book skips over most of the beginning of their relationship, but also because you never learn much about Peter other than that Anna's obsessed with him. And, really, other than at the very end, nothing really happens plotwise. The police investigate a bit, Jennie waxes poetic a whole bunch, the house throws temper tantrums when it doesn't get its way, and that's about it.

The ending did surprise me, though. I'd already guessed who the killer was, but I hadn't guessed *who* the killer was (which I realize makes no sense, but I'm trying to avoid spoilers). The ending actually would have been pretty good if it hadn't been bogged down by all the weirdness that permeates this book, but the twist gets kind of watered down by all of the … *gesticulates wildly* … rest of it.

Overall, this book had its interesting moments but it just wasn't really my thing. If you like your books to read like a Shakespearean fever dream, you'll probably love this one, but it was just kind of “meh” for me. 2.75 stars, rounded up.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.